C172: The Flower of Remnant Fire (2)
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Iona's fist was neatly connected with the opponent's chin. The third order of the Black Dawn Society, whose eyes were out of focus, collapsed like a doll with a broken thread.
In addition to her naturally strong body Iona who had a special bloodline could overpower the opponent only with her physical ability.
"You filthy sub-race!"
Another enemy rushed in anger at the sight of his fallen colleague. The knife swung toward her contained killing intent but Iona raised both arms and took a defensive posture.
From the tip of her fist to her elbow the earth clumped together to form gauntlets. It was the second-rank earth attribute magic [Mud Armor].
Iona, who had originally improved the magic to cover her entire body but spread it only to an area, grabbed the other person's blade with one hand.
"What?"
Her opponent was bewildered as if he did not expect Iona to grab the sword, and Iona immediately clenched her fist with her opposite hand.
"Sleep…"
A fist was stuck in the face of a third-order who was about to shout after sensing a crisis. At that time, a second order secretly aimed his cane at Iona's back.
"You let your guard down!"
And as soon as the magic was about to come out, strong winds from elsewhere blew his body away. After hitting a big tree with a bang, he fainted with bubbles in his mouth.
Iona looked in the direction of the wind. There, Leo, who had just unleashed his magic, was kicking his tongue at the fallen man.
"You let your guard down."
Iona approached Leo, releasing Mud Armor.
"Thank you for your help."
"It's no big deal."
There were as many as five people from the Black Dawn Society who collapsed around the two. It's been quite some time since they fought the suspicious people hiding in Theon.
Did it work so well because it was a surprise attack?
Despite being outnumbered, it was all the people of the Black Dawn Society who fell on the floor. Among them, Aidan's [anti-magic] contribution was the greatest. All the magic the enemies used to counterattack was split in half and disappeared.
It was a bizarre sight where multiple spells are cut and disappear at the same time. Even though he had seen it before, he couldn't get used to it.
"What about Aidan?"
"There."
Aidan was now confronting the last remaining opponent.
"Give up now."
Unlike others who sneaked in under the pretext of users and festivals, the only remaining enemy was a student here.
Joanna Lovett, the second order of the Black Dawn Society, to be exact. She was staring at Aidan with trembling eyes, unable to believe they had been defeated.
"How…….?"
There were 10 members and among them were close combat experts who trained their bodies to become knights but to her surprise, Aidan overpowered them with that knife-shaped magic wand.
'What the hell is wrong with him?'
Even though he was a third order, he was a skilled man. Although he was not even as good as a knight, he was stronger than the other orders with his sword.
'You have a cheat ability like anti-magic, but you're this good at close combat?'
How in the world can such a person exist? Well it doesn't matter that it exists but why would he interfere with her noble mission?
Aidan aimed his wand at Joanna.
"You're a freshman, aren't you? Why the hell are you doing this?"
"Why? If I tell you, will you pretend you didn't see us and move on?"
"No. I can't do that."
Aidan shook his head firmly. He didn't know what Joanna came here for but it was clear it wasn't a good thing. Nevertheless, the reason he asked was because he was genuinely curious.
"There is a festival going on right now. Why do you want to disturb those people?"
It was a pure question. Curious as to why she wanted to do something bad.
Joanna laughed at the remark because it was ridiculous.
"Isn't that obvious? I hate them all. I hope the world itself burns down and disappears."
Joanna's eyes were filled with tears of injustice.
"What are you all laughing and living well? Why am I the only one who's having a hard time? That's not fair."
"You…"
Aidan read the sadness on Joanna's face. He took a breath, stared at Joanna with determined eyes, remembering what Mr. Rudger said to him.
– Do you understand, Aidan? It's half.
Selfishness, altruism.
-In the end, it's not good to be extreme on either side. So you can be a little selfish.
He wondered why those words came into his mind but his head felt strangely refreshed. Aidan, who would have originally tried to understand others, pointed his cane at Joanna.
"Then I'll stop you here."
Leo, who was anxious that Aidan might commit another unexpected action here, breathed a sigh of relief.
'Well done, Aidan.'
Leo suddenly thought like that when Aidan shook off his weakness and embraced his determination.
'Will you act that way when you find out who I really am later?'
Of course, it's all meaningless assumptions. Only stupid people would get into trouble with something that hasn't happened yet.
Joanna stepped back slowly. She's the only one left, however, the other side is all fine without a single injury.
'I can't believe that the members of the Black Dawn Society were defeated by four kids. Even though they're students of Theon.'
Aidan alone is difficult to deal with, but he has three helpers.
Joanna had to make a choice. Resist, or fight to the end.
It was at that moment that hot wavelengths were felt not far away. Joanna's head swung around when she felt it.
"Sister Esmeralda…?"
Suddenly, Joanna moved even before Aidan could ask what that was. She summoned a wind spirit and created a cloud of dust so she could run away.
"Aidan! Joanna is running away!"
"Let's chase!"
Aidan's party followed Joanna.
* * *
Like bubbles rising from the deep sea her mind, which was as heavy as cotton in water, returned to its original state and Esmeralda opened her closed eyes.
'This is…'
When she opened her eyes, what she saw was the ceiling of the warehouse. Esmeralda, who was trying to get up, noticed a black shadow wriggling around her.
After seeing the interior of a warehouse on fire Esmeralda realized what happened.
'I see. I also…….'
She killed that man.
A tear trickled down her cheek. What was more distressing was that this nightmare didn't end here. The Devil of Fire will soon try to control her mind and body again.
At that moment a huge fire giant bounced off one wall with a great brilliance that flashed and erupted from one side.
"Quasimodo?"
Quasimodo, the incarnation of madness and hatred, has power equivalent to a highest level spirit. She couldn't believe that such a Quasimodo was thrown away.
Quasimodo rose up with a burst of fire. His eyes stretched out toward the person who blew him away.
[Aaaah!! Rudger Chelici!!!]
Esmeralda's gaze naturally turned to the other side and a man was standing there.
'Rudger Chelici……No, John Doe.'
A First Order of the Black Dawn Society like herself but unlike other first orders, he was a man who carries out his mission alone, hiding his identity.
He was now fighting with Quasimodo.
"Why?"
Why was he fighting?
[Human!]
The appearance of Quasimodo began to change. His size decreased to 2m and its body became thinner, quite the opposite to his usual form. The horns that rose above the head turned bigger and more vicious, and the longer arms touched the ground.
He looked like a devil that rushed out from hell and held a sword of fire in his hands.
'No, it's dangerous.'
Quasimodo controls Esmeralda, but on the contrary, Esmeralda also played a role in suppressing Quasimodo.
Now however the link between them has faded and Quasimodo was stronger than ever. No matter how much Rudger resists and fights him in the end he'll melt away and disappear.
"Run away! Just run away!"
Esmeralda shouted, but Rudger did not run away.
"………Why don't you run away?"
'You don't have to fight.'
Esmeralda bowed her head. Then something touched her shoulder. When I looked up, there was a tentacle of a shadow that protected her body.
"You are…"
The tentacles pointed to Rudger.
Esmeralda fixed her eyes on Rudger's back as if she had been possessed by something.
What kind of magic is he using? Can that really be called magic?
He didn't recite a chant or use a want but the magic was activated. At the same time a sword of fire was swung at Rudger's neck but a white tower was created around Rudger blocking it.
[What is that? What did you do?]
Was it quite a shock that a strange structure he had never seen before prevented his attack so Quasimodo asked impatiently.
"It is simple magic. It is a magic made of the five elements."
[I've never heard of it. There can't be such magic.]
"Of course not. This is the magic I made."
[You're saying nonsense]
Quasimodo thought Rudger was making fun of him.
[How can you call it magic when there's no chant and no hand gestures?]
"So it's magic."
The red light from Rudger's eyes flew through the air like a long thread.
"I don't cast spells with my mouth and I don't use hand gestures in vain. The law of change comes true if I truly believe, follow, and pray. This is the real magic."
A blue light flashed behind Rudger's back, then turned into a large sword and slammed down Quasimodo's head.
Quasimodo hurriedly raised his sword of fire and blocked it.
"It also has another name.
Unable to withstand the shock, Quasimodo fell on one knee.
"It's called a miracle."
[Aaaah!]
Quasimodo roared and slammed his arms to break the blue sword and after that he stared calmly at Rudger, shaking his body.
"Are you not coming?"
[I admit that you're different from other humans Rudger Chelici. You're not a normal human being. You are a superman who is the best among humans.]
"Because you were pushed by me, you suddenly become more talkative."
[So I will ask. Why are you disturbing me?]
Quasimodo pointed at Esmeralda with his flaming sword.
[You have that kind of power, but why are you acting like this?]
Why was he fighting against him instead of running away? Why was he doing this just because of that one woman?
Quasimodo was asking Rudger so.
[I admit that you're strong. Your power is obviously great so these words are meaningless. Either you or I die, but the one who survives also has to carry a lifelong wound. Do you want to take this risk?]
"You can't stop talking. I don't think that's what the guy who was trying to kill me just now would say."
[I didn't know that back then.]
Quasimodo replied brazenly like he was not ashamed because of that.
Quasimodo was sincere. If your opponent is weak, you kill him. However, if it's strong or if it's an opponent who has to be annihilated the story is different.
His judgment was reasonable. However, Rudger had no choice but to laugh at Quasimodo's behavior.
He hates humans and burns them to death but he's trying to reason with the strong ones. Isn't it just a sample of strength and weakness?
Rudger gathered his magic as if he didn't have to listen to it anymore.
[…Are you trying to fight?]
"Of course. We fought like that a while ago, and now you're shamelessly going to solve it through conversation?"
[Then I also have no choice but to fight with you with all my might. Are you willing to risk all that to help a puppet? You're already beyond ordinary humans.]
"I am not a superman."
Rudger shook his head and denied what Quasimodo said.
"I've never been a superman, and I don't want to be a superman."
[What nonsense……?]
"The reason I'm fighting with you right now is because you're dirty and disgusting. That's all I'm saying."
He treats people like puppets, and enjoys watching their despair. Then he burns and kills other humans like worms. Rudger couldn't stand it because it was disgusting.
[Then die!]
Quasimodo rushed to Rudger but Rudger activated the magic he had already prepared.
"In the five elements, fire is the opposite of water. Water suppresses and hinders fire."
A wave of blue energy rushed to cover Quasimodo.
Quasimodo tried to cut off the blue energy by swinging his sword, but the fire was pushed away by the blue energy.
[It's useless!]
If he can't cut it, he can avoid it. Now that his size has gotten smaller, his speed has become incomparably faster than before. Quasimodo approached Rudger through the blue energy with a sleek movement.
Instead of backing down, Rudger clashed directly with Quasimodo. The blue sword in his hand collided with Quasimodo sword.
As soon as he entered the power struggle, blue energy was condensed under Quasimodo feet like a whirlpool. The blue mist condensed on the ground rose like a large column, throwing Quasimodo into the sky. Part of the warehouse's ceiling was also blown away cleanly.
Rudger shot the wire launcher on his left hand and penetrated Quasimodo's solar plexus.
[You fool! Burn up and die!]
Quasimodo, holding the wire in his hand, wanted to set it on fire but Rudger had already used water magic on it.
The wire was pulled, and Rudger soared towards Quasimodo. The moment they collided in the air firecrackers exploded and lit up the surroundings. As if the first flame was only the beginning, the black night sky quickly became colorful.
"Ah."
Esmeralda stared blankly at the fight between the two while everyone gathered in Theon raised their heads to watch the fireworks.
Beautiful flowers were blooming in the night sky and concealed the fight between the two.
No one knew that behind this beautiful landscape, there is a man who fights desperately. They will never know about the heroic battle that took place.
Only Esmeralda kept her eyes on Rudger's fight. Even at this moment when everyone is laughing and talking, she was watching the noble battle of a man who desperately fights a monster. How could she turn her eyes away?
Quasimodo and Rudger, who collided several times in the air, fell down again. Following the trail of the two clashes, traces of red and blue light remained in the space like afterimages similar to a fireworks display.
Quasimodo, who landed on the ground, looked up at Rudger, who was slowly coming down, and shouted.
[Don't think you can do anything with this power! My fire will not be quenched with this kind of water!]
"Is it useless as the opposite of the Fire Element?"
[That's the limit of real magic.….]
"Then I'll go with something stronger."
[What?]
As soon as Rudger finished speaking, a white frost began to fall over the blue energy of the waves.
[What is this……?]
"The rise of the five elements destroys the energy beyond the opposition that suppresses the energy. As soon as the water exceeds the heat of the fire, the water eventually freezes."
The freezing cold made Quasimodo's body slow. Nevertheless, Quasimodo did not die. He breathed out heat and resisted the cold.
At that moment, a figure appeared behind Rudger's back. It was a shining tree. A sacred tree consisting of complex shapes, lines, flows and paths.
[There's more?]
"The ninth path is pure intellect. The bottom of Arodo's pillar of balance along with the release of Arodo Purification and the last living omnipotence."
At the top of a perfect triangle, a huge amount of condensed and compressed energy flickered.
Quasimodo felt a sense of crisis for the first time. Meanwhile, Rudger's magic continued. An ultimate magic that drew all the mana of the medicine in Rudger mouth.
"The ninth Sefira of the Sefirot Tree."
The power of Gabriel, the archangel in charge of water.
"Yesod!"
The dazzling light, which was shot in a straight line, devoured Quasimodo.