Chapter 71: The Raid Team's Operation
"Well, this is the real deal now."
"Yes, it is, Shuu-san."
Before them stood the awakened Magic Knight Ruto Leivan, likely one of the strongest Magic Knights in the Subarokia Grand Empire. The surging magic power was nothing short of overwhelming.
First, Ruto spoke up.
"It's been a while. I appreciate the help at that shop. Thanks to your notes, my subordinates are in high spirits."
"Ah, that's good to hear."
"By the way, would you consider dying for me?"
"That depends on you. Give it a try."
Ruto's gravitational control area expanded, attempting to capture Shuu and Iris. In response, the two of them deployed magic circles and used teleportation magic to escape downward.
However, a shining bird approached them.
A burst of lightning, tearing through space like thunderbolts. It was a servant-type Magic Knight, "Lightning Emperor" Ryuk, capable of controlling lightning birds and launching multiple long-range attacks. A single lightning bird split into pieces, launching an all-encompassing attack with no room to dodge.
"Shuu-san!"
"No problem."
Shuu didn't need to evade. Attacks from Magic Knights could be easily absorbed with his death magic. He converted the magic armor into magical energy and absorbed it. Due to the law of energy dissipation, the lightning bird's magic armor disappeared.
Magic and magic armor had no effect on the Dark King Arklight.
Shuu Arklight was the King's demon, the Alpha Spirit, the original spirit of darkness.
"There are a lot of small fry. Go, Iris."
Shuu nullified all magical and magic armor attacks.
Physical attacks couldn't reach them in mid-air.
This meant Iris had enough time and opportunity to use magic.
"I'm going to do it!"
As she began her incantation, a pale blue magic circle unfolded. The magic circle expanded and became more intricate as she chanted. Seeing this, the Empire's Magic Knights and mages began targeting Iris intensely.
There were few who could fly, and their attacks weren't that effective. In the three-dimensional space of the air, attack density decreased even with the same attack quantity. As long as Shuu protected her, Iris couldn't be approached.
The only concern was Ruto, the awakened Magic Knight.
"I won't let you!"
What Ruto attempted to activate was the black hole that wiped out the Revolutionary Army. It was the ultimate secret technique of magic armor that crushed and erased all matter with an ultra-small black hole.
The power of awakened magic armor was the ultimate.
However, the magic Shuu, the King's demon, wielded was also the ultimate.
"Kill gravity... with my magic."
Magic infused with the concept of death.
That was death magic. It could bring death to all things, even to phenomena like gravity, which had no inherent death. When Shuu released his dark magic, the space that was about to be compressed returned to its original state.
And Iris completed her magic.
"It's done!"
Iris targeted the Imperial soldiers on the ground using coordinate specifications. The spell she cast was the Eighth Tier of Wind Magic, "Grand Discharge." It was also known as "Maximal Magic." It would likely result in dozens of deaths with just one casting.
Having a weapon capable of killing so many in a single cast was not normal.
Even in war, the use of magic like this was highly valued for its strategic importance. Their power with forbidden spells was already awe-inspiring, but comparing it to the realm of "Maximal Magic" that the court mages were challenging, it was clear just how formidable Shuu and Iris truly were. Lightning crackled and a wide area was struck by a massive current.
However, this was where "Lightning Emperor" Ryuk shone.
Through his magic armor's lightning bird, he absorbed the current from the "Grand Discharge." The lightning bird, now energized with electricity, grew enormous and headed towards Iris.
"Hey, Iris."
"S-Sorry!"
Unexpectedly, the absorption of the current was surprising.
Shuu absorbed the lightning bird with his death magic.
At this point, the Imperial Army began to regain its composure. Mages and Magic Knights flying in the air began to form a formation. Even those Imperial soldiers who couldn't fly in the air were ready to provide support using magical tools.
First, the S-Rank Magic Knight Veil, known as "The Abyss," activated his magic armor.
He had been gathering magic power for this moment.
Veil's magic armor was area-of-effect, capable of submerging designated spaces in the sea. This applied even in the high sky, and Shuu and Iris found themselves covered in an enormous mass of water. If he wished, he could submerge even an entire city. That was the power of "The Abyss" Veil.
(Escaping from this will be difficult.)
(It's suffocating...)
(Use magic to deal with it. After all, you're immortal.)
(It's still suffocating!)
(But why did he use it now? Submerging allies... what's the point?)
The colossal mass of water that submerged even their comrades, the Magic Knights, was incomprehensible. It was difficult to understand why he would do such a thing.
But at that moment, Shuu sensed a vast amount of magic power. It emanated from the surface and emitted a white light. The frequent flashes of light indicated it was lightning. In other words, it was "Lightning Emperor" Ryuk's magic armor.
(Shuu-san!)
(Yes?)
Iris seemed to sense it too and called out to Shuu.
"The Abyss" Veil, the magic armor user, could summon and manipulate vast quantities of water. The water he created was seawater, which meant it was saltwater.
Seawater contained not only sodium chloride but also numerous metal ions.
Water was an insulator, but the presence of dissolved ions made it conductive. In other words, seawater with a high concentration of ions conducted electricity well. Compared to pure water, it was about eighty thousand times more conductive.
Capture "Death Gods" and their allies and kill them with a massive electric current.
That seemed to be the Empire's strategy.
The Imperial mages and Magic Knights were merely decoys.
(Well, it's no problem. Iris, just stay still.)
Shuu activated a small magic circle.
At that moment, the lightning bird plunged into the massive water mass.
◆◆◆
"Let's hope this is the end..."
"Hah, my role was practically non-existent."
In response to the relieved 'Thunder Emperor' Ryuk, 'Beast King' Azuka, who hadn't been able to contribute much, seemed dissatisfied. They hadn't anticipated an aerial battle initiated by the 'Grim Reaper' in the first place.
The plan was to surround the 'Grim Reaper' on the ground, trap it underwater, and deliver the finishing blow with a thunder strike. Azuka had intended to be at the front lines to detain the 'Grim Reaper,' but being unable to fly, he had no role in this operation.
"In the end, this thing wasn't of any use either."
What Azuka presented to Ryuk was a small ring. It was a magical tool that the Subarokia Empire had extensively researched, granting resistance to electricity. It couldn't be nullified, but with a combination of the ring's resistance and magical defense, it could withstand attacks from S-rank magic knights and court magicians, even in this operation. That's why they had brought such magical tools with them. Their preparations were flawless.
"I thought this would do the trick, but..."
"As long as I can sense magic power, I won't die. Did you slack off, Ryuk?"
"There's no way you'd think that, right?"
"...Ah."
As both of them felt, among the massive water mass, there were two powerful sources of magic. Veil also appeared alongside Ryuk and Azuka.
"What's this? The 'Abyss' master, huh?"
"It seems we couldn't defeat it with that last attack. I sense its magic power."
Ryuk's magical form was a thunderbird. This bird received Ryuk's magic power remotely and discharged high-voltage electricity. The voltage and current were tremendous; if it struck a rock, the generated thermal energy would melt the rock. If such a current flowed through highly conductive seawater, humans would undoubtedly turn to ash, even if they defended with magic. They suspected the 'Grim Reaper' had done something.
Meanwhile, Sadina and Ike, who remained in the air, trapped underwater by Veil's magical form, were also surprised. After exchanging glances, they decided to escape the water prison.
Sadina took Ike's arm and used her wings to swim through the water. With a splash, they successfully escaped.
"It's not working. What's going on? Did they have magic tools for lightning resistance like us?"
"...Maybe he nullified my magical form. He might have that ability."
"But I heard the 'Grim Reaper's' power is to kill people. Handling ice, and on top of that, nullifying magical forms?"
It was supposed to be an attack that could kill a hundred people in one go. However, faced with this situation, even Ike was confused. Ike had been reluctant to participate in this operation because he wanted to kill the 'Grim Reaper' himself. He had opposed it, but then Rut had told him, "Then try to kill it before the operation is carried out." That's why he had launched this reckless suicide attack.
For Ike, it was both a relief and a frustration that the 'Grim Reaper' hadn't died.
"The operation has failed. From now on, can I do as I please?"
"Ike..."
There was no reason for Sadina to stop him now. However, she couldn't just watch Ike continue to launch solo attacks.
"With Veil's magical form, like that... How are you going to attack?"
"I'll evaporate it."
"Huh... But the court magicians and the captain are still..."
"I know! I just said it!"
It didn't seem like he was completely serious, but with Ike's abilities, it wasn't impossible. Besides, if it were only Rut, he could endure it with his magical form's power, but the court magicians couldn't. There was also the possibility of using Ryuk's thunderbird magical form again, but they couldn't rely on the convenience of it working a second time.
Rut, who was still underwater, was observing the 'Grim Reaper' cautiously. Since Rut and the others were using magical tools for underwater breathing, they could stay active for an extended period underwater.
(I saw that all the lightning attacks were focused on the 'Grim Reaper,' and it absorbed them.)
Shu's magic was the manipulation of electrical resistance. This allowed him to increase Iris's electrical resistance while lowering his own. As a result, the lightning concentrated on Shu. It was a variation of a lightning rod. Some of it flowed into Iris, but that could be defended against with magic.
Furthermore, Shu could absorb any large electric current with his death magic. With this, he achieved complete defense.
At the same time, Shu had control over this massive water mass.
(Completed.)
Shu extended his right hand, slowly closing it.
(Taking the mass-energy of water. 'Death Depletion.')
Mass could be converted into energy. And if it was energy, Shu could recover it with death magic. It took time to grasp due to the large mass, but Shu had control over the water that could submerge a city.
The mass-energy was converted into magical essence and absorbed by Shu.
"It's time to finish this!"
Furthermore, Shu raised his right hand.
Then, a grand magical formation unfolded, covering the sky. It was the Forbidden Spell "Earth-Annihilating Wind Pressure Downburst." It was activated using the mass-energy of water.
The second activation of the Forbidden Spell.
A swirling tempest descended to ravage the land.
The Glen Rock Field was turned into a barren wasteland.