“Mom…!”
As hundreds, thousands of shells flew through the air, Shia let out a moan of distress and sprinted with all her might.
Thanks to Shia quickly choosing to escape, the Slime Empress behind her got hit by a green beam and let out a sound like ‘Guwhaaa!?’ but probably wasn’t dead.
‘I thought it was nothing, but the destructive power of just one beam is no joke…’
Shia scratched her head while staring at the ground that had melted away in less than a second due to Lilybet’s mana beam, as she dangled from a huge underground cavern pipe.
‘No wonder they call her the “Hunter Addict” who looks for other hunters to spar with; I think I understand why now.’
At least, there probably aren’t any hunters on Earth who could face Lilybet head-on… Maybe Yeonseo could manage it?
“Yik.”
“Ha ha ha! Holy Shia! Don’t hide! I can find you easily if I just keep firing!”
I admit it.
Honestly, Shia was being a bit too complacent.
She just planned to extend her arms like usual, deflect the beam in style, and help that unfortunate queen of the sewage with overwhelming power, but it seems Lilybet wasn’t actually fooling around while creating Green City.
Chiiiiiick…
“Ah, hot.”
This is no joke; the moment the beam hit her skin, it melted away like it was touching hydrochloric acid.
Even though Shia’s skin was tougher than steel, bouncing off bullets and immune to all toxins, the mere brushed contact with Lilybet’s beam caused this level of damage.
Of course, the wound itself healed quickly.
After restoring her melted skin, Shia let go of the pipe.
Lilybet, who had lost track of Shia for a moment, seemed to regain her position as Shia released the pipe and aimed hundreds of bits back at her.
It was clear that Mint Queen was strong.
‘The fragment of the Demon King lodged in the heart of Lilybet, who plays the role of the Heart of the City… Her talent itself is truly on a ridiculous level, huh?’
Equivalent to Yeonseo.
Actually, Lilybet’s awakened talent could be considered even superior since she had self-reset and converted it into a non-combat ability called Enchant, but it remained powerful.
Her innate talent was one thing, but considering the intense longing and desire imbued in the fragment of the Demon King, it wouldn’t be surprising if it left wounds on Shia’s body.
To exaggerate a bit, one could say that Menelapie had fallen and become the host of the Demon King, so it wouldn’t be strange if Lilybet’s power was that strong.
‘If Mint Queen had succumbed to the fragment and become the host of the Demon King, it would have been truly dangerous.’
But rather, maybe it was because someone as strong as Lilybet didn’t fall.
“If you’re falling from the sky, aren’t you a bit too easy of a target?!”
Ha ha ha!
With a loud laugh, more green mana erupted.
As Shia was falling upside down, more than hundreds of threads of light flew toward her, making her clench her fists.
It’s annoying, but if it comes to a battle of strength, there’s no reason to shy away.
[Miracle – Annihilation of the Sacred Body]
KWAAAAANG!!!
It wasn’t just Lilybet specialized in wide-area attacks; this was actually Shia’s specialty as well.
Pah!
“…!”
But just when she thought she had canceled out the green mana beam, it managed to graze past Shia’s leg, piercing through her Sacred Body Annihilation miracle.
The moment she felt that sensation, Shia wrapped her body with tentacles.
She could give up an arm or a leg, but if her head got squished, she’d be incapacitated for a while; that’s something she definitely needed to avoid.
Papapapapack!!!
[Enchant – Permanent Power]
[Enchant – Adjustment Correction]
[Enchant – Rapid Fire Correction]
[Enchant – Cancel Evade]
[Enchant – Piercing Correction]
[Enchant – Piercing Enhancement]
[Enchant – ….]
Shia’s Annihilation of the Sacred Body wasn’t useless.
Lilybet kept casting countless enchants on her bits every second and continued her assault.
Many of the bits had been crushed by Shia’s miracle, but it seemed like she had also set up enchants for regeneration and reassembly because the broken bits were reattaching themselves, and at this moment, countless bits with countless enchants were launching thousands of mana beams at once.
Chiiiiiick!
– Kieeeek…!
“Oh, I’m sorry. Does it hurt a lot?”
What the hell are you saying, you damn master?
The tentacles protecting Shia bared their teeth at her.
Even now, the corpse of the god was being repeatedly regenerated and destroyed by Lilybet’s mana beams, and it seemed to be hitting quite the limit, as it started to get pushed back.
No matter how fast she was, the beams that completely covered the vast area of the underground cavern made speed meaningless.
Though enchants were supposed to be non-combat skills, it seemed ridiculous how strong Lilybet could use her abilities in that way.
‘Blasting out Sacred Energy in a wide area is a bad idea. I can also purify and nullify the enchants with a purification miracle, but if I do that blatantly, just like before, Lilybet will infect me with enchants again, increasing the number of bits shooting me…’
Even though bits had been destroyed, they were restored, and somehow, they were firing beams again, and the already canceled mana beams were now attacking Shia even more fiercely with stronger enchants.
Lilybet, with an expectant look on her face, continued firing without relent, curious about how Shia would counter this.
“Enchant… Enchant…”
In the midst of her tentacles, Shia seemed to have a good idea, a smile forming on her lips.
And as if in sympathy with her emotions, her tentacles also curled up, almost as if they were smiling.
The problem was simple.
Lilybet’s enchants and beam bombardments were firing beams of overwhelming numbers and destruction. Due to the barrage of attacks, Shia was unable to move.
While she could endure, Lilybet outright refused to let her get close, so one use of [Annihilation of the Sacred Body] could barely nullify the bombardment.
Feeling her body gradually being chipped away, Shia gently caressed the tentacles protecting her.
“You all should get stronger too.”
Zwhoooom!
Crack!
Zwhoooom!
“I’m going to stop mocking you for a bit.”
[Atmospheric – Degrade the Mockery]
Her mouth opened.
Not just Shia’s tentacles, but countless mouths began to open gradually, even while being hit by Lilybet’s beam bombardment.
Once the preparation was complete, Shia spread the tentacles that had been protecting her like a shell.
As Shia’s body came into view, the tentacles that enveloped her like a flower bud unfurled, leaving Lilybet with no intention of holding back and focused her fire on Shia.
“Ha ha! Holy Shia! If you give up defense, what are you… O-ooh?”
But Lilybet soon realized something was off.
‘…What is that…?’
[[[[[“””””””””Hehehe….”””””””””]]]]]
Mouths.
Mouths.
Everywhere were mouths.
On Shia’s hands.
On her neck.
On one side of her chest and waist.
On her ankles and belly.
Even on one side of Shia’s face.
And on Shia’s tentacles, countless mouths and eyes opened all at once.
The bizarre and terrifying appearance of Shia made Lilybet momentarily falter in her bombardment of attacks.
And in that fleeting hesitation, many of Shia’s mouths…
[[[[[“””””””””Miracle”””””””””]]]]]
All shouted out the miracle at once.
[[[[[“””””””””Annihilation of the Sacred Body”””””””””]]]]]
— BEEP!
“….!?”
The space cracked.
The sound ceased.
All vibrations vanished.
KWAAAAAAANG!!!!!
And the green mist.
The bits that were firing.
All of it was crushed.
A delayed deafening roar echoed, and a huge destruction unfolded centered on Shia, engulfing Lilybet’s green mana occupying the underground cavern in an instant.
Because of the overwhelming destruction, it was obliterated without even undergoing the process of infection.
Not only had the mist vanished but also the mana beams and bits that Lilybet was firing were wiped away in an instant, leaving only a vast silence surrounding the cavern.
The wide-area destruction miracle, Annihilation of the Sacred Body, completely crushed everything within the designated range while simultaneously driving away non-material attacks, including the opponent’s mana and toxins.
If one Annihilation of the Sacred Body wasn’t enough, Shia decided to simply increase her mouths calling out miracles.
Temporarily halting the mockery of the corpse of the Holy Maiden, she increased the number of mouths able to recite the miracle of destruction, causing an unbearable level of destruction for Lilybet to handle.
[[[[[“””””””””Was that too excessive?”””””””””]]]]]
Shia hadn’t intended to go this far.
But given the power that Lilybet possessed, it was something unmanageable with ordinary means, and to counter those overwhelming attacks from the romantic yet battle-crazed sheebuk Queen, Shia had to unleash miracles that even a Demon King would use.
As Shia began to stitch up the mouths that had formed, they disappeared, leaving no trace behind.
Kuwoong!
And amidst the metal debris, Lilybet emerged.
“Ha ha ha! I almost died! Holy Shia!”
Fortunately, it appeared she wasn’t wounded at all.
She switched all the bits that had bombarded Shia into protection mode, surrounding her.
However, due to the overwhelming multi-destruction miracle, the components and gears that made up Lilybet’s bits were crushed into dust without a chance of reconfiguration. With the bits no longer available to shoot, she could no longer bombard with beams.
‘Well, rebuilding is certainly possible…’
Thirty seconds.
If given thirty seconds, Lilybet could recreate hundreds of bits to resume her bombardment.
But would Shia truly give Lilybet that thirty seconds?
[Miracle – Descent of the Sacred Body]
Seeing five new tentacles sprout from Shia’s waist, Lilybet shook her head inwardly.
No, this wouldn’t do.
She was going to finish this now.
To be honest, victory or defeat had been determined in an instant.
Shia had been hiding that monstrous and destructive power all along. Even after unleashing such a destructive miracle, she even managed to control it such that Lilybet’s true body, along with the Grasshopper Chef and Kim Hana, wouldn’t perish.
Even without sustaining clear injuries, Lilybet instinctively felt she had lost.
What a pity…
To think it was ending so soon.
There seemed to be no way Shia would allow enough time for her to resume bombardment.
But contrary to expectations, Shia didn’t charge at Lilybet immediately.
Instead, she simply smiled quietly, gently spreading her arms as if to grant Lilybet a moment longer.
“…..!”
As if saying she understood Lilybet’s disappointment.
As if giving her another chance.
As if inviting her for one last time.
Shia was speaking those words.
And Lilybet also didn’t want to let go of this excitement just yet.
After all, this was the very true battle and duel that Lilybet had longed for.
Romance.
What Lilybet had long forgotten.
No, it was something she hadn’t forgotten for a second; she had constantly proclaimed it with her mouth, yet no one had responded, and she had nearly let it slip through her fingers.
Wasn’t Shia making it come true at this moment?
‘Is this the romance I only saw in comics…?’
Lilybet’s lips were curling into a deep smile—no, she couldn’t help but smile.
[Kill][Kill]
[Kill][Kill]
However, before she could settle down from her excitement, Lilybet heard a whispering voice in her head from somewhere.
It was a disgustingly sticky voice.
Do you feel that way?
Feeling inadequate?
I’ll help you.
Kill that brat.
Kill the Holy Maiden.
You can’t do it alone.
Let’s win.
Let’s team up.
Come here.
‘Shut up, Fragment.’
Even though the unconsciousness of the fragment was whispering to Lilybet to kill the Holy Maiden, it was a mere echo insignificant compared to what Lilybet had long overcome.
Though Lilybet felt a tad more excited due to the fragment’s whispers, it was a positive type of excitement.
Lilybet was thoroughly enjoying this moment and had no intention of allowing such enjoyment to be disrupted by a fragment.
‘Get lost.’
This is my battle.
My duel.
My romance.
Fragment, you can never interfere with my romance.
‘You dare to interfere with us?’
She’s mine.
‘Don’t meddle between me and Holy Shia.’
With those words echoing in her mind, Lilybet subdued the fragment writhing somewhere within her soul.
“Haah…”
As the green fog dissipated, and the risk of infection vanished, Shia gazed at Lilybet, who was now radiant, her Sacred Energy flowing gracefully, like a flower, with tentacles beautifully unfurled.
‘Holy Shia… Are you not more magnificent than I imagined?!’
This was the magnificent duel that she had only dreamed of.
A battle with all they had.
And yet, neither felt any animosity towards each other in a scene that resembled mythology.
Surely, their techniques had enough power to kill one another, yet both Shia and Lilybet didn’t harbor a shred of hatred for each other.
Lilybet, the creator of Green City, who had become a monster while piling corpses into mountains, hadn’t forgotten the countless romantic books and comics she had read as a child.
Even if she created a sewer while trying to realize her paradise, deep in her heart, she was still pursuing lofty ideals and romance, making this moment far too precious to her.
From Lilybet’s perspective, Shia was currently creating the scenes and romantic interactions he once dreamt of in comics, right here in reality.
“Ah, ha, ha…”
This was truly a duel.
This was the clash of souls one would read about in manga.
This was the wonderful battle she had envisioned!
‘Ah, I love this…’
Of course, if someone were to see her, they would say she was a battle-crazed woman, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
Lilybet was overwhelmed with joy at this moment.
“Ah, this is great. So great…!”
It was truly sad and regrettable when conflicts arose from differing opinions and beliefs, and yet Lilybet loved Shia all the more.
Shia, who was fulfilling her romantic inclinations.
Shia, who played along with her childish whining.
Shia embraced her tears, even amidst the tantrum uproaring and blossoming through the underground cavern.
‘I love you so much!’
Even as she pulled this childish act, Shia didn’t get mad once. Instead, she adored the Holy Maiden, who promised salvation!
Thus, Lilybet couldn’t bring herself to treat this romantic duel any less seriously.
If possible, if possible, she wanted it to be even more magnificent.
More romantic.
To wipe away all grievances and conflicts with this single romantic duel!
Lilybet silently unfurled her steel wings.
‘Yes, the beam bombardment is good, but…’
The true romance of a duel must come from the collision of hands and bodies.
So just as you wished, one last time…!
[Enchant – Recollection]
Craack!
The countless metal fragments scattered on the ground began to cling to Lilybet’s body.
[Enchant – Shape Maintenance]
[Enchant – Strength Enhancement]
[Enchant – Mutation]
Duuuuud!
Dudududu!!
The metal clinging to her skin divided and reformed on its own, taking the shape of armor while adhering to Lilybet’s body perfectly.
Piece by piece.
From head to toe.
All pieces connected, and soon, Lilybet’s entire form was covered in enchanted steel fragments.
It resembled something straight out of a comic, like a bipedal robot seen in Gundam or Iron Man.
‘Even imagining this was something I had only wished for while watching anime. It’s the first time using a technique like this! It’s all thanks to Holy Shia!’
Thirty seconds was all it took for Lilybet’s transformation to be completed, and from the modified shell, she let out a cry of jubilation.
[Thank you so much! Thank you, Holy Shia!]
“Looks like the Mint Chocolate Queen who loved romance has turned into some robot now.”
[Ha ha ha! But isn’t it cool?]
“Well, it is cool, I guess.”
[Wahaha! I knew you would understand!]
Her steel wings were equipped with blades and boosters. Engines and gears adorned her shoulders and knees. Gears powered by green mana had been installed.
In addition, numerous weapons had attached themselves to Lilybet’s body, all aimed at Shia.
The only reason Lilybet hadn’t enlarged herself was out of some sense of decency?
Or perhaps a lack of romance?
[Now, just one last time… Just one more time…!]
“Ha ha ha, that sheebuk queen is really….”
And with that, the boosters embedded in the ground ignited.
KWAAAAAAANG!!!!
