“Now, what should I do with you? If you can confess properly, I might consider going a little easier on you. Come on, cry and scream, try shouting pathetically!”
The roaring aura emanating from Misa’s body grew stronger. Honestly, it was a terrifying display of immense magical power, but I had already experienced something similar during my encounter with Sariel. It wasn’t something I particularly cared about.
What I was particularly curious about was…
“Hey, do you hate me?”
“What? Huh?”
“Do you hate me that much? Is it because I took Sariel away?”
“What are you trying to do, turn things around? That’s the most infuriating attitude!”
“The most infuriating, huh… Don’t make me laugh, it’s nothing to get worked up over.”
You’re not the only one who’s angry or irritated, you know.
“How many people do you think died because of you?! In Alsace, how many did you kill?!”
A shout filled with rage and intent to kill, as if striking the heavens.
Whether it’s this woman’s whims or just games, it included the regrets and grievances of losing friends and those who should have been protected.
“Are you stupid? I don’t remember every single Demon Race I killed.”
I wasn’t looking for an apology. I didn’t want to hear excuses about the circumstances on my side.
I understood. You, or rather, you all, don’t give a damn about us.
Still, at the very least—remember the sins for those you killed!
“Misa, I’m going to kill you here!”
“Don’t get cocky facing an Apostle!”
As if responding to my anger, I raised the cursed black aura of “Decapitation” and confronted Misa head-on.
No magic bullets this time. Against an Apostle, they wouldn’t serve as a deterrent.
Charging in at full speed, Misa swung her large scythe overhead—then brought it down immediately.
No matter how large the scythe was, its blade was still far from reaching me. But the fact that she swung it meant,
“Whoa.”
The white magic aura transformed into a blade of light that flew at me, much like Lily’s “Meteor Sword.”
Well, I figured it would be something like a sweeping slash.
It’s impressive, but I’m not foolish enough to get hit by such straightforward slashing light. Especially with the boost from “Tyrant’s Armor,” I’m confident I could slip through at tighter margins.
“Not a chance!”
A big swing won’t hit me.
Was she losing her calm due to anger? No, that’s not it; this girl lacks technique. She has no understanding or methodology to wield her weapon faster or sharper.
Just as my senior said, Misa dislikes swordsmanship.
Even though she wields a grand weapon called the “Armed Holy Text: Winged Companionship,” her method of attack is simply to swing it around. That would be enough to take down most enemies because of her Apostolic powers… but don’t think you’re just against a random weakling you can overwhelm with specs.
“—Dark Calm!”
Thanks to Misa’s foolishly wide swing, I was able to maintain my position and prepare to strike with “Dark Calm.”
I unleashed it with the power of the Demon King. The first blessing, “Flame Demon King,” activated.
My concentrated martial skill exploded against Misa’s unguarded torso.
“Wha—ahhhhhh?!”
The momentary look of shock on Misa’s face was fleeting. Following the momentum of the released “Dark Calm,” the small girl’s body went flying.
I felt a solid impact… but I couldn’t land a single scratch.
“Tch, her clothes are tough.”
The aura of an Apostle easily nullified half-hearted attacks, but with my cursed weapon, she couldn’t possibly defend against that. The blade of “Decapitation” sliced through the layer of white magic and reached her body, but it was stopped by her robe.
Of course, it was the outfit of an Apostle. It must be a top-grade armor.
In hindsight, targeting her torso to ensure a hit might have been a mistake. I should have aimed for an exposed area of skin. After all, she was in a revealing sleeveless mini-skirt modified outfit.
“Did I hit you just now…?”
“Of course, I hit, are you still dozing off?”
Next, I should target her arms or legs. Both were deliberately exposing skin.
“How dare a Demon Race…”
“Are you blind? No matter how you look at me, I’m human!”
With the spirits driving me forward, I closed the distance back to Misa, who was pushed away.
Though I received no damage, the fact that I allowed her to strike back seemed to have raised my anger and alertness; she was now holding her scythe more carefully than before. Yet, her stance revealed her inexperience as an amateur.
“There!”
There’s no way that would hit. I’ve seen that type of slashing before.
This time, she swung twice or three times rapidly, increasing her numbers, but her targeting was too monotonous. She was reacting to the most obvious feints that wouldn’t even fool a good swordsman.
Truly, how reliant has she been on her abilities until now?
“Hmph!”
In an instant, I invaded the space and swung “Decapitation” at Misa.
“Kuh!?”
Even so, as expected of an Apostle. Even with just a glance to react, my blade, which was perfectly aimed to sever her wrist, was deflected by her swift response and incredible speed.
It seems that the “Winged Companionship” has a tough hilt as well. It easily bounced off the blade of “Decapitation.” Is it made of divine metal or something?
“Not yet!”
Just because I was blocked once, so what? I closed the distance and unleashed my second and third attacks without creating any space.
If Misa is indeed a novice in both sword and combat, I can gain an advantage even in a simple slashing battle.
For Misa, even with her Apostolic specs, I could only barely hold my ground due to the blessings of the Demon King. In her unenhanced state, even my superhuman physical capabilities wouldn’t match up to her.
But still, there isn’t an overwhelming gap. I can bite back and keep up.
Misa’s “Winged Companionship” could likely cleave me in two with a light strike, while I felt the difference in power and defense after landing blow with “Decapitation” ten times, it might just leave a mark.
If that’s the case, I’ll just have to deal ten hits and force her wounds. A hundred strikes would drive her close to death. A thousand cuts would send her spiraling into hell.
Alright, here we go, Misa. Our revenge, yours and mine, is just beginning.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
With a beast-like roar, Chrono continued to unleash a storm of slashes, leaving Misa to take a defensive stance.
“Wha-what… what is this guy?!”
The counterattack she attempted in frustration merely etched the afterimages of Chrono.
As an Apostle, Misa’s reflexes were extraordinary; even though Chrono moved quickly, she recognized the afterimages instead. Quite accurately, it could be expressed that the ethereal light from the infernal black armor he wore shone brilliantly as the blade cut through.
Regardless, it was similar to cutting the light propelled by his attack, rendering her unable to follow his motion and resorting to merely cutting down the afterimage.
“Why can’t I hit him?!”
Even with him so close. A tall man clad in thick armor. Why can’t my attacks land? Misa’s frustration compounded exponentially.
“RAAAAHH!!”
Even the retaliation fueled by her anger merely scratched by Chrono’s afterimages.
Even with her Apostle speed, it was too late to evade the timing of his attacks. There was no time for a counterattack; she hurriedly circulated her white magic to her legs for defense—swoosh! With a horrid cutting sound, the cursed blade passed by.
Misa’s feet remained unharmed; not a single scratch or drop of blood spilled, but the aura she directed for defense was completely severed.
What would happen if she took another blow from him?
In Misa’s heart, a sensation different from anger… namely, fear rose within.
“Get away!!”
Focusing solely on the dreadful cursed aura surrounding Chrono’s brutal great axe, she failed to respond to the kick he unleashed.
A blunt pressure struck her abdomen. It didn’t hurt; a mere kick shouldn’t pierce an Apostle’s aura.
But, the impact provided by the sheer strength in Chrono’s legs, powered by ethereal propulsion, was enough to blast away half of her aura and shake her body.
“—!?”
In the shaking vision, she instinctively raised the “Winged Companionship” before her.
“Black Calm!”
The next moment, the terrifying great axe descended from above her head.
With the pressure weighing down on both hands gripping the scythe, fierce sparks erupted, and the evil black magic aura clashing against the holy white magic aura blazed with dazzling brilliance.
“Ugh, get away from me!”
As the black and white aether clashed in a stalemate, Misa pushed through with her surplus strength.
No, Chrono had swiftly stepped back as if to avoid brute force. By the time Misa swung the large scythe, he had already slid back with a booster retreating maneuver.
“Don’t mess with me… why am I struggling against this garbage so much?”
She should be overwhelmingly superior in specs. In power and speed, everything should have been in her favor. Yet, why was she the one being pushed?
Her opponent wasn’t even another Apostle, just a common Demon Race man.
Unthinkable. It should not be.
Nobody stronger than her as an Apostle could exist unless they were another Apostle.
She had acknowledged Sariel as a powerful rival who stood alongside her, and she could never rival the strength of her master, the Third Apostle Michael. As for the Second Apostle Abel, the true capabilities of a hero were beyond her imagination.
However, if one were an Apostle, such strength would be expected. Because Apostles are chosen by the gods. Bestowed by the power of the White God, they are special beings. Transcendents, closer to god than humans.
Yet, who is this man?
Not only does he not believe in the White God, but he even demonstrates intentions of rebellion, being the worst kind of being. He sullied the Seventh Apostle Sariel; for a punishment of death to be too light, it was practically guaranteed this great sinner would fall into hell and suffer eternal torment.
Demon Races, evil beings, should merely be trampled before an Apostle. The wicked must surely fall before justice.
Yet this guy, Chrono, standing before Misa, the Eleventh Apostle, continues to resist without backing down. Cloaked in inherently evil black aura, with a visage of a demon and armor like that of devils, he swings the cursed blade.
She had never seen anyone this malevolent.
No one had ever resisted her as much as he did.
She had to acknowledge it. As an undeniable reality, Chrono possessed power on par with that of an Apostle.
A being among non-Apostles who bore equal strength to that of an Apostle. Then, it must surely be—
“This is what it means to be an Apostle of the Evil God.”
The White God’s inability to illuminate the entire world with His great power stems from the existence of such malevolent gods who resist Him.
And she also understood that among people, there are those who receive power from these evil gods, dark gods, and aberrant gods. However, the powers granted by such malevolent blessings are far from reaching the level of true Apostles, being nothing but trivial abilities.
It’s exceedingly rare for someone to have power that can contend with that of an Apostle… yes, it’s merely rare; that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Those who receive extraordinary strength from evil gods to the extent of rivaling Apostles can be rightfully called Apostles of the Evil God.
And it was precisely because she had exterminated such beings that she engraved her accomplishments in history, honored as a hero like the Second Apostle Abel.
Thus, for Misa, who still considered herself a novice, this was the first encounter with an enemy capable of countering her.
At this moment, Misa finally recognized.
This guy, Chrono, is “that.”
“Then, there will be no more leniency, and I won’t choose my methods—”
It’s not enough to simply torture and kill my opponent out of revenge. If Chrono is an Apostle of the Evil God, as an Apostle fulfilling the holy mission, she must eradicate him at all costs.
By acknowledging Chrono, Misa laid down her pride.
She became serious.
This was where the true battle for the Eleventh Apostle Misa began.
“Now, kneel before me! ‘Holy Love Enchantment’!”
The state-altering power of “Enchantment” is the specialized ability bestowed upon Misa by the god.
Apostles are granted immense magical power and superhuman bodies, in addition to special abilities tailored to their individual talents and qualities. This unique ability is referred to among Apostles as a “specialized ability.”
Typically, “Enchantment” captivates the hearts of people with a beautiful appearance or through mental magic. Even mild forms can be resolved with “Dispel.” Because healing magic is possible, “Enchantment” is defined as a state alteration rather than a mere romantic feeling.
This magic of “Enchantment” is hardly used in battle. Primarily, it is employed for espionage or honey traps, using allure as a means of subterfuge.
Not just “Enchantment,” but using mental magic works best when the opponent is off guard. Especially in situations clearly directed with hostility, it’s almost impossible for “Enchantment” to take effect.
However, with the power of an Apostle, the situation becomes entirely different.
Misa’s “Enchantment” can captivate a man’s heart at first sight, even if he has just slaughtered his wife and children.
Will, emotion, none of it matters. Overwhelming subjugation, submission, and servitude.
No matter how strong a will to resist, the body obediently follows. Even if someone believes they remain rational, their body moves according to Misa’s commands… which is likely the tragedy that befalls strong-willed warriors.
Thus, if this power is maximally wielded, it can neutralize any combat capabilities of an opponent instantly. Especially effective against adult human men. Even if layering mental defenses, there is no man who can withstand Misa’s “Holy Love Enchantment.”
“Come back after putting on some makeup—‘Demon King of Love’”
The pitch-black iron fist slammed into Misa’s face.
As the enchanting pink eyes that cast “Holy Love Enchantment” sparkled, a devastating punch struck as if rejecting the very light of enchantment.
“Ugh, hah!?”
Fortunately, her aura didn’t break entirely, so she only experienced a brief moment of dizziness. Thanks to that, she managed to stop Chrono’s incoming strike with “Winged Companionship” just in time.
Though she avoided a fatal wound, the shock Misa experienced was far greater mentally than physically.
“W-w-why isn’t it working on him?!”
“There’s no way it would work… that technique is something that’s never going to land on me!!”
Chrono blazed with rage intensified like pouring oil on a fire, further increasing the ferocity of his attacks.
“This is impossible! For a man, my beauty should not fail so…”
Desperately blocking the storm of slashes overflowing with cursed aura, Misa thought this must be some kind of mistake and tried again with “Holy Love Enchantment.”
There was no way this spell could miss. Unlike conventional attack magic that forms substances with magical power, it disperses magical waves into the space in conjunction with her sight. In other words, as long as she can see it, the effect of “Holy Love Enchantment” is sure to reach.
Chrono wasn’t even evading her gaze; he stood at close range, directly engaging in a swordfight. Staring straight into the beautiful face of the girl beloved by the gods, there’s no way he could remain unaffected.
“Black Calm, shake!”
With a loud clang, Chrono’s martial technique shattered the “Winged Companionship.”
The feel of a stronger impact than any previous technique forcibly pried away her guard.
Crap—she realized at the same time she was watching Chrono swinging down the great axe overhead.
Chrono’s black magic aura intermingled with a sinister pink hue. The pink glow bore a similarity to the light emitted when she invoked “Enchantment,” yet it carried a wholly different toxic nature.
That eerie pink light countered Misa’s “Holy Love Enchantment.”
And even realizing the trick behind this enchantment would do her no good. Chrono had already launched a counterattack.
“—Dark Calm!”
Somehow, her body managed to move.
A brutal and fierce black martial technique aimed to decapitate her, which she narrowly dodged by tilting her head back and keeping her face up—
“Damn it, it was too shallow!”
As Chrono’s detestable murmuring reached her ears, a sharp pain shot through her.
“Ah, that hurts…”
It felt painful and hot.
After all, she hadn’t experienced pain since awakening as an Apostle.
Pain, pain, hurt.
She felt blood trickling.
A seeping wound on her face. It seemed to be slightly cutting across her nose.
“It’s not possible… there’s a wound on my face… my face…”
A wound on her face.
A faint horizontal scar slicing across her nose.
Though far from a fatal injury, a mere scratch,
“I-I-IYYYYYYYAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!”