I avoided Cerberus’s attack. I only had enough stamina left to dodge a few more. After thinking about it over and over, I’d finally made up my mind. I was about to do the unthinkable—form a contract with a Demon Queen. Despite my misgivings, my desire for strength was genuine.
The monster rushing at me was the legendary Divine Beast Cerberus, the Guard Dog of the Underworld. I didn’t want to simply roll over and accept my fate without trying to change it first. Steeling my will, I opened my mouth and said, “I, Eugene Santafield, form a contract with the Demon Queen Erinyes.”
The next moment, a strange and horrifying miasma engulfed my body. It felt like some indescribable living creature was crawling all over my skin. So this is the mana of the Demon Queen Erinyes? Or was it ether, a far higher form of magic than mere mana? But the ether-like mana that I received from Sumire the Ifrit didn’t feel like this. It was some other terrifying power, and it filled me with an odd sense of omnipotence.
This is the power of the Demon Queen who once ruled over the Southern Continent. The fear I’d felt when facing off against the Divine Beast had faded. Now, my body was trembling with anticipation, eager for the chance to annihilate my opponent.
I swung my sword, barely putting any strength behind the movement. Yet the sound of the blade cutting through the air was akin to the roar of a hurricane, and the powerful stroke tore apart the view before me. The trees of the rainforest fell to the ground, the rings of the stumps so cleanly visible that it was as if someone had reaped them with a giant scythe. A light swing had done this much damage. What could I do if I used my full power?
Ugh... The strength fled my body, and I stumbled. No, it wasn’t my strength. Rather, it felt as if my very life energy had been drained away. I couldn’t keep on using this power, and I doubted I could remain conscious for much longer. Fortunately, Cerberus had backed away a few paces, leveling a cautious look at me.
I looked down at my sword, from which a faint, high-pitched noise emanated. The mana inside Magic Sword: Flameblade was on the fritz, and the red light had turned weak. I-I have to hurry and...make a new...magic sword... The Demon Queen Erinyes possessed four different powers: the black of violence, the indigo of poison, the violet of death, and the... Oh no. I felt my consciousness slipping away with me. My thoughts were getting all jumbled together. It was almost as if some other persona had taken over my body.
“Eugene! What in the world are you doing?!”
Was that Eri’s voice? This wasn’t good. I was experiencing auditory hallucina—
“Who are you calling a hallucination?! I’m the real thing, okay? The genuine article!”
“Eri?”
“The one and only! You agreed to enter a contract with me, didn’t you? That’s why we can communicate telepathically like this.”
“O-Oh, I see...”
“More importantly, use your Barrier Magic to put up some mental defenses. As you are now, your mind can’t withstand the miasma of a Demon Queen!”
“All right.”
I obeyed Eri’s warning. Barrier Magic: Steel Heart. This was a spell for erecting mental barriers, but I seldom used it. After I cast it, the fog in my mind lifted.
“Thanks a lot, Eri.”
“Mm-hmm, make sure you keep up those mental defenses whenever you use my mana! Otherwise, you’ll turn into a vegetable.”
I gulped at that. If Eri hadn’t warned me in time, I would’ve been done for. “Thanks. I’ll go see you after I’m out of here.”
Eri laughed. “Good. Now, you’re mine.”
“What did you just say?”
“Hey, now, don’t take your eyes off the enemy. You’re still fighting that cute little Cerberus, aren’t you?”
It felt like Eri had just said something frightening. I would have to go ask her about that later as well. But she was also right about Cerberus. That was the more pressing matter.
I sucked in a soft breath and channeled the mana I received from Eri into my sword. Magic Sword: Darkblade. The blade turned black to represent the color of the mana I was using. Black mana governed violence—simple and crude. I didn’t think I could use any complicated magic with a Demon Queen’s mana without some practice first. That being the case, I would need to use the most powerful attack in my arsenal and end this in one strike.
Cerberus growled low in its throat, as if wary of my new power. Wait, no, those eyes... It’s laughing? I didn’t understand it myself, but it seemed to me that Cerberus was happy.
“Ah ha ha. Looks like little Berry is happy that it met someone who can put up a challenge. It usually spends its days in that depressing underworld as gloomy old Pluto’s guard dog. I can totally understand why it wants to cut loose on the surface.” Eri sounded excited as well.
“Eri, are you acquaintances with Cerberus?”
“Of course I am. Veteran Angels often visit the underworld. I used to bring Berry treats from the surface all the time since he liked them so much. Food down there didn’t look yummy at all.”
“Wow, uh, you’re really amazing.”
“Did you just notice that now?”
I knew of her fame as a Demon Queen, but now that she mentioned it, I hadn’t heard any stories from when she was still an Angel. If I survived this battle, I’d have to ask her to tell me more.
“Well then, my sweet Eugene. Do your best out there.”
“Right.” There was a lot I wanted to say to that, but I should focus on the problem in front of me. I’d received power from the legendary Demon Queen. Failure was not an option.
Cerberus raised its three heads and howled.
“Agh!”
The sound whipped up a gust of wind, sending the trees of the Rainforest Area flying. A clearing formed between me and Cerberus, almost like a dueling ring.
How’s Sumire? I glanced back at the tree I’d hidden Sumire in. Fortunately, it was still standing, and the barrier I’d set up around her was still active. She was safe.
Cerberus growled and crouched, glaring at me like I was its prey. I focused on my opponent as well, pushing all the other thoughts out of my mind.
Prepare yourself. Though I didn’t say the words out loud, I copied what my old man liked to say. Apparently, this was something the people on the Eastern Continent said before a duel. Niten Enmei-ryu Thunder Stance. I returned my black sword to its sheath and lowered my stance, holding my hand over the hilt, ready to pull it out at a moment’s notice. This was the fastest attack in my arsenal.
To my surprise, Cerberus vanished. It had jumped high in the air. My sixth sense told me that it was trying to reach me in one leap. I would meet it head-on instead of trying to avoid it.
Let’s fight.
Boom! I stepped forward, the impact of my foot hitting the ground sounding like an explosion. Arcanum: Kirin!
I rushed forward, darting past Cerberus at the speed of sound. I was moving so fast that time seemed to slow to a crawl around me.
Slash! My sword lopped off Cerberus’s middle head.
“GYAAAHHH!” The monster roared, twisting and rampaging in pain. Even with only two heads remaining, it didn’t fall to the ground.
I grunted at the pain coursing through my body. I’d only used one attack, and yet it had put an immense burden on my body. Would I be able to swing the magic sword again? Cerberus still had two more heads; I couldn’t pass out now.
Come on, Eugene. It’s not... It’s not over yet! The Divine Beast was immortal. Even if I severed its other heads, Cerberus wouldn’t die. My body was on the verge of collapse, but I pushed myself to my feet and held up my sword.
However, Cerberus didn’t move. It was as if it had lost its will to fight. The silence between us was a heavy one. After a moment, a large magic circle formed underneath Cerberus’s paws.
Is that a magic circle for summoning magic? Cerberus’s remaining heads turned to look at me and smiled, baring their teeth. Wh-What? My hands shook on the hilt of my sword, but Cerberus didn’t attack me.
You did well, young swordsman. I felt like I heard a voice say those words before Cerberus disappeared into the light.
Huh? Left alone on the 20th Level, I had no idea what would happen next. My head was hurting and my thoughts were becoming tangled together.
“Victory goes to the challenger. Congratulations,” the robotic announcement sounded over the 20th Level.
I couldn’t react to the words at first. I...won? Wait, what? It’s over? The strength left my body, and I fell to my knees. I deactivated my magic sword as well. As soon as I did, the sword I’d received from the Blue Sea Union explorers fell apart. I no longer had a weapon to defend myself with. Then again, there was no longer an enemy standing before me.
Ah, right. My mind finally caught up to the situation. I’d defeated Cerberus and won that unfair Deus Discipline.