LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 73
Chapter 73: Another Ace Up My Sleeve
Well, it’s me, Zilbagias, getting pummeled by Platy, who’s really giving it her all.
But ‘pummeled’ might be a bit misleading.
A more accurate way to put it would be that I was totally played.
“You sure are competitive, aren’t you…”
Shut it!
But seriously, those arms of hers are just unfair…!
As Platy explained, her main contract is with Cataclyssis, the Demon of Sadism. Apparently, he’s a multi-armed fighting type from a clan called Asura. She must have gotten those arms when she made the contract.
“An Asura’s arms increase with rank! If you get too many, they can be a hassle, so it’s lucky she can get rid of some extra limbs!”
O-oh, I didn’t know that…
Anyway, I’ve run into Asura types on the battlefield before. They had like six or eight arms, swinging weapons around like it was nothing.
But back in my hero days, I took down those guys…!
“What does it matter if she has three arms now? I will NOT lose!”
So I declared bravely, but—
“Oh dear, aren’t you quite the fiery one!?”
With a dazzling smile, Platy swung her dual spears around using her magic. Up until now, she usually focused on technique in her fights, but now she was just wildly swinging.
Swish, swish, swish, swish.
It felt like a storm of spears!
With an unceasing barrage, she limited my movements, while the arms on her back launched precise strikes.
I need a shield! A shield, please!
During my hero days, I dealt with Asuras with a shield!
Now I have a protective spell instead, but with these magic-infused spears pounding on me, it would crumble in no time! Give me a shield!!
“Come on, come on! What happened to your initial momentum!? At this rate, you can’t win!!”
Right hand, left hand, the back arms—Platy taunted me while landing blow after blow. I was just on defense here!
“—【No Multiple Spears Allowed!】”
With the spell now available, I tried to counter with a restriction spell, but each time it was met with a sharp tearing sound as my magic tether snapped, and the barrage never ceased.
Is this all Zilbagias can do when it comes to restrictions…!?
Wait, did Platy power up a bit after summoning those back arms!?
Still, I recognized that there was a brief moment when she faltered while shaking off the curse—so I’d have to seize that chance as I braced for injury.
A sharp spear from her back grazed my cheek, leaving a small cut.
Platy’s eyes gleamed menacingly.
“—【Suffer and perish!】”
The cut flared with pain. It felt like hundreds of glowing needles had been poked into me at once, and then salt was poured on top!
“Gahhh!?”
“Ngyaaa!?”
What was supposed to be a mere scratch turned into an unexpected agony that made me let out a strange yelp. The pain translated through to Antendeixis inside me, causing him to let out some bizarre shriek too.
As I involuntarily froze from shock, Platy’s follow-up spears came crashing down. Shoulder, knee—none fatal but equally painful wounds exploded within me.
“—ugh!”
“—―Aaaah!”
I could hardly scream anymore—Antendeixis was flipping inside me too—and as I trembled and collapsed, Platy spun her spears and nodded with satisfaction.
“This is the power of the Demon of Sadism. Amplification of pain, a curse that scorches the soul…”
A magic that inflicts pain on the soul, starting from the wound she inflicted…! So that’s why Antendeixis got hit too!
I needed Liliana to lick my wounds first. As she did, the curse lifted, and the searing pain in my soul dissipated.
“…What the hell! To spread filthy water in my resting place!!”
Wait, this isn’t your resting place!? It’s MY soul!! Don’t treat someone else’s soul like a comfy living room!!!
“That hurt like hell, you know…”
I said, catching my breath.
“Of course! It should hurt about a hundred times more than usual. The minimum is double… but how high can it go? Perhaps up to 3000 times the pain sensitivity?”
Three thousand times the sensitivity…!?
“That’s surely a big bluff; one could go insane and die from just that pain.”
Yeah, that’s right. No normal person could withstand sensitivity cranked up to 3000 times.
“Also, if it’s the Demon of Sadism, the more the target suffers, the more power they gain. It’s better to torture the prey for longer, making it fit the ability, so the actual upper limit of inflicted pain must be lower. I’m betting this current pain is max…”
It better be… Antendeixis muttered.
But, turning that on its head means even a mere scratch can be equivalents of lethal pain…?
“Isn’t that a bit extreme?”
“Oh, it is! But it’s a demon’s magic. As for your magic, it’s no better. I can still deal with it thanks to my capabilities.”
She’s not just a Duchess for show…!
And Platy is also a doctor in the Demon Lord Kingdom. She’s used to inflicting pain for the healing process, enhancing her power through the demon’s abilities…!
…Wait, healing?
“Mother, can you combine that spell with the Teleportation Spell…?”
“Of course I can!”
“…”
That’s just cruel…!!
“This is Lesson One. Even after declaring a magic release, you were far too unguarded against curses. That’s why the Curse of Pain was able to exert its full effect. Always maintain a strong heart; never let your guard down against any curse.”
“…Yes, Mother…!”
Damn it… this is why those demon types are infuriating!
“Now that your mindset is ready, shall we go for another round? Since I can shake off your magic, you should be able to resist this curse too.”
…Bring it on!
If I can resist the pain, it won’t matter, right!?
Antendeixis, let’s show our determination!!
“…”
While I was fired up, Antendeixis suddenly popped out.
“—I will watch from here! Show me your bravery!!”
And then flopped down on the ground like a lazy demon.
“…”
Antendeixis, you little…!!!
My cheek twitched as I saw Platy break into laughter.
“Oh, how nice it is to get along… I’m glad to see your healthy relationship!”
Wiping away the tears from laughing too hard, Platy smirked.
“By the way, it’s been ages since I had fun swinging around spears like a child… but it seems it doesn’t really suit my style.”
With a pop, an additional semi-transparent arm sprouted from Platy’s back. Oh my…
She passed the spear that was in her left hand to the new arm.
Then, gripping the spear tightly with both of her own hands, she crouched low. Her stance was the very epitome of a Demon’s traditional spear technique.
And the two arms on her back spun the other spears as if saying, “Alrighty, let’s get this started!” before they pointed at me.
It was like they were announcing that playtime was over…
“Lesson Two: If you’re a Demon, it’s only natural to have a few trump cards up your sleeve.”
…I want to use a trump card too!!
But right now, the only card I have is…
That lazy demon just lying around…!
“Antendeixis, become my shield!”
“No way!”
“If you cling to me, you’ll buy me some time!”
“I’m not good at movement. I can’t buy you even a second.”
“Don’t make that smug face with stuff like that!”
“—【No Multiple Arms Allowed】. I’ll provide periodic support, so consider that good enough.”
…Damn it, it’s annoying how that’s actually effective!!
“Are we done talking? Then, Zilbagias,”
Platy said sweetly.
“Come at me with the intent to kill.”
In a complete contrast to the whirlwind of spears from moments ago, she closed the distance with smooth footwork.
“—I’ll give it my all!!”
I recklessly prepared to counter—
But I got completely played again.
The end.
…Later, I heard that in addition to all that, she had some dark magic spells, and being from a renowned family herself, it seems she was capable of more than just bloodline spells aside from the Teleportation Spell.
“Well, that’ll be a treat for next time. I’m looking forward to your growth…”
As she picked me up in my ragged state, Platy affectionately patted my head.
Damn it… this is why those demon types…
I swore to myself that next time I’d confront her fully equipped with Faravgi’s scale armor.
I had prepared armor resistant to magic and curses, my foresight shining bright…!
I never imagined I would need it during training…
Totally spent, my mind and body gave in, and I fainted.