“……Chrono, are you planning to fight that thing?”
“No, I mean, how do I put it? It’d be bad if we just left it like this, right?”
Receiving Fiona’s cold gaze, I hurriedly explained myself. However, it wasn’t entirely just empty words.
“The armor going berserk has nothing to do with us, but… if that’s what you want, Chrono.”
“S-sorry, thanks.”
“Well, she’s a girl, so it’s only natural that she serves her boyfriend.”
I think it’s pretty amazing that Fiona can say such things with a straight face without any embarrassment.
After that awkward exchange, it seemed that there was no one else around us anymore. Everyone had run off quickly. Indeed, the people of Spada are tough.
“I’m sorry, Fiona, but if possible, I don’t want to break the armor.”
“Is it because it’s really cool?”
“That’s part of it, but… if I can’t secure it properly, I won’t be able to get money from Mordred.”
Even I wouldn’t want to work for free against such a dangerous opponent. At the very least, I should extract some sort of compensation or hassle fee from that guy, who would be responsible for this incident; otherwise, it wouldn’t be worth it.
“That means I won’t be able to provide much support. Do you have a strategy?”
“For now, I’ll try to see if I can suppress it with blackening.”
In other words, if I want to capture it without destroying it, that’s the only method I have. Well, just having even one possible hand is still a blessing.
“Alright, I’m off then.”
“Yes. However, if I determine it’s dangerous, I’ll blow it away with the armor as well.”
“Got it.”
Steeling myself to be careful, I took a step towards the cursed armor. After reattaching the gray glove on my left hand, which I had taken off to hold hands, I called forth my reliable partners from within the shadows.
“Ah, it really fits well in my hand.”
In my right hand, the Grudge Demon Blade “Neck Sever.” In my left hand, the Devourer Magic Sword “Extreme Evil Food.” With both cursed blades in hand, I was ready for battle.
To be honest, I was worried that I was wearing a uniform with no defensive power, but well, they don’t have weapons on their side either. It felt like a battle between the strongest spear and the strongest shield.
“Hey, you cool armor over there, let me wear you for a bit!”
Drenched in the ominous magical power exuding chills, I called out to the “Tyrant’s Armor,” which seemed ready to charge off to somewhere at any moment.
It seemed that it could hear my voice. It slowly turned its face toward me and, surprisingly, responded.
“I-I… am the king… I wish to meet those named…”
“A fair fight, then? Sounds good.”
Well then, I’ll go first.
It’s been a while since I fought after returning to Spada. In other words, this is my first real test of the Fifth Blessing.
Though I still couldn’t fully manipulate pseudo-wind attributes, I had practiced enough to use them to some degree. At the very least, I could generate wind without chanting.
What I generated was a small ball of wind. Imagine turbulence swirling inside a balloon. Yes, since it’s a balloon, a slight stimulus would cause it to burst. However, it could be directed to some extent.
I created one just ahead of my heel, barely above the ground. Though it was out of sight behind me, I could almost feel the thin, black smoke-like gas swirling around.
In essence, this acted like a starting block used in track and field, providing explosive thrust from the very first step.
“Here I go—”
With a light stomp of my shoe, the black wind starter erupted. The compressed gales within released all their wind pressure in compliance with the pre-assembled magical technique.
While my modified, enhanced physical strength is considerable, this would allow for nearly double the acceleration. It was probably a speed that the average person couldn’t catch.
With that speed, I crossed the short distance of about 5 meters. It was literally a fraction of a second into the range of my sword.
First, I would aim to slashing the elbow joint and restrict its ability to attack. With these two swords, I could sever both right and left at once.
“—Whoa!?”
However, my double strike cut through empty space. Before I could even feel a sense of impact, I definitely saw it begin to move.
“That’s…!”
The armor was standing to my right as if it had teleported. But it was clear at a glance that it wasn’t a teleportation spell or a body double through illusion.
Now, the armor that was formerly entirely black had eerie crimson lines similar to the blade of “Neck Sever” emerging from it. On a black backdrop like the bottom of an abyss, the vividly poisonous glowing lines were dazzling.
But what stood out was its back. Though there was no sound from behind it, particles glowing with fierce red light were scattering with tremendous force. I quickly realized what was happening.
“It has a booster similar to Taurus!”
A fearsome ancient weapon that could break through the massive and unbreakable Great Wall of Galahad. Just like that magical power booster which could lift a colossal body made of steel and propel it at high speed, particles were violently erupting from the armor’s back.
It’s likely that Taurus was blue due to normal primal magical power, but this one was glowing red because it was using black magic power.
“That means you’re not just an armor, but an ancient—whoa!”
In an instant, the “Tyrant’s Armor,” which was more than two meters tall, blurred and then closed the distance to me.
I barely managed to evade the fierce thrust, reminiscent of Sariel’s Stinger, that it unleashed.
What speed! Next, it seems I’ll need to use the “Thunder Demon King” to ensure I can read its moves. This mobility is far too dangerous.
“Dark Calm!”
As I tilted to the side to avoid the thrust, though half-collapsed, I could still unleash the “Dark Calm” because I was familiar with it. Though I claimed I didn’t intend to break it, the fact that I unleashed martial arts without hesitation indicated I believed in the armor’s defensive power.
Though I hadn’t landed a single hit yet, I understood it. If I wanted to cleave through this armor, I would need to deal a critical hit with “Dark Calm” at the perfect timing. A regular martial arts blow would probably just deflect off the armor’s thickened torso at best.
However, the expected heavy counterweight did not return to my hand.
The “Tyrant’s Armor” left only a crimson afterimage and flew straight back. My “Neck Sever” had barely grazed the rib-like chest armor.
“Oh, it can maneuver like that too?”
Despite the fact that it was propelled by a booster providing explosive power, it exhibited movements that defied inertia, flying sideways and backward, proving that speed wasn’t just linear.
It looked bulkier than a heavy cavalry, yet its movements around me, like a swordsman or assassin, were remarkably agile.
The plan was to overpower it with a heavy strike then grapple it and use blackening to subdue it, but… for now, I needed to figure out how to deal with its movements before hoping for a critical hit.
“Magic Sword: Ripping Blade!”
The damage likely wouldn’t be great, but it should serve as some form of deterrent. With that intention, I summoned the swords I had prepared to the very limit of my current “Shadow Space.” I had four ready; I hadn’t had the time to get ten.
Seemingly taking the moment I was preparing to extract the weapons from spatial magic as an opening, it slipped behind me just out of sight, before charging straight at me.
“—Blast!”
As I twisted and turned, I slammed the explosive magic sword down. I was already so close that I could step into sword range in a single step. I braced myself to endure the blast but—nothing happened. No, that wasn’t right. Since I was directly controlling it, there would absolutely be no malfunction preventing “Ripping Blade” from exploding.
The possible reasons for this non-explosion mainly boiled down to two. One was if it had been caught in a powerful drain like Ursula. The other was if my control over it through black magic had been interrupted.
This time, it was the latter.
In other words, the “Tyrant’s Armor” took the incoming “Magic Sword.”
Just before the detonation, it surged forward, barely but surely accelerating with its boosters. It leaned forward as if to dive, evading the two swords that were supposed to hit its chest—and simultaneously, it grabbed their grips. Both of them, without a microsecond’s deviation.
And without missing a beat, the third and fourth swords appeared from the sides in an enveloping arc. Its hands were tied up. This time, I could either dodge or get hit directly.
Yet, in this moment, it deployed jet-black chains to forcibly capture the wielder from within the container. Was there a dedicated launchport already installed? The chains shot out from behind its shoulders, just like a snake lying in wait for its prey.
Its movements were as precise as its arms. By the time I heard the rattling sound, my magic swords were already ensnared from blade tip to grip by the chains.
Thus, the long-range attack I had cast to deter the opponent successfully ended up providing them with weapons.
Naturally, just grasping it wasn’t enough for the Ripping Blade to detonate. The absence of such means that as soon as it was captured, it was replaced by further blackening.
I accurately understood that after I narrowly managed to fend off the oncoming attack from the “Tyrant’s Armor,” which was already raising two swords prepared to slash.
“Ugh, what power!?”
Fueled by the velocity of the crimson booster, the strike came crashing down. I barely managed to defend with my two swords but stumbled half a step backward due to the overwhelming pressure.
Fortunately, after charging forward, it boxed me in and didn’t follow up with another attack. But it seemed uninterested in pausing, quickly halting and turning back, preparing for another charge.
The sword it took from me was likely fortified with a stronger blackening than mine; its blade was no longer black but entirely red, flickering like a flaming flame, softly emitting the same crimson phosphorescence as its booster. It seemed less like a strengthened normal sword and more like it had been a blade of light from the beginning. One might think it would make a swoosh sound when swung.
Additionally, the two swords that had been ensnared by the chains had undergone similar transformation. Now, the chains wrapped around only the grips, while the crimson blades gleamed and faced me menacingly.
It could likely swing the swords with the chains. Everyone seems to think alike; if I had Hitsugi, I would have had “Extreme Evil Food” combo with “Wolf’s Rush” as a guiding technique.
With the powers and speed of the “Tyrant’s Armor” combined with the unique dual-wielding of the chained two swords, it made for an unconventional four-dagger approach. On top of that, with my weapons being taken, the “Magic Sword” was rendered in a sealed state. The situation was proving tougher than I anticipated.
However, I wasn’t ready to give up. It would take some effort, but as originally planned, I needed to strip the opponent of its resistances before applying blackening. First, I aimed to destroy the seized four swords, then target the limbs. If I could take away even one of its four limbs, the outcome would surely be decided. Moreover, even the swords it wielded originally were just regular mass-produced items. No matter how much they were strengthened, the limits of durability would be reached soon enough.
“Come on, bring it! I’m ready to keep this going.”
And again, the “Tyrant’s Armor” moved.
Of course, it was going first, utilizing its long reach with the chains. The red blades flew towards me like guided missiles. Not just flying straight; one was positioned overhead, as if aiming to behead, while the other aimed low at the knees. Each came in a horizontal slash.
This was more akin to the usage of chain sickles than missiles.
“Double Dark Calm!”
I met the upper one with “Neck Sever” and the lower one with “Extreme Evil Food,” each prepared to intercept. As expected, the durability of the swords was not that high. Being attacked head-on with martial arts using cursed weapons shattered the red glowing blade into pieces. Its blade—
The color of its body seemingly resembled splattered blood.
Of course, I had no luxury to carefully appreciate such a sight.
“Eat this!”
Without hesitation, I unleashed my left hand weapon, ‘Devourer.’ The blade was already fully unfurled, and I thrust it forward. The opened hungry wolf’s agito bit down on the chain holding the sword. It clamped down on both at once, sealing them before returning to the main body.
I pulled the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ connected to the chain closer, using the grip of ‘Devourer.’ However, that creature wasn’t light enough to lose its stance from this degree of force.
Nonetheless, I intended to strike with ‘Decapitation’ while keeping up the momentum and then slice through the remaining twin blades.
As long as the chain was connected to the main body, it wouldn’t be easy to escape using a booster maneuver this time—not that I had time to think about that.
“Did it just separate!?”
With a sharp metallic sound, the chains disengaged from both shoulders of the ‘Tyrant’s Armor.’ The black chains that lost their connection to the main body became mere material without control, only to collapse to the ground, caught by gravity.
Now that it no longer functioned as a type of restraint, I hurriedly released the chain from the mouth of ‘Devourer.’
Furthermore, as the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ loomed just ahead, I barely managed to adjust my plans and attempted to intercept again using both ‘Decapitation’ and ‘Devourer’ in a renewed ‘Double Black Nagi’ strike.
Just as I had swung back at a timing that barely made it, it suddenly changed course, leaping to the side.
Was it cautious of the attack? No, that wasn’t it. It was avoiding me. Not in the sense of evading, but it hadn’t been targeting me from the start.
“This is bad, that direction—”
I quickly realized its intention.
Whether the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ had immediately reconstructed the severed chains or had internal reserves from the start, it nonetheless shot out new black chains from the launch points on both shoulders.
I wasn’t using the magic sword. There were no weapons left to take here… or so I thought.
Indeed, right behind me stood a massive armory. The main store of the Mordred Weapon Trading Company, the largest store even among Spada.
With cunning, it recognized the handicap of having no weapon and prioritized securing one. Its actions were no longer akin to a curse’s will but resembled those of a seasoned warrior with an individual personality.
This was bad, really bad. If such a thing were fully equipped, it would be unmanageable.
However, by the time I realized this, it was already too late. The creature’s booster dash was faster than I could run to keep up. Even with a bit of ‘Speed Enhancement’ assistance, it seemed impossible.
Then, I might as well use it. The fifth blessing obtained from defeating Gluttony Octo—
“—Flame Spear.”
At that moment, a vivid crimson streak crossed my vision. The blazing fireball, trailing black smoke, soared and was no less than Salamander’s breath.
The launched fireball overtook the rapidly boosting armor and entered the Mordred Weapon Trading Company before it.
A tremendous explosion resounded, followed by a cacophony of collapsing sounds.
“Thanks, Fiona!”
With a composed look that seemed to say this was only natural, Fiona and I pressed toward the ‘Tyrant’s Armor.’
The fact that it sought a weapon was something Fiona, observing from the side, could quickly realize. If we crushed the entrance ahead of time, we could physically deny its entry. After all, to collapse and bury such a sturdy and robust main entrance in one shot showcased impressive firepower.
Faced with the interference from this forceful power, even the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ came to a halt. And the moment it paused, even if just for an instant, was more than enough for me to close the gap.
“This time, I won’t let you escape—”
As I swung my crimson twin blades in a turn, I charged at the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ with all my speed. The four blades crossed in an instant.
The fragile weapon, unable to swing in perfect condition, broke at the root under the cursed blade. The clear sound of the blade being sliced away was drowned out by a heavy impact, like striking a great shield with a hammer.
Without missing a beat, I swung my follow-up strike. This time, the double blow aimed at the body of the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ was, however, intercepted by its astonishing response.
Each blade, ‘Decapitation’ on the right and ‘Devourer’ on the left, was grasped and halted by its respective hands.
Ordinarily, I would cleave them right through, but its armor was formidable. The clash of metal and the sparking conflicts created a blade lock situation.
A full-body armor empowered by a fierce grudge battled against my superhuman enhanced body. The two powers collided, but the equilibrium shattered in an instant.
Suddenly, the rear booster of the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ emitted a loud roar. Red phosphorescence exploded behind the armor, transforming it into a mechanical propulsion force that human strength couldn’t resist.
Before I realized I was being pushed back, I felt weightlessness at my feet.
“—’Flame Demon King.'”
However, I now held a bit of confidence in my strength. For the sake of that adorable demon king, I couldn’t afford to lose easily.
“Ugh, oooh…”
As I forced the stopped blade back into position, my feet touched the ground.
Alright, I can do this. With conviction, I began to push back against the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ powered by the magical power booster head-on.
The first step was heavy. However, with the second and third steps, it became lighter. No, I was growing stronger. The welling force wouldn’t stop.
“Ooohhh, raahhhhhh!!”
And then, I took off. Strength like that was as if I were sprinting while carrying a massive armor that weighed hundreds of kilos, perhaps even a ton, like picking up a scarecrow made of straw.
With that momentum, I collided directly into the towering stone wall of the Mordred Weapon Trading Company.
For an instant, I felt a shock as if the world had turned upside down. The edges of my vision were filled with shattered bricks and swirling gray dust.
I felt a definite hard impact. I wasn’t the type to simply whisper “Did I do it?” and wait for a counterattack.
Now, the real battle begins.
“Be obedient and become mine—Magical Hand, Blackening.”
Both swords gripped in my hands would not be released. Thus, I formed tentacles to make contact and began the erosion of black magic power.
“Gooh… O, Ooh…”
From behind the skull-faced helmet, an eerie voice sounded as if the damned souls in the depths of hell were groaning in agony.
Up until that point, everything was fine. The abnormality began to present itself right afterward.
“Damn, what a resistance…”
The tentacles I created for blackening were similar to the two thick tentacles I devised to suppress the ‘Black Devouring White Snake’ when I fought Cyprus after retreating from Alsace. It was as if new arms sprouted from both shoulders, and the black brawny arms made of magical power aimed to choke the helmet’s neck.
With an intent as fierce as that of Sariel’s to snap a neck bone, I pressured it both magically and physically… but it seemed this time, I would be the one suffering instead.
“This is a bit, dangerous—”
The blackening didn’t progress as smoothly as I hoped. My magical power alone couldn’t overwhelm it; I could feel a distinct will of resistance.
Perhaps compared to this full-body armor as a weapon, which boasted a significantly greater mass, it was especially tough to dominate. After all, I’d had to pull an all-nighter to blacken an entire building of the Adventurer Guild.
“—What!?”
Just as I prepared for considerable exhaustion, its counterattack began.
From the skull’s face guard, radiant red light ignited in the dark eye sockets, and I sensed an incredible influx of magical power rushing back at me. This wasn’t merely a sixth sense; it shown visibly as the thick tentacles wrapping around the neck were dyed a poisonous red at their contact points.
This is bad, I’m completely being overpowered. Was my power insufficient to dominate it?
Now that I thought about it, I had acquired the cursed weapons forcefully due to my plentiful black magical power and resistance to curses. If simply superior curses exist here, I had no chance. After all, I lack the purification techniques of a priest.
“Argh!”
The creature’s red corrosion had now advanced to halfway up the tentacles. Beyond that point, countless vascular lines emerged, directing toward my body.
If I lost ground like this, I would be possessed by the curse rather than control it.
Damn, having been on an undefeated streak against curses, I had completely underestimated it, thinking I could manage it. Yes, even the attributes of magic, weaknesses, and compatibilities are not absolute.
“I am… the king… I, am…”
No good, I can’t discern whether it’s actually speaking or if it’s flowing directly into my mind. My senses were beginning to malfunction. In fact, the ‘Tyrant’s Armor’ that should have been right in front of me appeared rather blurry. A red shadow flickered, and it seemed I was about to lose sight of it.
“Come, obey me…”
What should have been a whisper that could be lost in a breeze instead resonated loudly in my head.
“Offer your loyalty…”
For a moment, I felt inclined to nod.
No, I can’t succumb to this sensation… Ah, right, it resembles the time when I wore the ‘Thought Control Device.’ Gradually, my consciousness faded more and more with time.
There was no pain. No suffering either. Like falling into a deep slumber, naturally, without any means to resist, one fades away.
“I shall… become your knight…”
Yet, you have the audacity to say “Offer your loyalty and become a knight,” right after I just made Sariel my official slave.
Dying here under a curse would be nothing short of a joke. Alternatively, did I take this lightly due to some consequence of hastily making someone a slave?
“Who… would…”
But even if God didn’t forgive me, it wouldn’t matter. I had doubts and struggles. Yet, I chose this outcome. No regrets.
So now, I don’t need any sense of security by letting someone else control me.
“Who would do what you say—”
“—Obey me, huh!?”
At that moment, an out-of-place voice echoed.
It was certainly no hallucination. That young girl-like voice rang sharply in my head with an almost annoying clarity.
Yes, it even overshadowed the enticing voice of the curse leading me into the dark abyss.
“My master can only have one! That is my pride as a maid!”
I had no question of who it was, nor any surprise at the sheer improbability.
Ah, you’ve finally returned. Only relief swelled warmly in my chest.
“‘Black Chain Curse ‘Iron Cage’!’, the super black-haired maid, Hitsugi! I’ve come to assist my master’s crisis!!”
The moment her boisterous introduction rang in my head, the cursed king’s voice vanished completely.
“Ah, welcome back, Hitsugi… it’s good to have you back.”
“I am terribly sorry for taking such a long break, my master.”
For once, her tone was serious and composed. Has she grown up a bit?
“Of course! Hitsugi wasn’t just lounging around! Enduring the unbearable pain of not seeing my master—”
“Yeah, I’ll hear about that later… for now, help me suppress this guy.”
“Understood, my master! Leave it to Hitsugi!!”
With the comforting and nostalgic voice, my five senses returned completely. My fading awareness sharpened once more.
Now, I had no fear of being overpowered.
“Let’s go! Magical Hand!”
With life restored, from gloved hands that regained their brilliantly lustrous pitch black, a torrent of black chains burst forth, surging toward the ‘Tyrant’s Armor,’ which now growled ominously before me.