Chapter 1400: 158. Imitation

"I absolutely won't allow you... to come any closer!"

The black-robed figure raised the long mace high.

Vast magical power instantly transformed into brilliant flowing colors that coursed around the ancient-looking mace.

The body of the mace stood upright like a tower shrunk countless times over. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a tower... or rather, something resembling a "model" of the Origin Tower, without the slightest sense of intimidation.

But the terrifying aura it now emitted was absolutely not something a mere "model" could possess.

With the black-robed figure's low shout, the simple outer shell of the long mace suddenly unfolded with a roar, revealing an array of patterns so intricate they bordered on incomprehensible.

Previously, only one level of the mace had rotated.

But now, the entire first level completely opened.

Points of light flickered like a sea of stars, traveling through the complicated patterns, as though every restraint had been released.

And so, doomsday descended once more.

Rolling crimson storm clouds spread in from the far end of the sea of stars, furious thunder roaring within them.

The entire world suddenly lit up.

Yet it was not warm light meant to illuminate the mortal world.

It was the light of destruction that brought the end!

"Holy shit..."

Even Ariel was startled.

It was the same spell, but this time it was clearly several degrees stronger than when he had used it against them earlier. Merely the violent winds sweeping between the crimson clouds and violet lightning were already making her skin sting.

"Why does this guy somehow look even more nervous than I am?"

Ariel's gaze subconsciously fell upon that multicolored bubble.

Before this damned thing had appeared, the two sides had merely been fighting over the right to enter that door.

Muen wanted to obtain some information...

Then what did this black-robed figure want?

"This magic... I remember it now."

"What?"

"This was a spell created by someone from my era. Wind, lightning, fire, and mountain—the most common, yet also the most violent elements. He forcibly stuffed all of them into a single spell, which is why it produced this ridiculous effect like throwing everything into one giant stew."

A trace of nostalgia entered Peles's voice.

"Truth-Rank Magic · Lost Paradise. This absurdly complicated spell has clearly been improved, and since what he used earlier wasn't the complete version, I actually failed to recognize it at first glance."

"That sounds way more impressive than I expected."

"Of course it's impressive. The person I'm talking about... was also one of the founders of the Origin Tower."

"..."

Ariel fell speechless.

One of the founders of the Origin Tower.

In other words... someone on the same level as her own teacher?

No wonder.

"In that case, that long mace is also..."

"No. The person I knew had absolutely no talent for making magical devices. The most he could do was use flame magic to melt together two fireplace pokers. Something like this was definitely not made by him."

Peles shook her head, then became serious.

"And besides, isn't your attention focused on the wrong thing right now?"

"It is not."

Ariel gave a soft snort.

"Don't worry, Teacher. At a time like this, how could I possibly let my guard down?"

If the black-robed figure had not interfered, she would already have slashed at that thing.

What in this world could possibly compare to the profound concern she felt for the person she loved?

But concern did not mean recklessness.

The countless life-and-death crises she had experienced along the way had already taught her the importance of choosing the right moment.

For example, right now.

If she recklessly charged in while the black-robed figure was casting his spell, she would either get caught in the magic or cause an unpredictable chain of chaos.

She absolutely did not want either outcome.

"So for now, I'll watch and see what happens..."

Ariel narrowed her eyes. Magic flowed through her body, rapidly easing the stabbing pain in her eyes.

At the same time, she stared fixedly ahead.

...The distorted figure had already stopped moving after the black-robed figure's first ordinary spell struck It.

It did not dodge.

It did not display any bizarre ability.

It simply stood there quietly, covered in countless black lines, slowly raising Its head... as though gazing at the descending rainbow of destruction.

Boom!

The enormous shockwave was almost equivalent to more than a thousand explosive spells being detonated at once. Even Ariel, who was merely observing from the side, had to raise a barrier to keep herself from being blown away by the aftermath.

And the brilliant light that had just erupted was suppressed again in the blink of an eye.

An experienced mage would never allow an enemy to disappear from sight...

Unless the enemy moved too quickly.

So the distorted figure that had just taken the full force of that powerful spell immediately appeared before them again.

It still had not done anything particularly unusual.

It was still standing there.

Distortion continued to envelop Its entire body, all kinds of chaotic mutations still occurring around It. But because It had stopped moving, the affected area was no longer spreading.

It looked as though It were standing inside a hollow in the world itself.

Crooked.

Twisted.

The black lines that even the Delusion-Breaking Eye had difficulty seeing through had actually decreased considerably.

And through that indescribably strange aura, Ariel finally sensed something... familiar.

"This is..."

Ariel's face lit up.

"It worked?"

The sight was completely beyond Ariel's expectations, because she understood perfectly well just how terrifying the existence currently controlling Muen truly was.

And yet, with nothing more than the black-robed figure's magic, It had actually been severely injured?

"I see..."

Peles immediately understood.

"In the end, this is only an afterimage born from something as vague and intangible as fear. Its own power is far weaker than that of an ordinary afterimage.

"More importantly... the true Demon God is currently completely sealed away.

"In other words, no matter how It was born, the current It has no source, no characteristics, no ability to exert spiritual influence, and most importantly...

"no Authority!

"Aside from affecting the surroundings on a fundamental level, It may not possess any of the things a true Evil God should have!"

"In other words..."

Ariel's eyes lit up.

"It isn't actually as terrifying as we thought?"

To tell the truth, the instant this damned thing had appeared, she had already prepared herself to fight for her life.

Even though the black-robed figure, who had originally been their enemy, had suddenly attacked It as well, the situation had not seemed much better.

But now...

You can't even use Authority.

You're nothing but an empty shell.

So what the fuck am I still afraid of?

"Give me back my love!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Ariel, believing she had seized the right opportunity, attacked.

The crimson storm clouds overhead had not yet dispersed, and violet lightning still moved through them.

Ariel flashed directly in front of the distorted figure, gripped the sword hilt with both hands, and assumed a sword-drawing stance.

In an instant, the burning clouds and roaring lightning were both drawn toward her, and under the amplification of her Divine Favor, they erupted with terrifying power.

"Heavenfire——Unsheathe!"

Thunderfire Sword roared once again.

Although the enemy's weakness had far exceeded her expectations, Ariel showed not the slightest mercy.

With one hundred percent of her strength, she brought her entire attack crashing down upon the distorted figure!

Boom!

Under the impact, the distorted figure was actually smashed directly to the ground!

The flickering black lines diminished even further, and the strange aura surrounding It also became extremely faint.

The distorted figure swayed unsteadily, as though It might collapse completely at any moment.

"%#￥...&"

Strange syllables came from Its mouth.

They sounded like wailing.

Like crying.

Facing the two consecutive attacks, It had not shown the slightest ability to resist.

It merely kept Its head raised, Its hollow, eerie gaze fixed on the long mace in the black-robed figure's hand.

"Mumbling away... what are you saying? Begging for mercy? Crying?"

The corner of Ariel's mouth curled upward.

"Hmph. So much for the legendary First Evil God!"

As she spoke, she raised her sword and prepared to bring it down again...

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Ariel's sense of impending death was triggered.

She sensed danger.

But that danger did not come from the distorted figure before her.

Confused, she raised her head.

The crimson storm clouds overhead had not dispersed.

In fact, they had grown even thicker.

"What are you doing?"

Ariel immediately roared at the black-robed figure.

"We might've been enemies a moment ago, but can't you read the situation? Can't we finish this thing off first and fight afterward? Hurry up and cancel the spell!"

Damn it...

Was he trying to launch a sneak attack while she was distracted?

Did he really think a cheap trick like that could fool someone with her combat experience—

"No... it isn't me."

The black-robed figure shook his head forcefully.

His voice was hoarse and unpleasant, but this time it carried unmistakable terror.

"I didn't activate the spell again."

"What?"

Ariel's pupils contracted.

He hadn't?

Then the spell now was...

She finally realized something and abruptly lowered her head.

"#%@#%..."

The syllables coming from the distorted figure's mouth grew faster and faster.

At first, they had sounded like ordinary speech.

But then they turned into a long series of indistinct murmurs, even mixed with various complicated stresses.

Those sounds were becoming more and more like human language.

Or rather...

Human incantation.

"What the hell is going on? An afterimage... an Evil God's afterimage is fucking chanting? It's fucking using human... magic?"

Ariel's mind shook.

She had never heard of anything like this.

But regardless of how unbelievable she found it, reality continued unfolding before her.

The crimson storm clouds churned wildly.

Violet lightning slithered through them like frenzied serpents.

The distorted figure's chanting became proficient at a terrifying speed.

Toward the end, It no longer even needed to chant.

That powerful spell her teacher had just mentioned, created by the first master of the Elemental School and known as "Lost Paradise," was rapidly taking shape.

Its target was no longer It.

It was him and her.

"Damn it!!"

The brief shock transformed into resolve.

Ariel's gaze hardened.

Without the slightest hesitation, she brought the raised Heavenfire Greatsword straight down.

So what if It could use magic?

At this distance, before you can finish the spell, I can—

But the distorted figure extended one hand again.

It closed Its fingers around empty air.

And assumed a sword-drawing stance.

There was no sword.

There was nothing else.

Only that empty hand grasping something that did not exist...and pulling it free.

Clang——

Fire and lightning erupted simultaneously, then collided with nearly identical fire and lightning from the other side.

Boom!

The massive shockwave even slowed the formation of the spell itself.

Ariel was blasted backward, smashing through several distant islands before she finally managed to stop herself.

Amid the spreading dust and smoke, she slowly rose to her feet and lowered her gaze toward her slightly trembling hands and sword.

Disbelief filled her face.

"A martial technique? My... Heavenfire Unsheathe?"

"Why? That existence... is an Evil God... an Evil God born from Authority..."

"Why can It learn a human technique so quickly?"

A completely different kind of fear from before rapidly spread through her heart.

It was like casually admiring yourself in a mirror...only to suddenly see your reflection move on its own.