33. Now, approach, child of the stars.
Fomalhaut was indeed a peculiar place.
Certainly existing in the universe, yet approaching it closely, it vanished without a trace, like a mirage in an oasis on a desert.
It wasn’t a distortion of light due to a black hole or a misperception of location; it was a planet that was there and yet not there, even while being in that place.
What was projected into space was just the remnants of a simple planet, shadows, and the real, nothing less than the unobservable universe, existed in the cosmos, in the extraterrestrial.
And on the burning planet Fomalhaut’s land, Udahee stared blankly at the figure that had taken its place in front of her.
Flames of an unprecedented size flickered around Udahee.
“Oh, damn, it’s f*cking huge.”
But nevertheless, it had no effect on Udahee.
The barrier enveloping Udahee was nothing but Azathoth’s command, excluding any negative influences, allowing her to leisurely survey her surroundings.
[You are Udahee.]
A giant flame formed the shape of a face, revealing itself in front of Udahee.
Great Old One, Cthuga.
A living flame and the spirit god ruling over all flames and lightning spirits.
Udahee had nothing separate to say.
She was just following Yog-Sothoth.
One might say she was some kind of follower.
Yog Sothoth dragged me along as if he had something to do with Fomalhaut himself.
If not for that, I would have been quietly mumbling in the void.
Judahee, who was just standing there, seemed bored, and Kthuga was far away in no time… Judahee, who just sat there, quietly performed a ritual to return to Earth.
This damn returning ritual is so damn frequent…. It was like thinking, “When will I ever finish this if I don’t do it like a daily task in a mobile game?”
What are the odds of picking the same one out of twenty 1924 times in a row?
Judahee muttered that it was really an emitter-level difficulty.
Tsk, as the seawater fell, it evaporated quickly in the heat.
Seawater, seawater, seawater, pebbles, seawater, seawater, mud….
During the endlessly boring ritual, something wriggled in the corner and approached Judahee.
Unlike the bright orange or red flames everywhere, it was a gray mass of flames.
I wondered what was flickering from the side, so I reached out, but instead of heat, I felt a chilling cold.
Come to think of it, Fomalhaut was a place full of all kinds of spirits.
But, this chilly one was something I had never encountered before.
I lightly raised my hand… Ah, it felt very soft and pleasant to the touch.
As I stroked it, I was half captivated by the creature sticking to my hand as if it liked being petted.
“Hey, what’s your name… Oh, do spirits not have names?”
Unless it was the leader of the fire spirits led by Kthuga, they generally didn’t have names-.
From Noble mtl dot com
[Sigh]
…Darn, it wasn’t a spirit.
[Sigh deeply]
Great Old One, Child of Cthuga.
He seemed to smile slightly.
—–
“uuu…!”
Penelope truly thought this place was hell.
Enduring Judah’s condition for 10 minutes.
For a moment, she confidently extended her chest, thinking it was definitely possible…? But then, doubt filled her mind. Normally, 10 minutes would be nothing, just enough time to boil and enjoy a cup of ramen! But…
-Kyaaah!
-M-Monster! How the hell are we supposed to catch that thing!
-Did the management release these crazy bastards thinking it would be fun?
Watching other contractors being torn apart in real time, she couldn’t help but feel queasy.
Among them was another SSR-grade contractor like Penelope, a tricky character as a caster, but seeing him tearing apart like a dried squid leg being pulled apart…
“W-What if we call it a draw…?”
Those words slipped out unintentionally.
But whether she said it or not, Judah seemed completely uninterested in listening.
Instead, he repeatedly subtly raised and lowered Parashu, only shooting fierce glares.
…Damn bastard.
In reality, there was no difference between being a bullet sponge and doing something, so she let out a deep sigh.
But a promise was a promise; it had to be kept at all costs.
When a man unsheathes his sword, it’s a given that Murado must be cut. Penelope, facing the demon lord’s body, shouldn’t she at least utter a small complaint.
[14/100]
Suddenly, the number of other participants had significantly decreased.
The majority, more focused on attempting to strike down the demon lord somehow than engaging in battles among contractees, lay defeated with their weapons in hand.
Still, Penelope found her own incorrect notes piling up as she watched their battles.
-The demon lord’s detection range is a maximum of 7km, minimum 1km…
-In close combat, deflect the opponent’s attack with minimal movement…
-The black mist enveloping the body is practically the same as hands and feet.
-Given its susceptibility to strong physical force, there might be a way to counter it-
….
Looking at each individual condition, could there be a strategy, perhaps? But considering that all of it happens simultaneously, it’s a level of difficulty verging on despair.
Yet, strangely, that was fortunate.
The fact that the difficulty was considerable meant there was no need to completely give up; there had to be a solution.
Though the opponent was incomprehensibly formidable, there was never any occurrence of tearing challengers apart with mere thoughts or indulging in actions like that.
…Considering the abilities possessed, it seemed possible, but for some reason, there was a demeanor as if enjoying the act of combat itself.
Penelope accepted the demon lord as a highly skilled swordsman.
If that demon lord, restraining oneself and continuing the battle, could be shattered by breaking the board itself, wouldn’t there be a slight opening- she thought.
10 minutes.
Just endure it once.
Perhaps due to staying in one place for too long with Yudahee.
[The demon, who had escaped from the designated location, is prioritizing tracking down those who lingered in a certain area.]
The demon, moving in the opposite direction, turned its head towards this side.
Ten minutes after the encounter with the demon, it was about to begin.
Yudahee also seemed to have noticed this, tidying up and standing up.
All equipment that could be prepared was ready.
“Are you ready?”
“… Can’t we really settle this as a draw?”
He tried to be a bit dramatic again, but there was no way it would work.
[Penelope – Unique Skill: Gravity Field]
Adjusting the gravity on her body to almost zero, Penelope kicked the ground and soared into the sky in an instant.
Everything on the ground began to change as if turning into small dots.
In the midst of that, the demon covered in black fog, approaching from a distance, caught her eye.
As if not caring about any obstacles, the black fog devoured everything in its path and walked straight towards them – truly terrifying.
But that’s why it was fortunate.
It’s easier to aim when you don’t move left and right for no reason.
“Suck…!”
She reached the altitude she had targeted.
Even breathing became slightly difficult at the altitude that pierced through the clouds, but it was only for a moment.
She wouldn’t stay there for long… Holding her breath until the end of her lungs, she gripped the sword as she extended Barisada towards the slowly approaching demon. Somehow, Penelope felt that the demon was looking at her.
The distance surpassed the detection range, but the gazes of the Demon Lord Shub and Penelope crossed paths.
“How amusing this will be.”
Shub laughed, looking at the distant Penelope who had turned into a mere dot.
It was a place not only interesting to Yudahee but filled with so many fascinating things.
Shub thought, maybe it wouldn’t be bad to come back here again next time, considering…
[Oh, is this not available next time? Already rumors are spreading, and others are lining up behind?]
Yogu Sotos said, tapping Shub’s back, it seemed.
Ugh…!
When did they all gather…!
If that’s the case, even more so, he should enjoy it to the fullest. Shub unleashed the darkness enveloping his body.
Chasing Yudahee is important, but seeing that she hasn’t moved from her spot since before, is there a need to rush?
So, for now, it’s the right thing to sincerely confront the girl who is about to clash with all her might.
Before this short amusement ends, experience everything that can be experienced.
“hehehe, truly becoming sentimental.”
Now, come forth, Child of the Stars.
Shub spread his arms wide towards the sky.
Penelope began channeling all her strength into the hand holding Varysada.
[Penelope – Unique Guardian, Gravity Field… 100%, 300%…]
The surroundings began to distort under the gradually rising influence of gravity.
It was something impossible to attempt before.
In Penelope’s perspective, Varisada was a unique sword compared to other myriad gods.
Penelope, a blacksmith’s deity residing beneath Vulcan, could touch and wield countless wonders, but none of them had ever satisfied her.
The moment she poured her sincerity into any of them, every wonder shattered without exception.
[Penelope – Unique Guardian, Gravitational Field… 8700%, 8900%…]
For Penelope, Vulcan had crafted a personalized order-made sword over a long period—a Varisada.
The purification of that technique began to concentrate all of Penelope’s power.
Although it was a technique that required a considerable preparation time and was usually never used, now, to break this irrational board, it was a necessary move…!
The air around her fluctuated.
An illusion as if light was bending enveloped her surroundings.
[Gravitational Field… 10000%]
Penelope released the gravity on her body and, at the same time, instantly lifted all the constraints of the forcibly squeezed abilities to hold Varisada in the air.
In the blink of an eye, something happened.
Transforming into a meteor, Penelope shot towards the ground.
A single strike, a life-threatening attack, not considering the aftermath,
“Damn Yudahee! If you don’t fight properly later, I’ll kill youuu!”
Penelope’s unique guardian power deployment – Meteor Fall.
The sky instantly turned crimson.