Chapter 121: My Dream is Shikigami Master (5)
After roughly going through Hoaran's lessons, by evening I could make Hoah use things like Fox Fire, Iron Body, Fleet Step, Reverse Claw, and Clone.
Skipping Fox Fire and Iron Body, Fleet Step was a spell for leaping short distances, Reverse Claw was just slashing everything to shreds with some insanely sharp claws, and Clone was, well, a clone.
I learned more from Hoaran, but the shikigami spells I could handle comfortably right now were just those four.
"...Looks about right."
And I'd just learned exactly four techniques, too.
Each one used a different amount of ki, so even if I distributed it around, my current limits meant each had a usage cap. It really felt spot on.
Of course, that was just for the spells I could use. If I just fed ki to Hoah and let it fight autonomously, it'd do way better.
Hell, if I made it fight while burning through Dragon Hearts, it'd be even stronger.
But the important thing was that I had finally learned a decent amount about handling a shikigami.
Maybe that's why Hoaran, who'd been staring at me silently, spoke up.
"...This should be sufficient, but it would be best to test it out."
"A test?"
"Indeed. You've learned it, but... practice and real combat are different, are they not? Lilith, lend a hand."
"Huh? Me? Sure, whatever."
"No."
Calling out the final boss like Lilith for a test...?
I was baffled, but Lilith— who'd apparently been bored while I was learning spells— agreed without hesitation.
"We should change locations as well."
With that, Hoaran snapped her fingers.
Krreeeeak. A door ripped open right in front of us.
"Come, let us go."
"...Where to?"
"A place where Lilith can rampage freely without issue."
No.
Please don't say shit like "a place where she can rampage freely" like it's no big deal.
But even when I protested, Hoaran just said she'd put a barrier on me so not to worry— she didn't close the portal or anything.
In the end, we crossed through the space transfer gate Hoaran made, and we ended up in a barren wasteland stretching everywhere.
"Uh... was there a place like this nearby?"
"There was not. This is... the land once called Sichuan."
Fuck, it rang a bell. I racked my brain and remembered.
It used to be a city attached to that huge-ass country with a shit-ton of people and land.
The reason it was a "used to be" city was because when the world went straight to hell in that chaotic mess, this place got even more fucked up.
Having vast land and a huge population meant it had all the ingredients for disaster.
And that went for other worlds too.
When the worlds slammed together with a boom, this spot turned into a total hotspot.
But the problem was it wasn't just intelligent non-humans.
Ogre and troll monsters poured out too.
Especially the ones already living here— they were the real issue.
Monsters like ogres and trolls popped up everywhere, but here, even those "large-scale" threats got squashed like bugs by ultra-massive super monsters.
"...This is where the Four Evils were?"
"Correct. The Sichuan where those Four Evils dwelled."
The disaster-class monsters named after legendary beasts from this region's myths.
Sichuan, home to monsters called Chaos, Earth Dragon, Palace Demon, and Earth Iron.
Each one strong enough to wipe out a country, and because the land was so goddamn huge, all four showed up here?
One reason the world felt like total shit back then was monsters like these popping up everywhere...
I couldn't believe I was standing in that very place now.
Of course, the reason the world didn't actually go to total shit was obvious.
Most of those disaster-class monsters got raided and turned into mincemeat by even stronger beings.
"It's been a while here. Still looks totally unrestored, though?"
"With so much destroyed back then, what choice is there? Prioritizing the worse-hit areas for rebuilding is only natural. Moreover, this land is contaminated by the toxic miasma spewed by Chaos and Palace Demon, so it will likely take another decade or more before it's habitable."
And there were Lilith and Hoaran chatting casually— the ones who'd actually raided those Four Evils and other disaster-class monsters.
If Yustitia hadn't been sprawled out sleeping at home, three of the twenty-two heroes who'd personally taken down those threats would be here. Too bad she was snoozing.
"...Miasma?"
That sounded ominous as fuck, so I asked, and Hoaran and Lilith both looked at me.
"Worry not. This lady has you protected by a barrier, Hanjo."
"And after all the cum you've scarfed down, normal miasma won't faze you much? It's been over two years, so it's probably neutralized by now anyway."
Since the fuck when did my body become like that?
Apparently, gobbling up whatever they fed me turned me into a body that could handle even disaster-class miasma without much issue— without me even noticing.
Seemed like it wasn't full-on "immune to all poisons" from some novel, since they brushed it off as "no big deal."
"Anyway, this place is perfect. I can go wild, and it'll even help with cleanup later— gotta plow it all under regardless."
I freaked out seeing Lilith roll her shoulders.
"No, what do you mean go wild? The opponent's me!"
"Precisely, it's Hoah, is it not? Worry not. If need be, this lady will protect you properly."
No.
"Then, let us begin."
The moment Hoaran finished, Lilith grinned and said,
"Here I come?"
Her eyes gleamed red, looking like she was having the time of her life.
"Wait, hold on—"
I tried to say something as she charged, kicking off the ground. I backpedaled in pure panic and ordered Hoah.
"Hoah, Fleet Step!"
"Hoah!"
Hoah grabbed me and activated Fleet Step right away.
Kaboom!
Right after we leaped far back, Lilith's fist slammed into where we'd been, debris exploding everywhere.
"Fuck...?"
Thinking how my body would've been pulverized if I hadn't dodged gave me chills.
"Hold up, Mom. Aren't you taking this too seriously?"
"This isn't even serious yet?"
She wasn't even in her second transformation— just her normal look. Still, that punch would've put me in the hospital at best. No, probably killed me.
I wasn't erect right now, so no Gift activation. One hit and my bones and flesh would've separated— instant death.
"Timeout for a sec—"
"You think a real enemy would wait, you dumbass?"
Lilith stared at me like I was an idiot.
No.
She had a point, but...
This wasn't a real fight, so wasn't this overkill?
"Quit whining and take this too."
Apparently I was the only one thinking that. She kicked the ground lightly.
Kwang!
Just a casual kick, and chunks of debris shattered toward me.
I had no idea how she controlled the force, but head-sized rocks raining down was straight-up horror movie shit.
"Holy fuck."
I tried Fleet Step again to dodge, but something felt off.
I couldn't explain it, but reacting like this seemed wrong. Gut feeling hit hard.
What the hell...?
I didn't know why, but with Hoaran here, I wouldn't actually get fucked, so I trusted my instincts.
"Hoah, Fox Fire."
"Hoah?"
Hoah looked at me puzzled.
Then its thoughts hit me: This'll backfire hard.
The Fox Fire I supplied ki for was way weaker than what Hoah could do solo.
Using it on debris might melt the rocks or set them ablaze into a self-inflicted meteor shower— Hoah's intent came through crystal clear.
So clear I could picture myself getting smashed by flaming meteors.
But I ordered again, and Hoah nodded, firing Fox Fire at the incoming debris.
But...
Shooo. The Fox Fire passed right through the rocks.
"Hoah...?"
Hoah looked confused as its own fire phased through, then freaked when the rocks kept coming, tails flaring to block them.
Too late.
The rocks that passed through the fire slammed into me.
But...
"Hoaaa...?"
They passed right through my body too. Hoah stared at me like What the fuck just happened?
Thanks to that, I knew exactly what was going on.
I patted my body where the rocks had gone through and muttered,
"No way. When the hell did this get cast?"
"Quick on the uptake. Thought it'd take longer. And I cast Phantom Illusion right at the start."
Lilith shrugged casually, admitting she'd illusioned me the second we began. Pissed me off a bit.
If I'd caught on slower, I'd have been trapped draining energy pointlessly.
"How'd you notice, though? No tells."
"Uh, just... felt off."
Come to think of it, noticing the illusion at all was weird.
"Whatever... That was just a fake-out, but from now on, the painful ones are real. Watch out."
"Huh?"
Wait.
Don't just warn me— just don't do it?
But no, she grinned and summoned a massive fireball.
Hoah's Fox Fire looked like a puny spark in comparison. Fucking enormous.
"Dodge if you don't wanna get roasted."
Roasted? Not just scorched?
"Hoah, Fleet Step!"
Even knowing it might be fake, she said it'd hurt, so it'd hurt like a bitch. No choice— Fleet Step to evade the flames.
"Motherfucker."
But she hurled another right after. Fleet Step again, but more kept coming.
Fleet Step cost way more than Fox Fire, and spamming it pointlessly was exhausting.
I'd already used spells during lessons with Hoaran, burning stamina.
Now just dodging nonstop? I was dying here.
"...Hoah."
"Yeah, this is fucked."
First priority: break the illusion.
Otherwise, I'd just be Lilith's plaything.
And to break it? One way only.
No choice. I pulled Lilith's panties from my pocket and shoved them in my nose.
"You little shit?!"
I hadn't stolen them this time.
Just kept the ones she'd told me to toss after she couldn't wear them anymore.
From her view, finding out I carried her "trash" panties pissed her off big time.
But thanks to that, my Gift kicked in.
Crackle...
The world— the illusory one Lilith made— crumbled.
"Hoaaa...?"
And my ki, drained to the floor, surged back up.
Don't know what it was, but pissed at the sudden ki flood, I ordered Hoah to blast her with Fox Fire as she stormed toward me.
"Hoah...!"
Fwoosh! Hoah fired a Fox Fire two or three times bigger than usual at Lilith.
"You fuck. I told you to throw those out."
But it didn't land.
"Hoah, Clone!"
"Hoah!"
Shrrk. Tiny talismans burst from Hoah's sleeves.
They turned into mini-Hoahs instantly.
"Fox Fire!"
"Hoaaa!"
The Hoahs fired Fox Fire in unison. Felt my ki get sucked dry, but a dozen-plus blasts engulfed Lilith.
"I did tell you... but why the fuck do you have them?"
Still no effect...?
"Ah, shit."
I got it didn't do much, but her strolling through unscathed like it was nothing was horror movie levels.
"Hoaaa..."
The Hoahs were terrified too.
Huddled around the main Hoah, trembling pathetically.
"Hmph...!"
Lilith brushed past them toward me.
"Hand 'em over. Should've known better than to trust you."
"N-no...!"
I couldn't lose the talisman that saved my ass.
"No my ass— gimme back my—"
"Hoah!"
Shwick! Hoah, pretending to cower, extended its claws long and black.
Slashed right at Lilith.
Splurt. Reverse Claw raked her back.
Melee with claws, but paired with Iron Body, it packed way more punch than Fox Fire.
Sure enough, her clothes— unmarred by dozens of Fox Fires— tore with a rip, fabric sliding off her back.
"Whoa, fuck."
Long time no see, but goddamn, still killer.
Not the biggest tits I'd seen, but fitting for the Succubus Queen— her black lacy bra hugged those perfect tits.
"You... that was my favorite outfit..."
But shit, we're fucked.
Clothes shredded, but she looked unharmed. More pissed about the outfit than the hit.
Now she was really mad. Fleet Step or whatever, she'd grab me and bash my skull in soon.
Time for the last resort.
"Hoaran Maaam...! Save me...!"
Hoaran gave a wry smile at my yell, leaped in, blocked Lilith, and said,
"Lilith, this test should end here."
"What? Hold on. Just one hit. One."
"Hanjo was at fault, but your clothes tore because you let your guard down, no?"
"You think I'm mad about that? This fucker's always hoarding panties!"
"...That is indeed Hanjo's fault. How about this?"
Hoaran approached me.
"Hanjo. If you want, this lady will give you hers instead, so dispose of Lilith's panties now."
...Hoaran's panties?
I stared, and she blushed faintly.
Unlike Lilith's, these I'd get permission for from the owner herself...?
"Y-yes'm."
I handed Lilith's panties to Hoaran. She took them and said,
"There, problem solved."
But Lilith was glaring harder than before.
"...You little shit?"
"But you said toss 'em."
So I did. What now?