CHAPTER 57: OLDRICH SEEMS LIKE A GOOD BABYSITTER

"What do we do, Aimer? Maybe we should just surrender or try to seduce him?"

"Are you insane? Do you want to die that badly?"

"Well... I’m just tired of running. We’ve been sprinting through this corridor forever, and my legs are giving out! So what’s our next plan?"

"The plan...? I don’t know... Ash, I know you’re not as weak as you pretend to be. Why are you still holding back your power now?"

Ash stopped in her tracks.

"You want to know why?"

"Yes. I mean... at this rate, we won’t survive. If there’s ever a time to drop the mask, it’s now. Don’t worry... I won’t tell anyone."

"A mask, huh? What kind of mask do I supposedly wear, if you know everything about me?"

"D-Don’t act dumb!" Aimer snapped. "The Grimmveil family can see the spiritual energy colors of any being. When I look at you, I see everything. What you think. Even what you hide."

Ash scratched her cheek, a bit embarrassed.

"Can’t argue with that... You know, last time you told me to stay away from Atheron. That’s impossible while we’re both at the academy."

"...Now’s a great time to have this talk."

"I think it is. All I want to say is — I’m not interested in your guy. We’re just alike. That’s why I trust him. And as for myself... I’m after something entirely different than what you assume."

"Ash... I’ll be honest, you’ve always seemed like a sly fox. But if Atheron trusts you, I guess I’ve got no say."

Behind them, the crashing of walls echoed down the corridor. Oldrich was flying toward them, smashing everything in his path.

Ash smirked.

"So, you think so poorly of me. What a shame. All I ever wanted was to live life on my own terms. Want me to change your opinion of me?"

She raised her hands toward the hallway. Flames sparked from her palms, forming a perfect sphere of red fire.

"That’s..."

"I’m good at two things. First — Destruction element. Fire that can incinerate even the greater souls. Warning: not to be used on humans! And second..."

This was no ordinary sphere. Rings of energy circled around it, expanding until it filled the corridor.

’How did she learn a technique of such high level...!?’

Suddenly, the red flame started to swirl with black.

"...combine two arcane elements into a singular force!"

The fireball turned yellow and black, devouring the walls with its power.

’Black fire...’ Aimer was stunned.

"Flamestriker!!"

BOOM!

The sphere shot toward Oldrich.

An enormous blast tore through the building. The great sphere devoured space itself.

KABOOM!!!

"Ash... that spell... It’s not even Supreme-level. Who even are you?"

"Hehe. We should worry about our heads, like you said. I don’t think that brute survived that one."

...

The walls collapsed into the abyss. Smoke flooded the corridor.

Breathing. Footsteps. The girls froze.

"You’re quite something, girls," Oldrich emerged from the smoke. "Combining two energies into one spell? Haven’t seen that in ages."

"Wow, he’s still standing..." Ash chuckled awkwardly. "Damn it."

"You’re wondering why I’m not dead, huh? Only fools flail around and hope for miracles. In battle, expect the worst—it might be your last."

His curved sword lit up in white flame.

"Ash, run!"

"On it!"

"Enough already..." Oldrich muttered. "Is running all you can do?!"

BAM!

He lunged forward, suddenly appearing in front of them. His towering form loomed, grinning.

’So fast...?!’

Oldrich blocked their path with his sword.

"Hey, mister... care to tell us why you’re attacking? Maybe we can chat over tea and talk this out!"

"You fox. Do you try to make friends with all your enemies?"

"Only when my life’s on the line!" Ash said. "I don’t like fighting, especially when I don’t understand why I’m supposed to die."

"Too bad. Enough talk with the intruders. This is where you both die."

Suddenly, Oldrich slashed. The speed — unblockable by any normal human.

No way to survive.

CRACK!!

...

Black fire appeared, shielding the girls from the blow. They hadn’t even realized what happened.

Jumping back, they stood on guard. Oldrich laughed.

"I see. So that’s what we’re dealing with."

Oldrich charged again. The girls dodged the first strike, but he swung again.

Too fast!

WHAM!!

The black fire deflected it again, saving Ash’s life a second time.

"Hahaha! Now that’s a spell! At first, I thought you got lucky. But when I saw your faces the second time—I knew! It activates automatically when death is near!"

Aimer stared at her.

"Ash... Was that you?"

Ash didn’t respond.

Oldrich stomped the ground. The floor cracked, sending a shockwave.

Another unblockable strike.

The black fire formed a barrier again, and the girls escaped.

"There’s gotta be a way out... This isn’t a normal space. I think we’re inside someone’s domain!"

"Ash... what the hell was that? Is it Darkness element? How do you even know about it?"

"So eager to find out? Well, since you’ve already seen it... Yes, it’s Darkness."

"A forbidden element..."

The building shattered. The floor fell into shadow. The girls were swallowed by darkness.

They turned to face Oldrich.

"You’ve nowhere left to run. This place is tiny... and infinite. No matter where you step, you can’t move more than ten meters from me. Ladies, you’ve got one choice: fight until your last breath."

He raised his sword. It floated, spinning clockwise, glowing with white energy.

"One of you pissed me off. A technique that reflects attacks on its own... Annoying. I’ll have to put you intruders in your place."

He raised a hand. White energy surged through his body.

"Hear me, Mado. Scorching Wanderer!"

Two glowing hands appeared behind him, gripping a radiant sword three times taller than a man.

"That’s the spirit of my brother... someone I failed to save. Now, he’s my guardian."

Oldrich grasped his sword and slashed.

"Now, try blocking this."

Heed me, Mado... a technique that didn’t fit into their understanding. The girls were facing something divine.

An ultimate technique... one that could not be blocked!