novelraw Chapter 18 : Chapter 18
Chapter 18 : Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Spark
“We are unusual beings. Just like you, who gave up being human. If there is a difference, it’s that unlike the Prominence who are brainwashed by the Empire, we pursue change.”
The mechanical voice continued.
I could feel an excited aura from him.
He was like a child facing something fun.
“Inferior seeds are always the ones crying out for reform. Because they want to blame the world for their own wretchedness.”
“Haha. Don't criticize us too much. Our goals might differ, but we ‘Unnormals’ feel a sense of kinship with the Prominence.”
Unnormal?
It seemed to be the term those unidentified powered individuals used to refer to themselves.
“We also share the commonality of being beings birthed by the hand of the Empire.”
“What?”
That was unexpected.
Does that mean Prominence weren't the only special beings?
“You gained those grand abilities thanks to the Empire, yet you engage in acts that go against the Empire’s policies? What a shameless lot.”
“It can’t be helped. That is our mission. Ah, I didn't intend to provide this much information already. This has become troublesome.”
He said that, but his reaction was that of someone who couldn't stand keeping his mouth shut.
“Since it's come to this, why don't you just spill everything?”
“Hmm. I’d like to, but I can't do that right now. It's something beyond my control.”
“You've been spouting incomprehensible bullshit for a while now.”
“Fufu. You must think it's nonsense, right? The day will come when you understand me.”
A tone of looking down from a high place. I don't like it.
“Anyway, you have no intention of speaking voluntarily, right? It doesn't matter. I just have to force that mouth open.”
When Ered made a threat, the guy shrugged his shoulders.
“Right. A fight will be unavoidable. That is also the role of this ‘Spark’—sama.”
Spark?
There’s no way such a bizarre name is his real name.
It’s obviously an alias.
“Still, remember this much. You may consider me an enemy now, but in truth, we are in the same boat.”
“I keep hearing a dog barking somewhere.”
Whirrrr!
Ered rapidly rotated the mana circuit.
“A stick is the best medicine for a mad dog.”
My blood began to boil.
It was time to release the pent-up desires.
Since entering Redstone, I had lived a life constantly crossing between life and death.
Stimulating days.
On the other hand, the daily life at Neustadt Academy was beyond boring.
A pasture for gentle sheep.
It’s a stage that doesn't suit a wolf of the snowfields.
At least I had the chance to face the unidentified wizard in the garden, but I couldn't finish it properly.
In the midst of that, something finally appeared that was worth being stimulated by.
Flash!
Ered's body, reinforced by the mana circuit, dashed forward in an instant.
I didn't intend to jump in with full power from the start.
The priority was to figure out the guy's ability.
The guy's physique was small.
Looking at that alone, he was a type far from close combat.
'He looks weak, yet his attitude is full of leisure.'
My gaze went to the guy's hands, which were stuffed in his pockets.
'I want to crush those arrogant hands.'
By the time I approached within arm's reach, Spark reached out.
Crackle—!
Instantly, Ered’s vision flashed.
A cold blue streak of light was discharged ferociously.
Reflexively, I held up the Arcane Sword to parry it—
“……!?”
Electricity?
In an instant, blue streaks of light wrapped around the blade.
My hand holding the sword went numb.
“My goodness! Parrying that with a sword! Did you want to become a lightning rod?”
Spark clutched his stomach and cackled.
Cold electricity was continuously flashing from the tips of his splayed fingers.
'So that was it.'
The guy seems to have the ability to generate and discharge electricity himself.
Electric shocks were discharged consecutively through the guy's hands.
They danced in zigzags and rushed toward Ered.
'It's fast. I’ll need more mobility.'
Ered moved to avoid the electric shocks while putting strength into my legs.
“Not a chance.”
Spark snorted.
Just facing the crackling electric shocks made my eyes dazzled, leaving afterimages.
'It’s annoying.'
Especially now, I had reinforced my eyes to boost my kinetic vision.
My already sensitive retinas were complaining of discomfort as they were exposed to strong light.
'If I had known this, I would have brought sunglasses at least.'
Spark rarely allowed close combat.
Zap!
Every time Ered tried to close the gap with him, an electric shock was discharged without fail, blocking the path.
In that case….
Bang!
Bang!
I quickly drew my pistol and returned fire from a distance.
When Spark waved his hand, the electricity spread into the form of a thin film and stopped the bullets.
Sizzle!
The bullets, turned into black charcoal, lost their power and fell to the floor.
'So this is how you're going to play?'
Whir!
I activated the mana circuit to significantly reinforce my skin.
Since it has come to this, there is no choice but to endure a bit of damage.
Ered sprinted with resolve.
“Will you be okay? With that choice.”
Spark smiled thinly and pressed his hands together.
Electric energy compressed to the limit.
It was on a different dimension from what I had seen so far.
Something was wrong.
'This is not a level I can handle. I should retreat here—'
ZZZZZZZT—!
An electric beam shot out in a straight line.
“Gugh!”
Intense pain wrapped around Ered's whole body.
An electric shock that pierced even through reinforced skin and entered mercilessly.
In an instant, my mind went white.
I couldn't think of anything.
It wasn't a state where I could think.
It felt as if the organs inside my body were being cooked whole!
I held on by gritting my teeth.
A level of pain that an ordinary person could not possibly handle.
Hiss.
Acrid smoke leaked from my entire body after the bout of electric shocks.
The smell of burning meat filled the air.
Eyes, ears, nostrils….
Blood trickled down from every hole.
My muscles were convulsing on their own as the aftermath of the electric shock had not faded.
'Damn it. I’ve become a roast.'
My skin was horribly scorched like a lump of charcoal.
“As expected, Prominence are amazing. To endure that and stay standing. It was my decisive blow, you know.”
Spark whistled.
“You're an interesting fellow.”
Ered spat out the blood pooled in my mouth.
“It was very thrilling. It feels like my dead cells have come back to life.”
I felt a shiver.
An emotion that can only be felt when standing on the border between life and death.
It wasn't the first time I had experienced this feeling.
According to my experience so far, it tended to become clearer the closer death approached.
He is a formidable opponent.
'That's why it's more enjoyable.'
When I faced Jinfre, I didn't even have the leisure to enjoy this kind of feeling.
On the contrary, I was afraid.
Because it was such an overwhelming difference in power.
But now it’s different.
'Compared to Jinfre, this is plenty winnable.'
To think that feeling fear from Jinfre would help in this way.
Ered accelerated physical regeneration.
I didn't want to waste mana this way, but I had no choice for now.
My body wouldn't listen because my muscles were in tatters.
'I should stop jumping in without looking ahead.'
That’s a method that works when dealing with small fry.
I just realized painfully that the opponent is not small fry.
Now I needed to approach in a new way.
'And I have the appropriate means.'
Concentrate.
From now on, exclude everything.
Empty the world.
'Only contain what is necessary. You, and I.'
That is the process to enter a state of hyper-concentration through double time and extrasensory perception.
-E... okay... danger....
Isel’s voice was heard intermittently.
The noise was so severe that I couldn't understand her properly.
It seems the communicator was damaged because of Spark’s electric shocks.
“Don't interfere. This is my fight.”
I conveyed my position to her through the communicator.
'At any rate, I believe my position was sufficiently conveyed.'
The shapes of surrounding objects blurred like mud and became unclear.
Soon, even sounds could no longer be heard.
In the silence, only the sound of my heart beating echoed—thump, thump.
Ered agonized within the slowed time.
Of course, time didn't actually slow down.
It just felt that way.
'In what way should I approach to defeat him?'
Even the sound of my heart gradually subsided.
The thinking was over.
Now it’s time to commence action.
I forcibly put strength into my trembling legs and took a leap.
I kicked the earth with force.
“Again?”
Doubt was mixed in Spark’s voice.
He must have found it strange that I was rushing in again after being beaten like that.
“Are you brave? Or are you stupid?”
Spark sneered.
“You didn't think my power had run out, did you?”
The guy gathered his full power again as if to show off.
It was a power not inferior to the blow from earlier.
“You’d better think carefully before approaching.”
Say whatever you want.
Boom—!
Ered actually pulled up my speed by another level.
Putting strength into the hand holding the Arcane Sword.
“Hmm. It can't be helped.”
Spark clicked his tongue and reached out.
The electricity dwelling in the guy's hand flared as if it would swallow Ered at any moment.
'According to plan.'
The guy is moving as I expected.
From now on, the important thing is timing.
ZZZZZT—!
A fierce electric shock rushed in.
Even though I hadn't touched the electric shock yet, my skin was already tingling.
It was fast enough to be difficult to shake off even in slowed time.
Actually, that kind of thing doesn't matter.
Since I didn't intend to avoid it in the first place.
Just before the electric shock hit Ered’s whole body.
Whish.
I threw the Arcane Sword upward.
'Electric current flows along the path of least resistance. And metal has very low resistance.'
The direction of the electric shock curved subtly.
It struck the Arcane Sword instead of Ered.
“……!”
Ered’s expression grimaced.
I couldn't be completely free from the electric shock damage.
A part of it brushed my skin, delivering pain.
'I anticipated this much.'
This level is plenty endurable.
“…Huh?”
A lifeless sound leaked from Spark’s mouth revealed behind the mask.
Ered clenched my fist.
The mana circuits bulged like veins all over the back of my hand.
“Now, who’s the stupid one?”
Accumulate power.
And strike.
Wham—!
A heavy impact sound echoed throughout the abandoned factory.
It landed perfectly.
“Gah—”
Spark, struck in the abdomen, rolled violently on the floor.
Crash!
The guy, who was thrown more than ten meters, slammed into the exterior wall of the abandoned factory.
“That feels refreshing.”
Ered laughed savagely.
I had poured a considerable amount of power into that blow just now.
There are not many who can withstand a blow from a Prominence.
'Well, he probably didn't stop breathing. I didn't strike with the intent to kill.'
Still, a few bones must have broken.
His organs won't be fine either.
In other words, I’ve made him half-crippled.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch….”
Spark picked himself up from the collapsed wall.
A steel frame was stuck in the guy's left forearm.
Unfortunately, it seems an accident occurred during the process of colliding with the wall.
“Phew. You got me.”
Spark pulled the steel frame out of his forearm.
Without even changing his expression once.
'…Amazing.'
I thought the guy would be in a state where he couldn't even breathe properly, let alone speak, by now.
Of course, the guy wasn't without damage at all.
However, he appeared more intact than I had thought.
'This shouldn't be happening.'
His body is much sturdier than an ordinary person's.
Does that mean he doesn't just possess the ability to handle electricity?
“To throw a piece of iron as bait. You have a pretty sharp side, don't you? I’m looking forward to the future.”
“You seem to be mistaken about something, but there is no future for you. Today will be your final stage.”
“Can we call it a day here? It seems interrupters are coming.”
Spark made a hand gesture as if telling Ered to listen.
Footsteps heard sporadically from afar.
They were getting closer.
Is it the police?
It was understandable since we had caused a huge commotion.
“Are you leaving already? I still have plenty of presents left to give you.”
When Ered expressed regret while clenching and unclenching my fist, the guy cackled.
“That present, it was quite something.”
Should I just let him go here?
Ered harbored such a thought for a very brief moment.
Only then would I be able to enjoy a thrilling fight of life and death with him once more.
'…Let’s stay calm.'
The mission comes before personal pleasure.
If I let a rebel go, I might be expelled from Obsidian.
It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped.
“I’m sorry, but this is the end for you.”
“Hmm. It seems you’ve made up your mind.”
Spark spoke leisurely while brushing the dust off his clothes.
'I can't rest easy yet.'
Ered thought of the unidentified wizard who had taken away the wizard of wind.
I don't know when that guy will pop out again and ruin everything.
Clap!
The guy suddenly clapped his hands.
Flash—
A blinding light stabbed my eyes in a surprise attack.
'Damn it.'
Ered was blinded.
“Then, see you next time.”
The guy's voice moved further away within my limited vision.
'Oh, for god's sake.'
By the time Ered rubbed my eyes and recovered my sight, the guy had already vanished.
-Are you… okay?
Isel’s voice was heard from the communicator I thought was broken.
'It's better this way. The day will come when I face Spark again.'
Ered thought I should make thorough preparations for that time.
“Lieutenant. I have a request.”
***
'In the end, I missed them this time too.'
Still, it wasn't a total loss this time.
Since I found the link to them.
Slide.
Ered opened the door to Class A and entered.
The sight of Joffrey chatting noisily with his friends caught my retinas.
I strode toward the fellow.
“Hello?”
“What? Suddenly.”
Joffrey flinched his shoulders when I abruptly greeted him.
“Thanks. I received it well thanks to you.”
“…Re, received what?”
“I’m talking about this.”
When I showed him the note, Joffrey’s face turned deathly pale.