༺ Duel (3) ༻
Come to think of it.
It made no sense for the devil to descend as the person attempting to summon them didn’t even get chosen.
Moreover, although I did activate the skill, the spread of color around me wasn’t as distinct as when Eleanor awakened the fragment within her. Originally, it probably wouldn’t even adhere to my body and would simply scatter.
However.
<System Message>
[ The Fallen’s Seal responds to your call. ]
[ The Devil energy starts to gather around the Fallen’s Seal. ]
Yes. I expected something like this.
I didn’t know exactly what the Fallen’s Seal functions were. And its description was also broken in the system window.
“…”
I couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.
If you just thought about what role the seals that the devils left on humans in the game played, it was clear that this would have a big impact on me in some way or the other in the future.
I didn’t really know, but it could affect my mind as deeply as the vessels with actual devil fragments in them.
But, for now…
I was able to imitate a vessel for a very short time using this power.
“…”
The world slowed down. It was quite similar to before.
However, there was a clear difference from Eleanor’s invocation.
At that time, when the Devil energy touched the world, everything stopped moving in its entirety. Whereas now, it was still moving, albeit slowly. To the extent that I could even grasp it with my naked eyes.
‘… That’s why.’
I couldn’t help but wear a wry smile.
The grey devil’s basic ability, Erosion, was the power of absolute control over any space its energy touched.
Even with only one fragment in a vessel, it would activate without a doubt.
This slow movement meant that even with the help of the seal, I couldn’t even use the most basic ability of the grey devil.
Nevertheless.
I could still faintly see her.
The Grey Devil in the form of Eleanor.
It was so obscure that even the outline was barely visible to my eyes. It was natural since I was not a complete vessel of hers.
But it was also thanks to this that there was less pressure on me to sustain her presence. While before it felt like I would die just by meeting her eyes, now it was more or less bearable.
“…”
She slowly descended from the sky and approached me without saying a word.
She had the same expressionless face as Eleanor usually did.
Though, compared to the childlike reaction she had shown before, this was quite foreign.
“…”
And seeing those crimson eyes meticulously scanning the scars on my body, that feeling was reinforced.
In other words, she was expressionless, but not emotionless.
‘… Ah, I see.’
She was angry right now.
She pouted and stomped her foot on the ground. Her expression was still blank, but I could feel her dissatisfaction with the current situation.
She was probably saying something like, “Why do you keep getting hurt everywhere you go? Take care of yourself.”
“…”
It was… interesting, to say the least.
Compared to other devils, she seemingly showed a human perspective of affection.
If she were the harsh type like the White Devil or the Blue Devil, when they descended like this, whether I was hurt or not, they’d definitely try to restrict or confine me as they pleased.
Knowing this, I summoned her with some confidence.
‘… I can’t help it.’
In that sense, I could only bitterly smile.
Time hadn’t completely stopped, It was just moving very slowly, but this was still enough.
“…”
She eventually stopped stomping her feet but her cheeks were still puffed up like balloons.
Maintaining that expression, she approached me ever so slightly. Then she reached out and touched my chest.
“WhereÁ¦ ÇÏ¿¡go”
She finally said something.
“HitC3/4ð3/4î°¡UC3/4don’t get.,̨̝̻̂̂̈́̾̀̃̐̒̀̕. 속Î̶̻̙͓͓͎̫͛́͌̀̆͊͒͆̚±̦͖̺̗͎͍̰͊̏͒̉̍̉̚͟͠×̵̢̯̥̟͖̞̔̈́̃̚͘͞hurt.”
“…”
Yeah, I’ll remember that.
I never imagined I would hear such warm words from a devil.
Then, a faint light rose from my chest
<System Message>
[ Attribute added to the devil energy gathered in the Fallen’s Seal. ]
[ While the energy remains, all your physical abilities are greatly increased by the power of the Grey Devil. ]
[ All your attacks will gain an additional advantage against Holy Blessings. ]
“Hit3/4î°¡Uas much3/4îÁ¦Çreturn.”
… I guess that’s why she raised my physical abilities.
Well, it was more than enough.
I can tell just from the power coursing through my body right now.
With this much, I’d stomp on Klein in no time.
But after doing this, as if she had used up all the power she could manifest, her body began to disintegrate and scatter in the air.
“…”
As before, she smiled and parted her lips.
Her existence was depleted to the point that her voice wasn’t even audible anymore, but I could still read her lips.
‘I love you. See you later.’
It was a familiar sentence.
This guy, the last time we met at the Purifier boss fight, had also said this to me right before we parted ways.
And…
‘At that time, definitely. You.’
I remembered that last part clearly as well.
But, this time.
‘With me, to the end of the world—‘
She added such words.
“… What, was that?”
Klein muttered.
There was this feeling. Even now, his hands were slightly trembling.
It was fleeting, but something was definitely here just now.
Something that evoked one’s instinctive fear just by being close.
His whole body was drenched in cold sweat as if proof of that.
“Hmm.”
However, there was no time to be lost in this sensation. A snort coming from the other side pulled his consciousness back to reality.
In an instant, he regained his senses and gripped his sword tightly, assuming his stance.
“…”
His gaze was stuck on the other side, stunned.
Because Dowd Campbell had put his weapon down on the floor.
“… What are you doing?”
Was he surrendering?
Why was he abandoning his weapon?
“Well.”
The other party flatly replied, slightly clenching his fist with a light frown.
It seemed as though he wasn’t accustomed to his own body.
And from that look, Klein instinctively noticed one thing.
This guy.
Something had changed in him.
Compared to earlier, there was now something within him.
“I figured you might die in one hit if I used a sword.”
-!
Then came Dowd’s light punch, which landed on Klein’s chin.
It was more akin to a fist bump in fact. It looked so half-hearted.
But, that alone…
“…!”
Without having the time to express his astonishment at the sight of his stacked blessings tearing apart like paper, Klein exhaled as he stumbled backward.
He couldn’t even balance himself before another attack came flying in.
It was a kick this time, but equally half-hearted. It was almost as though Dowd was making an effort to be gentle with his attacks.
However…
“Keoheok-!”
Accompanied by a sound that was hard to believe to have come from a collision between bodies, Klein’s body flew through the air like a rapidly speeding projectile. As he tumbled chaotically on the ground, his coughed-up blood left a long streak on the floor.
Even with that ridiculous move, all of Klein’s blessings were pierced once again, his ribs breaking in the process. The broken bone pierced his lungs, causing internal bleeding.
Almost immediately, his eyes were tinged with crimson.
“… This… worthless bstard…!”
Klein didn’t how the other party suddenly became so much stronger.
However, he couldn’t afford to show such an embarrassing scene to the Pope.
With that thought in mind, the holy characters surrounding his body emitted an even stronger light. For now, he decided to activate his regeneration.
His bones swiftly returned to their original positions, his breathing stabilized, and vitality surged through his body.
Next, he converted all the blessings around his body into a single attribute.
‘… I never thought I’d use this!’
Instantaneously, white flames ignited on his sword.
One of the offensive miracles that only high-ranking battle priests could use.
“Ether Flame?”
A disconcerting voice came from the other side.
“Hey, isn’t that something used for large monsters…”
This wasn’t a duel to the death, and it was absolutely not an ability to use against a student.
A heavenly flame that was inextinguishable unless the target finally died or the user extinguished it voluntarily.
Compared to blessings, it was reputed for its viciousness and power among miracles and boasted a might dozens of times greater.
However…
“I just need to keep you alive!”
The white-flamed sword shot towards Dowd.
The goal was not to kill but to inflict unbearable agony on the other party, burning them alive until they begged for the sweet release of death.
That was what he thought.
“Eum.”
Until Dowd casually shrugged and carelessly punched.
And with that move.
The flames were extinguished by the wind pressure.
“…”
Klein’s mouth was opened wide as he looked at his sword.
For a combatant of his caliber, making such a basic mistake of losing focus during a fight should never happen.
Thinking about it, this was more embarrassing than the bloody fall earlier.
At the very least, he should not show such an embarrassing display in front of the Pope.
However, he was currently engulfed in such a tremendous shock that he couldn’t care less about such thoughts.
An offensive miracle that he, a high-ranking battle priest, had conjured was blown out like a candle.
“… This works too. Is this what it means to be superior in the matchup?”
“You, you, what the hell did you do…!”
He shockingly uttered in response to the other party’s casualness. But before he could even finish the sentence, another fist was thrust into his jaw.
Once again, all of his defenses were breached, and his consciousness grew dim.
“Geok…!”
Several more attacks followed against his airborne body.
A strike to his unprotected abdomen. A knee to his face as his body contorted. And a straight punch that hammered down on his lowered head as if driving in a nail.
“Keok, heok…!”
All he could do was scream in agony as he endured all those attacks.
In terms of technique, there was nothing at all. It was no different from an ordinary person with little to no fighting experience.
Yet, despite that, he couldn’t cope. He couldn’t even react.
He had already redirected all of his defenses towards regeneration, allowing him to recover from even fatal injuries, but the speed at which he was being injured far surpassed his ability to heal. And his opponent wasn’t even putting effort into the attacks.
It was such an overwhelming power gap!
“Ah, come to think of it.”
Dowd smirked…
“It’s okay as long as I don’t kill you, no?”
-!
-!!
The pain continued without showing any signs of stopping.
His nose was completely crushed, and thick, crimson blood was splattered everywhere on the ground. Then, a kick sent his head crashing into a nearby wall, which left spiderweb-like cracks on the surface.
‘He’s toying with me…!’
Dowd could’ve knocked him down long ago if he wanted.
The power difference was just that much overwhelming.
This wasn’t a fight to begin with.
His opponent was treating him like a bug!
“St, stop…!”
Another blow.
His recently regrown teeth shattered once again, sending pieces of enamel flying all over. He had not gotten a chance to recover at all.
Then came another strike.
He could feel a lump of blood rising in his throat after getting punched in the abdomen.
Just like this, he continued getting pummeled, taking blow after blow.
To the point where blood pooled in puddles on the arena. Kick, punch, knee… Repeat.
Finally, Klein couldn’t take it any longer, and he screamed.
“Stop, stop it! I was wrong! That’s enough…!”
His will to fight was long gone. And whether the Pope was watching or not was a secondary concern to him.
Escaping the excruciating pain that felt like his whole body was being torn apart was the most urgent matter!
With that scream, where he had thrown away all his pride and dignity, Dowd briefly halted his actions.
“…!”
Perhaps, he stopped because of his plea. He looked at his opponent with a glimmer of hope.
And then…
He felt shivers running down his spine.
There was nothing in the other party’s eyes.
He was indifferent despite all this heated violence.
Like he was just doing his work.
“Hmm.”
Just…
As if it were only natural that this level of suffering befell the enemy he had judged.
His subsequent words followed the same trend.
His voice still flat and apathetic…
“No.”
The last thing Klein remembered was a fist flying at his face.
What do you mean, you were wrong, bitch?
You shouldn’t have tortured someone from the start.
“…”
“…”
I looked at Klein, knocked out cold on the ground, then glanced around.
There was a stifling silence in the air.
It was probably because a student had just beaten up a high-ranking battle priest, but the power I had displayed also played a major part.
I’m sure most of the people here have noticed.
That what I just wielded was Devil Energy.
‘It would be strange if they’re not shocked.’
I had briefly triggered the power of the Grey Devil, one of the most potent beings among the devils.
According to the setting, there was not just one or two groups who were drooling for such power.
However, it was natural for them to be surprised since I, who they had never considered to be on the equation of such feats, was the one wielding this power.
Furthermore, unlike ordinary vessels who would lose their minds and run amok, I remained perfectly in control of this ability.
Even delving into history, there probably hadn’t been a single instance of this phenomenon.
‘… That’s because I’m not a real vessel.’
This was just an imitation. If it were a genuine vessel skillfully handling Devil Energy, this level of control was just child’s play. What I was showing was merely a taste of what was truly possible.
However, I had likely succeeded in implying to everyone here the image of a Human who can rationally control the devil’s power.
Just that alone completely changed my standing.
“…”
A sad way to put it was… the support that Atalante mentioned from the major powers about helping manage the vessels, likely didn’t mean they would provide me with tangible support.
They acknowledged my necessity but not necessarily my worth.
But from what I showed here.
A lot will change in the future.
“…”
As for how much.
Well, enough to be able to do something like this.
“Heo… peueuk…”
I grabbed the spouting Klein by the collar and began dragging him.
And then, I tossed him into one of the spectator seats.
-!
As Klein’s body flew, a shallow scream sounded.
But no one got hit.
Because his body was blocked by a holy barrier mid-air.
“… What is the meaning of this?”
Saint Credo Baor II.
The current Pope.
Had there not been a barrier, he would have directly collided with Klein’s body.
“Don’t you see it, Your Holiness?”
I continued speaking with a smirk on my face.
“I’m picking a fight with you right now.”
Everyone’s jaws around us dropped at that very instant.
