Crossroads

The Hardness of Shadow is determined by two factors. The amount of mana contained within it, and how skillfully one uses Shadow. In other words... the stronger one is, the more powerfully and effectively one can use Shadow.

With numerous thorns, I pierced a Monster rushing towards me. Thorns erupted from the floor, the air, and the ceiling, impaling the Monster's body. Watching it unable to do anything, I let out a small laugh. I then assessed the potency of the thorn attack in more detail.

This should be enough to inflict critical damage on at least a High-grade Expert.

Even if it doesn't, a follow-up `Internal Explosion` would... likely result in an instant kill.

Realizing the immense growth this alone represented, I savored the sensation a little longer.

The Monsters, as if realizing this wouldn't do. All the dormant Monsters rose, each grabbing a weapon, and began to charge at me. Gazing at the colossal horde, easily numbering over a thousand, I took a shallow breath, raised my hand, and fell into thought.

In the past, seeing this would first have filled me with a sense of vague despair.

Amusingly, confidence now came before despair, and I summoned countless `Shadow Thorn`s to impale them.

Blood splattered and flesh flew in all directions. Listening to the screams from all sides, I nodded in satisfaction as I watched the Monsters gradually fall.

Easy.

To think this dungeon would become so easy once I understood the proper way to use Shadow. I thought my previous struggles were foolish as I walked forward. A man who had been sitting in the distance slowly rose and approached me.

...

A strange and overwhelming sensation pressed down on my body. The power was comparable to that of a powerful Dark Mage I encountered in the past, so I let out a hollow laugh and gripped my mace tightly.

It seems the real battle is about to begin.

Unable to even gauge his strength, I decided to launch a preemptive strike.

Let's go all out first.

If I went all out and it seemed easier than expected, I thought it would be better to fight with some self-imposed restrictions. As I used Shadow to move behind the enemy, what I saw was *my* back, and a small orb, like a miniature sun, floating above its head.

*Me...?*

Even if I ignored the small sun, why was there a back that looked exactly like mine? Just as I was thinking I couldn't possibly understand, the small sun floating above began to emit immense divine power and demonic energy, radiating intense heat.

*Insane.*

The heat was so overwhelmingly powerful that merely touching it would melt everything. To endure it, I had no choice but to shroud my entire body in mana. I barely managed to hold on, gritting my teeth, then gripped my mace tightly and used `Shadow Thorn` along with `Origin Explosion` to try and turn the tide.

*KWA-AAANG!*

The crimson-tinged Shadow blocked my attack with excessive ease. Then, it began to rapidly envelop me, attempting to overwhelm me in return.

*What in the world is its true identity?*

Not only does it use the same abilities as me, but it's also pressuring me with a power several levels above mine. Though I hated to admit it, I instinctively knew this was an opponent I absolutely couldn't defeat right then, so I quickly retreated.

...Anyway, I don't know for sure, but it feels like it's intentionally not killing me to help me grow.

If I had the same power as that thing, I would have bound its body with Shadow and killed it without difficulty. The fact that it isn't doing so suggests it's deliberately not killing me and letting me go. I didn't know the reason, but it wasn't bad for me, so I took a deep breath and fiercely ignited my resolve.

Let's do this.

If I keep clashing with it, something will come of it. So, I decided not to despair, but to move forward, pouring all my strength into charging ahead.

*

A considerable amount of time passed, so much so that I couldn't even tell how long it had been. It felt like several months had gone by... but since I couldn't be sure, I decided to stop thinking about it for now and looked at the 'me' standing majestically before me.

Damn, it's really strong.

It was so brutally strong that expletives naturally escaped my lips. Its level seemed comparable to Lorraine's, a Highest-grade Expert, but seeing as it was even stronger than any Highest-grade Expert I'd encountered. It was highly probable that its individual power was overwhelmingly strong, placing it among the most formidable even within the ranks of Highest-grade Experts.

*Still, I've almost caught up.*

While not yet on par, I could at least react to attacks and block them to some extent. If Lorraine had seen me like this, she would have been terrified and called me a crazy Young Lord, which showed how much I had grown. This alone could be described as immense growth, yet...

At this point, I want to seize the Essence of Power from that thing.

Perhaps because I had been challenging it for months, the desire to obtain its fruits kept growing. Rather than giving up at this point, all I could think about was taking one more step and somehow killing that thing.

*How should I kill it?*

As for the technical aspects, it was a bit awkward to say so myself, but they were already nearing completion, requiring time rather than effort. Most other things were also nearly complete, so I decided it would be better to create new techniques rather than just put in more effort.

For example, that sun is floating above its head.

I didn't know what to call it... but one thing was certain: if I could imitate and replicate that sun. I felt like I could double my existing power, so I decided to try and mimic it.

*It resembles the Power of the Sun, but it's not the Power of the Sun.*

I don't know if this is the right way to put it... but it's like an artificial power created with the absence of Daisy in mind? I couldn't precisely articulate what it was. But one thing was certain: it greatly resembled Daisy's power, yet it was a technique with a slightly different purpose.

If Daisy helps in directly attacking enemies,

The sun floating above that thing's head felt more like it strongly assisted the user. In any case, if I could just imitate that, I was sure I would become ridiculously strong, so I decided to try. I took a deep breath, stretched my hand upwards, and concentrated all my mind on creating it.

It's difficult, but I have no choice but to try.

I drew up all the mana I had and tried to mimic the spherical orb that thing was using. While I could create the form, I couldn't replicate the unique power it emitted.

One can't expect perfection on the first try, but...

As I was creating it, feeling helpless, a thought suddenly popped into my head.

*Do I really need to copy it perfectly?*

The thought occurred to me that it wouldn't matter much as long as it had similar performance. This time, instead of mana, I gathered Shadow, compressing it as much as possible to form a small orb.

Then, if I infuse the Shadow with a lot of mana, so I can use it whenever I want...

I smiled, thinking that a technique that could similarly assist me would be complete, even if it was a degraded version.

...

The enemy, who looked exactly like me and had been watching this, seemed intrigued by the black orb I created, and stared at me. I raised my middle finger at it, then lifted my mace and spoke.

*Shall we start again now?*

I felt happy to have gained another opportunity to grow and began to charge forward rapidly.

* * * *

I have a request for you.

Elysia frowned, seeing Mikhail Archbishop suddenly burst in. She had thought he had completely forgotten about her, having left her alone without a word for so long. The situation itself, where he suddenly appeared, mentioning a 'request' but clearly intending to give an order, was quite irritating.

"What is it...?"

"I want you to become the Saintess."

"What?"

At the somewhat bewildering proposal, she closed her mouth and stared at Archbishop Mikhail.

Archbishop Mikhail looked at her and calmly began to speak.

It's a simple matter. Since Saintess Ruen joined hands with a Heretic and terrorized the Order, it's only natural that Ruen be removed from her position as Saintess. That's not the problem. I have no divine power whatsoever, and I haven't established any standing in the Order... The Artificial Sun in your body. To be precise, it's only a part of the Artificial Sun, but you can use it. So it doesn't matter. ...

He looked at her, crossed his legs, and spoke with a voice full of mockery.

Well, anyway, the Power of the Sun and divine power are similar enough, so there won't be any major issues. Of course, the Artificial Sun that Damian fellow implanted in your body isn't in its complete form. To be precise, it's only a part, so you won't be able to use its original power.

He said it was still enough to act as the Saintess. As she listened, she felt dumbfounded. He added one more thing to her.

And don't you want revenge on Damian? The position of Saintess isn't one that solves everything, but it's certainly much better than when you were the Grand Duchess of the North.

She let out a hollow laugh at the mention of revenge. Revenge and everything else had now become meaningless to her, so it was utterly ridiculous that he would bring up revenge and offer her a chance to achieve it. She was about to refuse, but... a thought suddenly flashed through her mind, and she nodded.

*Perhaps if I use this, I might be able to meet Damian again.*

Even if they couldn't resolve the accumulated ill will between them, they might still be able to meet and talk.

The thought that she might be able to untangle the twisted threads spread through her mind, and she accepted Mikhail Archbishop's proposal.