Summoning my Gáe Bolg through a thought connection, I casually walked towards Alcippe. "Now, please tell me why you're here!"
Even though I wasn't officially part of the guard unit, it was far from normal for the living to show up in the Land of Shadows without coming through the entrance. With the recent demon invasion and the impending opening of the Underworld's gates, Alcippe's presence might mean she intended to take advantage of the situation and stir up trouble. Plus, the area where the sea beast had perished was nearby, hinting that her group could be responsible. Anyone sneaking into the Land of Shadows had to have bad intentions.
"Ahem…"
Alcippe had certainly lost her ability to fight, but her fierce will and survival instincts were still very much intact. Even while spitting blood, she was conscious. I shifted the Gáe Bolg onto my shoulder, adopting a more authoritative expression. "Speak up, or I'll throw you into the dimensional rift!"
"Fine, I… I'm a warrior from Ulster. I heard rumors about a way into the Land of Shadows, so I followed the team… Their goal is the Queen of the Land of Shadows."
Ah, so their target is Teach. That's a problem! Those who dare go after Teach are either incredibly powerful or downright foolish. Given Alcippe's shown skills, it's likely the group leader is in the former category and not just some brainless idiot! Speaking of which, it's almost time; in just another day, I'll finish analyzing Teach's soul!
I took a deep breath, kept my cool, and assessed the situation. They wouldn't strike first, would they?
"So, what about you? What's your purpose?"
"To measure the strength of the Queen of the Land of Shadows. If possible, engage her in combat."
"I'll talk to you about it after I win. You've got sizeable breasts and minimal brain power!"
Truly ignorant—casually selling out one's comrades like that! Did they even realize how audacious that was? I initially restrained Alcippe with a rune and then started carrying her back to the Shadow Castle. I wasn't sure how many people were with Alcippe, but if they all had her combat abilities, meeting them again could be trouble. Plus, the earlier commotion might've attracted a lot of attention.
"All of which made me think: Didn't Scathach assign Ashe as my protector?" I tilted my head, scanning my surroundings. "But where is Ashe?"
Lost in thought, I suddenly noticed a curtain of light appearing in my line of sight.
A pillar-like wind connected the sky and the earth, laying waste to everything in its path. I couldn't shake the feeling that this wind was headed straight for me.
This wasn't just some natural phenomenon; as it approached, the air felt heavier, and the explosive Magical Energy tingled in my eyes. Like a herd of beasts responding to their master's command, the wind charged toward its target.
I rubbed my eyes and muttered, "F*ck me!" under my breath, quickly deciding to add a protection rune to the restrained Alcippe. As I said, "Sorry, this may hurt you more than me, but it's to protect you," I began gathering magical energy in my body.
"Wait, what are you go—" Alcippe didn't get to finish as she was violently launched toward the Shadow Castle...
At that moment, a magic sword appeared in my hand, my magic circuits working overtime as magical energy surged through me, wrapping me in a reddish glow.
The approaching storm carried a suffocating pressure and a divine aura reminiscent of Heracles. It was probably a being from the Greek pantheon—maybe even a god.
The opponent who had just opened the door to conflict was so powerful that a wave of dread washed over me. All I wanted right now was a moment's peace.
I raised the Iustitia in my hand. My Magical Energy continued to swell within me, forming a crimson-colored light that enveloped the blade.
As the storm drew closer, the distant roars of unknown beasts echoed around me. I braced myself, murmuring, "Iustitia—," opting for an attack as powerful as an anti-city Noble Phantasm to face the looming threat. I fervently hoped that my new opponent wasn't a god but rather a more manageable Phantasmal Species.
A white and crimson pillar of light surged, heading toward the approaching storm. It pierced through, dispelling the tempest and revealing the opponent—a stunning winged horse with beautiful hair. "The high temperature and explosive power of the Noble Phantasm had not only evaporated the ichor it was bleeding but also inflicted considerable damage on the majestic horse."
"Tsk, this doesn't look like an ordinary Phantasmal Species. Could it be… Pegasus?" I muttered, feeling a surge of irritation as I watched it shake off a direct hit from Iustitia. An ordinary Phantasmal Species shouldn't still be standing after that kind of blow. This was turning into a real challenge, and I couldn't help but wonder who'd be the last one standing in this battle.
"Nemesis!!" Thunder tore through the air, and the divine horse spoke in a voice that carried the force of the gods. Despite the distance, the shockwave threw me back.
"Wait, Nemesis? Isn't that the Greek goddess of revenge? What does that have to do with me?" I found myself speechless again. This wasn't the first time I'd heard that name. It was one of the titles Loki and Freya had called me by when we met in DanMachi, but they hadn't bothered to elaborate.
"Nemesis… revenge, archrival, or enemy. But whose Nemesis am I, and why?" I yelled into the storm, frustration boiling over. Of course, no answers came. Shoving those thoughts aside, I noticed that the rain had started pouring harder, turning an already rough storm into a deluge that could flood the entire area if it kept up.
"It's just a divine beast—how powerful can it really be?" I mused aloud, gripping Iustitia in front of me, though deep down I knew I was bluffing just to keep my own nerves steady. Cold sweat trickled down my cheeks as the relentless killing intent mingled with the heavy rain, pressing down on me. The situation was grim, and if my suspicions were correct, running away might not be an option this time.
I gripped Iustitia tightly in my left hand, summoning the Dragon Cutter into my right amidst the thunder crashing around us.
"Well, if I'm supposedly Nemesis… I might as well play the role of an enemy," I muttered, steeling myself. "I'm not entirely sure what's going on here, but let's deal with this threat first and sort out the rest later."
Despite my resolve, unease clung to me as long as I remained here. There was a chance that even after I dealt with this Pegasus look-alike, more enemies would show up if I didn't get out of here soon.
"Nature's Myriad Forms—Elemental Fusion, Rewrite Gravity!" Slowly, I began to lift off the ground, reversing gravity on myself. I felt like that girl from My Hero Academia, hovering with Dragon Cutter in one hand and Iustitia in the other.
"Elemental Tide… Elemental Control," I commanded, drawing the chaotic elements around me and honing control over them. "What was I worried about? This guy brought fuel, but I am the fire."
A grin crept across my face as I held my stance in midair, waiting for the Phantasmal Species to charge. I intensified the gravity field around me.
"Nature's Myriad Forms—Elemental Fusion, Rewrite Gravity, fifty times normal gravity!"
Its speed dropped instantly, and the once-majestic Pegasus struggled mid-air, unable to overcome the crushing force.
Boom——
Suddenly, a loud thunderclap boomed, shaking the sky. Dark clouds, resembling some kind of ghostly creature, unleashed a wild storm of thunder. I shouted over the chaos, "The Fifth Secret Sword: Kaminari Shishi." Dragon Cutter's energy eagerly joined the raging storm, transforming into a phantom lion that wrapped around me as I said, "Thanks for the fuel, honey!" I said to 'Pegasus.' The ghostly creature crackled with electric energy, creating a protective shield around my blonde hair.
Just like before, Dragon Cutter lifted up again, and the thunderous lion around me grew even bigger. The dark clouds shifted in layers, and lightning flashed through the air, lighting up the scene for the coming battle. I could tell my opponent was strong, but I confidently took charge of this celestial battlefield, harnessing the thunder and lightning to their fullest.
It was obvious—my opponent wasn't a God of Thunder. If he had been, he would have been able to control thunder and lightning better than I could. The thunder snakes, born from celestial chaos, twisted and turned, splitting into groups that shot toward Dragon Cutter, seeking refuge within the vast thunder lion, filling it with crackling energy.
I tightened my grip on my sword, a glow lingering in my blue eyes. As the galloping horse charged at me again, I swung my sword with a resounding bang—! The Phantasmal Species suddenly surged forward, their tangible magic enveloping their forms in a dramatic display.
The clash was imminent—the powerful bodies of the Phantasmal Species collided with the thunderous lion, creating a deafening roar that echoed through the battlefield. Shattered plasma illuminated the clouds on the distant horizon, a testament to the raw power unleashed in the collision.
The elements themselves seemed to resist the influence of the Phantasmal Species. The water in the surrounding area surged as if an unseen force had activated its power.
The horse's head crashed into the untamed lion, and with each impact, the Phantasmal Species's speed grew more mysterious, its form becoming increasingly elusive amid the chaotic clash of elements.
Was it a form of spatial manipulation? I frowned, recalling what I knew about space elements; I didn't feel any changes in the fabric of space. But if it was just speed, it was a bit too absurd. With my remarkable dynamic vision, I halted in mid-air and carefully observed my surroundings.
I quickly let go of Iustitia, which continued to hover next to me, as I summoned my next weapon from my cache. At this point, a prolonged battle wouldn't work in my favor; who knew if whoever brought the Pegasus here would decide to show up?
Grabbing the weapon, I said, "Okay, Evil Stick, I know I said I wasn't going to use you anymore. Let's change that to I'm no longer going to bend your rules, alright? Now do me a solid... Seal the Space!"
Unseen undulations swept through the air, but no changes happened. It seemed like more than just a spatial manipulation trick; instead, it felt like something akin to super-high-speed air movement.
"Damn, you still feel evil!"
Suddenly, an afterimage flashed in my vision as the divine beast, perhaps out of options, slammed into me.
Dragon Cutter surged forward, its form a swift blur as it twisted with grace. The blade sliced through the air, sending sprays of blood as it severed a horse's ear. With a seamless transition, Dragon Cutter then changed direction and, in one swift motion, plunged into the divine beast's body from the side.
With a quick impact, I gripped the sword handle tightly with both hands and thrust it forward, creating a fierce sword light that drew a circle in the air. Thunder gathered under my feet, forming a circle, and the rapidly spinning thunder disc was hurled from my slender arm. The disc, with its exceptional cutting power, struck the gentle water flow in the air, creating a cloud of steam that obscured my view.
I forcefully retreated, trying to locate the divine beast.
The creature, now in a 'super speed' state, continued using its exaggerated velocity for surprise attacks. Godspeed is a unique ability possessed by certain gods, allowing them to accelerate beyond normal physical limits under magical influence, easily exceeding sub-light speeds—a speed I could only reach in my attack using Style: Shooting the Hundred Heads.
Unable to match the creature's incredible speed, I focused on slowing it down. In this situation, getting the enemy to decelerate was just as effective as increasing my own speed.
"Nature's Myriad Forms—Elemental Fusion, Extreme Gravity, Bind to Earth." I nonchalantly waved my hand, and the surrounding space underwent another transformation. The considerable gravitational force twisted the space, causing the Phantasmal Species to crash into the ground below. Observing the creature's descent, I prepared my sword and sped toward the horse.
With both katanas raised, I announced, "The Ultimate Secret Sword: Double Swords X Cut!" Violent energy enveloped Iustitia and Dragon Cutter, intensifying their sharpness, effortlessly cutting through the divine beast's fur as I slashed down. Blazing crimson sword energy flowed along the blade, exploding within the horse's body. Blood poured out, and the creature's painful screams echoed through the surroundings. Sword energy and pale golden blood splattered the area.
Now standing on the falling horse's back, I withdrew my katanas, their blades gleaming with an otherworldly light. Distancing myself a little, I muttered, "Time to test my newest trick." I quickly chanted, "Fusion, Elemental Devouring, City of Devouring Time—Birth of the Red Singularity!"
No sooner had I finished speaking than a red singularity materialized, forming a small energy sphere that emanated a mystical gravitational force. I let the sphere loose, watching as it surged toward the divine beast. The outer layer of the energy sphere expanded, encapsulating the divine beast in a spherical barrier, while the gravitational power emitted by its nucleus began to take effect, resembling a voracious black hole at the center of the dome, consuming everything in its vicinity.
The space around the divine beast started to twist and bend as its life force, time, and Elemental Energy—and ultimately the creature itself, despite being anchored to this reality—were sucked in and devoured by the red Singularity.
…
In a remote corner of the Land of Shadows, deep within a shrouded cavern, a group of warriors stood encircling its entrance. In the center stood a woman, her demeanor frosty yet captivating, the recent defeat of Alcippe and Pegasus fresh on their minds.
"Have they already been defeated? As anticipated, today's fighters seem disappointingly weak," one warrior remarked.
"Your Highness, I'm still puzzled. Why did you bring her along? She appears exceedingly feeble," another inquired.
"Though she may seem feeble, she possesses enough competence to deliver a message to Scáthach. 'I am returning,'" replied the woman in the center.
With eyes as crimson as blood, the queen's lips curled into a faint smile. "If it weren't for Alcippe, I would have approached Scáthach myself to announce my homecoming!"
The warrior who had spoken earlier lowered her head in silent submission, and the queen's smile grew broader. "Prepare yourselves; this is only the prelude to my triumphant return!"
The sudden appearance of Pegasus, however, wasn't part of the plan, and her allies acting independently was a growing concern.