CH 160.2

Chapter 160.2. The Goddess Of New Year’s Eve

-Nagamasa’s POV-

The bodies of the approaching shadow mantises glow faintly as they relentlessly advance toward their enemies.

The bodies of the approaching shadow mantises glow faintly as they relentlessly advance toward their enemies.

While the mana aura surrounding shadow mantises’ bodies has grown slightly, those facing them remain calm, knowing their magical power far surpasses their opponents.

[Hailstones]

One of the men creates ice projectiles once again. This time, there are 32 of them. Sharp ice projectiles are launched toward shadow mantises.

Shadow mantises stop and spread their wings.

“Chichichichi…”

“Chichichichi…”

“Chichichichi…”

“Chichichichi…”

[Shadow Blitz]

[Shadow Blitz]

[Shadow Blitz]

[Shadow Blitz]

Each of shadow mantises fires 10 dark bullets. The bullets soar through the air, accurately hitting the incoming ice projectiles and knocking them all down. They directed the remaining 8 bullets toward the man who used magic.

“What! Gahagh!”

For some reason, his magic barrier gets pierced, and the man’s armor gets destroyed as he falls to the ground. Startled by the enemy’s actions, the man tries to regain his footing, but a shadow falls upon his face.

“Chichichichi…”

Three shadow mantises appear from the shadows, cutting the man’s legs and swinging their scythes to sever his defenseless neck.

“Ranti! You bastards!”

The man next to him, enraged by the fall of his comrade, imbues his dagger with mana.

[Flying Blade]

He swings his dagger, he unleashes a blade of magical power toward the shadow mantises, but the mantises also swing their scythes upward.

“Chichichichi…”

[Shadow Edge]

Three shadow mantises coat their scythes with a dark aura and simultaneously strike back against the approaching blade of magical power. Though the magical blade had far more mana, it couldn’t withstand the combined counterattack and disintegrated.

“These, these guys…”

More shocked by shadow mantises’ coordinated movements than by his magic getting shattered, the man is further assaulted by other Shadow Mantises, unleashing a barrage of attacks that turn him into a mass of flesh.

“I-I can’t! Their movements are completely different from before. Be careful!”

He tries to counter with a swift sword strike, but shadow mantis parries it with their scythes, producing a metallic clash.

Meanwhile, other shadow mantis’s strength tears through his arm and pierces his torso, causing him to stagger and falter.

“This strength… They’re like demons.”

Without uttering another word, the pitch-black creatures aim for his legs, slash his arms, and attempt to sever his neck with dark sword flashes, leaving behind multiple trails of their movements. He is relentlessly attacked and unable to defend himself, eventually falling apart and succumbing to defeat.

“T-They’re strong.”

“Run! Agh!”

“Using our allies as shields…”

His comrades desperately try to fight back, but even when the Shadow Mantis creatures are defeated, they cling on and continue their assault, using the corpses as shields to block attacks.

Shadow mantises’ strength only slightly increased, but their coordinated actions surpassed those of skilled soldiers. They create openings, break through defenses, and defeat their opponents with machine-like precision.

Nagamasa couldn’t hide his surprise as the elite soldiers continued to fall. They were supposed to be the prized assassination unit.

However, those elites were defeated by the Shadow Mantis.

“Huuh… Well done. Are you perhaps one of Solomon’s executives?”

Despite his surprise, Nagamasa remains composed. Even as his allies are defeated one by one, he confidently gazes down at the girl before him.

“Chichichichi.”

As all of his comrades are defeated, shadow mantises swarm and attack Nagamasa. He becomes completely engulfed by them, turning into a writhing mass of darkness.

“But it’s futile against me, utterly futile!”

With Nagamasa’s roar, golden light bursts forth from the mass of darkness.

[God Explosion]

The golden aura erupts, blowing away the mass of darkness. Intense flashes tear through the darkness, illuminating the surroundings, and the shockwave blows away the Shadow Mantis creatures, causing them to vanish into the light.

“Kukukuku. This is my first battle after achieving the [True Awakening] of the Royal Family’s power. Let’s make it spectacular.”

After the explosion subsides, Nagamasa appears with a golden aura, radiating a sense of overwhelming power.

His hair and eyes shine in golden brilliance.

Possessing immense strength, Nagamasa chuckles and provocatively waves his hand, gesturing for them to come at him.

“You’re no match for me. Now, come at me!”

Observing Nagamasa’s composed attitude, Freya finally smiles faintly and becomes intrigued. Understanding his intentions, she nods approvingly.

“So, it wasn’t in the original story? It wasn’t in the game’s plot? I see. That sounds interesting.”

Finally, someone with a challenging spirit appeared. Freya turns her body towards Nagamasa.

“Very well. Then I, the goddess Freya, who selects Heroic Spirits, shall be your opponent.”

Freya adorns a smile reminiscent of a beautiful flower and declares her intentions to Nagamasa.