“Hey, Grimo, is that like how I’m lending you my body?”
“It’s completely different, Master Lloyd! In our case, you’re the one firmly in control. If anything, I’m just an accessory. ...That bastard Pazuzu, on the other hand, has completely usurped that magical beast’s body.”
A Majin has no physical form, which apparently allows them to fuse with the bodies of other living creatures. Just as Grimo resided in my right hand, Pazuzu had likely entered the bearwolf’s body. However, the initiative over there seemed to belong entirely to him.
The giant bearwolf—Pazuzu—let out a low growl as he stalked toward us.
“Now, rise! My kin!”
At Pazuzu’s command, a glint of life returned to the eyes of the bearwolves that had been lying defeated. As they slowly climbed back to their feet, a faint, black, haze-like substance clung to their fur.
—Is that Pazuzu’s mana?
A magical beast is a creature that has grown strong and large by consuming matter containing mana. Once they transform, they prefer to eat things imbued with mana to grow even stronger. Pazuzu was likely healing the injured beasts by feeding them his own mana. I recall reading in books that magical beast tamers control their creatures in a similar fashion.
“...Hmm, I see. Looking at it up close, it’s clear that isn’t just ordinary mana.”
It looked as though he was changing the properties of his mana so the magical beasts’ bodies could easily absorb it. Typically, another person’s mana isn't something that can be accepted into the body without rejection. He was likely altering its nature to make it more compatible.
When someone with strong mana is nearby, it tends to be quite distracting. That’s why I usually suppress my own mana during my daily activities, but it’s actually quite exhausting to maintain.
I see; so mana can be used like that as well. Fascinating.
The bearwolves snarled, causing the Royal Guards to stumble backward. The wounds on the revived beasts closed up before our eyes, and they even seemed to have grown slightly larger than before.
“I-Impossible...!”
“We already took them down once...”
The sight of the defeated monsters rising again sent a wave of panic through the ranks. As if to capitalize on their fear, Pazuzu let out a deafening roar.
“GUOOOOOOOH!”
With that as the signal, the bearwolves charged. The Royal Guards tried to maintain a defensive formation, but they had already lost the battle of wills. On top of that, they were facing the massive frame of Pazuzu. Every man was hesitating, paralyzed by the sight.
Pazuzu was not the type to show restraint. With a wide, sweeping blow, he caught several guards at once.
“Gwah?!”
With a single swing, the Royal Guards were sent flying. The sword of a guard who tried to block the follow-up kick snapped in two, and he was thrown to the ground. One after another, the soldiers were struck down. Those still facing the smaller bearwolves turned pale as they watched the slaughter.
“Hiee! H-He’s too strong...!”
“So that’s a Majin... T-There’s no way we can stop him...!”
Faced with such an overwhelming difference in power, the Royal Guards were losing their fighting spirit. Just as the front line fell into complete disarray and it seemed they were merely waiting to be trampled, a gust of wind blew between them.
“—Allow me.”
A person dashed past with a dignified voice. It was Sylpha. In each of her hands, she gripped a sword she had snatched from the scabbards of the retreating guards. The twin blades caught the sunlight, glinting sharply.
“Langris Style Twin Sword Arts—Rising Twin Dragons!”
Scraping her blades against the ground, Sylpha sprinted toward Pazuzu. Drawing two lines in the earth, she reached the beast’s feet and leapt vertically. A flash of steel erupted during her ascent. Slashing wounds were left clearly in her wake, running from his legs to his torso and up to his shoulders.
“Nguuh?!”
Pazuzu let out a pained groan at the tremendous series of slashes delivered as she scaled his massive body. Using Pazuzu’s shoulder as a foothold, Sylpha performed a half-turn in mid-air. She now held both swords in a reverse grip.
“And next... Langris Style Twin Sword Arts—Descending Flying Bird!”
The twin swords pierced into Pazuzu’s back. With a rhythmic clashing of steel, Sylpha landed while unleashing a fierce barrage of slashes. It was magnificent swordplay, faster than the eye could follow.
Oh, impressive. So this is Sylpha when she’s being serious.
“You... stop scurrying around!”
Despite the attack, Pazuzu seemed largely unharmed. He unleashed a kick aimed at the landing Sylpha.
—But he was too slow. All he caught was her afterimage.
Before his remaining leg stood Sylpha, holding her twin swords in a cross.
“Two Tigers: Claws and Fangs...!”
A four-hit combo delivered from every direction caused blood to spray from the beast’s hide.
“?!”
Sylpha’s expression hardened. Her swords had snapped from the single strike that had bitten deep into his flesh. She immediately discarded the broken hilts, retreated back to the safety of our lines, and muttered under her breath.
“...He is quite durable. Could you all please entrust your swords to me?”
“O-Oh, of course!”
The Royal Guards nodded vigorously and gathered their spare blades, thrusting them into the ground. There were twelve in total. Sylpha looked at them with a hint of uncertainty, but she quickly regained her composure and drew two fresh swords.
“Maid and Swordsmanship Instructor of the Kingdom of Saloom, Sylpha Langris. I am coming for you!”
The twin swords Sylpha leveled at him emitted a cold, predatory light.
“Nuu... A mere woman...”
Just as Pazuzu’s attention was fixed entirely on Sylpha...
“Suuuuu...”
The sound of a deep, controlled breath echoed. At his feet stood a small shadow with crossed arms. It was Tao. Dropping her hips low, she thrust out her palms in a twisting motion.
“Ha!”
A heavy, low-frequency boom rumbled through the air. It was an attack imbued with Ki. The shockwave ran through Pazuzu’s leg, causing his massive frame to stagger and crash to the ground.
“—Quaking Thunder Blast. The movement is a bit long, making it hard to land, but the power is top-notch!”
Tao gave a cheeky grin, then turned her palms toward the fallen Pazuzu and beckoned him closer.
“Hundred Flowers Fist 108th Head Apprentice, Tao Yuifa. Come and get some-aru!”
The expressions of the Royal Guards shifted as they watched the two women fight.
“W-We’re doing this too!”
“That’s right! Time to show them we’re not cowards!”
They gripped their swords with trembling hands and turned back to face the bearwolves. It seemed they had regained their spirit. Seeing this, Albert nodded as if he had come to a final resolution.
“Everyone, please hold out just a little longer...”
He stared straight at Pazuzu and continued.
“I’m going to use Supreme Magic...!”
...I see, I see. That’s all well and good, but I wonder how one actually goes about changing the properties of mana.
Completely distracted from the battle, I stared intently at the mana Pazuzu was emitting, filled with curiosity.