Chapter 121 – Demon God Lace


    — Leon Anemoi Greyrat —


    With the air hissing at the heat of Lace’s cut spell, the three of us main frontline fighters prepared our weapons as Arumanfi took Rudy and shed away, with Orsted and Perugius having backed off as well.


    “You…” Lace said, narrowing his eyes at me. “Melding touki and mana… you’re a dangerous one.”


    I tightened my grip on my sword.


    This man… for some reason, despite his unconcerned attitude… I felt an instinctual danger.


    A feeling that if I attacked recklessly, even if I used everything I had, it would be met with a brutal counter.


    In short, despite seemingly having such a casual stance, he showed no openings.


    Well… as expected of the fourth ranked world power, I suppose.


    I knew he was strong, and I had felt it before when he first appeared, but feeling the brunt of his interest and anger was much different.


    “And you… you’re from back then…” he said, looking at Ruijerd.


    Ruijerd tensed.


    “‘You’… not even acknowledging my name with the sins you’ve forced upon me… there is nothing for me to say to the likes of you, Lace!” Ruijerd shouted, his legs flexed as he prepared to leap forward.


    “Hmph. A shared sentiment,” Lace said, raising his hand again as a line of red orbs began to form.


    What… what were those?


    That wasn’t an element, and using my demon eye, it was likely the most concentrated spell I had ever seen.


    What kind of-


    My thoughts were cut off as the line of mysterious orbs shot forward, the barrage cutting through the distance between us in an instant.


    The air rumbled, and space seemed to warp around the projectiles as I hastily parried them to the side, the impact from my redirections causing my arm to tingle.


    What power…


    Looking to the side, I watched as the red orbs crashed into the ground, tearing a deep gash into thend, the dust cloud stretching into the horizon for an unknown distance.


    So that answered why thend was so devastated around here… how frightening.


    Wait, what about the others?


    Snapping my neck to look to my right, I watched as the mana began to swirl in a circle in front of Ruijerd and the North God, forming into a portal just as the barrage of magic reached it.


    That was… a dragon gate, correct?


    “It won’t be so easy, Lace,” Perugius dered from behind, his voice seemingly amplified by mana.


    So <em>that</em> was the power of summoning magic he was bragging about…


    “Perugius…” Lace sneered, his brows furrowing in rage. “You traitor… siding with these humans when they took everything from us…”


    “To think you are still going on about that… your mind has deteriorated, as has your strength,” Perugius said in a mocking tone. “You’ve gotten weaker. It won’t end in a fragile victory likest time, Lace.”


    “You’re awfully confident… why do you think so?” Lace replied.


    Well… because I was here.


    And with him taking the moment to converse with his old enemy, I saw an opening to attack.


    shing outwards with my sword, I concentrated on the edge of my de, moulding the touki and the fire element mana into onebined energy, before releasing it as I swung down, willing the strike to reach him in an instant.


    A devastating attack.


    And after my training with Orsted, it was one so powerful that it could destroy a forest in one swipe.


    But yet… once it reached Lace… I felt my connection to the touki and mana waver as he then simply batted it to the side, reducing the concentrated construct of my ranged sh into nothingness.


    …What?


    That… that was insane.


    I know he was strong, but that was simply ridiculous.


    “That won’t work, Leon Greyrat… he’s a master of magic, so don’t expect anything that he can take control of to have any effect on him,” Perugius said from behind me. “Urupenined about this as well… you will need to get in close for this battle.”


    Son of a bitch.


    So that’s why I felt the connection sever right before…


    Why the hell was I not told of this beforehand?


    Getting in close?


    Did he think I had a death wish?


    Luckily, there was a more idiotic guy to put Perugius’ words into practice.


    “Hah! Something like that is right up my alley!” Aleksander said as he rushed forward.


    I was about to stop him, but thinking again, this was the perfect way to see how good Lace was in closebat, as I would surely have to face him since my long ranged strikes didn’t work.


    Brandishing his beloved sword, Aleksander dashed up to Lace before releasing a horizontal strike, one that the Demon God easily dodged despite it surpassing the speed of sound.


    “Kalman’s moves… how vile,” Lace said before sending out a strike with his palm.


    One would assume such a move made by a magician would be weak, or perhaps be the start of a spell, but much to my surprise, I saw his mana rush to coat his hand as he then pushed against the air, and a momentter… the North God was reduced to a red mist.


    That idiot… could he evene back from that?


    I damn hope so, or me having gone through all that trouble to bring him over and keep him acting civil in the pce would have been for nothing.


    Inwardly clicking my tongue, I quickly rushed forward, grabbing the Dragon Sword that had been sent flying through the air with my other hand as I rushed towards Lace.


    So, if ranged attacks didn’t work, that just meant I have to get up close and personal, right?


    Fuck it, fine.


    shing down with my sword, I watched as Lace easily dodged by stepping backward, just as he did with the North God, as the dirt from thend below him blew outwards from the residual pressure.


    As expected.


    But instead of being reduced to a red paste in a counter like Aleksander, I used my momentum, turning around as I attacked with my borrowed sword in me left hand.


    This time, thankfully, my attack struck true.


    If only I could cut through the Demon God, then I could put this battle behind me and head home to my lovely family.


    But s… that would be too easy.


    With his arm coated in a thickyer of mana, Lace easily parried my strike, his leg striking outward a momentter to send me tumbling back.


    Barely orienting myself in time, Inded on the ground on my feet, skidding backwards as I quickly found my bnce.


    Yeah… this was going to be difficult, just as I had expected.


    And unlike in my other fights against stronger opponents, like the North Emperor Auber and the Water God, I wouldn’t be able to win with a realization in external mana and touki control.


    Tossing the Dragon Sword over to the body of the North God that was beginning to revive, I repositioned myself into abat ready stance, holding my sword forward as I began to analyze the man.


    He was definitely strong… and his ability to nullify most of my style’s attacks was troublesome… but I had faced worse before.


    His raw destructive power was unimaginable, evidenced by the puddle that is Aleksander from his palm attack, and the force of that simple kick that sent me flying back.


    But, he still seemed… beatable… unlike that monster that was Orsted.


    “Do not get overconfident, Leon Greyrat,” Perugius warned, causing me to look to my side where he stood with his spirits guarding him, his face set in a grimace. “While he is weaker than before, he is still a monster. He hasn’t even truly tried yet.”


    Furrowing my eyebrows, I looked back to Lace, watching as he looked at his arm that had parried my sword with curiosity.


    What was he doing?


    He was definitely unharmed, so why was he so interested in it?


    “You…” he said, turning his head to me as his face twisted into a frown. “You’ve nearly broken through… humans really are troublesome.”


    Broken through?


    What did that-


    My thoughts were cut off as a sh of mana flickered across my vision, and a momentter, Lace had appeared in front of me, his hand swinging down towards me with intensity.


    It was too fast for me to get my sword up in time, but I had faced this speed before, with both the Dragon God and the North God, so I instinctually raised my arm to defend.


    But, to my absolute surprise, he cut right through my defences as soon as he made contact, his hand cutting a deep gash into my arm as he deflected it to the side, leaving me wide open.


    What?


    That easily?


    Like this, I wouldn’t be able to parry-


    A sh of white then appeared as I was pulled to the side, and a momentter, Lace was sent soaring backwards as a familiar fist stretched outward.


    “Leon… that was dangerous,” Orsted said. “Lace is… stronger than I expected, but he is still within your power to defeat.”


    My eyes darting to the side, I noticed that arge patch of the ground had been removed… right where I had just been standing.


    I… would have been reduced to nothingness if Orsted hadn’t rescued me.


    “Ah… thank you,” I said, regaining some calm as I healed the gash on my arm.


    Right, I couldn’t make that mistake again.


    “Get used to him, and quickly, or you will die,” Orsted said, looking forward. “It took too much mana to interfere, just as I expected, so do not trust in me to save you again.”


    “Yeah… I got it,” I said, watching as Orsted began to heal his arm that had been shredded by his interference.


    So… Lace was not only able to cut through my defences… but Orsted’s as well.


    Scary.


    Yeah, I definitely couldn’t get hit like that again.


    Turning to look back at Lace, I watched as the trio of Fury, Ruijerd, and the now-revived North God ambushed Lace, the three working in near-perfect tandem as they attacked from all sides.


    Lace tried to move, likely aiming to take out the strongest in the North God again, but before he could, his legs were engulfed in earth, locking him in ce.


    Impressive magic as ever, Rudy.


    And by taking control of the ground and moulding it rather than using it as an attack, Lace wasn’t able to nullify it so easily like he was with my initial strike.


    But still… that wasn’t enough.


    While the three’sbined attack was a masterful disy of martial experience… in front of the overwhelming power of the Demon God, that was next to useless.


    Lace easily blocked Ruijerd’s strike from behind, sending him tumbling away as he then turned to Aleksander, exchanging a few strikes in an instant before the North God was sent flying back as well, a spray of blood following him. And with a final turn, Lace attacked Fury with his close-range mana st that reduced the North God to nothing earlier, forcing the spirit to dodge.


    Yeah… this was definitely not going to be easy.


    But still… Orsted said it was doable… so I could do it.


    Even if myrades weren’t strong enough to reach him, all they needed to do was distract him enough for me to deal a finishing blow.


    I… <em>we</em>, could do this.


    Lace, having dealt with the three attackers, then turned his head, looking at me once more as the ground that had been locking him in ce disintegrated.


    No… he wasn’t looking at me, but rather behind me.


    Towards my brother that had just locked him in a spell.


    Shit!


    Before he could move, I focused all my strength on my legs and body, the world phasing into a blur as I unleashed a perfected Longsword of Light at Lace, using the surrounding mana to enhance my strike.


    Lace, somehow still being able to react, widened his eyes at my attack… and dodged.


    Landing on the ground without having dealt any damage like I had been hoping to, I ignored the explosion from the resulting shockwave of my sh as I reset my stance, a small smile forming on my lips.


    He… dodged.


    It was a bit demoralizing to know that my fastest technique could be so easily avoided, but that meant that my attack right now was something Lace decided he couldn’t defend, right?


    At least without getting hurt while doing so.


    That… that was a good sign.


    But… what made him feel the need to do so?


    Was it simply the speed I used at that moment, or was it something to do with my touki?


    Odd.


    My pondering quickly came to an end as another barrage of magic was unleashed by the Demon God, the same red orbs as before rushing towards me as I raised my sword to defend.


    Parrying one to the side, another upwards, and blocking another so that it didn’t hit Rudy who was behind me… while I could deal with a few, the barrage was constant, so much so that I was unable to keep up despite Aleksander rushing forward to assist me.


    Gritting my teeth, I blocked another orb, sending it to the side, only to leave myself open to thest of the barrage that he had sent while I was upied.


    Shit… my sword was too out of position… would I have to sacrifice my arm?


    Luckily, I didn’t have to make that choice, as arge shield suddenly appeared out of thin air, shattering a momentter as it blocked thest orb.


    “While my attacks may be useless against that man, that doesn’t seem to be the case for you, Leon Greyrat,” Perugius said from behind me. “Go forward, and I will support from behind!”


    “G-Got it!” I replied.


    And with no time to waste, I ran forward again, reaching Lace in an instant as I swung my sword.


    This time, I wasn’t aiming to kill… at least not initially.


    No, it was obvious that Lace was skilled in unarmedbat, and he more than made up for hisck of touki with the power of his mana.


    And that was confirmed by how easily he was challenging me in pure martial arts, as we exchanged a flurry of strikes faster than the eye could see.


    But while we were essentially equal in martialbat… for some reason, despite me learning Orsted’s technique… he still had a stronger magic defence.


    I felt the air leave my lungs in a short wheeze as Lace slipped in a strike to my side, my ribs shattering at the impact as I felt them begin to heal a momentter.


    That… wasn’t me healing them.


    After all, I couldn’t afford to focus on healing magic even a bit right now.


    No, that must have been Perugius’ spirit, Life, that was healing us from the behind.


    How useful.


    But still… that didn’t help the fact that I couldn’t get past this guy’s defences.


    Leaping away, I took a moment to collect myself as Laceunched another ranged attack, this time being a concentrated sh of pure mana.


    I raised my sword, connecting to the surrounding mana and touki in the air as I took over the energy in front of me, shing with the attack that was about to hit me as I blocked the strike.


    But still…


    I nced behind me, watching as a distant mountaintop crumbled away from the remainder of the sh that I hadn’t blocked reached it in a near instant.


    That power…bined with that defence… how amazing.


    I knew that, like Rudy, he had a stronger foundation of mana, which I could only theorize was due to his touki being connected to his mana instead of a separate energy like for other people.


    But still… I was able to achieve that with my defences, where I moulded touki into a sort of chain mail, with elemental mana filling in the gaps.


    So why was his still so much stronger?


    Was it a technique?


    How… how did he do that?


    I decided to take a moment to rest and observe as the second wave went forward to attack Lace, with Ruijerd and Fury leading the charge.


    Lace easily blocked Ruijerd’s spear, but instead of countering him, he suddenly switched his target, sending a pulse of mana point-nk at Fury, causing him to burst into a cloud of light, and sending him out of this fight.


    Uh…


    At least he could be summoned again at the floating fortress, I guess?


    Either way, Ruijerd attempted to use the moment of distraction to his advantage, but with a swipe of Lace’s hand, a giant gust of wind rushed forth, throwing Ruijerd far into the distance with one move.


    He… would probably be okay… hopefully.


    But still… it wasn’t enough.


    What was making Lace so strong?


    I kept my eye trained on the man, taking in every detail I could on the flow and use of his mana as the North God rushed forward again, this time activating the gravity on his sword to momentarily lock Lace in ce.


    This time, Aleksander’s swordsmanship showed its adaptability as he assaulted Lace for much longer than before, exchanging a flurry of strikes that caused the surrounding earth to be torn to shreds.


    But s, the result was still the same as before, with the North God’s head tumbling to the ground as his body was sent rolling backwards.


    And so, with no one else around him, Lace then turned to me, easily brushing off the ranged strikes from Tide as he closed in.


    “You… are the most dangerous one,” he said as he ran forward, sending a spear of what seemed to be pure mana towards me.


    I barely dodged it, the tip of the spear skimming past my nose as I then leaped forward to counterattack.


    But yet again, I was easily parried, his arm leading my sword to the side as I was sent back again.


    And this time, Lace didn’t give me a chance to brace myself.


    Chasing me with speed that easily reached the Sword God, he swung his arm to the side, forcing me to drop to the ground as Ished out with a strike while exploding the ground beneath him.


    But just like everything else I had done so far, he simply ignored it, continuing his assault as I was forced back yet again.


    Dammit.


    I had seen my fair share of battles, both through real experience and in training, so it was abundantly clear to me that I was being overwhelmed.


    At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before one of his attacks hit, and from the resulting destruction of each one of his strikes, it wouldn’t be something I could walk away from alive.


    Dying… there was no way I could ept that.


    After all, my life wasn’t my own to give anymore.


    I had promised to get back home, especially for the birth of my new child, and I had so many more memories to make, children to love, and fun to be had.


    Ariel, Eris, Roxy, Sylphy… they would surely survive even if I died.


    But they would be sad, and I promised to make them the happiest women alive.


    You have that responsibility.


    You made that promise to keep them happy.


    You cannot die here.


    So focus, Leon Greyrat!


    Let your instincts and reflexes keep you alive against Lace’s assault, purge your brain of the thoughts rted to battle, and focus on Lace!


    How he moves, how the mana flows, take in everything!


    And so, following that odd voice’s words, I did just that… and it only took a few moments to realize what was happening.


    While I hadn’t really thought of it before, I noticed that Lace did not have as much mana as Rudy.


    In fact, he had even less than me.


    Or, more urately… he didn’t have any mana at all.


    At least… not internally.


    I nearly thought I was seeing things wrong, or perhaps Lace was masking his reserves… but I quickly found the reason as to why.


    Instead, Lace was constantly recycling his mana, taking it in from the atmosphere to fill his body, which he then immediately pushed outside of him where he maintained control of the ridiculous amount of mana with ease.


    It was an impossible feat.


    Being able to control all of that, and in the heat of battle, while also maintaining such a delicate bnce so that the mana still enriched the cells in the body… it was simply impossible.


    But… was that the case?


    It couldn’t be.


    After all, I was experiencing it right now.


    And while he had a ridiculous amount of mana, and an intense control of it, ill-befitting his title of the ‘greatest magician’, he had not used that many spellspared to martialbat.


    No… instead, he had kept most of his mana close so that it surrounded him.


    Ah… so, was that it?


    Having the mana cloak him like that, it was not only a method to create a nearly imprable defence, but it also allowed him to keep control of the mana so fluidly, since it was always near him.


    I knew that it was easier this way as well, especially with my experience in using touki.


    And there was the fact that each time heunched a spell, he extended his hand, despite the fact that a magician of his level shouldn’t need such an action.


    It was as if… as if he was treating the mana as an extension of himself… so that it was strong and easy to use despite the overwhelming amount of it…


    Oh.


    So <em>that</em> was it.


    So that’s how you use mana.


    With another punch heading towards me, I decided to block instead of dodge this time, sending me flying backwards and creating some distance between us as I thought over the recent discovery.


    An extension of the self… using all the mana in the body at once… could I do it?


    And on the spot no less? With no training?


    Well, there was only one way to find out, I guess.


    Taking a breath in, I kept my eye trained on Lace, who had stopped to deal with a rain of swords that Perugius had summoned out of thin air.


    My mana… I still had most of it, since I wasn’t using too many attacks that depleted it, nor healing myself.


    So… draw it out… let it flow to fill the touki armour, and go beyond that… taking out all but the miniscule amount of mana I needed to keep my body in peak condition.


    But just letting the mana out wouldn’t be good.


    No, I needed to keep hold of it, maintaining a tight shell around my body.


    But I couldn’t match Lace like this.


    Even with my touki, Lace still had much more mana than me.


    So… focusing on the surroundings… I took control of the mana in the atmosphere, willing it towards me as I had it infused into my shell of mana.


    Good… yes, it was working.


    But this method of using mana… it went against every swordsmanship and magic lesson I had done before, where I perfected my control, application, and technique.


    There were no fancy moves or incredible ways to use my touki and move my body.


    No, something like this… it was simply pure, unbridled power.


    And that… was just what I needed.


    I felt my shell of mana stabilize just in time as Laceunched himself towards me, his eyes brimming with hostility as he extended his hand, the edge coated in pure mana to form a de.


    And so, with my sword and body as one, along with my mana… I blocked him.


    And instead of being sent soaring backwards like before, I stood my ground.


    His eyes widened as my mouth curled into a smile.


    Oh, yeah… this was much better.


    Twisting my wrist, I flicked his hand to the side, leaving his chest wide open as I thrust my sword forward, striking my mana together at the tip to explode outward, sending him flying backwards as a crack louder than thunder echoed across the devastated ins.


    And more than that, the mountain behind Lace, around a day’s distance on foot… there was now a chunk taken out of it.


    Ha… haha… hahaha!


    Now that’s what I’m talking about!


    With the lull in battle from my sudden attack, I looked over at Lace, watching as he slowly got to his feet, the surrounding ground soaked in his blood due to his arms that had been reduced to nothing.


    That must have been from him blocking it, right?


    And to do so much damage… even if I was only able to find an opening due to his surprise… I could finally see it.


    This fight… it was definitely winnable.


    Lace narrowed his eyes at me once more, his emotions manifesting clearly on his face as he regenerated his arms.


    Just like before, I saw the rage, the curiosity, and the calcting intelligence… but now there was something else there as well.


    An emotion I had yet to see the Demon God show…


    Caution.


    And if I wasn’t mistaken… a small hint of worry as well.


    Hah.


    Well… just like Orsted said, I could definitely do it.


    So now it was just a manner of closing out this fight.