C520
The White Knight didn't move. He remained in place as if he were nailed to the ground, with his sword and shield held high. His basic stance is defensive, and he only attacks when the minimum conditions for a counterattack are met.
"Above all."
The White Knight lacks the will to kill his opponent. It is unknown whether this is a characteristic the White Knight originally possesses, or if it is a rule that only applies in special situations.
What catches Lucas's attention the most is that, even if he fights with all his might, the danger of death is not so great. In other words, he can have a simulation combat very close to reality.
─The moment he enters the Minimal Time Zone,
Both realized at the same time that their consciousnesses were accelerated.
[…]
The aura of the White Knight changed. His posture remained the same, but the ironclad aura emanating from his armor intensified.
Has he been recognized as a worthy opponent? Lucas flashed a small smile.
Even maintaining a defensive posture, there was a sense of oppression. The White Knight's defense is definitely different in its essence.
No one would feel a threat to their life upon seeing a shield, not a sword.
Extreme tension reaches its limit, their limbs stiffen, and their breathing quickens.
And this is the state Lucas was seeking.
There is an experience that can only be obtained in a real battle full of threats and in a fight to the death where life is at stake. When one feels that their life is in danger, they usually resort to means they would not normally consider. They may even use parts of their brain that they normally do not use and remember things they had not even thought of before.
That's why he's here. Although this combat was a situation Lucas had planned, the tension is real. And with these conditions, it is possible to take this combat as a true battle.
"Full performance."
Just as he had thought before the battle, what he wants the White Knight to evaluate is 'Lucas Traumen at his best'.
And now,
Lucas's concentrated attention has elevated his own condition to the maximum.
Tsssssh-
The moment he took a step forward, electricity ran through his hands. A pale lightning flashed and soon enveloped his entire body.
Of course, it's not the "Thunder" of the Lightning God.
[What do you intend?]
The Lightning God asked incredulously. Could he have vaguely guessed what Lucas was trying to do?
In any case, it is quite unusual for the Lightning God to speak first after the Regression, but there is no time to respond now.
Lucas focused completely on his "task" without losing a bit of his sharp concentration.
As he stands in front of the White Knight, he can concentrate without reserve even as he shortens the distance.
"The Thunder" of the Lightning God is still within me.
Lucas has come to know the source and basis of that power. He has also come to understand it to some extent.
It was after that that a wild thought occurred to him.
So, couldn't I also create a Thunder?
'─No.'
It's too arrogant a thought.
'I don't know if I can create it, but maybe I can imitate it.'
And even if the imitated power is a sub-species of a sub-species of Thunder, it doesn't matter.
The important thing is if Lucas can do it himself.
Anyway, it's a power based on electromagnetism. Lucas had handled a similar power in the past.
The Thunder Demigod.
He will start with that power, gradually interpreting its structure and drawing in the remnants of Thunder. This formidable power should consume the Thunder created by Lucas and increase its size.
With the "Thunder of Lucas" thus created, if he understood all the atoms and phenomena of this limited space...
Crack!
"……"
He couldn't do it.
Lucas's attempt was thwarted before he could even try.
Suddenly, a spark burst in his head and he was about to lose consciousness for a moment.
No, was he really unconscious for a fraction of a coma?
[Crazy.]
The cold voice of the Lightning God returned him to sanity coldly.
[You had time to have your neck cut hundreds of times. Do you know how long an instant is in this state?]
'Of course I do. If it weren't for the White Knight, I wouldn't have done such a madness.'
[Oh, you don't know. Do you think the White Knight has a peaceful temperament?]
'... Judging by what he has shown so far, he does.'
[Didn't I tell you? What kind of race is he?]
'You said he was a Perfect One.'
Of course, he remembered.
The Lightning God had explained that he was a race with such high potential that he could give birth to a being comparable to the Rulers.
They had divine innate abilities, an almost infinite lifespan, and highly developed intelligence.
Furthermore, with only a few hundred individuals, they conquered and ruled over an unprecedented Universe completely.
[Don't be fooled by the outward appearance. The conquest desire and ambition of the Perfect Ones are not the type that can be suppressed or eliminated.]
'What do you mean?'
[I mean if they wish, they can be the vilest beings in the entire Universe. A moment ago, you were in a situation where it wouldn't be strange for your neck to be cut.]
'…….'
Lucas couldn't fully accept the words of the Lightning God.
Does it mean that the racial instinct of the Perfect One is so powerful?
So much so that not even their duties as "Knights" can suppress it?
...Certainly, the White Knight had an unrealistically straight personality compared to the power he possessed. Lucas had experienced it firsthand. The stronger a being is, the more twisted they are somewhere. Maybe they can't maintain their Ego without being so.
'Dogmatic?'
Suddenly, the words of the Beginning Wizard came to his mind.
─Don't let anyone understand you, don't share it with anyone.
─Be dogmatic to the core. No one should understand your world...
Of course, this is the definition or concept of a wizard defended by the Beginning Wizard. There shouldn't be any reason to remember it at this moment.
...Anyway, for Lucas, the word 'vile' didn't fit at all with the existence he had judged as the White Knight. When he saw the beautiful face of Agolet, the White Knight, he even felt that the word 'justice' had been personified.
'But.'
Lucas had already experienced the existence of Pale. He had already experienced the great difference between the true nature of a 'Knight' and the impression he had when he first saw it.
And also the great amount of secrets they hide.
Therefore, he couldn't completely deny the words of the Lightning God.
'...Can you tell me what happened to me a moment ago?'
Lucas asked the Lightning God obediently for advice.
A moment ago, Lucas had tried to materialize the Thunder through the Void, then change its nature to "Thunder" and then follow the power of Omniscience.
He didn't expect to succeed easily, but thought he might get something even if he failed.
It wasn't like that.
The result was a great failure, and he didn't achieve anything. Not even a small clue.
Most importantly, he didn't even have an idea why he had failed.
[Did you think it would be that easy? If it could be imitated in such a clumsy way, it wouldn't be called the grandiose name of "Thunder"...]
'......'
[With your clumsy thunder, you couldn't even reach my Thunder in a million years. If you want to imitate it...]
Having said that, the Lightning God stopped for a moment, as if thinking about something.
[...Hmm. Forget it. It won't change anything even if I teach you.]
'Don't say it so sure and at least tell me. Let me hear it.'
[Shut up. I'm going to sleep, so don't bother me.]
He didn't seem to intend to keep talking.
Though he was annoyed by the words of "sleep," Lucas couldn't keep paying attention to the Lightning God. Even if the other was an exceptionally defensive being, it would be disrespectful to make him wait any longer.
He stopped about ten steps away and said:
"I'm sorry for making you wait."
To which he received a brief response.
[Prove it.]
Demonstration.
No need to say it, I know.
Lucas nodded and spoke again.
"We don't have time, so let's finish quickly."
There was no response this time. Uncaring, Lucas extended both hands. The hundreds of millions of spells that unfolded behind him headed towards the White Knight.
Lucas really didn't have time.
Although everything that happens in the Minimal Time Zone occurs in a time that is not even an instant in the real world, that doesn't change things.
Pale is not someone who doesn't notice. By now, she must have noticed Lucas's absence. It's not that he's going to destroy the Underground City, or so I hope...
'No. I can't assure that.'
Pale is capable of it. That possibility wasn't what made Lucas nervous. His mind, engrossed in battle, coldly sought out the possibilities of victory.
However, the end came much faster than expected.
[Enough.]
To be more precise, it didn't come, but it was interrupted.
"..."
Lucas, who was about to cast more spells, stopped abruptly.
Void World,
In this world where there is no limit to obtaining the Void, Lucas's energy would never run out, but the various spells he cast tirelessly failed to penetrate the shield of the White Knight.
However, he still had many things to try.
Lucas had only shown 30%, at most. In other words, Lucas wanted to keep fighting.
However, the reason he stopped wasn't because he obeyed the White Knight's words or because he thought continuing the fight was futile.
It was because the White Knight, who had made such a declaration, was the first to show with his actions that he didn't want to keep fighting.
In other words, he took off his helmet.
His beautiful appearance, which Lucas had only seen once before, was revealed. It was still an unreal appearance.
"Who are you?"
A soft but dry voice, with a certain contradiction, resonated.
In the eyes of the White Knight, Agolet, there was an appropriate mixture of curiosity and caution.
"I came to know that."
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think? What kind of being do I seem to you?"
Then, Agolet's cold eyes surveyed Lucas.
After a while, he said briefly:
"...You are the Crown Prince."
"…."
Lucas's expression turned strange at these unexpected words, but he could understand the meaning of the strange title.
─Crown Prince.
Does he refer to the king candidate Pale mentioned?
"It's not just that. If my predictions are correct, you are…"
Agolet, who was about to say something, shut his mouth. Then he slightly tilted his head and adopted an attitude of deep thought.
Lucas didn't interrupt him, and fortunately, Agolet's meditation didn't last long.
"Have you ever been to the Snow Land?"
The Snow Land refers to the southern region of the Void World.
"No."
Lucas shook his head. He had been to the east, north, and west, but he hadn't been to the southern region yet.
"Then you haven't been to the 'Demon Castle' or the 'Land of Meeting', right?"
"Is that important?"
"It's important."
And Agolet suddenly proposed:
"Don't you plan to go to the Snow Land?"
"…"
Of course, Lucas had always thought of going there. He had to go to the Demon Castle and find out what kind of guy the Beginning Wizard was.
However, Agolet couldn't know such details.
"Why?"
Agolet answered an obvious question from Lucas's perspective.
"Because I want you to meet the Red Knight."
Tags:
TGMRA (Novel)