Chapter 2
Part 1
---South-Eastern Plains of [Underwood].
The battle on the Plains was now thrown into confusion as Asuka, Sala and the [Draco Greif] Alliance were deep in the enemy's lines and were surrounded by the resurrected Titans.
Titans who were released from the curse of Percher's Black Death disease.
Recognizing the fall in morale of her comrades from the Alliance, Sala shouted words of encouragement to them:
"Stand Strong! Even if our enemies may have broken free from their curse of Black Death, they have not fully recovered their strength! So long as we rid ourselves of this witch, it will still be our win! NO MATTER WHAT COMES, KEEP YOUR FORMATION TO THE END!"
Those words were none the wiser for inspiring them, who have been surrounded. Being that far into the enemy’s territory they would not have stood a chance of breaking out of this situation if they were to be overwhelmed by fear. And the best solution to their current predicament would be to defeat Aura who manipulated the Titans.
“Guys, I will deal with her! Tackle the Titans and do not allow them to overrun the ground we have left! Let’s charge!”
With the spirited battle cries and howls of the Alliance members, they charged and launched their attack on the Titans.
Sala who stood before Aura gave a sidelong meaningful glance at Asuka and Percher.
“Please lend me your strengths to defeat her.”
“Don’t you think that now’s a little late to say that? I’ve already planned on doing that from the get-go.”
“Though you may say that, without any possibility of us winning, all that you said would just be pure garbage. How can you expect me to help with defeating someone whose power exceeds mine?”
Percher asked sarcastically and her tone seemed to carry a bubbling anger.
However, before Asuka could come up with a retort, Jin broke into her thoughts to speak up:
Percher, are you able to touch [The Death Eye of Balor] for a moment?
……what did you say?
As a battle strategy, that sort of question was a little too unusual but Percher decided to give it a customary confirmation.
Aura stood at the heart of the ritual grounds holding [The Death Eye of Balor] while a murky black light surrounded her. Judging the vortex that seemed different from the Black Death winds in appearance, Percher gave a shake of her head in disgust.
……No, that’s not possible. That would just be similar to reaching a hand into a poisonous swamp.
Even Percher wouldn’t be able to do it?
I’ve already said that it’s impossible. Although I’d used the description of a poisonous swamp, that thing is basically a Gift that is fundamentally equivalent to the Death Winds released by me when I was a God-class spirit. Anyone who touches it would immediately be dead.
……is that so?
Moreover, just being able to touch it wouldn’t be of any use right? Jin, what did you plan for me to do?
Percher asked in surprise. Jin was quiet for half a beat before softly muttering, seeming to be in deep thought about something.
---but perhaps it might be the same thing.
Hah?
Both you and [The Death Eye of Balor] may be fundamentally the same.
That point of view came to her as a surprise and Percher couldn’t help but widen her eyes and doubt her hearing.
……Not of the same family branch but of the same type and element?
Nn. Demon Lord Balor was fundamentally a Humanoid. But it’s just that his race was of the Titan. In addition, it’s been said in the Celtic mythologies that his ‘Death Eye’ is something created after some time and not from birth. From there, we can speculate that he had attained his Godhood along his life somewhere and had also simultaneously become the subject that commanded fear and respect. In other words, it was during the time which the Black Death enslavement method was constructed that he became the symbol of awe and death. And I believe that the death eye aka [The Death Eye of Balor] appeared when these were accumulated to a certain level. It is a high possibility that it is a similar type of God-class spirit as a God-class Percher---Black Percher.
Hearing Jin’s conjecture, Percher was deeply taken aback and she furrowed her brows while nodding.
…I see. So, what do you want me to do to [The Death Eye of Balor]?
You have the highest compatibility with the power of [The Death Eye of Balor] in the field, and that makes you able to snatch the Death Eye from the enemy’s grasp while it is still in the process of the spell casting.
…you really do come up with some unreasonable demands.
Nn……that’s why I will not force you to do it…If you agree to the plan, please share the information to Asuka-san. I think she would lend you a hand.
Is that so? I will think about it when I’m in a good mood.
At that point, Percher cut off the telepathic conversation. Widening her eyes, she cast a look at Asuka.
Surprised by the sudden stare from Percher in her direction, Asuka tilted her head and questioned:
“What’s the matter? Arrived at a plan?”
“Yes. But it will be a small gamble with only one chance ……Care to join me?” Percher replied with a relaxed smile while Asuka nodded her head enthusiastically.
“There’s no more time to waste with keeping secrets and withholding information! If you have a plan, just spit it out already!”
“……well, it’s not that complicated. You and Deen will be in charge of opening the path right up to the spot where [The Death Eye of Balor] is. And I will run along the path to snatch the Death Eye from the enemy’s hands. How’s that? Simple right?” Percher said with a smile.
Asuka’s face had already darkened halfway through Percher’s words as she looked towards the murky black light that swirled around the ritual ground.
“……You mean for Deen to rush headlong into that swirling murky mass?”
“Yeah, that’s right. That thing could be said to be fundamentally similar in element to my Death Winds. It will have no effect whatsoever on your Iron Doll…… It’s just that Aura will not ignore the threat. So, what’s your decision?”
“……Okay. There’s already no time to waver on decisions.”
Turning her head back, Asuka could see Titans who had been released from the curse of Black Death pouring into the city of [Underwood] and had already started wrecking the structures. There was no more time to spare on indecisiveness.
Percher looked at Asuka in a coolly unconcerned manner before giving a quiet smile.
“Well, since little red girl has agreed, then I will also play my part for the gamble. Ah, right. Salamander can stand back for now.”
“Bu…But---“
“Sala, don’t worry about us, just direct the battle with the Titans.”
With that, Asuka began to take action by getting off from Deen’s shoulder to stand on the ground while reaching out to hold his hand, saying softly:
“……Sorry Deen. I’m always giving you the most tedious of missions. But this is something that only you can do.”
“DeN.”
Deen gave a small movement of his one-eye head while giving a short response. After all, no matter how unreasonable Asuka’s demands were, this Red Iron Doll would always carry out the orders without question.
And although they couldn’t communicate with words, Asuka felt that he was more dependable than anyone else.
Percher took a step back as she made way for Deen which turned to face the route to Aura directly---
“Just a moment will do. Clear and open the way for me to reach [The Death Eye of Balor].”
“I got it--- Deen! Break through!”
“DEEEEEEEEeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!”
Deen gave a loud roar before launching a sudden attack flying towards the murky swamp-like veil of black light.
Aura who stood in the midst of that had let out a shrill laugh that seemed to mock Asuka and Percher’s attempt which she believed to be just a valiant but feeble and stupid action.
“I had thought that you guys would try something better than just trying to break through with brute force! It seems like you have been broken one too many times and can’t get your act together, [Black Death Demon Lord]!”
“Who knows? Let the results do the talking shall we?”
Percher responded to Aura’s mocking smile with a relaxed smile of her own.
Her words hit home and Aura lost her composure soon enough.
Deen who had launched himself into his combat mode continued to press forth in the swirling black light of the veil with his Iron body. Just like the battle with Percher previously, it is proven once again that Gifts of Death do not have an effect on the Rare Sacred Iron that it was constructed with.
And Aura was prepared for this scenario.
“Hoho, using the same sort of attack and expecting it to work?......Don’t look down on me!”
Aura took out her [Golden Harp] to call down lightning from the Thunder clouds above. Although it would seem that her control of the lightning’s target couldn’t be called precise, some of them still managed to land a hit on Deen. But even as the lightning spears called down from the sky struck Deen, he continued to move forth while roaring furiously.
“DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEN!”
The lightning that was called down by the control of weather coursed through the Red Giant body. Amidst the explosions, dust and smoke erupted from the surroundings around Deen.
Noticing that the Iron doll was still moving forward while tearing through the veils with his arms, Aura gave a click of her tongue in irritation.
“Tch, irritating……! Well, I will just have to aim for the one controlling it!”
Aura concentrated a part of the swirling black light emitted from [The Death Eye of Balor] into her palm. And realizing that something bad was about to happen, Percher frantically shouted out:
“Not Good……Asuka, Hide! QUICKLY---!”
“Uu!”
Percher had shouted loudly but it was already too late.
The concentrated black light that was in Aura’s palm was thrown towards Asuka’s chest. Asuka who had sensed the danger had frantically raised her right hand and the ray……
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