Book Eater

Chapter 290: INVIDIA (2)

The body that was stronger than anyone else’s was trembling dangerously.

“Blue Tower Master!”

“Old Man!”

The robes of the 8th Circle magician, Blundell Adruncus, were dyed red as the sword that destroys one’s body and soul left wounds all over his body without any damage to his clothing.

However, Theo couldn’t help wondering. A magician’s accomplishments couldn’t be said to be proportional to mental power, but a powerful magician possessed a strong mind. Veronica and Blundell should have only felt mild dizziness, so why had Blundell suffer such serious injuries?

Invidia scoffed, “Sheer idiocy, transferring their wounds to your body. What is the use of such ineffective behavior?”

“Cough! It might be dangerous to those children, but it is just a slight scrape to this old man. Anyway, if I can use my life to save them, there is no reason to hesitate!”

Indeed, Blundell swayed but stayed standing. The heart sword would’ve sliced through William’s heart and Sylvia’s carotid artery, but instead, the spirit and physical strength that had been honed for a hundred years had received the blow that would’ve killed dozens of people.

The magicians, who were burdens to Blundell, stiffened. Meanwhile, Invidia scoffed, “Why should the strong protect the weak? You should’ve let them die and attacked me instead.”

“Hu, a monster like you won’t understand humans. I wasn’t expecting this!” Suddenly, Blundell raised his staff. “Wait a bit longer!”

“You!-”

Once again, time stopped. As the space around the emperor froze, Blundell shouted urgently at the weary-looking Orta, “White Tower Master! Get anyone who isn’t a master out! Hurry!”

Orta grimaced. “... Yes!”

The magicians were all elites of the 6th Circle. They would be of great help in a normal confrontation between masters, but they wouldn’t even be able to grab the emperor’s ankles. It was just like how soldiers couldn’t help in a war between war magicians and knights. The magicians had never found themselves to be this useless before.

One magician refused the teleportation. “I don’t want to, I don’t want to! Grandfather, Theo! I can help too! I don’t want to run away alone like this!”

“... Sylvia.”

Sylvia struggled against the confused William’s hands, her long silver hair flying to the left and right as desperate tears overflowed from her blue eyes. She gazed at Theo as the magic circle, the precursor to a mass teleport, started to shine beneath the magicians’ feet.

William was struggling to hold Sylvia when Blundell spoke softly, “Sylvia, sweetie.”

“I don’t want to! I don’t want to hear it, Grandpa! I couldn’t show you anything! Please don’t disappear like this! Theo, I wanted to be helpful to Grandpa, so I worked hard...”

“Then you have achieved your goal, my granddaughter.”

“... Huh?”

Blundell gently wiped Sylvia’s tears away and smiled warmly. “I have been living all this time because of you.”

“Ah...” In the moment that Sylvia was caught in a slight daze, the magic circle flashed once. When the light faded away, no one was standing there anymore.

Sylvia...?

Theo’s chest felt tight as he recalled her tears. Did she sense that she would be separated from Blundell in this fight? He didn’t know why, but anger was rising within him. Then as if to light the fuse, he emerged.

Chaaeng!

It was the emperor of Andras, Invidia. The Time Stop could only hold him for a few minutes. As he walked forward, Invidia ridiculed them, “It is the end of this boring drama.”

He didn’t care about the heavy atmosphere as he raised the sword in his hand.

“Now, come,” he declared, looking at the seven masters.

“I was already planning on it!” Understandably, Veronica was the first to respond to the provocation.

Kurururung.

She took one step, and the ground melted from the heat and pressure she exuded. The power of Veronica, who had inherited the blood of a dragon and the magic of eight Circles, was more than twice that of Blundell’s. There wasn’t a single magician who surpassed her in pure destruction.

In that moment, ten Infernal Blades appeared beside her. The moment that the space in front of her was distorted by the terrible heat, the world’s strongest magician jumped forward.

In a flash, Veronica’s fist thrust forward.

―――――――――――!!!

A hill crumbled in one blow, and its debris incinerated in two. By the third blow, the atmosphere had been burned away to leave a vacuum. Each blow from then on took a fraction of a second as a bombardment that could level a mountain range crashed into Invidia’s body.

“Hrmm.”

And yet, Invidia’s sword flashed.

Zest’s Style Space Cut. Broken Space―Thin Air Cut.

It was the same technique that had blocked Theo’s heatwave in the past. A section of space had been severed, blocking any physical attack from reaching him. Then the sword swept upward.

Delkur’s Defense Method. Immutability―Impregnable Wall.

Temporarily cutting space wouldn’t completely block Veronica’s destructive power, so he strengthened his defenses with other Aura Abilities. A dark aura appeared in front of Invidia’s body and blocked all of Veronica’s blows. Space trembled as the clouds above their heads were torn apart. Nevertheless, the wall of darkness didn’t collapse easily. However, Veronica wasn’t Invidia’s only enemy.

“―Your back is exposed.” Randolph’s falchions gleamed behind the emperor.

Kakiing.

There was no chance to use a hidden technique. However, there was no need for anything other than speed to kill. His right hand aimed for Invidia’s neck, shoulders, ribs, and side, while his left hand aimed for Invidia’s temple, clavicle, wrist and abdomen. It was so fast that he didn’t even leave afterimages behind.

“It’s fast, but that is all,” Invidia didn’t even hesitate to strike back.

Ainz Round Sword Style. Mirror―Imitation.

Just like a mirror, he deflected all of Randolph’s attacks, launching eight strikes to block all of them. It was the ability of Ludo Ainz, known to be the backbone of the Seven Swords two hundred years ago. However, Randolph didn’t know this and suffered a painful kick to the abdomen.

“Kuheeok!”

But there were still two more masters. Edwin and Ellaim hid their nervousness and started to call on high ranking water and wind elementals. The two guardians who used the spear and bow were both veterans who had defended Elvenheim. The problem was that their opponent was more of a monster.

Ellaim froze in shock. “What, my legs?”

Invidia sneered. “You aren’t the only one who knows lost skills.”

Invidia used Delkur’s shadow ability to paralyze Ellaim. Invidia slowly raised his sword in his hand as they struggled to escape the bindings.

This is-!

Theo was the only one who responded. He was the one who had most recently fought him, so his instincts had recognized it faster than anyone else and urged his Circles into rotation.

Pan Helliones’ Super Heavy Sword. 1st Technique, Earth Break.

In an instant, aura fell like a meteor strike.

***

Kwarururung!

It was a landslide. No, it was too moderate to call it that. The lava on the ground soared into the clouds, and the earth was turned upside down, forming a huge basin in the middle of the mountain. It was like a giant several kilometers in height had stomped their feet as hard as possible.

Pan Helliones had possessed a strong destructive power, but nowhere close enough to destroy a mountain range like this.

“... How can we win against that monster?”

Theo had barely pulled out the two elves with Fluidization and glanced at the devastation. If he had been half a beat late, Edwin or Ellaim would’ve been crushed.

Perhaps if it wasn’t for Blundell’s assistance, I would be too late.

Theo didn’t miss the moment Invidia’s body had turned black and white, stopping time around him for a moment before the sword fell. Time Stop, the original ultimate spell used for victory could only stop the enemy for a moment? As Gluttony said, ultimate spells didn’t have much effect on grimoires that were already at the 6th stage.

Blundell’s Time Stop was a big help because unlike Veronica’s destructive power, he could assist in the direction of the fight.

No, even so...

Too strong. His super-sensitivity was still a mess, but Theo had lingered on the threshold of life and death enough times to realize there was no chance.

Not power or speed. He has used six or seven Aura Abilities. If I assume that there are dozens more... we don’t stand a chance.

It might be possible if he could only use one Aura Ability at a time, but he was a monster who could combine several abilities. Was this what legendary grandmasters were like?

- No, not a grandmaster.

Gluttony firmly denied Theo’s thoughts.

- Well, if we only consider the output, he has long surpassed a grandmaster. However, you are overlooking the most important part.

The output is far more than a grandmaster? What is the difference?

- It is the difference in standing. I would like to explain more but... please be prepared. He is coming again.

Dammit!

Invidia was coming again. “Are you done? Then it’s my turn.”

Theo felt something. Invidia’s blade seemed to shimmer and take on a weird shape. It seemed to cross multiple dimensions and couldn’t be recognized by normal senses. Theo shivered with a sense of discomfort as Invidia used a special technique without hesitation.

Triple Compound Hidden Technique.

It was the combination of three Aura Abilities that Invidia had obtained from three slaughtered sword masters.

Broken Space―Cut to Pieces.

Refraction―The End of the World.

Maze―Decisive Stage of Labyrinths.

It was an extreme space cut that could wound a high ranking demon, as well as a refraction sword that crushed the bent space itself. In addition, it also used the Labyrinth ability that allowed Invidia to rebuild space freely.

Kill, kill, and kill. How many people could survive in this space where three types of deaths coexisted? It was a technique that Blundell couldn’t afford to take on alone!

Shit, I can’t escape with all my limbs intact!

Theo could escape if he sacrificed his left arm. But just as Theo was facing hell, someone intervened.

Clang!?

A loud sound echoed across the battlefield.

“... Eh?” Theo\'s eyes widened. The nightmarish attacks had disappeared without a trace.

Invidia stared at someone in vague interest. “How did a 7th Circle magician block all that? Ah, those eyes. The Empty Eyes are the nemesis of the labyrinth. I’ll leave you alive and pull out your eyeballs.”

“...?Kuk.”

The one who suffered damage and the one unaffected were the opposite of what one would expect. The blood that flowed down from Orta’s mask proved that he had paid a considerable price. It had been difficult to break Invidia’s technique even with the transcendent power of his eyes. Furthermore, he wouldn’t be able to block the next attack with his Empty Eyes.

In this increasingly unfavorable situation, someone whispered in Theo’s ear.

[Kid, do you have a plan?]

[T-Tower Master?]

Theo didn’t look back despite his surprise, as he replied quietly.

[... Why are you asking me?]

It might be different in a normal situation, but right now, there were many suspicious things about Theo. He had been called brother by Invidia, and had not been targeted. Invidia had even said that they would talk later. If it wasn’t for this urgent situation, he would have been arrested and interrogated. Then why did Veronica ask him if he had a plan?

Veronica snorted like she heard something ridiculous and sent her voice to him again.

[Hah! There are many things I want to ask, but there is no one here who thinks you’re an enemy. How long do you think we’ve watched you, fool?]

[... Thank you.]

[Ah, stop talking about embarrassing things! So? Have you thought of something? If this continues, we will definitely lose. You can suggest anything.]

Theo was troubled for a moment before realizing he had one last resort. However, in order to carry out this method, somebody’s sacrifice was needed.

“... I need time.”

“How much?”

“Five―no, three minutes.”

“Three minutes...” Veronica’s eyes narrowed.

Frankly speaking, this confrontation was only being maintained by the opponent’s whim. They wouldn’t be able to hold on for three minutes if he really wanted to kill them. In such a situation, three minutes was impossible.

However, Veronica had even more confidence in Theo. “It’s hard, but isn’t this good?”

“... Tower Master?”

“This time, I will show you a wonderful appearance! Don’t be late with your preparations.”

Theo’s hairs rose as she stepped forward without hesitation. Strategically, it was ridiculous for her to face the opponent alone. So Invidia didn’t attack immediately.

He opened his mouth with a strange look, “Red hybrid dragon. What are your intentions?”

Veronica grinned. “What are my intentions?”

“Surely you can see the difference in strength. What are you going to do by yourself?”

“Hmm, how about this form?” Veronica shrugged off her red robe, revealing her solid and well-trained body. It was a feat that required a lot of courage to do in front of a monster like Invidia. At that moment...

Duguen!

It was like a giant drum, and it came from Veronica’s body. The air seemed to shake as a massive heartbeat made the air tremble.

Dugeun, dugeun.?

A strange shockwave emerged with Veronica in the center.

“Three minutes... That’s my limit,” Veronica murmured in a grim voice as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

Then Invidia was able to see it. “... Hoh?”

Veronica’s eyes were now golden dragon pupils, not human ones.