In her fit of rage, Ultima summoned several of the Black Orbs.
The uniformed man ―― First Lieutenant Kondo ―― sensed the danger from those orbs and,
「Brace yourselves! Those are Abyss Cores!」
Shouting out, he equipped his gun, and, destroyed one of the Abyss Cores using Dispel and Eraser bullets in rapid-fire.
He would have shot down the remaining Cores too but,
「Hello? Look, I’m your opponent!」
Carrera stopped Kondo’s barrage by herself shooting a full strength Energy Ball at him.
A tremendous amount of Energy that was as if a manifestation of Carrera’s rage. But the real feat what that of Kondo’s, who had repelled it all while remaining stoic of face.
But, now he had no room to look after anyone else, and as if being completely isolated with Carrera, their single combat had began. (TN: I ship ‘em already. :3 )
Abyss Cores.
Pumping them with ridiculous amounts of mana, a genuine death ray, the “Death Streak” would be made.
And last but not least, the best usage was to use Mana Manipulation to alter the lumps into a compressed state.
It was the essence of Nuclear Magic.
It was easy to do, and was the easiest to control.
Therefore, even at sizes as small as a fists, the Royal Knights clearly understood the power of a simple Abyss Core.
「I-impossible! How are there so many of these huge Abyss Cores!?」
「The Mages’ Barriers won’t hold, all hands, eliminate those Cores!!」
And all of them made their moves.
But the majority of the Airships in the sky would undoubtedly be destroyed by the explosion.
Not to mention, they couldn’t allow such explosions near the Emperor even if he were to be safe.
「What monstrosity!? To summon so many large Abyss Cores without any problem…..」
That was the honest impression of the Royal Knights.
But 5 of them were still desperately trying to suppress the mana overflow.
「Bzzt! Sorry, ti~me’s up!!」
With an innocent delight.
And at the same time, the Abyss Cores began their transformation.
This was the Magic Alteration ability of the Ultimate Skill attained by Ultima, 『Poison King Samael』.
Meaning that, as they couldn’t eliminate the Abyss Cores with their Holy Magic, resistance was futile.
As a result, they met no end other than death.
The Squirming Tentacles of Black Fire gradually covered up its prey, and engulfed them.
Fearing her end,
「H-help me, lieutenant Kondo!! 」
Knight No. 6, Minaza, desperately seeked rescue from Kondo.
He had his hands full with Carrera, and simply couldn’t spare the time to save his subordinates.
So without even facing her,
「I, can’t.」
He spoke pragmatically.
「N-no way a――」
Before Minaza could even scream, it was over.
「”Limit End”! Ahahahaha!!
Now, we can go one-on-one!」
Ultima playfully laughed.
Like a Black Flame Whip.
And using that whip, she recovered the Energy from the Knights who just perished.
「Pretty tasty. You’re happy to be of some use aren’t you?」
She said while slurping up those short-lived feelings of fear and hopelessness.
While shuddering, Damrada analysed the current situation.
No, he should have been able to imagine it.
Except, that he had taken those factors into consideration and concluded that the Empire was stronger.
That strength at the tournament was on par with the lower ranked Royal Knights.
However, they, the Knights, themselves possessed the Ultimate Gift 『Alternative』.
(Did they grow stronger……? No…… they weren’t going all out at the tournament.)
And now.
Even Arch Demons would be a laughing stock.
Surpassing even Demon Dukes, as if it was like a second coming of Guy ・ Crimson……
Minaza had screamed, and then disappeared.
Of course the reason……
The girl sneered,
「Heh, I guess this should be fun?」
Her sights set on the target, she began the assault.
(This Bitch…… did she just kill of the weaker one’s to even out the numbers……?)
As of now, the numbers were so that every one of the Demon Dukes could have a go.
Very well, we’ll be bringing it.
The power of the strongest knights, the Royal Knights.
Ultima observed the Knights wearing a thin smile.
She wouldn’t be so sure of victory if she hadn’t ascended.
And then,
(Dammit, that Diablo. Making us train with these battles……
If Testa realized this, she’d be flipping out.
Well, it’s a good chance…… I guess it’s fine to train the underlings.)
She understood Diablo’s intentions and decided to act accordingly.
The Demons would all find a partner to test their mettle in battle.
To become so strong after gaining control over her power, Ultima never thought it possible.
Those weaklings couldn’t even handle her simple Abyss Cores.
She had expected more of them to survive.
Of course, the Demon Dukes, who didn’t have Ultimate Skills, wouldn’t have it so easy against the Royal Knights.
Though, It’d be bad if they did.
But the experience gained from this fight would surely bolster their prospects.
Only by tasting Guy’s fearsome attack overlapped with Ultimate Skills did she truly desire one such Skill for herself.
Her pre-ascended self couldn’t even overcome such a playful, whimsical, non-serious magic.
Bearing a title of high Nobility among the strongest of Demons, she couldn’t even make use of her specialty of magic resistance.
She got to have such an experience only because she was Demon Lord Rimuru’s subordinate.
Ultima felt that she couldn’t even hope for more.
Demons, as opposed to humans, were much higher beings.
As a result, perfecting their control raised them to even greater heights.
In the end, the base Spiritual (Holy) Power in humans wasn’t much.
And then, I see, she thought.
(It’s true that we Demons have high Energy potential. So we tend to rely on that power too much huh.)
Excluding Testarossa, Carrera and herself indeed indulged in that bad habit.
Testarossa was elegant and flawless.
Carrera was haughty and aloof.
But herself……
She had neither Testarossa’s precision, nor Carrera’s abundance.
Still……
(I want to be number 1!)
―― Don’t bask in the power you haven’t attained yourself ――
She reminded herself of those words from Diablo.
Therefore, she too.
Ultima swore in her heart.
Not the “power” she had never wished for, but the “Skill” she earnestly desired; she would perfect it.
And now.
Ultima honestly found it interesting.
She already understood the fact, but now, had finally, truly recognized it.
So, being able to enjoy her fight, both took their best stance, and initiated fierce combat.
Carrera’s knees hit the earth.
A true master.
There was no anger.
He was not easy prey.
Reading the flow of mana required to activate the magic, he would precisely cut off the current.
With the bizarre bullets from the gun in his hand.
Unbeknownst to Carrera, this gun was a God-tier weapon.
It was cylindrical in shape, and could withstand intensive explosions.
Kondo would use his Skills to first create a mana explosion, and further, materialize and eject a bullet.
Kondo would mould the “Divine Edge” into the shape of a bullet, and then coat it with the effects of the Skill before firing.
Finding the enemy’s weakness, or flow of mana, and precisely striking them down.
With unyielding fealty, Kondo had secured his position among the highest in the Empire.
Carrera jittered in the humiliation called reality.
With that mindset,
「FUCKING HUMA~N!!」
She cried, then hit her face with the back of her hand.
But that was fine.
This was, she acknowledged, a suitable foe. She was no longer the aloof Carrera, but took on an earnestly serious attitude.
Unlike the past, she could not allow herself to be selfish……
「Was that too scary?
I was making light of you, or rather, humans in general, and ended up holding back you see.
Who could possibly know that I……
Would actually, truly, seriously face off against a human.」
And she gently rose.
And at that, Kondo, for the first time, changed his expression.
「Oh, so you were hiding that much……
I too shall face you in earnest.」
After having spoken, for the first time, Kondo donned his “Armour”.
It symbolized, for First Lieutenant Kondo, his battledress, and furthermore, this Uniform was a God-tiered armour.
Carrera stood, and released her rich mana.
And,
「Loyal Servant of Demon Lord Rimuru-sama, I am Carrera, “Menace Lord”. In the name of the “Menace Lord”, I vow to kill you.」
She declared.
「Former Imperial Army First Lieutenant, Kondo Tatsuya.
I shall rise to that challenge.」
Responded Kondo.
The two sized each other up, and released their power.
Carrera, at the precise moment, awakened to the power manifesting as a result of her determination ―― Ultimate Skill 『Extinction King Abaddon』 ―― and grasped for it.
However, that was not enough.
Whether it be Diablo, or this Kondo fellow. To say nothing of Guy ・ Crimson, or the Demon Lord brass.
If that was the case, just like her defeat against Guy’s magic, she would end up only as fodder for the strong no matter how much she struggled.
She had always felt a raging power inside her, but finally, she decided to appreciate it.
She would not just control, but liberate it.
―― Mine “Power”, I shall name thee. Becometh mine “Skill (Abaddon)”, and be liberated from thine shackles!!――
And she attained it.
―― Ultimate Skill 『Extinction King Abaddon』――
Meeting such a formidable foe sparked in her, for the first time, a deep desire for power.
Facing Kondo, one she desired to kill more than Guy, Carrera focused.
It was at that moment.
Rimuru had fired his “Veldora Sword”.
The Emperor, who was, until now. under the safety of “Castle Guard”, and was focusing on controlling Veldora,
「No way, why?
Why, was Veldora defeated?!
It was just a lowly Demon Lord, a puny slime!
How, could it consume it’s master, and take that power for itself!!
To get in the way of my plans…. Unforgivable, you lowly Demon Lord!!」(TN: Spaghetti status: Re: DROPPED)
Shouted out and stood up.
The situation thus further intensified, and shifted into gear. (TN: code for cliff-hanger!!)