Location: Unknown Island
The surroundings were far from silent. Sounds were coming from both sides of the island. On one side there were noises of destruction and impacts, while on the other side the sound of Zach and Lucifer's fists colliding echoed through the air.
But where we were standing now, something far more terrifying was happening.
A dreadful aura was spreading everywhere, accompanied by the sound of powerful waves of energy. The noise it made was almost like… a scream.
Yes, a scream.
Ever since those crows had merged together, countless screams could be heard within that spreading energy. It was as if the voices of hatred and revenge were crying out toward the person standing before them.
The owner of that disgusting aura was Corvadaptis, the Great Demon born from the ritual.
He was flapping his wings while releasing that horrifying aura. From Richard's perspective, it looked as if every nightmare imaginable had merged perfectly into one single being.
That was how terrifying he looked.
And because of that, Richard was trembling.
The aura was so frightening that Richard was not mentally stable in front of it.
Richard (In his mind):
What a horrifying aura… The aura itself isn't applying physical pressure, but the sounds and the atmosphere it spreads are creating serious psychological distress.
While Corvadaptis was flying by flapping his wings, he formed such a disgusting smile that someone might have literally lost control from fear just by seeing it.
Corvadaptis: I'm going to ask you something…
Corvadaptis suddenly vanished completely from Richard's sight. His speed was so extreme that even someone capable of controlling sound and tracking high-speed movement would not be able to follow him.
He appeared behind Richard, leaving a distorted ripple in the air.
But there was something strange.
Neither of his wings were behind him anymore.
Before Richard could even turn around, Corvadaptis pulled his fist slightly backward and coated it with black and red energy before finishing his sentence.
Corvadaptis: What does your full power look like?
As Corvadaptis threw the punch, Richard began turning around quickly to block it.
But before he could even raise his hand even a single centimeter-
Richard: What-
Corvadaptis' fist struck Richard directly in the jaw with full force.
Richard's head twisted so violently that it felt as if his neck might snap.
His body was sent flying all the way toward the ocean, like an unconscious body being launched through the air at extreme speed.
As Richard flew backward, he slowly began descending toward the water. After flying a great distance, he struck the ocean surface.
But instead of sinking immediately, he bounced.
Just like when you throw a flat stone across water and it skips several times before sinking, Richard's body skipped across the water surface in the same way.
After the final skip, Richard instantly regained his awareness and stood up.
His feet touched the water, but it looked as if he was sliding across it. His body didn't shake at all he was simply gliding smoothly over the surface.
While sliding across the water, he manipulated the sounds around him and created an invisible platform beneath his feet to stand on.
At that moment, Richard had only one thought.
Richard (In his mind):
I have nothing to say… This is the first time in my life I've been punched this badly. This Corvadaptis… he's either at the same level as me, or he's something far beyond… but even so, I can't allow myself to lose!
Something extremely fast was approaching him from the front. Waves were forming on the water's surface ahead of him.
The one causing those waves was Corvadaptis.
However, both of his wings were missing from his back.
Instead, he held something in one hand.
It looked like a sword, but a heavy one.
Along the blade were streaks of both red and black.
Corvadaptis finally reached Richard's location, but instead of striking him immediately, he slightly floated upward and stopped in the air, clearly positioning himself so he could look down on Richard.
Behind him, however, a massive wave was approaching.
He had created that wave deliberately so that it would swallow Richard whole.
But everything has a sound.
Richard raised his hand and used that sound directly, as if stopping the wave itself.
In reality, he had created a massive invisible barrier.
The wave slammed into the barrier. The crashing sounds of the water echoed loudly behind it, yet where Richard stood there was complete silence.
Richard:
I won't be crushed by a wave.
Corvadaptis grinned.
Corvadaptis: Don't worry. If that didn't crush you… this will.
Corvadaptis raised the massive sword in his hand and showed it to Richard.
The sword's handle was made of silver, yet it looked as if it were covered with crow feathers.
The blade itself was pure black, but reflections could appear on its surface. Strangely, it only reflected the image of the person it was about to attack.
Across the blade were branching red veins, making it look as if the sword itself had living veins running through it.
Corvadaptis:
This sword will cut off your voice.
Richard was not nervous.
Instead, he had completely focused, wearing a serious expression.
When he was with Zach, he usually appeared gentle, naive, or tense. But right now Richard looked like someone who could kill another person without hesitation.
He was completely focused.
Then he spoke.
Richard:
If that sword is the one that will end my voice my life then I must be the weakest person in this world.
Corvadaptis slightly twitched his eyebrow.
Richard's words had almost angered him.
Corvadaptis: If you are the weakest in the world, then I must be the superior being who enjoys playing with the weak.
Richard's expression didn't change at all.
Richard:
Those who constantly claim superiority are always brainless creatures. Anyone who says 'I'm the strongest' is usually someone completely lacking intelligence.
Corvadaptis became furious.
He immediately rushed toward Richard, preparing to swing his sword while shouting.
Corvadaptis: Don't underestimate me, insect! Even perfection itself couldn't be as perfect as I am!
Corvadaptis swung the sword.
The red vein-like patterns on the blade began glowing.
Corvadaptis' eyes also began to shine.
But in Richard's black eyes, something unusual appeared.
Strange shapes began forming, almost like calculations of sound waves being processed inside his vision.
Finally, Richard spoke.
Richard:
Ultimate Technique, Model: Mach 5.
The moment he said those words-
Richard vanished.
Even Corvadaptis couldn't perceive it.
While Corvadaptis was still focused on his attack, a circular disturbance began forming around him.
Something invisible was moving so fast that it was creating something like a tornado.
That "something" was Richard.
He was moving so fast that the winds around him could easily cut through flesh, but since his body was coated with energy, he received no damage.
At that moment his speed had reached 1715 meters per second, which meant 6175 kilometers per hour.
With energy enhancement, his speed increased to 1915 meters per second.
While moving at that terrifying speed, Richard began circling Corvadaptis repeatedly, landing kicks and punches each time he passed him.
Every strike created small sonic booms.
Corvadaptis began receiving a rapid series of attacks.
His body was being torn apart repeatedly.
Yet even after receiving deadly strikes, he was not completely destroyed, which showed just how powerful he truly was.
While Richard kept circling him, the wind pressure created a gigantic tornado around Corvadaptis.
If it had formed naturally, it would have been five times larger than the biggest tornado in recorded history.
However, there was a problem.
Richard was clearly damaging Corvadaptis, but Corvadaptis' eyes slowly began tracking Richard's movement.
With each strike, he became better at following him.
Richard (In his mind):
I can't see anything right now! If I see even a single object, it disappears from my vision instantly. If I couldn't sense Corvadaptis' energy, I would be completely lost… I need to defeat him immediately!
Just when it seemed like Richard would win
Corvadaptis suddenly began smiling, even though half of his mouth was torn apart.
Corvadaptis (In his mind): Now that's more like it…
A massive crow cry echoed.
Richard sensed a surge of energy from the direction of the sound.
Richard: What's happening?! His energy is returning!
All of Corvadaptis' damaged parts began regenerating instantly.
The healing finished in less than a second.
It was as if he had never taken any damage at all.
And now he could follow Richard's movements far more clearly.
Corvadaptis: Finally… I can track you!
Richard immediately understood what was happening.
His mind worked so quickly that people had given him the nickname The Genius of Geniuses Voice.
He was considered the second smartest person after Arthur.
The realization he reached was terrifying.
Richard: Your technique… is adaptation?!
Corvadaptis began running behind Richard. He wasn't quite as fast, but he was managing to keep up.
He spoke while chasing him.
Corvadaptis: You figured out one part of it! But the true name of my technique is Equality Adaptation!
Equality Adaptation Technique
If an opponent is a fire user, and they keep using their technique against someone who possesses Equality Adaptation for a long time, the user eventually adapts to everything about that enemy and surpasses them.
At that point, the enemy's technique becomes almost completely useless.
But the most terrifying detail wasn't that.
If the adaptation becomes complete, the user can copy the enemy's technique.
However, the copied technique can only be used against the original owner, and once the battle ends, all the power gained from the adaptation resets.
In simple terms:
During the fight, if the enemy's power is 100, the adapted user's power becomes 1000.
But once the fight ends, everything returns back to 100.
Corvadaptis: Please… teach me more!
Richard: Damn it! The more I try to finish this quickly, the harder it becomes! What kind of ridiculous ability is this?!