Chapter 61

"What are you doing, Lloyd-samaaaa!?"

Suddenly, Grimo shouted.

"Whoa, don't yell so loud! You'll scare me."

"What, what's going on...?"

"It's not just 'what's going on'! You could have avoided that attack just now! What's wrong with you, deliberately taking a hit from that guy?! What if something happened?!"

Ah, I was caught.

Actually, it was a close call, but my curiosity made me hesitate, and I ended up taking the hit.

"Still, I had to try it once to know what it was like."

A physical phenomenon caused by magic without using a spell.

How is it different from magic, and how does it work? I couldn't know unless I experienced it myself.

It was more normal than I thought, but I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't taken it.

Grimo was speechless at my response.

"You only have one life! If you don't take care of yourself, I'll be in trouble! Please, don't do anything reckless!"

"Are you worried about me?"

"N-no, that's not it... G-gr, this body will eventually belong to me. I can't have you dying here...!"

Grimo started muttering.

Indeed, in my previous life, I died from trying to see an unknown magic directly.

Maybe I should be a bit more careful. Yeah.

"You tried it out... Hahaha, you really know how to make me laugh!"

Magic power gathered around Gizarum's body with a roar.

Gizarum raised both hands, and a massive magic ball formed there.

The concentration of magic was obvious even without squinting, and sparks were crackling.

Wow, quite a high output.

It's not often you see this much magic power.

"I gathered all the magic power in this area... I didn't want to destroy this castle, but it's your fault, isn't it? You provoked me, you did!"

Jade's face twisted into a grin of anger.

An interesting attack... but if I let it go, Renge and the others behind me will be caught in it.

"Renge, take everyone and get out of here."

Galilea and the others, who were immobilized by the magic pressure, were now getting up.

The soldiers were also confused, so they should be able to escape now.

"U-um... but what about Lloyd?"

"I'll be fine. Just go."

"...Okay. Be careful!"

Renge started running, leading everyone away, looking back repeatedly with a reluctant expression.

Good, they're gone. They would have been in the way if they were here.

Now I can fight without any distractions and try out different things.

"Let them go!"

Gizarum launched several magic spears from the magic ball at the fleeing Renge and the others.

But the magic barrier I deployed deflected them.

With a dull sound, the deflected magic spears pierced a soldier.

"Hey, don't waste the magic power you just gathered. It won't be fun unless you use all your magic power."

"...Kukuku... So, you want to die that much, huh? I'll grant your wish. My 'Black Death Sphere' is my strongest technique, which swallows everything into a subspace. Let's see if you can still talk back after facing this!"

Gizarum rapidly condensed the gathered magic ball.

The sound of space warping echoed around.

That black vortex looks familiar.

If that's the case... As I was thinking, Grimo shouted.

"Hey, Lloyd-sama, what are you planning to do!? The magic pressure is too intense!"

"It's fine, I'll take it."

"Didn't I just tell you not to do anything reckless!?"

Gizarum, with a fierce expression, brought down the raised hands.

"Ha! If you think you can take it, try it! Swallow everything! 'Black Death Sphere'!"

With a roar, the high-speed magic ball was launched, sweeping away debris, piercing soldiers, and absorbing dust, but it continued to head towards me.

I created a 'Fireball' and launched it at the magic ball.

With a hiss, the flame disappeared, leaving a trail of smoke.

"Ha-ha-ha! Useless, useless! My 'Black Death Sphere' swallows and crushes everything, whether it's a magic barrier or anything else! Defense is impossible! Just be crushed!"

Gizarum laughed maniacally.

Grimo shouted as the magic ball approached.

"Daah! It's still too reckless!"

"It's fine, it's not reckless."

I muttered in response.

Earlier, I experienced Gizarum's abilities and understood them.

The magic is sent with commands, but its effects are limited to simple ones.

And just like I neutralized the magic spears with 'Shock Rock Fang,' similar magic can be countered.

Gizarum said that magic is derived from the power used by demons.

So, the difference is whether it uses a spell or not, right?

I remember a similar phenomenon caused by a magic spell.

--The spatial magic 'Void.'

A spell that creates a hole leading to a subspace and eliminates anything it touches.

It can swallow anything, including magic barriers.

I once tested how much mass 'Void' could swallow and ended up swallowing an entire mountain.

At that moment, I wondered:

What would happen if I pitted these spells against each other?

The result was something to be seen.

"---So, here goes."

When I activated 'Void,' a black vortex appeared in front of me.

Immediately, it collided with the magic ball.

With a groaning sound, they mixed, clashed, and merged—then both disappeared.

"What, what!?"

Gizarum's face was one of shock. Yes, when holes to a subspace collide, they devour each other and cancel out, leaving nothing.

I wish I could relive the excitement I felt when I lined up 'Void' and fired them, especially after sneaking out of the castle at midnight to test them on the sea where no one was around... Ahem, but that's beside the point.

"Was that your strongest technique, Gizarum?"

"G-gr-gr..."

Gizarum gritted his teeth at my words.

Hmm, it seems his earlier words were true.

Then I have no more use for him. It's time to end this.

"Then this time, I'll take the initiative."

As I took a step forward, Gizarum stepped back.