Book Eater

Chapter 366: Final Evolution (3)

Kwaaaaang!

King Hodae’s fist hit empty air, producing a shockwave that shattered a castle wall. If even one blow landed properly, Veronica’s movements would be arrested. Veronica immediately changed her strategy. This was the second time she checked her vision, but she was right. King Hodae’s attack had the speed of the wind and the strength to break the castle, but that was it.

The strikes depend on physical strength while the power to control the wind isn’t as strong. Perhaps his skills weren’t that different from before he changed.

She avoided King Hodae’s fist and moved her hand without hesitation. It was simple. An object moving quickly in a straight line was vulnerable to flanking attacks. It was the same principle as arrows being deflected by leaves.

Teong!

[Huh?]

As his fist was deflected into the empty sky, a dumbfounded expression crossed the tiger prince’s face for a moment. His fighting ability was so low he couldn’t grasp the situation. Veronica didn’t miss this moment of inexperience.

「ускорение (Acceleration)! 」

Dragon Words allowed her to cross the limitations of a quarter dragon a few times a day. Veronica accelerated to three times her maximum speed and shot forward, leaving blurry afterimages in the air. King Hodae couldn’t react in time as Veronica’s fists struck even faster than sound.

Kwa kwa kwa kwang!

The solar plexus, the ribs, the lower abdomen, she hit King Hodae’s body three times before aiming for any part of his face that was within distance. It was an all-out barrage. Veronica’s fist came shooting forward again only for King Hodae to spring back.

“... Tch!”

However, Veronica clicked her tongue. She had tried to break a few bones, but she had only managed to leave bruises on his leathery skin. It might be a perfect counter, but it meant Veronica didn’t have the raw power to defeat him in her current state.

Unsurprisingly, King Hodae soon regained his balance.

[Y-You dare! You dare swing a fist at me...!]

Veronica could feel an increase in pressure that corresponded to the irrational wrath. It wasn’t a lie that the blood of the sacred creature, the white tiger, had awakened. Before Veronica could say anything sarcastic, a storm blew toward her.

Kuooooh!

The whirlwind was like the blade of the sword. The tiger king wrapped himself in the sword storm that could cut steel and charged Veronica. This was several times more annoying than before, so Veronica increased the temperature of the flames around her body. As long as these flames survived, the storm couldn’t hurt her.

[Using little tricks!]

“You are one to talk, damn cat!”

This was the dominance of a superior attribute relationship, as the fire burned away the wind. The wind might respond to the white tiger’s call, but it couldn’t remove the flames of a red dragon. Veronica would’ve been at an overwhelming advantage if she was at full strength. However, after the last few days of battle, her strength was far lower than the perfectly healthy King Hodae. Additionally, this battlefield itself was like a shackle to Veronica.

I can win if I enter my draconic state. But if I transform… we won’t make it through the night.

It was a technique that had, for a few minutes, held back Invidia who boasted more destructive power than a transcendent. If Veronica transformed into her draconic state now, she could destroy that tiger in a few minutes. However, she would have to rest for half a day, and she wasn’t confident they could hold on without her for that long.

No. If I’m not present they won’t be able to endure for two hours, let alone half a day.

It was a battle where she couldn’t be defeated and also a battle where she couldn’t fight with all of her strength. Still, was there a way for her to defeat this cat? Veronica thought furiously while avoiding the still crude punches and came up with an answer. It was impossible alone, but it was possible for two people.

Will that kid notice my intentions?

One step, and another... She pretended to be pushed back. Veronica didn’t dare look away and had to rely on luck. Veronica had to coordinate with Sylvia and knock out the tiger in a two against one match. There was no other solution.

Chaaeng!

King Hodae threw a massive fist at her, and Veronica took advantage of the collision to spring backward and approach Sylvia as naturally as possible. Nevertheless, the impact of lowering her guard was significant.

“Cough!”

She had never met a human more powerful than her before, and now there was a whole battlefield full of monsters. The muscles in both her arms were torn, but fortunately, the bones were okay. However, they would also break with two more hits.

[Huhaha! You will finally die!]

King Hodae ignorantly swung his fist without even guessing Veronica’s intentions. One hit, and another... Their positions changed every time a shock wave burst out. Veronica slowly manipulated the battlefield toward Sylvia. Unfortunately, the soldiers in the way were adversely affected, but Veronica was getting closer to her destination.

- Red Tower Master,?

Sylvia’s voice rang in her head.

- I’ll match the timing. Red Tower Master, give the signal.

There was no time to answer magically, so Veronica responded with her flames. This was the perfect chance to cut off the head of the enemy. Veronica’s golden eyes narrowed as she moved like she was dancing through the storm that King Hodae had caused. There was only one chance. If this failed, they could only gamble.

Huuung!

A massive fist appeared above Veronica’s head.

…Now!

Veronica sidestepped at the perfect time step. Flames flowed from her fist as three magic spells worth of magic power was consumed from her body. From now on, Veronica’s strength would increase for a few seconds.

Victory Fist.

Theo wasn’t the only one who had grown over the last five years. Veronica had gotten to understand her weaknesses and gained some knowledge in other fields, including martial arts.

Jeeeong!?

The sudden blow took King Hodae completely by surprise. The body blow drove the breath out of King Hodae’s lungs, and he doubled over in the air. In that brief moment where he lost control of his sword storm, Sylvia struck.

“I call the guide of permanent frost!” Sylvia called out, and frost gathered around the end of the large staff that was the remains of Blundell. It was a cold that could freeze wind, water, and even fire as she unleashed the most powerful attack spell she knew. “Absolute Zero!”

Absolute Zero’s pale light wrapped around the tiger king’s body.

Jjejeok. Jjejejeok...!

Temperature didn’t care about the magic resistance of a divine creature, and Absolute Zero had been timed perfectly. The tiger king couldn’t resist the overwhelming strength, and the wind couldn’t melt the frozen body.

Veronica also saw it.

“Suuuuop―”

She drew in another breath as she faced King Hodae, who was sucking in all the air around him. Veronica was trying to use her second breath. No matter how strong he was, he would die if he was hit with consecutive spells like this. Veronica intended to destroy him completely.

Kakiing.

However, at that moment, someone interfered.

“What?” Veronica cried out in shock as she narrowly avoided the blade aimed at her.

It wasn’t because it was an aura blade. Monsters could wield the power of a sacred creature, so some monsters could use the power of a swordmaster. However, the two magicians were taken aback by the man who had just prevented the end of King Hodae.

“Lord of Hyungkang Castle, Wichung! Why are you doing this?”

Wichung didn’t respond to Veronica’s angry question. No, it was more accurate to say that he couldn’t answer.

Sylvia noticed first. “... Red Tower Master, look at his eyes.”

“Eyes?” Veronica gasped as she saw his eyes. Wichung’s eyes looked cloudy and lost! Veronica muttered, “Mind control? They managed to cast it on a sword master?”

The mental defense of a swordmaster was stronger than most people imagined. Unlike magicians, swordmasters dedicated their lives to training their bodies and minds, and walked their own path. If they were killed and turned into a death knight, a force equivalent to a transcendent was needed to control them.

The two magicians looked at each other in alarm and realized the battlefield had fallen silent.

“Stopped… moving?”

The monsters and soldiers had stopped, but time hadn’t been stopped. Their breathing and pulses were normal. The beings who were killing each other just a few minutes ago were now just idly standing by. Everything in Hyungkang Castle seemed to have become puppets.

“―Huhuhu, I was a bit late.” The silence was cut off as a voice seemed to melt their ears. “If I was a bit later, I would’ve lost an important chess piece. You’re more active than I thought.”

Don’t look back.

As a horror beyond fear froze her spine, Veronica turned in the direction Sylvia was facing. Then she saw it.

“―Ah.”

All reason melted away. Despite being a woman, she couldn’t resist the beauty. Veronica felt mind numbing pleasure at first sight, and could feel the desire for more even if she had to lick her feet. She was going crazy. An endless madness eroded her head. This was a being that humans shouldn’t face. It was one of the Seven Sins grimoires that Theo had warned her about.

Crunch.

Veronica’s molars cracked. There was a sharp pain as soon as Veronica remembered Theo, and she regained her sanity.

“Hah! Hah!”

It was risky. She had been only a few seconds away from becoming a slave. Veronica looked at the ground to avoid her and focused her attention on the connection inside her body. As long as the agreement existed, her soul belonged to Theo. Lust’s mythical fascination couldn’t overpower this.

“Oh, my, not bad. To be able to see me and endure, even if you aren’t gay... What a great person.”

Veronica gritted her teeth, using the pain to keep her mind safe. “Y-You, are you, Lust?”

“Yes, did you hear about me from Gluttony’s owner? Then I’ll have you talk with me a bit more.”

Lust’s relaxed smile was magnetic. Her every gesture was devilishly attractive. While Veronica was stiff, little cracks appeared on the frozen body of the tiger king.

Kakakang!

He shook off the ice and was restored to his original state.

... Checkmate. My side has lost.

Veronica felt despair clawing at her. According to Theo, Lust had no direct combat ability, so there was a good chance to kill her if she endured that fearsome attraction. However, was it possible to break through King Hodae and Wichung? The odds didn’t exceed thirty percent, even if she went into her draconic state.

“Stop trying, passionate guest.” Lust smiled and pointed beside Veronica. “Your friend doesn’t want it either.”

“Ah.”

Veronica looked around and saw Sylvia’s blurred eyes. Sylvia was weaker than her and didn’t have the contract with Theo, so this result was natural. Could she kill Lust through all the soldiers, monsters, two masters, and a sacred creature?

It’s impossible.

Veronica quickly made a decision.

“Haaaap!”

Her body ignited as scales rose, her blood boiled, and a pair of horns sprouted through her hair. Her draconic state formed even faster than before! Before King Hodae or Sylvia could do anything to stop it, an explosion rocked the castle as Veronica rushed away from the castle at a tremendous speed.

“... Wise. Escaping because she can’t win. It is efficient,” Lust said, watching the sky with dull eyes. Then she said to King Hodae, “I will trust you. Catch and kill her. There are plenty of red dragon samples.”

[Yes.]

The faithful servant, King Hodae, rushed out of the castle in hot pursuit of Veronica. Then Lust reached out and stroked the jaw of the blankly staring Sylvia. She had risked moving for a reason.

“... I’ve received an unexpected windfall.”

This could be used as a means of shackling that man and would be a useful tool as a vessel. The beautiful woman chuckled as her mind started spinning with plans. It wouldn’t be long before the completion of the final project.