No matter how powerful the flame I can create, defeating Beatrice with her absurd abilities is impossible.
Therefore, to borrow the only possible power, the Power of Pride that slices through everything, I contracted with Lucy and wielded the cursed sword that endlessly spewed black miasma.
“Uh—?!”
The moment I grasped the sword, an overwhelming sense of alienation surged through my body with violent pain.
I felt something harmful to my body trying to destroy me—a chilling yet painful sensation.
Feeling perplexed by the unexpected sensation, I stared at Lucy, holding her in my hand, with a look that questioned how this could happen.
Lucy responded, as if she expected this to happen.
[From your expression, it seems you didn’t even consider the side effects of using my abilities. There’s no way you could use another witch’s powers without consequences. Although they’re often referred to as miasma, each witch’s energy is completely different. Using someone else’s miasma is like forcibly jamming the wrong key into a lock and turning it. No matter how much resistance a witch has to different types of miasma, if you try to use it directly like this, harm is inevitable.]
Thanks to her explanation, I could understand why I was feeling this pain.
Simply put, it was like receiving a blood transfusion of type B when I’m type A, or putting diesel into a gasoline car.
It was no surprise my body was breaking down.
[If you try to use it, your body will collapse like the humans addicted to miasma.]
As she said, I felt Lucy’s energy flowing into me, breaking down my body in real-time.
The dreadful pain of my body necrotizing and cells collapsing made my vision blur.
But,
“…but that’s all there is to it, right?”
I asked Lucy without caring.
Was that all the problem?
[…Yeah. That’s it.]
“…Then, ugh… that’s fine…”
[That’s how it should be. You’re tough enough to regenerate even in flames that burn your own body, so you should be able to endure some side effects from using my power. I thought you could handle it, which is why I lent you my power.]
Upon hearing that, I nodded, and Lucy said those words.
It was nothing but the truth.
Lucy’s power was absolutely essential to face Beatrice.
If the breakdown of my body and the accompanying pain were the necessary price to pay for using Lucy’s power, then that was something I had to endure.
Moreover, like Lucy said, I had a sturdy body that could withstand such side effects.
Despite the unique miasma breaking down my body, my extraordinary regeneration made it bearable.
The severe pain was just something I had to grit my teeth and endure.
Thinking that, I bit down hard and gripped the sword tightly.
“…What’s this, Eva? You’re thinking of rushing at me with that?”
As I held the sword, I heard Beatrice’s voice in my ear.
Looking where the voice came from, I saw Beatrice landing gracefully from the sky.
She stared at me with a dismissive, indifferent gaze, as if to say, “You think wielding that will let you defeat me?”
She was probably really thinking that.
If she were serious about fighting me, she wouldn’t have both feet firmly planted on the ground like that.
Glaring at Beatrice, I quietly asked Lucy.
“…What are my chances of beating that thing?”
[…Do you want me to be honest?]
“…Yeah.”
[…When it comes to possibility, it would be close to impossible.]
It was a desperate answer, but I wasn’t shaken at all.
I already knew that much.
That Yoon Si-woo had given it his all and still couldn’t defeat her.
There was no way I could suddenly win just by borrowing Lucy’s power.
However, even if I knew the odds were nearly zero, not fighting was something that was fundamentally impossible for me.
Because my future, along with Yoon Si-woo’s and everyone else’s, depended on this hand of mine.
With nowhere to retreat, I had no choice but to confront what was impossible.
As if understanding my determination, Lucy subtly smiled and murmured.
[…Ha, that’s the meaning of lending you my power. So, let’s struggle together.]
As Lucy’s murmurs reached me, I confirmed Ari had moved Yoon Si-woo to safety and then rushed at Beatrice as if in a frenzy.
In an instant, I was enveloped by a sinister sensation.
Feeling an unseen attack approaching, I swung the sword before my eyes with all my might.
“─Gah?!”
In our first clash, I was thrown back with a pathetic scream, unable to muster any strength.
It was because I hadn’t managed to slice through Beatrice’s abilities properly.
[Your slash was inadequate. If you can’t properly slice through her abilities, you’ll end up getting knocked back like this.]
Lucy’s ability to slice through everything has the upper hand against Beatrice’s powers.
However, that only applies when I can manage a proper slice.
If I couldn’t achieve a proper slice, Lucy’s power wouldn’t be able to demonstrate its strength.
I bit my lip in frustration.
Despite my efforts, as a first-time fighter with a sword, I couldn’t fully utilize Lucy’s powers.
But Lucy said,
[Your stance is off. Don’t hold it too tightly; keep some distance between your hands to transmit power correctly. And when slicing… Yes, think of following Yoon Si-woo’s style when you swing.]
“Ah….”
She was a wonderful sword-fighting teacher who could instantly turn a novice like me, who was like a newborn, into someone capable of fighting like Yoon Si-woo.
I pictured Yoon Si-woo swinging his sword in my mind upon hearing Lucy’s words.
Like this… or like this?
There’s a saying that even a dog can recite poetry after three years at school.
I might not have gone that long, but I had quite a few opportunities to watch Yoon Si-woo swing his sword during our battles.
I had seen him risk his life for me, for everyone, countless times.
I follow that.
As a result,
Clang!
“…! I did it….”
[Not bad. From what I see, you have pretty good eyes. You also have talent when it comes to handling your body. Ultimately, martial arts are destined to return to their roots. If you utilize your body to fight and imitate excellent examples, achieving this much is only natural.]
As I successfully sliced through Beatrice’s attacking energy repeatedly, I realized it wasn’t just luck.
I had somewhat grasped a method.
But continuously swinging the sword against Beatrice felt like climbing a steep hill.
“Ugh, this is so hard…!”
[Did you think it would be easy? A swordsman must inject their spirit with every swing. As you mimic Yoon Si-woo’s sword, you’re unconsciously doing just that, but since your training and experience are lacking, it must feel like squeezing water out of a dry rag. Still, tighten your resolve and hold on.]
It was so exhausting that each swing felt like bringing me closer to a newfound respect for Yoon Si-woo.
That guy had been doing this effortlessly all this time.
And thinking about the hardships and efforts he must have endured to reach that point made me more determined.
However, just that wasn’t enough to take down Beatrice.
“…This guy is really persistently tough.”
The moment Beatrice muttered that while watching me deflect her series of attacks, the ground beneath her was suddenly disappearing.
She resolved to get serious against my resistance.
Her ability, which obliterated everything around her, rushed toward me.
I swung my sword to slash through the defensive barrier coming at me, attempting to slip through, but that wasn’t the main issue.
“Where am I supposed to step…!”
The ground vanished under Beatrice’s influence.
Her god-like ability, which consumed even the very ground I stood on, wouldn’t allow anyone who couldn’t fly to approach her.
If it were Yoon Si-woo, he could have created a foothold using his abilities, but without such powers, I was left to fall straight into a deep pit.
-■■■■■!!
“Ugh, thanks, Ari….”
But even though I couldn’t fly, I still had colleagues who could.
I expressed my gratitude to Ari, who had rushed in to catch me as I fell after moving Yoon Si-woo to safety, glaring at Beatrice.
Sure, I didn’t have the ability to fight in the air like Yoon Si-woo, but with Ari’s help, I could still face Beatrice.
I wouldn’t give up, and I jumped on Ari’s back, charging toward Beatrice suspended in the air.
Yet,
“─Ugh!”
That charge was halted by a massive impact from above.
[Oh dear, I guess improvisation has its limits.]
Beatrice’s ability intensified without restraint.
Even though I was on Ari’s back, my lower body became unstable compared to being on solid ground.
Moreover, unlike Yoon Si-woo, my sword skills were still immature, compelling me to struggle to compete against Beatrice in the air.
“Ah, aaah!!”
“…Eva, don’t you get it yet? No matter what you do, you can never defeat me. Unless a miracle happens, that is.”
Despite all my charges, Ari and I could only get pushed back each time we clashed with Beatrice’s powers.
The glaring disparity loomed large, and hope was nowhere in sight.
It was painfully evident that, as Beatrice said, I couldn’t win against her unless a miracle happened.
But if I gave up here, it would all be over.
Since I couldn’t afford to give up, I gritted my teeth and continued charging at Beatrice.
“…Is this all? So, you’re no different either.”
With that remark, Beatrice looked down at me, seemingly tired of my persistence.
“Ugh─?!”
Simultaneously, an immense pressure descended from above.
I raised my sword in resistance, but it wasn’t like before.
Instead of bouncing me back, Beatrice’s attack pressed down relentlessly.
With strength that seemed to say none of my previous efforts mattered, I was pushed downward alongside Ari into the pit she had created.
But that wasn’t the end.
“Ugh, haah─!!!”
-■■■■■─!!
It felt as though Beatrice intended to squash me flat like an ant.
Her powers didn’t stop expanding, pushing us deeper into the ground.
Having already been buried, we were pressed downward, crushed under what felt like a heavy press.
But Beatrice’s power had no limit on how intensely it pressed down.
If I touched the ground, it would disappear and continue to push us deeper into the earth.
In that process, the air in my lungs was completely squeezed out.
Every bone in my body cracked horrifically as blood erupted from every orifice.
Ah, so this is how I die, crushed like this.
As I felt consciousness slipping away, suddenly, the pressure on my body vanished.
And what came next was a fall.
Below, there lay an endless, dark abyss void of any bottom.
It was as if the entrance to the afterlife had opened, a gaping pit shaped by despair, and we could only plummet endlessly into it.
-■■■…
As we fell, I heard Ari’s weak whimper in my ear.
I had become a mere shell of myself, but Ari, larger than I, struggled to protect my body but was burning out, on the verge of death.
I murmured to the tragic figure of Ari.
I’m sorry, Ari… I made you suffer because I’m inadequate.
Ari shook her head, as if to refute that.
Then, with a small voice, she asked me.
…So, are you really going to give up?
In response to Ari’s question, I checked our status.
My physical condition was so bad I couldn’t even grip my sword properly.
Ari had shrunk so small she couldn’t even carry me anymore.
There was no way I could approach Beatrice, let alone defeat her.
In this despairing situation with no sign of hope.
Yet, my life still hung on.
I shed tears as I replied to Ari.
I can’t give up. As long as I have breath, I can’t give up.
To that, Ari said to me.
Then, please use my power.
-■■■■!!!
Having spoken those words, Ari unleashed a bright flame, pouring out every last bit of her strength.
I felt part of that flame surge into me, healing my body.
The remaining flame gathered at my back and took on a form.
It was a pair of wings made of fire.
Although they were smaller than Ari’s, they were certainly large enough to allow me to fly.
I questioned those wings.
Are you here to help?
In response, the fiery wings spread wide and flapped.
As they flapped once, my plummeting body halted.
With another flap, my body surged upwards.
…Thank you, Ari.
I looked up at Beatrice, my goal, grateful to Ari for helping me refuse to give up until the end.
I had been staring at her above who was still gazing down at me.
Those heroes who fought to protect others to the bitter end—Yoon Si-woo, Ms. Eve, and countless others.
Having watched them all the way through.
How could I ever give up or stop?
“…This is quite annoying, isn’t it?”
As I slashed through an incoming attack, I recalled the special classes I had attended.
Thinking back, I had been like this since then.
My only advantage was my persistence and unwillingness to give up.
So, I wouldn’t stop until I reached my goal.
I can’t afford to break, to crumble, to fall; as long as I have flames left to burn.
“There’s no choice.”
With attacks raining down around me, I focused solely on one thought.
I will protect.
I don’t care what happens to my body—like everyone else did, this time, I will protect everyone.
“If you still don’t understand, let me show you. There are things in this world that you just can’t help.”
With that singular thought, I soared towards Beatrice.
Beatrice’s powers intercepted above my head.
“Ugh─!!”
I attempted to slice through it, but this time, I couldn’t do it.
The reasons for failing to slice through were countless.
My body had already surpassed its limits, and my skills paled in comparison to Yoon Si-woo’s.
But that was no reason for me to stop.
“Ugh─!!”
So, I didn’t stop.
“Ugh, Aaaaaaaaaa—!!!”
I merely screamed as I continued to look upwards.
And then,
“…What?”
An unexpected occurrence took place.
Though my sword couldn’t slice through Beatrice’s powers.
The flames surged from my body and enveloped my sword.
“What’s this… the flames….”
They burned away Beatrice’s powers upon contact.
In an event I couldn’t even fathom, Beatrice herself couldn’t hide her astonishment.
“…In this situation, did a miracle really happen?”
But I didn’t care about how or why this was happening.
Specifically, I couldn’t.
“Ahhh—!!!”
All my consciousness was focused on the singular goal.
“────!!!!!”
In the blinding whiteness, I witnessed Beatrice’s troubled expression.
I saw her attacks, released in confusion, get engulfed by flames and vanish.
“…Ah, I see.”
And by the time I regained my senses,
“…I am.”
Before my eyes stood Beatrice, whose expression showed evident satisfaction.
“Congratulations, Eva.”
And through her chest was,
“YOU WIN.”
The sword I held was plunged deeply into her heart.
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