Chapter 19: Which is important? part 1
Before I could do anything, Stalin made his move.
Nevertheless, I was able to invoke my magic quickly before the sword hit me.
「Orbs of light engulfing the Flame Demon of light, penetrate through and defeat the enemy—『Gun Fire』–!!」 (Regis)
The fireball shot out of my palm, aiming right at Stalin.
That was what I was convinced of, but—-
「……warm」 (Stalin)
Stalin ended up receiving the fireball attack on the left odachi.
However he didn’t seem to have received any damage from that attack.
Hmm, I was only preoccupied with the incoming attack from his right hand so I had failed to take notice of his other hand.
I guess this guy is able to attack and defend at the same time.
「…..Did you finally understand the reason why I wield two swords? 」 (Stalin)
He muttered sarcastically.
On seeing that my movement was delayed due to my chanting, he swung his sword down.
A chorus of enthusiastic voices rang out around the arena.
*Gyin* A sharp sound resounded as I parried his sword.
「…..Wha-!?」 (Stalin)
「This is what you call parrying. I can acquire this skill too after a sufficient amount of training. 」 (Regis)
This is the best solution you could use to cover a magician’s weakness.
As a result, the ability to concentrate will also weaken.
In the meantime, you could endure the enemy’s attack using a melee weapon.
By adopting this strategy, you would not make any blunders even when you go against a swordsman.
「…..as I thought, you are, different than, the usual nobles. 」 (Stalin)
「…….but, it might be possible that, you have not been taught, the ways to defend against magic. 」 (Stalin)
「What? 」 (Regis)
At that moment, an enormous wave of magical energy was discharged from Stalin’s body.
He stuck out his hand towards me and chanted ominously.
「Dark thunder, torment the weakness of the earth. Let the glittering flash fall hard like strong electric blade—–『Electron Abyss』」 (Stalin)
The instant the incantation was recited, huge bolts of lightning flew out from that guy’s body.
The range of that attack was too wide that it couldn’t be completely avoided.
I stiffened my face and head, taking a defensive posture to receive a portion of the lightning.
「Gu–, it feels numb. 」 (Stalin)
All the lightning bolts received were diffused and reflected inside my body, stimulating a sense of pain.
However, lightning magic is also a field in which I am specialized in.
Such a degree of attack would not stop my heart.
Once your offensive skill in that attribute increased, your resistance in that attribute will also increase simultaneously.
Nevertheless, there’s no way I can afford to lose to something like lightning after studying the expert level of magic.
On seeing that I was still standing still even after receiving that attack, Stalin clicked his tongue.
「…..obstinate. 」 (Stalin)
「……what? 」 (Stalin)
「A thunder magic should be something, like this! 」 (Regis)
I took a stance as if I was dedicating my whole body to the sky.
Then I took a step forward, pushing out the magic power from the entire surface.
「Flash of thunderbolt, pierce through the earth. Pass your heavenly judgement and surge out the evil spirit—『Bolt Judgement』–!!」 (Regis)
A wave of amplified electricity was transmitted out at an extraordinary speed.
It was an overwhelming sea of thunder.
「….tsk, this is. 」 (Stalin)
Stalin pulled back in an attempt to avoid it.
As described in the expert level book of magic, it is a genuine high-level magic.
The speciality of this inevitable thunder magic is its speed.
At a lightning speed that one’s eyes couldn’t even follow, the thunder attack mowed down the assassin’s body.
「….Guo-!」 (Stalin)
He was blown off as he couldn’t endure it.
Unfortunately, his posture broke.
「Alright. Now’s the time! 」 (Regis)
I should deal the decisive blow before he fixed his stance again.
However, at that moment, Stalin’s body reeled from side to side.
The phenomenon happening looked similar to a heat haze.
And then, right before I could press ahead, his body suddenly disappeared.
「….Could it be-!?」 (Regis)
I looked around in a hurry.
My heart began beating in an unpleasant tempo.
While my being alert, a burning sensation ignited in my back all of a sudden.
「…..Giu-!?」 (Regis)
Shit! I was slashed!
The assassin looked down at me with a cold gaze.
Seeing that, I tried to get to my feet somehow to resume the attack.
The wound is just shallow.
Stalin approached me even though he was wobbling as he walked.
「…..It’s a dazzle magic. Called 『Confubody』. The backlash is great. Using it excessively is, impossible. But—–」 (Stalin)
*Chakkiri* He fixed his grips on both of the odachi again.
What the two swords were aiming for, was probably my head.
「…..just once, is enough to kill you.」 (Stalin)
Stalin tried to swing down the sword.
It’s no longer possible to turn the tables anymore from here.
An unexpected result wouldn’t occur after all.
That must be what they were thinking of.
In the midst of all the sighing from the audience, my lips curled into a smile.
「……explode, 『Cross Blast』」 (Regis)
The surrounding area turned into a billowing sea of flames at that moment.
I could also push him into a valley of defeat.
Stalin opened his eyes wide when he saw the activation of the fire magic.
「……Wha-! On its, own!? 」 (Stalin)
Yes.
The blazing flames scorched the skin and burnt the clothes.
Since the magic was activated by a chantless magic, it wasn’t possible to control the level of the heat at all.
But, that guy felt the same pain equally.
From here on, it would just be a test of our endurance.
「You know, I was locked in a sauna before a long time ago. 」 (Regis)
「Well just listen. Even though I was still inside, the cleaner locked up the door. 」 (Regis)
It was during the time when I was up the whole night on my PC.
It was interesting. The ending made my tears flow all over.
Then, early the next morning.
That was the time when it happened.
Due to my negligence, I ended up falling asleep in the sauna.
I was the biggest fool since that act itself was comparable to suicide.
So it wasn’t really the fault of the cleaner.
If this were to have persisted for a little longer, it would have led to an accidental death.
Well, this was not what I really wanted to tell him anyway.
「It was very hot inside. Not to mention, there was one old man with me before I fell asleep. He happened to love sweating it out in a sauna with exceedingly high temperature. After using up all the water in the bucket, he went back. So, when I finally woke up in the afternoon, the temperature I felt at that time was already comparable to the feeling of being grilled alive on an iron plate. 」 (Regis)
That was because, that old man is someone who adjusted the heat only as he enters the sauna.
Any ordinary person who were to accompany him might’ve gone through a near-death experience in that temperature.
As a result, I became frightened of being cooped up in an enclosed space.
The moment I recalled that memory, I could feel laughter welling up inside me. It was pathetic.
「In the end, I became dehydrated and was taken to the medical center instantly. How much later do you think it was when I was finally rescued? 」 (Regis)
「It was after 38 hours. 」 (Regis)
「That was because, the day after that was something like a holiday. The employees and manager had switched off everything, neglecting me who was still inside. It was later exposed that it was actually a no good shop that has committed accounting fraud and it went out of business after. In a sense, I was grateful—–」 (Regis)
We stood in the middle of the blazing flames.
Then I fixed my eyes on him.
「I’ll show you the limits of my endurance. 」 (Regis)
「…..nonsense. 」 (Stalin)
He might have spat that line out but, the heat appeared to be affecting him considerably too.
Despite the amount of time he has spent in his combat training, there was still no way he could’ve withstand this condition.
I was a useless NEET in my previous life.
But there is one thing about myself that I am proud of.
I have an abnormally high pain tolerance and endurance.
This level of heat meant nothing to me.
On hearing that confident declaration, Stalin laughed through his nose.
Then, he pointed to his own clothes, hoping to worsen my despair.
「…..it’s, regrettable. I am equipped with, 『Burning Flame Dragonscale Armour』. It was something, that was ripped off another family. Made of high grade materials. A first class goods. Not only is it light, it is also capable of, blocking out intense heat from lightning, and fire.」 (Stalin)
「……that’s the difference of power, in which we belong to. It’s not something that, a fallen noble like you, can prepare. 」 (Stalin)
I see.
He was wearing such high-performance armour.
I would definitely lose now if we were to compete in it.
It might have been a miscalculation on my part.
However, I’ll give him a payback for his mockery too.
「So? I didn’t create this sea of fire just so we could have a sauna endurance competition. 」 (Regis)
「…..Hmph, then what are you planning on—」 (Stalin)
Stalin scoffed.
Being encircled by blazing fire, there was no other choice for him than to move forward.
Even when he cast a furtive glance behind, what awaited him was a wall of scorching flame.
Moreover, I was also in the midst of chanting before his eyes.
Yes. My real motive in this suicidal action was to limit his movements.
「Orbs of light engulfing the Flame Demon of light, penetrate through and defeat the enemy—『Gun Fire』–!」 (Regis)