Chapter 80

Now, one-thirtieth of Crossel's power circulates through my left half.

Thanks to this, angel wings have grown, and my hair has grown longer.

Even in this state, I can use more than enough power, but I don't intend to stop here.

"Come forth, Agreas, the second in rank."

I will limit the power of Agreas to one-seventieth.

I was able to draw out one-thirtieth of Crossel's power because there is a strong bond of trust between Crossel and me.

If there were no strong bond of trust and I tried to draw out one-thirtieth, I would likely be taken over by the demon and lose my consciousness.

Therefore, I deliberately limit it to one-seventieth.

The important thing is to host the powers of both Crossel and Agreas.

By handling Crossel's water and Agreas's earth magic simultaneously, I can elevate it to the magic of manipulating cold.

"Radiant snowfield."

Instantly, the area was dominated by cold.

In every direction, the entire region was frozen. With just a flick of a finger, ice spears appeared from all directions.

Before I knew it, countless ice pillars had targeted Marquise.

After blinking three times—

Numerous ice pillars were simultaneously launched, aiming to pierce Marquise.

"Hahahaha, don't think you can kill me with something like this!"

Faced with overwhelming numbers, Marquise shouted without hesitation.

"Multi-layered barriers in all directions!!"

To protect himself from the ice pillars attacking from all directions, Marquise deployed barriers in a 360-degree, seamless manner.

With a loud boom, ice dust flew up.

This was the result of the ice pillars colliding with the barriers.

Because of this, it was impossible to tell from here whether Marquise was unharmed.

◆

"Haa, haa, haa, haa."

Marquise was breathing heavily, relieved.

It was a close call.

If the human's magic had been just a bit more powerful, the barriers would have been broken, and he would have died.

However, as a demon, even if his physical body dies, as long as his soul remains, he can somehow manage. But if his physical body dies, he would need to wait for an eternity to become active again.

Still, such reasoning didn't matter.

His pride wouldn't allow him to accept defeat.

That's why he fought with all his might.

And now, he rejoiced at the fact that he had survived.

"Hahahaha! What do you think? I withstood your maximum firepower attack!"

"Really impressive. I didn't think you could withstand it."

"Yeah, right! Show more respect! My barriers can repel anything!"

Despite his boastful words, he was inwardly afraid.

If he were to be hit by the same attack again, he wouldn't be able to withstand it this time.

Even knowing this, he couldn't stop his arrogant attitude, which was part of his nature.

However, the human showed no signs of attacking.

"Hey, why aren't you attacking? Or are you out of magic?"

"Next, you attack. Sacred magic isn't just about barriers. Show me what you've got."

"Huh?"

Marquise was momentarily confused.

Why would he wait to be attacked?

Was he being held back? Could this god-like being, by a mere human—?

"Don't get too cocky! Just a human!!"

Enraged, Marquise shouted and began casting a spell.

"By the arrows of light, turn to dust!!"

Multiple arrows of light, each carrying layers of light, were released.

The arrows of light could be controlled to some extent, so they were released in curves rather than straight lines.

The human tried to defend with ice shields, but they were shattered by the destructive power of the arrows of light.

"Hahahaha! It's working! It's working!"

Marquise judged that he could overpower the human.

If he continued this attack, he would eventually defeat the human. Thus, he laughed maniacally.

From then on, the battle became one-sided.

Marquise continued to release arrows of light, while the human focused on defense.

Thud, one of Marquise's arrows struck the human's shoulder.

Blood spattered from the shoulder.

"Got it, human! With my attack, crushing someone like you is easy!"

"...I've got the gist of it."

"Huh?"

"But a few parts are missing."

The human's words were incomprehensible.

But what was this ominous feeling rising from the depths of his heart?

Ah, it's because of that human's eyes.

Those eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Those eyes have been making him uncomfortable all along!

Then, he would strike down that human as quickly as possible.

"Die!!!"

Just as he was about to pour all his magic into creating arrows of light—

"Marquise, give me your power."

"What?"

Instantly, his magic was sucked out of his body.

The absorbed magic gathered around that human.

"Hey, what's going on!?"

He couldn't understand.

What kind of logic could justify such an unjust situation?

"Stop! Stop! Don't absorb any more of my magic!!"

His cries were powerless.

"I see, so your sacred magic works on this principle."

Saying this, the human deployed barriers and continued to generate arrows of light.

This was undoubtedly his own sacred magic.

He realized that his sacred magic, which was equal to his pride, had been easily replicated by someone else.

"Very convenient, sacred magic."

"Give it back! Give it back! Give me back my magic!"

He wept and tried to strike down the human in front of him, but it was too late.

"Stay still."

With just those words, Marquise's movements were sealed.

"Damn...it..."

He couldn't move at all.

At that moment, a premonition flashed through his mind.

The human he was facing was perhaps dozens of times more powerful than he had imagined.

An overwhelming sense of defeat welled up in his chest.

He couldn't stop grinding his teeth in frustration, but the last bit of rationality in his mind told him that there was something he needed to ask this human.

"H-human, who...who are you...?"

When he asked, the human looked puzzled and said:

"Norman, that's my name. And I think I said at the beginning that I am your master..."

Ah, so that's how it is...

This was a battle with no chance of winning from the start.

Because demons cannot defy their masters.

That's the logic of this world.