IV
The staircase was bleached white, but up ahead, a black stain spread over it as though someone had spilled darkness on it.
“Is that a carriage?”
“I don’t think so. Though it does have something resembling wheels, so I suppose it is probably a vehicle of some kind.”
Glancing sideways at the great mass of iron that hung floating in the air, Felix answered the latest of Olivia’s many questions with yet another guess. A little after they had begun to ascend the staircase, they had started seeing a variety of objects floating in the sky around them. There was an enormous creature that they had never seen before; a small, flat block that produced unfamiliar music; and even an abomination that looked like a cross between a human and an animal. All of it was beyond their understanding, or at the very least did not exist in their world.
“I believe I see the end up ahead,” Felix said. Beyond the final step of the staircase there was an empty expanse of white on white. There was a point in that seemingly endless space that drew Felix’s eyes—a black gate that towered high above them, and the figure that stood before it.
“Is that the god of death?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Olivia replied quietly, glaring at Xenia.
It seems I was naive in my estimation, Felix thought. Going off of Darmés’s powers, here he was devastatingly outmatched. Just the sight of Xenia sent a cold sweat and goose bumps crawling across his skin. Faced with a malevolence like nothing he had ever felt before, he started to sweat, when there came a voice like the whisper of death. It was clearly not a language he recognized, but strangely, he understood it.
I do not recall inviting you here.
“I came to destroy you.”
Destroy me? You perplex me. Do you imagine that you will succeed because there are two of you? It was like this with Darmés too. I truly cannot comprehend your group-three minds.
Olivia tore a gemstone on a string from her neck and said, “This time is different.”
Different? Nothing appears to me to have changed. Besides, even if it had, you are still an inferior species. I can hardly judge a change in a gnat.
From the way Xenia spoke as though humans were unworthy of its concern, Felix doubted it would suddenly attack them. All the same, he stayed on high alert.
“What is our plan?” he asked.
Staring at the gem in her hand, Olivia replied, “I use the magic ruby as a catalyst to elevate my Odh beyond its limits.” The ruby on Olivia’s palm, in which Felix could not make out a single imperfection, glittered bewitchingly as though in response to her words.
“From what you’ve said, I am loath to believe this object can be used without risk. Won’t it put considerable physical strain on you?”
Olivia squeezed the gem and smiled softly.
That was a stupid question. Felix looked over at Xenia. “How much time do you need?”
“Five minutes. Actually, no, three minutes should do it.”
“Three minutes...”
“Is it too much?” There was worry in Olivia’s eyes. Felix turned away from her and strode unflinchingly toward Xenia.
As he undid the clasp on the hilt and rested his hand on Elhazard, he poured his resolution into words.
“Olivia, as you are the world’s hope, all I can do is give everything I have to be the bridge that carries that hope.” He breathed continuously and steadily, filling every corner of his body with Odh. By the time he confronted Xenia head-on, his entire body was suffused with azure light.
My, my. With that Odic glow, you must be descended from Asura. And judging from how it shines, you have some skill. Xenia chuckled to itself. The Deep Folk and Asura are supposed to be mortal enemies, and yet here they are, working side by side. I do not understand it, but I am very much intrigued. In recognition of your absurd courage, I shall play along just this once.
Xenia held its right arm straight out to the side, and a great scythe materialized in its hand. Just like Xenia’s body, it emanated black mist and gave off an aura that suggested it would reduce anything it touched to dust. Felix took a step forward, slamming his foot into the ground. He dropped slightly in his stance, readying Elhazard at his side. Xenia showed no sign of moving. And then...
Ultimate Swift Step!!!
A sound rang out like air popping. In an instant, Felix was behind Xenia. There’s still no sign of movement. It’s wide open. This was the perfect chance, but Felix continued to use Ultimate Swift Step.
The moment he moved away from Xenia, there was an ominous noise. Xenia hadn’t moved a step from where it stood. In the instant before Felix attacked, he had unconsciously decided to dodge instead. If he had resisted that decision even slightly, he would surely have ended up on the ground in two pieces.
I thought my first attack would be the end of this. Color me impressed.
Felix put Xenia’s praise far from his mind, then used Ultimate Swift Step and headed up into the sky. The target of his attack was the top of Xenia’s head. Spinning on the vertical axis, he slashed down hard with Elhazard. Xenia effortlessly raised its great scythe to knock the attack aside with ease.
Is it reading my movements from minute fluctuations in the air? he thought.
At that moment, Xenia acted at last. It made a gesture that set its robes billowing, at which the black mist that always hung about it surged up and, as though it possessed a mind of its own, moved to swallow him up.
If that mist gets me, it will certainly not end well! He had only moments to think, and the black mist carried the scent of a violent death. From the limited options available to him, he arrived at an answer. He materialized a small board directly beneath his feet.
Please let me make it in time!!! He kicked off the board, letting the rebound send him flying backward. At the same time, the board disappeared into the black mist where it melted in hiss of white smoke. I can’t let down my guard for even a moment. This really is a deadly balancing act.
Felix put quite some distance between himself and Xenia, who gave him a generous round of applause.
I am surprised that any such as you still exist in this world, where levels of Odh have fallen to such remarkably infinitesimal levels. You far surpass even the Asura I remember. But enough of that. What shall I do with you? There was an audible note of excitement in Xenia’s voice. It wasn’t unusual for warriors to get fired up when facing a strong opponent, but the being in front of him was not human. It had no warrior spirit, nor, Felix imagined, would Xenia see much difference between his strength and that of an average human. He could therefore only think of one explanation.
“Do you want to eat my soul now? I thought you couldn’t consume the souls of those with consciousness.”
My, my. Aren’t you well-informed? Did you hear that from the Deep Folk girl scheming something over there?
At this, Felix narrowed his eyes. “You know and yet you look the other way? That is surprising.”
Of course I do. Whatever her scheme may be, in the end, she is only a plaything. Indeed, I am looking forward to seeing what more she will attempt to pull off.
Felix found himself glancing at Olivia. Given how nigh on impossible it was to fight Xenia while keeping it from laying a finger on Olivia, its words came as a blessing in disguise. Surely a god of death would not engage in trivial games with a mere human. That’s clear from how it talked. Now I can focus on fighting without worrying about Olivia’s safety.
He focused power in his belly, raising Elhazard bravely. Xenia rested its great scythe on its shoulders.
Yes, that’s right, we were speaking of souls. It is true that I cannot devour a soul with consciousness. But I suppose the plaything did not tell you this—there are exceptions to every rule. Xenia laughed a high, bone-chilling laugh that echoed throughout the white space.
Felix acted first. There are no counterattacks against a god of death. All you can do is attack first.
He pushed off his left leg, deliberately exposing himself directly to Xenia.
First Order Obscura—
This sword technique made the real phantasmal and the phantasmal real. He cut down vertically only for the great scythe to effortlessly parry his blow, but he had expected that. Cloaked in illusion, Elhazard slipped by the scythe before becoming real again.
But before it could touch Xenia, the blade bounced off the spinning scythe. In the blink of an eye, the scythe swung down, but Felix, without losing his composure, thrust up with Elhazard. The edges met.
Second Order Asuran Whirlwind—
Elhazard spawned a small tornado, which blew off Xenia’s right arm, scythe and all. With one fluid motion, Felix continued his attack.
Third Order Ruthless Shadowless.
His sword moved too fast for shadows to follow it as he slashed out from all directions. He had used this technique in his duel with Olivia too, but this time, he fully released his Odh. As a result, the destructive force was on a whole other level. Xenia was helpless against the endless barrage. Then—
If his senses had not been honed to their absolute limits, he never would have noticed the attack.
Felix started, sensing a small, momentary ripple expand out at his feet. Once again, he instinctively moved to dodge. In the same moment that he dived straight off to one side, the place he had just been standing was swallowed up by a shadow like the mouth of a carnivorous plant yawning open.
Felix looked at Xenia, unfazed after he had cut its right arm with the second order technique then laid into it with a third order attack, and gulped.
How is it that such a thing exists in this world? it asked him.
Felix paused. “What do you mean?” he asked, raising Elhazard once more.
That sword, Xenia replied, irritation plain in its voice. Where did you get it?
“What is it to you?” Felix asked slowly.
I am the one asking questions here! Xenia bellowed. The black mist responded, swirling up violently like a maelstrom. It was all Felix could do to keep his footing and not be blown away. He threw a look at Olivia behind him. She didn’t flinch at the raging mists. Scarlet light poured out from the center of her forehead. Felix sensed an extraordinary amount of Odh growing inside her.
It looks like things are going according to plan, but that doesn’t mean Xenia won’t decide to interfere. Felix chose to keep talking, trying to buy time.
“This blade is Elhazard. It was bequeathed to me by His Imperial Majesty.”
“Did you say ‘Elhazard’?” At these words, the swirling black mist rapidly subsided. At Xenia’s unexpectedly strong interest, Felix’s eyes shifted of their own accord to Elhazard. Is this sword somehow connected to the death gods? he wondered. But he knew no more about it than what he had told Xenia, who was muttering to itself as though it had forgotten Felix’s existence. The only thing he faintly made out was the mysterious word “attuner.”
This is my chance! He kicked off the ground, shooting up into the sky, then stabbing straight down with Elhazard.
Fourth Order Blazing Draconic Bite—
The dragon’s roar rumbled like thunder, and a needle-sharp flash of blue light left a deep hole in the ground. But that was not the result Felix had wanted. Until just before he thrust, Xenia had been directly below Elhazard. Xenia did not appear to have moved, nor had he taken a counterattack that had pushed him off-balance. Is this some sort of illusion? If so, I’ll just blow the illusion away too!
Without any buildup, he cleaved across with Elhazard where he landed.
Fifth Order Glorious Asuran Whirlwind—
This sword technique was an enhanced version of Asuran Whirlwind. It sent Xenia spinning up into the sky in a sharp spiral. Inside the vortex, blades of vacuum sliced into the god of death. Felix swiftly arched his body to assume a throwing stance. Azure light began to radiate from his arm and sword alike.
Sixth Order Shattering Twins—
He released Elhazard. It drove into Xenia’s abdomen, leaving air-shattering reverberations in its wake. Felix pulled his outstretched right arm back hard. Elhazard flew in an arc, then once more stabbed into Xenia’s chest before returning to his hand. In the time it took Felix to blink, Xenia had regenerated both the holes in its chest and abdomen, as well as restored its arm.
So this is a god of death...
Xenia descended slowly to the ground as though to demonstrate its superior power.
My interest has waned, Xenia said shortly, with a trace of irritation. Alarm bells blared in Felix’s mind.
Don’t be afraid, he told himself. Just keep attacking first.
He used Fifth Order Glorious Asuran Whirlwind again, but from behind him came a voice like a hand dragging him into death.
I have seen that already.
By the time he realized that the Xenia in front of him was an afterimage, it was already too late. He didn’t even have time to dodge before the ferocious blow hit him in the back. Helpless to resist, Felix was sent flying off into the distance.
If I hadn’t thrown up an Odic shield, I’d be dead...
As his field of vision swam, he saw Xenia was of course waiting for him. He was wracked by unbearable pain that made him curl in on himself. As with all humans, Felix knew how to willfully disassociate himself from pain. With his left hand, he slammed a compressed ball of Odh into the ground, sending himself flying like a cannonball. He used the momentum to flee into the sky, but Xenia immediately followed after him in furious pursuit. Felix did a half turn in midair, then caused a board to materialize at his feet, which he kicked off to deliberately close on Xenia even as it swung its scythe.
Seventh Order Asuran Light Barrage.
As he passed Xenia, he unleashed a storm of a hundred stabbing blows, but Xenia was able to deflect them all by spinning its scythe at high speed. Felix landed in a crouch, then looked up. The entire space seemed to be filled with great scythes.
Let the wild dance begin, Xenia commanded. The scythes rushed at him. Felix used Fifth Order Glorious Asuran Whirlwind for a third time, but it only had enough power to throw off a few dozen scythes.
I suppose that’s to be expected after using it three times. He switched to Swift Step of Gales, which prioritized fine movements, then repelled the violent onslaught of scythes. But the attacks only grew fiercer with no end in sight. Felix’s breathing grew more and more erratic, and breathing was directly connected to his control over his Odh.
It seems you have reached your limit, said Xenia. Wounds great and small built up on Felix’s body. The fatal blow would surely come soon, but there was nothing he could do about it. His paths to escape closed off one after another like a noose tightening around his throat, until at last, he was surrounded by an unbroken mass of scythes. Sweat dripped down his cheeks. Xenia descended before him with an aloof air, then spread its arms in provocation.
Eighth Order Asuran Sky Strike—
Xenia twitched as if in shock. Before Felix could execute the technique, it seized him by his right arm, then raised its index finger and slowly waved it back and forth.
I will have that sword from you, it said. I must study it in more detail.
Felix heard a muffled sound from the arm in Xenia’s grip. Pain crawled up it like a snake all the way to his collarbone, and Elhazard slipped from his hand, hitting the ground with a dry clang.
Now I shall take it.
Just as Felix saw the black hand reach out toward him, he sensed a terrifying amount of Odh. A smile spread across his face.
“I was tired of waiting,” he said.
A powerful kick hit Xenia in the head, and it disappeared out of sight.
“Thanks for holding out,” said Olivia. “I’ll take it from here.”
“I leave it in your hands,” was all Felix said. Olivia glowed with dazzling silver light.
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