«Solomon...
«The one and only.... - Confirmed the one named.
The first thing that caught the eye in the legendary king's appearance was a thick braid of white hair. The hair itself contrasted rather strongly with the swarthy skin, on some places of which, for example, the hands, were embossed with tattoos. The outfit woven from expensive fabrics gave the impression of an aristocrat of ancient times. And the eyes... Golden, unnaturally bright, containing a chuckle. All in all, Solomon gave exactly the impression that was expected of him. Regal and majestic. At least outwardly.
Emeric sighed tiredly, trying to give his body a break for at least a second. Though, purely technically, he's not in his real body, so such an action is useless. Anyway, just getting his thoughts in order.
Wisdom gave no facts about the sensible man standing before him. But here even a complete idiot would realize that in Solomon's Temple, the random and sole occupant, looking as if he had crawled out of some very high quality historical epic, could only be Solomon. And he confirmed it right away.
With a sigh, Emeric shook his head. When will this day end!
«So," the demon took the floor, looking around. - Is this Solomon's Temple?
«That's right, devil," Solomon nodded.
«And I've sort of, like, somehow unknowingly moved to this place...?
«Yeah...
A brief silence formed between them before Emeric became annoyed.
«Can you be more specific? Don't tell me you're going to play the mysterious sage right now! - Emeric finally stood up and started pacing from side to side. - Everyone is sick of this gimmick! Gandalf the Black! It's hard to think of a more vulgar trick! Only some shitty evil clones with evil beards can surpass it in terms of cheesiness! Are you gonna talk or not?!
The chuckle in Solomon's eyes grew stronger, but he only shook his head.
«Maybe yes, maybe no....
«Or maybe fuck you!" Emeric cleared his throat, which was starting to feel a little scratchy from the raised tone. - You're my piano in the bush! Get to work!
Solomon couldn't stand it anymore and laughed. He laughed loudly and merrily, so amused by Emeric's antics.
«Oh," the king sighed. - Modern idioms are quite amusing..... By the way, looking at you, I'm reminded of the founder of your family, Runeas Gremory. She was not all right in the head.... - Solomon looked him over thoughtfully from head to toe and summed him up. - As they say, blood is not water.....
«Ha. Ha. Ha," he replied to Solomon's remark in the most sarcastic way possible. - You're the King of Clowns? What's next? The sixth great artifact in the form of a red nose that gives you unlimited power over dumb geeks?
«A mocking snort was all Emeric got in response. Solomon turned around and walked somewhere deep into the endless hall. Emeric shook his head and followed.
It became clear that Solomon didn't want to answer questions just like that.
«Let's be clear," Emeric took the floor again. - You don't want to take over my body, do you? If your plan is so lame, just let me go back. I'd rather turn to dust than participate in such an underhanded "villainy"....
«Don't worry," Solomon didn't look at him as he answered. - I've been dead for a long time now, and I've left the problems of the living ...
«Yes?" the demon interrupted him ironically. - If I'm not mistaken, you were famous for constantly leaving my race pantsless.....
«That's right," Solomon nodded again. - But the kind of thing I do in my lifetime... Anyway, not in your time.....
Emeric grabbed his head with a groan. How painful it was to be bullied like that! You can't tell if he's lying or not, if he's telling the truth or some random bullshit. I don't know shit!
«Pfft," the demon snorted. - Wisdom.... Why do I have your gift? Understanding of all things, isn't it...?
«This gift is as much yours as it is mine...'' - Shook his head at the annoying freak. - You could say that we were just born with the same pathologies.....
«You... - Emeric didn't know what to say right away. - You're really getting on my nerves, coal... Argh! - He couldn't remember the last time he'd been pissed off like that. For every answer, there are more questions! - The Mask! Can you at least tell me how to take your fucking mask off?
«Each of my artifacts has a special defense mechanism that prevents people like us from seeing it right away. That is, Wisdom won't point it out to you....
«Like us? - Questioned Emeric. - How many are like us?
«Well," he touched his chin thoughtfully. - You're the first person I've ever met....
«Are you sure you're the Wisest of the Wise?! The dumbest one suits you better! - Emeric exploded at him. - Why would you make artifacts that you couldn't find if you had to! You're literally the only one for whom such a defense is effective!
«I put every defense I knew, and that includes our unique gift.... If I do something, it works... - Solomon sent an annoyed look in his direction. - It's called talent!
«Now what?! - Emeric didn't fall for his excuses. - You can't take it off now?
«Cockabiel, without knowing it, had already discovered his greatest weakness. Namely the very presence of the Mask! - Solomon gave him a hinting glance. - You can't see it, but it is your Wisdom that will allow you to feel it! Just walk over, concentrate, and take it off, even if you can't feel anything! Consider the matter already in your pocket.....
Finally that useless piano player said something worthwhile! Unless he's lying, of course, but he had no alternatives anyway.
«What about Deehausser? You got any tips? - I've got Emeric on the hook, see if he has any good advice.
«You can handle these problems yourself," Solomon shrugged.
«Well, I thought... - Emeric stared at the king's back in confusion. - That you were going to take me somewhere and show me something.....
Solomon abruptly interrupted and turned fully toward him.
«What do you mean? - He made the same confused face. - I was just taking a walk. You're the one who followed me!
Emeric could see the chuckles begin to dance in his golden eyes. The freak was mocking him in the most natural way!
The demon sighed, chasing away the anger. The strength was almost gone. But he had to finish this thing!
Looking "inside" himself, he concentrated. Understanding the streams of fate should have given him several options for defeating Dichauser.
He could see the entire chronology of the battle between his retinue and Cockabiel's army in a blur of different pictures. Valerie, tired to the max, but not allowing herself to relax. Akeno, who felt anxious at his absence. And Ichika, who felt useless. The pawn was the one with the strongest bond. Emeric didn't know why, but most likely because of his 'rescue'.
He needed the strongest measure against demonic energy, namely the united Excalibur! He was confident that with his Wisdom, he could subdue the sword for himself! If only for a short battle! All he needs to do is to get close to Dichauser!
And it is his prized pawn who will bring that sword!
«Are you sure? - Solomon asked from his shoulder, also looking at the various visions in the spaces between the columns. - This young maiden will not be able to approach the riot of uselessness. She'll just fall apart....
«It turns out you're not so omniscient, Solomon," he stretched his lips in a smile, trying to mentally connect with Ichika in the "past," before Dichauser's explosion. - There's a lot more hidden in Ichika than you can imagine....
Solomon only shrugged his shoulders, a gesture expressing that it was not his problem.
«By the way," he turned to Solomon, drenched in sweat. - Can I contact Ichika a little further in time than a couple minutes? It would be better if she came with a sword right before the explosion.....
«Not now," Solomon shook his head in a negative gesture. - You've strained your gift to the limit, and it won't be pleasant in the future. And, yes, it will be a little dysfunctional for a while. We won't meet again for a while. You're way beyond your limits, devil...
«Can't I just leave a notch in my memory? So that the healthier me would call Ichika sooner?
«It doesn't work that way... - The king replied even more emphatically. - The fabric of time and space "thins" depending on the will of Fate. Don't be deceived, you can influence "past" events only when you are allowed to.... I'm not talking about the future, it's not even close to your level....
«Understood," he accepted the fact with annoyance.
«And another thing," Solomon changed his tone slightly, showing that he was being serious. - Don't use the Royal Figure in your exhausted state. Even Wisdom doesn't give you omnipotence. You simply won't be able to stop the processes that will destroy your body.....
«So we'll have to deal with Azazel the old-fashioned way...
Emeric was finally able to adjust the connection between himself and Ichika of the past. He gathered air in his chest and shouted hard enough for her to hear him.
«Ichika! Can you hear me?!
*****
Ichika couldn't contain the shivers coursing through her entire body.
She, holding the sacred sword in her palm glove, watched in horror as a huge typhoon of white demonic energy consumed all living things.
A hundred-meter tornado that instinctively inspired terror in all living things. And there, somewhere in the middle of it, loomed a small red dot. It was insignificant, but it stood out perfectly.
Ichika immediately realized who was trying to resist all this horror. The little red dot was Emeric! And all her instincts told her that he was about to lose! He wasn't just going to be carried away, he was going to die!
How is she supposed to deliver Excalibur to him?! As she took a step closer, her clothes began to disintegrate and her skin rapidly dried! This was no ordinary wind, but some kind of demonic power!
But if she doesn't do anything.
Emeric will die.
There won't even be a body left, he'll just dissolve into the typhoon.
«No... - She swallowed the lump in her throat and stared directly at the red dot with determination. - No! NO!
«Reinforcements!
Strength must be higher! Even higher! So that it doesn't just get destroyed at the very epicenter where the President was!
«Reinforcements!
She began to slowly fly closer. It was becoming clear that she wouldn't have enough of those boosts to withstand the typhoon. But Ichika didn't give up, even when there was no oxygen left in her lungs.
She will no longer be useless! No longer will she be a burden that can only drain energy to attack others!
She's a Dragon! The Red Empress, for fuck's sake!
«Vallian Dragon's Balance Crusher!
Draig's triumphant roar alerted her to the opening of the much anticipated super reception. But Ichika didn't have time for celebrations, her lover was holding on with all his might, and she wouldn't let him down!
Ichika's entire body was covered in red stylized armor. Similar to Valerie's, but red in color and simpler. It was her first Balance Breaker after all! But even so, the strength and durability jumped by an order of magnitude! She was confident that she could reach the President without dying! All that was needed was even more strength!
«Amplification! Reinforcements! Reinforcements! Reinforcements! Reinforcements! Reinforcements!
Dryg's voice began to echo from her armor without interruption. There was no time limit now, and her maximum stamina allowed her to contain dozens of reinforcements! She felt that with such a large strength boost, she could withstand Azazel's attack as well!
But even so, streams of uselessness mercilessly collided against the armor, which was slowly losing its color... It might not even be enough for her...
«Ichika! - Through the roar of energies came the voice of the President, who was a measly ten meters away. But there was no way she could overcome those ten meters. - Just a little more! Otherwise, you will never be able to cross this threshold again! You will become an ordinary forty year old cat lady!
«Ni... - Ichika gritted her teeth at the horrifying image. - NEVER!
«Amplification! Reinforcements! Reinforcements! Reinforcements! Reinforcements! Reinforcements!
This time, Ichika only strengthened the hand that held Excalibur! She swung with all her might and...
I quit.
BOOM!
The sword, like a real artillery shell, left her hand with a loud pop. She worried for a second that she had thrown it too hard, but the streams of uselessness slowed its flight just enough for Emeric to catch the sword in his hand. Well, or maybe it was just that Emeric was using Wisdom to pick the most precise moment to catch it.
«Well done, my heroine! - Emeric turned around in triumph for a second and met her gaze with an affectionate gaze. - I'll take it from here, but you stand back!
Ichika smiled in relief under her helmet and let go of the control. She didn't need to do anything, the hurricane itself would carry her away from there at breakneck speed. And the durability pumped up to the limit would keep her from getting injured on landing.
«President! - She shouted at the top of her lungs as she flew away from the epicenter. - No more cats and no more declarations of female independence!
The option that Emeric would lose, she didn't consider. He could do it!
***
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