Chapter 44: Breath of the God
"What's wrong? Is it over already? How about giving up for once?"
Despite her words, Valonos was deeply disturbed.
(Oh no... What is she? She managed to kill me, a demon noble, eight times, even with one hand missing. I have only two lives left. I have no choice... Even though it shortens my lifespan, I didn't want to resort to this if possible...)
Valonos resolved to use his trump card. Losing any more lives could jeopardize his status as a noble.
"...I'm getting tired of playing around. Let's end this. [Miasma Release]."
Dark miasma spread from around Baron Valonos's heart, covering the entire area in a haze.
"Ugh, what is this... My body feels heavy――"
Celestina's expression contorted in agony, and her breathing became increasingly labored.
"Hahaha, this is the barrier of miasma called [Curseus], usable only by demon nobles. Within this barrier, your abilities are halved, and my power doubles! Just like this."
Valonos closed in at an incredible speed, and Celestina couldn't withstand the attack, being blown away.
"How does it feel? There's no way you can win! And yet... what's with those eyes?"
She could barely stand at this point. Her energy had long surpassed its limit, and she might not even be hearing clearly. Her magic power was nearly depleted. Despite that, why were her eyes still full of life?
"...Tch, forget it. I thought I could break your spirit, but just die already!"
Valonos lunged forward without a word――――
――――[Ancestral Reversion]――――
Celestina's platinum-blonde hair turned jet black. She activated her last trump card, [Ancestral Reversion] skill.
Within the Astrea royal family flowed the blood of many beings from different worlds. The [Ancestral Reversion] skill allowed them to use a unique skill of their ancestors at random. However, once activated, it left them completely exhausted, making it a true last resort.
――――[Dance of Slaughter]――――
The unique skill possessed by the otherworldly being, Nagasaka Kyoya, [Dance of Slaughter], tripled her combat prowess against the target she activated it against, performing an unstoppable waltz of death until the target was killed.
Overwhelmingly ruthless, the Dance of Slaughter left Valonos with no chance. He was torn apart and trampled upon. He had no fighting spirit left, but the waltz continued. It wouldn't stop until he was dead.
"...Huff, huff... Still, I win."
Already, there was no life left in her. But standing at the end made her the winner.
Having killed Varonos once, the skill was already released. Varonos looked down at Celestina, who could no longer move, and smiled with satisfaction.
"You made a fool of me all this time. I won't kill you so easily."
With a cold smile, Varonos gleefully severed Celestina's legs.
"Now... you can't escape anymore. Fuhaha, heeheehee. In the end, I'll kill you with your own cursed sword."
Turning his attention to the magical sword Ilunasion that Celestina held, Varonos crushed the last remaining right hand.
"Let go of the sword already, you..."
Finally, he cut off her hand at the wrist and grinned.
"You're struggling... Now, how does it feel to be killed by your own sword?"
"...You will never be able to wield that sword..."
"Hmph, you're just pretending..."
Trying to lift the sword, but it didn't budge an inch, as if it were too heavy.
The magical sword, Ilunasion, chooses its own master. For the chosen one, it is lighter than a feather, but for others, it is heavier than a star.
Celestina wields Ilunasion not because she is a princess, but because she was chosen by Ilunasion.
The magical sword Ilunasion emitted a sorrowful wave and began moving back towards Celestina, as if drawn to her like a magnet.
"Just an insolent sword!"
As Varonos tried to stop it with both hands, the moment he touched the sword, his hands were blistered.
"Gyaaaaaa!"
"Kuh, did it react to the miasma... still trying to shield me until the end! It's over, die!"
Giving up on killing Celestina with her own sword, Varonos raised his own greatsword.
Ilunasion shone brightly and blasted Varonos away.
And finally, it sent a weak wave to Celestina, then lost its brilliance as if it had exhausted its power.
"You were trying to protect me, weren't you... Thank you, Ilunasion."
"Huff, huff... there's no one left to interfere now."
Varonos raised his greatsword again, ready for the final attack.
(Has it come to this... I'm sorry, everyone. I couldn't make it, not even one step further. Father, mother, older brothers, and sisters... in the end, I couldn't find them or help them. Sakura, I'm counting on you. Goddess... I wish I could meet my husband one last time...)
Suddenly, the swung sword comes to a halt. As if struck with a brilliant idea, the face contorts into an ugly expression.
"Oh, right, I forgot to mention, those subordinates you let escape... By now, they are already in the afterlife. I've set the strongest subordinates to ambush them, so the rescue team was completely wiped out. The city of Primera you love so much must have fallen by now, besieged from the west, south, and east simultaneously... Hehehe, it must be frustrating, isn't it? Now, wallow in despair and perish--- huh? What's so funny? Has despair driven you mad?"
Celestina laughed in a manner that was almost unbearable, and she conveyed the message to Varonos.
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. The subordinates you were waiting to ambush have already gone to the afterlife. My subordinates are the strongest, after all. The rescue team eliminated the ambushing monsters without fail. The south was wiped clean by my husband's cunning plan. The west ended the moment my husband arrived. Therefore, Primera will not fall. It's a pity I couldn't defeat you myself, but my husband will surely defeat you. And not just you. My husband will crush all of you, the scheming demons of the Demon Empire! Remember that!"
"What are you blabbering about? I'll silence you forever so you won't utter such nonsense again!"
At the moment the sword was about to be swung accurately---
---A fierce gust of wind blew---
The sword, now off course, plunged deep into the hard bedrock.
(...God's Breath, an out-of-season occurrence...)
In this world, a gust of wind is called "God's Breath." It's very rare for it to blow in this season.
"Hakushun!"
"Ilize-sama, have you caught a cold? Even if you're busy, please make sure to rest properly!"
"I know, I know."
The goddess Ilize waved her hand lightly.
(I don't really want to interfere personally, but... I'm not so busy or heartless that I can ignore the sincere wishes of so many people... Your way of life has moved even a goddess to help you... Be proud, Celestina.)
(...Kakeru-kun, please handle the rest well.)
Ilize hurriedly returned to her goddess duties.