Chapter 58. Even a Rebellious Phase Has Its Limits (2)
Michael learned two things after being struck by Raum's demonic energy. The first was that Raum had fully descended into the human world.
That last burst of demonic energy was certainly dangerous.
Even Michael might have needed several days to recover if he had taken a direct hit from demonic energy so powerful that it seemed capable of melting his entire body. The reason Michael was completely unharmed despite being surrounded by such energy was the second thing he had discovered.
"You little bastard. It's not like I deliberately left you behind. Did you really get so upset that you decided to side with a demon?"
Durandal was sulking. When Raum's demonic energy engulfed Michael, the demonic energy released by Durandal scattered a considerable portion of it. That was when Michael realized what Durandal was trying to do.
"No wonder I thought something was strange when I heard you'd fallen. What are you, my girlfriend? Why are you playing hard to get?"
Durandal had been abandoned for 250 years and had accepted corruption because it wanted to get back at Michael. However, when Michael was actually in danger, it had helped him. Even Michael didn't know how a sword could develop emotions. Still, there were occasionally Holy Relics and Holy Swords that possessed wills of their own.
"H, how...?"
Raum's eyes trembled violently. The demonic energy he had released at the end had been accumulated over hundreds of years. He was certain that even a Great Demon's life would be threatened by it. Yet Michael had taken that energy head-on and remained unharmed.
"What do you mean, how? Because you're weak, obviously."
In reality, Michael had survived thanks to Durandal's help and the fact that his body was currently resistant to demonic energy. However, Raum didn't know any of that, so Michael deliberately mocked him.
Crack.
"I'm... weaker than you?"
Raum's previously empty expression began to twitch. His entire body trembled with rage, causing cracks to appear across his skin once again.
Crackle!
His youthful skin crumbled away, revealing a middle-aged man wearing old, dirt-covered clothes. Only after consuming another layer of skin did Raum manage to calm himself slightly.
"Fine. So demonic energy isn't enough? Then I'll keep cutting you until the first Horseman appears."
Thud!
Raum planted Durandal into the floor and gripped its hilt tightly. As though replenishing the demonic energy he had lost, he began absorbing more from Durandal. He no longer seemed interested in hiding his power, and sinister demonic energy poured from his body as quickly as he absorbed it.
"Round two begins."
"Ha. Why are all you demon bastards so damn persistent? Can't you just die quietly?"
Michael rubbed his forehead and frowned. Fatigue was catching up to him, but this was a fight he couldn't avoid. If he wanted to face the White Horseman, he needed to reduce the number of its vassals as much as possible.
"I don't think you're in any position to say that."
Raum pulled Durandal from the floor and pointed it at Michael. Refusing to back down, Michael raised Claw Peeler.
Woooong! Whoooosh!
"Haa, now both of you are acting up."
Raum wasn't the only one Michael had to worry about. When Michael wrapped Claw Peeler in aura, Durandal vibrated faintly and released a fierce wave of demonic energy. It had become jealous after seeing Michael wield Claw Peeler.
"Now that it's fallen, it's even developed a jealous streak it never had before. Haa."
Michael sighed and slowly imagined the battle in his mind. It had been hundreds of years since he last fought Raum. Besides the fact that it had been so long, Raum's other techniques had been extremely weak compared to his swordsmanship back then.
But that's no longer the case.
The Authority of Distortion that Raum now wielded was incomparably more dangerous than it had been in the past. Michael had no idea what kind of techniques Raum might use. To make things worse, Durandal was actively supporting him with its demonic energy.
I should bring that troublemaker back first.
To defeat Raum, it would be easier to reclaim Durandal and cut off his supply of demonic energy.
"Looks like I'm going to have to put you through some hard work, Claw Peeler."
Michael tightened his grip on Claw Peeler. He already knew how to purify Durandal, by using Claw Peeler to absorb its demonic energy. He had originally decided to avoid absorbing too much demonic energy, but he had no choice but to take the risk if he wanted to purify Durandal.
"Let's see how long you can keep acting so relaxed. This will be on a completely different level from a mere illusion."
Raum mistook Michael's quiet muttering for confidence and spread both arms.
"Ort der Verzerrung (Field of Distortion)."
Hissssss.
Demonic energy erupted from Raum once again. There was much less of it than before, and its concentration was also lower, but Michael found himself unable to move from where he stood.
"Grrrrr."
"Hissss!"
As the demonic energy released by Raum slowly began filling the room, the Divine Beasts reacted instinctively. Instead of trying to escape, they stood their ground and growled. Valefor hurriedly grabbed their legs.
"Squeeeak! You'll get caught in it!"
Valefor recognized the technique spreading throughout the room and desperately pulled the Divine Beasts away. They needed to get as far from Raum's demonic energy as possible.
"This way, squeak!"
Slash!
Just as Valefor was about to turn around, he witnessed a wound opening across Michael's chest. He gritted his teeth and continued turning away. The problem was,
"Woof! Woof! (Move! We have to save Michael!)"
"Myaaaaow! (That's right! Get out of the way!)"
Unfortunately, the Divine Beasts had witnessed the attack too, and they immediately tried to charge into the demonic energy.
"Squeak! No! If you go in there, you'll be in danger too, squeak!"
Raum's technique was on an entirely different level from the illusion that distorted only a particular sense. This technique distorted every sensation experienced within a designated area. Because it consumed an enormous amount of demonic energy, Raum had normally used it only during wars between Great Demons.
"Come back, squeak!"
Valefor shouted as he tried to grab the Divine Beasts, but he was too late. The rapidly expanding demonic energy swallowed Valefor as well, dragging him into the Field of Distortion.
I feel sick.
That was Michael's first impression after entering the Field of Distortion. When he touched his arm, he felt the sensation in his leg. His saliva, which should have had almost no taste, changed from sour to sweet and to other flavors whenever he swallowed. Every breath brought a strange mixture of smells, making him even more uncomfortable.
"Anther oying trihk. (Another annoying trick.)"
Even his own voice sounded strange. As Michael tried to pay attention to each sensation, his brain began confusing them, making him feel nauseous. At least Raum still looked normal, which suggested his vision was unaffected. However, there was a good chance that was another trap.
"Sen...ses are done for. (My senses... are useless.)"
Raum was also continuously scattering demonic energy throughout the room, making it difficult for Michael to identify his location through his senses.
Fortunately, my movements aren't restricted.
Michael swung his arms in different directions. Although his sensations were abnormal, he could still move his body without any problems.
"New felin, ishn't it? More fun frum now. (It's a new feeling, isn't it? It'll be even more fun from now on.)"
