Published at 27th of July 2022 11:37:18 AM

648 Hero Miia

Miia readies her [Blackfly Greatsword] and looks at us. Her eyes are completely emotionless, and her mouth is parted slightly.

Opposite her, Aro and treant both have tense expressions. I probably look similarly strained now.

Miia is strong. Her stats are powerful, but more important is her proficiency with her skills, which is an order of magnitude better than mine.

[Miia Mitornia]

Species: Thanatos

Condition: God of Madness (minor), Cursed, Humanised Lv MAX

Lv: 150/150 (MAX)

HP: 3333/6666

MP: 4172/4444

Attack: 2222 (4444) +444

Defence: 1106 (2212)

Magic: 4444

Speed: 3220

Rank: L (Legendary)

Equipment:

Hand: [Greatsword of the Black Fly: L+]

Divine Skills:

[Naraka Realm: Lv-]

Characteristic Skills:

[Grisha Language: Lv8] [Undead: Lv-] [Armour of Undying Flesh: LvMAX] [Flesh Transformation: LvMAX] [Privilege of the Deceased: Lv-] [Underworld Mirror: Lv-] [Automatic HP Recovery: LvMAX] [Automatic MP Recovery: LvMAX] [Tentacle: LvMAX] [Flight: LvMAX] [Death God Aura: Lv-] [Dark Attribute: Lv-] [Evil Dragon: Lv-] [Presence Perception: LvMAX] [Mage Talent: LvMAX] [Swordsman Talent: LvMAX] [Demon Eye of Instant Death: LvMAX] [Demon Eye of Terror: LvMAX] [Rules Demon Eye: LvMAX] [Demon Eye of Allure: LvMAX] [Evil Demon Eye: LvMAX] [God of Madness: Lv-]

Resistance Skills:

[Physical Resistance: LvMAX] [Magic Resistance: LvMAX] [Status Condition Nullification: Lv-] [Darkness Attribute Nullification: Lv-] Light Attribute Resistance: LvMAX]

Normal Skills:

[Shockwaves: LvMAX] [Afterimage Sword: LvMAX] [Godspeed Flash: LvMAX] [Flowing Body: LvMAX] [Hollowed Moon: LvMAX] [Exorcising Blade: LvMAX] [High Rest: LvMAX] [Holy Sphere: LvMAX] [Dimension: LvMAX] [Clay: LvMAX] [Alchemy: LvMAX] [Poison Fang: LvMAX] [Scorching Breath: LvMAX] [Plague Breath: LvMAX] [Humanisation Technique: LvMAX] [Autoregeneration: LvMAX] [Death: LvMAX] [Telepathy: LvMAX] [Dark Sphere: LvMAX] [Fake Life: LvMAX] [Dark Rest: LvMAX] [Putrefying Breath: LvMAX] [Tongue of Defilement: LvMAX] [Life Drain: LvMAX] [Split Beast: LvMAX] [High Slow: LvMAX] [Eclipse: LvMAX]

Title Skills:

[Final Evolution: Lv-] [Former Hero: Lv-] [Former Demon Lord: Lv-] [Clutz: LvMAX] [Obsession: LvMAX] [Big EaterGiant Killer: LvMAX] [God of the Battlefield: LvMAX] [Laplace Interference Authority: Lv2] [Death God: Lv-]

I check her status again. It seems she intends to stay in her human form as she fights me.

She said she was used to fighting in a human body, but its a relief to know that some of her stats are halved.

From watching her fight before, I have an idea of which skills I need to watch out for.

Theres [Godspeed Flash], which makes her already fast movement practically instantaneous. Theres [Afterimage Sword], which creates a solid copy of her sword, drastically increasing her damage output. Theres [Hollowed Moon], which nullifies and converts the energy of an impact into a brutal counter attack.

I have to keep these three in mind as I fight. If I slip up for even a moment, my health could suddenly be cut down by [Afterimage Sword], or I could get hit by [Hollowed Moon] and die all at once.

Put another way, these three are the only ones I need to be alert for. She shouldnt have much opportunity to launch ranged magical attacks as long as I stick close to her. Even if she does use magic, it should be easier to deal with than her swordsmanship.

Aro, treant, please provide support! Aro, you need to conserve mana, so avoid using [Darkness Kaleidoscope]! Dont forget that she has [Darkness Attribute Nullification]!

Got it!

Treant, stay in spirit form for now! Its too dangerous to take your full size against her!

I understand, master-dono!

Treants endurance surpasses even my own when accounting for his skills. But, it would be difficult for him to take repeated hits from Miia. His endurance relies on being able to heal in between the hits he takes, so its entirely possible that he could be overwhelmed. Having him fight on the front line isnt completely out of the question, but its also not an option I want to rush into.

You have [Flash that Drives Away the Darkness], dont you? It was my favourite skill, so it feels a bit strange to be fighting against it.

Miias voice sounds dispassionate, without any feeling of nostalgia. She holds her [Blackfly Greatsword] with her left hand, touching a hand to her neck.

Youve also got [Travelling Companion], right? That one might be the most dangerous. Ill need to think of a countermeasure.

Miia, you!

The next moment, her hand blurts. Two dark slashes fly towards me.

It looks like she combined [Shockwave] and [Afterimage Sword]. She distracted me by talking, then suddenly launched an attack.

Should I try cancelling it out with my claws? No, thats no good. She would never launch a straightforward attack.

Ive seen her do this several times before, enough to know what her aim is. She wants to use [Shockwave] to knock me off balance so she can catch me with a follow-up attack.

In my mind, I see her fighting the xiangliu and hecatoncheir. I know how she fights! Ive also learned from my many life-and-death experiences!

I slam my tail into the ground to leap up, dodging the two [Shockwaves] while swinging my claws. Here! Miia will come this way!

GuuOOOOOOOh!

The tip of my claws interrupts her [Godspeed Flash]. [Godspeed Flash] is fast, but the motion is linear.

Shes able to block my claws with her sword, but I succeed in knocking her back to the ground.

It worked. I did it! Im able to react to her swordsmanship!

Luck was probably a factor too, but the fact that I was able to stop her at her top speed is huge.

I shoot [Dimension Claw] at Miia. I cant let up! If I get even a slight advantage, I need to keep pushing!

[Flowing Body].

Miia tumbles as she hits the ground, but then leaps up at me at a terrifying speed. She cleanly deflects my [Dimension Claw] with her sword. I hastily raise my guard, but she slips through.

A sharp slash cuts through my chest. Suppressing the pain, I swing wildly with my forelegs. Miia lands on the tip of my claws.

I swing up, and she leaps back backwards. Without any hesitation, she kicks off the wall to leap towards me again. I wont be able to block in time!

I desperately lower my head and reach out with my forelegs. Her blade cuts through the area directly above my left eye. My scales break, and the damage reaches my skull. The left side of my vision becomes drenched in blood.

Guuuu.!

I swing my claws to try and catch her, but I dont come close.

What was I doing being happy about blocking a single attack!? I cant rely on luck. I need to be able to respond every time!

The next moment, Miia completely disappears from view. I squint with my bloodsoaked left eye, and listen for the sound of her sword cutting the air as I swing my arm.

Sorry, but Ill be ending it now.

As I see her, her hand blurs. Shes using [Afterimage Sword] to aim for my neck. I change the course of my swing, adjusting my aim. But it wont make it in time.

[Gale]!

Aros voice echoes, layered in triplicate. A row of three whirlwinds appear, acting like a defensive wall between me and Miia.

Miias sword shines with light. Shes using [Exorcising Blade]. The wall of wind scatters.

But, this is still enough. My claws reach Miia just as she begins to swing. She kicks off my claws, returning to the ground.

I failed to damage her again! But Im glad I was able to block that attack. If Aro hadnt helped, I wouldnt have managed it. If I took [Afterimage Sword] with my neck, its possible I could have died immediately.

Having split with [Darkness Kaleidoscope], the three Aros fly up to my shoulder on their black wings.

Aro! Thanks for the help, but [Darkness Kaleidoscope] costs too much!

Aro shakes her head.

Thank you for your concern. But, I understand. We cant fight Miisan without giving our everything.

Thats true.

I had thought that if she splits into three with [Darkness Kaleidoscope], she would soon run out of mana and become unable to use skills. In order to fight Miia, its important that we conserve our strength. Once Aro or treant become unable to fight, Miia will no longer have to worry about their interference and will go entirely on the offensive.

Once that happens, I probably wont be able to handle her. Thats why I wanted Aro and treant to hold back. That was what I thought, but, as Aro says, we cant fight Miia while holding back.

Since becoming a walpurgis, Aros body has essentially become solidified mana. Her MP is equivalent to her HP. So, its possible that I was only searching for an excuse to keep her out of danger.

Please let me put my life on the line a bit more, dragon-god-sama. I cant just fire magic from the rear while your life is at risk.

Aro

My stats have increased a lot since I became a walpurgis and levelled up! As long as it can hit, my magic can deal serious damage to Miisan while shes humanised! I cant just be protected any more!

I understand! Hit her with everything youve got! Im sure landing your attacks will be hard, but try to interrupt her paths! Thatll make it a lot easier for me to read her movements!

Got it!

Treant alights on my shoulder.

I cant let Aro-dono show me up! Master-dono, allow me to help you with all my body and soul!

Treant!

This is unfortunate It was easy to deal with the occasional magic attack from a distance, but at this rate, Ill seriously have to go for the kill. Dont think too badly of me, its for the sake of the world.

Miia readies her [Blackfly Greatsword] and glares at us with hostility. Treant takes a half-step back, while the three Aros glare back, moving forwards slightly.