Ryuu Kusari no Ori

Volume 2 Chapter 6.2

The Shadow of Causality Part 2

Translator : PolterGlast

Going back in time a little, around the time when Nozomu was entering the forest, Shina was also invited by Mimuru and Tom to venture into the Spasim Forest.

The reason was to collect alchemical materials for Tom to use in his private research.

Basically, alchemy materials themselves could be obtained cheaply when the student is as promising as Tom.

However, he decided to collect the necessary materials in the forest to make an achievement for his girlfriend, Mimuru, and because he needed some funds recently.

Unfortunately, the weather was rainy, and although it was drizzling, Tom was happy to go deeper into the forest, as he had not been able to enter the forest for a while due to the Direwolf's commotion.

When he reached the collecting area, he began to collect medicinal and herbal plants, insects, and fungi growing on the ground as the rain drizzled down.

While he was gathering materials, Mimuru stayed close to Tom, while Shina kept a watchful eye on the surroundings from afar.

As the spring rain soaked her rainproof cloak, Shina, serving as an escort, lifted her eyebrows.

The area around Arcazam was originally blessed with enough precipitation to form dense forests. Rain falls regularly throughout the year.

Shina herself did not dislike rainy days. In fact, she likes them. Her hometown was also blessed with rain, so much so that there was always fog.

Now, however, it was rather distressing. The previous day's argument with Nozomu had also stirred her heart.

"What's wrong Shina, you don't look well. Maybe something is going on between you and him?"

Mimuru, who had been watching Shina from a distance, spoke to her.

"Him, huh?......"

"Nozomu Bountis. He seemed to have something he wanted to ask you, Shina, and lately, he has been bothering you a lot, hasn't he? Did something happen?"

Hearing Mimuru's words, her voice hinting at her anticipation, Shina then understood that it was her friend who had told Nozomu where she was training. At the same time, the discomfort swirling in the pit of her stomach grew.

"......No, nothing of the sort."

"Hmmm......."

"What is it?......."

Mimuru gave a meaningful expression to Shina, who insisted that nothing was going on, but she eventually shrugged her shoulders in dismay.

"Well, I just thought you were not as annoying as usual. You didn't have to lie to me......"

"It's not a lie......"

"It is a lie. Whenever Shina lies, her ears twitch in an unnatural way."

With a flustered expression, she held her own ears, but they were not moving in any particular way. However, seeing Mimuru's meaningful smile as she saw Shina's reflexive action, Shina realized that she had been had.

"I knew something was up. Hey, why do you hate Nozomu so much? Didn't he save you from that Karanti?"

"I saw him. I actually saw him dumping Lisa-san ......."

Mimuru's words brought Shina's mind back to the scene she saw by chance two years ago.

He and a stranger coming out of a brothel in the commercial district. The girl with red hair collapsed with a shocked expression on her face.

"Is that true? You didn't see it wrong or something?"

"Yes, it was from a distance, but I'm sure that man was Nozomu Bountis......."

Having said that much, she stopped mid-sentence as Nozomu's face from yesterday appeared in her mind.

At least there was no trace of murky atmosphere in his voice at that time, the kind that people who mend their lies tend to wear.

"Shina?"

What was there was a sadness that could not be hidden and resentment at the reality that things were not going the way he wanted them to.

And these feelings were the same as what Shina was feeling now. That was why she could not continue to speak any longer.

"No, it's nothing."

(I don't know why. But at that time, surely, he and Lisa-san......)

The image of him saving her from Karanti's involvement in the library a few days ago also stirred her heart.

Flashbacks of multiple images of Nozomu, and the indescribable feelings that accompany them.

A sense of déjà vu and an unpleasant feeling that crawled up her spine made Shina involuntarily put her finger to her forehead and bit her lip.

(What is this feeling? It's as if it's all overlapping......)

"Hmm~, from our conversation with him in Torgrein-sensei's lab, I felt he wasn't that kind of a person~."

"Well, we don't know Nozomu-kun very well ourselves."

"We have no idea about him......"

"Right? We don't know much about him ourselves. We met and talked with Nozomu only recently."

Hearing Mimuru and Tom's words, Shina couldn't help expressing her surprise.

It took time to get to know someone. She herself had not been on good terms with Mimuru and Tom from the beginning.

She had been annoyed by Mimuru, who had been following her since the first day she entered the school, and although she ignored her, they began to talk while they were together, and before she knew it, they were working together like this.

It was as if they were her former spirit friends who had disappeared.

(Was I, perhaps, doing the same thing to him as Karanti and the others did to me?)

When one judges another person's character, one is inclined to label him or her 'because he or she is like that. It's easier that way.

The words and actions she was directing at Nozomu were actually the same as those who ridiculed her as "dead leaf ears".

This realization brought Shina's heart into depression and further contributed to her confusion.

Shina's thoughts were going round and round like an endless loop, and with her mouth set in a straight line, she began to fiddle with her fine azure hair with her fingertips.

At that moment, the sound of grass rustling in her ears caught her attention.

"~!"

Thinking she had encountered a demonic beast, Shina reflexively readied her bow and fired an arrow.

There was no response, and her arrow disappeared deep into the bushes.

Shina quickly took her next arrow and said a warning.

"Who is it? If you're not a demonic beast, come on out. I'll hit you next time."

"W-, wait a minute!"

"You......"

Prompted by Shina's warning, Nozomu emerged from the bushes, the man she had lashed so harshly at yesterday.

The appearance of the person she least wanted to see at the moment caused her eyes to widen, followed by her contorted mouth.

It was an expression of avoidance rather than disgust.

"Shina, I knew it, something must have happened ......."

Mimuru, who was looking at Shina's expression with a sideways glance, let out a dismayed voice.

But she immediately changed her expression and walked up to Nozomu, waving her hand.

"Nozomu-kun, yahhoo---. It seems you had a hard time dealing with Shina yesterday~~."

"Hey, Mimuru......."

"By the way, I want to ask you ...... Is it true that you betrayed Lisa-san?"

"~......"

Anger flashed on Nozomu's face, and his squinted eyes turned to Shina.

"......What, it's the truth."

The sharp gaze directed at her caused Shina to say something that also created a stir.

A reflexive action. She, too, had become stubborn due to her mixed feelings toward Nozomu.

At the same time, her heart ached as she recalled his haggard appearance yesterday when he muttered, "I didn't do it.......".

"......I told you I didn't do it."

Shina's words seem to cover up her awkwardness, but unfortunately, Nozomu could not understand her complicated state of mind.

Nozomu was just as stubborn. With a hardened heart, there was no way he could ever think of being considerate of the other person.

"Nyaan~~. Are you guys fighting?"

In the meantime, in front of the two who were creating an extremely awkward atmosphere, the culprit who had thrown the spark into the fire was determined to watch the fight with a nonchalant expression on her face. Tom, on the other hand, seemed to be a little pressured by Nozomu and Shina's grim atmosphere.

The atmosphere was tense. They don't curse at each other, but the atmosphere felt very bad because they didn't say anything.

(What is this feeling, it's sickening......)

The uncomfortable feeling that had been hitting them for a while now finally became bad enough to make Shina feel sick.

This was followed by a ringing in her ears, as if bells were being rung in her ears.

"U-, uuu......"

"Shina? What's wrong?"

The pain was so great that Shina involuntarily crouched down on the spot.

Mimuru noticed the sudden change in Shina's behavior and grabbed her right arm as she was about to fall down. Before she knew it, Shina's complexion had turned completely pale.

"O-, oi, are you all right?"

Nozomu, who had been glaring at her earlier, was also surprised by the sudden change in Shina's condition and supported her body from the other side.

"Tom, hey!"

"Shina, are you okay?"

Called by Mimuru, Tom also rushed to Shina's side. At that moment, a low voice echoed in the collection area.

"What the, so you guys were here too?"

The voice was full of confidence and pride. When Nozomu and the others turned their eyes in the direction of the voice, they found Kevin and his party of silver wolves there.

A total of 20 students were there. Nozomu and the others thought they were here for a collection as well, but when they saw Kevin and his party in full gear, they changed their minds.

"What are you guys here for?"

"We just came to investigate the possible repercussions due to the Garm's pack's movements. It was such a big pack after all. The guild is concerned that the territory of the demonic beasts in the forest might be changing."

The party members, mostly made up of beastmen, followed Kevin's lead as he stepped into the collection area and deployed a semi-surrounding force around Shina and the others.

"What's wrong with you, dead leaf ears?"

"Oi......."

Nozomu's voice, tinged with anger, slipped out of his mouth in response to Karanti's comment as she looked down at Shina, who was crouching down.

Certainly, Nozomu and Shina did not have a good relationship. But even so, his words came out of reflex in response to Karanti's blunt and abusive words.

"Ara? The bottom of the barrel is with you too? You two dropouts sure do get along well."

"Karanti ......"

"Yes! What is it, leader!?"

"Shut up for a second."

"Y-, yes......"

In response to Kevin's low, intimidating voice, Karanti, who was about to approach Shina, opened her eyes wide and backed away as if frightened.

The other members of the group, unable to hide their unease at the fact that Kevin, different from usual, simply looked down at Shina without saying a word.

"Hey, get the hell out of here. Someone like that staying in this forest is just a nuisance."

Mimru frowned at Kevin's dismissive words.

"We'll do that even if you don't tell us! Tom ......"

"Uh-huh. Shina, hang in there."

"Don't......"

However, avoiding the hands of the two who were trying to support her from both sides, Shina turned her attention to a corner of the forest.

The ringing in her ears had become even louder, accompanied by a headache, and an intense vision hit her.

It was a black, four-legged beast that suddenly emerged from the depths of the forest.

The moment the demon beast's crimson eyes caught Shina, the ever-vivid vision burst forth at once.

"It's coming......"

"Coming? What do you mean?"

"An? ~!?"

A strong chill ran down Kevin's spine. In the next instant, he reflexively sent his Qi throughout his body and leaped from the spot.

"Uoooooon!"

The moment Kevin leaped away from the spot, with a roar that ripped through the air, a powerful torrent of magic power pierced the spot where Kevin was previously standing.

"What the hell!"

"That was ......."

Kevin, Shina, and everyone, traced the main source of the magic power and then they were at a loss for words.

It was a huge jet-black wolf. It had black-tinted fur and crimson-tinted eyes. Its tail, which was almost as long as its body, undulated sharply like a saw, and it bared sharp canine teeth reminiscent of swords as it glared at Shina and the others as if they were its enemies.

"~......."

The crimson eyes that glared at her brought back abominable memories for Shina.

The forest was engulfed in flames, the echoing screams, her parents covered in blood, her sister and the spirits who urged her to flee and then vanished.

"You, you are ......!"

With her vision turning red with anger, Shina pulled out the bow on her back and placed Tom's special engraved arrow in the quiver, and without hesitation, she poured magic power into the arrow. Blue-colored magic power poured into the arrow in a frenzy, and the engraving on the arrow began to emit dazzling light.

At the same time, Shina began chanting. She converged the air around the arrow, coiled it into a spiral, and released it all at once.

It was a fusion of strengthening magic and wind magic. The arrow, strengthened and far stronger than steel, with the help of the tension of the bow, which has also been strengthened, combined with wind magic, shot in a straight line toward the jet-black demonic beast.

And just before it pierced between its eyebrows .......

*Clang!*

Then, it was bitten down by the fangs of a jet-black demonic beast.

The beast concentrated a black haze of power in its mouth to catch Shina's engraved arrow, and then crushed the arrow to the point that it was barely distinguishable.

"No way......."

While Shina was stunned after having her greatest firepower crushed, Kevin moved next.

Concentrating his Qi on his legs, he released it in a violent burst. Diving into the bosom of the demonic beast at once with his [Flash Step], Kevin circled around to the side of the beast, strengthened his whole body with Qi, and furthermore, with his palms resting on his hips, concentrated his Qi on his claws and released a palm strike.

Perhaps instinctively sensing the danger of the jet-black demonic beast, his complexion showed no sign of the past amusement.

"Oooo!"

An all-out palm strike was slammed into the side of the jet-black demonic beast.

[Qi-jutsu・Impaling Claw Fang]

A Qi-jutsu that simultaneously attacks the opponent with a dual attack of impact from the palm strike and a burst of Qi released from the thrusting claw.

*Boom!*

The sound of a heavy blow echoed. However, the jet-black demonic beast bared its fangs, unaffected by Kevin's powerful strike, which shattered even a boulder.

"Dodge!"

"Tch!"

Reacting to Nozomu's yell, Kevin jumped backward with a click of his tongue and backed away from the wolf's fangs.

At that moment, Kevin's eyes caught sight of a patch of red fur on the neck of the all-black demonic beast.

The red furs, reminiscent of a collar, reminded Kevin of the image of one of the demonic beasts in his mind.

"Isn't this the same Garm I failed to finish off before?"

"Everyone, cover the leader!"

"Yeah!" "All right!" "I'm on it!"

To support Kevin, the members of his party, including Karanti, simultaneously pounced on the [Gray] that had turned into a jet-black demonic beast. Their aim was at the limbs, the head, and the tail, which controls the beast's balance.

Moreover, even if they were to miss the initial attack, they would take advantage of their numbers, and each member of the party would be in a position to launch a second and third attack, and so on. Their skill and teamwork, which enabled them to set up such a siege formation in an instant, were undoubtedly the best in the school year.

However, Kevin, who was watching them, paled and shouted.

"No, stop!"

The next moment, black power erupted along with a gust of wind.

Magic power erupted from the raised [Gray]'s black tail, raging wildly.

"Guuaah!" "Kyaaaa!"

With a gust of wind, magic blades scattered in all directions. The first group of Kevin's party members who attempted to pounce on it were injured one after the other.

"Kuh, everyone spread out! Second team, distract the opponent with a delayed attack! Third team, rescue the wounded!"

"Oooooo!"

Although Karanti and the others immediately tried to regroup, the magic blades rained down on the second and third groups that were trying to help as well.

Nozomu had also heard from Irisdina that [Gray] had escaped with a fatal wound, and more importantly, it was Nozomu himself who first detected that Garm was roaming around Arcazam, which triggered the request to subjugate it.

Also, from the fact that Kevin had mentioned the name [Garm], he was able to guess that this jet-black demonic beast was the one that his friends had engaged in battle with.

"Kuh!"

"Tch!"

In an attempt to save them from being wounded, Nozomu and Kevin stepped forward to get the attention of [Gray].

It was Kevin who took the lead.

While activating his Qi-jutsu [Flash Step], he also combined it with his [Qi-Lightning Transformation] Ability. He rushed forward with a tail-like thunderbolt.

Nozomu was surprised by his speed. It was definitely an instantaneous acceleration comparable to Mena's.

"Oraaa!"

Kevin thrust out his fist while maintaining his speed. His fist strike went straight into the head of the demonic beast as if it were sucked in.

At the same time, the sound of exploding thunder echoed. It was the technique that had inflicted a fatal wound on this demonic beast the other day.

"Wha!?"

However, Kevin's blow failed to inflict even a single wound on the demonic beast.

The beast bared its fangs and attacked him.

"Ugh!"

Kevin quickly jumped backward to avoid the deadly fangs, but his face showed a color of uncontrollable agitation.

(Based on its intimidation and magical power, it is clearly at the top of the A-rank. Maybe, it can even reach S-rank......)

Even from Nozomu's perspective, the demonic beast in front of him had undergone a transformation that was clearly different from that of an ordinary Garm.

The murderous intent and intimidating sensation emanating from the jet-black demonic beast's entire body caused Nozomu's keen senses to sound a warning bell that could not have been more alarming: "If we leave this demonic beast unattended, there will be a serious problem."

*Koo~o~o~o……*

The [Gray], which had been scattering its magic blades in all directions, opened its mouth and began to gather magic power in its mouth.

The air trembled and the trees screamed as if frightened by the increasing magic power.

Then, the magic power that had reached a critical point was released all at once along with a roar.

*Uooon!*

"~!"

The target was Karanti, who was practically in charge of Kevin's party.

She was lending a shoulder to a wounded comrade when a stream of [Gray]'s magic power attacked her.

"Kuh~, ooooo!"

Kevin shouted in the face of the crisis. With his full strength, he intervened between Karanti and the others and the approaching stream of magic power. He then crossed his arms and took the [Gray]'s stream of magic power head-on.

"Oooooo!"

[Qi-jutsu・Iron Body Technique]

This is a defensive Qi-jutsu that utilizes Qi-jutsu to strengthen the entire body and block an opponent's attack.

The [Gray]'s stream of magic power was met head-on with Kevin's [Iron Body Technique], which is one of the most talented students in the school year and reaches A in rank.

"Guh~......"

But the cost was great. His arm, which he held up like a shield, was shredded, and his entire body was covered in countless wounds. He was bleeding profusely and clearly in no condition to fight.

"This is bad! This thing has become far more dangerous than before. We have to get out of here now!"

Mimuru shouted for retreat as Kevin, who was superior to them, was defeated in a single blow.

In fact, the current [Gray] was no longer an existence that they could handle by any means.

"W-, we get it. Leader ......"

Karanti agreed to withdraw in place of the injured Kevin.

"All right, then, immediately ......-eh, Shina, what the hell are you doing!"

But just as Mimuru was about to retreat, a surprising sight caught her attention. It was Shina pointing an arrow at that extremely dangerous demonic beast.

"Sister's, Razword's, everyone's enemy ......!"

A black demonic beast with crimson eyes. It has the same characteristics as the demonic beast she encountered as a child in the burning Nebula Forest, which was her target of revenge.

  

Shina's eyes were stained with anger, and Mimuru's voice could not reach her.

The arrow nocked on the bow was clearly infused with an excessive amount of magic power, and the shafts bearing the magic formula were beginning to crack.

Even so, Shina kept pouring magic power into the arrow.

The screams from her past stuck in the back of her ears, and her eyes were clouded with hatred.

"Enemy? Don't tell me, at the time of the Great Invasion......"

On the other hand, Nozomu's eyes widened in surprise when he overheard Shina's words, but his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden gust of wind.

Shina's arrow was shot.

[Magic-Manipulation Engraved Arrow・Blue Winged Comet]

The arrowhead, filled with magic power with all its might without thinking of the consequences, turned the arrowhead red-hot, and with a spiraling wind, flew like a comet toward the demonic beast.

However, the [Gray] flashed its tail while glancing at Shina's arrow that was approaching.

And with the countless magic blades it released, it easily crushed Shina's arrows to pieces.

"Ah......."

The magic blades that sliced through the engraved arrow bared their fangs at Shina.

Nozomu and Tom moved in front of Shina, who was stupefied by the approaching magic blades.

"Kuh!"

"O golem!"

Nozomu activated his [Flash Step] and pushed Shina down to the ground, while Tom created a golem to shield them both.

Tom's golem was cut to pieces in the blink of an eye by [Gray]'s magic blades, but Nozomu and Shina were able to evade it in the nick of time. The sand and soil rained down on Nozomu and Shina, who were lying on the ground.

However, one of the magic blades that sliced through the golem caught Tom's body, which had become defenseless.

"Gah!"

"Tom!"

Along with a scream, fresh blood danced in the air. Tom's body, which had been hit by the magic blades, was blown away and slammed into a tree behind him.

"Hang-, hang in there! Blood-, the blood......"

Mimuru turned pale in the face of her lover's crisis.

[Gray]'s magic blades landed on Tom's body like a slash to the throat. It easily sliced through his school uniform, which was supposed to be made for combat, and deeply wounded his body.

He was bleeding badly. Mimuru rushed over and put her hand on Tom's wound trying to stop the bleeding, but the blood was overflowing from the gap between her palms.

"A-, ahhh......"

In Nozomu's arms, Shina let out a trembling cry in front of Tom's collapsed figure.

Her pupils dilated and her whole body trembled as she remembered the end of her family.

"Kuh! Hey, get a hold of yourself!"

Nozomu called out to Shina, who let out a whimper, but it didn't reach her ears because she was so stunned by the memory of her trauma.

"Don't think badly of me......"

"Ah......"

*Smack!*

A dry sound echoed. The pain running down her cheek brought a slight glimmer of light back into Shina's eyes.

"Listen, there is a hut just north of here. You can do some medical treatment there, so you should take Tom and Mimuru and head there now! I'll buy you some time."

"......Eh?"

Nozomu, who slapped Shina on the cheek to bring her back to her senses, stood up quickly and glared at the [Gray].

There is no time for hesitation. If they don't act immediately, everyone in this place will die.

Fortunately, it is close to Shino's hut. There is a certain amount of medicine available, and they will have time to use recovery magic. Nozomu raises his voice to Kevin and the others.

"You guys too! If you don't want to die, go north!"

"What are you talking about?...... How can you, a bottom-feeder, hold back that demonic beast? ......"

Kevin was saying something, but Nozomu ignored him without answering his questions.

Just as he drew his katana and was about to step forward, the hem of his uniform was yanked with an unreliable force.

"Wa......-it."

Turning around, he saw Shina, who was looking at him with clinging eyes.

"...... Please, don't leave me. Onēchan, don't leave me ......"

Obviously, she was not looking at Nozomu. She was looking at someone who was not there. Her exposed fragility and vulnerability made Nozomu feel as if his hair was being tugged back.

*Uooooooonn!*

However, there was no time for hesitation. [Gray] raised its saw-like tail and began to gather magic power as it roared. It must be trying to unleash its magic blades again.

"~, Kevin! Take care of Shina and the others!"

After taking a deep breath and shaking off Shina, who was clinging to him, Nozomu activated his [Flash Step]. The next moment, countless magic blades rained down on him.

"Phew!"

He injected his Qi into the katana and drew it out while imbuing it with an ultra-thin blade of Qi.

At the same time, he activated his [Flash Step・Curved Movement]. As he weaved his way through the gaps between the raining blades, he sliced through only the blades that would hit Shina and the others behind him, causing them to dissipate.

"Wha......"

"What are you doing!? Get the hell out of here!"

While urging Kevin and the others, who were surprised, Nozomu ran to close the gap between him and the [Gray].

(As I had expected, [Gray]'s magic blades are just forcing magic power to solidify. If I slice through it even a little, it will dissipate!)

Originally, the power of magic is vague as it is, and it will dissipate in a short period of time. For this reason, people can use techniques and rituals to give a clear direction to their magic power, but no such techniques are applied to the magic blade of [Gray], which is a demonic beast.

Therefore, the magic blade, which is merely solidified by force, is inherently fragile, despite its size and the magic power contained within it.

When Nozomu, who had discovered the flaw in the [Gray]'s magic blade, closed the gap between the two, [Gray] tried to tear Nozomu's body apart with its own fangs.

Facing the oncoming huge mouth, Nozomu twisted his body again and changed his direction. He ran past the approaching fangs, dodging them, and then shot his blade in a single slash.

*Gugyauuuu!*

[Gray] screamed in agony as its right foreleg was slashed at its base. Its crimson eyes turned even more furious as they turned to Nozomu.

"All right, just keep following me!"

Nozomu, having succeeded in turning [Grey]'s attention to himself, ran directly behind [Grey] and jumped into the bushes.

*Guoooooo!*

[Gray], who was furious after being injured, began to chase after Nozomu with a roar of rage.

And so began a deadly pursuit.

◆

"Haa, haa, haa, haa!"

A roar shook the atmosphere, and even the ground shook as the giant beast's footsteps rushed past.

It had been more than ten minutes since Nozomu had attracted the demonic beast as a decoy, and his escape from the beast was still going on in the forest.

Considering the difference in ability between him and the demonic beast, the beast would have caught up with him and killed him in a matter of seconds.

One of the reasons he managed to escape was because of the geographical advantage Nozomu possessed.

The forest where he was forced to run around a lot by Shino as part of his training. It was a place where he was often attacked by demonic beasts and had to flee for his life. Nozomu knew this place better than any adventurers and students.

The place Nozomu chose for his escape was a place in the forest where the trees were relatively short and had grown to a certain extent. The distance between the trees was narrow, and the [Gray], which was bloated and huge, was unable to catch up with him because of its size and the obstruction by the dense vegetation.

However, Nozomu was also unable to completely shake off the demonic beast, and the distance between the two remained almost unchanged.

It was clearly Nozomu who was at a disadvantage in the situation as it was.

(We are almost at the end of this area. But for their safety, I still have to gain some distance. ...... Will I make it in time?)

He glanced back and saw a jet-black demonic beast, still chasing him with its huge mouth fully open.

(Damn! It won't give up on me, will it!)

When wolves chase after their prey, they keep up the chase for hours. Of course, it won't give up easily yet.

And Nozomu himself didn't think he could keep running for such a long time.

(...... I guess I'll just have to do it, huh?)

Nozomu decided to change the direction in which he was running. In order to defeat the demonic beast behind him, he must take a sure-fire method.

He thinks of releasing his [Ability Suppression]. In his mind, the nightmare after the release at the Francilt mansion resurfaced.

There is anxiety. However, if he continues as he is, he will surely be killed by the demonic beast behind him. If so, there was no other choice.

Eventually, the flat ground ended and a steep downhill came into view.

Nozomu ran down the slope as fast as he could.

If he were to lose his footing and fall, he would tumble in a straight line to the bottom, and serious injury would be unavoidable. But he could not slow down now.

[Gray] was also coming down the slope, trying to catch up with Nozomu.

The distance between Nozomu and [Gray] closed in even further, and at last it was right behind Nozomu.

[Gray] opened its jaws wide. Its huge mouth, which opened to the left and right, was stained bright red, and its countless fangs were gnashing and clattering.

And just as the beast's jaws nearly caught Nozomu...... Nozomu suddenly disappeared from its vision.

*Gyan!*

A moment later, severe pain hit [Gray]'s left foreleg, and fresh blood splattered on the ground.

[Gray] suddenly lost its balance and tried to regain its balance, but it couldn't stand on one leg and fell to the ground, rolling down the slope as it was.

"Phew......."

Nozomu, who was about to be captured by the demonic beast, had escaped to the side before anyone knew it.

The moment the beast's fangs were about to reach him, he changed the direction he was running with [Flash Step・Curved Movement]. As he evaded to the side, he slashed at the [Gray]'s left foreleg.

No creature could escape from gravity. When descending a slope, a four-legged creature's weight will be concentrated on its forelegs.

Because [Gray] was injured in its weight-bearing forelegs, it was unable to control its own weight and momentum as it ran down the hill, and it rolled down the slope.

"Haa, haa, haa ...... haaaaah!"

Nozomu grabbed the invisible chains that bound him and ripped them off with all his might.

The shattered chains were flying in the air, and the immense amount of Qi released raised Nozomu's abilities to a new level.

Nozomu sheathed the katana he had been drawing, and then he focused all his Qi into it, extremely compressing it. At the same time, he activates his [Flash Step] and charged toward the [Gray] that had rolled down the slope.

*Guooooo!*

[Gray] raised itself up at the bottom of the hill and opened its mouth toward Nozomu, who jumped at it from above.

An enormous amount of magic power was concentrated. Then, the magic power that had reached a critical point was released along with a roar.

*Uooooooon!*

A torrent of magic power was released. Faced with the stream of magic power coming in a straight line, Nozomu also snapped his sheath's mouth open and pulled his blade out.

[Qi-jutsu・Phantom]

The ultra-thin Qi-blade slashed through [Gray]'s magic power and sliced off the beast's lower jaw.

*Gahyu!*

The firing platform collapsed, and the unstable torrent of magic power instantly dissipated. Then Nozomu unleashed a returning cleave to the side.

"Haaaaaa!"

[Qi-jutsu・Phantom] was released for the second time, and it severed [Gray]'s body in two, creating a huge line of slashes on the ground.

Then, the [Gray]'s severed body slowly collapsed.

"Haa-haa,-phew…… guh~."

Nozomu, who landed on the ground, looked down at his arms, which were in pain while breathing heavily.

The skin of both of his arms was torn, and blood was dripping down. It was a backlash from the release of his power.

At the same time, a strong feeling of weariness came over his whole body.

"Good. I'm sure with this-......"

It was defeated. Nozomu was relieved and tried to reapply the [Ability Suppression] to himself again.

The next moment, however, he heard a deafening roar from the beast.

*Groooaarrrrrr!......*

"You've got to be kidding me......"

There was [Gray], who was coming back to life. The wounds cut by [Phantom] were covered in a pale light of Qi, gradually sealing the wounds.

"Is it absorbing the Qi of the technique I unleashed?......"

The jet-black demonic beast regenerated its wounds with a pulsating thumping sound.

Following this, black particles of light began to dance from [Gray]'s black fur.

The particles of light were similar to the ones covering Tiamat, which Nozomu had seen before.

"The light of the source element ....... But how come? ......"

*Guoooooo!*

"Damn it!"

[Gray], which had closed its wound, leaped at Nozomu with only its upper body.

Nozomu reflexively slammed his right hand into the ground with all his might.

[Qi-jutsu・Light of Annihilation]

A torrent of Qi erupted from the ground, enveloping Nozomu and the [Gray], and exploded, engulfing the surrounding trees.

With a roaring sound, it blew away everything in its path.

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