Can You Keep Up? (2)
Demons were crawling all over the Arcana Continent, so it wasn't strange for them to be in the Zero Mountains too. But you guys have guts that stick out farther than even Grandfell's? Aren't you scared?
Even setting aside the sleeping dragons. Weren't the monsters of the Zero Mountains scary? Sure, down here in the low-level zones like now, the mobs scattered the moment they sensed me and bolted.
But common sense dictated that the higher you went, the stronger the monsters got. Just the fact that they lived here without cowering from dragons proved they were no pushovers.
Anyway.
"Even beasts possess such wisdom."
Don't act cocky in the noob zone, Grandfell. You want to pose even in front of a common rabbit? But I brazenly continued.
"You scurry about without knowing your place, demon."
[Natural Enemy].
The stench of demon wafting on the wind. Was it because my level had risen? Or because I'd received special training from the Akshan demon hunters of hell? Even in the vast Zero Mountains, my senses hadn't dulled.
'At this rate, on the demon-infested Arcana Continent...'
I'd probably be in near-constant [Natural Enemy] activation mode?
Should I be glad about that? Or lament it? It was a complicated feeling.
But.
"Entertain no thoughts of flight."
For now, focusing on the demon right in front of me was best. With [Natural Enemy] activated, there was no need to shrink back, no matter how high in the Zero Mountains we were.
No matter that I'd skipped the intermediate steps to reach this realm—there were limits. I was at the transcendent level, not quite at circles yet, but I'd awakened sword aura.
'Even if it's a leaky realm, it's still several times stronger.'
Of course, that didn't mean I'd ignore the intermediate steps.
'Master it perfectly, and it could be dozens of times.'
Well, even if the order got jumbled a bit, it'd all sort itself out once I fully acquired it, right?
In that sense, whoever it was, they were quick on the uptake. They'd sensed my presence and were swiftly putting distance between us.
But regrettably.
"Hide and seek, is it?"
A cold voice emerged.
"I am not so idle as to indulge in games."
Grandfell showed no mercy to demons, after all. I immediately drew up my mana.
Go ahead and run all you want. Better yet, waste your strength while fleeing. I could just manifest a portal and be done.
Plus.
Clack—
Even so, I wanted to avoid hiking in dress shoes as much as possible...
*
Shegwin ascended the mountain with hollow eyes. His throat burned. He'd quenched it at a spring just minutes ago. Yet the thirst had only worsened.
He realized it anew. He was no longer human.
"......"
Clank—
As Shegwin sheathed his sword, the mountainside was drenched in blood. The named monster of the high peaks, the Seven-Tailed Fox, had met its end.
Shegwin recalled his former, frail body.
'Incomparably greater strength.'
Back then, he'd climbed the Zero Mountains and encountered a five-tailed fox. True to his title of Sword Saint, he'd overwhelmed the Five-Tailed Fox even then—but he hadn't been able to finish it off.
'My body has undoubtedly grown stronger.'
Yet now he'd slain an even mightier seven-tailed fox. His body, stronger than in his prime, had butchered it before it could even cast its spells.
'So why...?'
Shegwin gazed at his sword, Atlas. No sword aura emanated. No resonance with the blade.
Grind—
He gnashed his teeth irritably.
"......Even you fail to recognize me now?"
Foolish thing.
"Had you remained intact, I never would have sought this wretched mountain range."
The reason Shegwin had come to the Zero Mountains was simple. Sword aura deepened at the precipice of life and death. To reawaken it.
'It's because I've grown too strong.'
His body, rejuvenated through corruption. In most battles, he wouldn't even face true peril.
"Fear not, however."
The masters of the Zero Mountains. Dragons could drive him to that brink.
Atlas, if that's what you desire, so be it.
Shegwin smirked.
"You wouldn't stand idly by while your master dies, after all."
He pressed onward. A peak etched with magic circles came into view. The Mage Tower had always been a tiresome nuisance, past and present. They'd set up barriers to keep anyone from approaching the dragons.
'In the past, that would have given me trouble.'
And to protect those circles, countless trap spells.
Shegwin had once triggered a sealing circle, only to fall victim to traps and suffer grievous wounds. Had his body not been more demon than human, he'd never have walked again.
"......?"
But that ordeal now seemed laughable. Shegwin beheld it: the peak where he'd surely shattered the magic circle stood tall once more, as if nothing had happened.
Was he dreaming? Or still lost in unconsciousness?
His head throbbed as if struck.
"......Looks like my skull got properly rattled after all."
It was easy to mistake. The demon eyes in the night sky had vanished. And the view from the Zero Mountains had changed.
"......Damn it all."
That surging expanse was unmistakably the sea. Where had the Arcana Continent gone? All around, nothing but blue ocean.
Had the Zero Mountains sunk into the sea overnight? More likely, his senses had failed him.
Crack!
Shegwin irritably struck a tree, snapping the trunk clean off. He chided himself. Think. Where had things gone wrong?
"......"
It had started twisting from the moment he'd encountered the silver-haired man in the Spacetime Salon.
Yes, that bastard was the root of it all.
'Without him, I'd have...'
Stormed Antonim, claimed the Milky Way Whetstone. Slain the warlords myself. Never awakened to demonic power.
As he ground his teeth—
"?"
Thump—
His heart.
Thump-thump-thump—
Began pounding wildly.
"......!"
Even before the great yokai of the Zero Mountains, the Seven-Tailed Fox. Even facing a dragon's lair. His heart had beat steady as ever.
Without experience, he'd have dismissed it. Like the missing demon eyes or the impossible sea—merely a sensory glitch. But Shegwin knew the cause of his heartbeat.
'......It's him!'
The silver-haired man again. The moment he recalled—
A voice echoed in his mind.
—"You should be grateful for the Spacetime Salon's procedures."
—"For I am enduring with utmost restraint."
—"Sword Saint. Nay, blade-wielder more vile than any demon."
Gulp—
His throat burned fiercer. Shegwin swallowed dryly and bolted.
'I must flee.'
The Sword Saint. The continent's sole Grand Sword Master—fleeing? Unthinkable, yet he had no choice. The man had toppled an upper demon king into hell, earning unanimous transcendent status.
Even if he could unleash sword aura, victory wasn't assured. And with Atlas unresponsive...
'No chance for me.'
At least his physical prowess remained. Had the nonstop traversal widened the gap? His heartbeat steadied.
The moment Shegwin halted—
Whoooosh—
Before his eyes, mana swirled in the air. A portal.
A shadow emerged from the blinding light. It drew near.
......Thump-thump-thump!
His heart malfunctioned again.
......Why the hell are you really coming out of there?
"Shegwin."
The reason I had to grow stronger—my goal—stood before me. Not your fault, but why...?
I'd fled desperately, never imagining.
'Like a rabbit scampering away.'
I'd figured an imp or low demon at worst! Demons grew slyer with power. They sensed danger and fled? No—they avoided danger altogether.
'Look at the Arcana Continent now.'
With upper demon king Gamigin cast into hell, it was more peaceful than ever. Only clueless low demons popped up occasionally. True demon kings or equivalents hid so well, not even the Demon Eye Telescope spotted a trace.
'So why are you here?'
Not that I was worried about you. The Zero Mountains were deadly. Dragons at the peak!
I wanted to snap at this unforeseen encounter.
'Wait.'
A puzzle piece clicked. I spoke.
"It was you, then. Who destroyed the Mage Tower's magic circles."
I'd wondered who dared. Shegwin made sense.
Hit the mark, it seemed?
Step—
Shegwin retreated, then spoke.
"As I thought. You restored them."
Of course, I didn't reply. To Grandfell, Shegwin was worse than a demon. Even uttering a word required immense restraint.
Suddenly.
"......Heh heh heh."
Shegwin chuckled sobbingly. Why so creepy all of a sudden? As I flinched, he continued.
"Truly, everything's gone to hell."
......Who are you to say that?
I wanted to retort, but Shegwin had no time for it. He'd raised his sword.
Something felt off, though. No sword aura...?
"Behold, Atlas. Your master faces death."
Atlas—the sword's name. Death's brink? That's my line!
'I'm genuinely scared.'
With [Natural Enemy] active. And Grandfell's pride at its peak against a mighty demon...
Shegwin was a formidable foe. Even without sword aura, his swift swordsmanship remained.
"Atlas, if you truly won't slay me."
"......"
"Best yield your stubbornness."
Whoosh!
Bad feelings never lie. What was that speed? Nimbler than any monster I'd seen.
'Combat sense too.'
Corrupted into a demon, Shegwin looked young, but as human, he'd been past his prime as Sword Saint. Experience aplenty. Clearly versed in mage battles too.
He vanished into the terrain.
'Transcendent ability?'
Too fast for my eyes. Without his demonic taint, I'd have been obliterated instantly.
But corrupted...
"There you are."
He couldn't evade [Natural Enemy]'s range. Demons reeked, Shegwin. I reminded myself.
'Don't watch with eyes.'
......Track by scent.
Crucially, without giving it away. Shegwin would strike the moment he thought I'd lost him.
I lacked confidence blocking that blow. But I had shamelessness.
"No law hides what hides in shadows."
Yes, utmost poise. I swear—no tremor, no gap from me.
Thump-thump-thump—
Momentary silence. His frantic heartbeat reached me. Pure demon fear.
'No idea why he's so spooked.'
Good. I'd exploit that delusion. To avoid sinking under heavy pride.
'Delusion into overestimation—make it real?'
Concealing emotion? Right up my alley. As always.
I confidently raised my arm.
"That heart beats like an instrument."
From my bosom, the trophy from demon king Andusias.
"Then."
[Command Baton Tainted by Evil]. No—now [Conductor's Baton of Rhythm].
I raised the demon king's trophy and continued.
"A scream-laden duet shan't be amiss."
......What duet? Never mind—the situation left no room for nitpicking, Grandfell.
One thing was clear: I had reason for the baton.
You're too fast alone, Shegwin.
Swipe—
Float—
Countless orbs of light rose across the Zero Mountains. My pre-placed lights.
Swipe—
Float-float—
They followed the baton's lead. Then.
"?!"
Accelerated beyond even Shegwin's dodge.
"Vivace."
—Brilliantly, swiftly. As I conduct.