Book Eater

Chapter 295: Reproduction of Myths (3)

The wind stopped blowing as the light created a vacuum of calm. The light that couldn’t be recognized by the eyes of mortals, the light of the Godking Nuada, spread across the world.

But the brilliant light eventually subsided. The sky that had been too bright to look at recovered its color. Claimhb Solais had already lost the shape of the sun and returned to Nuada’s grasp.

[... This.]

Nuada looked down at the thing penetrating him.

[Manannán mac Lir’s god sword, Fragarach.]

As the sun set on its enemy, the sword had slipped through the glare and lodged itself in Nuada’s heart. It was a blue-black short sword, similar to a dagger. It couldn’t be blocked by any armor or shield, and never missed when it was thrown. It was a sacred sword that the elf king in the past had been reluctant to part with, despite the many treasures he had.

It could be used to attack, but its true value lay in counterattacks.

[Sigh, was I too hasty?]

Fragarach was a famous sword, but Nuada was also a godking. He wasn’t an opponent that could be defeated with one god-weapon. In this case, he had made a single mistake.

Fragarach was a weapon that absorbed the power of the opponent’s attack and returned it with interest. The extra strength on top of Claimhb Solais’ might wasn’t something the summoned Nuada could endure. The battle’s conclusion had been decided by the limit of the summoning time and the last trump card that Invidia had used.

However, Invidia wasn’t entirely lucky. Its body had been carbonized by Claimhb Solais’ fall. Fragarach’s counter ability couldn’t bear all of Nuada’s power. If Nuada had been in a more complete form, Invidia’s current state might have caused the opposite result.

[In the end, everything is an excuse.]

It was ugly to make excuses when the match was over. Nuada accepted his defeat. Anyway, his time was up the moment his heart had been pierced by Fragarach. He had been invited by an unexpected call, and it was now time for the guest to leave.

Nuada’s body started fading from his toes upward. He touched Fragarach’s hilt and murmured with a bitter smile.

[You were used to defend a coward. It is a tough fate for you as well.]

Kuuong...

As if in response, Fragarach cried out once as it disintegrated. Nuada turned his eyes proudly toward the person he hated.

[First of all, congratulations, Invader. It is your victory.]

Invidia’s throat was too badly damaged to do much more than hoarsely snarl, “... Dis-app-ear...!”

[Well, don’t be in a rush. I will leave a gift of prophecy.]

Nuada’s last words were nothing more than a curse under the name of a prophecy.

[This is the last victory that you can enjoy.]

***

At that moment...

“Nuada was defeated?” Theo was able to tell the moment Nuada disappeared from the material world. The light of the summoning circle under his feet scattered, and the recoil from the summoning momentarily paralyzed his Circles. It would take five seconds for his magic power circulation to recover normally.

The two masters heard Theo and sank back into their combat stances, staring in the direction of the explosion. Even though they didn’t know what would happen next, their response was commendable.

“―Lowlives.”

However, it had no meaning in front of their opponent.

Jeeeong!

Randolph reflexively slashed outward to block, but one kick broke both his arms and his ribs as he was thrown away. Even a blocked attack was deadly. There was just a fundamental difference in strength. Randolph cursed his lack of strength as his consciousness started to fade.

... R-Run aw... ay, Theo...

Randolph fainted as he collided with the mountain several hundred meters away. However, he was in far better condition than Veronica.

“Keok, kuuock, ah, kuoooock...”

Her shoulders and thighs had been viciously cut, as Invidia cut straight down to the bone. It held her up by the neck. A vein bulged on the back of its hand as it tightened its grip. Veronica gathered her magic power to fight back, but she was no longer in her draconic state, so all she could do was reinforce her spine to keep from breaking.

It was instant annihilation. Theo had just recovered from his momentary paralysis when he was greeted by the sight of his companions being brutally trampled on by Invidia.

“You’ve ruined my task up to here, Gluttony!”

Theo saw Invidia’s face and stopped breathing.

... This is far beyond just injuries.

Invidia’s face was half melted, and its armor was barely holding together. It clearly hadn’t recovered from battling Nuada. At best, this was 3% of its strength. Nevertheless, that was more than enough to handle the masters. As the grimoire growled in fury, the space around him twisted, cutting off the connection between their Circles and mana.

This monster was still transcendent! Theo was frozen in place as he looked at the captured Veronica with bitter and sad eyes.

“Hu, I see.” At that moment, Invidia’s low and venomous voice rang out. “It seems like this hybrid is important to your host.”

Theo’s eyes widened. “... Wait!”

“This is the punishment for hindering this body. Enjoy the taste of despair.”

It happened before Theo could do more than reach out.

Puk!

A blade pierced through Veronica’s heart.

“Aaaaack!”

“Veronica!”

Invidia ripped the sword back out and stabbed Veronica several times before throwing her blood flecked body away like garbage. Theo leaped forward, catching her in his arms, but Veronica’s eyes were blurring rapidly. Her golden eyes were clouded as she gazed up at him gently.

“... Ah… Kid...”

“Don’t say anything! I have to- hold on!”

Theo forgot about Invidia before him and quickly started casting. There wasn’t just one lethal injury. Veronica’s heart and the blood vessels around it had been shredded. The blood loss was moments away from being fatal. Even a cardinal wouldn’t be able to help her regenerate.

I don’t have healing magic! If this continues...

Invidia was just watching. They couldn’t escape from him even if Theo revived Veronica. So Theo decided to use his elixir.

“Veronica, open your mouth.”

“Hup... Um...!”

He carefully brought the edge of the bottle to her mouth. It was a mortal wound, so he had to be very careful and ensure she actually swallowed the drop. One drop of this legendary remedy could buy a castle; however, Theo didn’t hesitate to pour the whole bottle into Veronica’s mouth. He understood the pros and cons, but he couldn’t leave her to die. He idly wondered what Gluttony would think. Would it consider him stupid?

But right now, Theo couldn’t care less.

“... Uhh...”

“Ah.”

Veronica’s flesh was visibly regenerating. The blood pouring out from the hole in her chest slowed and stopped as her torn heart recovered. Indeed, the elixir was a miracle medicine which could restore any injury as long as there was one breath left in the body. Just when he was feeling deeply relieved at the sight of color returning to Veronica’s cheeks, Invidia chuckled.

“Hoh, an elixir. You have a rare thing.”

Theo reflexively covered Veronica’s body with his own. “What are you going to do?”

“What?” Invidia laughed like he heard something funny. “Didn’t I tell you? I told you to enjoy the taste of despair.”

“... What?”

Theo was confused.

Puhak!

All of a sudden, the hole in Veronica’s chest opened, spewing out more blood. Her body started twitching from the shock, as Theo frantically started looking for the cause.

The heart that had been repaired by the elixir had been shredded once again.

“I used the Aura Ability Destruction on the hybrid’s soul.” Invidia reveled in the color draining from Theo’s face. “The elixir is a great remedy, but its healing power is ultimately limited to physical damage. Once the soul is broken, the body can’t be fixed anymore. Do you realize your plight now?”

Theo felt rage rising. “You—You son of a bitch...!”

“How do you feel now that you can neither save a dying woman nor land a blow on me? Are you resentful? Are you miserable? Do you know how stupid it is to face this body? Either way, it is good. This is punishment for not knowing your place.”

Theo felt nauseous as he saw the truth of Envy’s nature. There was no solution to be found. It was better to commit suicide than to beg for mercy from this damn monster. The same went for Veronica. The elixir was still working away to heal the wound, but it would only be able to do so for ten more minutes.

He hadn’t realized it at first because of the urgent situation, but the wound was the same as Zest’s injury. An injury caused by the power to destroy the soul... required a 9th circle magician to heal it.

... Gluttony, please.

- Are you serious?

Gluttony, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

You know that this is the only way.

Gluttony didn’t respond to Theo. Instead, it began to prepare for the task planned out in advance. Theodore Miller was going to bet everything on the gamble of a lifetime.

... Well, Sister will surely be angry if she knew.

Theo stroked her face, which was twisted in pain, and decided.

In order to save Veronica and Randolph... In order to destroy the bastard in front of him... For Blundell, who sacrificed his life to earn a few seconds, and for the magicians who died horrible deaths...

Theo would bet his life this time.

“Why are you so quiet? Did you give up?”

The biggest mistake Envy made was giving Theo time because he wanted to inflict more pain. It seemed like a coincidence, but it was inevitable. As Nuada Airgetlám had warned, Invidia’s nature would lead to his own downfall.

Theo was silent, but a mouth appeared on the palm of his left hand.

- Stupid.

Invidia raised an eyebrow. “You are finally speaking, brother? But it is too late. Even if you beg me to save your host...”

- You should have thought more carefully, my foolish brother.

Invidia opened his mouth to respond, but it was too late.

[Death’s Worship has been consumed.]

[Jerem’s spirit has awakened. The mental suppression has failed, and the flesh is taken over by the object name, ‘Jerem’.]

[Understanding of magic and mana control has greatly increased.]

A black fog erupted from Theo’s body as he consumed Death’s Worship, which had always been in a corner of his inventory. The power of death to kill all living things, the magic of the end, filled Theo’s body.

The confused Invidia reached out with his sword, but the dark fog swallowed up and polluted the area. The darkness sat heavily on the earth like a deep abyss. It was a land of death Invidia shouldn’t be in contact with since he was a parasitic grimoire that relied on the host’s body.

This was the 8th Circle domination magic, Erebos. At the center of the fog, Theo opened his eyes.

“... Huhat.”

An unpleasant laughter echoed. He was like a malicious spirit as he spat out phlegm and laughed. Then Theo’s lake-blue eyes turned blood red. The two powers, Aquilo's blood and the Ring of Muspelheim, still circulated in his heart. However, unlike before, there were now eight Circles. The wall had been forcibly destroyed as he accepted the soul of the 9th Circle magician Jerem.

Theo’s body trembled as Jerem expressed his ecstatic joy, “Hahahahaha! You finally called me! This is me! The king of the end! Good. This Jerem will grant your wish!”

This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. Jerem was now completely revived after a few hundred years, but this flesh was a dish truly worthy of turning into an undead. Divinity, dragon’s blood, Umbra, and two grimoires!

If Jerem used this body, he could restore his full capabilities in a month. Unlike Theo, who didn’t fully utilize his powers, Jerem was a transcendent magician of the 9th Circle.

“Come, gather! My faithful servants!” Once Jerem shouted, four figures emerged from the shadows around him.

The four riders, a beauty in white robes, a young man in red armor, an old man leaning on a staff, and a monster with his body wrapped in bandages, ignored Invidia and prostrated themselves before Jerem.

They were the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

“White Knight Hipatia greets the king.”

“Red Knight Elohim greets the king.”

.

“Black Knight Delos greets the king.”

“... Pale Rider greets the king.”

Jerem’s eyes flashed with madness as he accepted the greetings of the four horsemen.

Then he glanced at his enemy, Invidia. He had done a similar thing in the Miller Barony a few years ago. The fastest way to completely dominate a host’s body was to eliminate any grudges they had left behind. Theo wanted to save his two companions and destroy Invidia, so...

“Make that insolent fellow kneel before me!”

The moment that Jerem spoke, the Four Horsemen raised their heads.

“I permit the manifestation in the name of Jerem!”

The four Knights exploded with power as their strength, which had been sealed for centuries, was finally released.

Kiaaaaaah―――! Kihihihi! Ku... Hu... Hu... Hu!

The body of the White Knight, the beautiful Hipatia, grew half-transparent as she let out a terrible scream. She was actually the apex creature of the undead, a terror-wight! Her screams could destroy thousands of minds and even turn swordmasters into puppets. Even Invidia felt goosebumps as she screamed.

Hipatia wasn’t the only one who changed. Red Knight Elohim turned into a vampire lord, and Black Knight Delos became an arch lich. They were senior undead that could threaten even 8th Circle magicians. The Pale Rider’s appearance didn’t change, but the evil energy flowing from him increased even more.

“Kill him.”

In front of the four monsters, the worst warlock of the material world sentenced Invidia to death.