17. Goddess Aria – 10
In the air, two different flashes collide.
One is a flash of light that uses speed itself as a weapon and spurts the ground vigorously, throwing itself into the gap between enemies.
At a speed that cannot be recognized with the naked eye, it flies toward the enemy while moving in a dizzying manner, not only on the ground, but also in front, back, top, left, and right.
However, what a snake can swallow is limited to prey smaller than itself. No matter how hard one tries to seize the one-time opportunity to shove fangs into the enemy’s scruff, all such attempts end in futility.
The enemy he is dealing with is none other than the goddess Arya, who is on the ground with the same expression as the first time. Aria, who greeted him standing on the ground like a strong fortress, with white magical energy like a single snowflake wrapped around her whole body, did not show even the slightest sign of fatigue. It was a stark contrast to the disturbed breath of Cain, who was facing her from the front.
That’s right. This fight is like a fight where the winner is decided from the beginning. The gap between the goddess Arya and the human Cain von Estel is such an absolute difference that it is laughable to consider someone’s superiority. Even if Cain von Estel gathered all the power, he wouldn’t be able to pierce even the magical energy that was draped over the palm of the goddess Aria.
That’s right, there’s no way you’ll feel tired or tense at the level of a small ‘happening’ where you know you’re going to win from the start.
So I can say for sure. Cain von Estel, who uses swordsmanship that has reached the level of a master as his specialty, can never reach the goddess Aria no matter what means he has honed and polished. As evidence of this, 10 minutes had already passed since the fight between the two began, but Cain’s sword did not do any significant damage to Arya even once.
…No, not quite like that. Cain was trying to get close to her, even burning all the power he currently possessed, but Arya shattered his aura with just one magic, and even that was not enough, taking away his bodily functions little by little.
The sword wielded by Cain von Estel had never even come within significant range, let alone touch the goddess Arya.
The difference in skill between the two was very clear. In order not to become a target for her magic, Cain ran all over the place, trying to seize the opportunity, but his body slowly showed signs of collapse due to the damage caused by Arya’s magic and the speed beyond the limit. was causing
“…ha…!”
He managed to hold in his breath, which had risen to the tip of his chin. He also knew it well from the beginning.
He was clearly aware that he could not reach Arya. He also knew that if he continued like this, the only outcome assigned to him would be defeat. I knew very well that the fight between her and me would lead to such developments.
How could I not know? And how could I forget? It was because I had clearly witnessed with my own two eyes the scene in which the continent’s four strongest men managed to block the light gesture of the ‘Witch of Winter’ in the future that was to come.
Yes. The end of the fight was already predetermined by his defeat. A head-to-head match with the goddess Aria, who possesses near-infinite magical power, is impossible to dream of, so I fully predicted that the development of the fight would flow in this way, and that everything would end with nothing but self-destruction. there was a bar
…and the fact that there is only one way to reverse the end of this fight.
– I’ll give you one piece of advice, but it’s impossible for you alone to surpass Kyrie, as well as the goddess Aria. So, if possible, it is better not to create a situation where the two of them collide head-on. Ash, keep in mind that initially we are going to convince them, not to fight them.
– …I think I’ve grown quite a bit, but isn’t it a bit harsh to make such a sharp assertion?
– Please stop talking nonsense. Because this is a simple arithmetic problem. Eight years later, the Winter Witch was the only being able to equalize after the four members of the expedition, including myself, were prepared to die. And since Aria, the goddess of winter, has a complete deity, it is obvious that she will have even stronger power than the witch of winter. I admit you’re stronger than before, but don’t even dream about going head-to-head with Arya unless you’re confident you can beat the four of us.
– Then, what if a situation was created where you would collide head-on with her?
– …If such a situation really arises, there will be only one way given to us.
Fortunately, I have a trump card to counter her. As long as you can approach her somehow, you have a chance.
But the chance given to me is only once. Because Arya wasn’t an easygoing woman to the extent that she was beaten twice by the means she had been beaten once.
“…that’s tenacious. I expected that by this point, you would realize the difference in level. Do you really want to go all the way with me?”
Arya’s words are cold. There was no doubt that the present woman was indeed a goddess looking down on all humans, including me, from above.
“You really don’t have the usual cute taste. I knew very well that you don’t like to lose, but I never dreamed that you would try to beat me so thoroughly.”
“That is natural too. I am here to make my wish come true. Even if you are Lord Cain, I cannot allow you to interfere with the desire I pursue.”
“…I am a sinner. It wasn’t my will, but the winter that originated from me has a history of taking the lives of countless people. It contains countless innocent lives, including Cain and his family.”
“So I must atone. I must seek forgiveness for what I have lost, what I have left behind, and what I have dropped. It is the only mission given to me at this moment not to repeat such a tragedy ever again.”
Giying-
The magical energy slowly begins to float behind Arya’s back. Even if she doesn’t cast magic herself, she can create magical powers with only her own will and make them charge at enemies. It could be said that she is omnipotent within the space within her divine power.
For her who has become a goddess, magic is not about using magic. It is to give orders as naturally as a slave. To her, a goddess who existed in the Age of Gods, magic is just a tool.
“From now on, I will go a little more seriously. It seems that I will not be able to persuade Cain-sama with ordinary means.”
Countless magic unfolds over space. At that moment, along with Aria’s will, magics each possessing the power of a single blow begin to glide through the air.
From the cold air that seems to freeze space itself, to the thunderbolt of God that seems to evaporate everything in all directions, to the scorching heat that contains enormous destructive power just by its existence itself.
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Magnificent magic that would be called great magic in the world fills the space as casually as a shower here!
“…Kuh-!”
Infuse all remaining aura remaining on the sword you are holding. The total number of spells flying in all directions was 15. Against the absolute death that is coming towards me, I slash the magic, pour it out with the flowing stars, and forcibly twist my body to avoid it, and I manage to survive-
“…that’s pretty good. You move quite a bit like a monkey, don’t you?”
A soothing voice in your ears. Looking at me, whose breathing was disrupted from continuing to evade in an unreasonable posture earlier, Aria slowly raised her fingers upwards into the sky.
paper weave-
Just listening to it resonates with the sound of the mogol being soft. Looking up at the sky, I was able to face a terrifying sight: the upper part of the clouds covering the sky was being colored with a golden flash.
“…That’s-“
It must have been. That’s definitely the thunderbolt of transcendental power she sent at us when she fought the Witch of Winter in the past-
…It’s impossible. Even Bianca, who could use the most powerful firepower magic in the world, couldn’t even dare to face that thunderbolt head-on. Ariel’s ‘Guardian of Radiance’, the power bestowed by the goddess, is the only means to withstand that thunderbolt. Even if I fight against the stars that flow in the thunderbolt, evaporation after a few seconds of meaningless resistance will be the only ending that awaits me.
“…Sir Cain. You just said this to me. that you will surely save me. He said he would bring me back to normal.”
Her voice, containing only emptiness and worthlessness, resonates quietly.
“Then prove it. About what you can do now.”
Arya’s fingers fall from top to bottom. At the same time, a gigantic golden bolt of lightning pierced the ground, becoming the unavoidable thunder god’s mace.
****
Quaa-!
In an instant, everything in my field of vision was set on fire. At least, not a single thing that came within Arya’s field of vision was intact. It took less than a second for the golden thunderbolt to strike the ground from the sky, but the aftermath was truly powerful beyond imagination.
The thunder god’s mace shook the entire Great Forest from the rebound, and in the very center of the land where the thunderbolt struck straight down, heat sizzled like a volcano had exploded. Her thunderbolt was so powerful that not only the surrounding trees but also the World Tree behind her almost collapsed due to the roar and vibration that occurred in the aftermath.
“…In the end, were your words nothing more than a specious cry? No matter how right the words are, they are just echoes without accompanying power. It seems I won this time, Lord Cain.”
Looking at the scene of destruction created by her own hands, Arya muttered in a bitter voice. He wouldn’t have died. It was because the magic was configured so that his body would not receive more than a certain amount of shock from the thunderbolt right before he fired it.
However, no matter how much the power was halved, he would not be safe as he was properly hit by that level of lightning. It was very likely that he was lying on the floor unconscious. And, by the time he comes to his senses, everything will be over. By that time, the goddess Arya would have disappeared from this world.
“Please don’t resent me too much. Just like you said, I just ended up with a match that I didn’t see that day.”
Saying that, she slowly turned around and headed towards the altar in front of the world tree.
“…Well, I think it’s still a bit early to declare victory.”
An inaudible voice came to her ears.
“…!”
For a moment, Arya was really surprised. The first thought in her mind was none other than a question. Is it that he maintains his spirit even after receiving the thunderbolt, which is the strongest blow he can wield? How?
Could it be that through ‘Flowing Stars’, shocks beyond a certain level were spilled to the other side? No, that’s nonsense. Arya is also familiar with the flowing stars. The flowing star is a swordsmanship that can freely control all energy within a certain area, but in the end, it has its limitations as a swordsmanship. It is impossible to control excessive energy beyond a certain area from the front.
In the past and now, the only means to effectively block the thunderbolts she shoots is the absolute defense bestowed on Ariel by the goddess, ‘Guardian of Radiance’. No matter how much flowing stars are great swordsmanship, nothing equals the power of a goddess—
“…no way.”
No, it didn’t exist here. Wasn’t that also located very close? Wasn’t the only way to block the thunderbolts she sent out without any damage right here!
“Ariel Thiers-!”
At the same time as Arya screamed her name fiercely, the steam that had filled the area dissipated. In the boiling heat, Ariel with fluttering purple hair and Cain rushing towards her like a meteor came into her field of vision.
“…ah.”
Even though she already knew that the power gap was clear, Arya hesitated backwards at the sight of Cain running towards her without wavering. And I realized The rest of the panic, the fact that I allowed him too much gap.
But for a while, she calms herself down and begins to reload her magic again. Although he looked fine on the outside, it was clear that Cain’s physical condition was at its limit. It should be clear that his rush towards him will be the final match in this match!
“Don’t come. Don’t come towards me anymore!”
She gritted her teeth and began to create magical powers around her again. One second is enough to cast a spell to snipe him. The current one will never be able to block the magic he shoots like before.
…And that was the time.
“…What-“
A flash of light flashed. The moment I recognized it as a single light, everything was already over. There was nothing left where the trail of light had passed. The magic she was casting also lost its form and returned to its original nothingness.
In Arya’s startled field of vision, there was a red-haired woman stretching her hand toward her. The reason why Cain fought as loudly as possible in the form of breaking away from Arya’s sight was to bring her here. The biggest sign that actually brought her to this place was Arya’s thunderbolt on the ground.
Due to Bianca’s flash-type spell, the area around Arya became temporarily lulled. Okay. This much is nothing. The current situation is nothing more than that the magical powers around them have been ‘pushed away’ for a while due to Bianca’s magic. It’s like the magic that blocks him, you just have to cast it again-
“aria-!”
However, it was too late by a second. Every second Bianca had bought him was enough time for him to reach Arya. Concentrating all remaining auras on his feet, he was able to break through all the obstacles and reach her. He already had no strength left to attack Arya. That’s why he didn’t have a sword in his hand. What he was holding in his right hand was none other than—
“I was asked to prove it. What can I do now?”
A small tree branch that seems to have been seen many times.
“…that-“
Leaving Aria’s surprise behind.
“This is the only punishment I can give you.”
And without a single step back, Cain thrust the branch deep into her chest with all his might.