Volume 1 Chapter 105 Annihilation
I just learned a powerful magic called Annihilation. But I can't afford to miss the first shot.
Balzark doesn't know I can use this magic yet, but if he manages to dodge once, he'll be on guard. Then it will be difficult to hit him. Worst case scenario, he might even escape.
Using Annihilation will cut my lifespan in half. But I don't care about that anymore.
It's pointless to think about it.
Right now, the problem is figuring out how to hit Balzark with this magic.
The square is now filled with shadows created by Balzark.
The shadows of the dead are slowly moving towards me, and when they get close enough, they will all attack at once.
Balzark's figure is still not visible. It seems like he's hiding somewhere, waiting for an opportunity to attack while concealing his appearance, knowing that Extinction is an invisible magic.
Let's think carefully.
If I were Balzark, how would I win?
When our swords clash, he should feel the challenge of defeating me only through his shadows. No matter how many shadows he multiplies, it won't be enough to cover that fact.
However, if I recklessly expose myself, there is still a possibility of being instantly killed by a technique I haven't seen yet.
So, why did he multiply his shadows?
...I see.
There must be another move he hasn't shown yet.
The moment he brings it out and becomes confident of victory will be the breakthrough.
Since I can only use Instant Death Magic and don't have versatile skills, I can only exploit the tiniest opening when it is used.
I need to make Balzark let his guard down.
But there is not enough time left to come up with a detailed plan. It's a one-shot chance.
In the first place, Instant Death Magic itself is always a gamble.
That's why I'm struggling so much. To put it even more bluntly, I lack wisdom.
The outcome is decided in an instant.
If I miss that moment, I lose. But if I can win── if I can get the key, there's still hope.
But there's one crucial difference between me and Balzark in our positions, and he doesn't even know about it.
Balzark might have already noticed that I have some kind of big move, like "Annihilation," up my sleeve. But maybe if I wait for an opportunity that becomes meaningless, or wait until it doesn't matter anymore...
Suddenly, the march of shadows stopped.
Feeling suspicious, I braced myself, and the shadows began to gather in the center of the square.
Shadows of various sizes mixed together like sticky water, transforming into a bizarre mass with many hands sprouting out. Because they're shadows, there's no constraint that they have to have a human form.
If I'm going to use it, it's now.
The enormous shadow extended countless pitch-black arms, crawling towards me to grab me.
I dodged and cut off those arms with my sword. This won't end it.
I unleash "Extinction," but the individual arms of the shadows seem to act independently, so the black mass itself doesn't disappear.
I still can't see Balzark. I can't use Annihilation.
I have to wait for the opportunity. That's what I tell myself.
I run to the edge of the square to create some distance, then I charge towards a mass of shadows.
I dodge countless black arms and aim directly at the body.
Right behind it, Balzark should be there.
And then...
Suddenly, as if there was nothing there from the beginning, the shadow disappeared.
In its place, I saw Balzark holding a greatsword and charging straight towards me.
He's not a fool who just blindly attacks. He's planning something.
I have a gut feeling that now is my only chance.
We get closer to each other, and finally, the moment arrives.
Until we get really close, I must not use Annihilation.
I prepare myself so that I can activate it anytime.
"...Huh?"
──Suddenly, I felt a chill.
Something pierced my body, and I couldn't move forward anymore.
Shadows.
Many shadows, in the shape of long thorns, were piercing my entire body.
Looking around, there were countless black, linear objects above my head.
They were hundreds of humans, all floating in the air as sharp thorns.
They didn't need to take the form of living creatures.
When I faced forward, Balzark was closing in on me.
And with both hands, he held a pitch-black greatsword, ready to pierce my heart... and he did, deep and precise.
"Ugh... *cough*"
I coughed up a lot of blood. Balzark's face was stained with fresh blood.
Still, Balzark remained expressionless.
The intense pain, heat, and suffocating difficulty to breathe made me feel like I was losing my mind.
The sword I held in my right hand fell to the ground. That was the signal.
──Now, I thought it was time.
I pointed my right hand towards him and activated Annihilation.
There was a strange sound, like "Kyuu."
A very dark wave was released from my right hand.
It was much bigger than I imagined, and a terrifying darkness radiated in a straight line, crossing the square and piercing through thick clouds.
Balzark quickly let go of his sword. It was already too late.
Balzark, engulfed in darkness, began to struggle and squirm.
He tried to escape from this space, but he couldn't avoid the wave that was like a curse.
Every time he struggled, something would fly out of his body and disappear, as if his layered clothing was being taken off.
Those were the shadows that Balzark controlled. They gave him power and protected him from instant death, but they were being stripped away at an incredible speed.
"Uaarrgghh! Aaaarrrggghhh!!"
Balzark screamed, covering his face with both hands.
The souls of the people he had killed before were once again facing death.
The darkness created by Annihilation gradually became thinner and eventually disappeared completely.
Balzark fell to his knees.
He was still alive, but he had no strength left to fight.
"Serves you right!"
Balzark.
On that day, you underestimated me and thought I was insignificant.
But that wasn't the only problem. It was actually more complicated.
The sins and malice that you have accumulated over the years led to the future where you would be killed by me today.
One more shot, (Extinction), and he would die. I had a feeling about it.
Balzark looked at me and opened his mouth.
"Someone like you──"
(Extinction) hit its mark.
Balzark's body slowly disappeared, like ash blown by the wind.
He was saying something at the end, but I wasn't interested.
The shadow that had impaled my body disappeared, and I was free.
Only the greatsword that had pierced my heart remained.
In front of me, there was a red light instead of the disappeared Balzark.
It was the Inferno Key.
A golden key with a large red gem embedded in it slowly floated in the air and approached me.
Finally, all the keys had gathered in my hands.
The surroundings grew dark.
I knew that death was imminent. But before that happened, I called out a name.
"Ra, gi, us..."
My body floated in the air, and the greatsword fell out of my heart on its own.
My limbs, which had been a mess, returned to their original form, and the blood that had flowed out entered my body as if it had a will of its own.
When I landed on the ground, my body was completely restored.
"That was really dangerous."
After confirming that there were no issues with my movements, I picked up the dropped sword.
Based on my interactions with Ragius so far, he didn't intend to set me free, but he also didn't want to kill me.
He wanted me to do something.
He mentioned having some kind of plan.
So, I decided to use that against him. If I could gather the keys, Ragius would definitely help me.
I have Ragius by my side. The difference between me and Balzark lies there.
Since the opponent was an irredeemable villain, does it really matter if I cheat?
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