Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Overturned Tidal Wave (2)
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“Activating the magic beast tracking system. Scanning all signs within range.”
“Moving everything to the coastal area near the target point, the Academy.”
“Initiating acceleration sequence. Entering artificial materialization.”
Hatan nodded as he heard the successive reports coming in.
This was the operation to gather all the magic beasts of the demon realm's rulers—excluding the still-living Sea Dragon and the one-horned beast whose existence had been completely confirmed as eradicated.
According to Dawood Campbell's request, they were to summon those magic beasts, which would normally take months or even a year, far faster than planned, to a designated location.
‘...If anyone knew we were doing something like this, they’d call us all insane.’
At this point, it was obvious why that guy had demanded ‘full authority’ over the Academy.
Even for the Forge of Strife, the academy with the most advanced technology among the three great academies, this was the task of forcibly ‘reviving’ two special-grade magic beasts.
If he exaggerated a bit, it was akin to the miracle of resurrecting the dead.
It was only possible because they were the Allied Provinces, with the Magic Tower's backing at the very least.
-Are you really going to grant that man’s request, Hatan?
Hatan turned his head to look at the hologram of the only clan leader who had followed him all the way to the command room.
Utad Han-Chai. While the other clan leaders had all voiced their concerns in their own ways, he was the only one who had endorsed Dawood Campbell’s plan.
“You agreed to it too, so why are you backpedaling now?”
-I figured he had something up his sleeve, but I can’t even guess at his intentions.
Utad continued with a sigh.
-I don’t doubt the man’s talents, but I can’t fathom why he’d bother reviving the demon realm rulers he’s already subdued. And that’s not even the half of it...
His gaze soon shifted back to the situation room’s screen.
The entity responsible for this very ‘crisis’ was making its appearance right there.
-...with a monster like that showing up.
It was an overwhelmingly imposing figure, enough to make such concerns understandable.
Hatan and Utad both let out groans simultaneously as they saw the massive humanoid cephalopod emerging from beneath the sea.
It was clearly an ‘ancient’ magic beast at a glance.
Given that magic beasts grew by devouring others, their age often symbolized their strength.
The Four Great Archdemons and Dragonkin, regarded as the strongest in the material world and bordering on divine realms, were all magic beasts aged thousands of years at minimum.
“New magic beast detected!”
One of the reporting faculty members shouted it out.
“...It’s a second-dimensional entity! Identifiable rank is...!”
The follow-up words were practically a scream.
“A-At least a thousand years old! Ancient God class—!”
“...”
-...
Hatan and Utad both froze in shock.
Over a thousand years old?
That was a monster that made even the demon realm rulers—hunted by hunters and treated like a joke in hunting tales—look like children.
And there were three of them in total.
“When was the last time we spotted a special-grade or higher magic beast?”
-Over a hundred years ago, old man. Nothing even close since the Four Great Archdemons.
“At least it’s a relief they’re not thousands of years old like those ones.”
The two exchanged dazed words before simultaneously falling silent.
They were both thinking the exact same thing.
“...We’re dead, right?”
-...Yeah, probably.
No matter how skilled that human was, there was no way he could win against something like that.
Even escaping guaranteed survival would be a joke.
“...He probably didn’t expect something like that to pop up either. Otherwise.”
There’s no way he’d claim to take them on with just a handful of people.
Utad fell silent at Hatan’s words.
“Let’s just pray that guy isn’t too much of a blowhard.”
At the very least, he’d better take down one properly.
That way, they could at least devise a plan for the remaining two.
Everyone was probably thinking the same.
But what unfolded next was a scene utterly divorced from their expectations.
●
“There’s not much solid record on fighting magic beasts of that level, so there are uncertainties, but there’s one thing consistently reported.”
Kasa said it as she eyed the giants emerging with tentacles covering their entire bodies.
Ancient God class. Among the magic beasts emerging from second-dimensional rifts into the material world, excluding Pandemonium and the Backside Realm beasts, they were the most powerful.
And they’d earned that reputation for good reason.
“They all possess at least one utterly absurd ‘authority.’”
They didn’t reach the reality-warping scale of demons, but a magic beast that ancient undoubtedly had at least one ridiculous ability.
“And this one seems to have the Curse of Invincibility.”
Kasa concluded upon seeing the demonic energy enveloping its body.
Eliya, who had been staring blankly beside her, asked in a daze.
“...Curse of Invincibility?”
“If it’s a manufactured ‘weapon,’ it means it takes no damage from any object.”
“...”
Eliya fell silent for a moment.
She looked utterly baffled by what the woman was saying.
“...Does that even make sense?”
“Of course not. The world is vast, and the absurd is everywhere.”
“How do you even catch something like that...?”
Right.
That’s what any normal person would think.
A thousand-year-old magic beast immune to any weapon’s damage, constantly emanating a curse that harms its surroundings from its own body, and inherently overwhelmingly powerful.
How the hell do you take it down?
But.
“Didn’t I just say it? The world is vast, and the absurd is everywhere.”
Which means.
There’s at least one human out there who comes up with absurd, insane ideas, puts them into action, and actually pulls them off.
For example.
If it’s a monster no ‘weapon’ works on.
Just beat it to death with your ‘bare fists.’
The kind of madman who arrives at that intuitively brilliant solution.
Kasa grinned as she watched Dawood Campbell approach the giant emerging from the sea ‘unarmed.’
“W-Wait, that’s Teacher...! What the hell is that lunatic doing over there—!”
She stifled a chuckle at Eliya’s horrified outburst.
“Not entirely unarmed. Looks like he’s got something on his arm.”
“One gauntlet against that thing?! What does he think he can do? W-Wait. We have to go save him right—”
Kasa casually puffed on her cigar, stopping Eliya mid-sentence.
“Well, how about we watch for now.”
Her eyes were undoubtedly.
“I wouldn’t have taught him if I thought he couldn’t handle it.”
Filled with unwavering trust in her ‘disciple.’
In the meantime, the giant’s eyes locked onto Dawood Campbell as he closed in.
Then.
-...
-...
-...!!!!
A curse incomparable to its usual emanations slammed down toward where Dawood Campbell stood.
A horrific curse that could blind you just by looking at it.
A strike potent enough to boil the sea, shake the earth, and reverberate to the heavens.
But.
“Spells are powered by human willpower. No matter the goal, as long as there’s strong will behind it, the spell grows equally powerful.”
As Kasa spoke those words.
Mana began gathering on Dawood’s arm.
It was the technique she had shown him before.
The pinnacle of spell manipulation and the martial art she’d created with it: Heaven Shatterer.
Of course, its power wouldn’t even reach a fraction of what she’d demonstrated. What she’d shown wasn’t a technique capable of that on his level.
And Dawood Campbell himself, using it, likely knew that full well.
But.
Even if he couldn’t replicate it perfectly.
Even if he could only imitate it.
“If there’s will.”
As Kasa murmured, the mana on Dawood’s arm swelled larger and larger.
And the next moment.
“Anyone can create a miracle.”
With those words.
Dawood’s arm thrust into empty air.
A light swing from a distance where the blow wouldn’t even connect.
-...
-...
-...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It ‘shattered’ the curse, ‘twisted’ space, and even ‘tore apart’ the giant beyond the impact point.
One human.
Tore a thousand-year-old magic beast apart in a single blow.
Created a miracle.
“...”
Eliya, witnessing it, fell silent, unable to utter a word.
‘...What the hell was that just now?’
Dizzying.
Lofty, profound.
It defied interpretation, beyond even awe.
Dawood’s strike had reached that realm.
“...H-How did he...?”
She’d never heard he’d trained in that area or had any notable talent for it.
What was that just now?
“...Did Teacher have that kind of talent in martial arts?”
“No.”
Kasa smirked as she replied.
“That guy’s talent in that area is trash.”
“...”
“Honestly, most of his combat-related talents are trash. He couldn’t even touch the hem of your brilliant gifts.”
Eliya shut her mouth at the merciless disparagement of Dawood.
“But he knows how to handle ‘spells’ well. That’s the kind of guy he is.”
Kasa exhaled a long plume of smoke as she continued.
“He’d do anything to reach his goals. Abstract as it sounds, his ‘willpower’ is top-tier.”
“...Willpower?”
Any normal person would have given up.
A man who acted like he knew everything probably anticipated three such monsters appearing against him.
A normal person would have despaired, collapsed, blamed their misfortune, and been crushed.
But in that situation.
That man.
Somehow devised a way.
He’d approached Kasa, a total stranger, and prepared for this far in advance.
Of course, he had his flashes of genius too.
Whatever method he used, foreseeing this would happen played a huge role.
But right now.
The foundation for one human ‘shattering’ a monster of that level.
Was one simple fact.
Willpower.
The unyielding conviction to achieve his set goal.
“That’s exactly what you need to learn, future hero.”
Kasa grinned as she went on.
“Indomitable will.”
The best outcome: he survives, and no one around him gets hurt.
He doesn’t abandon that.
No matter the opponent, no matter how dire the situation.
He never stops struggling to reach that best outcome.
Even if others see it as madness, even if he breaks down, looks ridiculous, loses all dignity, faces condemnation and ridicule.
He doesn’t compromise with himself.
Doesn’t compromise his convictions with reality.
“...”
Eliya watched in silence.
As if entranced.
With the look of someone who’d found their ‘ideal.’
Unable to tear her eyes away.
-...
-...!!!
But then a thunderous roar jolted her, and she whipped around to the giant.
Even in its mangled state, it was still alive.
“You can take that hit and survive...?”
“The Ancient God title isn’t for show. It won’t die from one hit, obviously.”
As Eliya absorbed Kasa’s words, her eyes caught Dawood doing something odd.
He was staring blankly at his arm.
More precisely, at the magitech watch on his wrist.
“And knowing that guy’s nature, he’s obviously ‘prepared’ something more.”
As if expecting something to ‘happen’ right around now.
“...Right on cue.”
And as Dawood muttered that.
“Nice to meet you, asshole.”
A ‘pure white’ energy surged up nearby.
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