Chapter 566: How to Conquer Humans

“Ge-ge-ge…” With a beastly laugh, Chaotic Rim reattached his nearly severed head.

His right hand had been shattered by the Haunted Grave, and his left hand was broken by “Third Form: Crumbling Drop.” Both hands were unusable. Therefore, he reattached his head using his neck itself.

The gushing blood from his neck suddenly slowed. Then, as if the blood had rapidly coagulated, it transformed into a gelatinous substance with strong viscosity.

In a creepy movement resembling countless red worms sprouting from his neck, the squirming blood tentacles connected with the severed surface of his head and pulled it back to its original position.

“You’ve got to be kidding me—a slime’s regenerative ability…?”

It seems that the power obtained by absorbing the Pride Gem’s “Core of Arrogance” did more than just create convenient clones.

Chaotic Rim had acquired the ability to manipulate his own blood, turning it into a slime-like substance to heal his wounds.

Since I use a similar power, I realized it immediately. Yes, Chaotic Rim had healed his wounds using a gelatinous substance, just like my only healing magic, “Body Replenishment.”

His neck reattached, the hole in his abdomen filled, and the scar on his chest closed up. Wounds that should have been fatal when combined had healed in no time. Perhaps, just as he could create a slime’s body using magic power, he could reverse-convert it to replenish his blood. Therefore, blood loss wasn’t a fatal symptom for him.

Furthermore, he forcibly swung his twisted and contorted left arm, stretching it straight. Forcing the arm back into position shouldn’t heal the severely broken bones, but judging from his appearance, he must have recovered it enough to move. He probably substituted the torn muscle fibers with the blood jelly and reinforced the broken bones with the iron sand hidden inside his body. Something like that.

In this way, Chaotic Rim healed his wounds in an instant and regained his ferocious combat ability.

“—It’s alright, Chrono-san. While his wounds are healed, his lost magic power and stamina haven’t returned,” Nelle said.

“I see, you’re right… Then we have no choice but to keep cutting him until he can’t regenerate anymore.”

“Yes. Chaotic Rim must be nearing his limit soon.”

Thanks to her deep knowledge of healing magic, Nelle calmly analyzed the resurrected Chaotic Rim for us. Indeed, the damage we’ve dealt so far wasn’t wasted.

Even though he’s regenerated, it only postponed his death a bit. It’s not like he fully restored himself back to square one.

Calm down. Our objective hasn’t changed. He’s already lost his iron sand defense. If we can land a few more attacks, we should be able to finish him off this time—

“Wait, something’s off about him… There’s a strange aura…” Celis warned.

At Celis’s warning, both Nelle and I halted.

“His color changed… No, it reverted back.”

Chaotic Rim’s color changed from crimson back to the black and red two-tone, just like when I first saw Lathspun.

That means even his magic reflection ability has been deactivated. Or perhaps he’s really at his limit and can no longer maintain it.

When Lathspun gets enraged and goes all out, he dons this reflection ability and turns completely red.

Then, perhaps instead of losing power, his anger has subsided. It’s possible to think that way.

As a bad feeling ran through my body, Chaotic Rim, now in his most defenseless form, started moving.

“—He’s coming!”

He thrust out his shattered silver right arm. He’s already lost his palm, but has the lightning function stored there not stopped? From the broken mechanical cross-section, intense violet electricity is crackling—No, wait, what’s this? The color is red and black. It’s like the pseudo-lightning attribute that Sariel and I use.

By the time I realized that, ominous red and black lightning was already being emitted from his broken wrist. There were three bolts.

They flew toward us—me, Nelle, and Celis—one each, zigzagging like falling lightning, almost as if they had an auto-tracking function.

I’m not sure what it is, but it seems dangerous to take a direct hit.

“Boost!”

Firing up my magic booster, I swiftly took evasive action. The lightning bolts approached in a trajectory that formed a gentle curve overall, but I managed to dodge them with some leeway.

The lightning bolts that passed by futilely, however, abruptly reversed direction on the spot, as if ignoring momentum entirely.

“—What!?”

Turning around, what my eyes caught wasn’t a lightning flash but a monster illuminated by that glow. It had a head and two arms. Only the upper body, with the lower body connected as one like a lamia made of lightning.

Slothgil.

I only caught a glimpse of its form in the moment it attacked, but I definitely recognized it. But it’s different. That guy’s face was like a skull, but this one’s face is exactly like Lathspun’s—a wolf-like, ferocious beast’s head.

“Gaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!”

I can’t dodge it. Its speed and movements are on a completely different level from back then.

“Warning. Intruder detected.”

The display flashed a red alert. If “Tyrant Armor Maximilian” has already transformed into Slothgil—or rather, Chaotic Rim—with its powerful parasitic ability, perhaps we should call it “Chaoticgil.” It’s trying to possess me.

When I was attacked by Slothgil, my mind was invaded in an instant. The fact that I can resist even a little after the danger warning shows the exceptional mental defense power of “Tyrant Armor Maximilian.”

But it doesn’t seem like an opponent that can be fully defended against with just that. If I just stand idly, “Tyrant Armor Maximilian’s” mental barrier will be breached, and the parasite will reach me.

The “White Feather of Mind Guardian, Aria Guard Feather” that saved my life back then is no longer with me. I returned it to Nelle.

I have no more options—or that would have been the case up until the battle at Ischia.

“‘Demon King of Love, Over Ecstasy.'”

Activating the Fourth Blessing.

Now, take this. A sweet and scorching pleasure offensive barrier that will fry your brain.

—Kyaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!

The moment a piercing shriek echoed, “Tyrant Armor Maximilian’s” system returned to normal. The red alert disappeared, and my vision was clear.

It seems the mental defense power, a side effect of the Fourth Blessing, worked well.

At my feet lay Chaoticgil, frozen as if the lightning itself had solidified into jagged shapes.

If I lightly kicked it with my foot, it crumbled away fragilely.

“Chrono-san, are you okay!?” Nelle called.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Looks like you’re safe too, Nelle.”

Looking over, Nelle was gripping Chaoticgil by the scruff of its neck, squeezing it tightly and crushing it.

As expected of a Rank 5 Healing Priest. Eliminating this type of enemy is her specialty. She probably didn’t even need to use the “White Feather of Mind Guardian, Aria Guard Feather” I returned to her and defeated it on her own.

“—Gah, ahh!”

“Celis!?”

I had the blessing; Nelle had her healing prowess—by a miracle, we both had abilities to counter this special enemy. However, as a Magic Swordsman, Celis probably didn’t possess such countermeasures.

Just like me back in Ischia, Celis was helplessly parasitized by Chaoticgil.

“Damn, it moves quickly—”

The moment Celis let out a groan of agony, the red and black lightning crawling over his body quickly entered through his mouth and disappeared inside. Celis almost collapsed as if his strings were cut, but then he steadied himself as if regaining consciousness.

And in the next moment, with red and black lightning reflected in his eyes, he raised his fine saber and charged at me.

“Chrono-san!”

“I’ll handle this! Just hold him off for a bit!”

As the possessed Celis started running, Chaotic Rim also began his attack. He must have realized from the previous scene that Nelle is the one most adept at healing magic. While Celis distracts me, he’ll crush the isolated Nelle with his own hands.

As if he had such a clear strategy, Chaotic Rim unhesitatingly lunged straight at Nelle.

But not yet. We haven’t lost yet.

“—’Gale Flash Aile Slash'”

“He can use martial arts too?—’Crimson Calm’!”

I countered the approaching blade of wind with my blood blade.

Even under parasitic control, Celis’s brilliant martial art activation and his nimble movements showed almost no decline. To fully draw out the host’s abilities—what a terrifying power.

I can’t afford to take time stopping him. If I don’t finish this in one blow, the battle will become hopelessly unfavorable.

“Hitsugi, stop Celis—’Demon Hand Bind Arts’!”

“Leave it to me~” came the carefree reply, and from the various launchers of “Tyrant Armor Maximilian” and from the shadows at my feet, an enormous bundle of black chains was unleashed.

Nearly a hundred chain tendrils, moving in freely changing trajectories, intercepted the charging Celis head-on. His saber’s counterattacks were truly a storm of fury. With just one sword, he cut down, deflected, and repelled the tendrils that approached from all directions, preventing them from getting close.

“Mmmph! There’s nothing Hitsugi can’t capture alive!”

However, Hitsugi is confident when it comes to the “Demon Hand Bind Arts.” After all, she specializes in that.

With spirit, guts, and numbers, she finally managed to grab Celis’s ankle.

“—Hmph.”

In an instant, he cut off the chains entwined around his ankle with his saber, but it was too late. For me, that momentary opening was enough.

“Wooooaaahhhh!!”

With the elemental booster at full throttle, I closed in on the slightly defenseless Celis. I didn’t need a weapon. I stored “Neck Sever” back into the shadows and grabbed at Celis barehanded.

“Helmet Release: Head Purge.”

In an instant, the skull helmet with two horns was stored away, and my face was exposed to the air. As my naked eyes captured Celis’s pained face, my arms firmly grasped his body.

“Now, Master, do with him as you please~!”

The “Demon Hand Bind Arts” mercilessly entwined Celis’s limbs and even his saber’s blade, completely immobilizing him.

It might be a bit overkill, but since I myself would have to become defenseless from here on, this was safer and more certain. Well done, Hitsugi.

“I’m taking back that body—’Demon King of Love, Over Ecstasy.'”

I activated the Fourth Blessing once more.

And without hesitation, I stole Celis’s lips.

“—Mmmph!!”

Chaoticgil must have sensed the danger. Celis shook violently, desperately trying to break free from me. But he couldn’t possibly escape my embrace with that level of struggle.

With my right arm, I tightly hugged his slender body, and with my left hand, I forcefully grabbed his silver-haired head. I wouldn’t let our locked lips separate.

Thinking that the other party is a man, I felt some resistance, but this is like artificial respiration. Besides, I’ve had similar experiences already. I genuinely thought that it’s better than having my first time be with Simon.

Realizing that my thoughts were veering off in a stupid direction, I forcibly refocused and concentrated on the disenchanting kiss.

I probed inside Celis—not his mouth, but deeper—the innermost place where the evil foreign object lurked.

“Mm…”

I wanted to think that his hot, entwining tongue was a sign of fleeting resistance. I didn’t want to think that the “Demon King of Love, Over Ecstasy” was stimulating Celis’s instinctual lust.

Even understanding that it’s an emergency, my own mental state was at the edge.

So hurry up and let me catch that tail.

“—Mmm, guh, oooooooohhhh!!”

Got it. By sucking on Celis’s mouth, Chaoticgil’s lightning tail finally flickered out to the tip of his lips. The mental defense power of “Demon King of Love, Over Ecstasy” spread through Celis’s body via the kiss, finally driving it out from his brain.

I pushed aside Celis’s still fervently entwining tongue, bit into the protruding tail of Chaoticgil, and forcibly pulled it out from his body all at once.

And so, the passionate kiss between men finally came to an end.

—Kyaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!

It was the same death cry I heard earlier.

I spat out the tail, and the frozen Chaoticgil rolled onto the arena floor.

“Geez, you really gave me trouble, you bastard.”

With a hint of frustration, I crushed the frozen body that had been subjected to mental defense.

Now, with this, Celis has been safely freed from parasitic control, but…

“Guh… ugh… I… what did I…”

It seems he safely regained his sanity.

Celis was panting heavily, his face flushed with fever, barely able to stand. Is it just my imagination that he looks unusually seductive? I hope it’s just because he’s good-looking.

“You’re pretty exhausted. You can’t fight anymore. Stand back.”

“B-but…”

“Just step back. Leave the rest to me and Nelle.”

He should at least be able to walk and evacuate from the arena. Having him nearby in this situation would only be a hindrance.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Celis did more than enough. Chaotic Rim should be defeated with just a little more effort.

Without turning back, I felt Celis’s presence as he walked away, and finally faced Chaotic Rim again.

Nelle, as I had asked, was skillfully keeping him occupied.

Despite his broken right arm and hastily treated left arm, Chaotic Rim’s arms still had enough power to kill a person with a single blow. Nelle continued to elegantly dodge them as if dancing.

She seemed to still have some leeway, but it’s dangerous to let her shoulder all the burden alone for too long. I need to assist quickly—

“—’Second Form: Reversal'”

Chaotic Rim was being thrown as if it were a joke. Well, I’ve thrown Greed Gore around with brute force before, but I don’t have the confidence to pull off such a brilliant throwing technique.

What Nelle grabbed was his leg. Nelle, who had slipped past his arm attacks and leapt into his bosom, didn’t miss the chance to grab the toes of his right foot that had just slightly lifted off the ground during a step, as if she had been aiming for it from the start. From there, it was truly a matter of moments—I couldn’t quite understand the mechanics of how she threw him.

All I knew was that Chaotic Rim was slammed onto his back into the arena with incredible force, as if he fell backward himself, and with that momentum, he bounced greatly and was blown all the way to the wall.

Huh, maybe I’m not needed?

It was such a powerful blow that showcased overwhelming skill and talent, making me think that way.

No, no, that can’t be. The opponent is the ultimate monster that stole the Sixth Trial. Let’s not let our guard down and finish him off.

I took “Neck Sever” in hand once more and started running to launch a follow-up attack before Chaotic Rim, who had crashed into the wall raising a cloud of dust, could move again. That’s when it happened.

I realized that this guy, even when cornered, possesses a devilish cunning that allows him to concoct a reversal plan.

“Uwaaaaaaahhhhh!!”

What I heard was a scream. Not from me, nor Nelle. A complete third party.

“No way!?”

Nelle gasped. Like me, she had been about to step forward to launch an attack but stopped in her tracks.

No wonder.

Because what was reflected in the kind-hearted Princess Nelle’s blue eyes was—a small child clutched in Chaotic Rim’s left hand.

“He took a hostage!?”

How does he know that this would be effective? Why did he choose a child, of all things?

I shuddered at his excessively rational malice.

“Waaaaaah! Mamaaa!!”

Hanging skillfully from his fingertips by the scruff of his neck was a young boy. He was obviously younger than Leki and Ursula—just a small child.

Did he take advantage of being near the wall? He probably had one of his clones rampaging in the audience bring a child over. With that giant body, he could reach the spectator seats easily by extending his hand.

And so, he obtained the strongest shield.

Damn it. Yeah, you’re right, just as you thought. Neither Nelle nor I can attack if it means harming the child.

“Ah—”

Amid the situation that was about to become a stalemate, it was Nelle who moved. Or rather, she was made to move. It’s fair to say that our actions were now being controlled by Chaotic Rim.

He threw the child who should have been his hostage.

Straight toward Nelle.

“No, don’t! Dodge!”

Of course she couldn’t abandon him. Nelle caught the thrown child head-on.

He had been thrown at considerable speed, but with a perfect catch that didn’t inflict any shock on the boy. The hostage child was safely rescued by the kind-hearted princess—and at that moment, the beast’s fist struck.

“—!?”

It was a direct hit.

Unable to dodge or block, the “Fist of Wrath”—a burning straight punch from his gleaming left arm—exploded upon her.

Chaotic Rim had aimed for that exact moment when Nelle caught the child.

She couldn’t possibly take evasive action in that instant. Let alone parry his fist while holding a child. No matter how godlike her ancient martial arts skills were, she wasn’t in a position to defend.

Nelle, unable to do anything, took the critical hit and was blown away with tremendous force like a released arrow. This time, she was slammed into the arena wall.

“Nelleee!!”

White feathers fluttered down.

Nelle, embedded into the hard stone wall, had her entire body slammed by the tremendous shockwave. The fact that she didn’t die instantly was likely due to some last-second measure she took thanks to her skill. But it was clear she had sustained severe damage, to the point of being on the brink of death.

“Gah… ha… ah…”

Nelle coughed up a gush of blood, and the light faded from her eyes. Not only external injuries, but her internal organs must have been damaged as well.

Even so, it’s a relief that she’s still alive.

As for the boy she was supposed to have saved, he was now just a lump of flesh, no longer retaining his original form.

I wonder if Nelle, who seemed semi-conscious, realized that she had failed to save him. She was still holding the bloody, messy remains carefully.

“—’Demon King of Storms, Over Sky'”

There was no other way to stop Chaotic Rim, who was running to deliver the finishing blow.

“‘Black Earth Barrier, Shield Dias’—’Demon King of Steel, Over Gear’!”

Just before his fist could reach, I somehow got between the mortally wounded Nelle and him, interposing a meager defensive spell, and took the beast’s blow head-on.

The jet-black barrier was easily shattered by his left fist, which was blazing with fiery aura, and without losing much momentum, it struck me directly as I stood in his way.

“—Guh, oooooh!!”

I withstood it. But just barely.

My body was protected by the aura of “Demon King of Steel, Over Gear,” but being blown away would defeat the purpose. I had to hold my ground to protect Nelle, but because of that, I had to take the full brunt of the punch, and my body was already battered.

“Black Calm!”

Clenching my teeth, I unleashed a preemptive martial art. In his current state, having abandoned defense, he knew that if he took my “Black Calm” from “Neck Sever” head-on, he would be easily slashed. Without insisting on a follow-up attack, he quickly took a backstep to create distance.

“Ah… ugh, Chrono-kun…”

“Don’t speak, Nelle. I’ll heal you now.”

With Lily gone, I didn’t have the “Fairy Elixir” on hand. So I had no choice but to have her make do with the highest-grade “El Potion.”

While keeping an eye on Chaotic Rim, who had retreated to the center of the arena, I entrusted Nelle, whom I was shielding behind me, to Hitsugi and gave her the potion.

“Here we go! Splashhh!!”

That’s why I told you not to splash potions all over people. But Nelle didn’t seem to have the strength to calmly drink the potion right now. In this case, applying it topically is the best choice.

“Heh, ufufu… I’m so happy… that you, Chrono-kun, are helping me…”

“Of course… we’re friends, after all.”

It’s fine. Even if I’m the only one who thinks so.

“Thank you, Chrono-kun…”

I didn’t know what kind of face Nelle was making or how she felt as she expressed her gratitude.

“Leave the rest to me. I will definitely defeat Chaotic Rim.”

Without looking back even once, I ran toward the center of the arena where he was boldly waiting.

With Celis out and Nelle incapacitated, I was finally the only one left who could fight.

But it’s enough that we’ve come this far. I will definitely defeat him. With my own hands. This time, I will overcome the Sixth Trial.

“I’ll settle this once and for all—Are you ready, Chaotic Rim!”

The beast responded with a ferocious roar.

And so, the final duel began.