Volume 3 Chapter 14 (2/2)

”It's because I'm a commander. Even though I don't have the strength of a soldier, I have my own means to fight.”

The trap on the Byakko's ability to read minds was nothing special actually. His mind simply experienced an overload from being connected with the minds of over a hundred monsters all at once.

Wight, being the commander of the undead as he was, could share senses with his undead subordinates. This sharing of senses might feel similar to what the [Steel] Demon Lord and the Dwarf Smiths do but they were fundamentally different.

The difference being that while the others shared senses with their subordinates one at a time, Wight was continuously doing so with all of his undead subordinates at the same time.

”Kuhahahahaha! I might have underestimated you when I saw that you weren't a warrior. I see, did I lose? …Like I'll let that happen”

Still covered in flames, the Byakko took a step forward.

Could he somehow turn it into a tie by killing his opponent before the flames slowly burning him turn him into ash? It was hard even for him to tell. At his current state, if he were to brave the hail of bullets that were bound to come his way, he knew he won't come out unscathed.

Moreover, for some time now, he had felt sluggish. This was due to the curse, the nerve gas, and other traps that were set.

He wasn't even confident that he could evade the High Elf's shooting anymore.

Meanwhile, Wight—without getting careless—readied his shotgun. He then raised his hand, signaling the Skeletons and the dwarf girl to appear.

The place they were hiding in was just barely outside of the Byakko's detection range. Seeing that, the Byakko realized how much of his ability was analyzed: completely.

And soon, it seemed Wight was gonna pull the trigger.

It isn't even a tie, it's my complete loss. If only the [Steel] Demon Lord didn't make me waste my trump card, I can turn my body into lightning and get rid of these flames. And while I'm at it, crush Wight with lightning-fast speed.

The Byakko thought so but then smiled; he accepted this fight knowing full well of his circumstances. It wasn't like him to complain this late in the game.

Rather, I should think about something else. Can I really not use my trump card again with this wounded body?

In the face of death, he was strangely calm.

Wasn't I the one that decided that limit? If the toll on my body and magic power is big, don't I just have to minimize it as much as possible?

It was only for a moment but with his concentration at its highest, his life flashed before him. In it, his memory of every fight he has ever had flowed in his mind. By the end of it, he has thought up a new technique.

He began with the activation of the [White Tiger Lightning Blade] using the few remaining strength he had but instead of envisioning a blade, he imagined a needle.

Wounded all over, drained of magic power, and at the limits of his vitality, he was in a trance. He let go of all he could let go of and then moved like a flowing stream.

Silently in his heart, he uttered the new technique's name. …[White Tiger Lightning Needle]

No one in the vicinity was able to grasp sight of him.

When Wight thought he heard an almost inaudible sound, his surroundings instantly flashed white. In the next moment, his lower body was gone and his upper body flew in the air.

Standing in his previous location was the figure of the Byakko, the flames on his body gone as well.

A moment later, the Dwarf Smith's scream pierced the air.

◇

As Wight's upper body danced high in the air, waiting for gravity to pull it down, he uttered so in his mind:

”I lost?”

Wight was an undead and was therefore able to escape instant death by the good fortune of having placed his soul core in his chest. If ever it was in the lower half of his body, he would have been gone along with that lower half.

However, his good fortune ended there. He felt cracks on his core and sensed he didn't even have three minutes left before his demise.

He thought of things as fell, such as worrying whether the Dwarf Smith would do her role as the adjutant as was expected of her and escape with the troops.

He also found it more regrettable to not be able to accomplish his beloved lord's command than dying itself. I have betrayed his expectations.

If he was a human, tears would have fallen on his cheeks already.

”Forgive me, my lord. Wait…”

As his consciousness was fading, he felt a powerful and yet warm magic power. I cannot be mistaken; this is… I see.

He thought so, smiled and then hit the ground.

◇

Half-crazed, the Dwarf Smith and her troops fired their guns against the Byakko over and over again but to no avail; their enemy either repelled their bullets with his fur or simply avoided it.

A Skeleton fell. And then another.

A little later, the Byakko gouged the Dwarf Smith's flesh and slammed her into a tombstone, her assault rifle blown somewhere else. She was a B rank monster and therefore managed to escape death but still, her wounds were deep.

She then took out the automatic weapon that was her sidearm and fired it. Naturally, it did no damage as well.

The Byakko then walked over to Wight's upper body which had fallen somewhere close to where the Dwarf Smith currently was. In reaction, the Dwarf Smith forced her wounded body to rise and protect Wight. She took the weapon before him and pointed it against the Byakko.

”Don't come any closer! I won't let you kill Wight-sama!”

Seemingly annoyed by this, the Byakko brushed her away.

After her rolling and tumbling, the Dwarf Smith tried to rise up once more but was unable to do so; all she managed to lift was her head. Like so, she glared at the Byakko.

”Wight, it looks like I've won. You are strong. I apologize for underestimating you simply because you were a B rank and not a fighter.”

Those words were filled with respect towards Wight.

”Kohaku-dono, it's troubling that you are under a misunderstanding.”

”What?”

Byakko inclined his head in doubt.

”The victory of this match goes to me. I have accomplished my role.”

Wight calmly but also vigorously declared so. It was no bluff either. His role wasn't to defeat the [Steel] Demon nor was it to repel the Byakko. Yes, his role was…

And then, she came.

Clad in strikingly violent winds, a blond-haired girl descended from the sky.

She was one of [Creation] Demon Lord Procell's [Monsters of the Covenant]. She was the S rank Ancient Elf Aura.

Her main weapon, an anti-materiel rifle, was still on her back, unusable due to the pink mucus that had gotten inside it. Because of this, her fighting strength had fallen down considerably.

”Please be careful, Ancient Elf-sama. That monster, it can read minds!” said the Dwarf Smith to Aura who had just landed. To which Aura sweetly smiled and said:

”Is that so? Then, Tiger-san, I have something to say to you: I will now send you flying. Do not expect me to go easy since you've made me really angry; after all, you sullied someone I hold as a little sister.”

Both the Dwarf Smith and the Byakko was at a loss for words.

In the next moment, the wind blew, Aura vanished, and the Byakko was blown away.

The Byakko read Ancient Elf's mind and knew that the attack was coming but even so, it was too fast for him to avoid. The knocked away Byakko adjusted his stance, improved his guard, glared at Aura, and admitted to himself that the girl before him was much quicker than he was.

And then, he who Wight believed to be the world's strongest and best Demo Lord finally arrived. It was none other than Wight's beloved lord, [Creation] Demon Lord Procell.

He proceeded as he concealed his seething anger within his gentle mannerism.

”Aura, please buy us some time. I'm going to talk with Wight.”

”Yes, my master. Please leave it to me; I'll limit myself to buying you some time.”

He then gently held Wight—or what was left of him—in his arms.

”Good job, Wight. You've managed to hold on until I came back.”

”I am thankful for your words… Haha, for me to die in your arms, god too can be quite considerate.”

”What selfish things are you saying? I can't let you die; you're my right-hand man and you still have a lot of work to do for me.”

”My lord is quite the slave driver. How can I die after hearing such words?”

Wight's existence was fading away. He felt he did not have much time left.

He opened his mouth and began with his lord's proposal that he once before refused, all in order for him to stay by Procell's side longer.

”I beseech you, my lord, to please use the power the Creator gave to you. I want to stay with you for a longer time. I hope you grant this selfish request of mine.”

”But of course, Wight. What would you like for your new body?”

When Wight heard this question, he looked at the Dwarf Smith and the tears falling on her cheeks.

”I want a strong body. A strong body not only to protect you but also to prevent your lovely subordinates from crying.”

”Understood. Anything else?”

Being asked for more, Wight smiled and then talked in an embarrassed voice.

”May I ask that you use your [Creation] medal? I want to be your monster in the truest sense. I have been hiding it all this time it but I was always envious and jealous of Kuina-sama and the others who were created with the [Creation] medal.”

”It's surprising to hear you say those kind of words. Very well, I will grant your requests.”

Procell nodded and used the first of the two uses of his obtained power.

This power being the ability to temporarily turn a monster back into a medal and use this medal in a new [Synthesis].

He had obtained this power from the Creator as a reward for his performance in the side show on the evening party.

As was mentioned, there were only two uses available to him but not once did he hesitate to use it on his loyal follower.

He unleashed the power that had a name of…

”[Rebirth]”

Wight's body turned into particles and then…