Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Hellfire Battlefield
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If hell exists, it must feel like this.
Roarrr-!
The battlefield was blanketed in crimson flames, and the demons hopped in place, letting out agonized shrieks.
Kieeeek!
Grraa... Groooargh!
The pain was palpable even through the sounds.
This was on another level compared to the [Flame Path] she'd cast before.
The ground wasn't just burning—it was erupting with pillars of fire everywhere.
Boom! Roarrrk!
The inferno devoured every demon on the field.
It was firepower no one could ignore.
Not even demons amplified by a [Succubus]'s power of desire.
Kiiiiiee-!
A single spell had completely turned the tide.
Yet Kayla wasn't surprised at all by the outcome. She took it in stride.
It was something she'd fully expected.
'I've practiced this technique for over 100 hours, you bastards.'
[Blaze Field].
A spell she'd drilled endlessly under the guidance of Zairen Renata, a professor at the prestigious academy and a 7th-circle mage.
She'd pushed herself to the brink to master it, even coughing up blood.
Even the steadfast Professor Zairen had tried to stop her.
It was a technique beyond her current level, impossible to learn in a short time, he'd said.
But she'd refused to give up, no matter what.
And that determination had finally paid off.
She'd perfected the spell right here.
"Huu...."
A surge of accomplishment washed over her.
A thrilling shiver raced through her body.
This was the first time in her life she'd worked this hard for something.
If only she'd discovered this thrill and satisfaction sooner.
If only she'd pushed herself a little more ruthlessly...
Would her life be different now?
Would she have a warm family instead of scattered relatives she barely knew?
The questions surfaced, but she shoved them aside.
Whatever the answers, they weren't her concern right now.
'...Time's running out.'
[Blaze Field] was a field spell powerful enough to effortlessly wipe out these lowly demon minions.
But its duration wasn't long.
More precisely, Kayla herself didn't yet have the capacity to sustain it.
Proof of that?
Tremble, tremble—
Just maintaining [Blaze Field] briefly had her hands shaking.
A sign that the spell would soon dissipate.
Still, she had something to rely on.
"Mister, I can't hold it for long...!"
A reliable ally—slow on the uptake, but sturdier than anyone.
It was Thompson.
"Okay! Leave the rest to me!"
Thompson instantly grasped her meaning and charged into the [Blaze Field].
Sure enough, flames slithered toward him, attacking like they had a mind of their own.
Roarrrk!
The scorching heat made him grit his teeth, but [Blaze Field] focused solely on power and range.
Kayla couldn't do a thing as the flames assaulted him.
All she could do was pray he'd break through unharmed and take down the [Succubus].
Meanwhile, Thompson—
Fwoosh! Fwoorrsh!
"Uhahaha! This stings pretty good, huh?"
—was reveling in the blaze Kayla had unleashed.
The unexpected intensity furrowed his brow, but his joy outweighed any discomfort.
And why not?
"...You used to look like just a kid, but you've grown a lot, miss. Guess I should call you a fiery lady from now on?"
Nothing beat the pleasure of seeing a comrade grow.
"I can't fall behind!"
Thud thud thud thud!
The blazing flames only fueled Thompson's competitive spirit as he charged forward at terrifying speed.
His target, naturally, was the ringleader here: the [Succubus].
A high-rank demon, sure... but honestly, it didn't scare him one bit.
And that was much the same reason Kayla had stayed so calm after nailing [Blaze Field].
"Hraaap!"
With a shout—
Whoosh!
—Thompson's right arm was enveloped in gray skin.
The 'body transformation magic' passed down from the Asion Academy's council president.
That was his source of confidence.
No mere high-rank demon could withstand this.
'The president said he took down a legion commander with it!'
Asion Gail had a bit of a boastful streak, but having experienced the magic firsthand...
There was no way his claim of beating a legion commander was a lie.
Anyone would think the same—Asion Gail's body transformation magic was that impressive.
So, as his disciple, Thompson could handle a [Succubus] with ease.
Now it was time to put it to the test.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Boom!
"Hraaaap!"
Thompson bulldozed through the flames and demon grunts without mercy, then leaped high into the air.
Time for his signature move, the Hamburger.
Of course, it wasn't the same old Hamburger.
Mastering body transformation had evolved the technique too.
A bit more powerful.
A bit more speedy.
In other words—
"Megaton—Hamburger!!"
Kwaaaang-!
Thompson slammed down with his right arm transformed into a massive gray mass.
Crack, split! Craaaack!
The ground where he landed screamed as if begging for mercy.
Fissures spiderwebbed out, splitting the earth.
No one would believe a single mage—or rather, a middle-aged man nearing his forties—could unleash such power.
And it wasn't just from the body transformation magic.
Even Asion Gail had gaped in astonishment when he saw it.
—...Did you skip magic lessons and just work out all this time?
To borrow his words, body transformation magic activated based on the caster's tendencies.
Put simply, a nimble mage got a speed boost, while a powerhouse gained even more raw strength.
Thompson fell squarely into the latter category.
For some reason, his power output was several times beyond the norm, but still.
How many demons could survive an attack like that?
From the demons' perspective, the result was devastating.
Cough, hack!
Kii...
Gasp, kiik...!
Demons spewing blood, eyes rolled back, convulsing.
Every creature within 15 meters of the impact zone—not just at ground zero—was crippled.
Combat ineffective, in a word.
But Thompson narrowed his eyes, dissatisfied.
"Tch, so high-rank demons are different after all? Should've aimed for the head...."
His original target, the [Succubus].
She was still holding her ground.
Or rather, barely.
She propped herself up with her tail, standing on shaky legs.
Haaak... Haaak...!
The [Succubus] panted raggedly, and soon the reddish barrier around her peeled away.
The [Blood Curtain]—her last line of defense—had expired.
A technique that condensed demonic energy to shield the body.
With her ultimate trump card shattered in one blow, the [Succubus] panicked.
[What... what the hell are you, human?! What kind of power is this...!]
Furious, the [Succubus] bellowed.
But Thompson just tilted his head, saying nothing.
For good reason.
'...What the hell is she saying?'
He'd lived nearly 40 years without ever learning Demonic.
Who the hell would bother?
Anyway, it didn't matter to Thompson what the [Succubus] was yammering about.
'Take her down now!'
She was a demon and an enemy.
Nothing changed that.
Thud thud thud thud!
Thompson charged again.
He looked like a carnivorous dinosaur eyeing prey.
Facing him head-on, the [Succubus] had no choice but to panic.
[...D-Demons! Protect me!]
Kieee!
Dozens of fallen demons lurched back to their feet at her cry.
They clustered in front of her.
Like they were shields or something.
But...
How long did that last? A few seconds?
"Get lost!"
Pum-pum-pum-pum!
One swing of Thompson's fist swept them away like a tsunami.
[Eek...!]
Seeing her minions scatter helplessly, the [Succubus] bit her lip and gripped her weapon tight.
In her hand was a thick, long black whip.
[You think I'll go down easy?!]
She was a recognized high-rank demon, after all.
If her lackeys couldn't protect her, she'd fight herself.
Snap!
She slammed the whip threateningly into the ground, then lashed it at Thompson.
Shaaaack-!
The black whip surged toward the charging Thompson.
It struck his right arm, making him grunt and flinch.
Seeing that, the [Succubus] smirked and whipped relentlessly.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
[Puhuhu. Yeah, that's more like it!]
No matter how strong, enduring this black whip was tough.
It was a custom whip she'd poured decades of demonic energy into.
Unless it was insanely tough, even taking a step would be—
Then.
[...Huh?]
The [Succubus]'s face twisted.
Something unexpected was happening.
Snap! Snap...
Step, step, step!
Slow but steady.
The human was advancing, bit by bit.
Taking every lash without dodging.
[H-How?]
It was beyond her comprehension.
Was his body made of stone?
[W-What the hell are you doing, you bastard!!]
Snap! Snap! Snap!
In disbelief, her whips grew faster and sharper.
And with each one, Thompson picked up speed.
His mind held one thought.
'Must take the hits. Must take the hits. Must take the hits....'
You need to get hit.
That was what Asion Gail had told him right after he mastered body transformation.
In simple terms, toughness was key to future growth, so he needed steady beatings.
'...Thanks to that, I got pummeled half to death.'
He'd taken blows from Asion Gail that nearly killed him.
Compared to that, this was like bug bites.
If anything, it was the perfect chance to build resilience.
"This much is just a tickle! You demon!"
Pain that doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
That was Thompson's new life motto.