NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 171
171. A Life As A Warrior
“Halto, can you release the defensive magic only around me and Gyrasvrim?”
Luca asked me.
“I’ve never done it before, but I think it’s possible.”
Basically, this golden space—[Elysion Gate]—activates automatically.
However, during the fight with Jack earlier, I learned how to override the auto-activation with my own will and reconfigure it.
Using the same method this time, it seems possible to exclude only the area around Luca and the others from the defensive skill’s range.
“But that would leave Luca defenseless.”
“It’s fine. I want to test my current strength.”
A faint smile appeared on Luca’s lips as she spoke nonchalantly.
Under normal circumstances, she could fight more easily, but she chose to abandon that—.
But that’s probably her true nature.
A life dedicated to battle, finding fulfillment and purpose in it.
—To be honest, that way of fighting worries me.
But when I looked at her face, I couldn’t bring myself to oppose her.
Even if I wanted to speak up, I couldn’t.
“…Alright. Be careful.”
While resolving to support Luca if things got truly dangerous, I replied.
“Thank you.”
Luca turned her back to me.
“Don’t worry. I’ll win and prove it. That I’ve grown stronger since then. That the power I’ve been honing all this time—will be tested in this battle.”
Her determination and severity were palpable.
Right now, what I need isn’t to worry about her.
“Luca can win. I believe in her.”
And so—Luca faced the demon general’s knight.
The defensive skill [Elysion Gate] had already been deactivated around the two of them.
I held my breath and watched.
No, it wasn’t just me.
Unintentionally, Lilith and the others, as well as the other demon generals, did the same.
It was as if they were witnessing a one-on-one duel on the battlefield.
“To think I’d get the chance to fight you again.”
Gyrasvrim groaned, his greatsword resting on his shoulder.
His voice, like grinding iron, was tinged with unmistakable joy.
“Though I died once, I remember the names of all the fierce warriors I’ve fought… Luca Abasta.”
The demon general raised his greatsword high.
“I’ll go all out from the start… RUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!”
With a roar, his entire body underwent a dramatic transformation.
A face reminiscent of a wolf, limbs that grew unnaturally long.
A thrashing tail slammed into the ground, creating deep fissures.
[Code Beast].
Gyrasvrim’s full combat mode.
“Huuuuuh, this feels good. The fighting spirit drowns out reason, and I become a beast… Let’s fight fair and square.”
“As you wish.”
Luca readied her Fors Greed in its dual-sword form.
“Ultimate technique, [Greed Bite]—Final Form [Icicle Rondo].”
Luca’s movements, accelerated to their limit, turned into light, creating sixteen afterimage clones.
Surrounded, Gyrasvrim remained motionless, his greatsword at the ready.
“In our previous battle, you said my attacks lacked weight.”
The real Luca and her afterimages—seventeen in total—spoke simultaneously.
“That’s right… Your sword cannot deliver a fatal blow to me…”
The demon general’s muffled voice was mixed with a beast-like growl.
His reason was almost entirely gone.
A knight driven purely by destructive instincts—a beast.
“No, this time—”
The cloned Lucas closed in on Gyrasvrim all at once.
“It will reach.”
Her swords transformed mid-strike.
From dual swords to a greatsword.
At the same time, the clones vanished, and the real Luca, now wielding a greatsword, swung—
“Ultimate technique, [Force Break].”
“Gah!?”
A crimson slash struck the demon general’s knight.
Closing the distance at high speed, then shifting to a destruction-focused form for the attack.
A true combination of power and speed.
“You…!”
“I told you. I’ve been honing my strength.”
Luca reverted Force Greed to its dual-sword form and charged.
“I’ve always imagined myself growing stronger, becoming stronger, manifesting the ultimate power—I’ve kept that in mind, always—”
Moving at near-light speed, her form split into seventeen bodies.
Using speed to overwhelm, she transformed her dual swords into a greatsword at the moment of attack, delivering maximum destructive force.
She repeated this two, three times.
“You can’t catch my speed. And this time, my attacks will damage you.”
Luca spoke calmly.
Gyrasvrim was slashed all over, drenched in blue blood.
“…Then I’ll show you… even greater power…!”
The beast knight’s entire body trembled violently.
“What…!?”
Gyrasvrim’s armor transformed further.
His wolf-like face shifted into one resembling a dragon, his limbs and tail growing longer and more distorted.
No way, this is—the same as Jack’s [Code Lindwurm]!?
“…Thanks to the Cocytus Gate, I’ve gained power surpassing my former life.”
Gyrasvrim’s body vanished as he spoke.
“This second life won’t last long… Eventually, my flesh and soul will rot away… But I understood the cost.”
The next moment, the dragon-warrior demon general appeared behind Luca.
“Huh…!?”
Luca turned in surprise, retreating at near-light speed.
The spot where she had stood moments before was gouged by a crimson greatsword.
“Before I vanish completely—I’ll live once more as a warrior. Even if it’s only for a brief moment.”
The demon general vanished again, reappearing in front of Luca.
“That’s all I wished for, to return to this world…!”
The greatsword swung down, but Luca intercepted it in her destruction-focused form, neutralizing its force.
“Kuh…!”
Luca retreated again at near-light speed.
It seemed both his speed and power had increased beyond comparison to before.
“Now, let’s finish this—”
The dragon-warrior demon general readied his greatsword.
Crackle, crackle—the air seemed to electrify, buzzing with tension.
He must have heightened his focus to the limit.
“Then I’ll end your—life as a warrior.”
Luca also readied her Force Greed, now back in its dual-sword form.
And then—.
After a moment of silence, the two moved.
Toward the final outcome.