CH 260.1

260 – Wraith Party VS Asmodeus Party 2 (Part 1)

There is, of course, a reason as to why Asmodeus is called the Coordinator.

There is an unspoken rule that you must have the strength to Clear any of the North, South, East, or West Demon King Castles to be able to challenge the Impregnable Demon King Castle.

Recently, Hero parties who ignore this rule have been on the rise, but there are also those who wish properly challenge them all in order to gauge just how strong they really are.

So, the Northern Demon King Castle led by Asmodeus is the easiest Demon King Castle to Clear.

Rather than simply whether or not they have the power to overcome her, it’s more like she decides whether or not a Hero party has any worth if they are allowed to pass through.

In other words, Asmodeus has rarely shown her true power, and she lets herself be defeated if you can satisfy her.

This is probably why the All-Seeing Demon King Paimon said something about her keeping up a pretense as an invigilator.

There are many who do not like her methods, but I am of a different mind.

Indeed, a battle where both sides give it their absolute all is spectacular. I enjoy those as well.

However, the rulers of each of the Demon King Castles are just too strong.

There are surely very few who can utterly defeat them.

It’s very hard to learn from defeat when you were defeated by something you don’t even understand.

Asmodeus pushes the challengers to their very limit.

With that, those that are able to grow from their experience in the Impregnable Demon King Castle are passed while those that have not reached that level yet will be defeated.

She is a Demon King who brings out the best in Adventurers, who are supposed to be her enemies.

This is exactly why the Fenix party chose to challenge the Northern Demon King Castle in the past.

「To this day, I think about how far you could have gone if you had stayed within the Fenix party.」

Just before the match starts, Asmodeus said that.

「I wonder…but, I like where I am now.」

「That’s nice. Would you please allow me to check for myself?」

『This is the second round of the second stage of the All-Heaven Festival Contest!　Asmodeus party VS Wraith Party…FIGHT!』

The match begins as soon as it starts.

Wraith fires off a Water Blade.

An ultrahigh-pressure stream of water becomes a blade that can cut enemies.

But…

「That’s a good Spirit Magic, boy. But sorry, I’m not in the mood for a bath, so I’ll erase it.」

The Water Magic evaporated in an instant.

Water vapor scattered about.

It’s the Devil of the Aquarium Crocell.

He possesses the magic known as Rule over Water.

「Thanks for the compliment, old man. The next one’s gonna be stronger, so try not to drown.」

Wraith’s fighting spirit has been set ablaze.

「Hah hah hah, what a spirited young lad.」

A battle between he who is loved by the Water Spirit and he who rules over water has broken out.

「Huh? I can’t steal it…?」

A voice from the sky.

It’s the Robber of Reason Shax.

She hovers in midair with her wings while cocking her head curiously.

She kept opening and closing her arms, which are separate from her wings.

「I’ve never met a kid with a guard as strong as this. I’m getting pumped.」

She looks down at me while her smile intensifies.

Magic that can steal even concepts is fearsome indeed.

However, it is still magic.

Magic that interferes with the target activates by sending out your own Magical Energy to touch your opponent.

Just like Black Magic and White Magic.

Therefore, it can be Resisted.

But the technique to Resist requires you to discharged Magical Energy in order to fend off someone else’s Magical Energy.

It is like deflecting an arrow by wearing armor.

It’s useful, but not all-powerful.

There are gaps, and depending on the amount of Magical Energy incoming, it can just bulldoze through the armor.

「Shax, it’s better if you leave him well enough alone.」

Said Asmodeus.

「Wha~? But…my main gimmick is that I can steal anything, if I give up now, I’d be a disgrace to that titl-whoa!」

Shax had to perform emergency evasive action midair.

That’s because Melania jumped and swung her club at her.

「Professionals are supposed to do their homework before taking on the real thing. I know how sturdy that vault of his is. So why don’t we think about how to pull the treasure out of there first?」

「That sounds good, your Highness. I’ll do just that…yoink.」

The club in Melania’s hand disappeared.

「I don’t need it so you can have it back.」

It appeared right before Shax’s eyes.

It falls to the ground from the air.

Shax was right above Melania’s head.

Which means, the club was heading straight for the top of Melania’s head.

「Kuh…」

Melania reacted.

The stage shakes greatly as the club falls.

Melania could be seen hesitating as to whether or not she should pick it up again.

「Full Resist, huh, Lem? Truly splendid.」

Asmodeus seems to know what I did.

If Resist is an armor formed by releasing Magical Energy, then Full Resist is a barrier created by circulating Magical Energy.

Right now, there is a hemisphere of Magical Energy surrounding me.

With this, I can deploy my Magical Energy without gaps, and defend against the enemy’s Magical Energy.

However, normally, thinking up a command to Magical Energy will turn it into Magic.

Even if they share the same function as Resist, fighting while surrounding yourself with water or fire is not realistic.

So then, how am I telling my Magical Energy to circulate around me?

The theory is simple.

Pre-activation Black Magic.

Using the art of manipulating Magical Energy in order to hit the target.

I am currently deploying Black Magic in circles around me.

Since it cannot find its target, the Magical Energy just spins around me endlessly.

As a result, that Magical Energy protects me.

Concentration and Magical Energy are required to maintain it, but I can manage that.

「You never cease to surprise me.」

Said the Demon King in admiration.

If I didn’t do things like this, I wouldn’t be able to win.

「…Black Sorcerer…Lem…」

There came a voice calling out my name with disdain.

The Future Reading Knight Eligor has unsheathed his sword and was heading right for me.

But I’ve already made preparations.

I cast Intelligence Down Black Magic on him.

His Evil Eye sees the future. It cannot sense Magical Energy.

So it is incompatible against invisible attacks.

Also, if his ability to think is hampered, it’s possible to delay the flow of processing the information he received from his future-seeing eye and thus slow down his present movements.

As a result…

「Fine, I shall seal that Eye and simply cut your head off.」

Having said that, he closes his right eye.

So that’s his Evil Eye, huh? By voluntarily sealing his future sight, he is able to stem the flow of information and continue to attack under the effects of Intelligence Down.

That is when the Destroyer Fran attacks him.

「Such destructive power and body manipulation are unthinkable for one so young. Truly magnificent.」

Eligor skilfully evades Fran’s attack and he cleanly cuts her monstrous arm.

Magical Energy particles splatter.

Not caring in the slightest, Fran continues her series of attacks.

「However, fighting is not all about destroying.」

He dodges her continuous attacks for several seconds.

Suddenly Eligor ignores her and starts dashing towards me again.

「…? …!」

Fran was unable to chase after him.

「It feels ever so pitiful to tie up such a cute child. But it cannot be helped, for this is a serious battle after all…isn’t that so?」

Before she realized it, Fran’s body was entangled in spider threads.

It’s the Thundercloud Ruler Bael.

In addition to her ability to create and manipulate threads.

「…Gkgkgk?!」

She is a half-Majin, half-spider Demi-Human who specializes in Lightning Magic.

Electricity travels along the threads, zapping Fran.

「Josh…!」

Shouted Wraith.

「I’m on it!」

The White Sorcerer Josh heals Fran.