Chapter 44
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Clash Between the Magical Girl and the Insect Monster
"Oh? So you're coming closer?"
"Otherwise, I can't take you down."
I raised my magic wand with a resolute expression, pointing it straight at him.
Talking any further with a monster that defied all common sense was pointless.
"Hmph... I knew the strongest human would be clever."
"I don't want to hear that from a bug."
He sighed and shook his head, and I shot back sharply.
I had no idea where he got the sudden guts to act all high and mighty after cowering in silence until now.
"Kuhahaha! So arrogant, Ersia!!!"
Undeterred by my words, he threw his head back and bellowed with utter arrogance.
"..."
"..."
Soon, the two of us fell silent at the same time.
Swoosh...
The insects lurking around stopped flapping their wings, and every living creature held its breath, watching the scene.
They sensed it instinctively.
This was a clash between the apex predators of the ecosystem.
No one dared think they could interfere in their battle.
"Grrr, here I come!!!"
And it was the Armored Insect King who ignited the fight.
Whoosh!!!
Propelled by the insect's superior leg strength, he leaped forward like a bullet, swinging his massive horn.
Any ordinary hunter would be sliced clean in two just from grazing it—a devastating strike.
"Halt."
"?!"
But his sharp charge was stopped dead by a single word.
"The self-proclaimed king of insects resorting to a headbutt? How undignified."
Whoooosh...
His thick horn clamped in my slender grip, the Armored Insect King let out a wry, incredulous chuckle.
"Kuhuhu, not bad for a wench..."
"Repel."
"D-Double casting?!"
"Get lost. I can't stand bugs."
Kaboooom!!!!
As my command rang out, he was flung back like a ragdoll, crashing into the rock wall with a thunderous roar.
I thought I heard him mutter something, but I had no interest in listening.
It was laughable—a repulsive, filthy bug like that calling itself a king.
And its idea of royalty was kidnapping women to breed? Absurd.
"Kugh... You're as strong as they say."
Drip. Drip.
Even battered against the wall, Diablos swallowed his groans and hauled himself up. A king through and through, rotten or not.
"Heh, pretty tough bug, huh?"
"Ersia, you'll regret not finishing me off in one go."
Shrrrrk!!!
Provoked by my casual taunt, he gnashed his teeth, spread his wings, and took to the air.
...Flying like a cockroach. Gross.
"Die! Genocide Blade!!!"
Screeeeech!!!
Finally, he slashed viciously with his razor-sharp claws, aiming for my throat.
"Hup!"
I leaned back effortlessly to dodge, then countered instantly with a command.
"Annihilate."
Bam!
"Urgh?!"
No matter how tough his shell, he couldn't fully block magic fired at point-blank range.
"Annihilate. Destroy. Obliterate."
Thud!
Krunch!
Boom!!!
"Kraaaaaagh!!!!"
I unleashed my commands mercilessly, pouring mana relentlessly without giving him an inch.
Monsters like this could scheme anything if given even a moment's respite. Best to crush them in one breath.
That had always been my way of fighting.
"Grrrk... Hack...!"
"Surviving that? Impressive."
Yet the Armored Insect King clung to life with his tenacious vitality, gasping for air.
Of course, he was a total mess now, but honestly, this exceeded expectations.
The monsters I'd taken down usually shattered after one or two commands.
"You're strong."
"Shut up!!! I'll show you my true power...!"
Ignoring my grudging respect, he flew into a rage and began gathering mana.
"Come to me, my soldiers...!"
Hummmmm!!!
As he whispered low, tens of thousands of hidden insects swarmed to his side in unison.
"What the hell...?"
A chill foreboding gripped me at the bizarre sight. I had to stop this.
"Annihilate!!!"
Kaboooooom!!!
I poured everything into scattering the horde, but it wasn't enough.
"Kuhahahahaha!!!! Become my flesh and blood!!!"
"Ugh... Too many of them."
The Armored Insect King cackled madly as he worked his foul sorcery, leaving me helpless to watch.
Burning that swarm would take at least ten minutes.
But in the meantime, what Diablos was doing...
- Crunch!!!
- Gulp!!!
"...Disgusting."
Like a starving ghoul, the king devoured his minions greedily.
"Kuhuhu...! I won't fall! I am the Armored Insect King Diablos!!!"
He'd shed all kingly dignity, reduced to a ravenous vermin.
"This is dangerous..."
A shiver ran down my spine at the horrific act.
Those bugs ranged from D-rank to B-rank in droves.
If Diablos absorbed them all...
"Kraaaaaargh!!!!"
"Tch, too late."
My thoughts halted as Diablos's bellow echoed triumphantly.
"So this is the power of my kin."
"Funny, you forced them to sacrifice themselves."
Snap!
The tyrant emerged, having consumed his entire horde.
"I hear their grudges. Eliminate the foe blocking the king's path."
His armor gleamed tougher and thicker, his size nearly doubled.
At minimum... top-tier S-rank strength.
Even Ryu Se-hwa or Scarlet Heart might struggle against him now.
"Let's test it out."
Zip!
Blades assaulted me at speeds too fast to track.
"Kuh?!"
From that instant, offense and defense flipped. I could barely keep up with his attacks.
At least four or five times faster than before.
"...I wasn't letting my guard down."
I'd blocked his opener, slammed him into the wall, hammered him with three commands nonstop, and gone all-out to stop the swarm.
"I did everything!"
"The moment you crawled into my palace, your defeat was sealed."
"What? You're just a hikikomori too scared to leave your house."
"..."
And the kicker: this was his home turf.
Invade, and he kidnaps humans to bolster numbers. Enter, and he merges with his minions for a massive power-up.
"Sigh, total balance breaker."
Humans get turned into pathetic bitches after one ride, but monsters? OP specs across the board.
"Hercules Horn Spear!!!"
Fwosh!
No sooner had his transformation ended than he charged, horns first.
"Repel!"
I tried commanding to force distance, but...
Ting!!
"It bounced back?!"
My mana dispersed harmlessly upon contact, reflected right back.
"Uhahaha!!!! My anti-magic carapace counters your commands!!!"
"Ugh..."
Dangerous.
Evolving in real-time to counter me.
"Fine, close combat it is, since you love it so much."
Bzzz!!!
In the end, I conjured a spear blade at my wand's tip and faced him.
I'd learned some spearwork from Master Ryu Se-hwa. No way I'd go down without a fight.
"Take this!!!"
Clang!
Clang!!
His claws and horns hammered relentlessly. I blocked with all my might but was slowly pushed back.
"Ngh, so tough..."
Each rebound from his iron shell sent shocks through my arms.
Avoid the plated areas—target the joints.
"Eyes wandering?"
"Kyaa?!"
A split-second lapse, and his horn grazed my side.
"Uhahaha!!!! Ersia, where'd that smug attitude go?"
"Haa..."
Seeing me falter, he roared with laughter, mocking me.
Shing!!!
But I wasn't done yet.
At least I'd lop off that prized horn of his.
"Still coming at me...?"
"..."
Step.
I gripped my spear with my last reserves, coiling for a charge...
"Good."
Krunch!!!
Diablos mirrored me, aiming his horn.
"..."
"..."
Fwiiiish!!!
We lunged simultaneously, no holds barred.
"Die, Ersia!!!"
"You first."
Slice.
I slipped through his massive frame, thrusting my blade.
Left arm joint.
Right knee.
And...
The massive horn crowning his head.
Shl iiiiiice!!!
"Wha... what?"
Diablos uttered a dazed words, not even realizing he'd been cut...
Splat!
"Gaaaaah!!!! My leg...! My arm...!!! My horn's severed!!!"
"Loud much?"
I strode toward Diablos, writhing in agony on the ground, without hesitation.
"D-Don't come closer! Stay back!!!"
"Weren't you begging me to bear your kids? Playing hard to get?"
As I approached coldly, dragging my spear, he screamed in abject terror.
"Spare me."
"Hilarious. You never listened to your other victims."
With that, I swung my mana blade tight...
Freeze.
"Kuhahaha!!! Got you!"
"This is..."
Suddenly, my body locked up, vision blurring.
"As if I'd fight a monster like you fair and square."
Swipe.
Grinning wildly, he pointed at my feet.
...A scorpion had stabbed venom into my ankle.
"Devouring my minions, begging pathetically—all an act to fool you!"
"Felt pretty real for a fake-out."
"..."
Now I got it.
He'd bluffed vulnerability by "absorbing" bugs, lulling me with weakness, then struck with poison.
...
"Kuh..."
Thud.
Overwhelmed by drowsiness, I collapsed.
Well... after all that, surely someone will finish him off?