The One Fighting the Great Mage
"This is a dangerous weapon, isn't it? It's not something humans should use. Are you guys demons from ancient times?!"
As Mr. Grantz and the others attack Eibon with a rocket launcher, a voice louder than the explosion condemned them. Eibon seemed to understand that this clearly wasn’t a weapon meant for use against humans. However, they didn’t stop. To Eibon, who has already become a non-human entity, human rights mean nothing at all.
"Got some free time~"
"Non-combatants have plenty of free time during battles. Even those bones understand that they won't be harmed over there."
The maids and Anon were fundamentally non-combatants. It's not that they can't fight, but rather that they get in the way. Anon still can't fully control magic, and it would be reckless to swing a sword amidst rocket launchers and Gatling guns flying around. Not participating in combat is one of the conditions for accompanying this exploration. Basically, it's self-defense or when the situation becomes dire. Naturally, she complied under Alicetia's assertion.
They're only here because they insisted. That's why they've tagged along.
"I can sense malice from this one. Feels more sinister than the folks in the castle."
"His existence alone is already inhuman, and he exudes an unsettling atmosphere. So this is a Great Mage... Alice, what do you think?"
"Calm down, that thing is no good. It’s just that Missy seems interested in Eibon's wisdom. Missy will annihilate the enemy before her amusement is over."
A pitiful demon was embedded in the wall not far from them. It had been physically pressed into the wall with firepower far exceeding his. Of course, demons weren't so weak that they could be defeated like that, but Alicetia’s objective was to analyze the demons' combat prowess.
She is preparing for their future appearance in Arland, analyzing their strength and threat level. Of course, everyone there knew that she was confident she could easily kill him. It was in the atmosphere. She wanted to play. That's why no one stopped Alicetia. She had found the way she wanted to grow.
That was observation. Observing everything, analyzing everything, and incorporating it into her tactics. She would take all the magic she could steal and learn their movements. Well, since her physical abilities were too low, she mainly stole magic.
Thus, she got closer to being the strongest... if it went well.
"It's too dangerous a way to fight. She's not even weighing her own life. To Alice, only the results must matter. I wish she'd restrain herself."
"No chance. That's just the way the girl is. She understands that to lead her people without self-reflection, she has to shed her own blood."
While complaining, Gilbert fired the next round. Their conversation, shouted as if arguing, was heard by everyone present.
"This is an incredible determination you have.But I have been rejected by both Heaven and Hell. This level won't kill me."
Several Eibons emerged from the midst of the explosions, dispersing to shoot magic at Gilbert and his group, effectively dividing their firepower.
As a result, the concentrated firepower faltered, rendering the slow-reloading rocket launcher ineffective. However, neither Gilbert nor Grantz had any sentimental attachment to the rocket launcher itself, each taking up weapons to retaliate.
"Tch. This is the magic Missy wanted, huh? With this, Missy can pretty much do anything."
"She came all the way here just for this magic? It's not that user-friendly, is it?"
"I am all. All of me is me. Therefore, all of me have their own ego."
"Not an integrated personality, but dispersed individuality. That's this magic."
"To defeat me, you must defeat my core, but where do you think my true self is?"
All the Eibons laughed, their teeth chattering. Clearly, this magic couldn't control everything. There was no uniformity in their movements. No human could manage around a hundred bodies at once.
"But you're weakened, aren't you? You can't muster the same power as you did in life, right?"
Gilbert easily cut down one of Eibon’s clones. However, even as a clone, it was still Eibon. It quickly repaired itself and launched another attack.
"Indeed, my physical form has weakened due to my body turning into bones. This body is terribly impractical. If I'm careless, my soul will detach from my body, and I will disappear."
Skeletons and other undead creatures were formed when a soul remained in a body for some reason after death, but if the body died, it couldn't retain the soul. Normally, only about ten percent of the soul remained. However, Eibon retained a hundred percent of his soul. Even though his body perished, he restrained his soul within his magic power. As a result, Eibon was weakened, constantly using mental strength equivalent to high-level magic.
"However, I still have things to accomplish. Mastering magic and passing it on to the next generation!"
The fireballs released by Eibon gathered, forming a massive explosion. If detonated, it would obliterate the entire area. Even Grantz and the others paled at the thought, but the magic was never released. In an instant, Eibon vanished like a mirage, just as he was about to swing his staff.
What do you think about this chapter?
