Yuma decided to first observe.
How Bell and Luke would deal with Ades, the king of the Giant Tribe.
Bell stepped forward.
Three swords condensed with a white light of sharpness.
A flash surged toward Ades.
Zzzeooom──!
Gray smoke puffed up from the giant’s gray skin.
Red blood sprayed out in a circle. The wounds healed so quickly that it was almost embarrassing to call them wounds.
GoooUUUUUUU!!
Black divine energy surged from the giant Ades’s entire body.
Black smoke billowed from his mouth as well.
Even the supreme aura blades of Bell and Luke couldn’t pierce the giant’s rock-like skin. An empty hole. Then, with black light, flesh and bones surged back.
This absurd cycle continued seamlessly.
Bell gritted her teeth and took a strong step forward.
Ades’s head, reminiscent of a massive Moai statue, tilted down fiercely. A loud, sharp cry erupted from the lips of the warriors standing at the very front.
“Form 2!”
It sounded like the signal that the second form of attack was about to begin.
GoooUUUUUUU!!
A black light gathered into a point in Ades’s mouth.
A sphere that looked like black energy advanced, smashing the ground.
“Dodge!!”
The warriors who were attacking close to Ades quickly threw themselves backward.
Rolling their bodies. Throwing themselves back, they struggled to distance themselves from Ades.
The ‘Form 2’ attack wasn’t just about spraying black beams.
[Lv.223]
The giant Ades slammed his massive foot onto the ground.
Rumble──!
The thunderous sound echoed throughout the entire White Night fortress.
Black divine energy rose chillingly across the ground.
A young warrior who was rolling away suddenly flew up into the air. And became completely defenseless in midair.
“GRAAAAHH!”
Black flames shot up from the ground like a blade, completely engulfing the body of the White Night warrior.
He had been caught by one of the patterns of the ‘ground slam’ attack.
“Forever shall I bend my body in the frame─!”
“Forever shall I bend my body in the frame─!”
Two White Night mages clad in white robes simultaneously chanted a 4th-circle binding magic.
A golden frame was created in midair and slammed down onto the body of giant Ades.
It could only bind Ades’s body for a very brief moment. The White Night mages knew this fact as well.
Four warriors charged in at once, dragging the warrior engulfed in black flames away.
This binding magic was merely a means to gain a chance to rescue the warrior.
There were only 5 mages in the White Night tribe. The tribe’s innate talent was skewed towards swordsmanship rather than magic.
Among the 5 mages, the most accomplished, 5th-circle mage Helen, held her staff while sweating profusely.
The spell was swiftly executed.
Healing magic, which was difficult to acquire for those born with mana circuits unsuited for it, was completed in Helen’s hands.
A green light burst forth from the circular formation, extinguishing the black flames.
“Uuuh…!”
And it seeped into his body, healing the warrior’s scars.
Yuma couldn’t help but admire the quick responses of the White Night tribe who didn’t panic.
The warriors of the White Night tribe began to move in unison again.
The blades of about 30 warriors flickered with a sharpness.
“Haah!”
“Hit it!”
A slashing attack, with an intent similar to the binding magic just demonstrated by the mages, surged toward the giant Ades.
A strike of intent, similar to binding magic, surged fiercely towards the giant Ades.
It was a net drawn from a blade.
Those countless nets all possessed a tough resilience and compactness that couldn’t be easily severed.
Crack-a-doom!
White blades of energy covered both the upper and lower body of Ades simultaneously. And bound him, like a spider web tightly ensnaring its prey.
Boom! Rumble!
Ades, now a part of the ice wall, struggled tirelessly to rise while enveloped in the bladed net, but all he could achieve was a violent heave—those nets wouldn’t tear easily.
[Lv.185]
Luke stepped forward once more.
Sssshhh…
The massive sword held by Luke began to gather endless streams of white energy. It was as if a vortex was forming around him.
A white storm roared to life around the sword.
Luke bent both knees and then sprang up simultaneously.
Kwah—crack!
The ice shards where Luke stood shattered, sending numerous frozen fragments flying.
Suspended in mid-air, as if standing on the sky, Luke leaned his arms back.
His face twisted into a grotesque visage resembling a demon.
The responsibility to finish this damned ordeal weighed heavily on him.
He had always felt that burden.
Therefore, he clung to his mentally exhausted state and relentlessly confronted the king of the Giant Tribe, Ades, every day, every moment with his utmost effort.
[White Devil]
Luke’s primary skill came crashing down.
Towards the 90m giant Ades, whose limbs were bound by the warriors of his clan.
Zzzrrrraaahhhh!!
A vicious sound of rupture echoed through the white night.
Without a doubt, a crack had formed. It was visible even to the naked eye—a clear cut running from the giant’s crown to the center of its chest.
A grave wound, one could say it was halfway severed.
Shiiiiiiiiiik!
From beside Luke, something shot out like a ghost.
In the center of its pink eyes, a pure white light streamed forth.
Blue long hair fluttered.
[Downfall]
Bell’s sword fell vertically.
She traced the trajectory of the attack inflicted by her father, Luke, the chieftain of the white night clan, towards the enemy.
To finally end Ades.
However—
Kwaaaaaaaak!!!
Ades, having completely ripped away the bladed net, roared while summoning black divine energy throughout his body.
Chwaaaaaak!
The damage inflicted by [White Devil] was instantly healed. The extreme wounds sealed up in an instant, like water merging seamlessly with water, without a trace of discomfort.
The blazing black flames of divine energy throughout his body also provided him with a protective barrier.
Kaaaahng!
He deflected [Downfall] completely.
Swish!
As Bell regained her composure, she performed a backflip.
And landed safely on the ground.
“Tsk.”
She couldn’t help but click her tongue.
The blade of her sword was entirely damaged.
Once again.
Today too, she couldn’t kill this damned king of the god race.
Would she forever be unable to break free from this curse?
Pff…
Snow began to fall from the sky.
Tududududududu─!
It was definitely worthy of being called a heavy snowfall.
The scene of a blizzard descending upon the castle of the white night was indeed a splendid sight.
[Lv.125] Bell
Bell summoned her energy throughout her body.
The white energy.
And took a step forward.
“Magicians… everyone. Sharpen this snow. To the maximum.”
“Make it sharp and frozen!”
The mages of the White Night had their doubts, but they didn’t voice them. It was trust and belief in the struggles Bell had faced so far.
Bell’s eyes sharpened. A genuine anger surged from her toes. The object of that anger was crystal clear.
That giant, the king of the God Race, Ades.
“Freeze sharply!”
The mages transformed the heavy snowfall descending upon the White Night into razor-sharp hail with their [Freezing] magic. Among those mages was Cloney, who resonated with Bell.
A white aura began to radiate from Bell’s body, stretching out like silk spun by a silkworm, rippling across a tranquil sea. Its presence was unmistakably clear.
Crack!
The aura entwined with the sharp hail made by the mages.
Crack crack!
Countless eyes. Hundreds of eyes. Thousands of eyes. They gathered behind Bell like formless swords, exuding a menacing aura.
“What the…?”
“This is what they mean by a talent gap.”
The swordsmen of the White Night stared in shock at the multitude of sword-like eyes created by Bell. Among them were Haven and Luke.
Overwhelming genius.
Bell summoned every ounce of power she could muster. Her pupils gleamed once more.
Kugugugugugugugu!
Thousands of formless swords created by Bell poured down upon the giant Ades like a torrential rain.
Kruuuuuuuuuuuge!
Ades’s body was engulfed by the descent of thousands of white blades.
Swoosh—
Bell raised her sword up to her shoulder, aligning her stance. Her legs spread wide.
Stab.
It was the position that maximized the power of [Frost Bloom].
Kwaaaang!!
The glacier beneath Bell’s feet buckled. The chill of the white night spread like a sonic boom.
‘Faster.’
Determined to end this with this blow.
Bell’s power was unleashed.
Kiiiiiiiiing!
Kwaaaaaaaang!
Ades’s scream echoed.
A torrent of black smoke erupted from his upper body. Black liquid gushed forth like a fountain from the crater left by Bell’s [Frost Bloom].
But that was brief.
Splat.
The crater-like scar was quickly restored as a sinister glow sparked in Ades’s eyes.
“…Man, that crazy God Race.”
Bell laughed wryly, her mouth twisting. She felt all the strength draining from her body, ready to collapse onto the ground without a care.
She had pushed her limits to the brink.
At that moment, someone appeared beside her.
“White Night Clan.”
A heavy voice flowed into Bell’s ear. It was a noble, majestic tone.
“It seems like you’re the one I’ve been looking for.”
“…What?”
From Bell’s clueless perspective, Yuma’s words made no sense.
“If I kill that God Race king, Ades, and end your clan’s burden, will you come with me?”
Bell’s pink eyes widened in surprise as she gazed at Yuma.
“Hehehe… Hihihih!”
Bell, looking utterly bewildered, burst into laughter as if she had lost her mind.
Then, shortly after, she suddenly stopped.
“…If you do that, will you really follow along?”
Bell glanced at Yuma and smiled softly.
“If you manage that, and our clan gains freedom…”
Her smile was quite lovely.
“I’ll give you everything.”
Hearing that, Yuma looked straight ahead.
“Remember those words.”
Kuuuuuuuuuuuung!
The king of the Giant Tribe, Ades, was approaching with his massive footfalls.
Kiiiii──────────────ng!!
Something was gathering in the gaping mouth of Ades.
It was black magical energy.
“It’s a Level 2!”
“What are you doing!! Dodge it!”
A chorus of voices rose in panic.
Ignoring the noise, Yuma pulled out Aksion.
Srrrung…
A giant standing 90 meters tall, firmly planted on the ground.
Before such a giant stood a man standing still.
At this moment, only two people believed in that man: Cloney and Hestia.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!!!
Black light spewed forth as if to swallow the world of White Night.
Yuma stepped forward with his right foot.
He took the center of the black light as his parrying point.
Zza────────ang!
The parry was successful.
<Absolute Counter>
The black light reversed.
Towards the sky.
No, towards the upper body and head of the Giant King Ades.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!!!
Ades’s upper body was crushed by the black light. The black light poured out fiercely. But─
Kwa-didd-didd!
Goodidd-didd!
Zzaaaang!
The [Absolute Counter] skill was unaffected by the target’s defense.
No matter how excellent ‘regeneration’ and ‘recovery’ might be, nullifying the very foundation of the giant race’s durability made any effect nearly useless.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaang─!
Ades’s face, struck directly by the black magical energy, caved in from the jaw.
All regeneration and recovery were ignored.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!!
In the end, the upper body and head of the Giant Race’s Ades completely vanished.
It was death.
The death of the king of the Giant Race, Ades.
Kuu──gu…u──u……ung!
Bang!
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!
The 90-meter tall giant lost its life and collapsed to the ground, smashing the pillars of the White Night.
However, such pillars were of no concern to the present White Night clan.
“…Uh, uhh.”
Bell, staring blankly at Yuma, bowed her head towards her own body.
The sensation of the [Blood Pact], which had occasionally gripped her heart, disappeared.
Completely, without a trace of déjà vu.
A sense of liberation.
A powerful feeling of liberation surged from her toes.
All 120 members of the White Night clan shared that liberation on the land of White Night.
With the complete death of the king of the giants, [Ades], the entire [White Night Clan] was liberated from their burden.
