Chapter 787 - Intermission: Far North Star ~ ~ Fangs of the Tyrannical Beast ~ ~
A sudden mock battle between Iris and Polaris. The battle started when Polaris, who is good at Barrier Magic, set up wards around the deserted island.
The first to move was Iris. With her arms crossed, she brought forth a magic circle at her feet and announced.
[Before me lies darkness, opposing me is a foolish rebel……]
[……Chanting?]
[Black dot piercing through the target. Release, σφαῖρα σκοτάδι.]
(T/N: Sfaira skotadi / Darkness Bullet)
[…………………]
With her chant, a huge number of magic circles spread out around Iris, and jet-black bullets were released from them. There were more than a thousand of them, and as if they were converging, they closed in on Polaris.
In response, Polaris suspiciously raised an eyebrow for a moment, before she just stood there without defending or evading. The jet-black bullets struck Polaris’ body…… and didn’t even manage to make a scratch on her body.
[……Hoohh… Defensive Magic? No, your body itself is tough huh.]
[Ahh~~ Iris Illuminus…… Could it be that? Perhaps, you were seriously making light of me?]
[Unnn?]
[I’m not saying that chanting has no advantages at all. But at our level, chanting to cast your magic is just a useless process. With your magic power, there’s no way that you’re unable to use chantless magic, right?]
[Now, I wonder about that?]
[……Well, fine. However, don’t use it as an excuse when you lose.]
With a slightly annoyed expression on her face, Polaris held up one hand to the sky, and a large number of magic circles appeared, filling the sky.
[If you want a magic battle, I’ll give you one!]
[……That’s a magnificent view.]
Muttering, Iris turned her attention to the magic circle that Polaris brought forth. The magic technique written on the circles was simple and concise, on the level of low-level magic, but the number of magic circles she summoned was incomparable.
(……Hundreds of thousands, or perhaps, even millions…… She’s the type of person who crushes people with numbers huh. Thought she’s just a musclehead.)
Thereupon, Polaris swung her hand down, and just like a torrential rain, magic was released from the magic circles, and a tremendous explosion enveloped Iris.
Of course, Polaris doesn’t expect Iris to be dealt with with just this much. With her guard still raised, she looked at the dust clouds. A few moments later, the smoke cleared to reveal Iris, whose shoulder area of her clothes had slightly darkened.
[……The power of each shot is low, but the power is increased by concentrating the shots on several points and making them land almost simultaneously huh. That’s quite an impressive technique.]
[I’m honored by your compliment. So, what do you think? Are you starting to get eager yet?]
[Yeah, I guess so.]
Nodding at Polaris’ words, Iris uncrossed her arms and looked at Polaris, she declared.
[Heed my royal decree. My army, my swordmen, gather, line up, and destroy the fools who stand before me.]
[……You’re starting to irritate me. Stop underestima———- !?]
When Polaris saw Iris start chanting magic again, a vein popped out of her forehead and she stepped forward, intending to attack Iris. However, her action was interrupted by the chantless magic Iris shot at her from her left hand.
[It’s not that I’m looking down on you or that I can’t use chantless magic. It’s just that chanting makes it “easier for me to reconfigure the magic in the process”.]
[……This is!?]
Hundreds of gigantic magic circles floated around Iris…… and all at once, “they were sucked into Iris’ raised right arm”.
[Technique Conversion———— “Magic Armament: Black Arm of Thousand Swords”]
(T/N: 千剣の黒腕 / Senken no Kuro Ude)
Thereupon, Iris’ right arm transformed. It turned into a black, sinister sharp-edged arm, looking like it was covered in thorns……
At first glance, it looks as if she has materialized magic power and is wearing it on her arm. However, the terminology “Magic Armament” that she mentioned earlier was something she was unfamiliar with…… Keeping her guard up, Polaris waited for Iris to make her move.
Iris swings her black right arm down. Having a bad feeling about Iris’ strike, Polaris immediately took evasive action. Thereupon, a black flash of light pa.s.sed right next to Polaris, and a line appeared on the ground, as if a sword had sliced through it.
[……Slashing Properties Endowment? Or perhaps, she simply released magic power from her right arm? Either way, with the ground slashed like this, I don’t think it’s just materialization of magic power.]
[I wonder about that. I’m not really some teacher at a magic school, so I don’t really have to explain everything to you. Go figure it out yourself.]
The next moment after she said that, multiple jet-black swords appeared around Polaris and attacked her all at once.
(This is…… there isn’t a magic circle from where it appeared from. Even a single hint of its appearance can’t be felt from the flow of magic power…… Swords of magic power…… Black arm of thousand swords…… So that’s how it is!)
Repelling the incoming swords, Polaris speculated about the power of the Magic Armament that Iris used.
(Perhaps, that right arm…… is a “fusion of magic techniques”. In other words, that right arm of hers has now been transformed into an arm with the magic properties of a sword. That’s why she can unleash a slash with a swing of a hand, and she doesn’t need to go through a magic circle to use Sword Magic…… How troublesome. I can read any hints from the flow of magic power. This inevitably delays my response by a fraction of a second.)
Once activated, Iris’ Magic Armament allows her to use magic instantly without the need of magic circles, and for those who fight by reading the flow of magic power in their opponents and surroundings, it’s difficult to know when she makes her move.
In addition, the power of each shot is considerable……
[Hill of fools, jet-black earth, blades lurking in the shadows, seeking flesh and blood……]
[————Tsk!?]
When Polaris saw Iris start chanting again, she tried to stop her, but a huge jet-black sword from Iris’ right arm prevented her from doing so.
[Before my finger stands the Sacrifice. Greedily devour them———- Technique Conversation, Magic Armament: Black Legs of Shadow Edge.]
(T/N: Kageha no Kuro Ashi)
This time, both of Iris’ legs looked like black thorns. When Iris stomped her foot, the shadows around Polaris extended like spears and attacked Polaris at once.
Of course, that wasn’t all, as jet-black swords also continued to attack her.
[Come on, let’s bring in some more…… Roaring Cages of the Underworld, Open! The Madness of Nightmares, Swallow all Creations————– Technique Conversation, Magic Armament: Black Garments of Prison Gate.]
(T/N:獄門の黒衣 / Gok.u.mon no Kuro Ginu)
[Another one……]
It was a scene worthy of being called a tempest of magic. If she gets delayed with something, Iris will add more Magic Armament and increase the density of her attacks. Even if she tries to attack, it’s extremely difficult to get past her magic that is faster than chantless magic, and in addition, the magic power of Iris herself is enormous, so all the magic that she released is extremely powerful.
Evading the barrage that could crush her with their sheer volume if she stopped, Polaris slightly smiled and occasionally waved her arms to destroy the incoming magic.
[So you do have it in you…… and it’s even beyond what I imagined. Iris Illuminus…… However, looking at how you took control of the battle just irritates me!]
At the same time as she shouted this, Polaris placed her hands, which were filled with a huge amount of magic power, in front of her body, as if she was going to pray.
[……”Starry Hill”.]
[Mhmm…… Houuu…]
Seeing the activation of her magic, Iris stopped her attacks once. Then, with a look of admiration on her face, she moved her gaze to the surrounding scenery that had changed from what it had been a moment ago.
What should have been a deserted island in the daytime had somehow turned into a hilltop under the starry skies.
[……This is the first time I’ve seen this. The highest level of Barrier Magic, dragging the opponent into the s.p.a.ce created by the caster…… “Large-Scale Spatial Barrier” huh……]
Large-Scale Spatial Barrier…… It can be described as the profoundest form of Barrier Magic, a magic that forcibly drags the opponent into a field in their favor.
What’s troublesome with this magic is that it is difficult to escape from the inside because it can be as vast as the caster wants it to be, depending on the magic power of the caster.
Therefore, Iris stopped attacking for a moment. As long as you’ve been captured by a Large-Scale Spatial Boundary, everything within it is within the enemy’s attack range……
[I’ve heard that the Large-Scale Spatial Barrier has completely different effects depending on the user…… Now then, I wonder what this s.p.a.ce is like?]
[You’re still as composed as usual…… I’m beyond irritated now, but I know that I’d feel just as refreshed soon. But well, let’s see how long you can keep your composure up!]
[This is also…… quite the spectacular view.]
As if in response to Polaris’ words, the s.p.a.ce finally bared its fangs on Iris. The stars that had been twinkling in the sky, all fell to the ground at once…… raining down towards Iris.
The shooting stars raining down incessantly filled the s.p.a.ce with thunderous roars and explosions. When Iris blocked them with a powerful Defensive Magic, Polaris flew to her, fists at the ready, and swung her arm.
Holding no feints, just a simple straight right punch…… However, the strike from Polaris’ body, which has been trained beyond its limits, penetrated through Iris’ Defensive Magic and head straight into her body.
Once her Defensive Magic had been broken, the rest of the shooting stars rained down like waves, and explosions and smoke engulfed Iris’ body.
Confirming such a scene, Polaris clapped her hands…… and the Large-Scale Spatial Barrier that had been created converged with Iris at its center, and disappeared with a tremendous explosion.
An attack with a Large-Scale Spatial Barrier, a strike with a body that boasts an unbelievable amount of physical strength, and for good measure, a Spatial Annihilation Attack…… She doesn’t expect that a battle between peak Count-ranks wouldn’t be settled by something of this level, but Polaris still expects that she dealt a certain amount of damage.
Yes, this shouldn’t be the end. Thinking that this is just the start, Polaris’ mind slacked a bit after seeing her consecutive attacks cleanly hitting Iris, and within the smoke that covered the deserted island, Polaris raised her stance.
[……I see, since you said you use Limited Future Vision, I thought you would have some special way of battling…… but it’s more like you’re an all-rounder with an unbelievably high basic stats. Interesting.]
[Oi, oi, your toughness ain’t a joking matter. I never thought that you would be done for with that…… but it’s shocking to see you unharmed. I know you said you weren’t a teacher and all that, but I wish you’d cut me some slack and reveal some things here.]
Seeing the unharmed Iris emerge from the smoke, as expected, Polaris had a bead of sweat running down her forehead as she asked.
[Unnn? Ahh, there’s nothing special about it. It’s just that the Black Garments of Prison Gate I wore earlier has a defensive effect that automatically activates.]
[Ahh, I see…… Speaking of which, your clothes are back to normal. For an automatically activated technique to receive my earlier attack, that was quite a frighteningly efficient technique.]
[Well, it sure is convenient. Now then, “it was a great fight”.]
[……What are you saying?]
[This mock battle was very fruitful for me as well. In particular, it was a good learning experience for me to experience Large-Scale Barrier Magic. I hope we can have another opportunity to fight like this sometime in the future.]
Polaris looked dubious at Iris’ words. Well, it’s no wonder. There are still nearly 20 minutes left until the time Iris set, and neither side has sustained significant damage. In fact, the real battle should be starting from here on out.
However, from the tone of Iris’ voice……
[……Well then, “let’s finish this”.]
[ ! ? ]
Before Polaris knew it, she was leaping away from Iris. It was not a conscious action, but her body itself moved on its own to escape the threat.
[Awaken, Tyrannical Beast sleeping within mine heart! Rip the earth with thy black claws, devour the sky with thy black fangs. Thou art the predator, the Beast of the End, bringing ruin to the heaven and earth! Fangs of my heart, burst forth! Reveal thyself! Magic Staff———– ἀποκάλυψις!]
(T/N: Apocalypse)
As black magic power gushed forth, a huge staff appeared in Iris’ hand.
[Now, Polaris…… You are strong. However, I’m afraid I can’t let you beat me so easily.]
As a fearless smile appeared with her words, the words she had once exchanged with best friend came to Iris’ mind.
————-Now then, I’ve finished teaching most of the things you need to know. It seems like you’ve learned more quickly than I expected. From now on, I hope you will develop a fighting style of your own.
————-Yeah, I don’t want to have to ask you to teach me again and again. Well, I am grateful for your guidance though.
————-You’re as tsundere as always…… Well, I really hope I don’t have to teach Iris again. I feel like my gooseb.u.mps would get even worse. Well, that being said, I’ve one thing to tell you.
————-Unnn?
————-Regarding Iris’ body, I’ve made some adjustments to it. I dropped some of your basica abilities that you weren’t even able to make use, and instead, adjusted it so that it can “grow” with training in the future.
————-Fumu, I see…… Which means, it would be that, right? It would be up to me how much stronger I can be from here on out.
————-That’s right. Incidentally, Iris’ current power is just about to reach peak Count-rank…… I’m not going to wait in this place and kindly wait for you to reach my level, you know? Stop playing around and doing nothing, and quickly catch up with me…… Partner.
Chuckling as she remembered her best friend’s taunting smile, Iris readied her ἀποκάλυψις and muttered in a small voice.
[……A few hundred million years is a lot of time. My starting line had been cheated over, but I’m still so far behind that I can’t even see her back.]
[Unnn? What are you talking about?]
[No, it’s nothing…… Since we’re at it, I guess I’ll tell you what my ἀποκάλυψις’s power is. What, the ability is quite simple. ἀποκάλυψις just explosively amplifies the magic power I pour into it. Just like this!]
[Kuhh!?]
At that moment, jet-black magic power rages around the ἀποκάλυψις in Iris’ hand. Looking at all the magic power that couldn’t even be called a tempest anymore, Polaris involuntarily took a step back.
[The twilight bell tolls, listen to the song of destruction as the Beast of the End roars!]
Iris’ powerful magic power, enhanced by ἀποκάλυψις, brought her power up to a level that would be effective even against the Six Kings.
However, that isn’t all there is to it. She now possesses the power of the Magic Armaments, which she never had before.
[Let your roars resound! It’s time to hunt!!! Magic Armament———— “Fangs of the Tyrannical Beast”]
The devastating magic power converging, the huge staff in Iris’ hand…… transformed into a sinister jet-black spear. When Polaris saw this, she turned pale and broke out in a sweat.
(……That magical density isn’t even funny anymore. This is bad. Even if I use my everything on Defensive Magic, it still isn’t enough to receive that.)
Before that bundle of violence in the form of magic power, just looking at it makes Polaris feel “death”, something she hasn’t felt in a long time.
Feeling as if the hairs all over her body raised, Polaris smiled.
[She’s even more than I thought, sinisterness worthy of being the subordinate of the King of Death…… She’s really splendid.)
Iris has a certain obsession with battle. She indeed thinks that strategy is important. It’s important to hone one’s skill as much as possible. She also thinks that flexibility to adapt to different situations, like her opponents having special abilities as essential.
However, more than that…… The most important thing in battle is “firepower”. Of course, this is everything else is taken into account, but she believes that in the end, it is firepower that makes the difference between victory and defeat.
Strategy, technique, ability, applicability…… Overwhelmingly tyrannical firepower that crushes and swallows up everything, it is the power she pursues the most.
Therefore, ἀποκάλυψις, which simply supercharges her firepower, can be said to be a manifestation of how her mind works.
[……Well then, let’s pull up the curtains. Devour, Tyrannical Beast! Κόλαση ἀποκάλυψις!!!]
(T/N: h.e.l.l Apocalypse)
With those key-like words, Iris swung her huge spear and released its tremendous power. Her strike, which had already reached the level of the strongest among the Count-ranks in terms of firepower…… The defensive barrier that Polaris quickly put up, the barrier surrounding them, and even Polaris herself…… All of it was swallowed up and obliterated by Iris’ tyrannical magic power.
When the laid down Polaris regained consciousness, she saw Iris sitting next to her.
[You’ve regained consciousness huh.]
[……I am…… I see, I lost huh.]
[I dunno, I wonder about that…… That’s “for you to decide”.]
Hearing Polaris’ murmur, Iris pointed to the sky with a voice that sounded somewhat gentle. At the other end of her finger was the clock that Iris had summoned in the sky at the beginning of the battle.
Looking at it, she saw that the time she had until the match set with Iris ends…… has “one minute” left.
[……………………..]
The condition for Polaris’ victory set by Iris is that Polaris must be “standing”at the end of the 30 minutes.
In other words, what Iris was saying is that Polaris could choose whether to stand up now and achieve victory or stay lying down and lose……
When Polaris understood Iris’ intentions, she smiled and turned her face to Iris while still lying down.
[……I guess your personality ain’t that bad eh?]
[I wonder about that.]
Polaris was aware of what Iris was doing. She knows that Iris had purposely stopped the hands of the clock at 29 minutes…… and she’s saying that if Polaris wants it, Iris was willing to give up her position as the Head of Death King’s subordinates……
[So, you won’t stand?]
[I won’t……]
[I see.]
At the same time as Iris nodded her head to the laid-down Polaris’ response, the hand of the clock in the sky moved, and the clock that had completed its role disappeared.
After confirming this, Polaris slowly got up and called out to Iris, putting on her pointy hat that had been placed nearby.
[I mean, in the first place…… “I knew that I’m going to lose from the start”.]
[Unnn? Ahh, speaking of which, you did mention that you could see the future huh.]
[I don’t use it all the time though, because it consumes a lot of magic power for a limited result. Still, I knew that what awaited me at the end of fighting you was my defeat. I told you from the beginning, didn’t I? That I have no problem with you being the Head of Death King’s subordinates…… That is my true feelings.]
[I see…… Then, knowing that you’d lose, why do you still choose to fight?]
[I can only see the results after all. I meant it when I said I wanted to know what you could do……. Also, well, there’s that. Even though I understood it in my head, my emotions still feel complicated about it. However, I feel much better now that I have been thoroughly defeated.]
Saying that as she stood up, Polaris looked at Iris and told her with a fearless smile.
[Well, that’s why, I will be in your care…… “Head-dono”.]
[Fuuu…… That was a good workout. After we return to the castle, we’ll be going to the meeting about the upcoming festival in the G.o.d Realm, you know?]
[Oi, oi, that’s a rough way to treat your subordinates, you know? Even though I’ve regained consciousness, my body is so tattered that I feel like I died once, you know…… I’d like it if I could have some tea break and regain my strength.]
Shrugging her shoulders, Polaris followed behind Iris, her expression somewhat happy, indicating that she had settled a lot of emotions in her mind, just as she had said earlier.
[Well, I’ll brew you a cup of tea, so you better work hard.]
[Oya? I’m looking forward to it then. Well then, I’ll be expecting Head-dono’s skills.]
The cover of the manga’s Volume 3…… This is the first time I posted this in the Afterword…… right?
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