Vol 3, 155, Chapter 25: Threads of Desperation
Clayman moved first.
Not out of confidence—
But necessity.
Threads exploded from his fingertips.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
They spread across the battlefield like a web, weaving through the air with terrifying precision.
"Demon Thread!"
The threads snapped forward, aiming to bind, pierce, restrain every angle covered, every escape route sealed.
Ultima didn't move.
She watched them come.
Then—
Tilted her head.
"…Is that it?"
The threads reached her.
Wrapped.
Coiled around her arms, legs, torso—
And stopped.
Like they had hit something they couldn't pierce.
Ultima glanced down at them.
"…You're serious?"
She flexed her arm slightly.
The threads snapped.
All of them.
Instantly.
Like they had never existed.
Clayman's eyes widened.
"What—!?"
Ultima stepped forward.
Unhindered and unimpressed.
"Those might work on weaker beings."
Another step.
"But I'm not one of them."
Clayman gritted his teeth.
Then his aura surged again.
"Don't look down on me!"
His body moved—
Faster.
Sharper.
More refined.
"Martial Dance!"
His movements became fluid.
Controlled.
Every step precise, every strike calculated. His body twisted and turned with unnatural grace, threads reinforcing his limbs, amplifying his speed and force.
He closed the distance.
A strike—
A kick—
A palm thrust—
All flowing seamlessly into one another.
Ultima raised a hand.
Blocked.
Another strike—
She leaned slightly.
Dodged.
Another—
She caught his wrist.
Effortlessly.
"…Oh?"
Her eyes lit up slightly.
"That's actually not bad."
Then—
She tightened her grip.
Clayman's expression twisted.
"Ghh—!"
Ultima smiled.
"But it's still not enough."
She twisted.
His body lifted—
And slammed into the ground.
Hard.
The impact cracked the battlefield beneath him.
Before he could recover—
She was already above him.
A foot pressed lightly against his chest.
Pinning him.
"…You're trying very hard."
Her tone was almost encouraging.
Almost.
Then she lifted her foot.
Gave him space.
Clayman scrambled back, breathing heavily.
"…No… no…"
His hands trembled.
Then—
His magic surged.
Violently.
The air around him distorted.
Magicules condensed, compressed, refined under his control. The battlefield itself seemed to bend slightly as he forced every ounce of power he had into shape.
Spells layered over spells.
Enhancements.
Reinforcements.
Curses.
All stacked.
All focused.
All directed—
At Ultima.
"This time—!"
He thrust his hand forward.
Everything released at once.
A torrent of controlled magical force surged toward her.
Ultima watched it come.
Then—
Smiled.
"…Finally."
She stepped into it.
The magic crashed over her—
Engulfed her—
Exploded outward—
And when it cleared—
She was still standing there.
Unharmed.
Not even a scratch.
Not even a change in expression.
"…That's better."
Her voice was light.
Almost pleased.
Clayman's mind froze.
"…What…?"
Ultima brushed her shoulder lightly.
As if dusting something off.
"Now it feels like you're actually trying to kill me."
She looked at him.
Eyes gleaming.
"But…"
A step forward.
"…you're still not strong enough to do it."
—
Outside the battlefield—
Heavy and oppressive silence lingered.
Frey's wings twitched slightly.
"…This is…"
Her voice trailed off.
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Carrion's arms were crossed, but his expression had long since lost its usual confidence.
"…That's just a subordinate."
His voice was low.
Measured.
But there was something else beneath it.
Something uneasy.
"If that's what his subordinate can do…"
He didn't finish either.
Because he didn't need to.
Dagruel watched in silence.
Eyes narrowed.
Calculating.
Dino had both eyes open now.
Which said everything.
Even Leon—
Was watching closely.
And Clayman—
The one inside the battlefield—
Was beginning to understand.
Too late.
"I…"
His voice shook.
"I am a Demon Lord…!"
Ultima stopped a few steps away from him.
Tilted her head.
Then smiled.
Bright and cruel.
"…Are you?"
That question—
Hit harder than anything else.
—
Carrion exhaled slowly.
"…How strong is Loki?"
This time—
He asked it out loud.
No one answered.
Because at that exact moment—
A shift occurred.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
The air changed.
Pressure rose.
Something—
Else—
Was about to begin.
On the other side of the battlefield—
Loki rolled his neck slightly.
Cracked it once.
And looked at Milim.
"…You done warming up?"
Milim grinned.
Finally.
Actually grinned.
The air changed instantly.
Like the world itself had decided to hold its breath.
—
Loki stepped forward.
Calm.
Loose.
Unbothered.
Across from him—
Milim stood with her arms slightly raised.
Still in that stiff, awkward posture.
Still pretending.
Badly.
But—
The power leaking from her body?
That wasn't pretend.
It pressed against everything.
Cracked the ground beneath her feet.
Distorted the air around her.
Loki exhaled once.
Slow.
'Yeah…'
His lips curved slightly.
'That's more like it.'
Without warning—
He vanished.
—
A shockwave tore through the battlefield as he appeared directly in front of her.
A straight punch.
Milim's body moved on instinct.
Her arm rose—
Blocked.
The impact detonated the ground beneath them.
Stone shattered.
The air split.
Milim slid back a step.
Then smiled.
A real one.
"Woah—!"
Her voice slipped.
Bright and excited.
"Don't hold back—!"
Silence.
A beat.
Loki stared at her.
Flat and unamused.
"…Milim."
She froze.
Then immediately straightened again.
Back to stiff.
Back to awkward.
"I am… under control…"
Her tone returned to that same terrible monotone.
Loki's eye twitched.
'…Unbelievable.'
But—
He didn't press it.
Instead—
He moved again.
Faster.
His hand cut through the air—
"Dismantle."
An invisible slash flew forward.
A blade of pure force that tore through the space between them.
Milim tilted her head.
The slash carved past her cheek—
And exploded behind her.
A deep trench split the battlefield.
Milim blinked.
"…Oh."
Then—
She moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
She was in front of him in an instant.
A punch—
Loki crossed his arms—
Blocked—
The impact sent him skidding back this time.
His feet carved lines into the ground.
He stopped.
Grinned.
"…Good."
Milim stepped forward.
Light.
Effortless.
But every step carried weight that bent the world.
They met again.
Close.
Too close.
Fists collided.
Kicks clashed.
Their movements blurred—
A flurry of strikes that shattered the battlefield piece by piece.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Just pure combat.
Loki slipped inside her guard—
Palm striking forward—
"Cleave."
His hand made contact.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A precise slash carved across Milim's shoulder which regenerated instantly.
Milim blinked.
Looked at it.
"…Huh."
Then she smiled again.
Excited.
"Again—!"
She lunged.
Loki met her head-on.
Their clash sent a shockwave ripping outward—
Dust.
Debris.
Pressure.
Everything pushed away from them.
—
Outside the battlefield—
Carrion stared.
Eyes wide.
"…What…"
His voice came out low.
Uncertain.
"…What is that…"
His fists clenched slowly.
Watching.
Understanding.
'I…'
His jaw tightened.
'I wanted to fight that?'
Another clash echoed.
The ground shook again.
Carrion's gaze hardened.
Then—
Lowered slightly.
"…I would've died."
Frey didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
Because she felt it too.
The gap.
The overwhelming, undeniable gap.
—
Back in the arena—
Loki twisted his body, dodging a strike by inches.
His hand lashed out again—
"Dismantle."
Another flying slash—
Point blank.
Milim didn't dodge this time.
She punched it.
The slash shattered.
Exploded into nothing.
Loki's grin widened.
"…Yeah."
His eyes gleamed.
"This is fun."
Milim nodded enthusiastically—
Then immediately stiffened again.
"I am… under control…"
Loki stared at her.
Long and tired.
Then sighed.
"…You're the worst actor I've ever seen."
Milim said nothing.
Did nothing.
But her shoulders shook slightly.
Like she was holding back laughter.
—
Then—
They moved again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Each clash louder than the last.
Each impact heavier.
Neither gaining ground.
Equal.
Perfectly.
Terrifyingly equal.
And everyone watching—
Understood.
This—
This was a different level entirely.
---
Find early chapters and daily updates on my patreon
[Patreon.com/tenten100?]
Follow me on Instagram [www.instagram.com/tenten100_?]