Just, Slice It

--Just kill him.

Just by thinking this way, I can cut off everything. This is not rhetoric, not exaggeration, but I really can cut off anything.

Übel didn't understand why she possessed this power, but she believed that there must be a reason why this power had come to her.

Therefore, she used this power without hesitation, firmly believing that this was the meaning of her being born into this world with this ability.

However, amidst these tedious and countless relentless strikes, something within me seemed to have completely gone astray; the things I could cut through were increasing, but the things that truly brought me satisfaction were decreasing.

To fill that void, she forgot that she was constantly casting this True Magic, day and night.

Until he met Fern again, his best childhood friend.

She loves sweets, always seems overly serious, gets angry over a trivial joke, and scolds others without expression, yet when real danger arises, she unhesitatingly gives her companions the chance to escape.

Ultimately, I was wrong. I wasn't always looking for "the strike I should deliver," but rather for "the strike I would deliver for someone."

The Anti-Magic Field still shrouds this area.

It has no physical form, no shape, and cannot even be observed with the naked eye. Any True Magic that enters it will disappear on its own before it comes into contact with Tropo.

Logically speaking, that shouldn't be something that can be cut off.

But so what?

It became an obstacle between himself and Fern. Since it was an obstacle, there must be a limit to it, and since there was a limit, it could be cut through.

No more complicated reasons are needed, nor is there any need to search for so-called meaning.

--Just kill him.

With an unyielding spirit hidden in his heart, this strike was also imbued with emotion.

Immediately afterwards, a straight crack appeared out of thin air, and the Anti-Magic Field that covered the entire forest split off from the center to both sides like a real curtain.

Tropo turned around abruptly, his expression one of astonishment.

His Anti-Magic Field was broken?

The crack could only last for a fleeting moment, but that was enough for Übel.

She activated her flight True Magic and rushed into the forest along the path she had carved out herself. At this moment, Fern had lost her last bit of strength and was collapsing to the ground.

Just as she was about to touch the ground, a hand grabbed her from behind.

"Found you, Big Spray Mushroom."

Übel pulled Fern into his arms and whispered in her ear.

"Let Lord Übel handle the heroic stuff."

As they spoke, the Anti-Magic Field that had been severed began to close again.

The surging Mana around them quickly dissipated, and the spells that maintained their flight True Magic became extremely unstable. The two of them sank slightly and almost fell directly from mid-air.

Meanwhile, Tropo had also come to his senses.

"And who are you to be able to break through my True Magic— "

There's no time for introductions right now.

Übel raised his staff again.

If I can cut it open once, I can certainly cut it open a second time.

A narrow crack appeared in the closing area, and Mana from the outside world flowed back in through the gap. The flight True Magic, which had been on the verge of collapse, stabilized again, and the two rushed forward once more.

"We won't let you leave."

Tropo caught up with a speed far exceeding that of flight True Magic.

Übel didn't turn around, but simply waved his staff behind him.

A bottomless crack ran through the entire forest, and the ground collapsed on both sides, forcing Tropo to change his footing and causing a brief pause in his pursuit.

A mere instant is enough.

Übel carried Fern out of the Anti-Magic Field, and their flight speed instantly increased to its limit. Large swathes of autumn-colored tree canopies swept past their feet, and the Graf Granat Earl Territory was gradually left behind.

We're out.

She looked down at Fern in her arms.

But Fern could no longer hear.

It's not that she's dead, but rather that she has completely lost consciousness, with only faint breathing proving that she is still alive.

But Fern's blood gradually soaked through his clothes, the sticky, warm blood slowly flowing down his arm.

"Really."

Übel held her tighter and increased the speed of flight.

She suddenly felt a sense of disgust. She had seen many people die, enemies and companions alike. During her travels with Zanze, death had never been something unacceptable.

But she didn't want to see Fern die.

Not at all.

This feeling is clearer than ever before.

"Hang in there a little longer, we'll be in town soon. You haven't even properly addressed me as Lord Übel yet."

There are monks in town who came with them; they will surely be able to cure Fern.

Meanwhile, the situation in Stark and Genau is also not optimistic.

"Hey sir, is it really True Magic?"

Stark, panting and covered in wounds, held his battle axe and looked at the Demons general named "Leibach" in front of him.

The sword blades on its two arms hung down at its sides, without a trace of blood on them. They certainly looked like fine swords, capable of killing without leaving a trace of blood.

My master had clearly said before that True Magic fear most is having enemies get close.

But this guy in front of me wasn't afraid of close combat at all; in fact, he had been dominating me and Genau since the start of the fight.

This is completely different from what we agreed on, isn't it?

First of all, please don't call me "uncle".

Genau raised his staff, and black feather blades slowly unfurled beside him.

"Secondly, True Magic are indeed afraid of being attacked at close range, but that only applies to the weak."

The era when "Great Mages could be easily killed in close combat by ordinary warriors" is long gone under the leadership of Lady Serie.

If a True Magic cannot remain undefeated in close combat with a warrior of equal rank, then they cannot be called a "Great Mage" at all.

This also applies to the Demons.

Within the Demon King's Army, Demons who attains the rank of "General" or higher is an all-rounder in both melee combat True Magic. After all, if they had any weaknesses in any area, Demons would have been overthrown by their subordinates long ago, and would not have been able to leave any mark.

"You can't get distracted during the battle."

Just then, Leibach suddenly used "Acceleration True Magic" to teleport in front of Genau, and the blade on his right arm fell towards him.

Genau reacted quickly; the black feather blades that had been floating around him rapidly closed, transforming into layers of overlapping wings in front of him.

The sword blade clashed head-on with the wings.

Clang-!

The piercing sound echoed across the plain.

The violent impact kicked up a cloud of dust, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the ground beneath Genau's feet.

But he ultimately managed to block Leibach's attack head-on.

"Did you see that?"

"Genau said through his wings."

Even when attacked at close range, First-Class True Magic User has sufficient ability to cope.

"That's amazing."

Stark exclaimed sincerely.

The next moment, the blade on Leibach's left arm swept across.

The jet-black wings made of Mana split open from the center, Genau's body was also thrown out by the aftershock, rolling several times on the ground before regaining its footing.

If Lorenzo were here, he'd probably be wondering the same thing:

They're both using "Dark Matter," so why is there such a huge difference in performance between this person and that "No. 2"?