250 Hide and Seek
The Vampire Child activates Jūkai.
A technique, one might say, combining the power of skills and magic into a hybrid skill-magic.
The red liquid moves freely at the Vampire Child's command, dissolving anything it touches without question.
A fusion of the vampire's blood mist ability, strong acid attack, and water magic.
When I first witnessed it, I was startled.
After all, they combined three separate skills into a completely new technique.
I never would have thought of such a thing.
To be clear, the Vampire Child is more skilled in using abilities than I am.
I can activate multiple skills simultaneously, but the idea of combining them never occurred to me.
Only the poison thread comes close—though one could argue that's simply how poison attacks are designed.
I did not refrain from attempting to combine skills.
Whether poison attacks could be layered onto the curse eye, for instance.
But it was impossible.
And since the system's specifications dictated it could not be done, I ceased further research.
The Vampire Child, however, pursued this further—until they achieved what I had abandoned.
They completed what I had given up on.
In that sense, the Vampire Child could be called a genius.
Still, even so, I would never catch up to them now, and even before divinization, I would have lost.
Had I chosen, I could have overwhelmed with simultaneous spellcasting via parallel consciousness mobilization.
Foolishness.
There was no need for me to develop new techniques.
Not at all.
As for you, Oni-kun—where do you think you’re from?
Yuwachan?
Or perhaps A.U.O.?
Is your combat style missile launch?
Drawing a sword from another dimension and firing it directly.
By all appearances, the Tower of Babylon.
A tidal wave of liquid that evaporates instantly upon contact.
One side, battleships struck by blinding blue missiles.
Isn't this war already?
Even before my divinity, did my battles appear as chaotic from an outside view?
The forest's a mess—chaotic and disordered.
The Vampire Child guards against Oni-kun's attack with the Vermilion Sea; Oni-kun evades the waves of the Vermilion Sea.
Push and pull of offense and defense.
Stop! The forest's HP is already zero!
The Vampire Child summoned the Shadow Demon.
Eight wolves, their forms crimson-black, emerging from the shadows.
They all attack Oni-kun at once.
Even Oni-kun could not avoid this—taken by surprise by the Shadow Demon, he was struck directly on the head by Shukai.
Seems it's not working quite that well.
Damage output appears minimal.
Not only does evasion capability stand high, but base defense is also elevated.
Hmm.
A grueling, close-quarters clash.
Neither side possesses a decisive edge.
Oni-kun seems evenly matched at present, yet in reality is being steadily pressured.
Status values suggest superiority over the Vampire Child, yet the Vampire Child consistently dominates through skill variety.
Currently, the Vampire Child struggles to land decisive strikes.
Meanwhile, the Vampire Child also fails to secure victory.
Appears to be focusing on ranged combat, gradually reducing Oni-kun's HP through magical sight—but how long will this continue?
Hmm.
Seems both are startled by the other's strength, adopting cautious tactics.
The Vampire Child seems eager, yet internally, a calculated strategy for victory is forming.
The mystery lies with Oni-kun.
At first glance, one might assume complete loss of reason—but the way it fights suggests deliberate calculation.
Is rationality still present?
Oni-kun moved.
Closing the distance, accepting some damage in the process.
The Vampire Child responded with multiple activations of Crimson Sea, Shadow Demon, and magic in succession.
Attempting to maintain distance while repelling, clearly intent on resolving the conflict from range.
Still, Oni-kun is no slouch.
The energy enveloping its body—likely Dragon Force?
Given how ineffective the Vampire Child’s magic proves, it must be.
Enduring attacks of such magnitude and still standing.
Normally, it would have been erased entirely.
Hmm.
Frustrated by the inability to close the gap, Oni-kun made a gamble.
A sword materialized from an alternate space.
Countless in number.
Inspecting Oni-kun’s alternate space briefly, observing its contents.
Hmm.
Empty.
Only a few remain.
Oni-kun appears to have channeled all stored explosive swords into the field.
Even the Vampire Child shows signs of unease.
If all these swords detonate simultaneously, even the Vampire Child cannot avoid the impact—and would take damage.
Survival is guaranteed, however.
An infinite number of swords converge on the Vampire Child at once.
Clear skies, occasionally interrupted by a rain of blades.
Unpleasant weather.
Now, how will the Vampire Child respond?
The Vampire Child activates magic.
Ice magic.
High-tier.
A glowing mist forms around the area, gradually turning red.
I have never witnessed this before.
The red-hued mist collides with the rain of blades.
The swords shatter. The mist dissipates.
Remarkable.
Red and glowing. Should we call it "Shi-seki," imitating the gemstone?
Shi-seki swallows the rain of blades.
Even the shockwave it generates freezes and then melts.
Result: the sword rain is completely blocked. Worse, what remains of Shi-seki advances toward Oni-kun.
Oni-kun stands stunned. All but his last reserves were spent in a full-force attack—easily deflected.
I understand the feeling, but not during combat.
Shi-seki mocks Oni-kun’s frantic defense, seizing his right arm.
A wall of earth formed, fire counteracted, yet the arm is still torn away.
Terrifying.
What kind of weapon is she developing?
And kept secret even from me.
Is this it?
Had she planned to use it against me someday?
That’s frightening.
!!
Oh no.
Now of all times?
Oni-kun activates his rage ability.
Well, that is fine.
My concern was something else entirely.
The black seal has broken.