Chapter 189

Chapter 189. Underwater Battle, Round 2 (4)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍fisherman mage took a punch straight to the face.

Unfortunately, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was not a fatal blow.

Sphinx’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wind and Anagin’s Energy(Γι) had strengthened the punch, but its power had dropped significantly when it clashed against the fisherman mage’s fist earlier.

On ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍top of that, once the power called Authority was activated, the already weakened magic and Energy(Γι) were completely extinguished.

......Honestly, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was a bizarre power that was difficult to explain.

This ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍divine power called “Authority” that repelled lesser beings.

It felt as though some invisible giant hand was pushing Anagin away.

However, when Anagin tensed his entire body with the sheer determination that he could not be pushed back, the invisible giant hand was instead knocked away, allowing him to somehow finish throwing the punch.

As a result, a pure fist devoid of both Energy(Γι) and magic slammed into the fisherman mage’s face.

Thankfully, even that alone seemed to deal a decent amount of damage to the fisherman mage. His split lips and shocked expression were proof enough.

It was the kind of face that looked as though he was wondering if he was dreaming right now.

The considerate Anagin clenched his fist again and threw another punch to let him know this was no dream.

Wrapping Sphinx’s wind magic and his own Energy(Γι) around his arm.

In that fleeting moment, Anagin saw it.

The fisherman mage hesitates over whether to activate “Authority” again or block in another way.

His hesitation did not last long.

The fisherman mage wrapped his body in an even thicker and more violent vortex than before.

Like armor forged from the sea itself.

Earlier, he had merely been holding back.

‘But so what?’

Whether he did that or not, Anagin kept throwing punches.

If his fist was the type to stop just because the fisherman mage did something, he never would have thrown it in the first place.

Faced with Anagin’s relentless fist, the fisherman mage hardened his expression and threw out his own fist in return.

The same fistfight as before. A contest of raw power.

Tornado and vortex collided once more, but this time neither side overwhelmed the other.

BOOM-!  

As the vortex had grown stronger, its resistance also increased, causing their powers to cancel each other out.

Thud-!

However, Anagin paid it no mind and continued his punch, smashing the fisherman mage across the face.

As though his stubbornness had flared up, the fisherman mage also struck Anagin’s face with monstrous strength blessed by the sea.

Thud-!

The punch was fairly fierce, but that was all.

Anagin once again signaled Sphinx with his eyes, wrapped a tornado around his arm, and concentrated even more Energy(Γι) than before.

Since that fisherman mage bastard had shamelessly strengthened his power, wasn’t it only fair for him to do the same?

"You piece of….!"

The fisherman mage shouted as though he was sick of it.

Because he knew that the more Energy(Γι) Anagin used, the more violently the flames inside his chest raged.

Even now, those flames were burning through Anagin’s body from within.

But it did not matter. Anagin simply threw another punch.

Because at this very moment, that was what he wanted to do.

BOOOOOOM—!

Anagin’s fist collided with the fisherman mage’s fist once again and canceled out.

Even after pouring in more Energy(Γι), it failed to unleash as much power as expected.

Still, it was not without results.

‘I’m starting to get a feel for how to do this.’

“Pinku-Pinku! Again!”

[Brother.......]

“It’s fine!!”

Ignoring Sphinx’s worried cry, Anagin charged head-on once more. Wrapping wind and Energy(Γι) around his arm, he threw another punch.

CRASH——!!

This time, he overwhelmed the fisherman mage’s fist and smashed him in the face.

Whether it was because he used more Energy(Γι), because of Spirit-Form Manifestation, or because everything synced together perfectly, the power exploded several times over in an instant.

The fisherman mage was blasted far away, and just as Anagin tried to chase after him, he suddenly staggered.

His insides burned so fiercely he could barely breathe, his head spun, and the inside of his mouth felt dry and scorched.... Even so, Anagin was satisfied.

He had finally gotten a grasp on how to use the magic that had refused to work no matter how much he practiced.

As expected, he seemed to shine brightest in real combat.

Of course, he could not stop at merely being satisfied.

Once you learned the trick, the next step was immediate application.

Anagin used Pa(pa), which concentrated Energy(Γι), Ek(ek), which released it outside the body, and Pl(pl), which shaped its form, to seize the fisherman mage who had been sent flying.

A technique known as the Giant’s Hand.

“Kuheok......!”

Unfortunately, though, he could not exert as much force as he imagined.

Because the flames in his chest were steadily consuming his body.

At that moment, Sphinx perceptively stepped in to help.

[O wind, draw him in.]

The moment Sphinx cast her spell, a tornado surged around Anagin’s arm, and Anagin himself formed an image in his mind.

Just as the fisherman mage had pulled Anagin in earlier using the vortex around his arm, this time Anagin imagined himself pulling the fisherman mage in.

The fisherman mage tried to break free from the Giant’s Hand, but once the wind joined in, he was ultimately dragged over, and Anagin drew back his fist with all his strength—

[Authority Activated]

Just before he could be helplessly struck after being dragged through the air, the fisherman mage once again invoked divine power.

For a brief moment, the surrounding space seemed to freeze around the fisherman mage before everything was violently repelled.

Even after experiencing it again, it remained a bizarre force impossible to properly explain.

The magic whose power had steadily risen as their coordination improved collapsed in an instant.

However, Anagin alone managed to somehow endure without being pushed back.

“Ggeuuugh...!”

Because he had already experienced it once before.

“H-how.......”

The fisherman mage, blood flowing from one eye from overexertion, looked at Anagin standing firm and asked in utter disbelief.

From his perspective, it was only natural.

He had used divine power capable of repelling beings of lower rank, yet Anagin still stood his ground.

Common sense. At least, according to the fisherman mage’s common sense, such a thing should have been impossible.

Anagin’s answer was incredibly simple.

“Because I’m freaking awesome!”

THUUUUUD-!!

Anagin shouted as he slammed his fist into the fisherman mage’s stomach.

His fist sank in so deeply it looked as though it might punch straight through.

The fisherman mage’s stomach convulsed as something tried to force its way out.

A familiar cluster of light could be seen between his lips.

Instinctively, Anagin realized what it was.

‘The mermaids’ power?’

Anagin shouted inwardly in disbelief.

To think it would take that form.

It was even more grotesque than he had imagined.

Perhaps because of that, it almost seemed as though the cluster of light desperately wanted to escape from inside the fisherman mage’s mouth.

Naturally, the fisherman mage clamped his mouth shut to keep it from escaping.

Anagin clenched his fist again, intending to beat him until he spat it out.

However.

Pahahahahahat-!!

Just as Anagin was about to strike the fisherman mage again, the water’s surface suddenly bulged upward before an enormous pillar of water erupted skyward.

The ugly one, whom he had momentarily forgotten while focusing on the fisherman mage, had appeared once more.

“You should be the one fighting properly! Stop trying to win with brute force that doesn’t even suit you!”

The ugly one, who looked like a bloated anglerfish mermaid swollen like an inflated pig, threw the fisherman mage’s own words back at him.

The very words he had shouted while saving her moments before Anagin could finish him off.

“If you don’t do your job properly, that person will take back that power! Do it properly!”

After warning the fisherman mage once again, the ugly one pointed a gigantic trident made of seawater at Anagin.

‘There’s someone else?’

Even amidst the chaos, Anagin did not miss the ugly one’s words. That person? Just who was that?

However, the matter in front of him was more important right now.

Anagin fixed his gaze on the ugly one’s trident.

Its sheer size alone was enough to intimidate most people. But Anagin was not like most people, and besides, he had already seen it several times before.

So rather than shrinking back, he summoned [Longbald] into the air.

Sssssss-!

The moment he summoned [Longbald], the flames inside his chest once again tormented Anagin.

By now, he couldn't even spit, and his vision had grown blurry, but despite this, Anagin held onto [Longbald] tightly and prepared to swing it.  

Because everything he had done until now was far too precious to give up over something like this.

Thankfully, the ugly one’s body was so enormous that Anagin was confident he could hit her even with his eyes closed.

At least, he had been.......

Pyubyut-!

A sharp pain suddenly shot through both of Anagin’s legs, and in an instant all strength drained from them.

The fisherman mage had leapt above the water’s surface and fired streams of water at him.

'Damn, that's fast!'

The problem was not merely his speed.

Anagin had beaten him badly enough that significant damage should still have remained on his body, yet the bastard looked perfectly healed.

Did he have some kind of regenerative ability?

Before Anagin could even understand what was happening, the strength left his legs completely and he collapsed to his knees. Seizing that exact moment, the ugly one thrust her trident forward.

Kwaaaaaaaaaang-!!

An explosive roar rang out so violently it was hard to believe the strike had merely hit the water’s surface, but thankfully, Anagin was unharmed.

Something had swiftly snatched Anagin away and retreated with him.

“Horse-head......?”

“Judging by the way you’re talking, looks like you’re still alive enough.”

Horse-head, who had emerged from beneath the water just like the fisherman mage, spoke while carrying Anagin on his back as he ran.

“How are you.......”

Anagin lacked the strength to finish his sentence, but Horse-head caught on quickly enough.

“The Princess healed me. The moment she regained her power, she healed me and sent me to help you.... Be grateful!”

“That woman?”

Anagin referred to the subordinate woman with the only descriptor he had for her.

Since he did not know her name.

“She got her power back?”

“Yeah! The moment she recovered her power, she healed me and sent me to help you. Be grateful!”

Horse-head shouted loudly, apparently irritated about something.

“Thanks.”

“......!”

When Anagin obediently thanked him, Horse-head looked stunned.

He had demanded gratitude, but apparently never expected such a straightforward answer.

A moment later, Horse-head spoke again.

“For now, let’s retreat like this and-”

“No, we’re not retreating.”

“What?”

At Anagin’s words, spoken as though he had no idea how terrible his condition was, Horse-head questioned whether he had heard wrong.

Unfortunately, he had not.

“If we retreat now, nothing gets accomplished. We have to fight again.”

He was not merely talking big.

Anagin’s hand had already been completely revealed.

If survival had been the goal, fleeing now might have been the correct choice, but if victory was the objective, then he had to keep fighting. There would not be a next chance.

“When you can barely even stand?”

“That’s why you need to help.”

Anagin demanded assistance as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Horse-head found it absurd, but honestly, he should have been relieved.

If Anagin tried to run away here, their chances of saving the other princesses would practically vanish.

Of course, Horse-head understood that too.

It was just that, seeing Anagin force himself to keep fighting somehow..........

“Do you even have a plan?”

“Of course. But first, I need to find my sword.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Horsehead pulled out the Beast Devourer, which he had retrieved from the sea at some point, and handed it to Anagin.  

Once everything was prepared, Anagin pulled out a Water-Breathing scroll and tore it open.

Then he turned around and charged once more toward the ugly one and the fisherman mage, who had stopped while pursuing them.

Whether things would go according to plan was questionable, but there were not many options to begin with.

All he could do was trust himself and move forward.

“Let’s go!”

When Anagin charged forward while riding Horse-head, the ugly one did not summon fish-men like she had been doing all this time.

She had realized that clumsy numbers would not hinder Anagin but instead only strengthen him.

Instead, she fired gigantic arrows formed from seawater at Anagin.

That disappointed Anagin somewhat, since he had wanted food for the Beast Devourer. However.......

‘Doesn’t really matter.’

As Anagin dodged the gigantic arrows and approached, he gave a signal, and Horse-head, who had been running smoothly, suddenly dove beneath the water.

Naturally, Anagin riding on top of him also went down with him, and caught off guard by the unexpected move, the ugly one glanced around for a moment before diving beneath the surface after them.

Though it was ugly, unlike the mermaids, this thing was a fish to begin with.  

Before long, the ugly one found Anagin.

Anagin had summoned Pigmenes from the Beast Devourer and was feeding it the flames accumulated inside his body.

He had experimented with it before.

Whether Pigmenes could devour and erase the flames of Tramachus implanted inside Anagin’s body.

Just as it had devoured and erased the curse cast by Orpheus the Musician.

At that time, Anagin reached three conclusions. First, Pigmenes could indeed eat the flames. Second, it could not erase them completely. Third, the flames were actually fairly decent food for Pigmenes.

As Pigmenes consumed at least some of the heat accumulated within his body, Anagin regained a bit of breathing room, and using that opening, he summoned [Longbald] once again.

Then he swung [Longbald] beneath the sea.

━━━━━━━━━!!!

Resonating with the energy of the sea, [Longbald] unleashed an indescribable roar just like the first time it had been used, violently pushing away all the surrounding seawater.

A massive empty space formed in the middle of the sea.

The ugly one, disoriented after being blown away by the shockwave emitted from [Longbald], fell straight into that empty space.

And there, Anagin summoned Pigmenes.

The complete form of Pigmenes that he had accidentally summoned while fighting Orpheus the Musician. The so-called Giant Pigmenes.

Turning the surrounding seawater into steam with its powerful flames, Giant Pigmenes pointed its burning sword toward the falling ugly one.

Anagin also stepped onto Pigmenes’ sword, intending to finish off the defenseless ugly one.

At that moment, the fisherman mage appeared riding a horse made from fish-men.

Anagin did not panic.

It was not as though he had failed to anticipate the bastard interfering.

Why else would he have summoned Pigmenes?

If Pigmenes could create openings even against Orpheus, then surely it could serve as an excellent Meat Shield.

That was what he thought.

Stab-!

The fisherman mage hurled a harpoon, striking Pigmenes directly in the throat.

Kweeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiik-!!

Pigmenes let out a horrific scream of pain.

Not only that, it failed to keep itself upright and collapsed immediately.

All from a harpoon that looked no larger than a needle compared to Pigmenes’ enormous size.

“A harpoon tempered through hunting countless sea monsters. Quite painful, isn’t it?”

As though answering Anagin’s confusion, the fisherman mage threw his remaining harpoon, striking Horse-head.

“Guaaaarghhhhhh-!!!”

Horse-head, who had steeled himself to save the mermaids, also screamed in agony as though the pain was unbearable and fell from the air.

As a result, Anagin was left suspended helplessly in midair.

Whether he could even still stand on his own two legs was questionable, but he had no choice.

[Brother, hold on tight.]

At that moment, the Spirit-Form Manifestation Sphinx embraced Anagin from behind and attempted to fly upward with him.

Was she trying to retreat for now?

Anagin was about to stop her, but there was no need.

Pak-!

The fisherman mage threw the net he had been carrying alongside his harpoons, capturing the Spirit-Form Manifestation Sphinx completely.

“Brother?!”

The Spirit-Form Manifestation naturally unraveled.

As Anagin felt the wind surrounding his body disappear, he was left literally floating defenselessly in the air.

“I’ll impale you to death.”

The fisherman mage formed a trident from seawater and pointed it at Anagin, now standing alone.

As though intending to keep his promise.

While preparing to defend himself, Anagin simultaneously calculated.

Could he block this attack in his current state?

The answer came quickly. Impossible.

An attack he could not block even while in perfect condition would be impossible to stop in his current state.

However, dodging was impossible as well.

Sphinx, who had aided his mobility, was trapped in the net, and Horse-head had once again been injured by the harpoon.

Meanwhile, the fisherman mage thrust forward with his trident, and countless words flashed through Anagin’s mind.

Defense, impossible.

Evasion, impossible.

Underwater Steps, fully exhausted.

Water-Breathing, little remaining.

At the same time, Anagin swung [Longbald].

Not to counterattack. Not to defend.

But simply to avoid a fatal wound that would take his life instantly.

Even if there was a difference in power, this much should still be possible.

Slash!

The blade of the trident grazed heavily across Anagin’s body.

Had he not disrupted the point of impact by swinging [Longbald], he would have ended up skewered for certain.

From both the impact of swinging [Longbald] and the force of the glancing hit from the trident, Anagin was blown backward and plunged into the sea below.

Kurururuk-!

Saltwater seeped into his wounds, blood drained from his entire body, and his temperature steadily dropped.

He could still breathe, but even that much felt uncertain for how much longer.

Up and down became indistinguishable, and his consciousness grew hazy.

Forcing himself to stay focused, Anagin assessed his condition.

He had lost both Beast Devourer and [Longbald] from his hands.

He could still breathe somehow, but there was no telling how long that would last.

He needed to surface quickly and resume the fight.

But where was up?

And amidst all that, he began hearing hallucinations.

“...Do it! The blessing..... recei... it! Then... I’ll ..... for you! Hurry......!!!”

He could not hear it clearly, but for some reason it sounded annoyingly familiar.

Maybe because of that, Anagin reflexively muttered some sort of reply.

“......off!”

Even he had no idea what exactly he had said.

“...!”

Judging by how the hallucination suddenly fell silent in shock, it must have been a damn good answer.

Beyond his fading vision, the anglerfish opened its massive jaws wide as it approached him.

The hallucination seemed to make some sort of decision before grabbing both of Anagin’s cheeks.

It was a strange sensation.

Cold, yet warm at the same time.......

Then that sensation touched Anagin’s lips.

And the energy of the sea began to settle within Anagin’s body.

The subordinate woman had bestowed her blessing upon Anagin.