Ending Maker Chapter 33
Ending Maker Chapter 33
Chapter 6 - Witch's Forest #6
Long, long ago, there was a girl.
Sold by her parents for nine copper coins, the child became a sacrifice for summoning a demon, and thanks to the demon's whim, instead of being reduced to a handful of blood, she became the demon's slave.
The fate of a slave was harsh.
For those whose souls were seized by demons, there was no rest.
In life, they were toyed with as the demon's playthings, and in death, they were doomed to writhe in agony for all eternity.
The girl was no different.
That should have been her fate.
But the girl did not submit to fate.
Instead of living on her knees, she rose, and in the end, she changed her own destiny.
She—
'I know! I already know this!'
The story of the witch.
The legend of the witch who began as a demon's slave but ultimately brought demons to their knees.
But that was not what mattered right now.
More important than the witch's past was the method of wielding the witch's power itself.
[......You know this one too.]
The witch sounded oddly dejected. Instead of showing Cordelia her past like a panorama, she directly guided Cordelia's body and soul to demonstrate how to wield her power.
The witch's power belonged to another, so Cordelia could not use it naturally.
Cordelia in the original had eventually learned and used "Witchification," but that was the future Cordelia, not the Cordelia of the present.
Just as planning to get a driver's license in the future did not mean one could drive right now.
Moreover, this was not a situation where she could use magic with a single skill button like in the original, so wielding the witch's power required finesse.
The witch's power moved.
The power of the great witch who had subdued even demons spread throughout Cordelia's body and soul.
Just once.
But that was enough. Cordelia instinctively grasped how to use the power, opened her closed eyes, and unleashed it.
"Yuder!"
The moment Cordelia shouted and her eyes flashed, an intense green wave swept across the entire seal site.
The overwhelming force swept away not only the magic beast that had been about to attack Yuder, but Yuder and Lucas as well.
"GRAAAH!"
"Gah!"
"Urgh!"
The magic beast was driven far backward, but it roared and held its ground.
Yuder and Lucas, on the other hand, could not hold on and tumbled across the floor. Yuder in particular had been near the wall, so he even slammed hard into it once.
Right after the power was unleashed.
The entire seal site filled Cordelia's green-glowing vision.
The magic beast, roaring as it held its ground. Lucas, pushing himself upright with his sword.
And Yuder, collapsed on the floor, groaning in pain.
Fury filled Cordelia's eyes. She took a step forward and shouted.
"How dare you!"
You hurt Yuder.
You knocked Yuder down.
I won't forgive you.
I will never forgive you!
[Um, that was you who.......]
The witch's voice did not reach Cordelia.
Worked into a fury, Cordelia swept both arms violently and unleashed her power again.
The witch's power.
Telekinetic force stretched outward in the form of green smoke.
It became a giant hand and slammed into the magic beast!
"GRAH!"
The magic beast was hurled violently backward. But it did not simply take the blow. Twisting in midair to change direction, it kicked off the wall and charged at Cordelia.
"RAARGH!"
It opened its mouth wide. A red flash surged within its abyss-like maw, and soon it became a massive pillar of light charging toward Cordelia.
"A breath attack?!"
Lucas cried out in shock, but Cordelia had already reacted. She swept her right hand upward, and the green smoke struck the magic beast's jaw, forcing its breath attack off course.
RUMBLE—BOOOOM!
The ceiling shattered under the direct hit from the magic beast's breath, sending rocks raining down. Cordelia used them. With a sweep of her left hand, she caught the falling debris in green smoke, whipped it into a whirlwind, and slammed it into the magic beast.
"AAARGH!"
The rocks became blades, slashing across the magic beast's entire body.
But it was not over yet.
The magic beast's hide was thick, and its eyes still blazed red.
"RAARGH!"
The magic beast spread its arms wide and roared, shattering the whirlwind itself.
"Get lost!"
Cordelia did not simply stand and watch. The moment the magic beast shattered the whirlwind, she thrust out her right fist and drove the green smoke into its chest.
KABOOM!
The magic beast slammed into the wall with a tremendous crash. The impact was strong enough to shake the entire seal site.
"Haa... haa... ngh..."
Blood gushed from Cordelia's nose. Not only that, but her eyes were so bloodshot that tears of blood seemed about to flow at any moment.
Sweat poured from Cordelia's entire body like rain.
She had used it only briefly, but the witch's immense power took a toll even on Cordelia.
[Not yet.]
The witch spoke, and Cordelia knew it too.
This was not a creature that could be brought down with this much damage. In the original, Cordelia had only managed to finish it off when she borrowed the witch's power and created a giant magic spear to pierce it.
[Use the Spear of Calamite.]
The witch spoke at just the right moment, and Cordelia steadied her breathing and listened for the incantation.
One second passed. Then two.
"Tell me!"
[You don't know this one?]
The moment Cordelia's and the witch's words overlapped.
"GRAAAH!"
The magic beast, its fur bristling all over, roared again and kicked off the ground. It closed the distance to Cordelia in an instant, as though crossing space itself.
"F**k!"
Cordelia violently unleashed the witch's power. She somehow shoved the magic beast back as it tried to punch her while rolling across the floor to escape.
"Magic Missile!"
Cordelia mixed the witch's power into her own mana. She infused the witch's power into the magic she normally used.
KABOOM!
A massive Magic Missile formed in an instant like a ballista bolt and shot straight at the magic beast, detonating with a terrifying blast.
"Grrk!"
But Cordelia suffered backlash as well. She doubled over, and blood gushed from her mouth.
[It is still too much for you to make my power your own. Use my magic, not yours.]
The witch's power was not normal mana.
The witch's power was demonic power she had seized after subduing countless demons. To do more than simply fling it around—to cast proper magic with it—Cordelia needed to use the witch's own original incantations.
Otherwise, using the witch's power with ordinary magic as she had just done would cause a backlash.
[Listen carefully.]
The witch began rapidly reciting an incantation, but the magic beast gave her no time.
"GRAH!"
Its fur was singed and its whole body was covered in blood from taking the Magic Missile head-on, but it was still going strong.
It closed the distance in a single bound and swung its right arm wide, trying to crush Cordelia, who was barely standing.
"RAAAH!"
At that very moment, Lucas roared and hurled his sword.
The sword, imbued with the Holy King Cross Sword, streaked forward like lightning and drew the magic beast's attention for a moment.
Thud!
And then Yuder used the Thirty-Six World Steps.
Yuder, who had been racing desperately toward Cordelia, kicked off the ground and lunged forward, pulling her into his arms.
But there was not enough time.
He tried to evade with Cordelia, but the magic beast was faster.
RUMBLE—BOOM!
The magic beast's hand swept across the ground. The sheer force nearly shattered the ground beneath it.
"No!"
Just as Lucas cried out in alarm—
"Magic Missile!"
Magic erupted again. The magic beast took the blast in the side, groaned in pain, and was hurled away. Lucas saw what had happened.
The floor.
Cordelia and Yuder lay collapsed, tangled together.
Cordelia, pinned underneath Yuder, had cast the spell. Yuder lay over her and let out a breath of relief.
Fairy's Footsteps.
He had activated Fairy's Footsteps the instant he pulled Cordelia into his arms, allowing them to evade the magic beast's attack completely.
"Gah!"
But Cordelia vomited blood once more.
Yuder's eyes flew open in shock, and the witch's voice reached the two of them.
[You're at your limit. The backlash from forcing my power is too severe. Any more would be dangerous.]
Her tone was gentle, but her voice was full of concern.
Yuder quickly looked back at Cordelia, and Cordelia looked at Yuder.
The moment their eyes met.
"GRAAAH!"
The magic beast staggered to its feet with a roar. Despite the gaping wound in its side, it charged at Yuder and Cordelia.
"You bastard!"
Lucas snatched up the sword that had fallen to the ground and turned to face the magic beast.
Cordelia parted her lips and whispered to Yuder.
"RAARGH!"
The magic beast leaped, cleared Lucas's head in a single bound, and threw a punch as it descended.
Bang!
The shield magic Cordelia had cast with Count Chase's ring shattered in an instant.
The magic beast landed and drew back its fist again. Cordelia stared at it.
Instead of casting another Shield, Cordelia stared at the magic beast with clear blue eyes and raised her middle finger.
Had she given up?
Was she at least cursing it out one last time?
No.
As the magic beast drew back its fist, Cordelia's hair turned red again.
At the same time, Yuder's hair—while he lay over Cordelia as if shielding her—grew long in an instant.
Cordelia smiled, blood streaming from her lips.
She spoke again.
"Finish it."
She had realized it the moment their eyes met.
Yuder could hear the witch's voice too.
That was why Cordelia had acted. She had passed the witch's power to Yuder.
"RAAAH!"
Yuder roared and pushed himself up. The witch moved her power within him, and Yuder deployed the Guardians of the Holy Cross's spell formation at full strength.
[You will be hurt.]
A fierce backlash would occur.
But Yuder did not care. There was no time now to listen to the witch's incantation.
Because this method was the best option now.
Yuder's eyes blazed with green light.
The witch's power activated the spell formation, and pure white light erupted.
FWOOOOOSH!
A giant golden cross.
A massive golden cross formed within the pure white light. It slammed into the magic beast and drove forward, burning through its body.
"ROOOAR!"
But the magic beast was not driven back so easily. It unleashed all its strength against the golden cross. Dark red demonic energy collided with the cross's holy power, throwing off dozens of bolts of lightning.
Blood trickled from the corner of Yuder's mouth.
His arms, spread wide to maintain the spell formation, trembled like aspen leaves, and sweat poured down his forehead like rain.
It was a tense standoff.
No—little by little, Yuder began losing ground.
The problem was not the spell itself, but Yuder's stamina as he struggled to maintain it.
[No, at this rate.......]
The witch let out a groan. But Yuder did not give up.
Because he believed.
Because he could believe.
"Cordelia!"
Just then, Yuder cried out desperately.
Cordelia was reflected in the magic beast's glowing red eyes.
Pure white mana was concentrating at the tips of her fingers.
Magic Missile.
Tiny. Weak. But enough to break the balance.
Cordelia flicked her fingers through a pain-wracked smile. A Magic Missile no thicker than a finger shot forward like an arrow and struck the magic beast in the eye!
"GRAAGH!"
The pain broke its balance.
A crack opened in the demonic power the magic beast was emitting, and Yuder did not miss it.
KABOOM!
The magic beast's scream and a thunderous crash erupted together. The golden cross drove it back in an instant, sending it flying well over ten meters into the wall.
But that was not the end.
The golden cross bored into its body. It did not stop at burning it—it annihilated it completely.
"Aaaa!"
With its final scream, the red light vanished from its eyes. Starting from its chest, its entire body was engulfed in pure white flames, and soon it scattered as ash.
"Haa... ngh..."
After watching it all, Yuder panted raggedly—then, just like Cordelia, coughed up blood.
Either way, Yuder was less compatible with the witch's power than Cordelia.
He had used the power only once, yet it left him in as bad a state as Cordelia after several uses.
[I will withdraw my power now. Do not push yourself, and lie down.]
Yuder nodded at the witch's gentle voice. Blood trickled from his nose as he crumpled beside Cordelia.
'Level...... went up.'
Because several pure white rings had formed.
Moreover, he had heard a voice in his head saying he had obtained the Demon Slayer title.
'All stats +3 and 5% increased attack power against great demons.......'
Even if he was about to pass out, he still had to check his gains first.
And the same went for Cordelia.
"It's...... nice."
Half of her face was covered in blood from her nosebleed and the blood she had vomited, but even so, her smiling face was beautiful.
'As expected of a peerless beauty.'
And that was as far as it went.
Yuder passed out before he even had time to complain about the Nine Yin Meridian Blockage.
Cordelia looked at Yuder and smiled as though cursing him, then clenched her teeth and fought to remain conscious.
Even if she was going to faint, it was not the time yet.
Because there was something she had to confirm.
"Lady Cordelia! Lord Yuder!"
Seeing Lucas rush over, Cordelia finally let out a breath of relief.
Lucas was safe too.
The magic beast was down, and the barrier had probably broken as well.
So now she could faint.
"The rest...... is up to you......."
Cordelia spoke softly, then lost consciousness. Lucas nodded, struck by a sense of déjà vu.
'As expected of the fantasy couple.'
First a Demonic Human, and now a magic beast.
The two's teamwork was truly fantastic.
Lucas, who looked back and forth between Yuder and Cordelia as if envious, reached out to lay the two of them down properly.
And the witch's soul, which had been quietly looking down at Lucas, blinked several times and then spoke.
[Hmm...... I shouldn't ascend yet, right?]
Because she had to talk with the two of them.
The witch's soul furrowed her brow as she looked at Yuder and Cordelia lying side by side. Then, just as Lucas had, she found a pleased smile creeping onto her face.