Chapter 167

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Translator: Ebonarch

Chapter: 167

Chapter Title: Falling Flowers (5)

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"...So, Teacher, you just do what you need to do."

I clenched my fist tight.

'...What I need to do.'

No need to spell it out—it was taking down the me from the first playthrough.

But how the hell was I supposed to do that?

Even weakened as it was, that thing had the specs of someone who'd already seen the ending.

Normally, no matter what dirty tricks I pulled, it was an unwinnable opponent.

...And yet, I had to make it happen.

I let out a short breath and sorted through the situation.

'The advantages I've got... three of them.'

First advantage: utility.

The me from the first playthrough was a swordsman.

All utility handed off to Lucia—a pure attack-focused swordsman.

So without Lucia here now, its utility was bound to fall way short compared to its raw power.

Second: its true body being the 'holy sword.'

The moment the shadows swallowed it, I realized the source of its demonic energy wasn't flesh—it was the holy sword.

In other words, no need to take down 'Revived Corruption' itself. Just snatch the holy sword, and it'd self-destruct on its own.

Last advantage: me, myself.

I knew all its patterns.

Attack patterns, skills it used, even its thought process.

I knew myself better than 'Revived Corruption' ever could.

─Thud!

Right then, the shadows shook once more.

'No time.'

I had to maximize every advantage and take it down.

Pathetic stats compared to the enemy, but no time to whine about it.

'...Time for the optimal setup.'

Max out the Tamer ability to face 'Revived Corruption.'

'Gotta keep Shadow and Body Enhancement.'

No other ability could match Shadow's utility right now, and Body Enhancement was the bare minimum to track its movements.

'Two slots left.'

─ Empty.
─ Empty.

The strongest cards available to me now: Lucia and Vivian.

I pulled up full lists of their spells and ran mental sims on every combo.

My overworked brain throbbed—a nosebleed warning, cold sweat pouring.

'...Just a bit more.'

Just as my vision blurred and mind hit its limit...

'Hoo...'

I filled the empty slots.

Not perfect, but the best I could do.

I closed the status window, exhaled long, and stepped forward.

Kwaaang─

At the same instant, 'Revived Corruption' burst out ahead, shattering the shadows just like me.

"...."

Revived Corruption glared at Eugene in fury.

Trapped in some incomprehensible space.

It reminded it of before it earned the name 'Corruption'—back when it was just mere demonic energy. That alone filled Revived Corruption with rage.

I felt that killing intent from 'Revived Corruption' too.

But so what?

Bianca's death had already overwhelmed me with greater terror than this thing's anger could ever muster.

'Body Enhancement.'

I mouthed the words silently. My heart pounded wildly, pumping blood through my body.

'It's all or nothing in one moment.'

My meager magic power couldn't sustain a drawn-out fight anyway.

─Thump.

The instant Body Enhancement kicked in, 'Revived Corruption' stared at Eugene.

'How...?'

'Revived Corruption' couldn't comprehend. What Eugene just used wasn't magic—it was a unique ability.

Mages used magic. Unique ability users used unique abilities.

A rule of this world since its inception. Never a single exception.

'What did you do?'

Regardless of power levels, stepping outside the world's laws disgusted 'Revived Corruption'.

'...I'll kill you.'

Enveloped in demonic energy from the corrupted holy sword, 'Revived Corruption' charged at Eugene.

Kwaang─

Even with Body Enhancement-boosted eyes, I could barely track 'Revived Corruption's' movements.

But I knew what technique was coming.

Unlike the other four great houses, the Calliope house—lacking blood magic—passed down to heirs alone: swordsmanship of seven forms.

Calliope Style Form 1 ─ Falling Ice

─Kwaaa!

The blackened holy sword dropped to cleave Eugene from head to toe.

Kwaaang─

A fist-sized hole punched through the armor—'Revived Corruption' reeled back.

'Revived Corruption' couldn't make sense of it.

Eugene hadn't used any ability. So what was this wound?

"..."

Unlike elemental magic, special magic maximized effects on specific targets.

Complex conditions, high mana cost, short range—but fulfill those conditions like now, and it dealt lethal damage even to superior foes.

'...That took 80% of my remaining mana.'

If it hadn't gone for Falling Ice, most of my precious mana would've evaporated into nothing.

But I was certain it'd start with Falling Ice.

「Telekinesis」

While 'Revived Corruption' hesitated, I hurled a fang-shaped, razor-sharp telekinetic force through the hole in its battered armor.

─Kwang!

The telekinesis vanished without a trace, devoured by 'Revived Corruption's' demonic energy.

Calliope Style Form 3 ─ Breaking Ice

It gripped the holy sword two-handed and slashed wide—the earth's surface tore up, unable to withstand.

Instead of dodging back, I ducked low, almost kissing the ground.

Thwack─!

Flying debris battered my body, shredding skin, cracking bones—but I survived.

"..."

Confirming I'd even dodged Breaking Ice, 'Revived Corruption' didn't stop. It reversed grip and slashed diagonally down.

Calliope Style Form 6 ─ Extreme Ice World

Looks like Breaking Ice, but totally different.

That sword didn't just cut air.

It sliced away everything but the chill in the atmosphere, forging a world of utter ice.

'Was waiting for this.'

The moment I evaded the blade, I knew.

It was certain of victory.

I charged straight in.

Crackle─

Extreme Ice World hit as expected—ice clung to my legs.

Snap─!

But it shattered right away.

"...!"

Even through its helmet, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt 'Revived Corruption's' shock.

-Extreme resistance to cold.
-Significant affinity boost to cold-elemental energy.

No way it'd expect me to have consumed ice crystals.

But 'Revived Corruption's' hesitation didn't last.

Calliope Style Form 2 ─ Severing Ice

Calliope swordsmanship's fastest thrust.

'Not dodging this one.'

As Severing Ice speared at my head, I swung my telekinesis-boosted right hand, twisting the blade's path.

Kwajiiik─

My right arm tore clean off—searing pain like fire.

'But...'

Once again, I survived.

My wrecked body somehow reached 'Revived Corruption' up close.

"...."
"..."

In the blink of an eye—too short for even that.

'Revived Corruption' and I locked eyes.

It was asking what I planned to do with this mangled body.

As it said, mana and stamina both bottomed out.

Couldn't cast mid-tier magic; maybe two or three low-tier at best.

No chance of winning.

...That was the plan: make it think that.

The binding spell from my bondage play with Lucia.

Typical binding magic ate mid-tier mana, but this only took low-tier amounts.

Great cost-performance—except the fatal flaw: needed the target's consent.

'...But.'

Hate to admit it, but this thing was me.

Proved by the shadows swallowing it.

As long as I consented, its permission didn't matter.

Kuuuk─!

Even bound, it was just low-tier magic.

A single flex would break it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠free against my level.

But that gap was enough.

「Rise—Shadow」

While it was bound, I pulled a wooden box from the shadows and smashed it with telekinesis.

"....!"

For the first time, I sensed true astonishment from it—not just fluster.

'Creeping Terror'

My final card.

I shoved the floating tentacles into my mouth and swallowed. A swarm of bugs crawled inside me.

Shaaaak!

And with the tentacles' power, my right arm regrew.

I poured everything into that arm and slapped the holy sword from 'Revived Corruption's' grip.

"...!!"

It reached in shock—but too late.

「Devour—Shadow」

The shadows had already claimed the holy sword.

"...Ooooooooh!!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Confirming the holy sword gone, 'Revived Corruption' lost its mind, raining fists down.

"....Let....go....!!"

Its voice scraped like metal on metal.

"....Fuck...off...you...shithead..."

I rasped back through gritted teeth.

Kwajik─!

Its blows pulped my face—tentacles healed it, only to pulp again. Repeat.

Not just my face.

Every spot its fists hit got smashed the same way.

...But that was fine.

Never planned some flashy win from the start.

Cowardly and ugly? As long as I survived somehow, it was my victory.

"....Grooooaaar!!"

Sensing defeat, 'Revived Corruption' bellowed in rage, slamming its fist into my chest.

Thud—

No more pain.

"....Graa...ah...!!"

Without the holy sword's demonic supply, its magic-fueled body crumbled to dust.

Thud, thud, thud.

Armor pieces fell one by one as 'Revived Corruption' dissolved into dust.

'...Barely...made it.'

Alive by miracle alone.

Tentacles barely clinging to life—but my brain and heart had burst multiple times.

─Clunk.

The moment the masterless helmet dropped before my eyes...

Consciousness faded.