Chapter 320: The Hero

Sweat trickled down Regis’s forehead as he thought, ’To think this monster can already use aura arts...!’

He was racking his brain for any way out while defending against the unceasing attacks directed towards him.

Despite the confidence radiating from him, he knew that underestimating his opponent, especially in his current situation, would be a fatal mistake.

The reason Regis behaved the way he did was simple.

He believed that winning the battle of wills meant winning half the battle itself.

On the other side, the abomination was also in deep thoughts as it kept attacking, ’This human is strange. Too strange! He can match me in a contest of strength despite being a Grand Magician! Since when did humans start producing monsters like this?!’

’What’s even more shocking is that no matter how badly I wound this boy, his injuries vanish before they can even linger for a moment!’

The frustration festering within the abomination was finally beginning to erode its fighting spirit.

After all, against a seemingly immortal human monster, it was becoming increasingly difficult to believe that victory was even possible.

In less than five minutes, the young man and the abomination had already exchanged more than a thousand blows.

’This isn’t good...’

Regis thought as he discreetly bit his lip, feeling the splitting pain in his mind.

Since he had nothing to rely on besides his Gifts and physical body, he was already nearing his limit.

The absence of aura further worsened the situation, as he lacked its nourishing circulation to sustain his body, placing an even greater strain on his endurance.

Furthermore, not only did the continuous use of Tranquility and Weakpoint Creation heavily burden his mind, but his Instant Regeneration also relentlessly consumed his stamina.

With his methods severely restricted, Regis desperately searched for a solution in his mind.

Nevertheless, the confident smirk on his face never left his lips for even a second.

It oozed with carefree elegance as he effortlessly defended against the abomination’s seemingly endless assaults.

(Young man, can you tell us in what way we could help?)

At that moment, just as Regis was internally on the verge of tears, an elegant voice resounded in his mind.

It was not Wisteria’s lazy voice, but someone with much more elegance and dignity.

(Are you the queen?)

(Yes, you may call me Elysia.)

Hearing the response, Regis fought every instinct to glance their way, terrified that it would draw the abomination’s attention toward them.

(Then, Queen Elysia, may I request something?)

(Go on ahead.)

(Can you help me fight this monster? It would be even better if you can kill it. I’m on the verge of dying out here.)

’???’

Inside the grand magic spell, Astrum Sanctuarium, Elysia and Wisteria gazed at each other with puzzled expressions on their faces.

They could not help but look outside the starlight dome, comparing Regis’s arrogant expression to the desperate voice they heard from him in their minds.

"..."

They stayed silent for a moment.

(I’m sorry. I don’t know what trick they did, but something’s interfering with my soul. I suspect that they had an undetectable way of injecting me with demonic power... I’m still trying my best to cleanse it.)

Hearing Elysia’s answer, Regis could not help but feel disappointed.

Still, he forced himself to stay optimistic.

(Then how long do I need to stall before you can cleanse your soul and finish off this scumbag?)

(I’m sorry. I don’t know what method they used, but I’ve only recently regained control of my body. I can’t use mana—it feels like it would erode my soul even faster. I think I’ll need at least a few days before I can be certain the infection in my soul is gone...)

Elysia’s voice carried an apologetic tone as it drifted in Regis’s ears.

(...)

With no reply from him, Elysia could not help but feel flustered for the first time in what felt like a very long time.

(But I can still help you.)

(Oh, really? How?)

This time, Regis’s happy voice immediately resounded in Elysia and Wisteria’s minds.

(I can give you information. Just ask me anything you need to know.)

(Oh, okay. Thank you.)

"..."

Inside the dome of starlight, Elysia and Wisteria looked at each other again, both wearing dumbfounded expressions.

"I-Is it just me or did he sound disappointed?" The queen asked her contracted spirit, stuttering in disbelief.

The spirit nodded absentmindedly, "I think so too, Ely..."

Neither of them could believe it.

After all, it had already been years since Elysia had seated at the throne as the Queen of Edenelia.

Although she was not incompetent, no one had dared show her even the slightest dissatisfaction since then.

Now, encountering this human man, who was vastly younger than her, made her feel refreshed.

"Pfft— Hahahaha!" "Pffy— Hahahaha!"

Elysia and Wisteria giggled at the same time, a stark contrast to the situation they were in.

BANG—!

At that moment, a loud impact echoed through the area as something struck the starlight dome.

Outside the dome, the two saw the bony sword of the abomination relentlessly attacking it, cutting short their giggles.

(Why are you laughing— No, why did you have to laugh so loud?)

Regis’s impatient voice resounded in the queen and her contracted spirit’s minds.

The abomination came to its senses as it attacked the starlight dome while using all its strength to force him away.

Elysia felt guilty.

(I-I’m sorry...)

SPURT—!!!

It was then that the loud sound of something gushing caught the two’s attention.

The abomination’s grating voice also echoed in the area, "Haha! What happened to your arrogance earlier? At the end of the day, no matter how talented you are... You’re still a measly human!"

It gloated loudly, mockery laced every word that came out of its two mouths.

Meanwhile, Regis stood in front of the abomination silently.

His body had been riddled with injuries as he began to limit his Instant Regeneration to conserve his stamina.

His brain felt like it was being split open with a cleaver, giving him no choice but to restrict the use of Tranquility and Weakpoint Creation.

This resulted in his battle strength plummeting as he dealt with every pain through his will alone.

Although his Perfect Adaptation helped him adapt to aura arts, magic spells, techniques, and various things like poison and the like, it does not allow him to become immune to pure physical attacks.

What made everything worse was that his opponent, already faltering in their psychological warfare, noticed Elysia and Wisteria’s situation, forcing him to grow more aggressive to draw the monster’s attention back to him.

The abomination kept mocking him, "What now? Cat got your tongue? Where’s all the arrogance you had earlier? Come on! Answer me!!"

"Are you done talking now?" Regis, despite the blood trickling down his temple, smiled once again.

A smile so confident that anyone who saw it would know he was sure he would win.

"Do you like reading fairytales?"

Faced with a sudden, strange question, the abomination could not react in time.

Unbothered by the silence, Regis kept speaking.

"I like reading stories where heroes win fights against demons. But, you know, there’s always that one scene where I end up rooting for the demons—the villains themselves."

"What...?" The abomination could not help but ask.

Regis smiled, "The scene where the demon reveals a stronger final form that the hero would need to face."

"You... you’ve lost it, haven’t you?" The abomination saw the dazed look on its enemy’s eyes as it circulated its mana again, the tainted stars on its chest glowing brightly.

Inside the dome of starlight, Elysia and Wisteria also witnessed everything, both feeling guilty as they knew they had made the situation worse.

Nevertheless, Regis did not seem to mind anything as he slowly pointed towards the abomination.

His confident smile widened.

"So, let me ask. Are you, the hero, ready to face my final form?"