Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 7: Blood in the Forest, part 2.5
Menez leapt from the branch of the tree where he was sitting, narrowly avoiding the lightning strike that Emily fired with both her middle and index fingers.
When her foot landed, Emily was already in front of her. The double-edged adamantite sword was already right before the beautiful-faced young man, swinging sharply. However, Menez was still able to bend his body backwards ‒ the blade of the sword slashed through the air above him.
Emily's attack hasn't stopped. As soon as the slash of his sword finished swinging, that second also his left hand covered in pink lightning pierced sharply towards Menez's abdomen. Emily's attack was successful: her hand pierced through Menez—'s abdomen making lightning sparks gnaw at her body. However, in that second also Menez's body melted into sand which then flew scattered.
Illusions again? Emily thought, trying hard to drive away the illusion of— which again gave no reaction.
“No, I don't use illusions on you.” The voice came from behind, Emily quickly turned around. “I used illusions on my own body. That is, as long as this illusion exists, you won't be able to hurt me.”
Emily had heard of such illusions back in the Imperial Academy. Elemental magic users were considered to be completely master of her magic if she could turn her body into those elements. Same with illusion magic users. When they mastered the illusion to the highest level, they could make their own body an illusion. They can attack, but they cannot be attacked.
In order to deal with the illusory user who had already gotten to that highest stage, there were two common ways that were most emphasized: first, using [Rune Magic] created an anti-illusion field; secondly, using the [Rune Magic], prolonging the path of the fight to where the user of the illusion thinned— that way, the illusion would fade by itself. And obviously, the first way didn't apply to Emily.
“I can defeat you easily and overcome your departed soldiers. But, well, I accept your challenge, Commander Emily. I won't attack in the first minute, you can attack as you please. However, if in that time you can't win, it means you're done.”
Emily did not care about her opponent's words. Whether he fought back or not, whether he used illusions or not; he would still attack as much as he could, at least until his soldiers were far enough away. Then, he would do whatever he could to survive.
...* * *...
“You didn't kill any of them, is that okay?” luciel asked as Xavier slammed his right elbow into the chest of the last elf still standing, sending him bouncing a few meters and falling into a slump. “They may be difficult for you later.”
“They are too weak; killing them will only piss me off.” Xavier reasoned that the speech was voiced loud enough that the elves who were still conscious could hear. “Now the distractions are powerless, it's time I finish you off, El.”
“Oh, really, Twelve Commander? Do you believe you can do it?”
Xavier did not give a verbal response. In a speed that left air shock behind him, he landed a fist coated in black flames on the masker. Luciel had crossed both hands blocking the pile, but the amount of energy that Xavier's punch gave made Luciel ejected far away. Dozens of trees were broken when Luciel's body hit them; he bounced around and then dragged to a halt.
Xavier quickly caught up with Luciel—sang the archangel bounced to the southeast side. When he reached his position, Luciel was already back on his feet with no sign of him being hit by an attack. With [Reverse Law], they really don't need [Complete Restoration].
“You have no restraint,” comments Luciel—it's a bit flat.
Xavier shrugged his shoulders. “How long until the two main forces meet each other?” tanyakanya.
“Given the distance between them and the speed at which they drove, at the most one hour.” Luciel put up his fighting horses. “That's a lot of time for warm-ups, light fights, half-serious fights, and real fights. The plan is to drop you in the middle of the battlefield, right?”
“Although I'm sure beating you is within my capabilities, I will lose as planned.” Xavier let his lips grin. “After all, I don't want to hurt the pride of an archangel by beating him to no wart.”
“Hey, hey, it's an intolerable form of self-overestimation, Xavier. Do I have to re-teach you what defeat means to you?”
Xavier chuckles. “If only talk anyone can, Luciel. Go ahead, show me you're not big talk!”
“Heh, those words are more right for you!” Xavier also did not hold back.
...* * *...
Filling a leaky bucket with water is a futile endeavor. No matter how long awaited, the bucket will never be full— unless the incoming water discharge is greater than the outgoing water discharge, of course. However, even though the incoming water discharge is greater than the outgoing, the bucket will still be empty again if the water stops being filled. It was truly a futile effort.
And so was Emily's effort. All his attacks were in vain. All the spells are useless. Not even his sword was better than a humble twig. There was nothing Emily could do to defeat her enemy; their powers were simply incompatible. Unless Emily is able to continue attacking until where the child is finished first, winning is impossible.
“One minute it has passed, now I will strike back.”
Emily spontaneously jumped away. His lightning-clad sword he threw with all his might, crashing at the opponent who was speeding. The sword hit the target, the young man's chest pierced. However, his body quickly returned to normal. And in an instant, he was already in front of Emily.
Emily who had created two lightning swords in hand immediately swung her two swords with crossed conditions. But—
“Aggh!”
—The crossing of the two lightning swords swept across the empty air. His enemy had already smashed a fist into Emily's back, sending the commander crashing forward.
“I'm an illusion user; don't believe too much in what you see.”
Emily managed to maintain her standing position, turning around quickly. The illusion was too great that I could not feel any invasion of mana into my body, Emily's mind with a frowning forehead.
“Are you sure you're looking at me?” menez asked with his head slightly tilted to the right.
Emily clenched her teeth, the lightning sword she thrust into her left shoulder, forcibly freeing herself from the illusion—if she was indeed under the influence of the illusion.
Dan—
“I know you'll finally be able to break free. But, welcome to my world: here I am god.”
—When Emily found herself on a barren plain that there was only sand as far as the eye could see. Everything sand. Not hilly or rolling like a desert, but perfectly flat. This is a place Emily has never seen before.
“What's—!” Emily suddenly finds herself unable to move, but nothing is holding her back.
“As I said, here I am dewa.” Menez appeared in front of Emily. “But not to worry; I won't kill you. You're useful in forcing Kanna el Vermillion to surrender. Until the fight goes on, sleep here in the wishful thinking you most want to see.”
Emily did her best to keep her eyelids from closing. However, like his useless efforts in fighting the enemy, the eyelids also failed to hold. Emily's eyes darkened, and she could do nothing.
Perhaps, shouldn't he accept the commanding position?