The Book Eating Magician Chapter 295:
Chapter 295 – Reproduction of Myths (3)
The wind stopped blowing for a long period of time, and there was a huge vacuum of calm bathed in light . The light that couldn’t be recognized by the eyes of mortals, the light of the God-King Nuada, spread out all over the world .
Before long, the brilliant light subsided .
The sky, which had been bright enough to prevent people from opening their eyes, 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 **** sword, Fragarach . ]
As the sun settled down, the sword had penetrated through the glare and lodged into Nuada’s heart . It was a blue-black short sword, similar to a dagger . This was a sword which couldn’t be blocked by any armor or shield, never missing . 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 was revealed in counterattacks .
[Sigh, was I too hasty?]
Fragarach was a famous sword, but Nuada was also a god-king . He wasn’t an opponent that could be defeated with one god-weapon .
In this case, the mistake Nuada had made was the problem .
Fragarach was a counter weapon which absorbed the power of the opponent’s attack and returned it with more power . The ‘revenge’ that was added to Claimhb Solais’s mighty power wasn’t something the summoned Nuada could endure .
The limit of the summoning time and the last trump card that Invidia had prepared caused this result .
However, Invidia wasn’t entirely lucky . At the point when Claimhb Solais had fallen, Invidia’s body had turned into a charcoal-like mass of human form . It was because Fragarach’s counter ability couldn’t bear all of Nuada’s power . If Nuada was in a more complete form, this outcome might’ve been reversed due to Invidia’s current state .
[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 limit was over the moment he got his heart 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 which was stuck in his chest and muttered 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 and was destroyed first . Then Nauda turned his eyes proudly toward the person he hated . [First of all, congratulations, Invader . It is your victory . ]
“…Dis-app-ear…!”
[Well, don’t be in a rush . I will leave a prophecy . ]
To the person whose vocal cords were badly damaged, Nuada left his last greeting and disappeared . It was a curse under the name of a prophecy .
[This is the last victory that you can enjoy . ]
* * *
At that moment…
“Nuada . He was defeated?” Theodore was able to tell straight away when 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 5 seconds for his magic power circulation to recover normally .
The two masters heard Theodore’s words and reorganized their postures, staring in the direction of the explosion . Even at that moment, 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 responded to the approach, but he was thrown away along with his two swords . With one kick, his two arms were bent and his ribs broken . Even if the attack was blocked, it was a deadly hit .
Setting aside as to whether it was good or bad, the unit of power was just too different . Randolph realized the cruel reality as his consciousness became blurred .
‘…R-Run aw…ay, Theo…’ Randolph flew back several hundred meters and barely gasped out before fainting . However, his condition was good compared to Veronica’s .
“Keok, kuuock, ah, kuoooock…”
Both of her shoulders and thighs were cut deeply . Her flesh and muscles were split apart, and it was serious enough to reach the nerves and bones . Additionally, Invidia was holding the helpless Veronica by her neck .
A vein appeared on the back of his hand as he increased his strength . Veronica gathered her magic power to fight back . However, she wasn’t in her draconic state, so she hit her limit by protecting her neck bones .
It was an annihilation .
Theodore barely recovered from his paralysis and roared wildly as he saw his companions being brutally trampled on by Invidia .
“You’ve ruined my task up to here, Gluttony!”
Theodore saw Invidia’s face and stopped breathing . ‘…It is a horrible appearance . ’
His face was half melted, and his armor had lost its shape . He still hadn’t recovered from fighting with Nuada . Based on his presence, he only had 3% of his power left . Nevertheless, Invidia’s power was absolute . Whenever he growled with fury, the space around him twisted, cutting off the connection between the circles and mana .
This monster was still transcendent! Theodore was unable to move 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 . ”
“…Wait!”
“This is the punishment for hindering this body . Enjoy the taste of despair . ”
It happened before Theodore could reply .
Puk!
A blade pierced through Veronica’s heart .
“Aaaaack!”
“Veronica!”
After thrusting his sword several times, Invidia threw her body away like it was garbage . Blood flowed from her mouth and chest as she flew in a parabola . Theodore immediately grabbed her body, 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! Your injury is severe!”
Theodore forgot about the presence of Invidia before him and quickly moved his hands . There wasn’t a specific injury site . Veronica’s heart and surrounding blood vessels were torn like rags . A lethal amount of blood was flowing out in seconds . It wasn’t possible to regenerate even if a cardinal was present .
‘I don’t have healing magic! If this continues…’
Invidia was just watching . They couldn’t escape from him even if Theodore revived Veronica . Then Theodore came up with the idea of using an elixir .
After a moment, Theodore reached out his hand . “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 when pouring in a drop so that she could swallow . This was an elixir, a legendary remedy that could buy a castle with just one drop .
Theodore 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 . What did Gluttony think about this decision? Did it think Theodore was stupid?
However, Theodore couldn’t care less .
“…Uhh…”
“Ah . ”
Veronica’s flesh was growing back in real time . The blood pouring out from the hole in her chest stopped, and her torn heart recovered its original shape .
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, Theodore heard a voice .
“Hoh, an elixir . You have a rare thing . ”
“What are you going to do?”
“What?” Invidia laughed like he heard something funny . “Didn’t I kindly teach you? I told you to enjoy the taste of despair . ”
“…What?”
While Theodore was confused by the words…
Puhak!
Blood surfaced from Veronica’s wound again . Her body started twitching from the shock, and Theodore looked at Veronica’s injury to figure out what had happened .
The heart repaired by the elixir was once again torn apart .
“The soul of the hybrid was specifically cut with the ‘Destruction’ Aura Ability,” Invidia mocked Theodore’s devastating face, telling him the whole story . “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?”
“You—You son of a bitch…!”
“How do you feel now that you can neither save a dying woman nor retaliate against 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 . ”
Theodore felt nauseous as he confronted the nature of ‘Envy’ and gave up .
It was better to commit suicide than to beg for mercy from this **** monster . This was the same for Veronica . The elixir still remained, so the wound was healing repeatedly . However, it had a time limit of 10 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… it 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 Theodore’s words . Instead, it began to prepare for the task planned out in advance . Theodore Miller was going to bet it all on the gamble of a lifetime .
‘…Well, Sister will surely be angry if she knows . ’
Theodore stroked her face, that was struggling with the pain, and decided .
In order to save Veronica and Randolph… In order to destroy the **** in front of him… For Blundell, who sacrificed his life to earn a few seconds, and for the magicians who died terrible deaths…
Theodore would bet his life this time .
“Why are you so quiet? Did you give up?”
The biggest mistake Envy made was giving Theodore time because he wanted to inflict more pain on Theodore . It was coincidence, but it was inevitable . As Nuada Airgetlám had warned, Invidia’s nature led to his deadly predicament .
Theodore continued with his silence, while a mouth appeared on the palm of his left hand .
–Stupid .
“You are finally speaking, Brother? But it is too late . Even if you beg me to save your host…”
–Think in advance, my foolish brother .
What was Invidia’s response? Then the moment he was about to speak…
[’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 emerged from Theodore’s body after he consumed Death’s Worship, which had always been in a corner of his inventory . Theodore gained the power of death to kill all living things, the magic of the end .
The confused Invidia reached out with his sword, but the dark fog swallowed up and polluted the area . The darkness, like an abyss, sat heavily on the earth . 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 **** magic, Erebos . And at the center of the fog, Theodore opened his eyes .
“…Huhat . ” It was unpleasant laughter . He was like a malicious spirit as he spat out phlegm and laughed .
Then Theodore’s lake-blue eyes became **** .
The two powers, Aquila’s blood and the Ring of Muspelheim, still circulated in his heart . However, unlike before, there were now eight circles . After accepting the soul of the 9th circle magician Jerem, this wall was forcibly broken .
Theodore’s body shook a few times before 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 best . Jerem was 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 Theodore, who didn’t fully utilize his powers, Jerem was a transcendent magician of the 9th circle .
“Come, gather! My faithful servants!” Once Jerem raised his voice, four figures emerged from the shadows around him .
They were the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse .
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 .
“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, without shaking .
A few years ago, it had been the same in the Miller Barony . In order to completely dominate the host’s body, the fastest and most efficient way was to eliminate all grudges left behind by the host . Theodore 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!”
Simultaneously, the four riders regained their original strength which had been sealed for centuries .
Kiaaaaaah―――!
Kihihihi!
Ku…hu…hu…hu!
The body of the White Knight, the beautiful Hipatia, became half-transparent, and she let out a terrible scream .
This was the apex of the undead, the terror-wight!
It was the scream that could destroy the minds of thousands of people and even turn the bodies of sword masters into puppets . Even Invidia got goosebumps from the scream .
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 this material world sentenced Invidia to death .