I Already Know My Magic Power Is Ridiculously High! Now I Just Need a Cute Wife... - Episode 89

As the light faded, Leoriel had undergone a drastic transformation.

His skin had darkened, and his eyes were bloodshot red.

The left half of his face, which had been severely damaged, had hardened like an animal’s horn, protruding grotesquely, giving him a demonic appearance.

He no longer looked human.

“The power… it’s overflowing…”

Leoriel casually swung his right arm.

A surge of magic burst forth, creating a shockwave that shattered the surrounding rubble into dust.

Looking around, there was no longer any trace of the historical church ruins.

At some point, it had turned into nothing but a pile of debris.

This was the nature of battles between warriors of the Stellar rank.

“…Marvelous. So this is the power of ‘Demonization’ bestowed upon us Starborn by our great Leader. With this strength alone, we can easily destroy the western nations, which are nothing but nests of nobles, and seize control of this continent. The events unfolding here shall mark the beginning of the nobility’s downfall.”

Leoriel no longer seemed consumed by rage as he had moments ago.

The ominous magic surging from him was similar to when Aquila had lost control or the assassin in Bangwall had gone berserk.

However, this was heavier, yet strangely stable.

“Demonization? Is this Leader of yours conducting human experiments?”

“Do not mock the Leader. I now possess power equivalent to a Mage Slayer. You are no longer my match… And this is the power that will destroy the nobility!”

Leoriel pointed his right arm at Luna.

“Die, Princess Luna—Demonic Beast Roar: Diable Roar!”

A black tornado-like wave of magic was unleashed from his right hand.

It was a spell I had never seen before, but the sheer magic radiating from it was horrifying.

The spell gouged the ground as it spun like a giant mixer, closing in on Luna.

(This calls for a strong shield.)

I instantly moved in front of Luna.

“Do you think I’ll let you? — Magic Barrier!”

A thick magical barrier appeared before us.

The advantage of this spell was that its strength increased in proportion to the amount of magic poured into it.

Leoriel’s magic collided with the barrier.

A deafening roar. A powerful explosion.

“Ahhh!”

Luna let out a scream as she was caught in the shockwave.

“It’s useless. Demonic Beast Roar: Diable Roar temporarily unleashes the ‘Corrosion’ ability of a demonic beast. Against this magic, barriers are—huh?”

Leoriel’s face twisted in confusion.

I had no idea what he was talking about, but my magic barrier remained completely unaffected.

◇◇◇◇

“…Why? Why can’t I break through?”

Leoriel was panicking.

Even a Mage Slayer’s magic barrier should have been powerless against ‘Corrosion.’

If that was the case…

“…!”

A sudden chill ran down Leoriel’s spine.

He instinctively leapt backward.

Agonizing pain.

His right arm was severed and fell to the ground.

It must have been the Starborn artifact that used threads.

Damn that Corvus, leaving such an annoying parting gift.

“Ugh… You…!”

“I aimed for your neck, but you managed to dodge.”

The young noble before him spoke nonchalantly.

His eyes held a cunning sharpness, as if he would strike at the slightest opening.

“Coward!”

“Aren’t you the one who prided yourself on your physical strength and martial prowess?”

Leoriel was known as the “Swordmaster.”

The fact that he was relying on magic now was proof that he had lost himself in his own power.

Because he was a man who took pride in his words, this statement struck a nerve. His face contorted in frustration.

“Shut up!!”

Leoriel roared in fury and cast a healing spell on his severed right arm.

◇◇◇◇

The surprise attack with the thread-based artifact had failed.

This alone wouldn’t be enough for a decisive victory.

But still…

(He’s drawing power from a demonic beast…)

I recalled what Evelyn had once mentioned—the “Cursed Hand of Malice.”

Was it the same? Or something similar?

(What should I do next?)

This was a chaotic battle, making it difficult to use magic freely.

I had to finish this with my bare hands.

“Nebula Arts.”

I drew magic from the depths of my being.

The energy of Nebula Arts flickered and danced around my arms.

“Ah, the light of a Mage Slayer… Very well. Then I shall show you the pinnacle of martial arts.”

Leoriel’s trump card was his combat-enhancing aura and his demonized form.

The downward slash of his massive greatsword radiated sheer power.

But with Nebula Arts, I could match it.

“Harden.”

I commanded Nebula Arts.

“Die!”

“Hmph.”

As our final attacks clashed, a massive shockwave erupted.

I held the upper hand in the exchange.

However, I could tell that Leoriel’s skill was formidable.

In close combat, he likely had even greater potential than Barbato.

Since he still had the ability to deal a fatal blow to me, I couldn’t afford to be careless.

“Damn it! How can you fight against a Starborn weapon with just your bare hands?!”

“I trained for it.”

I seized an opening and delivered a hand strike.

A simple downward chop with all my strength.

“Ughhh!”

Leoriel barely managed to block my attack with his weapon, but the force drove him into the ground.

(Damn.)

I glanced sideways at Leoriel.

Seeing an opening, he swung his weapon in a horizontal arc, aiming to take my head.

I bent backward just in time, dodging by the slimmest margin.

I could clearly see the blade passing right in front of my nose.

But my stance was off.

I kicked Leoriel, forcing him back as I flipped midair.

Even as I rotated, I never took my eyes off him.

He launched a follow-up attack.

I deflected it midair and landed gracefully.

“…Why does a noble like you possess such skill?”

Leoriel seemed genuinely puzzled that he hadn’t been able to defeat me in that moment of opportunity.

“I was once told to abandon my heart. To obey every order without complaint. To never take breaks because it would dull my skills.”

“…Breaks?”

“But such an idea was impossible. I have a heart, and my body has its limits.”

“…Then how did you reach such heights?”

A troubled martial artist seeking answers.

Since this was the end, I decided to answer sincerely.

“Perseverance, consistency, and… obsession.”

“…Obsession?”

“Yes. There is something I must achieve, no matter what. And for that, I am willing to do anything.”

“What drives you to such lengths?”

Leoriel swallowed hard.

“Simple—so I can marry a beautiful princess and live happily ever after.”

“…”

I turned to Luna with a smug grin.

She stood there, mouth agape in shock.

“You… You’re joking!! You reached the pinnacle of martial arts for something so ridiculous?! I refuse to accept it!!”

Leoriel charged in rage.

It seemed our philosophies were incompatible.

“…Well then, let’s end this.”

With precision, I shattered Leoriel’s weapon.

Then, with a final palm strike, I unleashed the full force of Nebula Arts.

Leoriel was consumed by its brilliance and vanished.

I had won.