86 – 86. Assemble.
──Roarrr!!!
Clad in the black armor of terror, Phase 2’s giant roared, causing Kitagawa Kenichi to blink.
“Seems like something’s gone wrong.”
Though one of its limbs had been severed, the giant still exuded vigor.
Instead, its upper body was engulfed in flames, turning it into an impregnable fortress.
Despite kneeling to climb up towards its neck, the heat searing his flesh in real-time made it impossible for him to muster the courage to ascend.
If he were an ordinary person devoid of magic, just being near it would have set him ablaze.
“…No, this can’t be real.”
After a brief hesitation, Kenichi shook his head and firmly grasped the sword at his side.
It had been a long time since his trembling arms reached their limit, but now, it was truly the end.
With that thought, vitality surged through his grip on the hilt.
Whether one could call him a hero or not, as the sole close combatant in this place, there was a task he had to fulfill.
Even though it seemed utterly impossible, there are times when things must be done.
“This damned world.”
Kitagawa and Kenichi gazed at the burning giant with heavy gazes.
It was impossible to strip the giant, larger than a high-rise building, of its fiery armor completely.
Then, if he could at least create some space to maneuver…
“hehehehe, let me show you how to manipulate souls.”
Recalling the ominous voice in his mind, Kenichi surrounded himself and his sword with a barrier of nothingness.
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It was a limited area, but a definite ability of the soul.
He hadn’t fully mastered it yet. If his concentration wavered for a moment, it would vanish into thin air.
For the warrior wielding the blade of nullification, his next move was very clear and simple.
“Benda.”
The will of the soul illuminated the world.
Kwoong─! The thunderous footsteps echoed, and a clear magic propelled his legs and back.
With swift movements, Kenichi closed the gap with the giant in an instant, reaching beneath the burning behemoth.
Chiiik─
Despite witnessing the asphalt melting around due to the scorching heat, the warrior pressed on.
He climbed the thick legs of the giant, beyond its blazing torso, heading towards its head.
He initiated a reverse charge.
“You fool, what are you doing!”
Was it sheer madness that startled the onlookers?
Though the urgent voice of the wizard could be heard, Kenichi continued his advance.
It wasn’t an ordinary urban building; he was stepping on the giant’s calves and climbing upward.
Even his mind screamed that it was insanity, but his heart whispered,
“I can do it.”
Absolutely, I can.
With that fierce self-assurance, the boy steeled his sword and will.
Sharper than before.
Or perhaps, even more agile to overcome gravity.
── What in the world?
The giant seemed to have noticed the opponent on his body and grinned, raising his hand.
His touch was engulfed in terror, so fiery that a mere graze could lead to death.
Simultaneously, as the warrior approached the upper body of the giant, even the part he stepped on was burning black.
The entire front view was filled with black terror.
Now, with determination to lay bare everything in front of him, the warrior’s sword swung—
“May blessings be upon you.”
Suddenly, a sacred yet eerie voice of a goddess echoed in his mind.
Had he truly received some kind of blessing beyond his comprehension? The terror in front of him no longer felt scorching.
Rather, for a moment, it seemed like the burning black was weakening.
Above all, the flame of his soul burned more fiercely than ever before.
Whoosh!
Kenichi opened his eyes wide to look at his sword.
Somehow, beyond the concentration of energy on the blade, a star had been born.
It was the star of destruction called Sword Ki.
Will, blessings, and power combined to create a brilliant starlight.
A greatly expanded sense of magical power than usual. The warrior was entranced by this ecstatic state before realizing once again what he had to do.
He had an opponent to defeat.
A giant.
“Venda!”
Swish! The warrior set off.
Swift and powerful strides that could cleave the sky, yet not light steps.
An explosive force different from usual enveloped the boy’s feet, hands, and heart.
—Kitagawa Ryu, Sky Cut.
Kenichi advanced, wielding his sword.
Kwaaang! As the giant’s hand approached, he sliced it, slipping his body between the flying flesh and blood, and in an instant, his well-trained legs placed him atop the giant.
In front of him, the astonished eyes of the giant, much larger than his body, were visible.
However, Kenichi couldn’t stare into the giant’s pupils for long.
Thud!
The evil cross’s demon sword split one eye, losing its light.
“…Kwaaah!”
Not only that, from waist to chest, a long sword wound appeared on the giant, who howled.
The warrior attempted to swing his sword once more to cut the giant’s throat, but perhaps the last of his strength had been squeezed out, and his hand no longer had any power.
As he began to exert his strength again, the warrior, rather than feeling regret, anger, or sadness, did not waver.
With orange hair, Kenichi Kitagawa closed his eyes and murmured.
“…Damn, I won.”
No longer could he find black flames in the struggling giant’s flesh.
Only white buildings and their debris, along with various human shapes, remained in the world.
The radiant glow of the sky, revealed with the blessing of the gods, illuminated the earth.
***
The wounded giant and the falling warrior.
It felt like watching a scene from an epic, up to the brilliant splendor that illuminated them, but there was no leisure to appreciate it.
Just got it done.
It was only a sense of relief and joy at having completed the task that freed the weapon.
“O demon of souls, extract blood.”
Crackle! With a deep crimson, Sen to Sawamura released the spear of condensed thunder to its limit.
Her shoulders were not as developed as a spear bearer, nor did she have related knowledge, but following her master’s will, the spear pierced the sky.
Aimed at the giant’s head with her hand.
“Lanza Del Relampágo.”
Thwang─!
It finally discharged.
A red line appeared on Sen to Sawamura’s hand and the giant’s head.
Compared to the infused magic, the sound was faint, and the area of destruction was minimal, but Sen to was satisfied.
Thud,
The giant, with a gaping hole in its temple, staggered and soon began to fall to the ground.
Kugugugung──the giant collapsed with a roar, showing no sign of getting up soon.
“…Haah.”
The sorceress exhaled deeply.
***
…Clink, clink!
Avoiding the falling giant, Kenichi, who collapsed on the ground, now had a feeling that he might not be able to get up.
…My legs hurt like hell.
He felt like he might forget how to walk at least until tomorrow.
If the damn master of illusion were to say let’s train, he was just about to punch his belly.
As he struggled in the still settling dust to regain his strength, the rescue team finally arrived.
“Hey, you okay?”
Eris, the blonde sorceress, approached Kenichi, who lay sprawled like a corpse, with a puzzled look.
“You’re not dead, are you?”
“…Not yet.”
“Yeah, seems like you’re definitely not.”
Answering so, Eris Betelgeuse levitated Kenichi with levitation magic.
Far from the giant, in a dust-free area, it was a safe zone with intact streets and buildings.
Moved to a cleaner alley, Kita and Kenichi could enjoy the fresh air and close their eyes.
“…Feels like I’m gonna die.”
“Yeah, you did better than expected.”
“…Better than expected?”
“Well, you did better than one could imagine.”
Leaning against one wall, Eris chuckled, then suddenly turned her head.
A woman, her hair adorned with late cherry blossoms, was approaching slowly.
Seemingly depleted of all magic, she was almost like an ordinary person, but her eyes sparkled as red as jewels.
Seeing Sen to Sawamura, who seemed to have grown even more than before, she inwardly admired her.
‘I might not be stronger than you now.’
Even during the White Ghost Night, he was an exceptional sorcerer, but now he seemed to have truly surpassed himself.
Eris didn’t deny that amazing fact or feel ashamed.
After facing Ichimaru Shiki, who thought he was the best among his peers, and having that belief shattered, she was delighted by the presence of an outstanding colleague.
The Magician of the Stars raised one corner of his mouth in acknowledgment of the other’s efforts.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“You did too.”
Despite defeating a formidable enemy, they exchanged a subdued greeting rather than cheers.
Since no one had died, there was no despair, and honestly, there was a corner of belief.
This damn white city… the originator of the world.
Thump-thump-
Except for Kenichi, whose ears perked up at the faint footsteps coming from the other end of the alley, Sento and Eris listened intently.
It was annoying to have been summoned to this world without a word, but still, the desire to see that face was stronger.
For some, it was a crush, for others, it was a vague mix of friendship and something more.
…Thump.
At the sound of footsteps approaching, they finally turned their heads.
“…Why are you walking so slowly-“
It could be seen as a clumsy attitude to hide my feelings, disguised as friendliness.
Eris, who first smiled mischievously, soon furrowed her brow.
Sawamura Sento, who was subtly waiting for the man with the real eyes, blinked blankly.
“…Huh, what’s this.”
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This chilly atmosphere…
Ichinose Hotaru, the shrine maiden, smiled stylishly at everyone and casually flicked her fingers.
Finally, all the hero party members had gathered.
***
“Wow, the hero defeated the monster.”
Truly a joyous news. As a common citizen who has gained peace, and as a teacher seeing a promising student, it is a heartwarming story.
Moreover, they obtained the blessing from the evil spirit and thwarted the End Sect’s riot.
Truly a perfect outcome.
If it were a fairy tale, the prince and princess would have lived happily ever after─one might think a happy ending was imminent, but unfortunately, this genre of this world was not a fairy tale for children.
It was a damn crappy game.
When they expanded their territory to a remote area, they saw dozens of top-tier exorcists and an army behind them.
The Second Commander of the Divine Palace’s Mobile Unit, Tokito Minami, murmured with a sad expression.
“I came to welcome you, White Night.”