"Gather, sighs of the earth. My name is Alf!"
As Genichi finished the chant, a faint robe of light appeared over his body.
It was like gauze woven from moonlight, softly draping itself over him from head to toe.
It looked fragile, but it contained formidable defensive power.
This was Riveria's defensive magic, Dia Fratel. It greatly increased resistance to both physical and magical damage, and it could also remain active for a period of time while layering over other effects.
Wrapped in that light, Genichi felt some of the fear from being nearly slapped apart by Udaeus recede.
But he did not stop.
Immediately after that, he began chanting his next spell.
"O relentless sun of the open sky, all things flee from thee. Bloom, armor of the laurel tree."
A second layer of light appeared over him.
This was Daphne Lauros's magic from the Apollo Familia, Laurus Hildr. Its effect was to strengthen endurance and greatly enhance agility.
With Genichi's current magic power, this spell could raise his speed and endurance by at least thirty percent.
With those two layers of protection on him, Genichi finally felt a trace of confidence.
He raised his head and looked toward Udaeus in the distance.
The gigantic skeletal monster was staring him down without blinking.
Udaeus let out a thunderous roar.
It raised the black greatsword in its hand and smashed it down.
Boom!!!
The sword struck empty air.
But the pressure generated by its swing expanded in all directions like a tangible shockwave.
The ground was scraped away layer after layer by that pressure. Rocks shattered, and fragments flew everywhere.
The black bones that had still been growing were instantly reduced to dust by the force of the wind.
The entire space trembled beneath that single strike.
Genichi's eyes narrowed.
The range of that wind pressure was too large. So large that even with Apparition, it was difficult to avoid completely.
He activated Apparition at once and vanished from where he stood.
The next instant, he appeared behind a massive boulder in the distance.
But the shockwave followed right after him, and the boulder exploded into pieces.
Caught by the aftermath, Genichi was thrown backward.
He adjusted his body in midair, then landed on one knee and drove his blade into the ground to steady himself.
Pfft.
A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.
Even with the robe of light and the laurel armor protecting him, the aftermath of that blow had still injured him.
Genichi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up.
He looked at Udaeus in the distance, and a grave light flickered through those black eyes.
Too strong.
This monster was too strong.
The gap between Level 4 and Level 6 was far greater than he had imagined.
So great that even with the enhancement from his various skills, even with the enchantment magic he had learned from all sorts of powerful people, he still could not keep up with Udaeus's raw power.
In terms of speed, he could barely keep up. But only barely.
And even then, he was still at a thirty percent disadvantage.
Every attack, every dodge, was like dancing on the edge of a blade.
One misstep, and that terrifying power would tear him to pieces.
Genichi took a deep breath and forced down the emotions in his chest.
He could not give up.
It was not time to give up yet.
He still had trump cards.
He still had Alfia.
It just... was not time yet.
He had to endure a little longer.
Just a little longer.
Only when he truly hit a dead end would he summon Alfia and drag everything down with him.
Gritting his teeth, Genichi activated Apparition again.
He intended to repeat the same tactic and cripple Udaeus's other arm as well.
Snap!
His figure vanished in an instant.
The next moment, he appeared on Udaeus's other shoulder.
The blade in his hand was already raised high.
But— The instant he appeared, several enormous bone spikes burst from Udaeus's body.
Those spikes were unbelievably fast, as though the monster had already predicted he would reappear there.
Genichi's pupils shrank. He had no time to attack and could only evade in haste.
One spike grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody cut across his face.
Another shot toward his chest. He knocked it aside with his blade, but the sheer force of the impact still sent him flying backward.
He spun through the air and stumbled several steps after landing before finally regaining his balance.
"So it predicted me..."
Genichi stared at Udaeus, his brows drawn tight.
This monster had already learned to predict his movements.
It had memorized his attack pattern, memorized where he would appear, memorized every one of his motions.
There was no longer any way to use the same trick to catch it off guard.
Genichi fell silent.
He stood at a distance, eyes locked on Udaeus.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
In strength, he was inferior.
In speed, he could barely keep up, and even then he was being suppressed.
As for surprise attacks, those had already been seen through.
And ordinary magic could not hurt it at all.
He needed an opportunity.
A perfect opportunity.
And right now, that chance had not come yet.
Genichi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
Then suddenly, he smiled.
It was a faint smile, but there was something impossible to describe in it.
"Looks like..." he murmured softly,
"I may have been a little too arrogant."
Originally, he had thought that once he reached Level 5, he would be able to contend with Level 7 Filvis Challia.
But now it seemed that idea had been far too naive.
Even Level 6 Udaeus was this overwhelming.
So then how strong would Level 7 Filvis Challia be?
He did not know.
But he did know one thing.
His earlier expectations for Level 5 had probably been too high.
Level 5 might let him fight Level 6.
But against Level 7— it still probably would not be enough.
Genichi's gaze grew deeper.
He looked at Udaeus in the distance, and complicated emotions spread through those black eyes.
But very quickly, all of those emotions vanished.
What replaced them was an even firmer light.
If it was not enough, then he would keep growing stronger.
If Level 5 was not enough, then he would reach Level 6.
If Level 6 was not enough, then he would reach Level 7.
One day, he would become strong enough to crush every enemy in his path.
But right now— first he had to defeat the monster in front of him.
Genichi tightened his grip on the sword and charged forward again.
Alise stood in the distance, watching this scene with complicated emotion in her eyes.
She did not know what Genichi was thinking.
But she knew this man was really giving everything he had.
So much that it made her chest ache.
So much that even she, the summoned tool he dragged around, could not help wanting to support him.
"Come on..." she murmured softly.
"You have to win..."
In the distance, the battle between Genichi and Udaeus continued.
(End of Chapter)
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