Chapter: 159. 0-Rank Combat Record – Octomundus (2)
Al’sel faced off against a rat.
Queph’s words echoed, and the world began to consume itself.
He stepped into the end, into his world.
“…Ascendant.”
As if caught off guard, Al’sel let out a rough voice for the first time.
“Crap. They said it’s called Otherworld Invasion here.”
“Quite a nice naming convention. Focusing on the phenomenon rather than the entity causing it.”
‘And that means you lack knowledge to that extent.’
Al’sel, who uttered those words, for the first time felt a serious aura in this world.
He waved his hand and pulled from the air…
A staff…
Thud. “What the? Were you just messing around until now? That fallen human is supposed to be quite strong too.”
“Indeed. If we look at the amount of power, that being has several times more than you. But.”
Al’sel’s staff swung wide.
“As an Ascendant, there must be something.”
Whoosh.
Everything around Queph vanished.
Not through an explosion or immense power. Just pure annihilation.
Without any premonition, everything, including the ground, disappeared, leaving an endless void where Queph once stood.
‘No movement at all.’
However, the one who caused the catastrophe, Al’sel, tilted his head, as if he couldn’t understand.
‘I was right in place when I struck, and I confirmed the hit. Did it really vanish? Was it really that easy for an Ascendant?’
Of course, in theory, it’s possible.
While it couldn’t surpass physical limits, this technique had no premonitions whatsoever.
“You were just all talk, huh? I had a little hope for you…”
Ping.
A sound resonated as…
Rustle.
A silver flash descended upon him.
And a thick rod flew through the sky.
An arm.
In a moment of distraction, Al’sel lost something.
‘…Teleportation. No, something else.’
Blood splattered, and even with an arm flying away, Al’sel remained unfazed, focusing his consciousness on the presence that appeared behind him.
Consequently, the blade of air sliced through, but this time, Al’sel felt no movement at all.
Ping.
Again, the sound echoed.
But the second silver flash was blocked by a blue barrier that appeared in the void.
‘I need verification.’
Al’sel swung his staff greatly.
Boom. Boom. Ka-BOOM!
Massive explosions followed in succession.
In all places except where Al’sel stood, numerous blasts occurred.
And the explosions kept going, determined to annihilate everything.
Dozens of explosions erupted.
The moment Al’sel thought this was enough and stopped the explosions, the sound rang again. The blue barrier surrounded Al’sel, but inside the barrier, close to Al’sel…
A hunched figure wearing a black hood, scattering green light, was there.
With two powerful daggers in hands, the figure swung them at a speed that was hard for Al’sel to comprehend.
Without any reason or logic; it was simply refined for that purpose.
The flash reached the star race.
Rustle.
Tentacles were sliced off.
Had he not reacted immediately, his entire jaw would have been severed.
Although the tentacles, which served as hands for the star race, were severed, the black rat was not satisfied with that.
Swish.
Immediately, the next dagger was swung.
Al’sel couldn’t read the trajectory, but Queph’s dagger could definitely reach and cause damage.
In a situation where the outcome could be decided…
‘I get the gist.’
Bang.
The chopped tentacles, fluttering in the air, exploded.
Closer to a curse than magic, it was a technique that required a sacrifice of his blood and flesh.
Both sides were engulfed, but Queph had long since vanished.
Only Al’sel remained to endure the explosion’s damage.
Rolling on the ground, dirt covering his body…
Ping.
As the sound rang out, Al’sel hurriedly raised a blue barrier.
Clang!
This time he was able to block the attack.
Immediately regaining control of his body, he soared into the air.
Until the moment right before his attack, his position was uncertain. Detection magic was of no use.
Ping. Whack. Ping. Whack.
The continuous sounds of ringing and the clashes of protective magic.
He could block a few times, but with Queph’s overwhelming speed, Al’sel’s body was gradually chiseled away.
‘Even if I lay down the magic when he strikes, it won’t matter. He’ll definitely appear somewhere else.’
Al’sel, having tried to lay magic all around him to stop Queph, gave up the moment Queph swung a dagger down on him from behind.
‘Darkness. Shadows. Night. Empty place. Void. I see.’
Amidst the ongoing clash…
“I can’t win against you. The match-up is far too unfavorable.”
Al’sel, seemingly resigned, raised his hands.
And then…
“Oh? Is that so? Then I would appreciate it if you surrendered quietly.”
As if he had always been there, Queph appeared, arms wide open from the ground.
“Before that, may I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
“This power… is it your world? Living in darkness, having no value for yourself, simply crawling on the ground. Killing all your split selves and leaving only one behind in the world.”
Al’sel had never seen such a desperate Ascendant.
That world surely possessed great power and potential.
Ordinary means could not kill that.
He could choose the best actions in the best position.
Yet, in exchange for that, he lost everything.
To always exist, he had to endure any attack.
Even misguided attacks must bring pain—
He had to experience situations where he would inevitably die.
Though the world he left behind would have no impact whatsoever, that rat must know the entirety of suffering.
“Without that, we couldn’t survive.”
Even so, Queph simply smiled.
As if it were nothing, he revealed his teeth.
“…I understand. To you, the world is darkness where light does not shine. Crawling on the ground, feasting on garbage.”
Slosh. Slosh.
Drawing black blood from the torn tentacles, Al’sel spoke.
“We’re that kind of race.”
“I see. So, even as an Ascendant, you are so weak.”
Even for Al’sel, who had multiple lives, death was not something to be cherished.
Rather the opposite; as he died, his spirit weakened, he desperately fought to maintain his sanity against the beings of end and endured a painfully endless time.
Thus Al’sel, gazing at his dripping blood, said with a pale face.
He thought it was inevitable.
‘I didn’t want to use it.’
To not be tainted, despite having the qualifications, he lacked anyone’s power or the world’s embrace. Therefore, he couldn’t recover mana through ordinary means.
So how long had it been since he started fleeing, looking for an opportunity?
Observing the ends of numerous universes. The end of time.
The very last of the poles.
Finally, he found the land of hope.
…To think he ascended from such a pathetic creature and escaped from the clutches of the beings of the end. I commend you.”
An Ascendant refers to one who has reached the peak.
One who carries the world and laws, opening the sky.
However, that requires equality from all races.
For the star race, ascension was a possibility.
For the natives, how difficult must it have been to reach the heavens?
Al’sel, born a strong one, admitted he couldn’t even imagine that hardship.
…“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Haha… I’m not mocking you. It’s sincere praise from the heart. They said it was a last resort? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to enter. I don’t enjoy having someone above me, but I wouldn’t mind you.”
“Sounds good. Then, let’s start with treatment—”
Perhaps because Al’sel calmly conceded, Queph said this while regaining his posture.
“However.”
Al’sel wore a glittering smile.
Immense mana began to move.
“If you can withstand this strike. That is.”
The black blood gushing from the severed tentacle began to spread around.
Stretching out viscously…
In a single line.
In a single circle.
From that single circle.
To a singular truth.
The magic circle began to envelop vast expanse.
Beyond where they fought in the Siberian snowy fields.
To the south, reaching the equator.
To the east, touching the shores of America.
…“Are you insane?”
“Clap clap clap. You’re spot on. Yes, I’ve gone insane. Otherwise, I couldn’t survive that long.”
Al’sel’s face grew paler as he burst into laughter, rapidly speaking.
“I wanted to shoot those guys, but using it here isn’t bad either. Good luck dodging.”
The madness emerging from the crazed being. Did Queph succumb to that pressure?
He raised both hands and laid his weapon on the ground.
“I concede. If I hate being under anyone that much, I’ll relinquish the captaincy—”
“No need for that.”
Al’sel interrupted with a smile at Queph’s concession.
“I simply want to defeat you.”
He twirled his staff.
Mana coalesced.
The magic circle glowed black.
The dark night began to dissipate.
(Public Designation Issued)
“Hmm? This world is quite kind.”
(Assigned Area: Earthguquququququququququ)
“Please refrain from intruding. I am quite enjoying myself.”
…“I should reconsider making you my ally.”
“It’s already too late.”
Ping. Splat.
The sound rang, and the silver flash exploded the head of the octopus.
According to the basics of the mage’s manual…
To kill the caster and halt the magic’s progress.
Despite Queph’s efforts, “This is my third death since coming to this world. What a remarkable world. It’s rare to see a stronger world that hasn’t been able to kill me once.”
Al’sel reappeared, looking gaunt.
With the black sun behind him, swinging his staff and tentacles.
The world brightened.
The world began to boil hot.
Ping. Crack.
Crack. Crack.
In an instant, Queph, having moved quickly, swung his dagger, slicing through his body into flesh.
“How unfortunate. This time I didn’t die. Even if I had died, it would take me several more times to stop.”
Al’sel, seeming to understand he could not defeat Queph through ordinary means, threw himself forward and continued the incantation.
Splat. Crack.
Flesh splattered, and blood sprayed.
Continuously butchered by the dancing daggers.
His entrails twisted, muscles torn, and flesh marred, but the star beings showed no signs of movement, continuing with the chant.
“Aren’t you going to escape? You could, couldn’t you?”
As the question erupted from his mouth, which had been devoured completely…
Queph hesitated for a moment, shifting his stance.
For a brief moment.
Queph contemplated fleeing.
‘With my power, I can’t stop that technique.’
‘A technique infused with the sun’s power. My world is neutralized.’
‘Even if I stay here, all I can do is delay its fall.’
Queph, thinking this over, despite wishing to flee, then noticed…
A small nut reflecting the black light floating in the sky.
The small ring on his hand.
Having decided to abandon their true nature, the rings they had made as refugees in this world.
‘Right. We have already made our decision.’
“Then, doesn’t that mean the human will die?”
Having ended all thoughts, Queph let it slip out and swung the dagger once more. Continually. Again.
A short yet long time passed.
“I see. Then, be prepared.”
Al’sel’s tentacles swung from above downwards.
A star filled with immense energy dropped down.
Saying it was a star would be an understatement.
Perhaps because it was controlled by magic, it was far removed from the physical phenomenon that ought to exist.
An unrealistic star.
However, the energy contained within it was…
“This is the light from the origin that you so despise. You won’t be able to escape it, will you?”
“I know.”
The slaughter continued.
Hair burned, flesh cooked.
Even bodily fluids boiled.
Believing he could stop it.
Knowing his power was the exact opposite of it, he knew he was neutralized.
“Which bastard is playing with fire in someone else’s house like this?!”
A red hammer…
A black armor…
A purple robe…
A giant white skull…
Charged forward.
0-Rank Monster – Octomundus
Considered an allied rapport with the 0-Rank Monster Queph.
First detected while casting a great magic that dropped a black star on Earth, but just in the nick of time, heroes arrived.
They succeeded in intercepting the star and dispersing the energy contained within it.
Having likely exhausted most of its power through that magic, Queph was retrieved as it fell, escaping.
Since then, it has not displayed such great magic, but it confirmed that it had been behind numerous incidents managing operations.
Most details about its appearance and fighting style remain unknown, yet basic information could be acquired through Meteor’s testimony, who fought the monster for the first time…
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