Chapter 84: Infinite Light
The Death Paladin, classified as a Ruin-class demon, stood as a deathly knight in this realm. In this territory, ordinary strength no longer applied. These creatures required the overwhelming power of an individual to confront them.
"Necromancy... and forbidden arts that give birth to demons. Indeed, true devils," he remarked.
Magic was a freeform power. Unbound, like a magical garment, it could create any spell with sufficient imagination. However, this freedom also harbored potential for misuse.
For instance, the Soul Sorcery created by Flarous, the Sage of All Truths. An unfinished magic that demanded a sacrifice. Magic that brought forth undead beings from the lives of two hundred and sixty thousand humans, a magic the Demon Church would never endorse.
"Shall I put an end to this technique here?" Lichtray ignored the Death Paladin and swung his spear towards the demon. Floria, on the other hand, took aim and fired a shot at the Death Paladin.
In the midst of the clash between the holy knight and the demon, arrows of light closed in on the undead knight. However, the Death Paladin effortlessly deflected the arrows, even exceeding the speed of sound. When it came to Ruin-class creatures, they were formidable enough to require multiple S-rank magic-wearers to deal with. This was all within their expectations.
(If the old man is going to kill the demon... I must finish this one off.)
Despite being considered a type of undead, the Death Paladin was not truly immortal. It possessed the characteristic of a deathless creature, where even if parts of its body were destroyed, it would continue to move. Completely eradicating a Ruin-class entity was challenging, but Floria, as an awakened magic-wearer, had confidence.
"Flames..." With a bow in her left hand and a magic circle in her right, Floria began her incantation, first completing the "Arcane Flame of Blazing White," the eighth tier of fire magic. As expected of a top-tier magic, the magic circle was quite large.
Now came Floria's originality. Rather than releasing the magic from the completed magic circle, she compressed it. By combining it with her magic-wear, she turned the magic circle into an arrow. She nocked the shining white arrow onto her bow. Of course, her target was the Death Paladin.
"Uwaaaaah!"
A fierce cry emanated from the pure white helmet. Being targeted by Floria made the Death Paladin focus its attention on her. With great force, it burst forth, wielding its sword in its right hand.
(Too slow.)
Precise and impeccable marksmanship with magic-wear. The arrow, shining brightly, pierced the air at five times the speed of sound, a velocity too fast for the human eye to follow. Even the Death Paladin couldn't evade it. Regrettably, it gave up its attack and raised its left shield.
However, that was precisely Floria's intention. By condensing the "Arcane Flame of Blazing White" into a single arrow, she could release the magic's power without dispersion. The white blazing flames converged, creating an immeasurable force. It pierced through the Death Paladin's massive shield and disintegrated its left upper body.
"Hah!"
She couldn't help but express her joy. Fortunately, the Death Paladin was a recently born, low-intelligence demon. Even among the Ruin-class deathless creatures, figures like the Immortal Pope No Life or the Vampire Ancestor possessed high intelligence. It was fortunate that it was the Death Paladin.
However, she couldn't let her guard down. The Death Paladin hadn't disappeared. Magical energy flowed from its blown-off upper left body, and it continued to attack. But at this stage, the Death Paladin was no match for Floria.
"Flames," she continued, chanting the "Explosion of Grand Inferno," the seventh-tier flame spell. She compressed the manifested magic circle in her right hand with the power of her magic-wear, transforming it into an arrow, this time a red crimson one, like molten lava. Without hesitation, Floria released the final blow.
The arrow flew straight towards the Death Paladin, aiming for its abdomen. The Death Paladin tried to parry with its sword, but the moment the crimson arrow touched the blade, it triggered a massive explosion. The seventh-tier spell was guaranteed in terms of power. Through compression, it had become strong enough to blow away even Ruin-class entities.
The Death Paladin was blown to pieces.
"Just like that," Floria lowered her bow. Once you reached the level of an awakened magic-wearer, even creatures capable of annihilating entire cities were easily slain. And just like Floria, Lichtray, who had lived longer than her as an awakened magic-wearer, was driving the demon into a corner.
"Troublesome."
Lichtray manipulated the light, driving it into the demon like stakes. Cracks ran through his armor, on the verge of shattering. But Chromelea's movements remained unchanged. It seemed as if the light stakes were halted by the armor.
Chromelea's main body remained undamaged.
Lichtray seemed to understand this, as he continued his attacks relentlessly without letting his guard down.
(Small attacks won't work, is that it? Then...)
He decided to pierce through with a powerful blow. Lichtray manipulated the light, dropping it from above. Chromelea transformed its dark blade into a shield, blocking all the laser attacks.
But this was expected by Lichtray as well. His true intention was to create distance by stopping his movements, in order to deliver the finishing blow. Holding his magic spear in reverse, he absorbed the surrounding light. The power Lichtray had gained as an awakened magic-wearer allowed him to absorb and compress light infinitely. During the night, it required a process of converting his own magical power into light, but during the day, he could absorb sunlight limitlessly with minimal magical power expenditure. All that was needed was enough magic to stabilize the compressed light.
In the first place, the light spear he created was just an application of the technique to compress light. The light stakes were also formed by compressing light. The ability he gained upon awakening was not an evolution but an essential aspect.
Even with a monotonous essence, it could become a lethal blow when perfected.
"I apologize, but let's end it here. The King of Florl may need to offer an apology," he said while resting the spear's handle on his right shoulder.
Stabilizing it at two points, with his right hand and shoulder, he glared at the demon.
Lichtreis's secret technique involved releasing compressed light as a spear. It pierced through all matter at the speed of light, delivering a fatal blow to its target.
However, with tremendous power came great risk.
"Let's adjust it to minimize the map alteration."
Lichtreis leaped into the air and threw the spear of light from above. When thrown horizontally, it would pierce through everything in its straight path. So, by aiming it from top to bottom, the damage would be minimal—a lesson from his long experience.
Dodging a light-speed strike was impossible.
Intense flashes spread from the center of the demon, Cromria. The incredible heat melted the ground, turning it into a molten mess. There were no explosions, just a quiet release of light.
The light, stronger than the sun, shot up into the sky like a pillar.
Even the citizens of the Florl Kingdom, feeling uneasy, could clearly see it. The quiet pillar of light seemed like divine retribution purifying the demon. Relief washed over them as the threat was cleansed.
And Lichtreis was confident the demon had disappeared.
He could see it.
The moment the spear of light hit, Cromria's armor scattered and melted away.
"It's over," Lichtreis muttered, landing with a thud.
Floria rushed over and praised his skill.
"As expected of the master... defeating such a demon with a single blow."
"This is the result of years of experience."
Where the light spear had struck, a massive crater had appeared. The surrounding area was boiling red from the melted ground.
This was what happened when it was fired horizontally—a minimal impact on the land, as Lichtreis had planned.
"The 'Demon of Blaha' has disappeared safely. Now, let's return."
"Yes."
The two holy knights had managed to halt the demon's rampage in the Florl Kingdom. However, this wasn't a demonic disaster; it was an attack by a great empire. Missing that fact had come at a high cost.
◆◆◆
The demon Cromria was nothing more than a demonic attire for Yama's Black Blade, Cromria. Even if they were to eliminate it, as long as Yama's Black Blade, Cromria, wished, it could revive.
However, there was a constraint: once an attendant-type demonic attire was destroyed, it could only revive near the caster. This constraint applied to Yama's Black Blade, Cromria as well, so consecutive battles with a new demon Cromria were impossible.
Reluctantly, both Yamas, Black Blade, Cromria, and the all-encompassing truth, Flalos, gave up.
"This experiment is over."
"Yes, indeed. Shall we search for the next demon worshipper?"
"No, how about targeting a necromancer this time? I'll take the lead."
Achieving immortality by mastering death is the essence of a necromancer.
Conversely, alchemists are those who dedicate themselves to extending life. Alchemists generally research material transformation and magic infusion, but they also include those who pursue the secret elixir of immortality. Alchemy has two distinct paths: literal alchemy, which transforms base metals into precious ones, and symbolic alchemy, which seeks to transform life into unending golden life.
The magic order recognizes this form of alchemy.
However, they do not endorse the application of necromancy, which is also a study of immortality. Many necromancers, driven by resentment and simmering anger, resent the magic order because of this. In their quest for revenge, they secretly conduct research in countries heavily influenced by the magic order.
They are dedicated enough to pursue necromancy even in the face of persecution.
They are proud individuals.
A little coaxing, and they will dance quite entertainingly.
"What's your role?"
"You'll use the attendants. Claim to be messengers of the underworld, and they'll be interested. Provide them with my knowledge and encourage their transformation through ritual magic."
"That sounds interesting. I'm in."
They were close friends due to awakening at the same time. Appearance mattered little to awakened wearers of the immortal attire.
The next course of action was decided easily.
"In that case, we need to find necromancers who hold a grudge against the magic order."
"Some degree of skill is required as well. I won't waste my knowledge on a bungler."
This was the most challenging part.
Finding hidden necromancers was exceedingly difficult. Some conducted their research quietly in remote forests, while others boldly established their bases within cities.
Searching within the eastern half of the Slada Continent could take an indefinite amount of time.
"I have a good idea. We can use the necromancers captured by the holy knights. That way, we can determine their competence."
"Good idea. The church always announces their achievements. If they announce how much of a threat the captured necromancer is, we won't need to investigate. Let's see... we can have 'Black Cat' gather information."
"Then let's go right away."
With that, the all-encompassing truth, Flalos, and Yama's Black Blade, Cromria, began to move for their next operation.
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