Two duelists, facing each other in the garden, begin to move at the same time.
In the midst of it all, I wait for the enemy to sprint and swear in my heart to do only one thing.
I will win and prove that I am the "Prime Minister".
With that much vow in mind, I (...) - the Prime Minister's aide cries out.
''Stake out! Kasavilanka--!
The call is not magic, but power as a demon (Doriade).
In a garden where more than a thousand species of plants grow wild and have become a kind of demonic forest - the thick trunks of the plants that call out their names start to move like a snake.
No matter how primordial they are, it would be impossible to offset them with magical power.
The surface is covered in moss and multiple trees, a mixture of green and brown.
The group of trees grows and grows and rages.
There is no magical manipulation there. It's just that I, as a tree person (Doriad), am calling out to them, and the trees of the Casavilanka race are responding.
With this, even if I am not so quick-witted - I can move more than ten trees at the same time.
The trees attacked the Primordial Vortex Wave from all directions.
The primordial whirlpool wave rushed out, grasping all of them with a small-scale dimensional magic - perhaps the Dimension - and wielded his sword.
The trees shred in one breath.
Seeing this, he retreated as fast as he could.
The strength of this tree man's call is that I don't need to focus on it like magic. It would be a great advantage to be able to use more than ten trees to attack, while I could focus on my own defense.
And if the decisive battlefield is your own tended garden, there are still more trees to call upon.
This time I'll attack with not ten - but a hundred trunks and branches.
'Ladies and gentlemen of the garden, I beg of you! Please continue to seal off the Primordial Vortex Wave!
'Don't lick my sword! Grow! --The Sword of the Interdimensionality!
Against the assault of the trees, which seemed to be ten snakes plus a hundred tentacles, the Primordial Vortex Wave extended its dimensional attribute blade. The blade's faint, light purple glow shimmered, and in a moment - all of the trees that should have been a hundred and ten in the surrounding area were cut off.
It didn't matter the direction or distance.
It was a slash that made it seem like the entire world was in time.
Just like the Rowen-sama of the past.
I cut off the response plan I had calmly prepared in the corner of my head while being angry at that unreasonable talent.
''It's your turn! De Rifidou! Please protect everyone!
The thick trunk of the special tree (de Rifidou) that had been staked out beforehand is waiting at the end of the wielded sword.
At the same time, with a thump, the sound of a blade on the tree (・・・・) can be heard
It's the same sound as when a woodcutter's axe, which is too small, realizes that cutting is impossible against the great trees of nature.
'Huh?'
With the surprise of the Founder Uzura Wave, the sword that was extended to the point of almost slashing its entire castle becomes still.
And the sword blade, which was emitting a light purple color, dissipates.
"The blade, it won't pass--? Not only can you not cut it, you're sucking it up!
It seems that he realized that the magic power was taken away from his sword tip (・・・・) and released his own "magic power materialization". I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in your life.
''De Rifidou is a plant known as the 'Holy Tree of Magic Power Sucking'! It was slowly cultivated and improved by this 'thing that steals the logic of the tree'! There, the techniques of The One Who Steals the Reason of Light are crammed in there! No matter how much of a founder, it's impossible to cut off a dimensional attribute's magic power alone! Now, swallow your ancestors. 'The Holy Tree of Magic Sucking (de Rifidou)!'
In order to engrave the "unbreakable" card into the head of Ancestor Uzumi, the battle revolves around the magic sucking sacred tree, the de Rifidou.
The de Rifidou eats the founder's rich magic, filling his body with an unprecedented energy, and then attacks him like a hungry beast, begging him to eat more.
It is not an insectivorous plant or a cannibalistic plant, but this wizard-killing food plant is the one that you have grown to deal with the founder, and you are confident that you can deal with it in a matter of seconds, as if you were mocking him.
''You want my magic power! I could slash it, but it would be too much trouble! Then--!
Even though there were countless 'Magic Power-Sucking Sacred Trees (de Rifidou)' looming around him, the founder suppressed his magic power to the limit.
Not only did he disarm not only the magic blade, but also the basic magic, 《Dimension》.
Then, he closed his eyes (・・・・・)--all attacks were paid off with only the substantive sword.
''--Ha, haha! That's ridiculous!
It makes me want to swear.
This is completely 'the one who steals the reason of the earth' Rowen. It's also complete with magic, a weakness he should have had. In other words, he's the 'strongest swordsman in history' who is good at magic.
If he attacked this stupid 'reason-stealer' opponent with only the 'Magic Power-Sucking Holy Tree (de Rifidou)', his numbers would soon run out.
He stopped attacking and put the trees back around him and let them focus on defense.
Silence returns to the great garden of Viaisia Castle as both myself and the Primordial Ancestor are in the form of waiting for the enemy to attack.
There is a hole in the dueling time, and first the Primarch opens his closed eyes and speaks to me with a look as if he has finished his preparatory work.
''...... 'The one who steals the logic of the trees' as the name implies, that's how you fight by manipulating various trees with magic power.'''
He was full of composure.
From the point of view of the Founder, he's just finished the first stage of seeing how things are going. It's a good thing that the magic sucking sacred tree (de Rifidou) is a treasured possession that I've been cultivating for a thousand years, but it's something that can be easily broken through.
I made a relaxed expression on my face and replied so as not to be noticed for my agitation. In order not to lose, I produce as much bottomlessness as possible.
''Hmph. No, the progenitor vortex wave. You can't manipulate the trees with magical power ...... such a dexterous imitation, you can't do it yourself, can you? What I'm doing is much simpler.
Even if you were a person in this modern world, there was no way I, an ordinary person from a thousand years ago, would be able to imitate such a fairy tale wizard.
In the first place, forcing plants to move like other wood wizards do is a feat that requires a great deal of talent.
Sadly, I have zero talent for it.
'My own magical powers specialize in aiding those around me. However, to put it bluntly, I am just that. I don't have the ability to control magic power like the 'controlling king (Lord)' who was called the Demon King, nor do I have the ability to develop magic like you, who was called the founder. The quality of your magic power is as unwieldy as Tida-sama's, and it's only about the same level of magic as Rowen-sama who lived only by the sword. Everyone told me that I'm not just a wizard, but a flunker as a fighter. ......
I will confess my power without embellishing it.
It's a fact that would be quickly spotted by a primordial vortex wave opponent anyway. It wasn't even close.
Above all, I wanted you to know that this is the only thing I wanted the Ancestor Vortex Wave to know.
I wanted to tell him at least one reason for this duel.
There are only four types of things you can do: 'growth promotion,' 'recovery,' 'strengthening others,' and 'self-strengthening. There is not a single means of attack. You were not born to fight, but only to support someone else. All I can do is utilize everyone else's traits and help them live! But on the contrary, it's second to none! I'm the strongest in the room! -- 'Grose Branchwood'!
I turn to the garden and activate my overall strengthening magic.
Of course, to match that magic, the "Holy Tree of Magic Power Sucking (de Rifidou)" tries to suck my magic power. I don't resist it - on the contrary, I stretch my roots as a tree person (Doriade) underneath my feet and pass my magic power ahead of me through the earth.
And I ask.
As a friend, he asks you to help him fight his enemy, the Primarch.
That's the only way I can fight him.
What comes back to that appeal is a mixture of rustling trees and creaking cheers from the rapid growth.
All the plants that have been given their own magic promise to stand up to the founder as their own friends.
Combining the power of the Doriade and the power of the 'one who steals the logic of the tree', trees from all directions in the garden move to catch the Primordial Vortex Wave.
''--and more will follow! d*mn, now there's some man-eating plant-like stuff in the mix!
The mingling of vases and shell-shaped plants that looked like they could eat any living thing made the Primordial Vortex Wave's tongue flutter.
''Hmph, it's not just man-eating plants! The variety of plants in this castle is stellar! We still have a handful of cards over here!
'You can't afford to have to explain it to me! Id!
'Yes, I'm very confident! This is my field! The world to win you! We're not going to lose!
I was strong in my mouth, but not in practice.
The margin is that way.
Since there's room for conversation in front of this all-out assault, there must be a lot of spare energy.
Probably, but they are probably wary of Nosfy-sama's spear and are sparing their full strength.
Even if that advantage is over here, it's still this.
The progenitor vortex wave has been intercepting the random dances of all the plant species with a single sword, and has continued to endure unscathed, and is now beginning to get used to the assault of trunks and branches (・・・・) and is inching closer and closer to us.
...... Getting used to it?
Oh, it's kidding me.
It's too much of a joke.
And the sheer force of it all makes me feel a little weak.
It's true that I may have as many different kinds of cards in my hand as there are stars. But, after all, plants are plants. Most of them live quietly, feeding on the earth, water and light, and they are not viable cards. There are few species that try to eat other materials and species, such as the magic sucking sacred tree (de Rifidou).
Now, the Primordial Vortex Wave is wary of Master Nosfi and won't come to force the game. However, if he were to charge at you without a care in the world, he would definitely be able to cut you down unilaterally.
The odds of winning in a head-to-head battle - zero percent.
In the past few seconds of battle, I was painfully aware of that. And it won't take long until the other side comes to the same answer.
''Kudos, it can't be helped, ......!
He grunted and began to back away, letting his own rooted feet leave the ground.
'Wait, Id! You're going to run away!
'I don't see myself as the only place for dueling in this garden! This Villaisia Castle is my 'armory' built solely for the purpose of killing 'the one who steals the reason for the dimension'! The entire country is a dueling ground as long as the plants inhabiting this Vieisian country are your weapons! That's how I interpret myself!
As he tries to escape, the progenitor Uzumi stops him and tells him that he is out of his mind.
Then he manages to escape through the western doorway into the wide, tunnel-like corridor by having all the plants in the garden stop him.
I've been asked to wait in this great corridor for--
There's your bite! 'Stone Eating Ivy' (Terrieria) folks!
A space where countless green ivy - 'stone-eating ivy (terrieria)' - hangs from the heavens like a velvet curtain.
That ivy begins to move to cling to the Ancestor Vortex Wave that followed him into the grand corridor.
Naturally, the Primordial Vortex Wave tries to intercept it and swings his sword.
However, he immediately notices something strange.
The Stone Eating Ivy (Terrieria) is not aiming at the Primordial Vortex Wave, but at the ores it wears.
The treasure swords in his hand, the accessories and clutches hidden within his body - no hidden weapons are allowed to pass through this great corridor.
"Huh. I'm not the one with the weapons--?
'Stone Eating Ivy'! The proud lineage of your ancestors! In the name of the One Who Stole the Principle of the Tree, I pray! Btw, entangle that swordsman!
This is a nest of a species called 'stone eating ivy' (terrieria) in this large corridor.
As a fist fighter, I can pass through, but the swordsman, the founder Uzunami, cannot pass through easily.
''It's now! We don't need any more scaffolding!
Furthermore, he didn't give the bewildered Primordial Vortex Wave time to think about the mineral target, and called out to the plants that had been substituting for the floor of the main corridor to activate the trap.
It's an unavoidable and extensive pitfall.
He loses his footing and the Ancestor Vortex Wave falls. Likewise, I, who was not too far away, fall as well. Of course, even while falling, the attack of the ore-eating ivy from the wall on the side - the 'stone eating ivy (terrieria)' - did not stop.
The First Ancestor Uzura Wave stabbed his sword into the wall and tried to prevent it from falling.
However, he thought that this would take away the sword that was now defenseless. He immediately stopped and tried to swing his sword in the air.
However, in this falling state, his signature 'sword technique' was not brilliant - unbearable, the founder vortex wave plunged his sword into the empty space - and erased the beautiful treasure sword.
''I'd rather use it than have it taken away from me--!
Perhaps he used dimensional magic to evacuate to another space.
If that 'The One Who Steals the Reason of the Earth' magic stone was here, he could have used it as a source of magic power to trigger an even bigger trap, but it was successfully avoided.
Following that, the Primordial Vortex Wave took off all of the metal it was wearing and threw it into the distance.
This is a perfect way to deal with the Stone Eating Ivy (Terrieria), so perfect that I want to put it in a textbook.
Terrieria is a plant that smells and acts on the scent of minerals. After eating the equipment thrown at them, they would not be able to detect the location of the Ancestor Vortex Wave without any minerals and would be stuck.
So, myself and the Primordial Whirlpool Wave finally landed in the great hall downstairs.
The ceiling here is also inhabited by 'Stone Eating Ivy' (Terrieria), but it's as quiet as the swaying Northern Lights. As long as there isn't a single mineral to feed on, there won't be any more of them.
Moving to a new stage, the founder Uzumiha, who became an empty-handed fist, speaks to me.
'There's such a thing as a plant that reacts to minerals ....... So, you want to strip me of my equipment, no magic and no weapons, you want to have a fist fight? That's still fine with me.
...... I think the only field I can fight you on is 'naguri ai' (fist fight). But I don't think even that is better than Uzumi-sama's. That's why I'm making various preparations. Therefore, I have prepared many things for you.
They don't lose the look of composure on each other's faces.
They are both trying to read each other's hands, pretending that they still have more depth to them.
The First Ancestor Uzura Wave turned his keen eyes on them, trying not to miss not only his own statements, but also his facial expressions.
I'm afraid that not only the muscle movements of my own expression, but also my body temperature, blood flow, and even the amount of sweat I'm sweating will be detected.
'Ayd, if you're ready, you're ready to go, right? What more--......!
In the middle of speaking, the progenitor vortex wave holds his mouth and bends over.
I smirk to myself and laugh like a villain.
''Hmph. Finally, it's working.''
The enemy is scary. Still, smile.
Don't step back.
I've done my part to prepare you for this. Have confidence...!
'That symptom is the 'gold-penetrating poisonous flower (tridrake)', is it not? Then shall we have more of that and less of the other flowers?
The brightly colored flowers that were quietly blooming in the corner of the room were spoken to from the ground through magical power. The noxious reds and blues are reverting to buds as if time were rewound, leaving only the yellow flowers behind.
All the various flowers in the castle turned yellow.
At the same time, the pollen with various effects became specialized for one type only.
It is the only space that can worsen the physical condition that is currently attacking the founder's vortex wave.
The id ......, no way you ......
Yes, you saw a glimmer of a flower earlier, didn't you? You think that was prepared for the color of the castle? I told you the other day that we were going to prepare for the progenitor's interception. --all poisonous flowers. And that's only for specially made poisonous plants that are among the most dangerous on the continent.
I'm going to clear the story to the primordial whirlpool wave that is glaring at me.
If he had used poisonous arrows or a high concentration of special gas, he would have been able to deal with it without a second thought. But even the Ancestor Vortex Wave could not protect against the attacks from outside of consciousness by these extremely natural flowers. -- one of the weaknesses that he himself had spilled a thousand years ago.
''I'll leave it to 'Golden Prickly Poison Flower (Tridrake)' and the others to take care of it from here! The rest of you have the day off!
Squeeze the poison into a type of poison and also supply the magic from your feet to double the amount of pollen.
There is absolutely no such thing as overdoing it. It's a poison that doesn't work on me as a tree person, so I don't let my guard down at all to increase the amount.
''With this much, even the dragons will swoon--but it won't be enough! I'm afraid of the bullshit in the Ancestor's body, but let's take the time to let the poison soak into our bodies!
----!
He thought that the more he conversed, the more he would inhale the pollen and be at a disadvantage. The First Ancestor Vortex Wave was in the middle of the conversation when he rushed towards us with his bare hands.
--I'm here. Finally, the time had come.
I greeted that rush with ease.
I sank down and took a stance.
No matter how frightened you are, you must not retreat from this place.
Right now, the primordial vortex wave is sealed off from both sword and magic, and the poison is making him sick. Furthermore, he had a preconceived notion that 'The One Who Steals the Reason of the Tree' was weak in close combat, so he rushed the battle and rushed out in a bypass.
If you don't play here, when do you say you will--!
"I hope you won't lick this prime minister's id!
He swung his arms as if to wring his hands against the approaching Shinsho Uzura Wave with his empty fists. The back fist, released from below like a whip, slipped through the enemy's defense and accurately caught his jaw.
''Gu--!
The founder Uzuraha is surprised to be hit by a fist first in a close fight, and he grunts and takes a step back. However, he quickly regains his stance and rushes back towards us.
I suppress my inner emotion at that and intercept it.
-- hit.
My own fist hit it.
The way I fought had worked for the founder Uzura Wave.
The next time I unleash a technique I learned from the general in the past.
Just like the fist before, it is a technique for people who are inferior in size and strength. I said 'fist fight' earlier, but to be precise, it is 'self-defense'. It is a special "subfluidic technique" that focuses on ensuring the success of the first attack and ensuring the killing of the enemy's ability.
It was a rapid-fire aim after a peculiarly light feint - but the founder Uzuraha prevented it as if she had expected it.
It was only the second strike, but it was lightly handled.
''Kukk--!
I was surprised, but quickly regained my composure.
I knew that.
A technique that should be unavoidable if it's the first time you see it - because it's overruled, the founder vortex wave is the founder vortex wave.
Just by updating the information (data) that "the one that steals the logic of the tree" is weak in close combat to the information (data) that "the one that steals the logic of the tree" can do close combat in its own way - this is what happens.
Since I know this, I can quickly move on to my next action.
I open the bag that I kept in my pocket beforehand and grab onto the founder Uzumi Wave while blasting the contents.
''A smoke screen! But I'm not going to be able to block my vision--......!
The Primordial Vortex Wave avoided its grasp without relying on sight, but it felt abnormal about the smokescreen and took a step back.
''This isn't a smokescreen--maybe it's a seed?
'Yes, your own weapon is not just poison. If those seeds get into your lungs, they will destroy you from the inside. Hmm.
I laugh at the success of the trap while sucking the seeds myself.
Since I am a tree man demon, I can live in harmony with the seeds. Hence, I can disperse a large amount of seeds in this kind of near self-destructive manner.
The Primordial Vortex Wave turns stern and begins to build magic after taking a distance. It was a rare magic that was not a dimensional attribute.
''【Cure! Cure Fool! REMOVE!
''Do you think it's like recovering with such poor basic magic! These are the 'poisons' that these 'tree reason stealers' have bred, nurtured, and activated by giving them magical powers!
To the activation of that recovery magic, the 'Holy Tree of Magic Power Sucking (de Rifidou)' that was kept in the great hall reacts.
Depressingly, the Primordial Vortex Wave dodges it, gives up the recovery of the condition, and restrains the magic power from leaving the body.
And then he shallowly suppresses his breathing - but boldly runs towards him, willing to let the flying pollen and seeds fly, and extends his luminescent arm as fast as he can.
'Then I'll just end the game immediately! --magic, Distance Mute!
That's already taken care of!
Thinking only of buying time, I played the purple glowing arms of the founder vortex wave with the palm armor on both arms.
The divine tree in the garden was carved out and forged by an apprentice who had mastered the 'divine iron forge', and the armor on which the magic formula for dimensional attribute resistance was written by Master Nosfi. The legendary class armor that was custom made just for the purpose of defeating the Ancestor Uzumi - it prevented the magic "Distance Mute" from being invaded.
The First Ancestor Vortex Wave was surprised and calmly disarmed the "Distance Mute" on his right arm. If he wanted to, he could erode the armor, but he must have decided that it would be difficult to do so in the space where the Sacred Tree of Magic Absorption (de Rifidou) was lurking.
It seems that the first thing to do is to stun the enemy, and then swing a fist in the same manner as I did.
I respond to that.
I'm going to respond to the fists with fists.
--Now, it's time to fight.
At last, you are in the only area where you can fight.
In this fistfight, I'm the best man for the day.
A thousand years ago, I didn't have the dexterity to handle a blade like the others.
With just one intervening stick, I didn't know where the tip of the sword would go, and many times I would try to 'swordsmanship' and hurt my own arms and thighs. If it was only my own arm, I could grasp the movement, but if something other than myself was mixed in with it, it would instantly become useless. It was good to say that this was the epitome of something that was incapable of movement.
For the same reason, he couldn't handle a spear, a bow, or anything else.
Seeing this, Master Volus, the old general of the Northern Army, recommended to himself that he fight with a single fist.
Starting from the 'self-defense' of a woman and child, he went through the basic 'body arts' and then acquired his own personal 'subfluidic arts' using the muscular strength he gained from becoming the 'one who steals reason'.
The only thing I can lose is a fist fight at this distance.
This is the only thing I've been told is impossible, and this is the only thing I've been able to train.
Even before he became the one who stole the logic of the tree--!
Ever since I became the one who stole the logic of the tree, and ever since...
For this fight!
To this day, I am--!
I'm gonna lose.
I can't mimic the dexterity of watching the enemy's movements and then changing my response.
All you have to do is watch the enemy's attack and then respond to it with the best move you can with a technique that is ingrained in your body.
Then, among the dizzying array of fists - the technique he is most adept at will be determined.
He brushed off both fists as the founder Uzuraha moved them from the inside, pretending to put his feet on them, stepped in one step, entered the pocket, and unleashed a palm-bottom strike with his full strength.
Attacked in the gut, the Primordial Vortex Wave gritted its teeth and held on.
Although he did not retreat, his expression clearly changed.
Visibly, his next move was slowed down.
--I can do it!
It was a blow that made me feel like my life to this day was not in vain.
It was a moment that made me glad I had spent my sleep and repeated the same pattern every night.
In those moments of being happy to be me, I feel I am close to victory.
Everything I prepared is working well.
The division of the city has been made possible by the Castle of Vysiusia, which I prepared a thousand years ago.
We have sealed the sword with the plants we continue to grow to this day.
With the help of Lady Nosfi, we have stopped them from using magic.
All of the traps are working, killing our enemies' abilities.
That's where I staked my life on the 'subfluidic arts'--!
We're using--!
That primordial vortex wave has its own power going through it!
All that's left is to release the final trump card like this and it's over.
Weakening the Ancestor Vortex Wave, grabbing his arm, and activating the "Anti-Ancestor Sealing Demon Array" in Vyasia Castle on his own - that's a victory. This vizier's id will win.
''Uzuruhaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii--!
I barked at the prospect of victory.
I paid off my fists and released them, letting the ingrained techniques keep my body moving.
But in the midst of this full-bodied assault, I was left with no time to look at my enemy.