The girl… Polaris decided to leave everything behind to train herself
and settled on an uninhabited island in the northern part of the Demon
Realm, close to the Land of Death, with only the bare necessities.
That island, being close to the Land of Death, is free of most living
creatures, making it a good environment for training herself. And the
fact that the Land of Death, ruled by Isis, is just around the corner is
also a motivation for her.
The current Polaris doesn't have the power to enter the Land of Death.
However, that was only for the "current" her, and it will be different in
the "future". That's what she told herself as she began her defiance to
her own talent.
The first thing Polaris did after starting her training… was to learn
Recovery Magic. She wasn't very talented, so it was difficult for her to
perform High-Grade Recovery Magic, and even barely able to use some
of the Low-Grade Recovery Magic took her several years to learn.
But now that she was finally ready, Polaris began her training in
earnest.
The training method she used was simple…"Continue to train her body
tirelessly until it breaks", "then repair her body with Recovery Magic".
She thought that the first and foremost thing she needed to train was
her basic ability…
Her training method was so ridiculous that others would have thought
it was crazy.
Her whole body loaded with magic power, she literally continued to
swing her fist with all her might "until her arms were torn off". She
would then keep activating Low-Grade Recovery Magic until "they're
completely healed", and at the same time, she would kick with her legs
"until they break".
Such ridiculous training was repeated incessantly by Polaris. For years,
for decades, for centuries, for a millennium… She foolishly repeated this
training.
The limits of talent… It greatly affects the fate of many people and there
are probably many of those who were struck down by such limits. For
those who don't have it, the walls of the tower of talent above them are
so high that they pierce the heavens, and climbing up above it is so
difficult that they are staggering. And even if they do manage to
overcome it, you will be confronted with an even higher wall almost
immediately.
The spot where they stopped and kneeled on the endless road… would
probably be their limits.
However, it was different for the girl, Polaris… Without hesitation, she
slammed her fist into the wall where many had fallen to their knees and
broke their hearts. Her bones were broken, her skin was torn, and she
was literally spewing blood and vomit… but still, she earnestly
slammed her fist into the wall.
As if to say "Don't block my path with such trivial things", she continued
to slam her fist at the unbreakable wall.
It was a very simple training that she couldn't feel the results of. As her
body broke down and was repaired by Recovery Magic, little by little,
her body was being changed by her magic power. However, such change
was very subtle.
Her entire body was broken, and when it was fully recovered…"There's
a chance that her body's basic ability would increase by about 0.1".
How many people can keep on writing the letter "A" on a piece of paper
for as long as they could to strengthen their arms?
One minute would be easy, ten minutes would still be okay, but an hour
would be enough for some to drop out of the pain. Few would be able to
continue for dozens of hours.
Then, what about doing that for a day? A month? A year? A decade? Is
there really anyone who can keep doing that?
There are plenty of other efficient ways to train your arms, but would
someone really be able to keep doing a training so slow as piling sand
one grain after another?
That was something that she, Polaris… had made possible. Decades
have passed with no results, centuries have passed where she couldn't
sense that she's getting stronger at all, and a millennium passed with
no signs of breaking the talent barrier.
But still, Polaris didn't stop and repeated the same training. It was an
obsession that could be called madness… To put it nicely, the only and
greatest talent she have had may be her mentality… Her ability to keep
trying.
No food, no sleep, just days of continuous training… small changes were
slowly, but surely beginning to accumulate.
When a thousand years had passed, it became possible to continue
training and maintain Recovery Magic at the same time.
When two millennia had passed, her body was no longer easily broken
by training alone, so she learned low-grade Offensive Magic and
launched it against her own body, training her endurance as well.
When three millennia had passed, it became difficult to consume magic
power through Recovery Magic alone, so she began to consume her
magic power by continuously casting powerful Barrier Magic around
the deserted island.
When four millennia had passed, her magic power finally increased to
the realm of High-ranking Demons.
When five millennia had passed, the sound of her fists gradually began
to slow down to her ears.
When six millennia had passed, the ground began to crack when she
stepped hard, and she needed a ward around her feet.
When seven millennia had passed, she was able to activate multiple
full-force wards, unleashing countless Offensive Magic at herself, and
still not run out of magic power.
And when eight millennia had passed… a subordinate of the
Phantasmal King arrived and told Polaris that her power met the
criteria of a "Baron-level, High-ranking Demon".
After eight millennia of uninterrupted training to a level that could be
called insanity… she finally shattered the talent barrier. However,
Polaris didn't feel anything about it and just resumed her training.
The Peerage that many people in the Demon Realm… She disregarded
it… for it wasn't what Polaris was looking for.
Indeed, she may now have reached the power of a Peerage-holder, and
might be able to give Isis the thanks and apologies she never got to give
her even if she wanted to.
However, the prerequisite has changed. She had vowed to dedicate
herself to Isis. This life of hers that was saved by the Death King, whose
kind eyes were filled with sadness… There was no way she could have
stopped with something like this.
She, Polaris, reached for the now dark moon. She wished for a future
serving Isis… and so, she didn't need anything else.
It's true that she had shattered the talent barrier. However, she still has
many barriers that she needs to pass through.
Drawing a trail of blue magic power, her huge naginata was swung and
caught the neck of a woman wearing a white robe and a pointy hat of
the same color. As the sound of clashing metal echoed, her naginata was
flicked away, leaving a faint cut on the woman's neck that disappeared
in an instant.
With admiration on her face, the naginata-wielding woman… One of
War King's Five Generals, Epsilon of the Absolute Ice, stopped attacking
and spoke.
[For my blade to not penetrate your defenses, you're splendid… I'm
sure it's a very powerful Defensive Magic, but perhaps, you're great at
concealing it, as I'm not sure what magic you used.]
Hearing Epsilon's words, the woman dressed like a magic user… Polaris
scratched her cheek, looking a little awkward.
[…Ah~~ Well, I'm honored by your praise. Good gracious, how should I
say this… Even though you complimented me, my apologies but "I
wasn't able to use it in time", so I can't obediently accept your
compliments.]
[Unnn? What did you not use in time?]
[No… Well, putting it simply… I haven't used Defensive Magic. No, of
course, I'm still clad with my magic barrier that's active all the time…]
[…What?]
[No, it's not like I'm going easy on you, okay? I don't have any ill intents
with my actions… It's just that, I haven't really had a proper battle in
"about 15,000 years". I've been thinking about activating it, but your
attacks are too fast for me to use in time. Good gracious, I really feel like
I need some real combat experience.]
The wryly smiling Polaris didn't seem to be lying, so her words were
undoubtedly true. But if that's the case…
[In other words, you received my blade "almost with your flesh and
blood"… Astonishing.]
Epsilon's naginata is a densely compressed materialization of her magic
power… The sharpness of its blade is simply amazing. Even Orichalcon,
which is said to be the hardest natural ore in the world, could be sliced
through by her naginata as if it were paper. Which means, the strength
of Polaris' body is truly out of the norm, as she can receive a slash with
the magic power of Epsilon, a peak Count-rank, imbued to her naginata,
and only sustain a faint cut.
[......]
Thinking about it again, she felt some things were out of place. After
rejecting her invitation to join the War King's ranks, she personally
suggested having a bout, and since Polaris was also looking for a real
battle, she readily agreed and their battle began… It was from the
moment they exchanged their first moves.
In the first place, War King's Five Generals are not only the most
talented Count-ranks, each of them is also one of the most skilled
martial artists in the Demon Realm.
Epsilon is also a martial arts expert at a level that even a child who
enjoys martial arts would know her name, and as one of War King's
executives, she has given martial arts instructions to many people.
Because of this, it's easy for her to gauge her opponent's strength and
potential talent after a few rounds… is how it should have been.
However, enough time should have already passed from the start of the
battle, and at their speed, they had already exchanged more than five
digits of offense and defense… but she was still unable to gauge this
being named Polaris.
No, rather than being unable to gauge her… what she doesn't
understand is that "why is the battle still taking place".
They had already exchanged blows for a while. There was no doubt that
Polaris was a strong person with power of a peak Count-rank who
could match her. But at the same time, Epsilon's instincts as a warrior
told her, that the woman before was "a being that couldn't have been
her opponent"…
If she were to speak bluntly… She, Polaris, has "no talent". She wouldn't
go as far as say she's incompetent, but describing her as someone
whose talent was ordinary, she shouldn't even be on this stage.
Putting aside if it was someone who, after desperate efforts, finally
managed to become a High-ranking Demon… Even with a miracle, a
person with her talent wouldn't have been able to reach Baron-rank.
However, the fact is that she, Polaris, stands before Epsilon and is
fighting against her.
[…You…]
[Unnn? What is it?]
[How many times have you "exceeded your limits"? How many times
have you "stood before hell"?]
After fighting for a while, Epsilon finally arrived at an answer. The
secret of Polaris' strength is her body. In Epsilon's estimation, Polaris'
body had been broken so many times that it had become too
outrageous to count. It has broken so many times, and been repaired so
many times.
And her body continued to grow just a little bit stronger with each
recovery as it received the magic power of her Recovery Magic.
It's really a small change that it's barely negligible. It was on the level
that even if repeated 10 times or a hundred times, you won't even feel
the change… However, the changes it brought aren't zero. Even if it was
less than a decimal point, even if it was only a grain of sand, little by
little, she kept getting stronger. Little by little, she was evolving.
Polaris, who never stopped, never crumpled to her knees, and kept
banging her fists against the wall… Her small grains of sand had grown
to the point where they could be called a desert, swallowing up any
limit barriers before her path.
[…Limits? I wonder, I don't remember encountering anything like that. I
don't remember seeing the hell you mentioned either. I've broken down
a few "walls that were blocking my way", but that's about it.]
[......]
With her answer, Epsilon completely understood. The Polaris in front of
her undoubtedly had "ordinary talents", but she was a transcender who
had broken through the barrier of limits through hard work alone.
If hundreds of efforts aren't enough, make thousands of efforts. If
thousands of efforts isn't enough, make ten thousands of efforts… A
transcender with ordinary talents, a monster of hard work who never
stops moving… That was the being named Polaris.
[…Wonderful! You're the very culmination of self-training! I'm grateful
to have the good fortune to meet you!!!]
[Is that the face of someone thankful though? That is…]
Epsilon's voice sounded elated, as her smile was so wide that her
canine teeth were showing. Thereupon, two horns made of ice
immediately grew out of her head and blue flames appeared in her
eyes.
[This is starting to get exciting. However… Have we fought too
flamboyantly so far…]
As she muttered this, Epsilon glanced into the sea surrounding the
deserted island… No, to "a being at the bottom of the sea".
And at the same time, turning towards that being… One of the Four
Great Demon Dragons, the Dragon King's executives and the being who
supervises Demon Realm's oceans, "Ocean Ruler Water Dragon", and
used magic to communicate with her.
(…If it isn't "Eingana"-dono. I understand what you mean when you say
that you won't overlook any further damage to the seas of the Demon
Realm, which is the domain of the Dragon King. However, my apologies,
but could you turn your gaze away for "one more exchange"?)
(...…)
(Thank you.)
There was no verbal exchange between them, but the surface of the
water swayed a bit, before settling down, and after a while, the
presence of the being under the sea went away.
It seems like Epsilon's wish was granted, and with a smile on her face,
Epsilon turned towards Polaris.
[Now then, Polaris-dono. You are a wonderfully strong person. I would
like to continue fighting until our strengths are exhausted, but there are
various circumstances that make that difficult. Therefore, if it's alright
with you, how about we settle this with our next strike?]
[Unnn? Ahh, I don't mind. For my part, I've already identified the issues
I need to work on, and it's already enough.]
Settling with the next strike… After confirming that Polaris nodded to it,
Epsilon disappeared with her naginata in hand. Her two horns shone
with a pale light, and an ice gauntlet appeared on her right arm.
As she slowly draws back her right hand and gets ready, Epsilon spoke.
[…There's one "aesthetic" I've been sticking with in my battles.]
[Fumu?]
[I will only name myself with my "true name" when I am facing an
opponent worthy of a serious fight. You can think of it as my willingness
to fight with all my might.]
[...…]
[Well then… I'm of the "Ice Oni" race, bearing the name "Ix Nirva"… and
I will put my everything in this strike!!!]
(T/N: / Ikusunirvaa)
[Hmmm, I guess it's polite for me to reply in the same way here? I'm of
the "Witch" race, bearing the name "Polaris"… and I'll be accepting it!]
Declaring to each other, both of their fists clashed on the deserted
island.
Under the skies lit up by the stars… Looking up at something on the
empty deserted island, Polaris quietly muttered.
[…Why? I should have gained enough power to be your subordinate…
but why are you crying sadly in the future I'm seeing? Am I still not
strong enough? My time… has yet to arrive. Even though I want to serve
you as soon as possible…]
The stars were shining brightly… but the moon she sought for… was still
hidden behind the clouds.
Polaris
A being that has evolved so much that her body screams from
overtraining. She's kind of a swindler, as even though she's supposed to
be a Witch and was dressed as a magic user, she's a physical monster.
She is an all-rounder who uses magic and fights like a human bullet, but
for some reason, she felt like a muscle head. She's the type who thinks
that if she doesn't have talent, she'd just raise her level and status.
She's the opposite of Eulpecula, a complete genius type.
Absolute Ice-san
She usually looks calm and collected, but just like War King's other
subordinates, she's a fighting enthusiast. She loves fighting, and loves
fighting strong enemies even more. Her aesthetics of battle is that she
will only introduce herself with her real name when she's fighting
seriously.
[I thought she was good at Defensive Magic because my blade wouldn't
pierce through her at all, but she was just incomprehensibly hard. I just
don't understand why. It was a draw this time, but I want to fight her
again.]
Large Sea Snake
…You guys seriously need to do this somewhere without oceans. Heck,
couldn't you put up some wards? Who do you think Magnawell-sama
will scold here…
Pervert
Whenever the other executives of the Six Kings or Count-ranks were
highlighted, her stocks rose. Of course, she's also the "strongest Countrank in terms of physical strength".
In fact, even if her fetishes were something Alice-chan had given up
with, she's super capable that the thought of letting her go is zero. In
Alice's absence, she had been given full authority over the Phantasmal
King Corps, and she even trusts her enough to allow her to pretend to
be the Phantasmal King at her own discretion. The only and biggest
drawback is that she's a pervert…
Transcendental Beauty : [… Seriously, if she's a decent person, I would
have been able to say that she's my right-hand and my most trusted
confidant without hesitation.]