Chapter 764 – Flame Witch and Water Spirit

000

When you are submerged in water, you are surrounded by the feeling of being assimilated into the darkness and no longer existing in this world, in the quiet silence where no sound can be heard.

In a space where he was barely aware of his own existence, the water spirit slowly opened his eyes with a strange feeling of something slowly flowing into his body.

At first, sight, then hearing and touch slowly begin to return. Then, a bone-chilling cold hits your body, and the sound of water droplets falling from your head hits your ears.

＂Kuhhh… Ugh…＂

At a time when my mind was in confusion due to so much information that I felt for the first time, a warm wind blew and covered my body, and only then did my body temperature return too normal to the point where I could calm down a little.

Nevertheless, it was inevitable that the sound of teeth clicking and clashing would continue to be heard due to the shaking body.

＂W-This is…＂

“Have you come to your senses? Aqua.”

At the sound of her voice calling out to her, Aqua sensuously moved her body and turned around.

Then, there, a ‘human’ girl whom she had never seen before was standing there and looking at her.

Her mint-colored hair had grown to the height of her shoulders, and she was naked, like a newborn human or animal, leaving all her important parts exposed.

And, next to her, there was a boy with ocher hair, crouching down, hugging her knees, and lowering his head.

The boy, who was frozen and motionless as if he were dead, brought about an unpleasant feeling of uneasiness.

Aqua, at first, as soon as she saw those humans, she remembered something about the humans who had sealed her in the dark, and her hatred boiled over – but she soon realized the identity of that presence. When he realizes this, he suppresses his killing intent and looks at her.

“… Ventuna? What happened, what did it look like? Why is she taking on something like a human?”

“That goes for you too.”

When Ventuna answered the question posed to her, Aqua realized that her hand, which she had unconsciously placed on the ground, had changed into a weak human hand.

Because it was a body she used so naturally, she didn’t feel any discomfort at first.

“That…!? Why!? “

Aqua let out a scream-like voice and stretched out her arms to create a water mirror in the air and examine her body.

Aqua’s body, which was originally supposed to be like flowing water with no fixed shape, took on the appearance of a human girl.

The only thing that reminds me of her true self is that her hair is light blue, and her appearance makes it seem like she’s forgotten her own identity.

“Well… But the important thing is that we can now take on human form. The fact is that we were able to escape because the wizard who sealed us – the great man of Flamewatch – died, and the seal was weakened.”

＂… Yeah, that guy.＂

Humans are weak.

At most, a lifespan of 80 years was considered a long life, and 100 years was only a dream.

From that perspective, it would be correct to say that he was born with a fairly average lifespan and died after enjoying it all.

＂So, the one who released us was Lila?＂

Aqua asked Ventuna that.

Bentuna knew well that there was something like anticipation in that voice, but she answered while shaking her head.

“No. She’s not in this town now. Even if she does, she doesn’t remember us – or even if she does, she wouldn’t have thought of releasing us.”

If that is the attitude required for someone who takes the path of becoming a Flame Watch mage, which she inherited from her grandfather, then of course.

＂…＂

Aqua seemed to have completely given up any expectations she had in response to Ventuna’s words, and stood up as she answered, ‘Ah, yes.’

“Did you create this body, Ventuna?”

“No. When I came to my senses… I looked like this.”

“Then that gloomy guy next to you… Petrus?”

Ben Tuna looked at Petrus for a moment in response to Aqua’s question, then shook her head.

“Petrus… No. He’s lost his powers to the point where he can’t use magic. Before he was sealed, he was attacked most severely by the wizard.”

＂… Yes, you showed courage to protect us.＂

Remembering what happened just before she was sealed, Aqua frowns and looks around.

It was the sealed warehouse of the Flame Watch family on the outskirts of the village where they were sealed.

Perhaps, some of the seals that existed within it may have become weaker when the magician who sealed them died – but they were all seals that could not be lifted with their own power.

From that alone, it was clear how great the wizard was and how old he was when he sealed them.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to be released.

“I don’t know why it took on human form, but don’t worry. If you calm down a little, you can even use the power of the spirit in its original form. … There has to be a lot of magical energy around.”

At Ventuna’s words, Aqua sighs in relief, seems to think for a moment, and then speaks to Ventuna.

“… For a moment. This body feels cold, hunger, and pain.”

“Okay. This body really is like a human body. If I don’t solve that problem, I will starve to death or freeze to death. We must learn how to live as humans.”

“I feel stupid…! To be trapped in the body of such an inferior creature…! What kind of guy is this! What made us like this!”

When Aqua gets angry, her hair springs up and becomes as mushy as water.

But Bentuna puts her hand to her forehead, frowns her eyes, and speaks to her.

“Calm down… But this is what happened. “You can’t help but take advantage of this, right?”

“… Are you planning to live like a human?”

＂If necessary.＂

At Ventuna’s answer, Aqua became very angry and raised her voice.

Having to live with his disciples in a village created by the wizard who sealed her was something that deeply stimulated her pride.

“There is no such thing as pride as a spirit!? We ruled humanity together with the ancient wizards! Today’s wizards are all fake except for a few! Especially the guys from this town! They call themselves wizards, but they are just using magic, have no purpose for research, and have no great wish!”

However, Ventuna, who received Aqua’s wrath, responds to her without thinking.

“Then you can use it for your own purpose, right? Just like the time when the ancient wizards you mentioned used humans as slaves.”

＂…＂

At her seemingly obvious words, Aqua seemed at a loss for words for a moment, but then her expression changed as if she understood.

＂Yes… That’s right. You’re right. You have to use everything that is available to you. And… Now that the man is dead, it is our chance to unseal the magic tower and resurrect all the other spirits and magic within it…!”

＂…＂

To her words, Ventuna did not respond, but Aqua approached Petrus, who was crouching down, and she grabbed his arm and helped him up.

“Let’s go, Petrus! This is your chance to get revenge on the humans who took your magic away! First, I need to find some clothes to wear without walking around naked like this! And─＂

Ventuna, who had been silently watching Aqua walking out of her sealed warehouse while talking about her future plans, opened her mouth to the empty space as soon as they were far away.

“Is this the picture you wanted?”

When there was no response to her question, Ventuna brushed her own hair, twisted the corners of her mouth, and looked down at her.

“I don’t like it. But I will use the opportunity to my advantage.”

Just like that, she spoke out a line that seemed like a one-sided sentence and headed in the direction Aqua and Petrus had walked.

001

The battle between Aqua, Lila, and Cleon was forced to take place near the entrance to the narrow magic tower.

That may have been because Lila had set up a barrier around Aqua to prevent her from escaping, but it was also probably because Aqua herself knew that she would not be able to win against Lila in her magical battle if she escaped this place. 〉

Transforming into her spirit form, she had to continue to consume a large amount of her magical energy, and the only thing that could restore that magical energy was the outpouring of magical energy flowing from the surrounding ground.

Moreover – with her spreading and bursting fire magic, Lyla must control the power of her own magic to avoid entangling Cleon with it.

In that case, it was good that she started the battle thinking that it would be more advantageous for her to fight in a narrow space.

＂Flame Spike!＂

As Lila spread her hands left and right, a sun-like sphere of fire appeared in each of her hands.

And from the fireball, thorns resembling tree vines or the tentacles of marine life protrude, cutting through the air and flying toward Aqua.

Anywhere you look, it appears to be magic to restrain the enemy and block his next move, but the reason it felt so threatening was because the magical pressure felt from Laila was showing her sincerity.

＂Huh… Splash Needle!＂

When Aqua swung her hand against Lila, the water magic that spread from her fingertips created needles made of water that exploded in all directions around her.

And when the needles touched the thorns reaching towards him, a reaction occurred that canceled out the magic of the conflicting elements, causing the magic on both sides to disappear.

‘What kind of magic happened…! In terms of attribute compatibility, this would be much more advantageous…!’

The flame is extinguished by water.

It was a natural law of nature, and it is a correlation that does not change even in magic theory.

However, it would be correct to say that Lila’s fire magic is equal to the water magic she wields – no, it actually cancels out in this way, so it is one level above her.

After all, a genius is a genius.

Aqua bit her lower lip at having to deal with Lila alone, but she did not forget that there was one more person she had to be wary of.

＂Bubble Barrier!＂

As soon as she crossed her hands as if clapping, she wrapped them around her body, forming a large water droplet to protect her body.

Then, her black sword swings as if to cut through the droplets of water, but while the water around her cushions her and slows down the sword, Aqua moves straight ahead to where she was originally. I was able to avoid her sword by moving in my seat.

If she had been even a little late, she would have been cut cleanly by that sword.

“It’s annoying… The magic swordsman is…!”

The one who swung her sword targeting Aqua was, of course, her Cleon, who was fighting her along with Lila.

He had been swinging his black sword earlier, aiming for the gap that was created in dealing with Layla and sneaking in.

It was quite stressful for her to have that attack on her nerves, and on top of that, since she was a magic swordsman, she could let down her guard if she thought that she would know how to use her magic – and even her magic.

And that’s the magic sword wielded by Cleon, Galatea must be thinking the same thing.

[The water shield from earlier is annoying… Why not just disable her magic like Lila did?]

Galatea says so, but Cleon answers her suggestion by quietly shaking his head.

[No, when it comes to her magic skills, she is better than I. Unless I let my guard down, my magic won’t be very effective. If you use magic, like Lila someday, use powerful magic that pours all your magical energy into it to create an opening.]

Cleon’s Mana Shock becomes more powerful the more magical power the opponent uses.

Therefore, both timing and luck are needed to achieve maximum effect.

Wasting magical energy for checks at the wrong time was like a shortcut to self-destruction in a fight against a strong person.

And, Cleon thought that this fight was Lila’s fight.

For she has declared that she will end her life with her own hands – that she will keep her in her line of support for her Leila.

If anything, she would have to think about ending it herself, but that’s not the end she would want.

Immediately after each other’s magic disappears, it would have been Aqua’s side that had the upper hand in terms of compatibility that could move first, but since that opportunity was taken away by Cleon, Lila’s spell was completed immediately.

＂Infernal Chain +(Plus) Prometheus Gate!＂

This time, Lila casts two types of magic at the same time, one from each hand.

It may seem easy in words, but even though it is the same fire magic, direct attack spells and magic that unfolds a magic circle with a certain effect and attacks derived from it are of completely different systems.

‘Double chant [Double spell]!?’

That’s why Aqua looks seriously embarrassed and breaking into a cold sweat.

If you think of her fiery chains rising from the ground, ceiling, and walls, it is possible to limit her movements, if not to hold her in place.

And since it was virtually impossible to evade the countless flaming spears pouring down in that state, she was forced to either stop her movements and use defensive magic, or try to evade and be pierced by her spears.

Of course, what she chose was to stop in place and respond to her attack.

First, something had to be done with the chain that was interfering with her evasion, so she formed a sword with one hand and swung her arm horizontally, shouting in a high voice.

＂Jet Slicer!＂

A flash of powerful water pressure blades is generated so that it is level with the ground and flies away.

It’s like a version that uses the water magic power of the flying slash that Cleon fires by feeding magic power to the magic sword.

Everyone knew that high-pressure water can become a blade that can cut even diamonds, and this was true even when it came to magic.

Moreover, the wide scope means that Lila and Cleon are also subject to the magic.

Lila, who is good at flying magic, could easily dodge it by flying up, but Cleon, who was borrowing her magic, had to jump or duck at the right time.

In the end, Cleon’s movements were restricted, just like Aqua was a moment ago.

As if Aqua didn’t care about the flaming spear flying towards her, she continued to glare at Cleon, who took an evasive action.

The spear reaching her body and the hydraulic blade reaching Cleon’s location were almost simultaneous.

As Cleon’s body bowed, Aqua took the shape of her hand that had made her capital, this time spreading out only her thumb and index finger-

Once again, a blow flies from the tip of the index finger so fast that it can be mistaken for a blue ray of light.

Of course, that too is water magic.

Like the magic just before, the cutter that shoots water at high pressure was reduced to an tiny range, making its activation and speed faster.

＂Ugh…!＂

The high-pressure ray passes right through the calf of one of Cleon’s legs.

It may not be such a big threat if you say it passes by – but it was not like flesh, but it was a threatening attack that was enough to pierce the flesh of the area it touched.

Even if self-healing is done using recovery magic, it is a self-evident fact that Cleon’s movements are temporarily blocked.

Originally, she would not have been able to activate it this quickly, but her magic power had already been preheated to the magic of hydraulic release.

If Lila had double chanted magic in different directions, by using magic in the same direction in succession, she not only succeeded in destroying the chant but also destroyed the magic name and struck Cleon.

But if that happens – of course Aqua herself will not be able to avoid the spears of flame pouring down on her.

Lyla hovered in the air and watched as her own spear reached her Aqua, at the same time worrying about Cleon.

The sound of explosions heard as windows hit the ground and walls in succession.

Since the barrier was spread out, it would not put a burden on the space itself, but the flashes and explosions that occurred in a narrow space seemed to have a negative effect on the sense organs.

But with this, Aqua would also have been pierced by the burning spear and vaporized.

While thinking like that, I waited for the rising cloud of smoke to disappear, and to my surprise, Aqua appeared alive within it.

＂…＂

Lila furrowed her eyebrows, but when she saw Aqua’s appearance, she instantly understood how she had evaded her own magic.

Aqua’s appearance in Lila’s eyes looked extremely hideous, considering her original appearance.

That must have been the case, because her face, body, and legs were full of holes.

It was not a wound from her attack, but a hole created by her own transformation of her body.

Her water spirit – that is, her body made of liquid – changed the shape of her own body, creating a hole through which her spear would pass through where it would land, and channeling her attacks away.

Ideas and methods that would be impossible for humans, and possible avoidance methods because the means of attack was ultimately a ‘point’ attack rather than a ‘face’ called a spear.

＂Chiit…＂

When Lila clicked her tongue and came down to the ground to examine Cleon’s wounds, Cleon had already healed some of her wounds with his magic, so there seemed to be no need to worry too much.

However, it was natural for Cleon to become angry when he saw him hurt.

“… I just had to prepare myself for death. Honestly, I’m amazed right now.”

When Lila’s voice reached her ears, Lila stamped her land with her staff and looked at her and spoke.

＂You have unrivaled magic skills even when using magic that is disadvantageous to you… After all, you are a genius. Is it only natural that such a genius would become stronger than we could ever imagine, having come from an academy or something like that to devote himself to studying and researching…”

However, even as Aqua said that, she brought her hands together and gathered the magic power of water between them.

＂But, up to that point, they are all human! We are spirits born from the power of great ancient wizards! Humans cannot defeat nature! No matter how great a wizard they are, all modern wizards are just fakes!”

In order to resurrect the proud ancient magic, she feels that Lyla must be buried here.

Almost all of her magical power begins to gather in the water sphere she creates.

“What fills heaven and earth is the mother of all things, the vast sea that extends forever. Accumulate, fill, flow, and manifest as a prison of sapphire. Face the darkness of the depths that no one knows about!”

A skill so great that she, her spirit, must do her chanting.

Her Cleon somehow raises her body and tries to stop her, but Lila stands in front of her as if to protect him, leaving her Cleon behind her.

＂It’s okay.＂

When Lila said that, Cleon looked up at her for a moment, then nodded and answered that he believed her.

＂Aquaria!＂

The next moment – what appeared was truly a small sea.

Centered around Aqua, a torrent of water flowed out as if a water vein had burst, filling the space.

With this much water, it was considered impossible to evaporate all of it.

If the space was small, the water would fill up quickly.

If the entire space is submerged in water in a matter of tens of seconds or less than a minute.

Aqua tried to check the condition of Lila and Cleon through her vision underwater.

In the end, when the battlefield becomes water, it is your side that has the advantage.

─But.

Cleon, who received her water breathing magic from Laila, is standing there guarding her body in preparation for the next attack.

That’s the only thing that caught Aqua’s eyes.

＇Where is Lila-＇

The moment the accident occurred, the moment it returned to another place.

A sound that did not fit in her own space rang out.

＂…?＂

Aqua, realizing that it was her own arm, followed her instinct and looked there.

She realized that her arm, which was liquid, had turned into solid.

＂Ice…?＂

The next moment Aqua spoke in her mouth as she looked at the situation in a very unexpected way.

The ice that started in her arms began to spread throughout her body.

“Wait, what!? No, why is my body freezing-“

Next moment.

Aqua realizes that Lila exists right next to her.

The reason her appearance disappeared momentarily was because a camouflage magic using black magic – a veil of darkness – was used on her body.

Also – because Lila was holding Galatea from Cleon, the effect remained even if it fell from Cleon’s body.

While they were using magic to protect each other, Lila approached her while hiding her appearance and presence.

“That’s why you use ice magic!”

As Aqua makes her shocked expression, the ice that starts from her arms covers her entire body –

The water that had filled the area disappeared as if it were an illusion, and the water level gradually went down.

“This is fire magic, not ice magic.”

Although it may not be audible, Lila removed her hand from Aqua’s body as she added that.

＂The basis of fire magic is to generate heat. In other words, it does not cause a change in temperature. And if necessary – it is possible to start a fire by taking heat from the surroundings. All I did was use that to steal the heat from your body and transfer it. As a result, your body is frozen.”

Lila is explaining calmly, but it is an idea that an ordinary fire wizard would never be able to do, and the magic control technology required for that would be incredibly difficult.

After she finished her explanation, she held Galatea in her hands with both of her hands.

And—

Boom!

And, Laila clumsily swung her sword.

As it is, if the sword enters Aqua’s body-

Aqua, who had hardened like a blue crystal, was shattered into pieces by her Galatea.

“… Bye. Aqua.”

It was a calm farewell without any long modifiers.