Chapter 210: The Distortion In The Darkness
[……Something dangerous is coming.]
[Ruin, what the heck are you——]
[Everyone, get into battle positiooooonnnnsss———!]
Ruin exclaimed.
The other three realized in an instant.
That there’s something going on.
Everyone immediately switched their awareness.
Ruin’s intuition told him something.
They have been together for a long time.
At times like this, nine out of ten, a real crisis was imminent.
How many times has Ruin’s intuition saved them?
So, they shielded each other’s back and formed a circle.
Looking over his shoulder, Yuugungu asked.
[Is something dangerous coming!?]
[I don’t know what that is——- but there’s something absurdly dangerous that’s coming!]
They don’t have any specific information.
However, they didn’t doubt his words.
[Myana, put up the Fortress of White Noise!]
[Ehh!? I- Is the fortress really needed!?]
[Quickly!]
[I- I understand!]
Myana fits her right hand into a gauntlet.
It’s a gauntlet with a dark purple color that doesn’t reach her elbow.
It’s a chanting magic tool with distinctive horn-like protrusions.
The only one who can use these kinds of chanting magic tools are the people chosen by the tool.
And this magic tool had chosen Myana.
When magic power is imbued within the gauntlet, the crystalline parts carved into the magic tool emitted a bluish-white light.
Thereupon, letters of light appeared around her.
These letters are floating around Myana, making it seem like she was in the middle of a ring of light.
These floating letters are the text she needs to chant.
However, she doesn’t need to read these texts anymore.
Myana begins to chant.
[——-Ye who can’t see, take heed…… Ye who fiddles with the dramatic fate, the sinner who plays with intangibility…… By the sixth name decapitated by the blade of the God of Destruction, the noisy magician who yearns for the silver maiden——- “White Noise”!]
After chanting, the light of chanting text is absorbed into the back of her hand.
And then——–
A square-ish transparent plate appeared in mid-air.
The plate is a square of about 2 raeteres (2 meters) in length and width.
There’s a pattern showing the appearance of a sandstorm——- No, that “sandstorm” was moving.
It was as if a sandstorm had occurred somewhere and was being projected onto the plate.
Hence, this plate obstructs the field of vision of those who looked at it.
However, that’s exactly what Ruin was aiming for.
Myana produces a number of these plates.
And while adjusting the amount of magic power she uses, she fixes the boards in place in midair.
As expected of Myana.
In the blink of an eye, she finished placing these plates around them in a near semi-circular sphere.
Fortress-mode.
This board also functions as a defensive wall.
In the past, it was often used in the event of a disadvantageous defensive battle.
However, after a certain period of time, it wasn’t used anymore.
[I wonder when was the last time you used the fortress-mode.]
Yuugungu said, warily looking out through the gaps.
They were completely covered by an ill-formed hemisphere, but they aren’t completely sealed.
There is an opening that allows them to pass through if they lower their bodies.
However—— it’s impossible to see their “whole body” from the outside.
If the people outside want to see their whole body——-
They would need to get close to the opening and look inside from there.
[…………………]
He’s still wondering though.
Even though Myana had set up this fortress, Ruin still wondered.
“It’s dangerous if my whole body is in view.”
He doesn’t have any reason.
It’s his intuition that’s telling him.
However——- What exactly is this danger?
Is it alright if they see “half of our bodies”?
Why did he think that it would be dangerous if their whole body is in full view?
He doesn’t know.
Moreover, it is now dusk……
When the darkness arrives, everyone’s vision naturally narrows.
That will also blur everyone’s sense of depth.
(If it’s dangerous if the enemy sees our whole body, should we wait until the night completely envelops everything in darkness……?)
[………………….]
(No……)
He should reconsider that.
His intuition tells him.
“That the time of complete darkness is even more unfavorable for them.”
And when he thought so…
(Does the enemy have night vision? In that case, as expected, it must be a monster huh?)
The more he thinks about it, the more uncanny he felt their situation is.
(That means that the enemy is good at long-range combat huh……?)
He’s confident in close combat.
He’s confident that he can beat anyone in a head-to-head battle.
Even if it’s that “Humanity’s Strongest”.
Shortly before this mission, the Goddess said to Ruin.
“You and Satsuki-san are my precious trump cards. It’s dangerous to rely on “Humanity’s Strongest” or the Heroes from Another World for anything. I need a decent ally who understands reason. Yes, that’s right. If “Humanity’s Strongest” or the Heroes from Another World become deranged and revolt against me, I need virtuous people to protect me. However, I don’t want it to be known that I have allies who can oppose them at this point in time so…… For now, please keep your true strength hidden from the world as much as possible. It still isn’t time for you to show your strength.”
(At that time……)
Before I left the Goddess’ room.
She called out to me.
“If “Humanity’s Strongest” Civit Gartland is the strongest among humans…… The “Heroic Sword”, Ruin Seal, is the strongest I know among those who carry the lineage of Heroes. And—— when it comes to future growth, you’ll far surpass the “Humanity’s Strongest”. I can assure you of that.”
He even has the Goddess’ approval.
The strongest.
Warrior.
He once caught a glimpse of Civit Gartland before.
At that moment, he instantly knew.
That Civit Gartland had the kind of pressure that only the absolutely strong can muster.
(However, this “thing” that wasn’t approaching them…… had something different from that.)
Something is different.
The enemy isn’t a warrior.
It just held——- pure ominousness.
Yes, something that holds such ominousness is approaching……
[……Fuuu.]
(There’s no point in thinking about pointless stuff. Anyway……)
Ruin exhales, and pulls his thoughts back once.
(I’ll just have to trust my intuition here.)
Follow his prophetic intuition.
That is supposed to lead them to the right decision.
It has always been the same.
In a way, one could say that Ruin’s intuition might be similar to fortune telling.
He doesn’t know the correlation between them though.
However, if he follows his intuition’s advice, good luck will come his way or he will be able to avoid misfortune.
After regaining his composure, Ruin took a deep breath before calling out.
[Who are you!? Show yourself! We are the people who received the decree of Goddess Vysis, “Heroic Sword”! I don’t think there’s anything in it for you to gain by antagonizing us! Or perhaps, you hold some kind of misunderstanding! What do you think!? How about we talk about it first!?]
He tried calling out to the enemy, but he received no response.
Just as the darkness was deep, it also brought upon a peaceful silence.
Arene, with a tense expression on her face, peered out through the gap.
[Hey, Ruin. Satsuki and the others…… Would they be alright?]
[……Perhaps, Satsuki and the others actually haven’t encountered this anomaly. We may have been the only ones left here…… who have encountered this “thing”.]
Peering out with his great axe in hand, Yuugungu asked.
[What do you think? Do you think it’s a Human-Faced?]
[No, we aren’t within the depths…… Rather, we’re closer to the outer rim. I don’t think there’s any monster around here that poses a greater threat than that Human-Faced we took down last time.]
In response, the pale Myana gulps.
[Then, what the heck is this……]
[However, I know one thing that is certain. That we are close to the Faraway Country.]
[ ! You mean, the other party sensed us and laid down an ambush first!?]
[Perhaps.]
[D*mn it! I guess that means those fake-humans don’t stay inside their hellhole all the time!]
[……Nevertheless.]
The inhabitants of the Faraway Country.
Are they—— beings that are this frightening?
He feels that something is different……
This feeling.
It doesn’t feel like they’re the same people at all.
They refused to fight.
They’re beings who just kept on running away.
In the end, they are cowards who have fled to their paradise.
(No, are we facing these kinds of cowards? In that case……)
[It is as Vysis-sama said.]
[Ruin?]
[As expected…… We need to annihilate them, these b*stards from the Faraway Country.]
This ominousness.
This sinister feeling.
He wouldn’t be surprised if the true identity of this being in front of them was the Great Demon Emperor.
(Well, if it’s the Great Demon Emperor, we should have felt the influence of the Tyrant’s Miasma…… In that case, what in the world is the true identity of this being who possess such pressure——–)
At that moment…
[ ! ]
Even the people beside Ruin noticed it.
[Someone’s coming.]
It was faint…… but they could hear footsteps.
They tried listening carefully.
The drifting wind…
And the swaying of trees, inhibiting the sounds that their ears could hear.
So, they focused more on their hearing……
[——-Ahh ———Ugaaahhh———, ………….!]
A voice.
It’s a voice.
They put their backs against the wall.
[Is that a monster’s yell……?]
They narrowed their eyes, trying to determine the identity of this voice.
———-click, clack, rustle, rustle———-
The sound of a branch breaking.
Then, the sound of leaves rustling.
They have a feeling that it wasn’t Satsuki and the others.
They wouldn’t be moving wildly like this.
However…
[Satsuki!]
The one who appeared was Satsuki.
The first person to notice that something’s strange though was Ruin.
[Satsuki……?]
[Guruuuaaaaaahhhhh! Gaaaaahhhhhhhh——–!]
[Satsuki!?]
It was unmistakably Satsuki who came out of the darkness.
However, he clearly isn’t looking right.
His eyes were white and saliva was drooling out of his mouth.
The way he’s walking is also awkward.
It’s hard to imagine that this is the usual Satsuki.
On the hand of Satsuki, was his drawn out katana.
[ ! ]
And blood was dripping on the blade.
He had—— cut something.
More importantly…
[Satsuki, what’s going on!?]
Ruin called out to him, but Satsuki didn’t stop.
It doesn’t seem like he’s frightened of anything at all.
It’s as if——- he had lost his mind.
[Hey, Ruin, there’s something strange with Satsuki!]
[Y- Yeah……]
Though he said that, what should they do?
What is the best thing to do here?
If a monster is attacking them, they could eliminate it.
However, no matter how they look at it, the one who was attacking him is his “friend” who had lost his sanity.
He’s an important friend of his.
[Guugaaaaaahhhhh!]
Bammm!
Satsuki crashed into the noise wall.
[Owaaahhh!?]
After being repelled and falling over to the ground, Satsuki quickly got up.
And then……
[Gugii——giiaaaahhhhh!]
He stabbed his katana through the crevice.
[Kyaaahhhh!]
[Oi…… Cut that out, Satsuki! Don’t you know who we are!?]
Biting his lip, Ruin parried away the thrust of Satsuki’s sword.
Everyone moved away from the area where Satsuki was.
Thereupon, Satsuki quickly came around to where his blade could reach.
Once again though, Ruin parried Satsuki’s unrefined thrust.
[Satsuki, what the heck are you doing!? What happened during your search!?]
[Gaaaahhhhhhh! Gaahhh! Gaahhh! Gaaahhhhh!]
His thrusts don’t seem to stop at all.
It doesn’t feel as if he can understand their words.
The opening in the noise wall can be entered if they just lowered their bodies.
Anyone can understand that if they just look at it.
And yet, Satsuki can only see it that he can’t enter their wall.
(I mean…… What’s with this killing intent? Why would Satsuki want to kill us like this……)
[N—- Noooooooo! I don’t like thiiiissss! No, no, nooooooo!]
Holding her head down, Arene screams and crouches on the spot.
Blood drained on Myana’s face, wishing for someone to help them, she looked towards Ruin.
[W- W- W- What should we do, Ruin!? Don’t you have any way that you could think of!? Hey!]
[Caro and Nana Tout……]
[Eh?]
[What happened to Caro and Nana Tout?]
Turning stiff, he asked.
Myana began trembling so hard that her teeth were chattering.
[Hey, Ruin…… Could it be…… that the blood on that katana……]
Biting his lip, Ruin sadly spoke.
[We’re still not sure of that yet……!]
Despair seeped into the four people’s faces, spreading out towards the others.
That Satsuki has fallen into this situation.
Then, the possibility that the other two, who are inferior to Satsukim are safe is——
[Even though…… the Faraway Country is right before our eyes, what the heck is going on!? D*mn it…… D*mn it all!]
Thereupon, Ruin suddenly noticed.
That something——
From Satsuki’s body, something that looks like bubbles……
[ ? ]
It…… wasn’t an illusion.
They were popping out of Satsuki-san’s body.
There’s definitely something that looks like small bubble-like substances were floating out of the air.
These bubbles float out of the skin and into the air, and it would pop and disappear.
(What are those bubbles……?)
[Guugiii, guugigigigigigigigiiiiiiii………]
Suddenly, Satsuki began scratching at his neck.
The nails of both of his hands scraped and tore at the surface of his own skin.
[Wait!? What are you doing, Satsuki!?]
It looks as if……
As if he’s trying to escape from torment that he couldn’t do anything about.
(He’s suffering? However, if this stops his movement…..!)
However, Ruin’s hopes weren’t granted……
[Gaaaaahhhhhhhh!]
Even as he was suffering, Satsuki resumed his attacks.
Ruin’s mouth is half open as he tries to assess the anomaly.
(He’s getting weaker……?)
It appears like Satsuki is getting weaker and weaker.
(Was it because of those bubbles……?)
He doesn’t know what happened.
He doesn’t even know what’s going on.
However, this situation——- still continued.
[Kyaaahhhh!? R- Ruin! Satsuki…… Satsuki’s coming inside———!]
Satsuki began twisting his body into the opening.
[Oi, oi, what are we going to do!? Do something, Ruin!]
Yuugungu holds the axe horizontally and attempts to block Satsuki’s path.
[D*mn it! Satsuki! Don’t tell me that you’ve forgotten our faces!?]
[Gaaahhhh!]
Swoosshhh!
[Guoohh!?]
The thrust that Satsuki released slashed off one of Yuugungu’s ears.
The slashed ear is ripped in half and it is split into an upper and lower part.
[It—— hurts! It f*cking hurts!]
As if he snapped, Ruin raised his voice, with a blaming tone.
[You cut your own friend, Satsuki!?]
[Gaaahhh! Gaaahhhh!]
[D*mn it…… Please! For mercy’s sake! Snap out of it! Satsukiiiiii! There’s no way we would settle our rivalry like this……! I don’t like this!]
Even when Ruin shed tears……
[Gaahhhh!]
A thrust passed right by Ruin.
Hanging down his head, Ruin held unto the sword in his hand—— and put strength into it.
He doesn’t have any options anymore.
[Satsuki——-]
[Gugaaaahhhh!]
[…………..——————-Forgive me.]
Fwooshhhh!
From below, rising up to the head.
A powerful slash was delivered with tremendous accuracy.
It was an accurate strike that follows “death”.
It was too perfect of a swordsmanship.
[Gaaahhhh……!? Agaaa——]
Satsuki leans back and drops his katana.
That’s when it happened.
The light that Ruin knew so well returned to Satsuki’s eyes.
[Ru…… in.]
[Eh?]
The look in Satsuki’s eyes asked Ruin.
“Why?”
Perhaps, in his last moments, the only thing that he recognized was that……
“I don’t know why, but Ruin cut me down. And then, I died.”
—–was what in his thoughts would be.
Satsuki’s corpse that ran out of strength, slumped in the middle of the opening……
Everyone looked at him for a while, dumbfounded.
Eventually, as Yuugungu held his slashed ear, he spoke.
[Satsuki, in the end…… Didn’t he come back to his senses? No way…… If you had waited a bit longer, he would have returned back to normal……]
[Stop it already, Yuugungu!]
Myana hugs Ruin, who was absentmindedly looking at Satsuki’s corpse, and glared at Yuugungu.
[What’s with the way you spoke!? It’s as if Ruin made the wrong choice——]
[……D*mn it! You think Ruin is right about everything!? You’re always like this……]
[……Haahhh!? So what!? You have a problem with that!?]
[Yer freaking annoying…… I’m the one injured here!]
[What…… is with the way you’re speaking——]
[Stop it, the two of you!]
Ruin shouted, admonishing them.
[I know that the both of you are confused…… However, calm down. The crisis isn’t over yet.]
[Yeah, that’s right…… Moreover, it’s Nyaki who was at fault here. I’m sorry, Myana…… In the first place, the cause of all these is that d*mned fake-human.]
[Ah, I’m sorry too…… You’re right. I’ll take all this anger—— out on Nyaki.]
[……Let’s do this, Myana.]
[Unnn, Yuugungu.]
Bump
The two of them bumped their fist against each other.
[I’ll definitely catch Nyaki——-]
[——-And I will avenge everyone.]
The stormy atmosphere they had earlier, has returned to normal.
Ruin is relieved for now.
Thereupon, he took a glance at Arene, who was crouching down while covering her ears, and then……
[Scatter light balls around the perimeter, Myana.]
Ruin instructed.
However……
[I’ll do it.]
It was Arene who came forward.
[Light balls, right? Should I use everything?]
[Y- Yeah……]
[Understood.]
Arene ran over to her luggage and began fishing out the contents.
Seeing her, Ruin’s lips loosened up a bit, as if he’s slightly pleased.
(My bad, Arene…… It seems that you’re a much stronger girl than I thought you are……)
Searching for the light balls, as sweat began dripping on her face, Arene spoke.
[I’ll make sure that Nyaki completely understands.]
[……………….]
[The reason why all of this happened is because of Nyaki…… No matter what, I’ll make sure she will be held responsible for this……!]
Ruin was almost caught up with his emotions, but he somehow managed to control it.
Then, he only said a few words.
[Of course.]
Ruin turns to the darkness outside.
[We are the “light” that illuminates this world.]
Moving his gaze into the deepest darkness, he stared straight ahead without looking away.
[We will not let this wicked darkness defeat us.]
We will definitely wi——-
[————-?]
[What’s the matter, Ruin?]
[……No.]
Was it just my imagination?
It was very far away, but it was small.
Then, suddenly, I think I heard it.
A strangely, twisted voice……
“Are you having fun now?”
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