Ghoul vs. Ghoul ④

This isn't funny anymore!

Getting hit directly in the head by the Crimson Sea and only taking that much damage?

And even the Pochi-type bite isn't landing effectively.

Shadow Demon—Pochi-type is the strongest attacker among the Shadow Demons I can summon.

There are other types—Poyo-type for scouting, Chuu-type for assassination—but none match the Pochi-type in raw offensive power.

The summoned Pochi-type possesses several of my own skills, optimized specifically for physical damage.

Yet, even after absorbing a full Pochi-type attack, the Ghoul-Man sustained minimal damage.

Perhaps I underestimated the status gap too much?

I feel I’m currently holding the advantage, but if it closes in—this could be problematic.

If only the Stasis Gaze would work. Whether I can keep the Oni at bay and maintain pressure until then remains uncertain.

Possibly too difficult.

My master’s Curse Eye might have pierced through it.

The Curse Eye is a skill exclusive to certain races or those with rare talents. I obtained mine due to my vampire lineage.

My master’s Curse Eye is an upgraded version. Mine is, by comparison, a degraded variant.

Still, given how difficult acquisition is, the effect is, even to me, excessive.

Even that gaze fails against the Oni.

Currently, my options to defeat the Oni are limited to either freezing its movement with the Stasis Gaze, or gradually chipping away at it through sustained damage.

Either way, a prolonged engagement is unavoidable.

As expected, the demon charged forward, accepting damage.

That's right.

If neither the Crimson Sea nor the Pochi-type can deliver a fatal blow, it's better to force close combat—accepting damage rather than prioritizing evasion.

I know long engagements favor me. Short ones, however, favor the enemy.

But do I really expect her to accept that willingly?

Unleashed stored magical energy.

Activated parallel consciousness.

In addition to the Crimson Sea, ice and darkness magic struck the demon.

Ice and shadow spears soared through the air, piercing the demon’s body.

No—didn’t pierce.

Some damage was inflicted, judging by the blood, but not enough to penetrate completely.

Indeed, the high stats, resistance skills, and especially the dragon power’s magic suppression effect are troublesome.

The damage inflicted is negligible relative to the cost expended.

Yet not zero.

Unrelenting assault is steadily reducing the demon’s HP.

Even with automatic regeneration, the damage I inflict is slightly greater.

Additionally, the immobilization effect from multiple attacks has succeeded.

If this continues, victory is mine.

Though I do not expect it to end so easily.

There—swords are emerging from space.

Too many.

H-hold on!

How many are there!?

Wait—are they all explosive blades?

If all these swords detonate simultaneously, this entire area will be obliterated!

That is unacceptable.

Even at a distance, students from the same academy remain nearby.

No choice.

The reserve ability I had intended to conserve—must be deployed now.

Swords fly.

They form a wall of blades.

A weapon that slices through flesh, pierces bone, and explodes upon impact.

I activate magic toward the swarm of blades.

Ice Hell Magic: "Shining Mist."

A beautiful, white-hued mist.

Its true nature: a death mist that freezes and shatters everything it touches.

It merges with my blood mist, turning crimson and glowing.

My greatest attack—never shown to my master.

If I were to name it, perhaps "Gleaming Blood Mist"?

The swarm of swords collides with the crimson mist.

The swords explode. Shockwave strikes the mist.

Yet the shockwave cannot blow away the mist—its freezing radiance freezes everything, melts it entirely, and reduces it to dust.

Before such radiant freezing, even the blast wind is powerless.

As expected, over half of the Radiant Blood Mist had been eradicated, but approximately thirty percent remained.

Directing the remaining mist toward the demon, stunned and frozen in place by the thwarted display of his prized sword-throwing technique.

The demon, regaining composure, drew a new blade from space and swung it.

At the same moment, the ground rose, forming a massive wall to block the path of the Radiant Blood Mist.

Yet to think such a wall could stop my ultimate technique—how underestimated.

The Radiant Blood Mist dissolves matter through acid, rapidly freezes it, then shatters it.

Even earth offers no resistance.

The wall of soil collapsed without resistance, and the Radiant Blood Mist advanced toward the demon.

The demon attempted to counter by hurling fire at it.

Result: the flames were overwhelmed. The demon lost his right arm.

The final flames diminished its power significantly. Only one arm was taken, after all.

I had hoped to end it here, but it seems it is not so simple.

Then again, can it withstand my further assault now that it has lost one arm?

Following the trail of the radiant mist, the Crimson Sea and the Pochi-type assault the demon.

Further still, I myself construct a new spell and deliver the final blow.

Further still, another parallel consciousness begins preparing the radiant mist once more.

Drowned by the Crimson Sea, crushed by the Pochi-type, pierced by magic.

If it survives that, can it endure the radiant mist again?

At the moment I had nearly confirmed victory, the Crimson Sea detonated, the Pochi-type was torn apart, the magic shattered, and a blade was driven into my body.

What... happened?

Damage? I received damage?

Me? Protected by the Celestial Scales?

I was thrown back, rolled across the ground, rose to my feet, and checked my own body—my right arm was severed halfway.

This would regenerate quickly enough, but the issue was that damage had been inflicted upon my body, and I could not comprehend what the specter had done.

Yet when I raised my face to look at the specter, the answer became clear.

All stats: 99,999.

Impossible.

Could he be slightly unhinged?

A thought of mockery crossed my mind—but it wasn’t entirely unfounded.

“GAAARRRHHH!”

The specter roared.

The roar contained no trace of reason—only the raw, mad will to destroy.

One possibility came to mind.

Wrath.

The skill I had been wary of.

It had activated.

My miscalculation was the extent of the stat increase—far beyond my expectations.

I had accepted a doubling as within tolerance—but this was unmanageable.

Perhaps... this is a problem.