Can You Keep Up? (3)
“Not the time to say this, but... it's beautiful.”
“You're not the only one thinking that.”
“It's sparkling so much it's sapping my strength. So pretty...”
A sphere of light so brilliant it even felt warm. For all sorts of complicated reasons, it was enough to make Dmitri—who furrowed his brow at the mere mention of Hoyeol's name—trail off in bewilderment.
“...What the hell is this?”
They had been on high alert entering the portal. Not that Dmitri showed it, lest Camilla tease him mercilessly.
There was no battlefield more threatening to a tank than a forest shrouded in darkness. In a dense wood, you never knew what monster might leap out from where.
And this wasn't just any forest. It was the Zero Mountains.
Not even the low-level zones he'd experienced back when Arcana was just a game. This was the mid-slopes he'd never even glimpsed.
“Dmitri, incoming.”
Rocks' voice suddenly cut through. Snapping to attention, Dmitri spotted a charging rabbit.
He raised his shield. “Got it!”
Thud!
Shield held high. Even as he did, Dmitri's mind raced on.
What if that light hadn't pierced the darkness...?
Bam!
“Ngh...!!”
Could he have blocked that strike? It looked like any ordinary rabbit.
But for a rabbit, it struck first. That alone proved you couldn't let its cute appearance fool you.
Twang—!
Camilla, arrow in mouth, drawstring pulled, mumbled, “How much good stuff do you think these punks have scarfed down? (How much good stuff do you think these guys have scarfed down?)”
Surviving the Zero Mountains' mid-slopes was proof enough they weren't ordinary rabbits.
But as mentioned, there was that light.
“Maintain formation. High level or not, they're regular monsters. Patterns are predictable.”
Under Rocks' command, Shining handled the rabbits' ambushes with practiced ease. Was it from their extreme rift experiences battling demons? Or thanks to the light banishing the dark?
Shh— Camilla swept back her red curls. “Guess the welcome party's over~”
“...”
Thud. Only then did Dmitri silently lower his shield.
...This guy being so quiet? Out of character.
Sensing it, Camilla prodded. “What's with the reaction? Not like our baby bro.”
“...Can't wrap my head around it.”
“Huh? Around what? Come on~”
“What do you think the reason is for going this far?”
Snap— Dmitri's thick finger pointed at the light sphere.
Ah, that?
Camilla grinned. “Beats me. If I knew, maybe I wouldn't have jumped ship from Shining?”
Like our Jessie.
“Camilla, I can hear you.”
“Eek. Look at you getting all serious. Kidding. Kidding, Rocks.”
Camilla giggled before continuing. “Truth is, does the reason even matter?”
“?”
“It's not like this is new. How many times has our grand leader pulled something tedious and troublesome like this? You don't think this is the first, right, Dmitri?”
Dmitri shut his mouth, rummaging through memories.
'At least level 900...'
And that was an estimate from ages ago. As a ranker himself, Dmitri knew well: holding position took monumental effort.
'Even dumping every waking hour into leveling wouldn't cut it.'
What path had Lee Hoyeol taken?
He gave his all even in rifts that'd bore Dmitri. Demon kings or any threat to humanity? Crushed in the bud.
Yet never arrogant or complacent. He'd even mobilized his Arcana forces to aid lagging players' growth.
Yes.
The Unending Holy War
The quest floating before his eyes was proof of that unwavering resolve.
Shake— Dmitri shook his head.
“...I was seeing trees, not the forest.”
Gazing at such a man through mere jealousy.
“Realizing it now? Still lame~”
Today, even Camilla's jab didn't sting.
Smack! Dmitri roughly slapped his cheeks with both hands.
“Alright, time to get serious from here on.”
Seeing Dmitri's resolve, Rocks smiled bitterly.
'At this point, denying it would be weird.'
Even Jessie wasn't enough. To change Dmitri's wild personality too.
I've lost to Lee Hoyeol completely.
Rocks gazed at the path of light weaving through the mountains.
Then raised sword and shield.
“If it's frustrating, all we can do is chase diligently.”
“...What'd you say, Rocks?”
“Nothing. Didn't say a word.”
Yeah, I'm the underdog. Even forcing the pose, my roots are mutt. A hunting dog inured to the chase.
Rocks ordered the support team. “Set base camp closest to the portal. We've cleared local monsters too—decent spot. Handle it, everyone.”
“Already? Nah, no way, Rocks?”
“Right, just when a man's passion ignites!”
“Of course, gotta push further out of sheer respect.”
As Shining stepped forward—
Float—
“?”
The light spheres suddenly rose into the air.
“Whoa, what is that? Super pretty?”
Amazement at the spectacle was brief.
Shiiiing—!
The lights streaked as one beam across the Zero Mountains.
“...!!!”
Not just Shining. Everyone in the Zero Mountains could guess.
Hoyeol lay at the end of that light trail.
Vision Expansion Skill, Eagle Eye.
Camilla scanned the mountains with eagle vision. Uncharacteristically, she stammered.
“...W-Wait, how high up is that?”
Beyond even Eagle Eye's reach.
Plain as day. The light beam stretched toward the mountain's peak.
Shock turned to horror.
From the impossibly distant heights—a rumble.
Roooar—!
How massive the explosion to echo this far?
What the hell was happening up there...?
Dmitri voiced the dread. “...Wait, near the peak—that's dragon nest territory, right?”
*
Grade: Epic
Restrictions: None
Effect: Upon equipping, acquire vast musical knowledge and bestow buffs matching that knowledge upon all under the wearer's control.
Indeed.
Alongside Map That Communes with All Things and Demon Eye Telescope, a spoil from crushing the Demon King's Castle.
Thanks to its effect, I fluently uttered musical terms.
Snap—
“Vivace.”
- Brilliantly and quickly.
But why vivace of all things—vivace!
Gradually faster, or just plain fast would suffice.
Did you have to tack on 'brilliantly' here, Grandfell? Lost your bearings after the portal?
I mean, tilt your head up and there's the dragon's nest...!
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!
Me. Blasting magic wildly beneath that dragon's nest.
Genuinely worrisome. What if the racket wakes the dragon?
'Noise complaint stress is no joke.'
If it wakes, its wrath heads straight for me, obviously.
Overwhelmed by Shegwin below it—dragons on top? Gotta avoid that at all costs.
'To do that.'
End it fast as possible.
Pour everything out.
Shegwin's movements, too swift for eyes to track.
But from the moment I raised the Conductor's Baton of Rhythm, I commanded the battlefield.
Yes, thanks to that damn vivace.
Of course, the baton didn't boost my physical prowess.
'Else it'd be beyond epic.'
But that sufficed.
Light orbs darting swiftly at my command.
My equally swift search, interference, manifestation.
Lights manifesting varied spells, pressuring Shegwin: flames, frost, even vision-blurring illusions.
Spells pouring out—I couldn't even count them.
'This is what circles mean.'
Not an honest transcendent realm.
Yet the effect let me grasp why Elder Yugweed got excited like it was her own breakthrough.
However.
'Not overwhelming in the slightest.'
Undoubtedly beyond me.
Yet I wielded the circle's power freely.
No—beyond that.
For the first time, it felt like true full power.
『Innate magical talent allowed mimicking most spells at a glance.』
Yes. Only now, with the circle formed.
Grandfell's setting unleashed its might.
Sweep— I eyed the baton swinging indifferently.
...Feels like I'm a real conductor.
Sword Saint, continent's sole Grand Sword Master.
Shegwin scrambling to dodge the onslaught.
Like a section player fumbling amid cascading notes.
What was it? Duet of pounding heartbeats and screams?
You always make your words reality, Grandfell.
But don't overlook.
Unlike my shortcut.
Shegwin reached the realm through his own power—a true transcendent.
As if answering my hunch—
Shiiiing—!
Fierce wind pressure scattered the magical notes.
“Damn arcane tool.”
Shhh— Dust rising from the mountains.
Shegwin emerged from it.
His pupils amid clearing dust.
“And damn feeling.”
Blackened eyes.
Proclaiming Shegwin's true demonic fall.
But those pupils shook violently.
Precisely—avoiding my gaze.
'No transcendent cowers before raw force.'
Then one reason.
Demon hunter versus demon.
Our weight classes didn't match.
'Devil of True Name, Shegwin. Not a demon king.'
Needs demon king level.
Even among kings, experience clashing with demon hunters.
Simply: overcome natural enemy relation.
Only then unmoved before predator.
'Like Gluttony.'
Self-slain and reborn Seven Deadly Sin, Gluttony.
Archfiend yet no resistance to demon hunters.
Past weaker me hurled it to hell without resistance.
Shegwin same.
'Freshly fallen demon.'
No resistance to predator. Smells of novice demon.
Good news for me.
Letting me declare boldly.
“That form is as hideous as expected.”
Shegwin's lip curled crookedly.
“Felt it at the banquet hall too, but your mouth is something. That world-defying glare—arrogant, insolent.”
Bristling at informal speech.
Youth regained can't fool age?
Figured you'd chew me out once, Grandfell.
'Knew since you kept informal with Senior even to the end.'
Of course, Shegwin.
Doesn't earn formal address.
I retorted.
“You're mistaken.”
“...?”
“Spouting words fit for human-to-human talk.”
“...!”
“Still deluded into thinking you're human?”
Grind— Shegwin's face twisted.
Then I knew.
'Really had no intent to fall as demon.'
But changes nothing. Worse, even.
Traded with demons just for youth.
Fell for their lies? Crime's severity differs.
Shegwin offered no rebuttal.
“No delusion, no regret. Humans' screams still ring in my ears. But what's so wrong?”
Madness gleamed in black pupils.
“Lives to be ravaged by demons anyway. Just offered them as tribute. What's wrong? Mocked by those damn demons—enough. Shut it!”
Demonic aura surged.
Could ponder his words.
Arcana continent was trampled by demons.
But to me, Grandfell—worthless drivel.
Cold voice from my lips.
“No, you merely turned away.”
“...Turned away?”
“Averted eyes for your ugly goal.”
No intent to preach, less to indulge excuses.
And above all, I—Grandfell—qualify to say it.
Struggled to death for even a moment's peace on Arcana.
We earned the right to speak.
I opened slowly.
“But if that pathetic excuse is the pride you've upheld.”
Then slowly lowered the baton.
“I shall break it with true pride.”
Yes.
This is Grandfell's judgment on Shegwin.
I continued.
“I declare to the Spacetime Banquet Hall.”
“...?”
“To the transcendent, Shegwin—I challenge you to a spacetime duel.”
“!”
Vision flipped.
“Draw your sword. I shall draw mine as well.”
Yes, a 'new sword'.