108. Labyrinth
108. Labyrinth
"Can you stop shouting that shitty technique name? If you're going to shout it, at least give it a proper name."
"It's my technique, so I'll name it whatever I want. Why the hell do you care? And what's shitty about it? It's cool as hell."
"If you think that name is cool, then you've genuinely lost your damn mind. No, wait. Yeah. You're right. You did lose your mind. When you headbutted the Behemoth. You definitely went insane back then."
"Luna, that's wrong. Ronan has been the same since he was ten years old. So Ronan isn't insane. He's just consistent. And Ronan. I think that consistency of yours is cool."
"What the hell are you talking about, you moron."
"You're the moron, Ronan. And you used... you used that technique again. Again."
"If I hadn't, you'd all be dead."
"You'd have been the first to die. That's why I told you not to charge ahead like a rabid dog. And even so! You son of a bitch. Don't use it—I told you, Arisa told you, Paulo told you, Kaloso told you. We told you, you fucking bastard, didn't we?"
"Are you running your mouth because I can't move right now? Why are you nagging so much? And anyway, I only broke my pinky today. I only released the first acupoint."
"And now you're flat on your back from the backlash. Is that something to brag about? That's it, I'm cutting off this godforsaken bastard's finger today. Paulo. Lend me your sword. No, that one's too long and unwieldy. The one stuck in your thigh."
"It'll hurt if I pull it out."
"I'll stop the bleeding."
"Stopping the bleeding doesn't make the pain go away. And right now, Luna, aren't you focused on healing Ronan? I'll pull it out at least after Ronan's healing is done."
"Pull it out now before I cut off your whole leg. And once Ronan's healing is done, I need to sleep and wake up too. I've been wringing it out for three days and nights, and nothing comes out anymore. Honestly, if it weren't for this bastard Ronan, it would've been a good idea. So pull it out now."
"Hm, I'm sorry, but I can't. I've set the muscles around it as it is. If I pull it out, I definitely won't be able to walk properly."
"You dumbass. So you're going to spend the whole day with that thing stuck in you?"
"Later, I'll drink a ton of booze and pull it out. Then... it won't hurt, probably."
"Is this the crazy one? Then go lie down over there next to Arisa. I'll heal you later. Anyway, Ronan. Never, ever use that. First gate, second gate, whatever the hell. You will definitely, absolutely, open that fifth one. The last acupoint. The you I know will do it no matter what."
"I already opened it once. That's why I've got less than ten years left on my expiration date."
"...That's why... I'm telling you... not to open it. That shitty name you keep saying. That technique! The fifth release or whatever... if you use that again. You, who're already on borrowed time, will drop dead on the spot. That's definitely what'll happen."
"Even so, if the Demon King appears before us again like last time. I'll use it without hesitation. Only then... can we—no, can you all escape."
"You... you son of a bitch! Just, please! When someone talks to you, at least pretend to fucking listen. Don't use it. Don't use it, don't use it—how many times do I have to say it before... will you listen to me?"
"Huh? Hey, are you crying?"
"Why would I cry, you dumbass bastard. Shut up before I rip your mouth open."
"I wouldn't change my mind even if my own mother told me to. So don't try to understand. Just accept it. This bastard's just that kind of bastard."
"You don't have a mother."
"You fucking bitch?"
"Haah... Fine. Since you have no intention of listening no matter how many times I tell you, let's at least change the name."
"You're recommending one?"
"No. It's not a recommendation. It's a notification. Since you shout the name every time you use it, from now on you'll shout the name I decide. Got it?"
"Why should I?"
"Because if you don't, I won't heal you no matter where or how your body gets wrecked."
"Let's hear it."
"Purgatory."
"...What's that? Not hell, not prison."
"Shut up and just... call it Purgatory. I'll tell you the meaning and the reason later. Far in the future. When we're on the verge of an important battle."
"Hm... Purgatory, huh... Hmm... Is that all?"
*****
I never heard the reason.
I died before I could.
I never bothered to look up the meaning either.
Just as Luna said, just as she wanted.
So that later, far in the future, I could hear the meaning and reason from her. I saved it for the fun of that moment.
Purgatory.
The principle is simple. The fingers of my left hand. Into the acupoints there, I cram Mana, Innate True Energy, undigested Potions and Elixirs, and blood—stuffed full.
Then, whenever needed, I take it out and use it. Done.
Of course, only the principle is simple.
Opening even the first gate leaves lifelong side effects that are horrifying, and maintaining it in the first place is a constant ordeal.
When eating, when using the bathroom, when fighting, when breathing, when sleeping—not one second of the day, not even the instant that second is split into.
I have to hold onto my focus and keep it from leaking out of the finger acupoints.
And at the same time, I have to keep cramming more in.
Until nothing more will fit.
My comrades asked me many times why I did such a troublesome thing. They teased me, calling me a moron, sneering that I was some brat going through puberty.
When I opened all the way to the fifth gate and bought time against the Demon King, everyone said thank you. And they told me never to use it again, no matter what.
Of course, I didn't listen to them.
When I needed to use it, I used it without a moment's hesitation.
That doesn't mean I always opened all five gates.
Four at most.
The fifth gate. The last gate—I promised myself I would only open it when I met the Demon King.
And so, every time I opened the gates of Purgatory. I—we—
All survived. Killed the enemy, retook the base,
saved people, killed Legion Commanders.
I cut the Demon King's body. Drew out his blood.
Proved that he was not an immortal being.
And then, I returned alive.
Yeah.
The moment I open the gates of Purgatory. At least while that flow holds—no matter what, absolutely, without fail.
I do not die.
Unless it's the Demon King, I win. No matter what.
It's the same now.
*****
"...Hm?"
Samaella's eyes narrowed.
The small girl standing before her.
A girl two heads shorter than the Eight-Headed Serpent, shorter even than herself.
Eliarnes Eustetia. She broke her finger. Suddenly, out of nowhere, she broke her finger.
And in response, cherry-blossom-colored Mana blazed up. And something... changed?
Nothing immediately visible.
Her total Mana. Her tattered body. All the same.
But her eyes had changed. Bloodshot, sharp. A little more... beast-like, ferocious.
Not that she'd lost her reason. The cherry-blossom-colored pupils seemed clearer than ever.
And smoke quietly rising from her body.
What was that? Smoke from her body?
Samaella didn't understand Eliarnes's change well. But she didn't bother to care.
Samaella was 8th Circle. An Archwizard with eight complete circles, and a Black Wizard.
Nor was she lacking in hand-to-hand combat. Her Demonic Energy wasn't running low either. It was overflowing. The Eight-Headed Serpent. Her Ideal Manifestation still radiated overwhelming presence.
So she ignored the inexplicable unease.
"I gave you time to run, so why aren't you going?"
"Because there's no need to."
Watching Eliarnes still smirking, Samaella moved.
"Do you think that just because you're a Eustetia, Shadowless will come help you here?"
Only then did Eliarnes look flustered.
"Shadowless...? Who's that?"
Samaella was a little flustered too.
"...The leader of Nameless."
"Ah, that person's name is Shadowless?"
"An epithet."
"Oh... Shadowless is definitely cooler than 'leader.'"
As if chatting over coffee on a terrace, Eliarnes nodded leisurely.
Samaella found the sight irritating.
Was she insane? Had she lost her mind, gone mad?
Was she trying to buy time?
If so, that was a fairly sound judgment.
If Shadowless came, Samaella's correct move would be to flee immediately.
Shadowless... that crazy bitch cannot be beaten.
The matchup was unfavorable from the start.
So she had to immediately go through the 'back door,' grab Stella, and flee.
But.
Shadowless could not come here.
At least, not for the next thirty minutes.
The ritual would end within that time.
Eliarnes would die too.
"...Shadowless won't be coming here."
"How long?"
"There's no reason not to tell you, but... do you really need to hear it? Whatever the number, your death is certain."
"Ah, right. No need to hear it."
Kkyareuk— Eliarnes laughed.
"Since the labyrinth will disappear once you're dead anyway."
In that instant, Samaella reached out.
The Eight-Headed Serpent roared. Eight heads. The roar bursting from eight maws shook the earth. Then, from those maws, different poisons shot forth.
Mountain-Piercing Poison. Soul-Annihilating Poison. Blood-Burning King Poison. Leaf-Piercing Needle Poison.
Demonic Flame Poison. Heaven-Destroying Poison. Nine-Sound Fragrance. Eight-Immortal Poison.
The blood she'd spat onto the floor became countless spears, stretching toward the ceiling. The poison cloud guarding Samaella's side spewed corrosive poison, and eight tails lashed out.
Stella could no longer even scream.
Because of her, someone was dying. Eliarnes. The friend who came to save her. The friend who promised to believe her was dying. That thought gripped Stella's throat.
Standing at the center of it all, Eliarnes.
Blinked and checked her body's condition.
'At this rate... thirty percent, my ass. Not even twenty.'
Then she stretched out her thin white leg and took a step.
Then she exhaled and spoke.
"Still, it's more than enough to kill this small fry."
Samaella could not understand those words.
She couldn't even understand how she'd heard the sound at all. Before she could understand it—
CRASH—
She was slammed into the wall.
"That spot must be comfortable, huh? You're lying there twice now."
The same place she'd been slammed into moments ago. Again.