Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Lightning Deformation
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-From now on, we're going to deform our magic.
When I spat those words out, honestly, I wasn't confident at all.
Magic deformation.
That wasn't something you could just figure out from playing a game.
'Even in the game, it wasn't covered in detail.'
It mentioned the features and advantages of deformed magic, but there was no explanation of the principles.
In other words, I had to figure out and apply everything myself—from the calculations needed for deformation, the flow of mana, and the implementation of imagery.
So of course I lacked confidence.
But.
'I didn't expect it to be this good...'
Just one day after attempting deformed magic, I realized something.
The trait I brought with me—in other words, the magical talent contained in this body—was so extraordinary that I didn't need to worry about any of that.
The 'Prodigy of Magic' trait truly lived up to the name 'prodigy,' granting effects that were outstanding.
The result?
Pzzzzzt! Pzzzzzzt!
Yellow lightning bloomed at regular intervals around my body.
I had deformed electric magic to wrap it around my body.
It was a step above the deformed magic Kayla had managed.
Of course, the visible effects weren't everything.
In this state of casting deformed magic, my physical abilities were completely different from before.
For example, like this.
"Drink one more bottle."
Fwoooosh!
A holy water bottle flying at a terrifying speed in the blink of an eye.
Too fast to react even if you saw it coming.
Crash!
It shattered where the Redhead had been, spewing out a pure white light.
A scream followed, one so agonizing it hurt just to hear.
"Gaaahhh!"
Okay, effective.
Now, one bottle left.
"D-Did you kill him?"
Kayla stammered from behind.
"He won't die from that. It'll hurt like hell, though."
Kayla might not know, but demon kin don't die from something like this.
Especially the kin of the Demon of Greed, Valefor—infamous in the game for their tenacity.
No matter how much holy water you pour on them, it'll just force out their true form.
Well, that's about to happen.
"Where the hell did you even get something like that...?"
"Oh, this?"
The answer was simple.
Just think about where we are, and you'll realize holy water had to be here.
'District 7 is swarming with way more demons than other districts.'
With that many, securing safety with this small group naturally required holy water.
It wasn't certain, but the odds were high.
Plus, I still had two unused keys left.
Clink.
I glanced down at the keyring on my waist.
There were four keys on the ring total.
One was for this underground prison, another for the safe with the Blink Stone and gold coins.
The remaining two? Unknown uses.
More than enough worth gambling on.
And above all... my intuition was screaming.
The intuition that spiked after getting the soul imprint.
'I have to trust my gut.'
A 30 in the intuition stat, boosted by corrections, wasn't a small number.
In the game, at 30, characters would find answers on their own when stuck.
That meant intuition was reliable.
"I'll tell you later."
No time to explain every detail.
The real fight starts now.
"Grrrrr..."
A beastly growl came out of nowhere.
Yeah, here we go.
Step, step.
Step, step.
It slowly advanced.
The hazy dust settled, revealing its form vividly.
I expected it, but it was worse than I thought.
Nauseating.
"Is that... thing still alive?"
"...Probably."
Holy water had the effect of forcibly purifying evil energy.
And that effect was starkly visible on its body.
Skin peeled off everywhere, exposing entrails and white bones inside.
Its face and head had melted, no trace of its former appearance.
It shouldn't be alive, yet it kept stepping forward.
And.
Whooooosh-.
With every step, the surrounding mana exuded a chilling aura.
Even approaching felt repulsive, unpleasant.
"Grrrrraaah!"
The Redhead bellowed, as if losing the ability to speak.
At the same time.
Drip, crack!
Changes began rippling through its body.
'This is straight out of a horror movie...'
Bones and flesh twisted grotesquely.
Its height surged, then bones tore through the skin.
Claws grew to an inch long, red glow in its eyes.
Fresh flesh sprouted from the melted skin.
It was no longer human.
More like a ghoul.
I never thought I'd see one from the game up close...
"...Val...efor... Lord..."
The Redhead rasped its master's name in a cracked voice.
In that instant.
Its gaze snapped murderously toward me.
The killing intent made me flinch involuntarily.
Whoooosh!
Mana churned.
A pitch-black magic circle floated beside it.
My intuition screamed danger.
"...Can you kill that thing?"
"...We'll see."
I couldn't answer easily.
I didn't even know my own limits.
No idea how strong this bastard was.
But so what?
This wasn't about whether I could or couldn't.
It was something I had to do.
"Die..."
Boom!
An explosion erupted from its magic circle.
An invisible mana bolt shot out.
Straight for my head.
'Can I do this?'
Doubts flooded my chaotic mind.
But unlike my jumbled thoughts, my body moved calmly.
Just before the mana hit, I kicked off the ground lightly.
Deformed magic reinforcing my body, plus awakening from close combat.
My body launched like a cannonball.
Boom!
I instantly evaded the mana's path and closed in on it.
No more doubts.
I'd already decided.
It dies here.
I survive here.
I... will definitely survive.
Crunch!
I channeled mana into my tightly clenched fist.
Since I was focusing on body-reinforcing deformed magic over ranged spells, this was my strongest attack right now.
Fist loaded with condensed mana and acceleration from the kick.
It slammed dead-center into the Redhead's gut.
But.
Kaaaaang!
Not flesh on fist, but steel on steel.
Pushed it back maybe five centimeters.
The thing that got flung before now held firm.
A stinging pain shot through my fist.
Yeah, not enough.
"Im...pressive...!"
No time to admire—mana surged again.
A new magic circle appeared overhead.
Thud!
I kicked off its torso with both feet, using the recoil to leap back.
At the same time, mana bolts blasted where I'd stood, warping space.
Craaaack!
A chill raced up my spine.
"...Close call."
Short breath, then revised strategy.
One way to land a solid hit.
Wanted to save it for the finisher, but now wasn't the time.
Pop!
Thumb popped the cork, holy water's faint scent spreading as it flew up.
Splash.
I doused my fist with holy water.
Sharp, like alcohol.
The wet fist glowed softly.
Confirmed, then launched forward again.
Boom!
It laid a magic circle head-on, like it wouldn't fall for the same trick.
No breakthrough there.
My eyes scanned the circle minutely.
Key was reading the mana flow.
Soul imprint-boosted nerves helped.
-Reflexes and dynamic vision acceleration-
'Left.'
Judgment hit; I rolled right.
Szzzzzzt!
Space magic barely missed, sucking at my collar.
Thump! Thump! Thump...!
Heart pounding, cold sweat.
This ends in a flash.
It dies, or I do.
Focused electric magic on heart and legs again.
Pzzzzzt!
Kicked off.
Body shot forward.
Same spot as before.
Easiest target: the gut.
Splat!
Shoved fist in deep.
Sizzle-!
Burning sound, gooey texture on surface.
Holy water melting its skin.
"Gaaah...!"
It groaned.
Good, likes my fist.
Now's the chance.
Before holy water effect faded, unleashed a flurry.
Thud! Thud! Thud...!
Gut caving with each blow.
No relaxing.
Eerie magic blasting from all sides.
Whoosh! Whoooosh!
Not just magic.
It swung grown claws, snapped sharp fangs at air, lunging for my flesh.
Crunch!
Poured all focus into evasion.
Duck head, twist body, leap back.
Slash!
Occasional unavoidable angles—I maximized distance to minimize damage.
Rip!
Left shoulder caught, torn open.
Horizontal gash burned hot, red blood flowing.
"Y-You're okay...?"
"...No."
...Fucking hurts.
Gripped fading focus, rewetted dry fist with holy water.
Then charged again.
Fwoooosh-!
How much time passed?
In fierce exchange, it lunged fangs at my neck.
All-in.
Twist head, swing arm.
Holy water bottle in right hand shattered on its teeth.
Crash!
Sacred liquid poured straight down its throat.
Burning sound.
Sizzle!
"Gaaaaahhh!"
Roar hit; I sensed victory.
That holy water in its maw would wreck its insides.
"Grk... Grk...!"
Staggered back, collapsed weakly.
Pale smoke rose from its heaving body.
Sign of demon kin losing power.
Sizzle!
Swollen body deflated.
Protruding bones, claws—shrinking to normal.
Back to human form.
Picked up a sharp chunk from broken wall, approached slowly.
Met eyes with sprawled form.
Faint voice, like thread about to snap.
"I... made a mistake."
Pitiful face, somehow.
But no pity.
Without this guy, Kayla and I wouldn't have been in danger.
Plus, contracted with a demon, snacked on hearts.
No reason for pity.
If anything to say.
"Everyone dies from a mistake."
Slicked-Back Man, Burly Man, Old Man.
All lost everything—built-up power, life—from one mistake, one bad call.
Same for me.
Got cocky, nearly died.
That's how it is.
One mistake takes it all.
That's reality.
So.
"Accept it humbly."
"..."
Its death was nothing special.
Stab!
Tremor through hand.
Shard pierced its heart.
Eyes lost focus.
Dead.
Fwoosh! Light brightened area.
Kayla's flames.
Relieved voice from behind.
"It's over...?"
Collapsed to the ground.
Body limp.
But.
"...Not yet."
Gripped bloodied shard, stabbed heart and head mercilessly.
Confirmation kill.
Valefor kin revive from scraps like dogs.
Stab! Stab! Stab...!
How long?
Judged even Valefor himself couldn't revive it now, then surveyed.
Blood-splattered floor, hellish underground prison.
Spreading metallic stench.
Finally spoke heavily.
"...It's over. Now."
In this brutal world.
Another moment of survival.