EP.208 Land Flowing Like a River - Finale
The Magic General who dignifiedly requested surrender was polite yet arrogant. Tir, who was already displeased, became violently enraged at the Magic General's words. Her faithful servant, Darkness, witnessed its master's rage and trembled in fear.
"How absurd. Just because you float in the sky and look down at me, do you think you have the upper hand?"
The darkness surging from the wide-open coffin grew even thicker. If before it was like a fog where one could still distinguish what was ahead, now it felt like being underwater where one could barely see an inch ahead.
In the gradually darkening field of vision, only Tir's eyes shone bright red.
"Did you think magic belonged only to you? Blood Magic was originally a tool of my subordinates, but I shall specially show it to you..."
Blood Magic: magic manifested using blood energy instead of magical power.
Tir, who was about to draw a magic circle with blood, soon realized that her blood refused to leave her body. Tir was momentarily flustered by this unexpected situation.
'Is she trying to use Blood Magic? To be able to compete in magic with the Progenitor in her lifetime is an honor.'
"Then, I shall prepare as well."
Prelvior spread her cloak even wider. Between the fluttering edges of the cloak, steel beads glowing red-hot breathed fiercely.
Growth-stage Artifact. Yugong Yishan.
A magic artifact that moves mountains, for one who calls themselves foolish.
Its abilities are protecting the wearer from the backlash of magic, accumulation of magical power, and recycling of magical power.
Prelvior's magic is enormous in scale, but the magic itself is basic. Whether it's matter or magic, the simpler it is, the easier it is to convert. It helps her continuously cast strategic-grade magic by recycling that magical power.
It was equipment made by Prelvior, for Prelvior.
"Preset. Li."
Yugong Yishan converted the remnants of fire magic into light and absorbed them. From the metal spheres attached to the massive cloak, a blinding light flashed.
In contrast, Tir, who couldn't use Blood Magic, instead faced the power circulating inside her body. Rather than following Tir's commands, the blood energy was cheerfully threading through her blood vessels, infusing life into her.
Tir muttered in dejection.
"Hah. How stubborn. Is this truly the only way."
Having made up her mind, Tir bent her knees instead of twisting with magic. Following Tirkanzaka's will, pitch-black darkness supported her feet.
"To have to push my body forward directly like some lowly soldier..."
The moment she straightened her bent legs, the earth shook. Tir's body soared toward the sky. The darkness wrapped around her body couldn't keep up and lagged behind, but that wasn't a particularly important problem.
Because Tir, who shot up into the sky, stepped on her own darkness and closed in on Prelvior.
The Magic General's magic was not yet ready. Prelvior's eyes, who was chanting a spell, widened.
'What? This isn't the Progenitor's method...!'
"This is not welcome to me either, so I shall end this quickly."
Tir's pale white hand, which burst forth cutting through the wind, was just about to snatch the cloak.
A spear flying from somewhere struck Tir's body. At the last moment, the distance between them widened. Tir's body slid back through empty air.
Patraksion, who intercepted the Progenitor with a javelin meant not to pierce but to deflect, grabbed another spear and shouted.
"We meet again on the battlefield, Progenitor! Last time there was no reason to fight, but this time is different!"
"A mere knight...!"
While Tir fiercely changed her expression, Prelvior's magic was completed. A compressed beam of light poured down on Tir, who wasn't receiving the protection of darkness.
The Regressor tried to pull back right after the Magic General appeared, but Historia, who read the signs, clung to them like a ghost.
"Where are you going?"
Historia smiled subtly as she looked at the troubled Regressor.
"You have to play with me. Oh, is an older woman too stimulating for you, cutie?"
It was a remark with some of her true feelings mixed in, but the Regressor, who took it as provocation, gritted their teeth.
"Older woman, you say? Hmph. You don't know anything."
"Your words are harsh. Yes, ill-mannered behavior. A child's privilege."
"...Did you say ill-mannered? That's my line."
The Regressor closed their eyes for a moment. Historia, who had been full of composure, lowered her body at the suddenly changed momentum and tensed up. When the Regressor raised their head again, rainbow-colored light flashed in their eyes.
Seven-Colored Eyes, full eye opening. Divine Wheel Heavenly Eyes.
Observing possibilities that exist in the future, and simultaneously pulling them into this world.
Qian, Kun, Kan.
Though it didn't reach the level of principle, qi gong that had once reached its peak inhabited the body. Operating the overflowing energy as if it were their own, they instantly accelerated and simultaneously raised both swords.
"Don't mess around!!"
Jizan, which had only been guarding from a defensive position due to the disadvantage of being slow, suddenly moved as agilely as a snake. Historia hardened her expression.
"Ugh?!"
The relic Jizan, heavy as Mount Tai yet felt light only to the Regressor. However, that was because Jizan accommodated them, not because it was swung quickly.
But now, for some reason, they were swinging Jizan like an ordinary longsword. With qi gong fully infused into it.
"Did you take some kind of drug? Your skill suddenly increased...!"
"Sorry, but this is my real ability!"
Unlike Qian and Kun which heavily rely on sense and technique, Kan is a qi gong that strengthens the body itself.
Because it reset upon regression, it had to be relearned every cycle, and because of that, it changed slightly each time. The Regressor, who grew every cycle, would learn new Kan qi gong as if shedding skin.
"Until now, I couldn't use it easily because it was heavy...!"
Even a battering ram will break if hung on a cornstalk. It takes at least a solid oak to withstand that force.
Likewise. Until now, no matter how much the Regressor swung Jizan, the body leading it couldn't withstand it.
But now, having overlaid the power of the future through the Destiny Eyes, they could use 100% of Jizan's original power.
"Even with gear, you need that much power to use it!"
Jizan, which had moved as if accommodating them until now, was swung passively.
It was an irresistible strike. Naturally, Historia briefly stepped back outside Jizan's range and planted her back foot, preparing to leap in right after.
At that moment, Jizan changed direction. What it was targeting was not Historia, but the iron chain that followed her half a beat late. The blunt end caught the end of the chain.
It only slightly caught on. But as if Jizan had become a magnet, the iron chain stuck firmly to Jizan.
Jigon Style, Magnetism.
If Cheonang is repulsion, Jizan is attraction. The womb of steel and the embrace of the earth that holds all things in the world.
'Of course, the opponent can shake it off with repulsion qi gong... But it's hard to cover even the chain with qi gong!'
"This time you got caught!"
Jizan has no recoil. When pulled with full force, Historia's entire body came along with it. She hurriedly aimed the muzzle, but the Regressor, having predicted that, blocked the muzzle with Cheonang.
At the same time, bam, the Regressor's foot struck Historia's abdomen.
"Kugh...!"
Historia also protected her body with qi gong, but the Regressor's energy vastly exceeded expectations in that brief moment. Historia folded in half and tumbled. At the pain tearing through her stomach, she breathed harshly.
"Keuk! Cough, cough!"
"Too bad. If my legs were just a bit longer, you wouldn't even be able to get up!"
Anyway, it was when the Regressor was about to turn around.
A stinging sensation was felt at the ankle. The Regressor's ankle was bound by an iron chain. At the last moment, Historia had given up defense and instead tied the leg with the chain.
Historia, who stood up again, wore a languid yet challenging smile.
"How proactive... But aren't you pushing yourself too hard? If it's borrowed power, it won't last long, right?"
"Seriously, how troublesome...!"
'I don't have time to be held up right now...!'
There are two ways to fly in the sky on this meta-conveyor belt.
One is to fly in the sky at the exact same speed as this belt. This method requires considerable effort. Because one must overcome the wind, lift the body, and match the speed every time.
But the Magic General Prelvior, while her magical power capacity is enormous, her technique isn't particularly great. She can fly, but her control is extremely rough. She wouldn't be able to fly so smoothly.
"Then there's only one possibility left. A slightly simpler and easier trick."
Taking advantage of the gap while the battle of the century took place above, I crept up to the Magic General's feet. The lower area was obstructed by darkness, and the Magic General was on the dull side when it came to senses, so she didn't notice my presence.
Having arrived at her feet like that, I discovered a thread of magical power hanging from the container link. A tightly pulled thread gripping something firmly.
As expected.
"I saw through your trick. You used the wide cloak as a kite to float in the sky, didn't you?"
The magical thread was connected to the roughly fluttering cloak, holding tight so she wouldn't fly far away into the sky.
Childish mischief immediately shouts to cut this taut thread. I calmed my excited heart and
"Then what I need to do is decided."
Diamond 5. Scythe.
A tool specialized for cutting, with curved blades on both inside and outside, used as both a farming tool and a weapon.
Since that was the only weapon in proper condition, I held the scythe in my right hand.
I took out the scythe and hooked it onto the magical thread. The tension was sufficient, so cutting it was easy. What was important was timing. I had to aim for the moment of maximum effect.
Looking up at Prelvior, Tir was just then kicking off the ground and soaring toward the sky.
"Oh. Our side is winning."
Then should I watch a little longer. If I cut the thread unnecessarily, I'd only give the Magic General a chance to escape.
The leaped Tir stepped on the darkness in midair and moved. The legendary Void Stepping was being displayed. At this rate, the Magic General would fall into Tir's hands.
"Is it because she became a martial fighter? She actually has the advantage against a Magic General? What a pleasant miscalculation."
Rather, I should be worried about the Magic General. It would be troublesome if she killed her without a word... The very moment I was watching so.
A spear flying from somewhere struck the back of Tir's head. Intercepted in midair, Tir spun around and around.
Wow. That must hurt...
"Oops! This is no time for that!"
The Magic General's cloak shone. The magic was completed.
I urgently pulled the scythe. As expected of a magical thread made by a Magic General, it didn't cut easily. I pulled out every bit of qi gong I had and, gritting my teeth, hung onto it.
With a snap, a welcome sound rang out. The severed thread fluttered up into the sky.
"Lux, Millionaire... Ugh!"
Thanks to cutting it in time, the Magic General's aim went astray. The beam that should have struck Tir wavered this way and that. As the aim went off because the thread connecting her body was severed, the Magic General's gaze, searching for the cause, instantly turned toward me.
'When did you get there!'
"Run!"
I immediately started running. Two magic bullets hastily shot by the Magic General flew toward me. It was a simple attack of swiping with magical power, but to me, there was nothing scarier than that.
With the Magic General's body swaying, now was the only chance. I ran with all my might with the box on my back.
In the direction I was running, the Regressor and Historia were engaged in fierce combat. However they fought, the chain had the two of them tied together.
The Regressor, who had been assessing the situation, noticed my presence first.
'What's with that ridiculous armor? An enemy? Before getting surrounded, I should cut first...!'
They try to cut first whenever they meet someone!
Before the Regressor could put their decision into action, I urgently shouted.
"Mr. Shay! Stop messing around with the older woman and go do something about the Magic General grandma!"
Recognizing my voice, the Regressor paused and shouted.
"Do you think I'm playing too?! Look! I'm tied up!"
"Already became a tied-up body? My. At that age already."
"You're spouting nonsense as a pair! It's you, right?! The General's way of speaking transferred to you, right?!"
How did they know? Good intuition.
Anyway.
"Lift your foot!"
"Why?"
"Ah, just do it!"
The Regressor slightly lifted the foot tied by the chain. I slipped under the Regressor's foot and lightly tapped the bound iron chain as I passed. Since it was only wrapped around the ankle and not actually tied, it could be undone with a simple touch.
"Escape! Now, you've lost your chains and gained freedom! Since you've been liberated from the grave of life, hurry and go help Tir!"
"What about the General?"
"I'll handle them!"
"...Then, I'll leave it to you! Don't let them go!"
'If they're confident enough to assure me, they won't die...!'
The Regressor immediately leaped into action. While she moved away to face the Magic General, I let out a deep breath and observed my comrade after a long time.
They could have caught me if they wanted to. If they had clung tenaciously, it would have dragged on a bit more.
But Historia let the Regressor go and faced me instead. Because she had business with me.
"...It's been a while, Ria."
"Yeah."
Historia swept her forehead. Peeling off the hair stuck to her forehead wet from the fierce battle, Historia gave me a twisted smile.
"Really, really. It's been a damn long time."
Still, she seems glad to see me. A comrade is a comrade after all. At this rate, I won't die either...
'You've been hiding well all this time, you damn bastard. I'll start by smashing that slick face of yours.'
Huh. Maybe not?