Chapter 107: Omen

Chapter 107: Omen

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Talion Armand was someone who took pride in his own abilities.

It was understandable given that he could even compete with Iliya, who had received the title of Hero, a distinction reserved only for the most promising talent in the continent.

Recently, however, he had been feeling the widening gap between himself and her, almost akin to a difference between heaven and earth.

As such, his confidence has wavered a bit lately.

Dowd Campbell always seemed to attract and become entangled with monstrous individuals. Despite his limited social circle, the capabilities of those around him were so absurd that any concerns about his few interpersonal relationships were virtually meaningless.

For instance, other than Iliya...

First, there was the Saintess of the Church and a terrifying swordsman who could kill a dragon with a single blow; both came as a set. Then, there was Riru Garda, who even Iliya, a fellow freshman, wouldn’t dare to provoke recklessly was included in this terrifying list.

Moreover, those individuals were completely devoted to him.

‘...Devoted?’

Well, at times, their excessive favorability was a little problematic, but anyway...

When standing next to that man, it was inevitable for him to feel that he was such a small person.

“...”

And Talion had realized one more truth.

The fact that it was silly of him to even feel that way.

In the first place, the sense of inferiority born from comparison would only really hit home when one felt that they are ‘similar’ to the person they are compared to.

If the counterpart was a monster, a sky above the sky...

Then the fact that he felt inferior was completely preposterous in the first place.

“I found it!”

They were in a certain frozen land, where mana-powered blizzards raged. In this place, there was a Ruler; A tiger with the size of a house, the Ice Tiger.

Thanks to the blue jewels that adorned its entire body, it possessed defensive capabilities at the level of defensive gear made from rare metals. It was a Demonic Creature that possessed innate elemental magic from birth.

Demonic Creatures titled as Special-Grade were never considered as ‘prey to hunt’ and the Ice Tiger was no exception.

They were more like creatures of legend for the hunters, unbelievable existences used to scare children with sayings such as, ‘Behave well or the Ice Tiger will get you!’.

These Special-Grades were so formidable that even a battalion of official knights, who each could easily face Intermediate-Grade Demonic Creatures, would only have a possibility to subjugate these monsters.

Above them were only the dragon race, beasts from other dimensions, and the Four Cardinal Gods, who were last seen decades ago.

But now...

This Ice Tiger had met an opponent that was able to ‘tear it apart’ in a blink of an eye.

“...”

When he first entered this hunting ground and was requested to eliminate the Ice Tiger with Eleanor in 5 minutes, he thought that was just an exaggeration from that man, a way to tell them to do the deed quickly.

Among the students, it was already well-known that Elfante’s Student Council President was a combatant who possessed historic levels of strength; but even so, wasn’t she still just a student?

Or that was what he thought.

Until Eleanor abruptly let out a punch without moving from where she was standing at upon meeting the Ice Tiger.

“...?”

At first, he thought that she had lost her mind.

After all, she was a swordsman, yet her sword remained unsheathed against such a powerful foe.

Not to mention that what she threw wasn’t even a serious punch, just a casual thrust as if she was pushing something in the air.

The motion she made was bizarre, as if she didn’t have the slightest intention to even hit her opponent.

However...

Alongside that light motion, a ‘grey aura’ burst forth from Eleanor’s body. And at the same time...

-!!

-!!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The scenery before him was ‘ripped apart’ in its entirety.

And even the Ice Tiger, who was swept away by such an aura, was shredded into pieces without a chance to resist.

Dowd had instructed them to instill ‘fear’ to it, so it didn’t seem like she killed it, but it was definitely one step away from dying.

All that was achieved from this single mind-boggling attack.

Talion could only watch with his mouth agape at the sight.

“...”

This person...

‘...No, wait.’

‘Could she even be called a person anymore?’

As a descendant of a distinguished martial family, Talion could tell that the technique Eleanor unleashed did not fit into any known categories of Special Power such as Fortitude or Divine; It was something he had never seen before.

The only candidates that could wield such power were beings considered as mere fantasy by the academic circles: Existences of the Astral Realm or Devils, the Rulers of Pandemonium.

“...”

‘Devil...’

‘Wait, Devil?’

He narrowed his eyes, gazing towards Eleanor.

The blood of Devils runs in the veins of the Tristan Duchy.

Though a mere whisper, it was a whisper that had always circled around in the Empire’s high society.

Although it sounded absurd...

What if it did not possess a metaphorical meaning?

What if there was actually some connection between the family’s bloodline and Devils?

‘...No, there’s no way.’

It was way too ridiculous to even consider.

For a prominent major noble household of the Empire to be entangled with such things? If it were true, the Empire would have already been in an uproar multiple times over.

In the first place, no one even knew where such rumors came from.

‘...Father did say he heard that the Imperial Family may have spread it, though.’

But that was even more absurd than the original rumor.

Why would the Imperial Family do that? Especially to the Tristan Duchy household who had been unrivaled in their loyalty to the Imperial Family for generations?

Unless it was to ‘pressure’ them purposely, it made absolutely zero sense.

“...Um, Student Council President.”

Of course, regardless of that...

Right now, the spectacle before him was undeniably insane.

Talion spoke with a trembling voice.

“How did you do that?”

Upon hearing his words, Eleanor simply shrugged her shoulders before responding.

At the very least, for future chapters, it was better to always make sure Gideon’s combat power was above Eleanor’s.

‘After this chapter ends, it seems like it is necessary to also go check on our Duke’s progress.’

System Message

[ Target ‘Eleanor’ is becoming more accustomed to the Devil’s Power. ]

[ The fusion of the second Fragment accelerates. The Vessel starts to become affected! ]

After all, I had to in order to deal with this.

As I had mentioned before...

I couldn’t stand to see Eleanor becoming a murderer, even if I became blinded.

While I was frowning at such a window, the pager in my hands emitted a ringtone.

It was a call from Iliya.

[Ah, Teach. This side—]

“Is the Imprint also finished over there?”

[...]

Iliya paused for a moment at my question.

[...No, so like. About that. We did finish, but...]

On the other side of the screen, Iliya turned to look behind.

Behind her, the body of the Ruler of the Jungle Zone, the Horned Demon, was visible. And so was Yuria, who was looking down at it with her sword drawn.

[Teach, didn’t you say this thing won’t die?]

“...? That’s a mana life form, so it won’t die, probably.”

Just like the Ice Tiger, the Flame Demon, and the Unicorn.

Mana life forms connected to the elements didn’t die easily. This was the most significant trait that allowed them to break through all the competition from the formidable Demonic Creatures nearby and occupy the position of a Ruler.

Even the Flame Demon, didn’t I even after I blew its head apart in one strike.

[This thing’s dead, though?]

“...What?”

[It’s not resurrecting. Since it’s like that, was the Imprint or whatever properly engraved?]

“...”

At her words, I took a closer look at the screen.

White aura was rising from Yuria’s sword. Nearby, the Unicorn was completely bisected from head to toe, lying motionless.

It was not even showing signs of returning to its elemental form for resurrection, like the Flame Demon I killed.

‘...She actually killed it?’

‘How did she do that?’

‘You can’t even attempt that in game unless you use a glitch...’

Fortunately...

The answer to ‘how’ such a thing was possible soon appeared before my eyes.

System Message

[ Target ‘Yuria’ is becoming more adept at utilizing the Devil’s Power. ]

[ A new curse in the ‘Severer’ is unlocked. ]

[ The target’s Stage 1 Fusion Rate has reached 99%. ]

[ The second Fragment of the ‘White Devil’ will soon appear. Related events are updated! ]

“...”

‘Hey, you fucker.’

‘I’m busy enough already’

‘Please, spare me.’

[...She seemed a bit mentally unstable ever since she came here. Is that really okay, Teach...?]

I scrutinized Yuria, who was reflected on the screen.

Her eyes were out of focus. Standing there without moving, she looked down at the corpse with dead eyes.

Even at a first glance, her state didn’t seem normal.

“...”

I wasn’t sure what she was thinking since the last time I saw her was when she was changing her clothes.

She looked very upset, though, similar to how she was after the recent gaslighting I did.

[...If we leave her like this, she might cause an accident soon.]

“...I’m sure she will. Just let her be.”

[...]

As Iliya looked at me speechlessly, I just scratched my head instead of following up with some sort of explanation.

At the very least, based on my experiences so far...

Omens of ominous things that seemed would happen to me had never missed their mark. If there was even the slightest hint, bad things would definitely happen.

So, what did I need to do in such a situation?

Instead of thinking about ‘fixing’ it, it was better to use it as a ‘momentum’.

First, I had already triggered Riru’s temper to explode...

And this was the second.

[...What?]

“Iliya.”

As Iliya questioned with suspicion, I let out a sigh.

“Do you perhaps know the saying ‘curing poison with poison’?”

Poison could be managed with poison.

If only one poison was released, it was just a deadly poison, but...

If two were released...

That could be used as ‘medicine’.

‘...This will be quite interesting.’

Honestly speaking...

I was curious about tomorrow.

After all, I couldn’t help but look forward to how Tatiana would react to what I was going to do, you know?

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