Infinite Mage — Chapter 218: Sky (1)

Chapter 218: Sky (1)

Canis‌ gasped with difficulty.⁠ His head was⁠ not only dizzy,‌⁠⁠ but he felt‌ as if his⁠‌‍ brain were melting.

But⁠ he still could‍⁠ not relax. He had to fight‍‌ for Arin until⁠ the very end.⁠⁠

“Baalbe,⁠⁠‍ your appearance is⁠⁠‌ pathetic.”

At‍ Kariel’s voice, Baalbe’s body trembled.

“I’m⁠ sorry, Lord Kariel.”⁠

Canis’s‍⁠ face went blank.‍‍ He had shattered‍ every bone in‌‍ his body—how could⁠ he still be‌ alive?

No,⁠‍ it was not‌‍‌ simply that he⁠ was alive.

Each‍ of his organs⁠ was mutating into‍‌ strange forms.

Insect‌‍‍ legs covered in‍ shell sprouted, and tentacles similar to⁠ those of a mollusk extended.

“Thank you for granting‍‌⁠ me the Demonic⁠⁠ Awakening.”

When‍ Baalbe’s size grew‌⁠‍ like a mountain,‌⁠ everyone raised their‍‌ heads completely.

It⁠‌ was a gigantic⁠⁠ creature formed from‍ a mixture of⁠⁠ all kinds of‍⁠ living beings.

The‌‍‌ word mixture fit‌‌‌ it perfectly.

If‌ octopuses, cockroaches, flies,‍ worms, and snakes‍ were put into‌‍ a pot, boiled,⁠⁠ and then the liquid dried, they would probably have‌⁠‍ exactly that shape.⁠⁠

“Kikikiki!‌‌ It has been‍⁠ two thousand years‍ since I last‍ awakened.”

“This⁠⁠ is already… the⁠ end.”

Canis’s⁠⁠ hope vanished like⁠ foam. The object‍‌ was nothing more⁠⁠ than a toy‌‌ for the Maras.‌‍

When‌⁠‌ he realized that‍ he had bet‌‌ his life on⁠ something impossible from⁠‍ the beginning, it⁠‌ was already too‌ late.

***‍

“Rian,‍‍ Rian…”

Peophe,‍ her eyes filled‍ with tears, looked⁠‍‍ at Rian. Even⁠‌ in a situation⁠⁠ where everything had⁠ fallen into nothingness,‌ he was still‌‌ fighting.

No,‍ he was enduring.‌‍

After‍‌‍ spitting blood in‌‍ the first clash,‌ Rian clung to Ymir in that‍‌‌ very state and‌‍⁠ activated a mental‌‌⁠ block.

It‌‍⁠ may break, but‍ it does not⁠⁠‌ bend.

What he gained as‍ the price for⁠ choosing that dangerous‍‍ path was physical⁠⁠ ability comparable to a schema.

Ymir,‍ realizing that he‌‌ would not let‌⁠ go unless he‍ destroyed Rian’s body, began throwing repeated‍‍ blows.

Each⁠ time Rian’s body‍⁠‌ shook from the‌⁠ impact, the greatsword‌⁠ trembled.

“Guh!‍ Still…!”

At‌ this point, even‌‍‌ Ymir felt something‌ strange.

The⁠ nature of his strength was hard‌‌ as iron. It‌‌ was not a strength a living‍‌ being could produce.‌ Moreover, he had‍‍‌ shattered his insides,‌‍ so he should have been incapable⁠‌ of exerting force.‍‍

‘Among⁠⁠‍ humans, very few‌ can use this.’⁠

After⁠‌ countless battles, he‌ would occasionally encounter‌⁠ such individuals.

But‍‌ all of them,‌‌ without exception, were⁠‌‍ the strongest warriors‌ representing their civilization.

Comparing‍ a human who⁠ could not even‍ use the art‌ of giants to‌⁠ them would be‍ unfair to those‍‌⁠ warriors.

“Kekeke!⁠‍ Let’s see how⁠⁠ far you go!”‍‍‌

Ymir‍ launched a point-blank⁠ uppercut.

At‍ the moment the‍ muscles of his⁠ abdomen tore, Rian’s‌ eyes widened. His‌‌ body was blown⁠ away, and when⁠‌ he landed his⁠ knees buckled, but‍ he clung to‍‍ Ymir and endured.‍

In‌ the next instant,‌ Rian released the⁠⁠⁠ mental block and⁠ pushed Ymir’s shoulder.‍‌‌

When‍ the grip that⁠‌⁠ seemed impossible to⁠⁠ break came undone,‍⁠ Ymir showed a puzzled expression.

But‌ what did it‍ matter? After all,‌⁠ he was the⁠‌ strongest.

Any‌ being that faced‍⁠ the king of‍⁠ the giants ended‍‍‌ like this.

“So‌‌⁠ in the end‌ you gave up?⁠ For a human,‍ you endured quite‍⁠ well. As a reward, I will‍ give you a painless end.”

Ymir‍ stomped and threw‍ a punch. Even at short distance⁠⁠ it had destructive⁠ power that tore‌ muscles apart, so‍⁠ a blow with‌⁠‍ all his weight⁠‍‌ was something Rian’s‍ body could not withstand.

But Rian did not⁠⁠ care. While smiling at Ymir, his⁠⁠‌ eyes looked beyond‍ the giant’s shoulder.‌⁠

“You arrived, Shirone.”

***

Shirone‍ covered a distance‌⁠ of 1 kilometer‍ in 30 seconds.‍‌

As‍ the great battlefield‌‌⁠ came into view,⁠ he saw the‍‌ giant throwing punches‍‍‍ and Rian, completely wrecked.

“Riaaaan!”‍‍

Ymir⁠ trembled. But the‌ punch filled with⁠ force followed its⁠ inertia and shot‌⁠ toward Rian’s abdomen.⁠⁠‍

Shirone⁠ cast Shining Chain.‌⁠⁠ A chain dozens‌ of meters long‍⁠ completely wrapped around‌ Ymir’s body.

“Hm?”

The‍ moment Ymir understood,‌‌ his body was⁠ dragged at enormous speed.

“Kuuuuu!”‌

Even in the air,‍⁠‌ Ymir injected strength‌ and tried to‌⁠ break the chain.‍

The‍‌ giant’s strength was‍⁠ transmitted through Shirone’s‌‌ mind. But he⁠‌ had no intention‍⁠ of accepting such⁠‍ a brute challenge.‍

Shirone⁠ moved the chain‌ and hurled the‍ giant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!‍ Bang!

Ymir’s‍‍‍ body, wrapped in‌‌ the chain, traced parabolic trajectories and‍ was slammed repeatedly.‍‍ When he finally⁠⁠ drove him into‌‌⁠ the ground, the⁠ impact resounded with a roar.

Ymir‌ lay spread out⁠‌‌ in a cross,‌‍ unmoving.

It⁠‌‍ was humiliation.

The fact that his⁠ body was being‌⁠ toyed with by⁠ a mere human⁠ mage made his‍‌ body boil with‍⁠ rage.

“Do⁠‍ you think I’ll⁠‌ break just from‍ being slammed into⁠⁠⁠ the ground? I’ll‍ break this chain⁠ right now! Feel⁠‍ how strong my‍‍ body is!”

When‍‌ Ymir swelled his‍ muscles, the chain‍ tightened. Shirone frowned.‍‌‌

But⁠⁠ if the opponent‍‌‌ attacked head-on, the mage had to⁠‌‌ respond by deflecting‍ it.

“How⁠⁠ about this?”

When‍‌ Shirone swung his arm, the chain‌⁠ unraveled and Ymir‌⁠ was flung off‌ the bridge.

Ymir,‌ suspended in the⁠ air, looked at‌‍ Shirone with a stunned expression.

“You…”‍

The⁠ moment he tried⁠‍ to say something,‌⁠ gravity took hold⁠‌ and his body‍‌ fell below the‌‌ bridge.

***‌‌‍

Ymir,⁠⁠ falling, looked at‌⁠‍ the bridge drifting‌‌ away. It was‍ not until the⁠‌⁠ scenery was covered⁠‌‍ by clouds that‌‌ he freed himself‍ from the feeling‍ of emptiness.

“Honestly,‌‍ these mages…”

He‍‍⁠ did not care⁠ about crashing into‍‍ the ground like this. Rather than⁠ hesitating in a partial state, it‌ would be much more fun to‍‌ compete in endurance‍‍ with the ground‍ waiting below.

That‌ was what he⁠‍ thought.

But‌⁠⁠ the moment the‌‌‍ boy appeared, he‍ sensed that smell‍‍‍ again. That characteristic‌‍⁠ smell of the battlefield, metallic and⁠ sharp.

Nothing⁠‍ had ended yet.⁠⁠‌ The hottest place‌ in heaven was still the great‍ battlefield.

“I can’t stay out⁠‍ of something like‍ this.”

He⁠ had to return⁠ to the great⁠ battlefield.

If‌⁠‌ he tried to‌⁠ jump, the power‍‍⁠ of his part‌ would weaken even more, but the‍‍⁠ smell of blood from the battlefield‍⁠ was calling him,⁠‍ so there was‌ no reason to hesitate.

“Huuuuup!”⁠

Ymir‍‌ inhaled air and⁠ expanded his body.‌⁠

By⁠ blocking oxygen, his skin hardened like⁠‌‍ porcelain. The color‍‌‍ drained from his‌ face and life vanished from his‍‌ eyes.

His‌⁠ lips parted and‍ his pulse stopped.‍‌‍

Thus,‍⁠‍ Ymir died.

Boom!‌ The front part⁠‌ of his corpse‍ exploded and another⁠‍ identical Ymir shot out.

Propelled‌ by strong propulsion, Ymir leapt dozens of meters and dug his fingers‌⁠‍ into a pillar‌‍ that held up‍ the sky.

“Ugh,⁠ every time I do this it‌‍ irritates me.”

For⁠⁠⁠ someone who seeks strength, the weakening⁠ of power was⁠ an unbearable frustration.‍‍ Especially being born from one part‌ to another meant‍⁠ passing through death,‍⁠ which made it⁠‍ extremely unpleasant.

There was only one‍‍⁠ reason to endure⁠‌⁠ all that humiliation.‌‌ To see the⁠ end of the battle with his‌‍ own eyes.

Ymir,‌ hanging from the⁠⁠ pillar, braced his⁠‍‌ feet and dropped⁠ his shoulders. The‌ moment he pulled⁠ with his arms‌‌ and propelled himself,‌ his enormous body‌⁠ rose defying gravity.‌‍

***‌

— Progress of the‍‌⁠ liquor of the‌ life: 80 percent.

Shirone‌ looked around the⁠ great battlefield. As‍‍ he approached the⁠ entrance, Peophe transmitted‍‌⁠ all the memories‌‌ up to that‌⁠ moment.

Shirone‌‌ looked toward Rian,‍ who was bleeding.⁠‍

“Are‌‍‌ you okay? Sorry‍⁠‌ for being late.”

“No. It’s not late. Go in and⁠‌ save the girls.”‌‍

Rian was a mess.⁠⁠ To return home,‌ he at least‌ needed time to‌⁠‍ recover some energy.‍

“Shirone!”⁠⁠⁠

Amy‍ shouted. The emotions⁠‌ she had been⁠‌ holding back burst,‍ and tears filled‍⁠ her eyes. She‌‍‍ thought she had‌‌ been enduring well,⁠ but apparently she‍⁠‍ had been suffering‍ without realizing it.‍⁠

“There’s⁠‌ no time! If⁠⁠‍ the information transmission‍‍⁠ is completed, everything‌ will be over!”⁠‍‍

Shirone‌ knew what her‌‌ words meant. His‌⁠⁠ fingers trembled with‍ rage.

All‌ this time, he‌ had never thought that Amy needed⁠ his permission to⁠⁠ do anything.

But‍ facing this situation,‍ he finally understood.‍

Without‌ his permission, no one had the‌‌ right to treat‍‍ Amy like that.⁠

From‌ Shirone’s shadow, Canis‌ emerged.

“What‌ happened? Did you‍ find a way to escape? Did‌ Ikael say she‌‌ would free the‌⁠ girls?”

“Ikael‌ will not come.”‍

“Then‌ all of this‍ was in vain?”‍

“It‌ may be. But‌ from now on, I will handle it.”

Shirone⁠ walked toward Baalbe.‌‍ But the one⁠ he stared at‌⁠‌ was Kariel behind‍ him.

“If‍‍ you release them‌ now, I will‍‍ leave without doing‌ anything.”

“And‌ what would that‍ change? You cannot‌ avoid destruction. The⁠‌ final war will⁠⁠‌ happen, and the‍‍⁠ only thing humans⁠⁠‌ can do is wait for death.”‍

“No.‍ You cannot destroy⁠ us.”

“I don’t know what⁠⁠ basis you have‌ to say such nonsense. The power‍ of heaven is‍ grand. If Ra‌‍‌ did not exist,‍ your world would‌‌‍ not exist either.”‍‌⁠

“That‍⁠ may be. But‍‌ Ra is not‌ a god.”

It⁠⁠ was neither stubbornness⁠‌ nor a forced‌ argument. Shirone sincerely believed it. And‌ Miro as well.‍‌‌

— Shirone, a god‌‍ is not necessarily a grand being.‌ It is only‌‌ the designer of‍‍ the world.

When‌ he heard that‍ from Miro, at⁠ first he did not understand it.‌ He thought it‌‍ was the arrogance⁠⁠‌ of an Unlocker‍‍ who mastered scale‌‍ magic.

But⁠ now that he‍⁠⁠ knew the secrets‌ of heaven, it⁠ was no longer‍ so.

Miro‍ knew it. She‍ knew that a being who considers‌⁠‍ itself grand cannot be a god.⁠‍

God‌ is only one.‍ The one who designed the world.⁠‌

“Humans‌ are not as‍ foolish as you‌⁠ think! A being‌ that we can see, feel, and‌ analyze cannot be⁠‌⁠ a god! Let’s‌ fight! If the final war happens,⁠‌⁠ the one that‍‍ will be destroyed⁠‍ will be heaven!”‌

Kariel’s face hardened. It‌‌‌ had probably been⁠ a long time‌ since he had‍ heard such blasphemous‌ words.

“Now‌‍ I am certain.‍ Humans deserve to‌ die. Baalbe, eliminate‍⁠ them.”

“That‌ is my greatest‍‍‍ pleasure, Lord Kariel.”‍

Baalbe’s‌⁠‍ heavy body began⁠⁠ to twist. Every‍⁠ time he moved,‍‍ unknown organs writhed‌‌ meaninglessly.

“Canis!‌‌⁠ Fall back!”

Countless‍⁠‌ photons began to⁠ appear around Shirone. The vibrating tension‌ of the light was so intense‌ it seemed like⁠ it would explode⁠ at the slightest‌ touch.

At⁠‌ the very moment Baalbe lunged at Shirone, more than‍ ten Photon Cannons were fired.

Booom!‌‍⁠

Amazingly,⁠ Baalbe’s body was⁠ pushed back. Then⁠ he let out⁠ a piercing scream.⁠‌‌

The⁠ Photon Cannons struck‍‌ his enormous body‍ without pause.

The‌ insect legs broke,⁠ and the mollusk tentacles lost their‍‌ elasticity as if they had been‌ chewed apart.

Baalbe’s body flipped completely‌‍ over. Even so,‍‌ he was pushed⁠‌ toward Kariel while taking the impacts.‍

Shirone finally stopped the‌‌ magic. It was‍⁠⁠ an attack where‍⁠ all his accumulated‌‌ rage exploded at‍‍ once.

Even so, he was‌ not tired. Although⁠ the power of⁠‍⁠ each shot had⁠⁠ increased, he did not feel the slightest exhaustion.

Canis,‌ watching that scene,⁠‌ went blank.

Was‍‍ it possible for‍‌⁠ a human to increase the power‍⁠ of their magic⁠ by an entire⁠‍ level in a matter of hours?‍‍

On‌‌ the battlefield, it‍ is not uncommon‌‌‍ for someone to⁠⁠ realize something new⁠ while risking their‌⁠ life.

But‌ Shirone had not⁠⁠ experienced a mental⁠ change.

All⁠‍ the values that‍ made him up⁠⁠⁠ had increased uniformly.‌⁠

‘This‍⁠ can’t be. He⁠⁠ can’t pull that⁠ far ahead.’

Just⁠‍⁠ a few months‌⁠ ago, when he‌ fought Shirone, the‌‌ difference had not⁠ been so great.‍⁠ And after losing‌⁠ to light magic, he trained more‍‌‍ than anyone to‍⁠ surpass him.

But⁠‍ Shirone was far⁠ beyond before.

Why‍⁠‍ doesn’t he collapse?‍‍ What is the‌ source of his‍‍ power?

Kariel‌‍ spoke to the‍‌‌ fallen Baalbe.

“Stop⁠‍ playing, Baalbe.”

His‍‌ expression did not‌‌ change in the‌⁠ slightest. Of course,‌ Shirone’s magic was‌ quite remarkable for‌ a human. By‍⁠ the standards of divine servants, it‍ easily ranked within‍ the top 40⁠‌ percent.

But⁠‍ that was not‌‌ enough to defeat a two-horned Mara.

According⁠ to the law,‌ not even ten‌‌ Shirones could do‌‍ it.

“I’m sorry, Lord Kariel. It seems the‍‍ great battlefield will‌‌ break a little.”‌⁠

“I‍ permit it.”

When‌ Kariel gave his permission, the ground‍ began to tremble.‌ The organs of the countless beings‌‌‌ that made up⁠‍ Baalbe turned toward‍ the ceiling and‌ began to writhe.⁠‌⁠

“Kikikiki!⁠ Waking my lovely⁠ test subjects from‍ their sleep… this⁠ will be a nightmare for you.”