༺ Speedrun (3) ༻
The Fla Demon, an age-old Demonic Creature, had long reigned as the Ruler of this Scorching Zone.
Its massive body could truly be said to boast the majesty of a Giant of Fire.
–…
And that giant rose up, waking up from its long slumber.
Normally, it should currently be in the midst of hibernation, but it had forced its eyes open, drawn by the potent sll of an overwhelming ‘presence’.
-…
The Fla Demon imdiately fell into thought.
What kind of existence could possibly dare to make it feel this way?
At the very least, it had to witness who it was with its own two eyes.
With such a resolution, the Fla Demon fully rose from its slumber.
The flas of mana wrapping around its body held the grandeur of a disaster; the mana flowing endlessly mixed with its breath, enough to cause an ultra high temperature fla just on its own.
As it made its grand appearance and stepped out of its nest, other High-Grade Demonic Creatures nearby ran away with their hearts in their mouths, utterly terrified to death.
After all, the Ruler of this vast Scorching Zone had revealed its overwhelming majesty to the entire firmant.
-…
Its eyes then turned towards the direction where it felt the most powerful aura.
The far distant sea.
The Fla Demon was familiar with what was lurking beneath.
The Sea Serpent. The Ruler of the Sea with strength comparable to its own.
-…?
However, sothing was strange.
The Sea Serpent’s aura which could always be felt from there was absent.
Instead of the expected aura, sothing much more sinister could be sensed.
Below the depths where the Sea Serpent usually dwelled…
In a much deeper place.
-…!
And the Fla Demon, instinctively detecting this aura, flinched.
Although the Fla Demon itself was a considerably ancient being, what dwelled within those depths was…
Not just ancient, but sothing that was closer to indescribable.
rely looking at it brought an unpleasant feeling crawling up from the depths of its consciousness.
Upon feeling this, it unconsciously stepped back a few paces, then froze in shock because of a truth it realized.
It was scared.
The Fla Demon itself was scared.
An existence, who had reigned over this area as a Ruler for ages, was now afraid of the being in the deep sea.
Without even facing it directly, just the aura that emanated from there was enough to cause this phenonon.
-…
Shocked, it beca rigid and only later did it detect a ‘change’ happening nearby.
-…?
It could feel sothing strange.
Sothing much closer than the monstrous entity far in the sea was approaching.
As the Fla Demon turned its head towards that direction, a similarly unfathomable scene was unfolding.
-…
The Fla Demon looked at the ground and the sky alternately with a questioning look.
What had happened? Had the laws of the world changed while it slumbered?
Why?
Why were bastards that should be walking on land floating in the air?
-!!!!!!!
-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Screams and howls filled the air; Courtesy of the Demonic Creatures that were all hit by sothing and sent flying in the air in a half-obliterated state.
Moreover, among them were powerful High-Grade Demonic Creatures that even the Fla Demon itself would be wary of.
Golems of Fire, made of mana stones of flas, larger in size than even itself.
Hellhounds that could tear through most defensive gear with just its teeth and claws.
Even Fire Spirits that were capable of turning the entire area into ashes by pouring out demonic spells of fire.
Each and every one was a calamity if let loose outside this Scorching Zone.
And yet…
Those existences were being flung into the air, screaming in groups of at least dozens at a ti.
-…?
And if it scrutinized such a scene in greater detail, it would only deepen the questions and doubts the Fla Demon harbored on what the hell was happening in the world.
For there was a human ‘punching away’ these respectable Demonic Creatures as if they were pounding out feathers.
As they ran, they rely swung their hands, as if flicking away dust.
It felt as if they were nonchalantly removing so troubleso obstacles that were in their way.
However, despite such weak and lackluster movents…
-!
A Golem of Fire shattered to pieces when hit by their fingertips.
-!!
A Hellhound was split in half from a casual halfhearted kick.
-!!!
The blaze conjured by a Fire Spirit pouring out all its strength just ‘bounced’ off their bare body as they advanced.
Each and every one of these Demonic Creatures that were close to a calamity were effortlessly handled as if they were re toys.
What was this?
Where the hell did this monster co from?
-…
As if its soul had left its body, the Fla Demon looked blank towards them, then focused more intently on the humans.
They were an odd pair, fitting for such bizarre sights.
After all, the Fla Demon had rooted itself in this specific zone for a long ti. And during its long reign, most ‘humans’ that the Fla Demon had encountered were always incredibly tense and nervous.
Even if their races were different, it had definitely sensed the nervousness and awe that such humans felt when facing Demonic Creatures that they had only heard of in the folklore of hunters.
However…
These humans…
“Hey. Stop right there. Stay still. Did I ever say I was going to kill you? I’m just asking you to explain what you said a mont ago, okay?”
“…Your eyes are out of focus, Riru.”
A woman, completely enveloped in a blue aura, chasing a man with such vigor that it almost felt like a ghost on her shoulder was urging her on.
And a man who was sweating bullets as he ran away from the terrifying woman.
In the conversation they had while sprinting this way…
There was not a speck of ‘nervousness’ that could be felt.
“Oh, found it.”
Instead, upon spotting the Fla Demon, the man being chased even wore a bright smile on his face.
As if, the extre Scorching Zone, where powerful Demonic Creatures and even the Fla Demon ruling over them dwelled, were all of no concern compared to the woman chasing right behind him.
-…
And such an attitude…
Was more than enough to scratch the temper of the Fla Demon, whose pride had already been wounded just a mont ago.
—!!!!!
A roar echoed. As the Fla Demon pounded its chest, several pillars of fla containing its mana shot up around it.
The flas, almost reaching the sky, were massive enough to say that they connected heaven and earth.
Normally, this was a trump card it used only when cornered, but now it planned to confront these bastards with its full power from the very start.
Not a single legendary human hunter who had survived the Scorching Zone and reached the Fla Demon had ever been able to withstand the pillars of fire created by it. It was doubtful that it could even count the number of living beings that had been reduced to ash by this attack alone.
“Heup.”
And as the man arrived in front of the pillars of fire, he futilely ‘punched’ at them. At the sight of this, the Fla Demon sneered.
No one had ever withstood this attack, but what was he trying to achieve with that form of resistance? It was obvious that he wished for death, lting in the fire and becoming re cinders.
It opened its mouth widely, ready to triumphantly roar at the sacrifice that would soon turn into ashes.
And then…
-…?
As if it was nothing…
The sight of the punch ‘scattering’ the pillars of fire that had split the heavens…
Beca the last mory of the Fla Demon.
“…Mm.”
I stared at the head of the Fla Demon flying through the air, its mouth still agape.
It had been reduced to that state with just one punch from .
According to my watch, it took exactly 5 minutes.
System ssage
[ Target ‘Fla Demon’ is temporarily annihilated! ]
[ Target has been engraved with a ‘Fear Imprint’! ]
[ From now on, the target will recall this experience when seeing ‘Dowd’! ]
Even though the Fla Demon, as a boss mob, could resurrect periodically within the Scorching Zone even after dying…
It seed that the Fear Imprint was successfully applied due to it being obliterated in one blow.
‘…This really is unbelievable, though.’
Thinking this, I looked down at the gauntlet on my arm.
[ Infinity Gauntlet ]
< Item Info >
[ ▶ Ectoplasm: Displays a very high fusion rate with various Special Powers. When enhancents or buff skills are casted on the equipnt, the effect is doubled..]
→
[ Effects of Mastery: Fighting Arts – Stance 立式 are doubled! ]
[ ▶ Adaptive Leather: Automatically copies the target’s attributes when struck. On the second hit, automatically weakens the target’s attribute. ]
→
[ Copying Fire Attribute. Next hit will weaken the Fire Attribute! ]
The Fla Demon’s pillar of fire was a troubleso pattern in the ga. After all, it dealt a fixed damage that was a percentage of the player’s health, regardless of equipnt or stats.
But just now, I ‘broke through’ that pattern and beat it to death in one hit, didn’t I?
‘…Even if Desperation was taken into account, it’s incredible.’
Of course, this magnitude of ‘attack power’ ca from Desperation, but…
The utility to maximize that attack power was all provided by this thing.
Although it wasn’t written here currently, thanks to the ‘Dragon Scales’, I didn’t receive any damage even though I had stuck my arm into the pillar of fire.
It was the very definition of a perfect balance of offense and defense.
This should be more than enough when fighting with Tatiana; I shouldn’t need to worry at all.
Moreover, I didn’t even use the Starsteel feature that resisted curses and reacted sensitively to the divine.
But there was one remaining problem…
‘Soone’ that was right on my tail at this very mont.
System Notification
[ ‘Skill: Proof of Faith’ activated. ]
[ All stat bonuses are converted to ‘Endurance’ and ‘Divine Power’. ]
System Notification
[ ‘Skill: Guardian Shield’ activated. ]
[ Creating 2 simultaneously due to the influence of ‘Mastery: Divine Power Mastery’! ]
This skill combination had even blocked Kasa’s punch once.
Considering the inflated buffs that Desperation provided, it should be even stronger than before, though.
-!
-!!!!
“…”
Yep. Of fucking course.
Such a thought involuntarily passed through my mind as I watched a hand shatter two divine shields to pieces as if they were paper.
“Why do you keep running away…? Huh? I told you to explain, right?”
Imdiately after, a hand grabbed my collar while wrapped in a blue aura; of course, the owner of it was Riru.
Her eyes were lifeless; There was no focus in them at all.
Clearly, she had lost her fucking mind.
“…”
Uh. But, um hey, you know…
I would like to answer, but I’m kinda suffocating.
Since I was hanging in the air, grabbed by my collar, it was impossible for to breathe. A choked voice leaked out. My vision flickered.
“You, you, you definitely said you liked befor-”
Riru, veins popping on her forehead, tried to continue to say sothing, but…
“Yes. That’s as far as you go.”
There was a ‘red aura’ that interrupted.
Interfering with the blue aura emanating from Riru, it slapped her hand away.
[…]
From within Soul Linker, I could feel Caliban’s displeasure rapidly increasing.
The reason for that was…
Red Devil’s Aura.
“…”
When I turned my head, I saw Faenol standing on a rock, holding a staff.
I had called her here in advance. I knew I would definitely need her around this ti.
While smiling slyly, a red aura blood from her body.
Unlike Riru, who had let her aura flow wildly in her surroundings, hers was clearly controlled and disciplined.
‘…The only Vessel that is able to control her Devil.’
While recalling this characteristic, I sighed inwardly.
I had no intention of using her in an actual ‘battle’, but it was necessary to utilize her to deal with Riru at this very mont.
After all, only a Devil could counter another Devil.
I was able to survive thanks to her knocking Riru’s hand away.
“…Who is she?”
“Faenol Lipek. I’m running for the next candidate to be Mr. Dowd’s lover. Nice to et you, Waiting Line Senior.”
“…”
As Riru looked at Faenol, grinning and waving, with an incredulous expression…
While her focus was elsewhere, I took the opportunity to attach the mana stone I got from Faenol onto Riru’s body.
It was a ‘teleportation’ mana stone that any moderately skilled mage could make.
The set coordinates were the outermost area of the Forge of Struggle.
The effect was imdiate. Riru, with the mana stone attached, disappeared in an instant.
“…Ah, I actually almost died.”
While coughing, I stood up from where I had collapsed.
A fresh blue bruise was marked on my neck where Riru had just grabbed .
Despite all the cheat skills I had plastered myself with, I still suffered this much; It was truly difficult to grasp the extent of power that the Devil’s Vessels possessed.
“…Isn’t this just pushing back the issue by avoiding it now?”
While observing my condition, Faenol said this with a bitter smile.
“I’ve done everything you asked, but what is even the point of this?”
“It buys so ti.”
“…”
Faenol frowned.
“…The Blue Devil is heavily influenced by its Vessel. Haven’t you been paying a lot of attention to that from the very start?”
“I have.”
“Yes. But if you just provoke her and then fling her away to sowhere else without a proper explanation, won’t that just make her even angrier?”
“It will.”
I rummaged through the destroyed body of the Fla Demon while rubbing my neck.
There was sothing in here I needed to find, after all.
“…Then how do you plan to soothe soone who’s that angry? If the Vessel goes berserk, like the case of the Grey Devil before, this entire area will-”
“I’m not going to soothe her.”
I sighed in response to Faenol’s words.
As I did so, her expression instantly went blank.
“…Excuse ?”
“I said, I’m not going to soothe her.”
I deliberately provoked her and flung her away with such thoughts in mind from the very start.
To make sure her head positively fud with anger. To make the Devil’s Aura flow more intensely.
“…”
Throughout the entire progress of this chapter, I really took care to not make Riru angry, but…
Seeing Alan’s current state made change my mind a bit.
As I said before, to face an unbeatable boss, I needed to do so batshit crazy things myself, to a level even Tatiana couldn’t predict.
Although going out of my way to et Faenol was part of that plan, I needed sothing more… ’effective’ than that.
And so, I gave it more thought.
What was the craziest thing I could do within manageable limits?
What was a an strong enough to smoothly get through the boss battle?
And that led to this conclusion.
“I’m going to make the Blue Devil go berserk once.”
Well then…
Let’s take a look at Riru in her purest form.
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