Kuro No Maou

Chapter 565 – Conquering the Trial

“Alright, nice to meet you, Nell.”

I blurted it out, calling him by her first name. Nell, on the other hand, was pretending we were meeting for the first time.

But despite that act, she still managed to throw out a flustered greeting…

“Even though I’m a mere nobody…”

It was a bit strange, but somehow it felt so typical of Nell, and it relaxed my defenses, prompting me to call her by her first name.

I mean, now that I’m actually seeing her again… I’m surprisingly okay, actually. Maybe even more so, I’m happy. I thought for sure this would dredge up some traumatic memories, but it seems my heart wasn’t quite that fragile.

Or maybe this is the true meaning of “time heals all wounds”. Hmm, the magic of time is truly powerful.

Thinking about that, I find myself drawn to Nell in her imposing priestess outfit, the same one she wore the last time we met. It’s a bit rude to stare so intently, even with the full-face helmet on. I don’t want to get on the bad side of the super handsome white knight next to her.

I’m completely unfamiliar with this beautiful boy named Celis, but I’ve heard his name and stories before. Kai told me he’s a magic swordsman with skills rivaling Nero, and I’ve heard plenty about his fighting prowess from Chris recently as well.

Excellent swordsmanship and numerous martial arts skills. And with his specialty being wind, he’s mastered a multifaceted style of magic. He’s already achieved the status of master, but there’s also a hidden ability that he supposedly possesses… As for me, though, I’m more drawn to his appearance than any secret technique.

He’s the embodiment of the phrase “androgynous beauty”. To be honest, seeing him in person, I can’t tell if he’s male or female. With Simon, who I mistook for a woman, and Mia-chan, who remains an enigma, this world is truly terrifying with the number of people who have such ambiguous appearances.

Even from their face or voice, I still can’t tell, but the vibe Celis gives off makes my keen sixth sense tell me he’s a guy. I feel it, a genuine handsome aura that I don’t have.

If I do anything rude to Nell, he’d probably say something cool like, “I won’t let anyone lay a finger on the Prince!”

Thankfully, though, no one has mentioned my slip up in calling Nell by her first name. I guess nobody could bring themselves to criticize me for calling a Prince by her first name, and they gracefully ignored it. In this situation, it would be ridiculous to get caught up in such a trivial matter.

Anyway, I have a lot on my mind, but for now, all I need to focus on is this Chaotic Rim.

First, I managed to counter it with my Flame Demon Overdrive—, but… the Chaotic Rim is almost completely unharmed. I can feel it.

That’s right, this feeling can only mean that it has the Reactive Armor used by Greed Gore. It completely stopped the skill I landed with its powerful arm by detonating all the iron sand that covered its arm.

It went flying in a grand display, but that’s all. There was no reason for it to be injured.

“… Even after taking that blow, it doesn’t seem to have sustained much damage.”

Celis muttered bitterly.

The Chaotic Rim, which had rolled to the edge of the arena, gathered the scattered iron sand into a black wind and stood up slowly. As I predicted, there wasn’t a single scar on its body — or wait, there is. I could see droplets of blood dripping from the palm that had received the blow. There was a definite cut mark on its fleshy left hand and a small cut on its mechanical right hand.

Hmm, I thought it had completely negated it, but the fact that I still managed to cut it seems more like my skill had been enhanced than Neck Break being forced through by sheer willpower.

In response, the grip I had on the handle trembled.

Thinking about it, its first victim was Raspoon. Back then, I only managed to cut off its right arm, but this time, I want to fulfill the name of the technique and cut off its head. It’s time for revenge, Nata-senpai.

“We’re not going to be able to get through its attacks unless we somehow deal with that iron sand armor.”

Nell already knows how troublesome this defensive ability is. She knows how bad of a deal it is to face it head-on.

Therefore, the first thing that comes to mind as the easiest way to defeat it would be to use a status-healing magic to remove the parasitic parasite or to use a purifying magic. However, the fact that this hasn’t been effective has already been revealed in past battles.

The adventurer’s guild received reports from the battle against Farren, who appeared after Sparda. The Dark Elf druids had tried various methods, but none had been effective. Hearing this report, I was disappointed to learn that there was no hidden trick to defeat it.

Therefore, Nell’s Reversal of Wickedness— Radiance Exile won’t work in one shot.

“But considering its regenerative abilities, wouldn’t it be best to aim for the small window of opportunity immediately after landing a powerful blow?”

That’s what you would think, Celis-kun.

“I’ll strip away its iron sand.”

“What, that’s not possible–”

“Understood! Please do, Kurono-san!”

Nell cuts in front of Celis, who has a dubious look on his face, with a determined expression.

Ah, seeing her face reminds me how typical of her it is. She always takes care of things like this.

But I don’t have time to be sentimental.

Nell has experience in Ischia, so she knows how I defeated Greed Gore. That’s why she agreed instantly.

“I’ll leave the attacking to you two, but are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“Of course, leave it to me!”

“Wait, Prince Nell, you can’t just decide that–”

“We don’t have time to debate! Do as Kurono-san says. Absolute obedience! Agreed, Celis?!”

“Y, yes…”

You’re right about that, but I think there are better ways to say it, Nell. Look, Celis is practically tearing up.

I too have reservations about making Nell an attacker, since I’ve never actually seen her fight before. To me, she still embodies the image of a healing priestess.

Can I really leave it up to her? I have doubts.

But, I’ll trust her. Even if Nell doesn’t trust me, I trust her.

“Focus Attribute— Concentrated Great Enhancement Concess Highboost, Elemental Great Enhancement Element Highboost.”

Just as I’m about to start my magic, Nell’s buffing magic arrives. Amazing. Just as I put my trust in her, he gives me something like this. My trust level is skyrocketing.

Truly, he is a Rank 5 Healing Priest. He managed to combine two buffs into a single short chant, almost a single word. Even for his field of expertise, combining them like that is quite difficult. I rarely even try it. The speed and number of magic activations are advanced techniques that warrant recognition in themselves.

With Nell’s unexpected support, I start my magic activation.

The Chaotic Rim has also taken a battle stance. All that’s left is to pray that the two of them can work together effectively.

“You ready, Hitsugi?”

“All set, Master!”

Hitsugi’s smiling face is displayed in full on the helmet’s display, along with information about the finished preparation.

Well, it’s only half finished, but it should be enough for now.

“Alright, let’s go— King Serpent Binding Hydra Bind!”

A black, nine-headed serpent appears from the white stone tile floor. A multi-headed dragon, befitting the name Hydra, with heads big enough to swallow a human whole, it’s my black magic. It might even seem as if I’m summoning a real monster, rather than activating magic.

The snake heads, which have no eyes, feel inorganic, but each black scale shimmers with gloss, giving it a sort of raw, slippery texture.

The King Serpent Binding Hydra Bind is originally a forbidden art that can only be used after combining with Lily and borrowing her magical calculation abilities. …But thanks to all my practice, I’ve finally managed to activate it on my own.

It may only be for a brief moment, but it has the absolute restraining power to bind Sariel, the Apostle in full power. I was determined to master it.

Of course, it’s inferior to the time I combined with a fairy and used Excelion, but I’d say it’s passing for now. It’s also being enhanced by the buffing magic, so it should have a higher ability than usual.

To activate this, I’ve been constantly spreading blackification under the stone tiles of the arena ever since I landed. A separate window appears on the display, showing a 3D CG-like representation of the arena, allowing me to see the area of blackification at a glance, both in terms of area and depth, separated by black and white colors. It’s such a convenient thing to have.

“Seize it!”

The nine heads appear in a circle around the Chaotic Rim, attacking it.

As if to say, “Don’t underestimate me”, the Chaotic Rim swings its burning left arm, imbued with the power of rage.

With a heavy thud, one of the Hydra’s heads explodes. The first head, which charged forward with its mouth wide open, disappeared up to its neck, scattering black particles instead of blood, and collapsed heavily onto the ground.

The Hydra is formed from the blackified sand. If you imagine that the entire body of this enormous serpent is made of sand, then even a single head must weigh a tremendous amount. But the Chaotic Rim swatted it away as if it were a cheap plastic snake.

Its Angry Fist is no mere name. With its powerful fist, the Chaotic Rim strikes down the second and third heads in succession.

However, the monster’s punches lack finesse. While their raw destructive power is enormous, they do not account for the next move, the move after that, and beyond.

Don’t underestimate me, monster. I deal with people who can predict the future, seeing even a few seconds ahead, not just three moves. I’m a former, top-tier warrior.

My King Serpent Binding Hydra Bind is a spell designed to catch the Seventh Apostle, Sariel. Its movements, which consist of nothing but brute force, are easily captured.

—Gyaooo!!!

A roar that sounds more like rage than pain echoes.

As the fourth head is crushed, the fifth one digs its fangs into the Chaotic Rim’s undefended back, scraping away at it.

The serpent’s fangs are blocked by the beast’s fur, preventing them from tearing into flesh. But, as intended, the parts that were bitten have thoroughly scraped away the iron sand.

The brilliant crimson fur peeks out from the black tear. And the iron sand that covered it will never return.

Whether it’s direct manipulation of earth or electromagnetism of thunder, it doesn’t give back the iron sand it has taken. The Hydra’s fangs are infused with full-power blackification through Hitsugi. The iron sand it scrapes away is swallowed by the Hydra, stored in the shadow space Shadow Gate, like it’s going straight into its stomach.

I knew that mediocre firepower wouldn’t even be a distraction for this guy. That’s why I only made a minimal amount of blackified swords for the magic swords Sword Arts, and I intentionally left a lot of space in the Shadow Gate, anticipating the need to steal iron sand.

So, let it eat its fill, that delicious greedy iron Greed Metal.

“Now!”

“Hmph!”

Not missing the opportunity to exploit the loss of its iron sand armor, Nell and Celis rush forward. They both draw near to the Chaotic Rim in an instant, leaving afterimages in their wake.

Even within that brief moment, the sixth and seventh heads, attacking from behind and from the sides, bite into the beast’s massive body, shattering its absolute defense.

“Second Style, Pierce!”

“Sonic Elslash!”

Their techniques flash like lightning.

Nell’s white armor, shaped like a dragon, pierces the Chaotic Rim’s side, and Celis’s blade, swirling with a hurricane, tears through its shoulder.

A crimson flower bloomed, and this time, the beast roared in pain.

But, as if knowing it without me needing to warn them, the two immediately retreated.

In an instant, a storm of lightning erupted around the Chaotic Rim, spanning a radius of several meters. The mechanical right hand, holding a blinding purple light, raised high, and the area-attack magic unleashed from it exploded almost instantaneously.

The two had perfectly timed their movements to avoid the encompassing lightning attack, but the Chaotic Rim, determined not to let its hated prey escape, quickly switched to a concentrated attack, aiming its lightning bolts at them.

Thick bolts of lightning writhed like whips, pursuing the two. The ever-changing lightning whips caught the two, but… well done. Celis had perfectly timed his move, intercepting them with the blade of his saber.

Nell, on the other hand… What was that? The lightning that hit her suddenly twisted in a strange direction. At first glance, it looked like she had swatted it away with the back of her right hand, but the lightning’s movement was strange.

Of course, lightning has an intangible nature. It can be blocked by something solid, but it’s physically impossible to grab it, bend it, or stretch it.

But it looked like she managed to do just that. It wasn’t an optical illusion, but rather a testament to Nell’s abilities, or perhaps the abilities of those white gauntlets.

Regardless, seeing that entire sequence, from dodging the attack to defending it, was enough to understand Nell’s high level of skill as a frontliner. She’s dependable. It seems the rigorous training she underwent was worth it. Honestly, if we just sparred in hand-to-hand combat, I think I’d get beaten one-sidedly.

I’ll relax and stick to my role as a rearguard, providing support.

“Magic Bullet Arts – Grenade Burst”

I relied on this convenient explosive attack magic during the fight against Gluttony Octo, but now, with my expanded arsenal, I don’t have to lament its lack of power like I did back then.

I’m not holding The Greed in my left hand, but rather Dual Eagle. The two barrels aligned horizontally are loaded with real bullets, crafted by the Stratos Forge, with flame magic stones imbued with fire attributes as the warheads. I’ll pour all my pseudo-fire attribute power into this, turning it into my Grenade Burst, and… I’ll pull the trigger.

The sound is like a cannon blast, ‘Don!’ and a massive muzzle flash erupts. It spans the distance of dozens of meters in an instant, and the two bullets explode against the right hand, which continues to unleash thunderous bolts of lightning.

A massive explosion. It’s no exaggeration to call it a flamboyant display of fire and smoke, but I don’t think it’s enough to destroy the right arm of a true Ancient Golem.

Indeed, the Chaotic Rim appears immediately, shaking off the flames. Its right arm is only slightly charred and mostly unharmed.

But, it did force a pause in the lightning attacks aimed at the two.

Nell and Celis don’t miss this opportunity to counter. Their evasive movements turn into a renewed advance towards the Chaotic Rim.

I, too, seize the moment, taking advantage of the slight tremor in the Chaotic Rim’s body from the explosion, and direct the Hydra’s head, which is still alive, at it.

Goaaaaaaa!!!

The Chaotic Rim’s roar reverberates through the arena.

It breathes fire, shoots lightning, and swings its fists, enveloping the two… We continue to outmaneuver the Chaotic Rim, which rages like a madman, with an impeccable level of coordination that belies our impromptu party.

I chip away at its iron sand, and the two attack. We evade its counterattacks. If it tries to pursue one of them, I’ll provide support and hinder it. And then, we’ll strike again when we see an opportunity… we repeat this cycle endlessly.

To someone watching our battle on a television screen, it might look like a boring chore, like a typical boss battle in a game, chipping away at the boss’s HP with a slow, steady stream of attacks. I’ve been through that myself. I already understand the boss’s movements and attack patterns, and I can move safely, but it takes forever to defeat it because of its high HP. It’s a tiresome battle.

But, in this world where fantasy has become reality, once you’ve experienced a battle against a real monster, you’ll understand just how grueling this method is. Or, maybe you’ll die before you understand.

We look like we’re completely dominating the Chaotic Rim, but the truth is, a single hit could be fatal. Even if we don’t die, the slightest disruption in our coordination, any miscalculation of the battle’s flow, and the situation could change in an instant.

We have to dodge a storm of fatal attacks by a hair’s breadth, pay attention to our teammates’ movements, and keep attacking relentlessly. But, our opponent only needs a single hit to win. They can defend against most attacks and they won’t die from a single blow.

We’re forced into a tightrope walk, but for the Chaotic Rim, we’re just a nuisance. We haven’t driven it to desperation enough to make it fight with everything it has.

Yet, the battle is about to reach a turning point.

“…Soon, its iron sand will be completely stripped away.”

The Chaotic Rim’s massive body now gleams entirely in crimson. The black iron sand has concentrated around its chest, where its heart is, and around its neck, near its vital areas, and it now thinly covers the rest of its body, like tiger stripes.

In turn, I’ve collected a considerable amount of iron sand in my Shadow Gate.

I anticipated that it would have a greater supply of iron sand than it needed to cover its body. In fact, it’s clear that it used more iron sand than it appeared, as it had even given iron sand to its phantom body.

I don’t know how it works, whether it uses spatial magic, Dimension, or compresses it in its stomach, but…

Even as I repeatedly used King Serpent Binding Hydra Bind to chip away at its iron sand, the Chaotic Rim kept increasing its supply, regenerating its armor. It had maintained its absolute defense by releasing its stockpile, but even that has reached its limit.

“…Celis, we’ll finish it next!”

“Yes!”

The two wait for the moment when the last of the iron sand is stripped away.

The Chaotic Rim, with bloodshot eyes, chases the two small prey it’s been trying to catch. While the frontliners distract it, I prepare to use my final King Serpent Binding Hydra Bind.

“Hitsugi, how’s regeneration?”

“All nine are complete, Master!”

I’ve been continuously channeling black magic into the Hydra’s heads, which have been blown away and crushed by the Chaotic Rim over and over again. This is already a tremendously draining magic to use. I feel my magic being depleted, and the heavy fatigue weighs down my body.

But, if I pull this off, I can deactivate King Serpent Binding Hydra Bind and devote myself entirely to attacking.

This is the moment to push through. I squeeze out the last bit of my magic, completely regenerating the nine heads, and unleash them on the Chaotic Rim.

Faced with the approaching, hated serpent, the Chaotic Rim stops its attack on the two and prepares to intercept them. Apparently, it’s starting to get used to them after being hit so many times.

Three heads fly toward it from the front, but they’re shot down before they can close the distance with a simultaneous attack of lightning from its right hand and fireballs from its left.

It then deflects the two heads approaching from the sides with its fists, which now have a trail of lightning and fire. At the same time, it leaps and dodges the three heads attacking from behind.

As the Hydra’s head loses its target and passes by, the Chaotic Rim, having just jumped down, stomps on it from above.

I’m terrified of the Chaotic Rim, which gracefully dodges my ‘King Serpent Binding Hydra Bind’, but… thank goodness, this is the last one. If it had taken any longer, it would have completely figured it out.

Hearing the Chaotic Rim’s scream, I feel a sense of relief.

The last remaining, ninth head wraps itself around the Chaotic Rim like a real snake would capture its prey.

The Chaotic Rim leaps, jumps, and rolls, rampaging across the arena like it’s on fire, but the Hydra, barely clinging to its body, successfully steals the last of the iron sand before dissolving into black sand.

“Go!”

With Nell’s sharp cry, the two finally approach the monster, which is now completely crimson.

Celis goes first. He leans forward, practically crawling, gracefully dodges the Chaotic Rim’s powerful swing, and dives into its chest. He reaches the most dangerous safe zone, the zero-distance point, inside the reach of its long arms, but still within reach of his blade.

“…Gravity Field— full power!”

It was a spell I’d never seen before.

Like Lily’s Oracle Field, a glowing orb appears, enveloping Celis’s entire body. But its glow is dark and eerie, a mix of black and purple.

The name sounds like it manipulates gravity, but…

“Phase Shift— Heaven Minus Light”

The Chaotic Rim’s massive body floats unnaturally. Its heavy body, enveloped in dense bone, muscle, and metallic fur, floats lightly, as if it were a balloon.

No, its body hasn’t become lighter, it’s the gravity that has become lighter. I’m able to figure that out immediately because I’ve seen fictional characters use gravity as their ability.

But, I’ve never heard of magic that manipulates gravity. But, it might exist, even if I don’t know about it. It’s definitely not mainstream.

So, I see… This is the hidden ability of the genius magic swordsman, Celis.

While I’m impressed, the Chaotic Rim, surprised by the sudden change in its body, lets out a startled cry, flapping its limbs in the air. And Celis isn’t foolish enough to get hit by those flailing limbs.

The gravity-reducing magic is merely a preparation for a full-power attack.

“Reverse Shift– Earth Heavy Plus— Tornado Elslast!!”

The saber in Celis’s hand turns the same color as the Gravity Field, and the swirling wind on the blade becomes completely black.

He’s adding the power of gravity to a wind-attribute technique.

An expert-level technique that already boasts incredible piercing power, it now has the weight of a greatsword, which a slender saber would normally be unable to wield.

The Chaotic Rim is about to feel the full force of that power in its abdomen.

…Goooh!?

With a short, groaning cry of pain, the monster’s massive body is launched skyward.

It must be the effect of the reduced gravity. It’s hit from below with immense destructive power and blown away.

The Chaotic Rim, flying straight up like a rocket, looks as if the blood gushing from its abdomen is acting as a booster.

It’s not a fatal wound, but it’s a serious injury. With that amount of blood, it might have actually ripped through its internal organs.

But, it would be unthinkable for a monster of its ferocity to back down now.

An angel with outstretched wings launches a follow-up attack on the helpless Chaotic Rim, suspended in the air.

“… Third Style, Blooming Chaos!”

Nell, flapping her white wings as if she were truly flying at a height of ten meters, explodes with the techniques imbued in both her fists.

A storm of punches. Tens, no, hundreds. The Chaotic Rim trembles as fist after fist, in a dizzying speed, is unleashed. Its body twitches irregularly, because every punch, like First Style, Penetration, infuses it with an impact wave of magic.

The endless storm of fist strikes ends when the lighter gravity finally allows their bodies to return to the ground.

“Third Form, Collapse!”

Nell, gracefully turning her body in mid-air as she begins her slow descent, grabs the Chaotic Rim’s left middle finger as if she were grabbing a person’s arm.

Immediately, its descent, which should have been slower than normal, accelerates rapidly. It seems as if it was pushed down by an invisible force, rather than descending at an incredible speed, and Nell, gripping the finger, slams the Chaotic Rim’s body back down onto the arena.

The white tiles of the floor shatter, and a thick cloud of dust rises, as if there were an explosion.

Celis and Nell flawlessly complete their aerial combo, quickly retreating from the epicenter of the Chaotic Rim’s crash.

Nell’s nonchalant toss of the severed middle finger seems both forceful and cruel.

Well, it has just received a direct hit from their consecutive attacks, and it seems like it’s finally been fatally wounded. But…

“It’s not over!”

I follow suit, attacking relentlessly, having already finished with King Serpent Binding Hydra Bind. I won’t back down until I’ve completely ended its life.

I only have Neck Break in my hand. I’ll use my full-power Dark Calm to finally claim its head.

This moment, now, is the perfect opportunity to deliver the final blow… but that prediction is shattered by a mechanical sound that reverberates through the air.

It’s a sound I recognize… This is bad!

Gaaaaaaa!!!

The Chaotic Rim bursts forth from the dusty smoke, screaming. Its body truly deserves to be described as battered.

Its abdomen has been ripped open by Tornado Elslast, its chest is shredded by Third Style, Blooming Chaos, and its left arm, thick as a tree trunk, is twisted out of shape by the final Third Form, Collapse. A normal human would be in too much pain to even scream, they’d just groan and curl up, but the Chaotic Rim, with its overflowing vitality and blazing spirit of rage, continues to unleash brutal attacks.

It raises its Ancient Golem right arm. If my eyes aren’t deceiving me, the palm seems to be shaking abnormally.

It’s trembling. Yes, it’s vibrating.

The eerie sound of vibration tells me this is imbued with a terrifying power that can destroy anything it touches.

It’s probably a super-vibration crusher. I had no idea it had something this dangerous. It seems that ancient golems fought against incredibly dangerous opponents.

The Chaotic Rim unleashes a new ability, but I’m not going to back down here.

It’s impossible to simply receive or deflect an attack that can destroy anything it touches with its vibratory power. Sariel might be able to handle it, but I don’t have the skill to handle it that well.

Then I’ll avoid it. No, it’s not impossible to dodge, but if this super-vibration punch explodes against the arena, it’ll create shock waves. That could throw me off balance, leaving me open to follow-up attacks.

If possible, I want to nullify this dangerous weapon right now.

That means there’s only one option for me. I have a single countermeasure. There’s no need to hesitate.

“… Shout, Haunted Grave!”

The gravekeeper’s halberd, drawn from the shadows, is already letting out a full-powered, cursed scream.

A catastrophic shout, that drives the living mad, resurrects the dead, and excites the cursed will, at the same time giving the blade vibratory power.

I plunge the Haunted Grave in my left hand straight into the approaching, destructive fist.

The monster’s fist and the gravekeeper’s blade clash.

They both possess the same power. So, how will this battle of destructive power turn out?

“Ugh, Oooooohhhh!!!!”

I win.

The silver machine arm, beyond its endurance, begins to crack and shatter. The Haunted Grave’s blade pierces right through the center of the fist, continuing to sing with even higher tension.

The trembling blade shatters the steel fingers that make up the clenched fist, and completely blows away the wrist area in an instant.

At that point, the balance of the clashing power is broken. The recoil is so strong that I lose my grip on the handle of the Haunted Grave. With tremendous force, the Haunted Grave flies out of my hand and across the arena.

I can retrieve it later.

Thanks to her hard work, the Chaotic Rim is thrown back hard, leaving itself open. This is it.

“… Dark Calm!”

The cursed blade finally slices through the neck of my sworn enemy.

“You did it! Kurono-san!”

“Oh…”

The head hasn’t fallen off, but there is a tangible feeling, though not shallow.

The Chaotic Rim’s neck is indeed deeply slashed, as the two shout. The blood is spraying out with such force that it seems like a fatal wound. The neck is more than halfway severed, so its blood vessels must have been completely cut.

Its head hangs limply, supported only by its skin.

It’s not dead yet. But it’s certainly not in any condition to launch a proper counterattack.

This should end the fight, but why…?

“!?!”

The Chaotic Rim, with its head hanging, laughs.