Chapter 71
Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Gideon (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
●
[Using 'Prospection'.]
[Loading target's information.]
[A 24-hour reuse cooldown applies to the same target.]
[Character Info]
[ Gideon Gailsterd la Tristan ]
[ Traits: Tristan Grand Duke ]
[ Status: ... ]
[Status Info]
[Physical]
Strength: S+
Agility: S+
Durability: A
Luck: F
Authority: S+
[Supernatural]
Mana: SS
Spell Power: F
Divinity: F
[Skills]
Swordsmanship: SS+
Mana Operation: SS+
Intuition: SS+
[Misc.]
[ 'Demon Fragment' is eroding the target! ]
[ Currently 0%, 2 minutes until erosion complete! ]
Impressive.
Even purely in terms of specs, he's below Krat, but the balance is excellent.
The title of empire's strongest knight isn't something you earn easily, after all.
And among those...
'...He's not exactly human specs either.'
I gaze at the SS+ swordsmanship on par with Krat's martial arts, followed by the 'Mana Operation' and 'Intuition' stats.
In other words, hardly anyone can match him in mana-based techniques.
It means his ability to instinctively find the most efficient options mid-battle is near perfection.
That's why he can hold his own against Krat despite the devastating stat gap.
For someone like me who enjoys fighting by striking at the opponent's blind spots with pre-planned schemes, it's enough to make me sigh.
"So."
Krat lets out a hollow laugh after hearing the 'objective' I just laid out for this battle.
Gideon is slowly rising, his eyes emitting a fierce crimson glow as he draws his sword.
That's a sure sign he's fully entering frenzy mode.
"The empire's strongest charging at us full-tilt, and you want to 'subdue him alive'?"
"No."
Strictly speaking, neither Gideon nor this guy is the 'empire's strongest'.
It would fit if we specified strongest among 'knights' or 'holy knights'.
'...If not for those monsters in the imperial palace, it wouldn't be wrong.'
I chew on the bitter thought with a wry smile.
Those guys aren't just ordinarily powerful.
Anyway.
There's one more inaccuracy besides that.
"He's not completely charging. At least his judgment in battle might be sharper than usual?"
The suppressed family madness has erupted, and the Demon Fragment is eroding him, driving him to kill any living thing.
Both share one thing in common: they buff killing, never debuff it.
"...You really planning to kill everyone here?"
Krat growls in a low voice.
Obviously, subduing alive is harder than just killing.
Especially in Gideon's state—even with Krat, it's nearly impossible.
But.
"When I said I was fighting you, everyone reacted the same."
...
Bad matchup, impossible to subdue alive, blah blah.
Plenty of uncertainties.
"Margrave."
"What."
"If this was really impossible, I'd have bolted already."
...
That's why I'm doing it—because it is possible.
My life matters too, you know?
No confidence, no go.
"Then, that thing. The goal is just like I said... 'hold out' for 2 minutes."
I scratch my cheek, choosing my words.
"You heard the plan, so let's stick to it. Like I keep saying, it won't take long."
I continue in a bored tone.
"Let's quickly dunk the Grand Duke and head home."
...
As gazes fly from all sides questioning if I'm serious no matter what I say.
"...-!"
Gideon charges at us with a roar.
●
They say to catch a knight, go for the horse first, not the rider.
First target: the saintess, who can provide support but has negligible combat power.
"...!"
Even among top knights, Tristan Grand Duke is unmatched in battle finesse.
By compressing mana and jetting it from his back, his acceleration surpasses even Krat's in that instant. No one reacts in time.
But.
"You can't pass!"
Luckily, we have a very reliable bodyguard for exactly that.
There's a human who can slice anything within close range.
Distance to opponent: two steps.
The starsteel circlet flashes. An ancient curse from eons past imbues Yuria's sword with terrifying power.
-!
However.
Sparks fly, and Yuria's eyes widen.
"You blocked it?!"
Eliya shrieks in shock.
Yuria's strike could bisect a starsteel automaton at that range in one blow. Yet Gideon blocks it mid-charge.
Perfect mana operation without a single gap, footwork, arm angle, sword contact—all minute variables controlled in real combat, beyond what a normal human could process. A miraculous result.
Having parried the severer, Gideon flows past Yuria like water.
"...!"
Yuria's eyes widen at the sight.
In truth.
Yuria wields near-invincible power against foes who enter her range, but simply 'ignoring' her neutralizes it.
Gideon couldn't know Yuria's ability. I never introduced my party members to each other.
His intuition alone, endlessly choosing the optimal path, judged there was no need to engage her further after one clash.
'...A monster.'
Without 'original knowledge' like mine piercing all info, his aptitude and timing rival mine.
The gap between a human with a strategy guide in their head and one fighting in real-time is virtually nonexistent.
Proof those flashy stats aren't for show.
Next, Gideon's sword hurtles toward the saintess, gleaming viciously. The air around her seems to burn with killing intent; her face pales.
But.
One person was already 'waiting' there.
Me, knowing from the start he'd target her.
[ Crisis detected. ]
[ Judged as direct threat to life. ]
[ Applying 'Skill: Desperate Situation' at EX rank. ]
[ Activating 'Skill: Proof of Faith'. ]
[ All stat bonuses convert to 'Durability' and 'Divinity'. ]
[ Activating 'Skill: Stigmata'. ]
A three-stage skill combo.
Stats balloon, convert entirely to durability and divinity, forming a divine shield hardened by the boost.
Of course, the incoming sword is from the empire's strongest knight. This won't fully block it.
The barrier that held decently against Valkasus's alchemy shreds like cardboard. The sword surges toward Lucien.
But then.
"Caliban."
[ Activating 'Skill: Mental World'. ]
The buffs on me transfer to Lucien, bolstering her timely defensive blessings.
Thanks to that, Gideon's sword—charging like an enraged boar—stops amid sparks.
Absurd. What level of effort went into blocking one strike?
But the effort pays off; counterattacks fly from around us.
Yuria, Eliya, and Krat.
The margrave up front, a human tank, seizes the opening.
Gideon swings again upon sensing approaches, but the margrave catches it 'barehanded'.
...
Crazy bastard.
His hand bleeds, of course. The sword slices through hand and into arm. Even that iron body unmarred by my attacks takes damage.
But put another way.
This guy blocked Gideon's strike 'with just that'.
A rival indeed.
"Go!"
Yuria and Eliya leap in on cue.
Inferior to Gideon or Krat, sure, but with Krat sacrificing to seal Gideon's attack entirely, they can land solid hits.
But.
...
Gideon takes a deep breath and 'releases' his sword. Krat falters; Gideon steps back and 'closes his eyes'. A swordsman dropping his sword and vision voluntarily.
Anyone normal would call it suicide.
"What the—crazy—!"
A steel-rending slash manifests from empty air.
No preliminary motion, body movement, mana flow.
No precursors to detect the strike. Yuria and Eliya are blasted back simultaneously.
Eliya and Yuria's faces fill with awe at the near-miraculous technique.
Without the saintess's timely blessings, they'd have been gravely injured.
Multicolored barriers coat their bodies.
'...Divine Gauntlets?'
Defensive blessings with high physical resistance.
Impressive to improvise them without prayers or relics. The saintess is the saintess.
But while our assault slows, Gideon reclaims his sword from Krat's body. He kicks Krat away, yanks the blade from his arm, and creates distance.
Incredibly, he's seized melee initiative against that monster.
"...That bastard—back in the day, he couldn't even get this close without shutting down...!"
That's the Demon Fragment for you.
Just look at Elnor—once it latches, it amplifies power somehow. The further the erosion on Gideon, the more stat buffs he's stacking.
This fight grows more unfavorable the longer it drags.
The clashes continue that way.
He deflects all our attacks, lands all his, unilaterally piling damage on us.
Incredibly, one man is overwhelming this lineup. Even if I'd ordered kills instead of capture, the dynamic wouldn't shift much.
...
Or rather.
We're holding this long because of our members.
Gideon's current prowess is true one-man army level. Even enhanced, it's overkill.
And watching it.
...
Call me weird.
But it feels good.
No—the Demon Fragment enabling this combat power in Gideon is definitely good news.
Because.
I'll surely exploit that power at some scenario point.
"So, teacher—your plan's working, we're somehow holding, but!"
Eliya's scream is natural.
"How do we capture that alive?!"
But.
"I've got him already."
"...Huh?"
I smile at wide-eyed Eliya and stand.
Don't mistake the battle's goal.
I said from the start: 'hold out' for 2 minutes.
[Misc.]
[ 'Demon Fragment' is eroding the target! ]
[ Currently 90%, 12 seconds until erosion complete! ]
[ 'Gray Devil' begins possessing the target! ]
I scan the window, glancing at Gideon.
His breath grows ragged, no sweat till now. Gray demonic energy billows from his body.
Proof the Gray Devil is fully possessing him. A phase every vessel passes through.
Then, I call the one member who's stayed silent.
"Elnor."
...
Elnor conveys with her eyes.
'Is this really certain?' I just nod.
...
She sighs and steps forward reluctantly.
Unusual for someone who follows my orders unquestioningly, but her action makes it obvious.
Elnor strides unprotected into the melee's center.
No sword drawn, no blessings or defenses. Bare-handed.
"W-Wait, what?!"
I stop the saintess trying to bless her.
"It's fine."
"...Huh?!"
"Just watch."
Elnor finally enters the arc of Gideon's swing.
A desperate situation—she'll be critically wounded.
But.
The moment Elnor enters.
Gideon's sword halts.
That merciless blade, hesitating for no one.
Stops dead the instant Elnor steps in.
...
...
Wide-eyed Elnor meets Gideon's gaze, his irises fully crimson.
His sword trembles.
Eroded by the Demon Fragment, tormented by kill-everything impulse. Family madness stripping his reason.
Yet before Elnor, the sword stops. Motion freezes.
"What...?"
"What?!"
Everyone else halts in shock.
-!
Then the demonic energy erupts outward.
A familiar sight.
Everywhere it touches slows. Soon, everything will halt.
And.
One person awaited this moment.
...
I dash to Gideon.
With erosion complete, Gray Devil possessed, Gideon frozen—safe to approach. This is the battle's crux.
[System Message]
[ Detecting demonic energy. ]
[ 'Seal of the Fallen Heavens' reacts! ]
What I need here.
[ Skill: King of Pandemonium ] [ Rank: A ]
[ -Worship the great sovereign!- ]
[ Reveals the dignity of hell's ruler to all under heaven. Grants matchup advantage against demon types for 5 minutes on use. ]
This.
White Demon's authority resisted via Fatal Charm before; Gray Devil's countered somewhat with this.
[ Activating 'Skill: King of Pandemonium'. ]
[ Absolute matchup advantage against demon-type foes for 5 minutes! ]
[ Facing target with equal ability. ]
[ Resisting target's unique ability 'Authority: Erosion'! ]
As everything slows.
I move unaffected.
"That enough?"
Never used it facing him before, but necessary now.
I chuckle.
Time to 'negotiate' with this guy.
"Come out. Let's talk."
With those words.
The world turns gray.
●
My body feels heavy.
Eliya Chrisanax's first thought.
...
Consciousness drifts like adrift at sea.
A familiar sensation.
Just like the gray aura blanketing everything during the full moon festival. Everything in range halted.
But unlike then, she can barely move now.
'...Huh. How?'
Did something special change in her? She doesn't recall.
Reason unknown, but possible now—so try.
She forces her eyes open. Gray fills her vision first.
Then next.
"How was handling 'your progeny' for 2 minutes? Not bad, right?"
Amid the slowdown, Dawood moves almost normally. Not perfectly—slower than usual—but far beyond her struggling to open eyes.
And across from him, hearing it.
...!
Her vision burns.
Just looking feels like poison seeping through optic nerves.
Incomprehensible, repulsive, horrific. No evil word matches 'that'.
Can't even focus on its form. Feels like mental corruption.
Even the 'voice' from it is worse.
Deliberately.
She writhes in gut-twisting agony as the man before it speaks calmly.
"Just one promise."
But.
How is he conversing so casually with that thing?
"Later, once. When I ask, possess Gideon. Everyone here risked their lives to build that 'foundation' for it."
...
Come to think: from the start, he said 'hold out' 2 minutes, never 'defeat' it.
All prep for whatever he's negotiating now.
"So stay quiet and possess Elnor for now. Gotta gather all three fragments there anyway. Easier for you, right?"
...
Eliya freezes.
No clue what it means.
But instinct screams vital info.
"I know you don't spill that without compensation. So."
Pondering, Dawood suddenly strips off his top.
...
Hm.
Maybe securing vision through hardship wasn't futile.
Eliya stares piercingly at Dawood.
No one to judge in this mess anyway.
But soon, something odd catches her eye.
'...What's that?'
A 'tattoo' on his chest.
Not quite—more like 'roots' embedded, 'supplying' something.
As if intended to 'transform' him into something.
"In exchange, I offer part of my 'future' to you."
...
No words.
But Eliya senses instinctively.
The monstrosity opposite Dawood is deeply shocked.
No.
Grieving fits better.
"At first I wondered... but pondering, I got it. Met that Forerunner recently."
...
"Don't know exactly 'who' yet... but definitely because of me."
...
"This—it's you protecting me from becoming like that guy, right? Keeping it from happening."
...
Eliya flinches.
Just now.
Dawood's tone mirrored the monstrosity's somehow.
As if they're becoming alike.
"Don't stop. See it through. I'm prepared."
"No¾it can't be done. You, if you¾..."
...
"To match that guy's level, seems necessary."
Dawood sighs, continuing.
"Can't beat him otherwise, I'll die."
He glances around.
As if etching the frozen people in the gray space into his eyes.
"...These people die too."
And oddly.
The latter felt far more sincere.
...
Then, the monstrosity—gazing sadly at Dawood.
Slowly approaches, embracing him.
As if consoling.
Mourning the ascetic path ahead in his stead.
- I love you. See you later.
Those words follow.
- Next time, definitely. You.
The only part Eliya clearly hears amid it all.
- With me, to the world's end.
Pure, unwavering affection.
- What we couldn't before, forever—
Before it ends.
The gray rapidly lifts from the world.
●