Chapter 157 – The Strongest ②

『GOGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!』

I wonder what Ifrit felt when it saw Claire, who suddenly appeared before it. Even its roar sounded different from the previous one, as this one sounded like a full-blown resistance to a superior entity that was threatening its life.

Subsequently, five suns emerge above Ifrit’s head. Those five suns are connected by a thin flame, drawing a pentagram. Thereupon, an attack that contained the most intense heat was released.

“Nuisance.”

『GURUUU!?』

Her blade flashes. With that alone, the hellfire was iced and shattered in an instant. That scene showed the absolute difference between the two.

Then, perhaps because it judged that aiming the sun at Claire was meaningless, the five suns, which were depicting a pentagram, were dispersed in every direction, and released towards us who were behind her. Yes, those powerful flame radiation came assaulting us. However–

“Do you think I will let you?”

Saying that, the magic circle of Ice shines brightly, generating an Ice Barrier that protects us. It was a thick barrier that looks like a series of small icebergs, which wiped out the flame radiations before they were  able to do damage to the barrier.

『GURUUUU!?』

Facing such a scene, Ifrit took a step back. It may have expected Claire to take some damage by covering us but, now that even that aim has been negated, I guess it may have realized that it has no chance of winning.

And looking at this, Claire exhales a little and then says in a cold voice.

“Well then, let’s finish this.”

After such a preface, Claire lifted the Ice Sword and– brandished it down powerfully.

The thing generated from that slash was a huge freezing slash, which freezes the atmosphere and flames together and directly hits the main body of Ifrit. And that was the end. Even if it has a hard skin, Ifrit couldn’t withstand that blow, splitting its body into two in an instant.

At the same time, a magic stone embedded in its forehead was exposed, which after cracking, also shattered into pieces at the next moment.

Just like that, Ifrit was easily defeated by the hand of Claire.

『Experience acquired – Level has increased by 923』

The sound of the system also reverberated in my mind. Perhaps they judged that the damage I inflicted to Ifrit also contributed to the subjugation? Although my level was raised rapidly, I don’t think it matters anymore.

Because my eyes are still fascinated by that silver back.

“It’s finished.”

After seeing the disappearance of Ifrit, Claire looked back and muttered. Then suddenly, our sights collided. She opened her pair of deep blue eyes widely for a moment before walking toward me with a soft smile. And when she stopped in front of me, she reached out her hand that was wrapped in a white glove, just like the strong who reached her hand to the weak.

And looking at that hand, my heart skipped.

“I——”

I thought I had to say something. However, without knowing what I should say, in the end, I took her hand as prompted. And then, my hand and Claire’s overlapped 1—

“”———!””

–Suddenly, Claire and I, who felt that presence, looked at it at the same time.

In front of the palace, which is the strangest existence of this place, stood a stranger. Without a sound, and before we know it. As if he was there from the beginning.

It was a man with red long hair like fresh blood and eyes of the same color. He wore a black cloak. The aura that was generated from his body was also abnormal. If it’s just a feeling of intimidation from the aura, then, Ifrit’s is far superior to this man. However, the man had an unfathomable dreadfulness that couldn’t be felt from Ifrit. Either way, he is definitely stronger than I.

“… Amane-san, was he also one of the people who got swallowed by the Dungeon Outbreak?”

“No, he wasn’t. He just suddenly appeared.”

As Claire and I briefly exchanged such words, the man shifted his eyes at us sharply.

“—–tsu!?”

And I knew that gaze. It doesn’t mean I recognized his face. But, I remembered the emotion in that gaze.

There is no way I could forget it, as it was something that happened just a while ago. The murderous intent that was directed at me before we were swallowed by the dungeon outbreak was definitely his.

At that instant, I held Nameless while Claire held her Ice Sword as we looked at the man. Despite that, without displaying any worry, he approached us with a laugh.

“This is surprising. I was watching how you ants were getting defeated by Ifrit but…. When I was just disappointed by the fact that this world, that has someone who has reached ‘that2‘ was merely to this extent, I never thought there is a strong one like you bastard here. Although this will be a little troublesome, I guess it’s better than just the weak.”

“…. Who on earth are you?

“Fumu, since we already met. I’ll tell you as a reward.”

When Claire asked, the man stopped his step and smiled. Next, he told us a very important piece of information for us– No, for the world.

“My name is Cain von Vertia, the vampire king. If I have to say it in a term which you ants could understand, I am an existence from a different world.3“