novelraw Chapter 137 : Chapter 137
Chapter 137 : Chapter 137
Chapter 137: Mixed Colors (1)
The sea breeze sweeping over the water current was fierce.
To Nodens, even that felt light. Beyond the exoskeleton wrapping his limbs like iron armor, the sea breeze touching Nodens's flesh was like a mere breeze. The sea surface felt blue and peaceful at the same time. The sea engraved in Nodens's compound eyes was beautiful beyond measure.
‘It is ugly.’
Thus, it was ugly.
The figure of Abel standing before his eyes.
Something blackish and mushy. To Nodens, Abel looked like that. All humans were regarded like lumps of filth. If there is a race that would pollute the sea, it would be none other than humans. Putting strength into his right arm hardened like a saw blade, Nodens did not doubt the integrity of the sea he stood upon.
‘It must be so.’
It will be ugly.
It will feel ugly.
Narrowing his eyes, Abel thought.
It wasn't difficult to peek into Nodens's heart. Since he had confronted numerous Intelligent Species.
The aspects of the world sensed by humans created by the Main Gods and monsters manufactured by the Demon King were different. Although they stood on the same sea, Abel's sea was filthy, and Nodens's sea was clean.
“Intelligent Species.”
Abel opened his mouth.
While lightly swinging his beloved sword.
“Did you say Nodens.”
“That is correct.”
Nodens nodded.
“That is my name.”
“Is it a name you named yourself.”
“That is correct.”
Nodens nodded again.
“Why do you ask. About my name.”
“Because monsters wouldn't need a name.”
Abel's answer was concise, but,
Nodens was staring. At a single straight line being engraved behind Abel's back. A white line segment occupied the empty air like an afterimage of a sword strike. One, two, finally countless. Cracks spread in all directions as if intending to cut even the sky.
“Because there would be no reason to reveal your name to anyone, nor reason to be called by name.”
Aura.
Nodens was ignorant about it, but he was instinctively realizing it. He cuts. He cuts away. That Abel's answer was being pronounced not by mouth but by sword.
“Answer me, monster.”
Even if you have a self,
There would have been no event to reveal your name, nor event to be called by name.
Abel muttered like that.
“The Banshees you command have no self. No matter how much you recite names, it would be colorless. Then what is it.”
For what purpose did you want a name.
To what did you intend to reveal your name, and by what did you intend to be called by name.
In this sea you occupied……,
“What on earth exists.”
“It is the world.”
Nodens's answer was concise, but,
Abel was staring. At a single straight line being engraved behind Nodens's back. A black line segment occupied the empty air like an afterimage of a sword strike. One, two, finally countless. Abel's dark blue eyes watching it shook briefly.
“Inside this sea…….”
Aura.
Is he imitating Aura.
Putting strength into his eyes, Abel thought.
“Everything of mine exists.”
He had seen numerous Intelligent Species until now, but there were few Intelligent Species using Aura. Since Aura was a power forged through conviction. Above all, Nodens had grasped it at once. After understanding Abel's conviction immediately, he made it his own and was using it. Like a child quick to learn.
“Human, our purposes match.”
Nodens made a laughing sound.
After witnessing the Aura spreading by his side,
“We just wish to protect our respective homes.”
He prepared to take a step forward.
He cuts. He cuts away. Only cutting away.
After grasping Abel's conviction, with the crystals forming his compound eyes flushed red.
“That is exactly why. Because we possess equal purposes, there is no room for understanding. Isn't that so.”
“Of course.”
Abel put strength into the hilt of his beloved sword.
Supporting the beloved sword with two hands, he solidified his stance. While margin-colored Aura flowed along the sword blade, Aura divided into black and white tangled busily in the midst of empty air, and,
“Come.”
At the same time Abel opened his mouth,
“I go.”
TAP, it went.
Ripples spreading at Nodens's feet.
──WHAM! The Auras that formed cracks collided all at once, and sword wind raged, shaking the water current. Seawater laden with salt splashed, blocking Nodens's and Abel's vision. Blue moisture was engraved in Nodens's eyes, and black moisture in Abel's eyes. Nodens's sea held fragrance, and Abel's sea held stench, and the moment the incessantly swung sword strikes ravaged the seawater,
SCREEECH──!
Banshees gliding all at once.
Countless Banshees beyond count revealed themselves,
And while most of them were being torn apart by Abel's Aura,
‘That's not all.’
In the midst of being unable to see ahead,
Extending his beloved sword, Abel intuited.
‘Inside this sea──.’
There is something else.
Something indescribable.
Something that would be like the world to a certain monster.
* * *
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Lizer's head.
It was Ernst's. Ernst was using a communication spell through the Tactical Controller. Perhaps because it had been abandoned for a long time, the density of the spell was poor. Ernst's voice reaching Lizer was crackling.
“It seems there's a little static, but it's fine.”
I can understand, he thought.
Shrugging his shoulders, Lizer muttered.
Holding a faint smile, he looked at a distant place. Beyond the hill, the vastly spread sky was cloudy. It seemed as if rain would pour down any moment.
Are preparations going well?
Ernst asked like that, and,
“It's smooth.”
Lizer looked back.
At the edge of the intricately engraved magic circle, Monica was looking at Lizer. As a Spirit, he could know without sensing. Monica seemed to be nervous. Keeping her lips tightly closed, she was like a cat afraid of water.
“How is the situation of the other children?”
Ernst spoke in an indifferent tone.
“Good.”
Don't mind me and Monica.
Lizer whispered like that.
“It will become busy after a short while. You focus on command. We will take care of our work ourselves. Please take care so that the Banshees don't reach here.”
Well……,
Purification? Spirit's Nest?
Gaining power from the Ley Line?
I heard such stories.
“You'll know when you see it.”
“Aha, really?”
The corners of Lizer's mouth went up slightly.
Anyway, there was no time to communicate leisurely. Lizer stood by Monica's side after finishing the conversation with Ernst. It had been an hour since Abel left to confront the Intelligent Species. There wasn't much leeway. Before long, the Banshees' raid would begin.
“Monica, want to come here?”
In the middle of the magic circle,
Stopping there, Lizer spoke.
“Please stand facing me.”
“……I stood.”
Monica followed Lizer's words.
She carefully bowed her head and examined the magic circle. Countless patterns were constituting the magic circle. According to Lizer, the magic circle would only help Monica to the extent possible. It would merely assist so that she could easily contact the Spirit's Nest, and purifying the Spirit's Nest was said to be Monica's share.
“You probably know since you heard roughly, right? Divine Punishment has been brought down on this village.”
“Yes, I heard from Teacher Abel.”
Lizer bent one knee and sat down, and Monica also sat facing Lizer.
“The Main Gods……, do not want this village to persist, right?”
“You can see it that way.”
At Monica's question, Lizer answered.
“But it is a little different. The Main Gods do not know the circumstances of this village in detail. They probably don't even know this is a village. Since the domain of the Pantheon is in a very distant place. They only responded because an abnormal reaction occurred. So to speak…….”
There is room for persuasion.
Lizer spoke like that.
“You will have to persuade the Main Gods, and the Spirits through Aura. Asking them to withdraw the Divine Punishment brought down on Portsmouth.”
“Yes, well…….”
Monica scratched the back of her neck.
“I heard I have to do so, but. Honestly, I don't really get a feeling for it. It feels like grasping floating clouds. The talk about persuading Spirits, and persuading Main Gods is a bit…….”
“It's fine.”
Since you'll know if you try, he thought.
Whispering quietly, Lizer reached out his hand.
“Here, this place.”
TAP, TAP, it went.
Lizer tapped the center of the magic circle.
It was a part where a narrow circular pattern was engraved.
“Try placing your hand here. With Aura concentrated.”
“……Understood.”
Monica closed her eyes gently.
She concentrated the Aura circulating in her body onto her prosthetic hand. Aura laden with green color manifested in the shape of a grass stem. Monica touched the part Lizer indicated just like that. The grass stem wrapping Monica's prosthetic hand began to penetrate into the ground.
“You're doing well, Monica.”
SLIP, it went.
Lizer's hand was placed on Monica's prosthetic hand.
“Because I tried it with Teacher Abel.”
“Really? But this time…….”
It will be a little different, he thought.
Lizer muttered.
“It would be good if time to explain even a little is given, but…….”
Lizer's head turned.
He stared at the vastly spread Black Sea. Seeing with human eyes, it was merely waving leisurely, but Lizer realized by mobilizing the senses of a Spirit. Nasty stench, roar like wailing, shadows shimmering beyond the horizon. There were existences approaching toward Portsmouth.
“They came.”
Lizer erased his smile.
A flock of Banshees was advancing.
* * *
‘……Roughly about a hundred.’
At the same time, the camp near Portsmouth.
Winter wind was knocking on the walls of the camp. The noise emitted by the flapping tarpaulin sounded like a scream. Ernst sighed while adjusting his glasses. A red symbol was spreading on the Tactical Controller. It was a mark announcing none other than the existence of monsters. Banshees forming a flock were approaching toward Portsmouth.
‘There are more than I thought? I didn't expect a number of this degree!’
Ernst chewed his lower lip.
The battle between Abel and the Intelligent Species must be in full swing.
Abel must have dealt with most of the Banshees. The flock approaching toward Portsmouth should be nothing more than remaining troops, but to think the number reaches nearly one hundred.
‘Just how many monsters were in the sea…….’
Abel Argento.
That gentleman is……,
‘What on earth……, is that gentleman fighting against?’
Ernst shook his head.
He had no leeway to be questioning leisurely. Ernst's right index finger rose onto his temple. It was to activate the communication spell.
<──Everyone get ready!>
A halo spread on Ernst's index finger.
Ernst shouted through his mind, not his mouth.
About 15 minutes from now, he thought.
Ernst's communication reached everyone's minds.
<……The Banshees will arrive at Portsmouth.>