Infinite Mage — Chapter 202: The era of upheaval (2)

Chapter 202: The era of upheaval (2)

Only⁠‌ Arin, who had⁠ lost the Metagate‌‍ at close range,‌‌ did not understand⁠ the situation and looked at her‌ empty hand.

She‌ did not even⁠ seem to realize‍⁠ that a fallen‌‍ angel was right⁠⁠ beside her.

“Hmm, this is a Metagate, isn’t it?⁠ Even believers are⁠⁠ forbidden from using⁠‍ it. For heretics,‍‌‍ it is not⁠ bad.”

Upon‌ hearing Ikasa’s voice, Arin’s face turned‌‌‌ pale.

She⁠ was more than‌ thirty meters away.‍

How⁠ could they have⁠ taken the Metagate⁠ from her?

Moreover,‌ if she had‍ taken the object⁠ while moving at⁠⁠‍ high speed, it‌ meant she had‌‌⁠ accelerated using only‌‌ the strength of‌ her body.

“Hmm…⁠⁠ if you brought‌⁠‌ a Metagate here…⁠⁠ could it be‍ that you… were‌ sent by Miro?”⁠‍

Shirone did not respond.⁠‌

Instinctively,⁠ he felt that⁠‌‌ he should not‍‍ give her any‍⁠ information.

“Hehe,⁠‍ if you do‍⁠ not want to‌ talk, that is⁠‌‌ fine. In any‍ case, if I analyze this, I will obtain the⁠‍ coordinates.”

The‍‌ Metagate was a high-technology device of the meca.

If‍ it were dismantled‌ with meca technology,⁠ it was possible‍⁠ to discover at‌ which coordinates it⁠ was registered without‍ even activating it.‌

In‍ reality, Ikasa already‍ suspected it.

Especially‌ after seeing how‌ that boy had‌ stopped the Liquor‌ of Anecdotes.

Without‌‍‌ a doubt, they‍‍⁠ came from the‌‌ repulsive home of‌⁠‌ Miro.

Ikasa‌ walked among Shirone’s group, swaying her⁠⁠ slender body.

Even⁠‍ though they were‌ completely defenseless, no one could react.‍‍

Ikasa⁠ stopped in front‌‌ of the girls.‌

Being⁠ looked down upon‌ by the tall‌ angel, Amy felt⁠ completely intimidated.

But‌ she did not‌‌ give in to‌‌ fear and held her gaze until the end.

“Are⁠ you a virgin?”⁠

Amy’s⁠ face turned red‌ immediately.

That‌ was practically a verbal assault without‌ limits.

“W-what‌ are you saying?”‌‌

“Hahaha!‌ I see. And‌‌ you?”

Ikasa‌‌⁠ pointed alternately at⁠‌⁠ Tess and Arin.‌‍‌

Their faces also reddened.‍‍

“Hmm…⁠⁠ so that is⁠ it. For humans,‍‍⁠ you have quite⁠ a bit of‍‍‍ self-control.”

Ikasa‌⁠‍ leaned forward and⁠‌ observed Arin closely.‍⁠

Black⁠‌ hair, dark pupils,‍ and a face⁠ pale as moonlight.⁠⁠

“Oh…‌ you are of‍ the eastern race.‍ I like it.”⁠‍

Ikasa‍⁠ was satisfied.

She‌ had come only‍ to release the‌‍ resentment accumulated over⁠‌⁠ twenty thousand years, but she had‍‍⁠ obtained an unexpected‌‍‌ gain.

The‌‍⁠ coordinates of Miro’s‍ home and three⁠⁠ girls.

With‌‍ that, she had⁠⁠ a great chance‍⁠⁠ of ascending to⁠⁠ angel again.

Ikasa‍ spun her halo‌‍ and activated her‌ power.

“Eh…?”‌‍

Amy,‍‍⁠ Tess, and Arin‍ began to rise into the air.⁠

Instinctively,⁠ light concentrated in‌ front of Shirone.

“No!⁠ Stop!”

At the same time‌ that the Photon⁠⁠ Cannon fired, Canis‍⁠ and Harvest attacked‌‍ together.

Rian‍‌ also charged, raising‍ his great sword.⁠‍

Ikasa extended a slender‍ finger and slid‍ it from left to right.

All‌‍ the attacks bounced‍‍ off an invisible‍‍ barrier.

Shirone‌ shouted, unable to⁠ contain his anxiety.‍

“Let‍ them go! Come down! Fight us!”⁠

Ikasa looked at them⁠‍ with disdain and rose together with⁠ the three girls.⁠‍

Shirone’s‌ heart felt as⁠⁠‌ if it were⁠ about to burst.‍‌‍

This⁠‍ could not end like this.

If⁠ everything ended in such a powerless‍‌ way, he would‌‍ not be able⁠⁠⁠ to endure it.‍

Ikasa‌ accelerated her halo⁠⁠⁠ in the sky.⁠‌

A burning vortex appeared‌‌⁠ in front of‌ her, and then‌‍‍ a heavy mass formed.

It⁠‌ was a black‌ object with orange⁠‍‍ stripes crossing it,⁠‍ but its shape⁠‍ could not yet be distinguished.

“Tabu,‍ kill the heretics. I will go with Lord Kariel.”

“…Yes,‌‍‍ Ikasa.”

Ikasa‌ quickly disappeared into⁠ the northern sky.⁠

Amy’s voice calling out⁠ to someone followed⁠‌ her into the⁠‍⁠ distance.

Shirone⁠‌ looked at the⁠ sky with a vacant expression.

It‌ did not seem⁠⁠ real.

It‌⁠ was not that⁠‍⁠ he had not‌ considered the risks of coming to⁠⁠ heaven.

But‌‌⁠ he did not‍⁠ expect to be⁠ so powerless.

‘I…‌ was the one‌ who said we⁠‍ should come.’

Shirone⁠ closed his eyes‍ tightly.

It‍‍ was his fault.

He‌⁠ should have prevented them from coming‌ to heaven from‍‍⁠ the beginning.

To⁠‌ think that with the Metagate they‍‍‍ would be a little safer…

What‍‍ a stupid mistake.‍

Angels‍ were beings that⁠ surpassed human imagination.‌

Boom!‌⁠‍

The‌‍ black mass fell to the ground.‌

Its‌ surface was so⁠⁠‌ smooth that it‌⁠⁠ looked like rock.⁠‍

But‌ when it unfolded,⁠ it revealed a shape similar to‍‍ a gorilla.

Orange⁠‌ stripes shone symmetrically on its body,‌ creating an unsettling⁠ contrast.

The‌‌⁠ triangle floating above‌‍ its head indicated‍‍ that it was‌ a one-horned Mara.‍

It was smaller than the ones he‌‍⁠ saw in the‍⁠ refuge of Nor,‌‌‌ but it did‍‌ not seem weak.‍

“Hehehe. I am Tabu.‌ It has been‍⁠ a while since‌⁠ I fought, so‌⁠ let us try⁠ to have fun.”‍

Shirone’s‌⁠ group took combat‌ positions.

But⁠‌⁠ having lost the‌ girls, their fighting spirit was at⁠ rock bottom.

Not‍ caring about that,⁠‍ Tabu hunched over‍ excitedly.

“My⁠⁠ power is restricted,⁠ so it is‍ a bit embarrassing⁠ to show off…”⁠

Tabu’s‍⁠ orange stripes glowed‍‌⁠ and an intense‌‍ wave of heat‌ exploded.

“But‍⁠‍ for you, it‌ is more than⁠ enough.”

Having‌‍ said that, Tabu⁠ kicked the ground‍‌ and launched himself into the attack.‌

Rian‍‌ ran toward him‍ and swung his‍‍ great sword.

Tabu‌‌⁠ neither dodged nor‍⁠ blocked.

As⁠‍‍ if he did‍‍ not even see‌‌ Rian, he charged⁠‍ straight into the‌⁠⁠ sword.

Boom!‌‍

The‍‍ impact sent Rian⁠‍ flying through the⁠‌ air.

Tabu‍ arched his back⁠‍‌ and looked at‌ Shirone upside down.‌‍

Then he launched himself‌⁠ in that position.⁠

Seeing his inverted face‌‍ approaching was indescribably‌⁠ disturbing.

Faced‍ with an attack⁠‌ that surpassed all⁠ human logic, Shirone unleashed Rampage.

The‌ wall of light struck Tabu, but‌ he passed through‌‌ it without flinching.‌

“Hehehe,‌ interesting magic.”

Tabu’s‌ face came right⁠‌ in front of⁠‍ Shirone’s.

Where‍ his eyes should⁠ be, there were vertical orange lines,⁠‍ and his mouth was a lipless‌⁠ crack.

Rampage expelled mass twenty⁠‌ times per second,‍‌⁠ but Tabu endured‌⁠ it as if⁠‌‌ it were a simple storm.

Sticking‍ out his tongue‌ to his chest,‌ he mocked Shirone.⁠‌

“Hehe…⁠ does it hurt? That they took‍ your girl away?”‍‌

Shirone’s⁠ eyes filled with‍‌ killing intent.

He had to get⁠ Amy back.

Ironically,⁠‌‌ the moment he‌‌⁠ understood that, he erased Amy from his mind.

His‍ concentration gathered, and⁠ the power of‌‍ Rampage increased.

This time, even Tabu‍⁠‌ could not resist.⁠‌

He‌⁠ was pushed back‍⁠ by the attack‍‍ and began to‌‍⁠ move strangely across‌⁠ the battlefield.

Creative?⁠⁠

Not⁠ primitive.

With‍ elastic movements like⁠⁠ those of a monkey, he approached‌⁠ and launched attacks‌‌ as heavy as⁠‍‌ rocks.

The⁠ group barely managed‌ to resist.

‘Is⁠ this the power‌ of a Mara?’‌‌

His‌‍ raw power might⁠⁠ have been lower than that of‍‌‌ the whirlpool serpent, but in terms‍‍ of rank, Tabu was far superior.‌⁠

Speed,⁠‍ strength, balance, combat‍ intelligence.

He‌⁠ completely surpassed that‍ creature that was‌‍‍ only large.

If‍ Ikasa had not lost her power,⁠ would this monster‍‌ not practically be‍⁠ a calamity?

At the moment Tabu’s‍ fist headed toward‍‍ Shirone, a Shadow‍‌ Wall rose from‌⁠⁠ the ground.

Bang!‌‌

A roar echoed from‍ the other side⁠‍ of the shadow.⁠

Tabu‌ did not stop⁠‍ his attack.

He simply pushed with⁠ his fist like‌‍ a madman.

The⁠ fist pierced the⁠‌‌ Shadow Wall and⁠ struck Shirone’s forehead.‌

The⁠⁠‌ first barrier absorbed‌ the impact, but‍‍ even so he⁠ felt as if‍‌ the world spun.

From‌⁠ Shirone’s shadow, Canis‍⁠ emerged.

“With⁠ normal attacks it‌‍ will not be‍ enough. Open the‍⁠ Immortal Function now.”⁠

“What‌‍ are you talking‍⁠ about? I opened‍ it a while‍ ago.”

Canis‌ showed a bewildered⁠ expression.

He‌ himself knew better‍ than anyone the‍ power of the‍ Photon Cannon when⁠ used in the‍ Immortal Function state.⁠⁠‌

And‍ even so he‍‌ could not even‌‍‌ injure him?

“Will‌ the laser not‍‌ work?”

“I doubt it. He‍‌ is small and‍ fast.”

More‍⁠ than five seconds⁠ were needed to‌⁠ concentrate the energy.⁠

If it were something‌ large like the‌ whirlpool serpent, it⁠‍ would still be‍⁠⁠ viable, but against‍ Tabu, whose movement‍‌ pattern could not‍‍⁠ even be predicted,‌ it was an⁠ impossible strategy.

“Even‌⁠‌ so, let us‍⁠ try it. I will hold him,‌ so attack at that moment.”

Canis‍ activated the power‌‌ of darkness.

Shadows‍⁠ gathered like capillaries‌ clung to Tabu’s⁠‌ ankles, climbed up‌⁠ his knees, and‍ tightly bound his‍⁠ wrists.

Shirone’s‌ laser struck Tabu,‌ and his body⁠‌ began to redden⁠ little by little.‌

If‍‌ it continued like‌‌ that, no matter⁠‌⁠ how resistant he⁠‍⁠ was, his explosion‍ would only be⁠‌‌ a matter of‌ time.

“Hahaha!⁠ Enough! That is‌ it!”

Tabu⁠ inflated his thighs‍ and jumped.

The⁠ power of darkness‍ binding his limbs⁠⁠ broke like paper.‌

His‍‌ figure became a point in the⁠‍⁠ sky in an⁠ instant.

Was it impossible?

The‍⁠ power of darkness⁠⁠⁠ was specialized in‌⁠ structural forces, but‍⁠⁠ it was not‍ particularly strong physically.

To‌‍ hold Tabu required‌ a much greater restraining force.

“Canis!⁠ Buy me a little more time!”

Shirone⁠‌ decided to gamble‌‌ on photon manipulation.

Before‌⁠ it had been‍ considered inefficient, but‍‍ after achieving Shining⁠⁠‌ Impact, the situation‌‌‌ was different.

While Harvest faced Tabu, Canis observed the‍ sphere of light⁠ gathering around Shirone.‌‌

The‍ intensity of the‍‌⁠ light was weak,‌ like in Shining⁠⁠ Impact.

It‍ seemed he was‌⁠‌ trying to reduce⁠ the vibration of⁠‍ the particles to⁠‍ give it shape.‍‌

The‍ idea was not⁠⁠⁠ bad, but would‍‍‍ it work?

— Even if you⁠⁠‌ suppress the vibration,⁠ you cannot enlarge‍ it enough to‍⁠ give it form.‍ Like Shining Impact,‌‌ it will end‍ up exploding.

— No. It does‌ not seem like⁠ compression.

At⁠‍ Harvest’s words, Canis‍ looked again.

What⁠ Shirone had created‌‍⁠ was a small⁠⁠ ring of light,‍⁠ so tiny that‌‌ it could fit⁠ between his thumb and index finger.‌

‘That⁠‌‍ bastard! Could it⁠‌ be that…?’

A shocking thought crossed‍ Canis’s mind.

Light⁠‍⁠ magic, unlike dark‍⁠ magic, does not‌ allow precise shaping.

But‌ perhaps it was⁠‌ not impossible to‌ give it form.‍⁠

The ring of light that Shirone had‍ created began to‌ duplicate itself over‍ and over again.⁠‍

A chill ran down‍ Canis’s spine as⁠⁠ he saw that.‌⁠‌

There‌ was a form‌ that could be‌⁠‌ achieved with photons.‌‌‍

A fractal structure.

A fractal is a shape that replicates‍ itself to constitute‌ a whole.

Shirone‌‍ gathered minimal particles,‌‍ created the simplest‌ possible form, and⁠‍ then thought of‍ multiplying it infinitely.

Once‍ a form was‌‌ completed, replicating it⁠‌ was a matter⁠ of an instant.⁠‍

From the sphere of⁠‍ light gathered between‌‍ Shirone’s hands, a chain burst forth‌‌ like a torrent.⁠

As⁠‍ it was a technique that went‍‌‌ against the nature⁠ of attributes, the‌ consumption of mental⁠‍ energy was much‌ greater than that⁠‍ of common magic.‌‍

But⁠‌ it was the only possible strategy‌ against Tabu.

Tabu,‌⁠ who was pursuing‌‌ Canis, sensed something‍‌ strange and turned‌⁠ toward Shirone.

Around⁠ him, chains dozens‍ of meters long‌ undulated, emitting light.‌

It‌ was the power⁠‍ of light, considered‍‌‍ the force of‌ angels.

And⁠ among them, the most difficult—light manipulation.‌‍

“A‍ mere human…!”

Tabu‌ shouted and launched‍ himself into the attack.

Shirone‌‍ responded by moving‍⁠ his arm and launched the chains.⁠‍

The‌‌ chains intertwined in‍‍⁠ a spherical shape⁠ began to wrap‌‌‍ around Tabu’s body.‌⁠

From‌‌⁠ the ankles they rose, surrounded his‍ waist, slipped through‌‍ his armpits, coiled around his neck,⁠⁠ and descended in⁠⁠⁠ an X shape‌ to bind his‌ thighs.

Clack!⁠

A sound like stone‍‌ scraping was heard.‍‍

Tabu’s‍‍ fist stopped just‌‌ before striking the⁠ bridge of Shirone’s‌ nose.

His fist trembled, reflecting⁠‌ his fury.

“Grrrrrr!”‍

Tabu⁠‌ could not move.‍‌‍

The⁠⁠ rings of the‍ chain, charged with‍⁠ gravity, attracted each‍ other, increasing the‌ tension.

If⁠ he moved even‍ slightly, the chains tightened more, trapping⁠‍ him without leaving⁠ any space.

The chief of the‌ fairies, Igirin, observed‍⁠ Tabu trapped with‍ disbelief.

Who‍ was that boy?⁠‍‌

Even among angels who⁠ dominated light, only‌ a few could‍‌ use manipulation.

Canis⁠‍ also could not⁠‍ believe what he‍ was seeing.

It⁠‌ was not a simple chain.

It‌ had taken shape⁠ through fractal technology‌‍ and generated tension‌‍ using mass.

It was completely different‌‌ from the magic Shirone had shown‍ until now.

There⁠ was magic equivalent‌⁠ to the Photon⁠ Cannon in other⁠ disciplines.

The same occurred with‌⁠ the laser or⁠‍‍ Rampage.

But‌ the chain magic⁠‌ belonged to a domain exclusive to‌ divine particles, impossible‌ to replicate by⁠ other branches.

— The Unlocker circuit⁠ is evolving at‌‍‌ a terrifying speed.‌‍ And everything he‌⁠ creates breaks common‌ sense. After Shining‍ Impact, now it‌‌ is Shining Chain?⁠

Canis‍‍ remained silent.

In⁠ a situation where‌⁠ they had to‌ recover their companions,‌⁠ an ally becoming⁠ stronger was positive.‌

But‌‍ his competitive nature⁠⁠ felt a sting of defeat.

— Canis, your heart⁠ is beating faster.⁠⁠ Do not worry so much. You‌‍⁠ came to heaven‍ to become stronger.‍ You will be‍‍‌ able to surpass‌‌‌ Shirone.

— Yes… someday I will have to⁠‍ surpass him. For‌ now, let us⁠⁠ focus on the‌⁠ situation.

After⁠ saying that to⁠ himself, Canis walked‌⁠ toward where Tabu⁠‌ was immobilized.