Chapter 221 - Crush the Miracles!
I punched the impressive armor, feeling its hardness. At the same time, I destroyed the magical stones and devices visible in the area. Everything that looks like a gem is a magical stone, not just a decoration.
By crushing the energy source, the magical devices become useless. Even if they have redundant energy sources, bypassing the main magical stones to power other devices is impossible due to magical interference.
In other words, even if I don't destroy the devices themselves, the more magical stones I crush, the more ineffective the magical devices become. The devices hidden under the armor should also lose some of their functionality.
I directly destroyed any visible magical devices. Many were placed around the waist, likely for ease of use. I destroyed them regardless of their function—whether for attack, defense, or healing. For the recipient, it must feel like being stripped bare.
The problem was the armor. Even without barrier magic, specially made armor is incredibly sturdy. My strikes, while powerful, couldn't easily break through.
The armor is made with a familiar material, Carbonium ore. It’s not entirely Carbonium, but it’s still exceptionally strong. The paint would reveal a dark, ink-like color if stripped off.
This is my first time fighting a full Carbonium armor. Its formidable defense is enhanced by engraving magic, making it even more resilient than our cloaks.
The most crucial device I want to destroy is the one that suppresses magical activation. It's likely well-protected by the armor. Crushing it will be tough. It's powered directly by the user's magic, not by a magical stone. Still, it's a concern.
Focusing on what I can destroy, I went through and crushed everything I could. After destroying most of the exposed devices, the only things left were the internal mechanisms and the sword. The sword, in particular, couldn't be destroyed externally. It seemed I had to draw it out.
Why won't he draw it? It’s unsettling.
Regardless, I decided to expose everything and then crush it all. I would make him draw the sword.
I hammered away at the sturdy Carbonium armor, realizing its true threat. Our cloaks are made of metal threads, different from full armor, but dealing with this is a daunting task. Even with my powerful strikes, I couldn’t dent it. This is a magical mineral with superior magical defense, making it almost impervious to barrier magic.
The prince’s armor also has a special mechanism to absorb impact. Normally, direct attacks can be defended, but the internal shock can't be completely neutralized. My strikes should have sent him flying, yet he didn’t even stagger. The flow of magic and the reality before me suggest that the armor has a mechanism to completely absorb the impact. Even considering the magical civilization’s advancements and the prince’s status, this seems far-fetched.
The more I learn about the special equipment, the more infuriated I become. What a luxurious brute.
A nation as powerful as the Empire, with its immense power and wealth, has created the ultimate equipment. I want to crush it.
Driven by frustration that overshadowed my pain, I pounded the armor relentlessly. But I was starting to tire of it.
I opened my eyes and asked the prince, taking a brief break.
"…Still not going to draw that sword?"
It's about time. Even if my attacks aren't effective, the prince has his pride and the audience to consider.
"Do you want me to use this? But if I do, I can't keep you alive. Yukarinowe, do you still wish for that?"
Such grand words. He’s being dramatic.
"What are you talking about now? Do you really think you can win without using it?"
We were in the middle of a duel. It’s really too late now.
"The Holy Sword Neglori amplifies my magic. If I unleash its true power, nothing will remain. Pity, pity, Yukarinowe."
"Shut up. Just show me that true power!"
Flirt. I’ll crush him.
I initiated the conversation, but no more words were needed.
I stepped back to observe what would happen. He talked about amplifying magic, so it must be about his magical affinity.
Could it be that he relied on magical devices for all his previous attacks and didn't use his own magical affinity?
Doubts arose. Is he saving his ultimate spell for this moment?
As I watched, the prince raised his sheathed sword with both hands. He still didn’t draw it.
Curious, I observed. The onlookers, who had been watching the duel from a distance, began to retreat further. Our team followed suit, likely to avoid hindering me. It was a thoughtful gesture.
After a moment, a surge of magic erupted.
"Guardian of the Empire! And Holy Sword Neglori! Grant me the dragon’s blessing and a miracle!"
Given his frequent use of religious phrases, he must be devout.
But if there is a god, they’re probably not as simple. They must be twisted. Considering my fate, this is a reasonable assumption.
A miracle? Of all things, a miracle?
Hmm, a miracle, huh. A romantic word.
Frankly, it’s ridiculous. It’s just a cliché, and I don’t like it. We’re in the middle of a duel.
Miracle. Yes, I acknowledge its existence.
The world is vast, and lucky people surely exist. But wishing for it is foolish. Miracles don’t happen easily. They’re the ultimate stroke of luck. Expecting one for yourself is futile.
If a miracle were to happen, it would only come after you’ve exhausted every last effort.
That’s what fairness is. Although the world is full of injustice and far from fair.
In any case, he can’t beat me. Even if it’s just a cliché, I won’t lose to someone like him.
With renewed determination, I focused on victory as the miracle he wished for manifested.
The overwhelming magical reaction blinded me. Magic exploded from the large sword, forming a field with a radius of over thirty meters.
It felt like the world itself had changed.
As the field's magical density increased, it affected me.
My body felt heavy!
The sudden weight pressed down on me.
"Ugh!"
The weight increased rapidly, and I feared being crushed, but it finally stopped.
What is this?
"Even now, you still stand. Impressive woman. But you can't move, can you? You can't escape the Attraction Cohesion Magic amplified by the Holy Sword Neglori."
Attraction Cohesion Magic!? I’ve never heard of it.
From the effects, it seems like a gravity magic. This guy is incredibly blessed.
His final trump card turned out to be his own magical affinity. Reflecting on it, his sword was unusually heavy. It makes sense if the weight was magically enhanced.
It’s a fantastic magical ability, but it’s strong. Lifting my arms is a struggle. I can still move, but I’ll be slow. The caster seems unaffected. What a cheat.
I don’t know the exact load, but even with my high-level Physical Enhancement Magic, it’s tough. Observing the sword, it seems to be at maximum output, which is somewhat reassuring. Still, I can barely fight.
I need more power. More, more, more.
I need to break through my limits. Losing to this pampered brute is unacceptable, even in death.
I have to break the shell. My intuition tells me pushing further is difficult, but it’s possible.
I shattered the shell, pulling out the one beyond it and forcing it open.
The new stage of magical perception and manipulation made it possible. I could push my limits.
I’ll do it!
With renewed resolve, I felt a crack in my chest.
Dense magic overflowed from the crack, and intense pain spread throughout my body. Every part hurt, and my head felt like it was splitting.
"...Gh, sss, ha..."
I suppressed my groans and focused on deep breathing. A deep breath seemed to alleviate the stress and pain, which was strange.
I was already injured and in pain. A little more didn’t matter. It even woke me up from the dizziness.
I’ll appreciate that!
Viscous, dense magic flowed, increasing my strength. My concentration intensified in response to the crisis.
I suppressed the wild magic with delicate control, pouring it into Physical Enhancement Magic. The joy of power to resist the gravitational cage was immense. It replaced the intense pain.
The magical load was so high that my veins burst. Blood spurted from my skin, staining my body red.
I was clearly beyond my limits. The magic was life-threatening, and I felt a hint of fear. But!
"Power is surging!!"
Exceeding my limits, I felt various dangers. I was dizzy and couldn’t last long.
The prince’s gravity field changed, adding a pulling force. I was dragged towards him, and everything in the field was drawn to his sword.
Was the sword trying to swallow me or crush me with its immense weight? Either way, I had to fight.
Thanks to my efforts, I could move. I couldn’t escape the pulling force, but I could still act. But how to face it?
While being pulled, small stones hit me, distracting me. It was painful and frustrating.
Slowly, I was drawn closer.
What to do? What can I do?
...Defending is impossible. I need to act before I’m hit.
The pulling force would allow me to rush forward quickly, but I’d be shot down. The sword, likely a magical device, wasn’t meant for cutting. It might not even have a blade. The internal mechanism was probably a magical device.
The sword absorbed the prince’s magic, amplified it, and manifested it. The sturdy sheath was a blunt weapon. Once within range, it would crush me.
Moving optimally in this super-heavy environment was difficult. Even with my enhanced Physical Enhancement Magic, I was below my usual performance. Dodging attacks was impossible.
I couldn’t attack first either. Breaking through the armor’s defense was nearly impossible.
It was frustrating to think of all the difficulties and impossibilities.
Could I aim for a stalemate? But how?
"Ahh..."
An undesirable but feasible strategy flashed through my mind.
I hadn’t tried it before. I assumed it was impossible. If I could do it, I didn’t want to. But now, I knew I could. I didn’t like it, but it gave me options.
Which was the best? Which had the highest chance of success?
I secretly tested and confirmed the feasibility of my idea.
I chose the worst yet best method, a mad approach far from sane.
I wouldn’t lose. If losing meant using the worst method, so be it. A victory would be a stretch.
But I would do it. To show the pampered prince a thing or two, if there was no other way, I had to.
I’d show him my resolve.
While being pulled by the gravitational vortex, I increased my magic. The blood flowing out was hot.
I solidified my image, suppressing the reluctance in my heart.
I needed a weapon to counter the sword. The Special Gloves were inadequate. The difference in power was too great, and they would be a hindrance. I removed them and put them in my pocket.
As the sword’s range approached, I was ready. All I needed was to activate it.
And then.
The Holy Sword was swung down.