The Defier of Heaven (4)
An 8th-Circle mage's magic did not disappoint.
An immense amount of mana, tightly compressed.
A crimson mass of flame shot toward the Defier of Heaven like an arrow.
"Damn it, Biorf! If you just attack without a word like that...!"
Selena cried out in alarm.
She seemed worried that his sudden action might put the entire party in danger.
But it was fine.
I already knew Biorf would fly off the handle.
It's all within my calculations.
Given Professor Biorf's personality, it would have been stranger if he hadn't struck first.
In fact, there's something I need to verify through this.
I widened my eyes and stared intently at the attack Professor Biorf had unleashed.
Rumble!
The fireball flew at a terrifying speed.
Yet, even as the attack drew right before his eyes, the Defier of Heaven did not budge.
He merely sat on his throne in the exact same posture as before, sneering.
Seeing this, Biorf burst into a hearty laugh and shouted triumphantly.
"Muhahaha! He's so shocked he can't even react! He was nothing but show—"
Swoosh!
"...Huh?"
It happened right then.
The moment the molten mass was about to touch the Defier of Heaven, the magic suddenly vanished.
As if it had been sucked into a void.
"W-what?"
Professor Biorf muttered, his face filled with bewilderment.
"How did he do that? There's no trace of a Dispel being cast...?"
Heh.
The Defier of Heaven chuckled mockingly and replied.
"Wake up. Your attacks will never reach me."
"What do you mean by..."
"The difference in status is a wall that no amount of effort can bridge. Did you truly think a mere mortal could harm someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with the gods?"
"...!"
The Defier of Heaven.
True to his name, he was a being who defied the will of heaven.
A defier of heaven who had overcome the fate of mortality and attained immortality solely through his own power was not someone who could be harmed by simple, one-dimensional magic.
...Just as I expected.
This confirmed that the situation was identical to the game. For now, it was impossible to deal any damage to the Defier of Heaven.
Then... is 'that' the only way?
As I was lost in thought, the immortal suddenly chuckled and looked at Professor Biorf.
"By the way, judging by that fiery temper, you must be Professor Biorf."
"W-what...?"
Professor Biorf's face contorted in an instant.
"You know me?"
"Of course I do. How could I not?"
The Defier of Heaven nodded leisurely.
"Selena spoke of you often. She called you a nasty old man who interferes in our association's business at every turn. A man of mediocre skill but endless greed."
"Wh-what?!"
Whiplash!
Professor Biorf's gaze snapped back to Selena.
"Hey! What is he talking about! Were you in league with this bastard all along—"
"Professor Biorf!"
Selena yelled, cutting him off.
"Are you really going to believe that monster's words? Don't fall for his attempts to drive a wedge between us!"
True to her years of living as the Blood Empress, she spat out the lie without a single change in her expression.
"...Ah."
Hearing her shout, Professor Biorf snapped out of it. He turned back to the Defier of Heaven with a face flushed with rage.
"Daaaamn you! You cunning bastard! Trying to tear us apart? Selena and I have already cleared up all our misunderstandings and reconciled!"
"...?"
For a moment, the Defier of Heaven wore a look of utter disbelief, but he soon chuckled as if it were of no consequence.
"Sigh. Yes. You're playing quite an amusing game, Selena. I wondered what happened when the owner of the 'Seal' suddenly changed..."
He looked at me, a chilling smile spreading across his face.
"...And now, you've gone so far as to bring a Sword Master to kill me?"
Flinch.
Selena shrank back, startled by that murderous gaze.
Barely managing to calm her trembling body, she declared with a look of resolve.
"Your atrocities end here."
"Ha."
The Defier of Heaven rose slightly from his throne, letting out a low chuckle.
"Atrocities? Do you truly believe what I have done is an 'atrocity'?"
"..."
"Thirty-three. That is the number of humans I sacrifice in a month. Barely more than one a day."
The Defier of Heaven's face contorted.
"But what about the Ancient Ones? What have those incompetent fools ever done for humanity?"
"..."
"They merely stand by and watch as humanity is toyed with by evil gods. Drunk on their past glory, utterly irresponsible."
He growled in a low, sinking voice.
"In the uncharted territories, hundreds of people die every single day. Who is the true sinner here?"
"That is..."
"I will do what the rotten gods could not. I will become a god myself and set everything right."
"N-no matter the reason, you cannot justify sacrificing the innocent—"
"Sigh."
The Defier of Heaven sighed and cut her off, shaking his head as if weary of the conversation.
"Do not worry, Selena. This ritual will be the last."
Rumble!
At that exact moment, the altar began to shake violently.
Dark red steam billowed as the floor cracked open, revealing the 'sacrifice' that had been hidden until now.
That's...
I narrowed my eyes.
A young man lay unconscious on the altar.
Even at a glance, his aura was completely different from the other slaves.
It was as if a distinct presence was visible around him.
The faint residue of mana hovering around his body was proof of that.
"I have finally found a suitable 'vessel'."
Right on cue, the Defier of Heaven spoke. His eyes gleamed with sticky greed and ecstasy.
"A body with magical talent superior to any other. By placing my soul into that vessel, I will make a new beginning. Once that is done, there will be no more need for rituals like this."
And the moment I heard the Defier of Heaven's next words.
I was finally able to be certain.
That the young slave bound to the altar... was indeed Strawberry Latte.
Ring, ring, ring!
"...?"
Right then, a series of notification sounds rang in my ears.
My eyes widened as I witnessed an 'anomaly' pop up in a corner of my vision.
(?????????)
(b˙◁˙ )b
?
(?????????)
?
(b˙◁˙ )b
Huh?
The message I had sent most recently.
The reactions and emoticons right next to it were changing in real-time.
Wait a minute.
He can use the community feature even while unconscious?
At this newly discovered feature, my eyes grew calm.
This...
...If I play my cards right, this could be extremely useful.
Creak.
While I was lost in these thoughts, the Defier of Heaven rose from his throne.
Crack! Snap!
A sickening sound of bones cracking echoed every time he moved.
"I swear upon all my honor."
The Defier of Heaven's voice reverberated through the cavern.
"There will be no more rituals. With this new body, I will open a new horizon for the magical path, using past failures as fertilizer to resume my sacred challenge."
Standing up, he slowly straightened his bent back and looked down at all of us.
"So make your choice wisely. There is no reason to shed precious blood when there is a good option called peace. Especially for mortals as talented as you."
Rumble!
A terrifying presence began to blanket the entire cavern.
The air grew heavy. Professor Biorf's face turned pale, and sweat beaded on Selena's forehead.
Even Adelia began to tremble, her hand shaking on the hilt of her sword.
Everyone took a hesitant step back.
They were instinctively cowed by the formidable 'power' radiating from the Defier of Heaven.
But...
Ring!
"That is the epitome of sophistry."
I spoke up, completely unfazed by the Defier of Heaven's overbearing aura.
"...Hm?"
The Defier of Heaven furrowed his brow slightly.
"Ah, yes. There was you."
Not a shred of tension could be heard in his voice. Perhaps his certainty that he could never die gave him this sense of leisure.
"Who on earth are you? Sensing the protection of the Ancient Ones, you have certainly made a 'Sacred Covenant'... but I have never heard of a Sword Master like you."
"Does a dying man really need to know that?"
Hearing my reply, the Defier of Heaven burst into a mocking sneer.
"My, my. You are not one for conversation. Though, if you were, you wouldn't be foolishly challenging an immortal without knowing your place."
The Defier of Heaven's voice grew deeper.
"Foolish seeker. Let me personally grant you a lesson. An immortal can never meet 'death'."
"..."
"Even Heukgol failed to kill an immortal. Do you truly believe you can achieve a feat that even such a powerful seeker abandoned?"
Having finished speaking, the Defier of Heaven chuckled.
In truth, not a single word of his claim was wrong.
It was virtually impossible for a mortal to kill a being who had attained 'Immortality'. Even a Sword Master was no exception.
It was the truth and common sense of this world. After all, there had been no precedent for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
But...
"Camilo von Taribas is dead."
"...?"
Starting from the moment I possessed a body in Lost Elder, the 'obvious common sense' of this world had been completely overturned.
"And that was with a single swing of my sword."
"Ha?"
The Defier of Heaven let out a hollow laugh.
"Are you telling me to believe that? A pathetic-looking bastard like you, boasting like this..."
"You've been running your mouth for a while now."
"..."
"If you're so curious, see for yourself. Whether your immortality can withstand my blade or not."
Grit.
The sound of teeth grinding echoed.
The Defier of Heaven's expression contorted in displeasure for a moment, before turning cold and dismissive.
"Our conversation is over. I've lost interest."
Rumble!
At his gesture, the ground shook, and something began to slowly walk out from the dark cavern.
"Die now."
The first phase of the Defier of Heaven, considered one of the worst bosses in the main story, had begun.
"Professor Biorf,"
I whispered in a low voice.
"Prepare your most powerful offensive magic. And cast it when I give the word."
"Understood...!"
Professor Biorf nodded vigorously.
Hummmmm!
As he gathered his mana, I continued to organize my thoughts.
There is an absolute difference in status between the Defier of Heaven and us.
He was on a completely different level from ordinary immortals like Camilo von Taribas or Doricco Shiro.
The biggest difference was that he had attained immortality solely through his own strength, not through a contract with an evil god.
Because of this, the Defier of Heaven was bound by the laws of the heavenly realm. Just as we could not directly attack him, he could not directly harm us either.
That was the real reason Biorf's fireball had vanished. Direct interference between us was impossible.
But to put it another way...
...Indirect interference is possible.
And so, the Defier of Heaven chose the following method.
"Wh-what is that...?"
Namely, trying to kill us using his summons.
Clank!
A heavy metallic clatter echoed from the far side of the dark cavern.
Living Armor.
Dark suits of armor devoid of life began to move on their own, slowly marching toward us.
"Damn it! Living Armor!"
Witnessing this, Professor Biorf widened his eyes. Mana began to blaze violently in his hands.
"Seeker! I am ready! Is it now?!"
"Not yet."
Of course it's not now, Biorf.
Only one of them has come out, so why are you in such a rush?
We had to save Professor Biorf's trump card until the very end.
Because at least ten more monsters like that were scheduled to appear...
Clank!
"Is it now?!"
"...Wait quietly until I tell you."
"Yes, sir!"