kscans

Chapter 552 - A Hero's Tale for You, A Hero's Tale for Another, Part VIII

In Arcadia, the use of magic clearly distinguishes between levels of skill.

For example, there's the pure speed of the 'chant'.

Of course, it's not as simple as speaking quickly. To achieve the maximum power boost from the climax, one must 'sing' quickly and skillfully.

It's a prerequisite to draw out a spell's maximum power by 'chanting' with clear phrasing, sonorous tones, and a deep understanding of the words' meaning. When mages in this world aim for 'high-speed casting', they do so by researching casting methods without compromising this fundamental principle.

Then there's the control of 'mana', the source of these laws.

It's a special skill that all mages known as 'masters' have acquired, and a clear sign of talent.

Mana emission that involves visual effects or wind pressure is the bare minimum. Go far enough, and it's said that 'in theory, even the creation of magic is possible'. The degree of freedom players are given to manipulate the formless 'power' of mana is extremely high.

It is one of the endless pursuits, an endgame content too precious to be dismissed as a mere 'MP' statistic. Those with talent, of course, and even those without, are numerous in their attempts to touch and master it—so, naturally…

…Iris, the [Sword Queen], categorized as someone without talent, has never neglected her pursuit of magic, even knowing it ill-suits her title.

A peculiar nature that only allows her to acquire spells of 'grand magic' or higher.

A flaw born from excellence: her affinity with the virtual world is so high that her thought commands for anything 'external', including magic, become overloaded and lose control.

She can't adjust the power. She can't adjust the range. She can't adjust the aim—when it comes to wielding magic, Iris recognizes her own skill as being at the very bottom.

That is precisely why she can sincerely ask for guidance from her love rival, her beloved's partner.

Because to remain so crude, like a child, forever would be unbearably embarrassing.

"[Vortex Voltiato]."

For the third time, the spell she chanted was one of her 'smallest-scale grand magics'. Its true nature was a peculiar one: 'to grant maneuverability to one's own, already-released magic'.

In other words, that was it.

The only 'fine magic control' currently possible for Iris—a childish, brute-force technique, not skill, akin to a young child violently grabbing and swinging a toy.

As if aiming for the sun, befitting its name, the lightning of [Disastor], which continued to expand infinitely by devouring the magic of its adversaries, moved.

It unraveled, shifted, swirled, and folded—into her outstretched palm.

Rotation, compression, fixation.

Despite bearing the name of a king who symbolizes the sword, this was, in fact, her true maximum firepower, excluding the 'sword' that she herself secretly had mixed feelings about.

As mentioned before, it was a technique that wasn't that much different in terms of 'power' from the second most powerful in her arsenal, but—

—the nature of the 'lightning' magic attribute, combined with the synergistic and vicious properties of the prerequisite [Disastor], meant this 'technique' could pierce any defense.

If it reached, it would land. And,

"—Haru!"

"—Been waiting for you, Princess!"

Right now, she wasn't alone. Therefore, this 'hand' would surely reach.

The silver light, which had begun to flicker as the enhancement effect wore off, dissipated, and the swung jade blade struck [Rep-la Nobody, The Black Stain That Slays All] through its guard. Each strike was a flash of super-speed, each lethal. A perfect acrobatic feat, dodging the 'claws' while flipping upside down in mid-air.

And yet, it was likely not due to simple power, but some kind of forced knockback. The 'claws', which could nullify the power of even Iris's `Extra`, were rendered useless, and the sword, a gift from her, effortlessly sent the shadow flying.

And, with no time to be mesmerized, the pale blue figure gave chase.

Just before the light faded completely, the jade blade, which had shone with a particularly intense light, flashed—

"Get—blown—away!"

Simultaneously knocked flying, the master of shadow instantly deployed a counterattack of multiple magic cannons. At the end of a path that dodged and weaved through them on the ground and in the air, the [Acrobat], having slipped directly beneath the prey he himself had launched, let out a triumphant roar.

The swirling silver light exploded, and a faint shattering sound reached my ears.

The fourth, and with this—

"Fifth."

Directly above the launched [Rep-la Nobody, The Black Stain That Slays All], Iris, who had trusted him and kicked off the moment he called her name, received Haru's setup.

Again and again, an astonishingly seamless reaction. With a relentless murderous intent that felt almost like obsession, the shadow still swung its 'claws' even in the instant after losing a life.

A black point that defied reason, capable of twisting even the 'sword' born of the world.

And yet, what the [Sword Queen] held in her hand was—a small, small sphere of light, tiny enough to fit easily in her delicate palm.

Without a sound, a flash of violet light, emitting only a serene glow, touched the 'blackness'.

"—[Keraunos]!"

A roar of thunder, rivaling or even surpassing the supreme lightning-attribute magic that bears the name of Myriad Thunderbolts.

As a violent flash, as if scorching the world, blinked into existence, the immense electrical power of the hyper-compressed mana roared, burst, and erupted—and its flames did not just scorch the enemy before her.

The [Disastor] that Iris had woven with her power, which served as the basis for this 'technique', was a proper offensive spell if allowed to fulfill its original purpose. And there was no way that the endpoint of a vicious grand magic that indiscriminately absorbed hostile mana would end as a simple 'lightning bolt'.

The nature of that violet electricity was the forced return of usurped mana. In other words, the moment a [Keraunos] woven from that spell touched even 'one of its targets'—

—the unblockable thunder that raced across the battlefield would 'chain' to all targets.

—, ——————…!

The instant the light touched it, its arm, 'claws' and all, was vaporized. And as it regenerated, it was continuously seared by the unending flashes of lightning, unable to even resist, the master of shadow let out a clear scream.

Simultaneously, the released violet electricity raced through the arena, once again wiping out the magic circles that fired magic spheres—and what echoed was a series of shattering sounds.

The queen's lips curled into a small, yet certain, smile.

"—!"

With a spirited cry, a palm strike imbued with the brilliance of lightning struck [Rep-la Nobody, The Black Stain That Slays All].

A true lightning strike. An attack that pierced through two layers of its death-avoiding authority sent the妖狐's body crashing down at high speed, shattering the arena floor on impact.

And then—in the corner of her vision, she saw the face of a boy, dumbfounded.

She was well aware that this was not the time for such things.

…But, it was fun, so much fun. Every single moment of this long-awaited time was so joyful, so delightful, that the princess couldn't suppress a child-like smile.

"Hehe… a double kill."

As her body, limp and drained of strength, began to fall, she murmured the innocent words.