Book Eater

Chapter 238: Second (2)

He may have sounded aggressive, but Theo was extremely nervous. He had expected someone on Veronica’s level to show up, but he hadn’t expected a sword demon. If Lee Yoonsung’s memories were trustworthy, Zest had unleashed a sword ring. Despite retreating thirty meters in two seconds, Theo still felt like he was in Zest’s range.

He had already started holding his breath. Theo realized that he could lose his head if there was even a small gap between his inhale and exhale. His perception had sharpened to an unprecedented degree, but he knew he could only maintain this state for another twenty seconds. If he lost his concentration for even a moment, he would die.

I need to catch up with that speed somehow.

Gladio had only bought him three seconds, but its sacrifice had given him a clue. Zest’s sword was freakishly fast, but the interval between the strikes wasn’t zero. It was just such a short gap that it was impossible to catch with human senses. Gladio’s solution was to read the path of the sword and intercept it.

If Theo wanted to catch up to Zest, he needed the reflexes of an Ulfheenar, the ancient species that Superbia had transformed into. But could Theo reproduce such reflexes?

... I can do it.

He needed to use the same technique he had used against Marquis Fergana. But he had to use it with a lot more precision. If he could accelerate the electrical signals of his nervous system, the entire world would seem like it had stopped. He might not be able to match Zest’s technique, but he wouldn’t fall behind in speed.

He assessed and discarded dozens of plans and ideas until he reached the limit of his concentration. Exactly seventeen seconds had passed from the moment Zest had drawn his sword. The moment that death hung over his head, Theodore Miller stepped forward boldly.

His killer’s sword rose like a grim reaper’s scythe.

“Be prepared.”

Zest’s sword vanished.

Paijijik.

At that moment, Theo’s body shone a bright blue. He might not have Gladio’s Aura Ability, but he had Alfred’s extreme sensitivity. His concentration was so extreme that he wouldn’t miss even the sound of a falling needle.

It’s coming.

His world slowed to a crawl as color washed away. Theo focused on the blade inching its way toward his neck.

It isn’t just fast. He’s completely skipping the intermediate steps... It’s a phenomenon that can’t be understood by common sense. Is his Aura Ability the power to interfere with space?

Or perhaps, it was time. Theo had a few more ideas as he observed Zest’s sword, but he had no time left to ponder.

Saack.

Theo took a step back at the same moment the blade passed through the space his neck had occupied.

Kuk! This is ridiculously fast!

Only that sword and Theodore Miller seemed to be able to move in the black and white world. The blade suddenly reversed its course and slashed down, trying to split him from crown to groin. But the brief moment where it changed directions was enough of a gap, and Theo raised his hand and reached for the four elements.

Forced Harmonization.

The sword was still moving at a ridiculous speed in this slowed world, so Zest may still have time to defend. So the best attributes to use were the fastest; lightning and light.

Alfred’s Magic Missile x Melt Downer.

Combination Complete: Finger of Death.

As these two spells merged, Theo’s fingertips glowed with an ominous green light. He had combined a destruction spell that could melt metal, and Magic Bullet, the fastest spell he had in his arsenal. Aura alone wouldn’t block this combination spell.

He aimed the spell at center mass.

Piiing-

Five rays of destructive energy scorched the air. The ionized air turned into a vacuum as the rays aimed for Zest’s abdomen.

[Hoh.]

The moment that the rays were about to pierce Zest, Theo heard an amused voice.

[This is turning out to be a little fun?]

An eerie smile appeared on Zest’s face.

Kiing!?

The rays disappeared. Theo couldn’t even see Zest’s movements as he cut down the five rays of light with one slash. Zest truly was a swordmaster of the strongest empire. Theo was still flabbergasted at this prodigious display of skill.

Did he stop the rays from that posture? The spell was just a tad slower than a lightning bolt, but... my magic can’t break through that defense!

On the other hand, Zest’s lazy demeanor was changing, as a sleeping predator’s instincts were roused. “It has been a long time since I’ve felt like this. I’m excited.”

Zest’s enemies had always fallen without a chance for them to counter attack. It had been years since he'd had a satisfying battle. His lazy behavior came from his boredom, but at heart, Zest was a beast that was more vicious than any swordsman.

Unfortunately, Theo’s struggle had woken up that sleeping beast. Zest pointed his sword at Theo with a strangely twisted smile. “Okay, I’ll play properly.”

It wasn’t worth using a lot of effort, but it wasn’t bad to play around. Theodore Miller’s skill had started to excite the sadistic sword demon. Should he cut off his limbs? Or should those cheeky fingers go first?

The monster, Zest Speitem, threw away his mask of laziness.

Chill.

Theo felt a wave of fear and couldn’t help taking half a step back.

Pit...!?

Zest’s blade slashed through cloth, flicking blood through the air. If the blade had gone a little deeper, Theo’s carotid artery would’ve been cut. Theo sprang backward as he clapped a hand to his neck and cast a quick healing spell. Zest had gone up an entire level in speed. He had clearly only been playing around before. From Zest’s point of view, this strike was a normal attack.

Damn, I have no chance of winning in a melee!

Theo was still faster than lightning. It was common sense that humans couldn’t surpass lightning in speed. Even if one’s opponent could cut through space, how could he stop lightning?

Theo shot up into the sky, determined to put some distance between them.

“Hey hey, don’t run away.”

... No, Theo tried to fly up.

“Now let’s have some fun, yes?”

Zest remained on the ground and swung his sword in an empty space.

Jeeeong!?

Theo’s head rang, and he plummeted to the ground.

... What.. just..?

It wasn’t until Theo landed that he realized what had happened. He had run into an invisible wall in midair. He was lucky he hadn’t released his lightning mode. He would’ve broken every bone in his body if he had used his flesh and blood body.

Theo stuttered, “... H-How?”

“Hah, everyone’s reaction is always the same.” Zest chuckled as he walked casually toward Theo. “I just cut space. And if you cut it enough times, it’ll make a wall. Of course, the world will immediately restore it, but it’s good enough to stop little speedsters like you.”

Theo’s disbelief was palpable. “Cut... space?”

Zest grinned. “It seems like you can’t believe it. Isn’t this just swordsmanship?”

He was supremely confident in his Aura Ability. It was the basis of his confidence that he could kill Theo at any time and prevent him from running. Theo now understood why the empire had dispatched the 2nd Sword.

... A swordsman who could cut space? Zest had completely cut off Theo's chances to escape. Even if Theo was in perfect condition, he wouldn’t be able to move through severed space. He could also sense that Umbra wouldn’t be able to help him.

I can’t avoid it with Umbra. I don’t know what effect will happen if he cuts the space, even if I avoid it by moving to another dimension.

He was completely cornered, but Theo still didn’t give up. His disadvantage wasn’t the only thing he learned from Zest’s answer.

I found a weakness. The only thing that can be cut from a distance is space. If he could cut me directly from long range, I would’ve already died. His speed comes from erasing the space between us, but if his blade is visible at close range, I can somehow avoid it.

Theo maintained a barrier of magic power exactly three centimeters above his skin. He would only be able to survive by avoiding the blow at the last minute. It wasn’t much different from dancing on the edge of a cliff; however, if he survived the crisis... he could seize the opportunity to reverse this unfavorable situation.

“Huuuu...” Theo started flickering with blue light as he turned into lightning again and braced himself for battle. He had never faced a trial quite this difficult in his life.

One mistake was instant death. Zest seemed to like that Theo didn’t lose his fighting spirit as he raised his sword with a grin. “Are you hiding more? This time, try to hold on for a while.”

He would ruthlessly take advantage of every weakness and gap. Meanwhile, Theo couldn’t rely on exploiting his opponent’s weakness, so he had spent a lot of points in the Library to ensure victory. As Zest swung his blade, Theo accelerated his nervous system again.

The magician who transformed into lightning and the swordmaster who cut space... There was no one in the desolate wilderness to bear witness to the struggle between two beings who had transcended humans.

***

The exchange between the two masters ended in just five minutes.

“Kuheok!”

Theo’s imperfect lightning transformation eventually hit its limit, as he rolled away and coughed up blood. It was a miracle in and of itself that he had managed to maintain it for five minutes with his unstable Circles. Now his legs didn’t have the power to rise anymore.

In comparison, Zest looked no different than when he first appeared. He hadn’t even broken a sweat as he’d toyed with Theo just like a cat playing with a rat.

Zest held his sword loosely as he sighed in satisfaction, “That was really entertaining. I hadn’t expected you to avoid my sword for this long.”

Theo panted, “... This is entertainment for you?”

Zest leisurely rolled a shoulder. “Of course. Things might’ve been different if you were the fire witch, or that muscle obsessed magician, but you? Your skills can’t threaten me. Didn’t you focus on running away because you understood that?”

Theo couldn’t deny the truth of his words. The difference between him and Zest was that big. If they fought a hundred times, Theo would die a hundred times. If they fought a thousand times, Theo would die a thousand times.

He was lucky to have been able to run away for this long, but Theo’s rational side couldn’t deny Zest’s answer. Zest, one of the strongest people in the world, was three stages higher than Theodore Miller in every way.

It would be the same in Meltor.

The soldiers, or even the elite knights, wouldn’t be able to overpower a superhuman like Zest. If Theo confronted him with Baek Jongmyung, both of them would die. Veronica and Blundell were the only ones who could battle him evenly. But Theo had no intention of confronting Zest directly.

“Well, you’re not wrong but... you made a big mistake if you think I only ran away.”

“What?” As Zest frowned, Theo pointed at the ground around them. Zest noticed it the moment he looked down at the ground. “A magic circle? This is... Ah.”

It was a super large, fifty meter magic circle. Zest thought back to their battle. It seemed Theo had drawn it while he had dodged Zest’s sword in lightning form. His movements had definitely been off, like he didn’t know martial arts. The inefficient moves made sense if he had been drawing this magic circle during the fight.

However, Zest didn’t panic. “So, can you beat me with this magic circle?”

“No way.” Zest blinked, as Theo instantly denied it. “Attack spells can be avoided, and I can’t hold you in place long enough since you can just cut space.”

No matter what method Theo used, he couldn’t win. So, he had thoroughly prepared a strategy based on this premise. Theodore Miller couldn’t defeat Zest Speitem. However, he?didn’t have to beat Zest Speitem. To that end, the completed magic circle was a summoning spell.

Today, in this place... it’s all connected.

The magic circle flashed bright crimson as Theo’s magic power flowed into it. A summon that could deal with Zest wouldn’t be ordinary. Theo’s condition also didn’t allow him to summon anything on Fafnir’s level, and other existences wouldn’t be able to deal with a sword master.

So, Theo had searched the Library last night to find a catalyst for the summoning spell he had thought about since he’d found out who the author of Hellfire was. A member of the species that was responsible for the division of the material world, and one of the greatest enemies in the great war, who was still worshiped in secret…

“「 Open, blazing gate of hell― 」”

… He called on the enemy of the world, a demon.