Chapter 22. Nameless Demon (1)
“Reversing it will take quite some time. Even after completing the construct, we'll need to neutralize it. So until the passage opens... focus as much as you can. Jin, Andy too.”
The joyful tone had vanished completely, replaced by an edge of wariness as Arnaud Duré instructed me. It sounded less like a request and more like a plea.
Arnaud, you're too kind.
It wasn't a positive thought. If anything, it was closer to pity. The reason he hadn't acted despite his suspicions.
No matter what, we had to create a passage linking the rift to the outside. To protect Charlotte Tate. To save the innocent people. Or was it a misunderstanding? It couldn't be him, right? Even now, did he desperately want to believe that?
If it was the former, he'd at least qualify as a good person. If the latter, he was just a fool. Neither was a wise choice in this situation.
Hiding my true feelings, I answered Arnaud Duré's questions faithfully.
“This part of the construct feels a bit loose. Jin, how would you reinforce it?”
“Berche's separation-synthesis theory would work well. It's structurally sound, but we'd need at least thirty multi-layered attribute differentiations. Mana purity at S-rank baseline. Anything higher, and the construct won't hold right now. We can supplement mana during neutralization without much issue for opening the passage.”
“...Good. Andy, if you would.”
“Mana's still plentiful. Just give the orders.”
After repeating this process five times.
Wooong—
The construct, refined and empowered by my feedback and Andrey Ilyin's mana, began to reshape. From a triangular pyramid, its four corners rounded into something sphere-like, then its volume shrank into a flat disc.
A two-dimensional construct derived by reversing the rift's structure, isolating only the function that severed external connections and inverting it to the opposite effect.
With this, the work was over ninety percent done. All that remained was colliding it with the rift's outer wall for neutralization. And the time spent so far? Just over ten minutes.
Kuuaaaang—!
The distant clash between Partus and Charlotte Tate grew ever more ferocious. The wide Han River lay in ruins. Black smoke and mana debris choked the nearby land and sky, birthing perilous explosions.
Block those heading for the shelters first!
Uwoooor!
The battle against the hundred or so monsters spilling from the rift favored the hunters, but it was no time to relax. Arnaud Duré's face remained taut with tension as he spoke.
“Neutralization will take time too.”
“How long do you estimate?”
Andrey Ilyin asked calmly. Arnaud Duré let out a heavy breath before replying.
“At minimum, about ten minutes—”
Right then.
Shuuuuaak!
Without warning.
Without a single hint.
Andrey Ilyin swung his fist.
Ku guaaang—!
The air-ripping strike hurtled toward me.
Taang!
The shield spell manifesting before me blocked it for a fleeting moment... then.
Puuung!
It shattered instantly. His fist was now right in front of my eyes.
“Kuhuk!”
His mana-charged punch slammed into my gut. Blood sprayed as I flew dozens of meters away.
Then, in my clear line of sight, the scene unfolded.
To block the attack aimed at me, Arnaud Duré had expended the spell he'd prepared for himself, hesitating for an instant. Andrey Ilyin, cloaked in blue mana, surged toward him and unleashed another fist.
Kwaaang!
In his unprepared state, even a member of the 36 Heroes like Arnaud Duré couldn't easily fend it off.
“Euk...”
After half a dozen blows in seconds, he crumpled. Andrey Ilyin extended his right hand, grabbing Arnaud Duré's collar and hoisting him into the air. In his left hand rested the construct we'd just made.
“Hmm...”
Suddenly, Andrey Ilyin glanced my way, as if confirming the kill. In my motionless, corpse-like vision...
Materialization (Rank A)
“Arnaud, why lie?”
Andrey Ilyin's flat words left Arnaud Duré baffled. His mind was too chaotic for clear thought.
Shock, horror, sorrow, betrayal, rage. Gathering all these, Arnaud Duré stammered through trembling lips.
“An... dy... You really... it was you...”
“Sorry about this. It would've been better if you'd stayed in the dark.”
Andrey Ilyin replied without flinching. Gritting through the agony wracking his body, Arnaud Duré demanded.
“The Great Rift... why... how could you!?”
His whisper escalated into a scream, laden with every circumstance. Doubts had crept in the moment they'd manifested the triangular pyramid mana construct here.
This S-rank rift and his own rift theory weren't just similar—they matched partially, completely in parts.
The inference shook him to his core.
The Great Rift... came from my theory?
He'd never imagined any link between his rift theory and the Great Rift, even a decade later. Information on the Great Rift had been too scarce—likely by design. But now, it was clear.
What he knew of the Great Rift. His rift theory. This S-rank rift.
Two might be coincidence, but three? Piecing fragmented intel into the full picture was child's play for a top-tier mage like Arnaud Duré. The conclusion was simple, devastating.
The Great Rift derived from his theory. This rift was demons' mimicry of it. And...
Only two people in the world knew his rift theory.
Suspects who feigned ignorance while exploiting his research, or leaked it to certain factions.
Not Jin.
He'd only told Lee Dojin recently, so no. That left one: Andrey Ilyin.
He spoke lowly, like advice.
“Arnaud, you're too good. If you suspected, you should've acted immediately. The passage matters, but not more than your life, right?”
“Why... why, what reason—”
“Your lie was clumsy too. Ten minutes for neutralization? I'm no novice in this theory. You tried buying time to open the passage by surprise... but it just screamed 'ambush me.'”
“Answer me... Andy, answer—!”
“Right to the end, you were good and stupid. Wanting to trust me, using the shield only for yourself. Even if it was you, did you think that flimsy shield would fully protect the kid? Though I struck him first, anticipating you'd step in.”
“Andy... please answer. Lee and Sebin died because of the Great Rift. Why? What did you want? Was it worth killing your friends?”
His despairing plea. Andrey Ilyin answered tonelessly.
“To someone as good as you, it'll sound trivial. Telling you would just make you angry—better you die ignorant.”
He flicked his hand. The mana construct on his left obeyed fluidly.
The reason he'd kept Arnaud Duré alive for talk: control was transferring soon.
Though made together, authority lay with them. He needed Arnaud Duré alive until seizure. The taunting confessions? To inflame his emotions.
Easy prey. Arnaud Duré couldn't destroy it anyway—insufficient mana, and even at full strength, he wouldn't sabotage a construct that could save lives.
As if consoling, Andrey Ilyin said.
“The passage will open fine, don't worry. While we built the construct, a high demon ambushed. We barely finished it, but you and the kid died. I obliterated the demon beyond recognition. That'll be the story.”
“You bastard—!”
Just as Arnaud Duré roared in fury.
Shuuuaa...
Control fully transferred to Andrey Ilyin.
“Sorry, Arnaud. I didn't want to kill you.”
A sliver of sincerity. He channeled mana, fully paralyzing his old comrade. Then hurled him airborne, clenching his free right fist, gathering power.
One hit, and Arnaud Duré would die instantly. The unexpected chaos would settle.
So he thought.
Puuk!
Intense pain shot through him. A chilling voice came from behind.
“Fucking idiot.”
“Kuh!”
Andrey Ilyin staggered back with a sharp grunt. The silent strike had grazed his heart but wasn't light.
His hardened gaze fell on bloodied Lee Dojin, standing there. Or rather...
Shuuu—
His wounds rapidly healed. As if never injured. As if it had all been an illusion.
Andrey Ilyin's eyes widened at the unbelievable sight. Lee Dojin spoke.
“Trivial reason, you said?”
Kwaaa—!
Black mana erupted wildly from Lee Dojin's body. Its volume and purity rivaled the 36 Heroes at their peak.
His aura and expression were utterly alien—mockery and hatred blending into lethal intent.
He declared coldly.
“Saves me the interrogation. I'll just kill you. As painfully as possible.”
Lee Dojin stepped forward, his tone icy. Shuuuaa...
Jet-black mist-like mana swirled around him.
Partus inwardly rejoiced, murmuring to himself.
Finally, found you.