<304 - The Last Vessel>
Demonic Contractor Roe.
He was someone that all the competent individuals of the same generation, including the warrior candidate Kay, regarded with caution.
The reason why the Apostle of Anrage couldn’t unleash his powerful selves was solely to seal Roe’s one self—he was that dangerous.
Demons are beings that surpass the frontline.
Targets of the warriors’ extermination.
Such a being had emerged above the surface.
Now, even the first-year students of Class 981 felt that danger.
“Boom! A Dark Barrier surpassing the Dark Veil. Impressive, but the advantage is ours here. Everyone, support me!”
Ishtar was confident.
The warrior candidate Kay was indeed stronger than her.
Yet, the reason Kay couldn’t win was simple.
Kay didn’t genuinely want to defeat her.
The vessels he aimed for were weak first-years, not strong vessels that would fatten his competitors.
That man was no different.
If he wanted to collect Sing’s vessel, he wouldn’t touch the other powerful vessels.
That arrogance would allow them time.
And soon, when Oknodie and Jonnas returned, the one-sided violence from the Apostle of Anrage would end.
“I must correct one misconception.”
Roe outright denied Ishtar’s belief with a swift strike.
His hand, shrouded in pitch-black Dark Mana, twisted as if squeezing the energy out of the air.
[Disturbance]
[Induction]
[Clone]
[Stealth]
[Force]
[5th Tier Confusing Magic – Gesture in the Dark]
Holy Mana, existing to eradicate Dark Mana.
The power of the Holy Sword scattered in the air, chasing the false signal that Dark Mana was present.
As Ishtar’s arm trembled, drained of energy, the assaults from the upper-class students supporting her came pouring down.
“You just need to sail the ship to the uninhabited island. It’s only ten minutes. If you can hold on for just ten minutes, we win!”
The Auction of Oknodie might not last until the end, but the situation here was that serious.
Surely that child would understand.
That steadfast belief crumbled with just one glance and gesture from Roe, who was watching the pesky little ones.
“Ahhh!”
“Kraaaack!”
Irene’s ice magic bounced off and froze the unfortunate cabin.
Son Ohchun’s body was sent flying, crashing through the wall and disappearing.
His overwhelming strength made even the combat power of the upper-class students ineffective.
A clear presence of ‘Mana’ formed a wall based on the strength he exhibited.
Unless the mastery of Mana Flow Technique reached a certain level, there would be no hope whatsoever.
– Though the selves are many, the body we share is one! Because of the limitations of the Mana Flow Technique, the power of attacks may be high, but the actual Mana possessed is not that much…
-Crackle. Snap.
The voice of Jezel flowing from the onboard speaker was cut off.
“Ah, you figured out my weakness. So what’s changed?”
Roe casually reached out.
[Telekinesis]
[Absorption]
[Levitation]
[Velocity]
[4th Tier – Forced Call]
“Uuurgh!”
“Aaaaah!”
“No, no way!”
From beyond the broken wall, several crew members were pulled into Roe’s palm.
They screamed in real-time, struggling as their moisture evaporated, leaving them in a withered state like dry twigs sprawled on the ground.
Barely alive, they appeared in a ghastly condition that wouldn’t be strange if they died at any moment.
For the crew members, this was a sight they had already grown accustomed to.
+5 Enhanced Light Stand.
The cursed equipment that devoured an enormous amount of Mana.
The victims of that equipment were in that terrible state.
Roe harbored a dreadful power capable of draining Mana even from a perfectly healthy person, and if Mana was insufficient, he could absorb life force instead.
“Don’t tremble in fear. Promising vessels like you won’t be devoured. I’m different from Kay. He was a coward who didn’t share the large vessels. I do things differently.”
While Kay preserved his strength and kept his self intact while trying to take only strong vessels for himself and leave the weak ones for others, Roe planned to tempt everyone to escape from the Apostle of Anrage’s body by allowing them the opportunity to gain powerful vessels.
In fact, many of the selves were wavering at the chance to gain significant benefits compared to cooperating with Kay.
“There’s no need for anxiety. Warrior, I don’t even plan to take your body.”
The warrior was sensitive to the malice directed at her.
The awakening as a warrior was triggered by her resentment towards a justice that couldn’t rectify evil.
The power of the One God Sofemia warned her.
That man, Demonic Contractor Roe, was a clear threat.
Just as dangerous as the previous Empire professor Raeb or the foundation’s butler Jonnas.
However, that danger wouldn’t come immediately.
“Are you, by any chance…?”
“Yes. What I seek is an even stronger vessel. A being showing potential surpassing that of a warrior. The vessel of Dark Princess Oknodie.”
It was outrageous.
Roe let out a loud laugh in response to the distrust coloring her expression.
“Does it seem impossible? Because Jonnas Wahyhiemhai is here. But no, while the current level may be difficult, things will change after I absorb Mana.”
He didn’t even bother to catch Ishtar, who was charging at him; he simply deployed a Mana Barrier to stop her.
Ishtar was astonished by how many barriers Roe had erected, significantly more than before absorbing Mana.
This man had increased the number of Mana Barriers tenfold by absorbing even a not-so-large amount, including the life force.
Those barriers stacked upon each other pressed down on her sword.
Ishtar couldn’t bear the pressure and violently got pushed back as she tore up the ground again.
“Shut up. You won’t lay a finger on Oknodie!!”
Hestia, engulfed in madness, charged at him, enveloped in crimson fury.
Roe had initially admired her appearance with a fleeting awe, but ultimately, it was just madness driven by someone who hadn’t mastered the Mana Flow Technique.
“That’s too bad. If you had properly learned the Mana Flow Technique, you could have amplified that power even more. But still, pass. I’ll allow you to be a vessel.”
A long, thin Mana Barrier lunged at Hestia’s head in an instant, piercing through her defenses despite breaking several barriers.
Instinctively, Hestia summoned her magical power to block the infiltration to protect her head.
However, the clash of energies at such close quarters was precisely Roe’s goal.
[Adhesion]
[Vibration]
[Amplification]
[3rd Tier Amplification Magic – Shockwave]
When adventuring, basic magic for cleaning a spot to pitch a tent could lead to the annoying rocks or branches bothering one’s back or butt; so it’s of 2nd Tier level magic mixed with effects like [Vibration] and [Weak Wind].
In the hands of a high-ranking magician, such trivial applications could be utilized like this, sending a thin line of Mana between the eardrum and trembling shockwaves.
The intense vibration caused concussion.
Hestia’s consciousness was instantaneously severed as her brain could not withstand the oscillation.
Thud.
That easily, Roe knocked down upper-class students one after another as a great wall of dirt suddenly pushed him back.
“Sandkooker, stop the magic now!”
“You’re doing great holding him off. Don’t worry; I can hold my own.”
“That’s not it! We’re getting absorbed!!”
In an expression of panic, Sandkooker halted the magic deployment, and the sandy walls crumbled away.
The gaping hole revealed darkness beyond it.
Trembling in unutterable dread, the students turned as Roe leaned in.
“Are you afraid? If you’re this scared, you shouldn’t have even tried to fight.”
“Gaaah!”
“Wha—How did you get here so quickly?!”
“Didn’t you know? Magic allows for a change in direction just after absorption; such applications can be achieved.”
The Mana from Sandkooker, remaining at Roe’s fingertips, exploded into sharp earth spikes.
Sandkooker was struck, screaming as his thigh was impaled against the wall.
“Hmm… So close. Guess it’s a fail?”
As Roe’s fingers pointed towards Sandkooker’s head, the terrified Sandkooker squeezed his eyes shut just as the ground caved in.
From below, the Black Knight Mob and the regretful Jaku, using all their strength, slammed against the ceiling to bring it down.
“That was quite impressive.”
With a grin, Roe mouthed words, causing two students to feel chills and retreat just as a woman shouted.
“Get back! Unless you want to die by flames!”
Rojini, angry about Sandkooker’s predicament.
Even though her body hadn’t fully recovered from petrification, she forcibly unleashed Mana and released [Flame Breath].
“Did you get him?”
“You crazy! What have you done?!”
“Aaah, that clueless jerk!”
“Wait, I’m just curious.”
“No matter what, there’s a time and place for what you can and can’t say. Do you not know TPO? Time, place, and situation?”
The Jigoku Pirate Group’s lackey whimpered and shut up, realizing he might get killed for a careless comment.
Not that it mattered, but as expected, Roe emerged completely intact behind a Mana Barrier.
“Seems like the earth magician’s wounds were quite relentless. You two seem to be made for each other.”
“W-What do you mean? I’ve never had any romantic feelings for that guy! There’s no way a marriage between the Red Magic Tower and the Yellow Magic Tower is possible!”
Rojini, who abruptly got flustered, shouted out, while Roe chuckled and reached out.
“Looks like you’re guzzling down that water of misunderstanding. I didn’t mean it in that sense of compatibility. It means you’re both equally immature and foolish.”
“Get back!”
Jaku and Mob, terrified, pulled back the petrified Rojini.
As the three tumbled into a deeply scooped pit, Roe’s absorbed fire magic erupted into a towering pillar of fire.
Any magical attack launched was absorbed and countered in an even more potent or lethal manner.
Physical attacks were blocked by the powerful Mana Barrier, rendering them instantly unconscious.
Roe didn’t shy away from treating even upper-class students as sacrificial pawns; rather, he actively sought it.
Demonic Contractor Roe grinned.
“The synergy effect is good. I’ll throw in a bonus. All of you have won the vessel.”
“Hah~? Who decides? If you handle Dark Mana, be ready to get controlled!”
“Go and kill yourself.”
As the daughter of Masugaki issued a command, Roe’s hand aimed towards his neck, only to whip around and fire magic at her.
Startled, Masugaki was saved just in time by Jaku who rushed in.
“Are you an idiot? A Demonic Contractor possesses far more Dark Mana than an ordinary holder of Dark Mana.”
“Mmm… This Dark Mana is useless…”
“Hah! These amusing fellows keep coming. What is this? An amusement park?”
With every step he took, laughter and the sounds of explosions and screams followed Roe.
The skirmish that began hours before the final bidding on the uninhabited island was now long over, coinciding with Oknodie’s return.
“I’ve been waiting, the final vessel.”
As Oknodie rubbed her sleepy eyes and boarded the ship with her butler and maids, Roe awaited them atop the deck, having trapped the crew members in their enclosure.
