Versus White Demon
I guard against right fist with my great hammer's handle, clashed the Extended Mana Fist from left fist with Mana Pile Bunker, stopped the right leg kick with my elbow, then I counter with my exploding hammer while mana cushioning away his counter magic as I side step--
It's been two minutes since my hectic deatchmatch against the white demon began.
We've been going at it all this time, yet neither has managed to land a decisive strike.
"Fumu, an invisible something has been obstructing my attacks. Is that a Skill? Or perhaps an Enchantment of your gear?"
"Figure it out yourself. Die."
"That great hammer carries tremendous weight. Its trajectories can be wildly altered through explosions as well. Impressive you're able to wield such a thing."
"You wanna? I ain't giving. Die."
"To top it off, you're repelling my Offensive Magic... Truly a bothersome foe, you are."
"Quit yapping already. Yer' gonna bite your tongue. Actually do and die from laceration."
"And, most of all, is that bloodlust of yours. It's as if I'm seeing a mirror image of our lust for the eradication of humanity."
"Don't lump me with y'all. Die. Die. Die."
Responding every time is a bother but I don't want him to think I can't even afford to speak, so I've been replying curtly.
I may sound like a corrupted manga character from all the 'die, die, die' repeat line but my insides are still that of a reserve unit old man with a disappointing mind.
I just don't have it in me to forgive this demon, not in the slightest.
It's not like I hold a grudge toward demons or discriminate them because of their race.
My murderous impulse towards demons is simply a product of kill or be killed mindset. Exterminate them before they do us in. That's all there is to it.
I think it's also partly due to the trauma I suffered from that time at Vinfitt.
My head would have been splattered flat like a tomato if Reina didn't come to the rescue.
Alma, Reina and all the citizens would have been devoured whole by the slime if I failed at sealing it back.
What's gonna happen to the populace here if these demons succeed destroying this capital city?
Might be presumptuous of me to worry about that, as I'm neither a hero or an ally of justice.
Watching mobs getting killed in manga or games only garner 'Oh poor them' reactions but this world isn't a game. It's real life.
You get to find out about a lot of stuff just from the simple act of strolling the city.
Like say, the old lady selling bread near the front gate is waiting her grandchildren visit in a few days.
Or how the mister blacksmith near the arena is expecting his and his wife's child soon.
Or how excited the neighborhood kids around our inn were when they made a promise to play again tomorrow.
There's no mob in this world. Everybody is living their life. Of course they are.
Is it really that weird to harbor bloodlust toward a bunch wanting to ruin them all just because they feel like it.
Well whatever. Can't afford to run my thoughts aground anymore, let's get to killing.
I explosively powered up my Attributes for a brief instant with Energy Control.
I made the push to nearly 3000 Attributes' values.
Would be nice if I could end this before this demon used [True Demon Release] but things probably won't go that smoothly.
"Haaaaaaa...!!"
"! He's grown even stronger, faster...!"
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The white demon popped his eyes wide open in shock as he guarded my attack.
My Attributes are almost double his right now. Anyone would be surprised at this sudden power up.
I punched the white demon's face with all my powered might.
It was a clean hit. He failed to react.
"Guoo!?"
I chased the blown demon, grabbed his head and flung him onto the ground.
I also bound him with Mana Armor to prevent escape.
I raised the explosive great hammer high, poured a lot of mana into it and swung it down hard!
SPLAT the sound of splattered flesh could be heard, or so I thought, but no, there wasn't any in reality.
The feeling transmitted to my hands were that of a hard material.
My arms are numbed.
I hit something even harder than my hammer.
A translucent wall of light enclosed the white demon. It looks similar to a barrier you see in SF work.
...Barrier magic? Thing's stupid hard.
<<The demon utilized a personal barrier magic scroll, 'Force Protect'. It generates a barrier possessing 10000 Defense value with the scroll as its epicenter.>>
We finally hit five digit number huh. I can't catch up with the wild inflation.
10 seconds huh... Oh man, that's real bad.
<<Demon [Leaguvein] has activated [True Demon Release] inside the barrier. All Attributes except HP, MP, and SP have been doubled.>>
Ah, knew it. 'Course, he's gonna use it. Wasn't a situation he could penny pinch.
...By the way, what's the duration of this [True Demon Release] state, what about MP and SP consumption?
<<Usable once every 24 hours. Two hour duration. 0 MP SP consumption.>>
What the crap is that stupidly cheat Ability! That's against the rules! Nerf that crap!
Here I am consuming most of my SP just to raise my Attributes to 3000 for 5-10 seconds! That crap is a complete upgrade!
While I was filing claims inwardly, the barrier broke apart and the white demon showed its mug.
There are now tear-like long strip patterns below his eyes, likely indicating his Ability's activation.
...Oou. He's like a whole different demon. His base specs alone are probably on par with Oni-sensei.
"Phew... I have underestimated you. To think you were hiding such strength."
I'm not. I'm just forcing myself to get stronger.
So please don't get so serious, no, for real. I'mma die.
"Now then, I cannot afford to belate anymore. You will have to forgive me, and die."
The white demon moved so fast he left an afterimage as he went in to punch me at super high speed.
Fast.
Way too fast.
There's no way I can block this--
"Tch!!"
"Oho, you blocked that...!"
'Course! I ain't been training with an even faster Oni-sensei for nothing!
I'm confident I can handle this speed for up to ten blows!
In other word, more than that is impossible for me! Stop it, please!
I frantically guarded against the barrage of punches while complaining pathetically in my mind.
My energy and life force are getting shaven down with each and every hit I block.
He may not be as strong as Oni-sensei, but he's still stronger than me, he'll drive me to the corner at this rate.
I've been pouring potions directly into my mouth through Item Screen, but I only have a few remaining.
I gave most to Alma's group after all. I don't got lots of potions on hand.
Should I raise my Attributes even further and end this in split seconds...?
Ah, crap. I don't have the leeway too. I'm running out of energy.
Gotta convert my mana to, aah, he flicked away my hands, no, won't make it--
"Disappear."
The demon struck my belly with his fist before further exploding it with 'Blast Fist'.
My HP went straight to zero, a dull pain ran through my stomach.
"Gah...!!"
"You're still breathing, I see... This shall end it."
He kicked me away as I crouched down while holding my abdomen, followed by a magic attack.
The spots where it hits are burning, melting and carbonizing, it hurts, it's hot, it hurts, ouch ouch ouch ouch.
"Farewell."
He shot a fireball around 20 meters in diameter as he uttered that parting word.
I'm trying to dodge but my body won't move from the intense pain and temperature.
Mana Control, no, it can't repel a spell that size and power.
Nope. I can't win at my current state.
...I took this demon too lightly.
My figure vanished inside a huge explosion caused by the erupting fireball.