Chapter 101: Foundation

[ S-Rank Demon Beast, Nergal the Calamity’s Lightning. ]

The bastard kicked off the ground, lightning crackling around him as he launched himself into the Hunters’ ranks.

“Watch out! Especially you mage-type Hunters—if you get caught in that lightning, you’re done for!”

I knew because I’d fought Nergal before.

That black lightning he summoned had the power to erase mana. If a mage-type Hunter got hit, they’d be combat-incapable in an instant.

That was why I’d had such a hard time with him too. No matter how close to infinite and fast-recovering my mana was, the moment I got caught in his lightning, I lost all of it. It refilled, sure, but even I felt dizzy when my mana was completely drained—so what about ordinary mage Hunters who weren’t like that?

“Uwaaah!”

Just like that—their bodies convulsed as if electrocuted, then they passed out on the spot. Nergal swung his massive front paw toward the fallen mage Hunters.

KWAANG!

Of course, we weren’t about to let that happen. Jihyeok stepped forward, using his ability—Weapon Selector—to create a tonfa and block Nergal’s paw. Nergal’s strength was enough that even a group of S-Rank Hunters would struggle to handle him. Even Jihyeok was on the verge of being slammed into the ground.

“Now’s the chance—attack!”

Only the best of the best had been picked. While Jihyeok bought time, the Hunters who’d quickly regained their composure formed ranks and began striking Nergal with their own skills. I did the same.

WHOOSH—!

I immediately fired a Super-Heat System magic spell, Hellfire, right into Nergal’s face.

KWAH!

Every Hunter’s attack converged on Nergal. He stopped his assault on Jihyeok and shifted into a defensive stance. A barrier crackling with black lightning formed around him. All the attacks were blocked by that barrier.

“How is that possible…”

Even after everyone present had attacked for a good while, not a single scratch appeared on Nergal’s barrier. At the sight, some Hunters wore expressions of shock.

“Keep attacking! An opening will come soon.”

Just because the attacks weren’t getting through didn’t mean we could stop. The fact that Nergal had halted his offense and put up a barrier to defend meant that if we could just deal with that barrier, we could land a decisive blow.

If you didn’t give up, an opportunity would come.

“Kuhahaha! If not now, when would I ever step up!”

That was when it happened. Someone walked out from among the Hunters, letting out a hearty laugh.

“Mr. Neveres?”

It was the Hermes Guild Master, Neveres. He strode out boldly and stood before everyone.

“If I make my move now, my name will surely be remembered, right?”

“I suppose so…?”

He wasn’t on the level of the Demon God, but Nergal was still a troublesome Demon Beast. In fact, the reason the last End Cave raid failed was because of Nergal.

“I haven’t just been lazing around all these years either.”

Neveres said, his face quite serious.

“After the failure at End Cave, I was frustrated. But I realized something. Instead of wasting time on frustration, I should train even a little and conquer it. And finally, the time has come.”

Neveres stepped forward and took a stance. A formation drew itself beneath his feet. It was that ability I’d seen in the arena last time.

“Kuhaha, I lost to you, sure, but I’m not the kind to struggle against a mere Demon Beast like that.”

After finishing his words, Neveres reached out his hand. At that moment, Nergal raised black lightning and shot it at Neveres.

ZZZT—!

Everyone looked at Neveres with startled faces at the sight, but Neveres just smiled as if nothing was wrong, then clenched his fist just before the lightning bolt aimed at him touched him, as if trying to catch it.

KWAANG!

Dust rose from the exploding electrical discharge. Inside it, Neveres had blood at the corner of his mouth, but he still hadn’t lost his smile.

“Kugh…! Not easy after all.”

Neveres, staggering, opened the hand he’d clenched. On his palm was an orb.

Crackle…

An orb crackling with lightning. Seeing it, I realized Neveres had absorbed Nergal’s attack.

But he hadn’t absorbed it completely, it seemed—Neveres was a wreck. His body was scorched as if the electrical discharge had burned him.

But he didn’t fall. He was still standing.

“Hey, Black Mage.”

“…Yes.”

Neveres’s gaze turned to me. Even though he looked like he was about to collapse, his eyes held a strange light.

“The boss of this Gate is probably that bastard wearing Verdiol’s face.”

At his words, I nodded. I don’t really know why that thing is wearing my face. If it was to cause confusion, there’s no reason it would have answered ‘no’ to my question.

“You’re stronger than me. I felt it in our last duel. So I’ll leave subjugating that bastard to you. You all conserve your strength.”

Neveres aimed the orb in his hand at his own chest. Then, as if absorbed, the lightning orb vanished into his body.

Immediately after. Neveres’s eyes flashed.

“Hup!”

At the same time, the spot where he stood caved in, as if crushed by something.

And that wasn’t all. Black-glowing currents of electricity were flowing through Neveres’s body.

I know what that ability is. Neveres has absorbed a portion of Nergal’s power.

“I couldn’t have endured this before. But Black Mage, the spar with you helped. Your magic gave me a resistance.”

Neveres reset his stance.

Meanwhile, the attacks aimed at Nergal had also stopped. The Hunters needed time to regroup.

Taking advantage of the gap, Nergal released the Barrier wrapped around its body and opened its mouth wide.

“Kraaaaaah!!”

A black orb formed inside its mouth. Everyone present realized that orb contained power incomparable to the one it had just shot at Neveres.

I had to block it. If I didn’t, we’d be done for. But I didn’t make a move.

What Neveres had said.

He’d told me to conserve my strength. Which meant he was confident he could beat Nergal.

I trusted Neveres. So I didn’t step in.

“Hyaaap!”

With a shout, Neveres charged toward the orb. As he thrust his clenched right hand forward, black lightning crackled around his fist.

KWAANG!

The moment the orb and Neveres’s fist collided, a massive explosion erupted. From the dust kicked up by the blast, Neveres and Nergal both emerged, and simultaneously charged at each other again.

Nergal and Neveres exchanged blows with forelegs, fists, and lightning. Their fight was fierce. To the point where a single minor mistake could decide the victor.

Nergal’s black lightning shot toward Neveres, but he endured it. Then he channeled the absorbed lightning into his fist and hurled it at Nergal.

“Kraaah!”

As Nergal roared, a barrier once again formed around its body.

KWAANG!

A barrier that had even withstood the Hunters’ full assault. But that barrier shattered easily under Neveres’s fist.

THWACK!

His lightning-charged fist finally slammed into Nergal’s face.

“We did it!”

Someone shouted with a hopeful voice at the sight. It was the first effective hit they’d landed on Nergal.

“Neveres…”

But while the others rejoiced, I couldn’t help but feel conflicted. Because I noticed Neveres’s condition wasn’t good.

“Hoo…”

Nevertheless, Neveres let out a heavy breath, then lunged at the rising Nergal again.

“What are you all doing! We’re joining in too!”

Someone shouted from behind. Just as the Hunters, hearing that voice, were about to charge in to join the battle.

“…No.”

I reached out a hand to stop them.

“Why not?”

The Hunter at the front asked me.

“If we leave him like this, Neveres will…!”

“He’ll be able to win. Until the outcome is decided, we conserve our strength. Tend to the wounded first.”

“But that Demon Beast is an S-Rank Demon Beast! No matter who Neveres is…!”

Just as the Hunter was speaking, Jihyeok placed a hand on his shoulder from behind and spoke.

“Nergal won’t be the end of it. Senior… there might be a Demon Beast wearing Verdiol’s appearance, and beneath that Demon Beast, there might be other Demon Beasts as well. Our goal is to conquer End Cave. To do that effectively, we need to push forward with minimal losses. So… let’s watch. Watch his fight.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Neveres.

* * *

“Kuhahahaha!”

A tattered body. By now, he couldn’t feel anything across his entire body.

Even so, Neveres laughed loudly.

If this duel, where he had taken the lead, could serve as the foundation for conquering End Cave — the very thing he had craved so much.

He felt that was reason enough to risk his life.

In fact, Neveres could feel it.

That the time to claim victory over that impregnable Demon Beast was not far off.

“Krrrrng…!”

Nergal was in just as bad a state as he was.

Every time Nergal attacked with lightning, Neveres endured it and threw a punch.

His fist, imbued with black lightning, shattered the barrier in a single blow and carved wounds into Nergal’s body.

As those wounds accumulated, Nergal — the Demon Beast that had been the enemy of all Hunters — finally reached its limit.

Before, Neveres hadn’t been able to withstand Nergal’s lightning either, but this time was different.

After his defeat back then, Neveres had trained relentlessly, and he had absorbed and endured Verdi’s magic — magic as powerful as Nergal’s lightning.

The resistance he had built up over time was finally paying off.

“Let’s end this, kitty.”

In truth, Nergal looked more like a lion than a tiger from the feline family, but Neveres said that anyway as he ran forward and thrust out his fist.

“Kyaaang!”

Nergal didn’t stay still either. It opened its mouth and formed an orb. Soon, the orb shot toward Neveres.

“Kuhah!”

The moment Neveres threw his fist with a shout, a massive explosion engulfed the area.

When the dust from the explosion that had blanketed the area finally settled.

Neither Nergal nor Neveres was standing.

But who the victor was, was clear.

The Hunter side had brought down an enemy they couldn’t defeat with a single sacrifice.

They had lost three years ago, but this time, it was the Hunters’ victory.