novelraw Chapter 105 : Chapter 105
Chapter 105 : Chapter 105
Chapter 105. Counterattack (1)
Thud, thud.
As I walked through the deep darkness inside the cave, damp, cold air brushed the tip of my nose.
The floor was full of damp moisture, and the ceiling was decorated with unpleasant bone fragments.
The putrid smell seeping out from between the bones made my mind go blank.
'What an unpleasant place.'
I quietly gripped my scabbard.
While the enemy's form was not yet visible, my strength had still not returned.
The former Demon King's curse does not permit me any power as long as the sun is up.
'It would be troublesome if a battle were to break out at this timing…….'
It was then.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the ground rumbled.
A heavy vibration, as if the ceiling was slightly sinking, was transmitted from the tips of my toes.
"Undead!"
Noctavira shouted.
Dozens, no, nearly hundreds of undead revealed themselves.
Blackened bones, rusted weapons, an army of death without even a cry.
As if possessed by something, they were approaching this way with expressionless faces.
The moment I was about to place my hand on the hilt of my sword, "Stay back, Dad!" Noemi stepped forward, blocking my view.
"It's still a long way until nightfall. Don't overdo it."
Although her body was small, her back looked bigger than anyone else's.
When did she get so big?
She was truly reliable.
Soon, a five-colored magic erupted from Noemi's fingertips.
In an instant, a magic circle spread wide, and five elements shone simultaneously.
"Explosion, Storm, Lightning, Ice, Aspida!"
Had she now become able to cast magic just by naming the spell, without chanting?
Noemi's hand movements were more nimble than ever before.
Kwa-gwagwagwagwang!!
With a dazzling explosion, the undead in front of us shot up into the sky.
Bone fragments scattered like shrapnel and burning skulls.
My throat stung from the acrid air, and the powerful aftershock of mana filled the cave.
'Amazing.'
While I was admiring Noemi's unrivaled performance.
"Kyaa!"
Someone's scream was heard.
A sound from behind.
A few undead had circled around from the rear and secretly approached Noctavira's side.
If it had been the original Noctavira, she would have dealt with such opponents in the blink of an eye.
But now, she was in a half-human, half-vampire state.
Both her magic and her body were exceedingly unstable.
"Ugh, go away! I said go away!"
As the creatures rushed her, she powerlessly raised her hands and covered her face.
She instinctively tried to defend herself, but no magic could be felt from her body.
The moment the opponent's weapon was about to strike her neck.
Zzzzing!
The scabbard rang.
A feeling of something bursting deep within my skin.
It felt as if a door that had been suppressed for a long time had suddenly burst open.
'It's here.'
I drew my sword without a moment's hesitation.
Shwack!
In that instant, my body cut through the darkness, plunging between the undead and Noctavira.
The tip of my sword, striking down like lightning, sliced the undead's neck as if it were paper.
The wildly swung sword simultaneously split the bodies of four of them in two.
"D-did you save me?"
Noctavira blushed.
I turned my head nonchalantly.
"Stay back."
She nodded shyly.
I immediately stood next to Noemi.
We didn't exchange words, but a look was enough.
We charged forward at the same time.
Kwa-kwang!
Slice, slice.
We mindlessly cut down the undead that emerged endlessly from the darkness.
Black blood splattered, and flames erupted.
I cut, and Noemi burned.
The tip of my sword grew hot.
Just how many had I cut down?
Slither.
Along with an unpleasant feeling as if a snake was slithering over my entire body, a new presence was felt inside the cave.
'A strong one.'
In that moment, a sensation as if my skin was being torn wrapped around my entire body.
Zzzap.
My heart trembled slightly.
This wasn't simple magic.
Something was approaching from beyond.
An evil magic, as if it were darkness itself.
I could guess the creature's identity.
'Nox.'
The final boss of this world who had endlessly blocked my daughters' path in the original version of PP.
A being who went beyond trampling kingdoms to even defeat the daughters I had raised with such care.
He was approaching this place.
I focused all the magic in my body to the tip of my sword.
Wooooong.
'Just a little more. Come a little closer. I'll cut you down in a single strike.'
I held my breath and silently waited for him to come closer.
Every minute, every second, felt like an eternity.
***
'What happened?'
Nox sat on his skull throne and slowly brought his bony, emaciated fingers to his chin.
The cloak draped over his stooped back shimmered bizarrely, and a look of confusion was evident on his gaunt face.
"He should have lost his power due to the former Demon King's curse?"
But Frank was slicing through his subordinates with marvelous movements.
An army of darkness falling with a single strike.
Nox twisted the crystal ball to adjust the angle.
Inside the ball was the image of Frank cutting down a horde of undead inside the cave.
A low density of magic, an irregular wavelength.
And yet, every single one of his movements held a concentration and explosive power that surpassed human limits.
'He's sharp. My subordinates alone won't be able to handle him.'
In the end, Nox stood up from his seat.
He took the bone staff that symbolized the Lich King in his hand and headed towards where the creature was.
However, even before he could step forward, something flew at high speed from outside his field of vision.
Kwaaang!
A pillar of light sharply grazed Nox's cheek.
“?!”
It was a good thing he had instinctively turned his head; if he had been even a little late, half of his skull-like face would have been blown away.
Glancing back, he saw the wall had been destroyed without a trace.
Nox narrowed his brows and bellowed.
"How rude, not even showing yourself!"
Nox raged furiously.
However, the opponent paid him no mind and searched for someone.
"Where is Anonymous!"
"Anonymous? Who is that?"
It was a name he had never heard before.
Then, this retort came back.
"I mean Anticus. Hand her over now!"
Only then did Nox realize the meaning of what Anticus had said to him.
"I see. So you were her master, Frank. Heh heh."
Nox let out an unpleasant laugh and took something out from his bosom.
It was a crystal ball.
"Are you curious how she's doing? If so, the generous me shall grant that wish. Don't despair after you see it."
He infused magic into the crystal ball.
The blue orb floated into the air and soon projected a scene.
In it, Anonymous could be seen kneeling, bound in chains.
Her breathing was ragged, and her eyes were half-lidded.
Even breathing seemed to be a struggle for her.
"Huhu. She will soon become my slave."
Nox smiled unpleasantly and pointed at the queen on the screen.
"You'd better not try any funny business. I've connected a spell to the chains so that her head will fly off if you move even a little."
It was a lie.
It was impossible to end her life.
A powerful protection magic was protecting her, and Nox hadn't found a way to disable it.
He had tried all sorts of methods, but none worked.
But what was important now was not such trivial truths.
'I must shake his emotions.'
A fight didn't necessarily have to be decided by force alone.
By merging with Kaliditas' soul, Nox had also learned how to use his head.
"If I release those chains now, she'll immediately become my slave and bare her fangs at you. A half-broken spirit, a sense of betrayal, despair. Such emotions will awaken her anew."
Of course, this too was all a bluff.
But Nox was confident he could make his opponent believe it.
Sensing Frank's gaze waver as if shaken, Nox smiled to himself.
'It worked. He believes my words.'
Nox put on an even more cunning, snake-like smile and slowly parted his lips.
"Now, what will you do? O Hero. Is your sword ready to be pointed at her?"
At that moment, the shadows of the dead began to rise again around Nox.
A darkness that grew thicker as time passed.
It was the process of breathing life back into fallen souls.
***
His words seemed plausible at first glance.
The threat that he could kill her at any time.
The declaration that even if he didn't kill her, he would make her his subordinate.
Above all, the pained face of Anonymous bound in chains was messing with my head.
'What should I do.'
My body stiffened like a stone.
Sweat pooled in the hand gripping my sword, and the trembling in my chest just wouldn't calm down.
It was highly likely that most of what he said was a bluff.
And yet, seeing Anonymous with such an expression was too horrible.
'Should I cut him down now?'
But I couldn't easily judge whether his words were lies or truth.
It was then.
「Don't be flustered, Dad.」
A delicate voice echoed in my head.
Before I even had time to be surprised, the owner of the voice calmly continued.
「It's telepathy magic. In my opinion, Master is probably still safe.」
'What?'
When I asked back in my mind, Noemi quickly added an explanation.
「Think about it. It's been a few days since Master was captured, right? The fact that she's still alive like that might mean her protection magic is still active.」
Protection magic.
Anonymous had mentioned it in passing before.
That from birth, a magic to protect herself was embedded deep in her heart.
That a high-level defensive spell that blocked both mental interference and physical damage beyond a certain level was hidden there.
'Noemi is right. If his goal was her, he would have killed her and made her a subordinate long ago.'
I quietly took a breath.
He was just holding Anonymous hostage to tie me down right now.
A hostage he had clumsily brought in an ambiguous state, just like Noctavira.
'Now is the time to trust her and pretend to be deceived by him.'
I immediately sent a message to Noemi.
'I'll buy time with conversation. You and Noctavira go and save her.'
「Yes, Dad! I'm counting on you.」
I raised my head.
And slowly, I walked towards Nox.
"What in the world are you thinking, pulling a stunt like this? What is your goal?"
At my question, he twisted the corner of his mouth and answered.
"Isn't it obvious? I will make you all my subordinates and put the entire world beneath my feet."
His eyes were soaked in ecstasy.
Madness dwelled within them.
"If I offer that to Sir Primus, I will be able to become the ruler of this land."
I smirked and shook my head.
"How can you be the ruler of this land when Primus exists? There is only one king."
For a moment, Nox's expression contorted.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Exactly what I just said. Do you really think Primus is a being who will grant your wish? Once the hunt is over, the hunting dog is nothing more than a discarded being."
"H-how dare you!"
Just as Nox was shouting in anger at my provocation.
「Dad! I've found where Master is!」
Noemi's urgent voice echoed in my head.
「I'm going right now!」
'Well done, Noemi. Go and save her with Noctavira right now. I'll hold him off.'
I drew my sword without any hesitation.
By the time his gaze was precisely on me, the tip of my sword was aimed at his head.
"What are you doing? Did you not understand what I said?"
Nox frowned, gathering his magic.
"Are you saying you don't care what happens to her!"
"Of course not."
I raised the corners of my mouth.
"But now, the situation has changed."
As soon as those words were finished.
I leaped with all my might.
"Wh-what!"
A blade shooting towards Nox like a speeding arrow.
At the same time, a massive clash of magic began to shake the entire underground cave.
Kwaaaaaang!!
Sword energy and darkness intertwined, magic and magic collided, and this place was instantly transformed into a vortex of fierce battle.
Because Nox's attention was focused on me, he didn't notice Noemi and Noctavira slipping away.
'I'm counting on you, Noemi.'
As expected of the original version's final boss.
The magic of Nox, who had evolved into the Lich King, far exceeded my expectations.
But I couldn't back down here.
I put more strength into the hand gripping my sword and swung it at him without holding back.
Kwang! Kwa-kwang!
Every time it clashed with his black magic, it felt like striking a rock.
And yet, my hands moved frantically.
I couldn't so easily quell the anger towards the one who had taken Anonymous.
Even now, her bright smile was reflected on the blade she had made for me.
I could never forgive the one who tried to erase that smile.