The War Between Vengeance and Holy Tree
A child in infancy cannot conceive of the concept of suicide. Self-loathing is not etched into our genes. A child believes they are the correct answer, that they are right, that they are the world itself. As they grow, as they encounter the world and other people, they learn that those beliefs were wrong and that the concept of "common sense" has already been formed by others. So, I suppose I was a rather peculiar case, realizing from the moment I was born that I was the wrong answer. An unbearable, blinding light, a beautiful sculpture, an irrefutable truth—it all dug deep into my consciousness, even in the moments when I lay asleep with my eyelids closed. Even now, I am merely wandering about, clutching my incorrect answer sheet. I had thought that this time, I would finally set things right. But even if one holds the world in their hands, things rarely go according to plan.
"Leader! We have a big problem!"
I was playing mahjong with Irua, DeepDive, and Hans to raise my Laziness stat when one of the sharper guys came sprinting in, breathless.
"What is it?"
"An ambush! They look like they’re ready for war...!"
CRASH!
The main entrance of the hall was violently shattered, and villains in suits began to march inside. The members of Vengeance immediately took up combat positions. Irua and Emma also stepped in front of me, keeping the enemies in check.
Click, clack.
The sound of high heels echoed through the room. El-Rena walked in among the villains, looking utterly confident. I reached out, gently pushed Irua’s shoulder aside, and stepped forward. El-Rena and I stood in a standoff.
"Zeo."
"El-Rena."
Tension hung heavy in the air. The Vengeance members were swallowing hard. With a single signal, this space would turn into a blood-drenched battlefield. I could see Finisher, the second-in-command of Holy Tree, as well. We were going to see a lot of corpses today. Judging by El-Rena’s aura, she seemed significantly enraged. How would she play this?
"I hear Vengeance has taken second place."
"That is correct."
"In such a short time, with such a small number of people, a new organization... That is usually an absolute impossibility."
"I proved that it was possible."
"It was a fine achievement, I suppose, but to have such ability and try to rival Holy Tree? I can only see impure intentions behind it."
"Do you intend to nip it in the bud?"
My subordinates tensed at my question. I judged that El-Rena had other intentions. If she truly wanted war, a surprise attack would have sufficed. After all, this building was Holy Tree’s property. Attacking would be easy. There was no reason to start with a conversation.
"Zeo, what exactly is your intention?"
"Didn't I tell you, El-Rena? It’s the trust between you and me."
"Why do you want something so uncertain instead of a document?"
"Because I want you."
El-Rena, who had been covering her mouth with her fan, glared at me intently.
"Do you remember the proposal you made to me before?"
Ah, the Limit Break. Currently, El-Rena’s villain grade is SSS, and her ability level is 9. What she wants is the enhancement of her ability. But she must have felt the wall of growth for a long time. That was why she developed the Sky Lens. The Sky Lens is a device that forcibly enhances abilities, but it has side effects. Because of that, in the original work, El-Rena was much stronger than she was now, but half of her body was in the form of green jelly. Her mind was also much more broken, and she was an evil villain, the mastermind of the fourth scenario. I had seen in the settings that the reason she wanted her ability enhanced was to reach the realm of resurrecting the dead through her Verbal Command.
"Of course I remember."
I answered immediately. I would induce El-Rena to grow through the soul of a comrade. And then, I would handle her as my subordinate and use her as a pawn to clear the scenario. That was the picture I was painting.
"You didn't think I would believe such a bluff, did you? Zeo."
If that wasn't it, why go out of her way to come here and mention it? I had an idea.
"Did you fail?"
El-Rena didn't answer.
"Judging by that, it seems you fortunately didn't use it yourself."
"Zeo."
Her hair began to flutter in the air, fueled by her rage.
"If you thought you could succeed in a gamble and have everything go your way, you are mistaken."
"Isn't it enough to just prove it?"
I declared, "If I show you my power, will you believe me?"
Clack.
El-Rena folded her fan.
"Zeo."
She dropped the fan at my feet. The fan rolled pitifully on the floor.
"You are going to die."
I took a step forward. "Let's go to the top floor. I’ve prepared a training facility. DarkMatter, follow me."
"Zeo, this is a duel. I will not allow spectators."
"It is a life-or-death battle against you, the strongest villain. DarkMatter is a villain I personally discovered and raised, and the second-in-command of Vengeance. If I die, he has the right to watch that scene."
Irua’s shoulders trembled at my statement. El-Rena did not refute it further. El-Rena, Irua, and I left the organization members behind, boarded the elevator, and headed to the top floor. We descended into the training ground and set the building’s defensive strength to the maximum. Even so, if we unleashed our full power, there was a risk of the building collapsing, but considering our abilities, it would be a close-quarters fight that would end quickly.
"Zeo, there’s no chance you’ll actually die, right...? This was just an excuse to call me out, wasn't it?"
I didn't answer, but instead patted Irua’s head. El-Rena and I stood in a standoff.
"There are no ears listening, so let’s speak frankly, El-Rena. Did the Sky Lens fail? Did you confirm the side effects that occurred in the substitute?"
"Zeo. Do not test my patience."
"As you can see with DarkMatter, my Supporter ability that assists growth is real. DarkMatter hasn't reached that realm yet, so there hasn't been an opportunity to use it, but I also know how to properly break through the limits."
"Zeo. 'Shut your mouth'."
"Understood. I will be quiet. Oh, as an aside, I mentioned the Red Dragon before to close the deal, but the information was all something I already knew."
"I told you to shut up!"
THUD!
El-Rena stomped her high heel into the floor and screamed.
"What on earth are you! Why do you keep pretending to know about me! Why do you ignore my Verbal Command! Why do you keep being so annoying, why. Why!!"
El-Rena glared at me, her fists clenched tight, breathing heavily.
"I told you the reason several times."
I answered lightly, "I want your ability."
El-Rena ground her teeth.
"There have been a truckload of bugs who targeted this body while spouting such trivial reasons."
"Pfft."
When I couldn't hold back my laughter, El-Rena’s face twisted.
"Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to mock you. It’s just that your self-consciousness is a little cute."
"Self-consciousness? How dare you use that word? You, who know nothing about why I am protecting this body!"
"Of course I don't know. You didn't tell me."
El-Rena’s gaze was sharp. The El-Rena I knew from the original work was much more mentally broken than she was now. Was the failure of the Sky Lens the cause of her body being ruined? She said everyone who touched her before died. It seems there is a reason for it, not just simple disgust.
"I will make one proposal as a condition for this match, El-Rena."
"A proposal?"
"You will come at me with the intention of taking my life, but as I said, I need your talent. Therefore, I have no intention of killing you here."
El-Rena’s expression twisted even further when she heard my words.
"So, if you reach a situation where you would die, I will stop my attack at that moment. Admit your defeat then. Ah, and since I cherish your body as well, I will not use attacks that leave irreparable wounds. Accept these conditions."
"Your bluffing and deception have not only pierced the sky, they have become a sin. That will not happen."
"Accept it."
"Very well. Shouldn't I listen to the last words of someone about to enter a coffin?"
I’d been talking for so long that my mouth was starting to feel heavy. It was certainly difficult to resist El-Rena’s Verbal Command. Still, including the last time, I had enough data. I had learned the sensation. I would end this in an instant.
"Then, let’s begin."
I took my stance. El-Rena’s eyes also turned cold. In an instant, the atmosphere of the air swirling around her changed.
"Transform."
Revelation
"Red of War."
Bellum Rue
I charged. However, the moment the outer skin of the red dragon wrapped around my body, El-Rena was already moving her lips. It wasn't a conventional language. She, too, was giving it her all from the start.
"Dandanranrahanojiryeojiteunduteunkkeobonaehaenaljiwoogeokajireugeorojigeowogeorarajigeogeoralarararararararararararar――――"
High-speed Verbal Command. A combination of commands that the ears couldn't follow flowed out in an instant. Her body was enhanced. She didn't direct the Verbal Command at me, but infused it into herself. She must have judged that an attack Verbal Command wouldn't have an immediate effect on me. She intended to endure close-quarters combat. Good spirit.
CRASH!
My fist collided with El-Rena’s arm. I could see the muscles in her arms bulging. Reaction speed, dynamic vision, muscular strength, stamina, density of muscle fibers—everything was enhanced to an incredible level. Indeed. Is this the Verbal Command of a Level 9? To think she could withstand the Red of War.
"Hoot―!"
El-Rena reacted instantly to my strike. Tai Chi, huh. Her movements were flawless. But overwhelming power always pushes through. THUD! A back-spinning kick. El-Rena defended by rotating both arms, but I pushed her back. Did she barely manage to stay on her feet? Just as I was about to follow up with a combo—
Zip!
Something pierced my shoulder. There were fine threads flying through the air. My reaction was late. Hair, huh.
"'Float'. 'Rotate'. 'Become sharp'."
Before I knew it, dozens, hundreds of strands of hair were floating around me. Indeed, she could use it like this. If those all aimed for my heart at once, it would be a bit tough.
"'Tear'. 'Break'. 'Twist'. 'Destroy'."
El-Rena was constantly casting attack Verbal Commands on my main body as well. My body gradually grew heavier. My bones were ringing.
"Zeo, you are going to die now."
El-Rena declared, glaring at me with cold eyes.
"Indeed."
She is a strong woman. Wealth, intelligence, power, and even martial prowess. She is the strongest in everything. To think such a woman was desperate to kill me.
"Then, before death arrives," I said to my heart, "I must run toward death."
Casus Aerla
"Blue of Death."