LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 241
Boom, Boom.
The vibrations of combat reverberated from the upper floor, reaching the two of them.
The tense vibrations were an indication of how dangerous the situation was; however…
Thump, Thump.
The pounding of hearts drowned out the warnings.
Just a little longer, just a bit more.
Desiring to savor this moment for even a single more second, Acella tightened her embrace around Lars.
Her searching hands fumbled over his back, while Lars, as if understanding her intentions, supported her weight, lightly resting his nose on the crown of her head.
“Royal Princess.”
He gently caressed Acella’s earlobe with his fingertips.
Acella liked that thrilling sensation so much that she instinctively shrunk her shoulders.
She confirmed once again that the Lars in front of her was undeniably real.
“Lars, I…”
Looking up at him, Acella forgot the words she was about to say.
Lars’ face, more mature than when she last saw him, caught her eye more clearly than it did when she saw him in a dream just recently.
She was certain she had much to say to him.
She had a whole bundle of stories to share.
Thanks, apologies, regrets, and sorrow.
Her voice caught in her throat.
The reason was clear.
There was far more important matters to attend to now.
For his lovely face to break into a smile.
Acella quickly realized she couldn’t just indulge in joy; she had to face reality.
Above all…
Nothing about the relationship between her and him had changed at all.
An ex-betrothed… an ex-attending physician. Just two strangers who had once shared a fleeting connection.
For a long, long time, she had been a despicable enemy whom he harbored deep resentments towards.
It wasn’t something she had done personally, so she really had no reason to ask for forgiveness, but…
From Lars’ perspective, it was a different story.
He might still see the shadow of that mad tyrant in her.
Traumas etched into instinct don’t disappear easily.
Whenever she thought of Camilla, Acella could understand what complicated feelings he must be experiencing.
Perhaps love and hate.
The hatred towards a woman who had killed her countless times.
Yet…
The love enough to come back to a place she never wanted to revisit, the Demon Realm, for her sake.
He stayed by her side, treating her every injury, and showing her warmth.
Like an attending physician.
Just the fact that Lars was here was sufficient proof.
His affection filled her up with mana and blood, wrapping its warmth everywhere within her.
It felt better than any magic, making her want to stay like this forever.
Yet, she didn’t want to be hated by him.
Because she wouldn’t be able to withstand his future resentment.
Still, there were tasks at hand.
To earn the right to be loved, she first had to amend the countless evils she had committed through his eyes.
If she could defeat the Demon King and bring Lars to that future, it would be the ultimate proof.
“Lars.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Let’s postpone the expressions of affection she had been holding back for now.
Instead, let’s give him what he desires most.
“Replenish my mana. A large amount. Also, tell me a strategy. Have you ever faced a Demon King amplified by magic like that?”
Hearing Acella’s words, Lars nodded with certainty, asking earnestly.
“Your Highness, what did the Demon King see when he mentioned the magic called Clairvoyance…?”
Swipe.
Acella’s index finger pressed on Lars’ lips.
“Let’s postpone small talk for later. Right now, just think of winning.”
Lars had areas he definitely wanted to clarify too. He also had many things he wanted to say to Acella.
But as the Kugung! of increasing vibrations from above reminded them of the urgency, he agreed it wasn’t the time.
“You’ll have to tell me everything later. Why do you keep so many secrets?”
“Is that something you should say? Faust.”
Hearing the name Faust, which seemed playful and teasing, Lars couldn’t help but accept it.
“Well, that would be a long explanation… Anyway, understood.”
Lars took out a mana potion and injected it into Acella.
“Be cautious of side effects. Muscle cramps will accompany it after 30 minutes. But its effectiveness is quite impressive.”
Vitality surged into Acella’s body. Her massive mana tank filled to the brim, rippling. Overflowing mana sparkled as it danced over her skin.
“I like it.”
“That form of the Demon King is new to me as well. The Blue Moon is a special phenomenon. Timing wasn’t ideal. However, I sealed time magic. If we can overcome that monster’s overwhelming physical strength, we can win.”
In other words, you mean to say we just have to hit him hard?
Acella picked up her wand that had fallen on the ground.
That’s rather easy to understand.
“Your Highness.”
The moment Acella turned her head, she felt a warm sensation on her lips.
The fluffy little white bird rested for just 2 seconds.
Lars’ lips departed, and Acella blinked, brushing her tongue over her bottom lip.
“Take care of yourself.”
“If we lose, it’ll be your fault.”
“Eh? Why?”
Acella didn’t respond, grabbing his wrist and leading him onward.
*
Gulp.
Tanya had received the Demon King’s regime with a sword. The sword, refined with aura, trembled violently. The fatigue was piling up, nearly breaking it. The foot in charge couldn’t bear it and slipped.
What kind of power…
It was truly overwhelming. This was raw, formidable strength. Tanya couldn’t have imagined struggling this much in close combat against an opponent with no aura.
“An opening!”
The recently joined Lishe leaped off the labyrinth walls. Taking three steps back, she unleashed a flurry of attacks that barely scratched the reinforced surface.
“You monster!”
Valen’s arrows bounced off Mephist with disdain. Ambrosia dropped a holy spell above and shouted.
“His magic isn’t limitless! It’s weakening compared to before. Just hold out a little longer!”
“Excellent judgment, sister.”
Lars joined her side, dropping a cross of light.
“Gothberg! You’ve returned! Have you found the Royal Princess?!”
Lars nodded instead of responding.
In one corridor of the labyrinth, the golden magic circle shone brightly amidst the debris of broken walls.
“Get out of the way.”
Tanya and Lishe created distance. Crash! Ice spears erupted toward Mephist in rapid succession.
Before he could react, Acella began casting her next spell.
Ice Prison.
Boom! The ultra-low temperature ice descended, restraining Mephist’s body like a prison. His flesh struck by the bars cracked as it froze.
“An interesting spell.”
Mephist swung his body. Clang! The prison shattered instantly.
“Though its durability is weak.”
The ice prison was a level 6 spell activated at a cost. It shouldn’t have been easily broken with sheer strength.
But that kind of reaction was half bravado. The Demon King was clearly consuming mana and finding himself cornered. Acella realized this.
She shot out ice again, overflowing with mana, simultaneously filling the walls of the labyrinth with magic circles.
“Oh?”
Recognizing the spell, Mephist expressed admiration.
“Let’s see if this is also interesting.”
Swish! Golden chains shot towards Mephist, restraining him.
Just like the deceleration magic that had caught Lishe earlier. Mephist barely had a moment to realize his spell was taken from him, and Lishe’s sharp holy sword was launched toward his neck.
—Slice!
The blade grazed past his carotid artery.
In slow motion, the Demon King’s red blood splattered.
“Seems you’re low on mana now. How does it feel to have your magic taken from you?”
Acella taunted Mephist. No matter how calm he appeared, he was ultimately a wizard.
She calculated that insulting a mage’s pride would provoke him. Disturbing the opponent’s mind in battle was as essential as the fight itself.
Yet Mephist remained unfazed.
“Your spells are inefficient. The last line: there’s no need to write a full formula for a deceleration setting.”
His answer was mechanical, transcending even a knowledge-seeking scholar.
Acella shivered slightly.
It wasn’t an attempt to block psychological warfare. She realized she shouldn’t approach him based on human emotions and common sense from the start.
He wouldn’t even flinch at the countless lives lost due to the war he started among humans.
That’s what demons are, she realized painfully.
“Fine, show me how stubborn you can be.”
Acella accelerated her casting speed. In proportion, Mephist’s movements slowed down.
“This is where it ends!”
Just as Lishe, who had finally seized the opportunity, prepared to stab him with her holy sword…
—Boom!!
Mephist expended all his remaining mana, triggering a massive explosion.
Lishe thought of it as a desperate last stand. Thanks to the protection of the holy sword and Lars’ barrier, they could withstand such an attack. A Demon King who expended all his mana should have been akin to a scarecrow.
But…
“You’ve let your guard down, Hero.”
—Boom!
The surroundings lit up.
A blue light shone upon them. A massive moon hung in the sky.
Mephist’s attack wasn’t aimed at the hero party. It was at the very battlefield they were fighting in the labyrinth.
He obliterated the mazes of the Demon King’s castle, dozens of floors up.
Once again, the Demon King’s mana poured into him, fueled by the Blue Moon.
“Hero!”
Tanya shouted urgently. The wounds Mephist had sustained began to heal, his upper body becoming grotesquely beefed up.
He had shifted the battlefield into this labyrinth.
The connections established until now…
All of it was a trap for this one strike.
“A needle must be threaded with the best bait.”
Mephist raised his threatening arm. Overflowing magic burst forth uncontrollably.
“Let this be your lesson. Just how terrifying an uncharted power can be.”
Without hesitation, he threw a punch at Lishe.
—Boom!!
A tremendous explosion resonated, followed by a shockwave.
…Ha.
Acella chuckled in disbelief.
She thought she had cornered him, only to find they were back at square one.
I can’t believe how much I’ve practiced my Clairvoyance spell.
How much cost I endured to master it.
That he holds comparable strength is infuriating.
Lars had really been through a lot.
An unprecedented formidable foe.
She surveyed her surroundings.
The hero had fallen. They barely clung to the holy sword, but it didn’t seem like standing again would be easy. In fact, they were already severely injured.
The frontliner, knight, and saint were in the same boat. They had all dropped to a knee from the shock.
Lars, Lars is…
He too looked thoroughly fatigued in the storm of mana. He was barely holding his legs together.
But there was no hint of giving up in his eyes.
He was always that kind of man.
Then I must respond too.
Acella drew a circle.
There were seven.
—Whoosh!
The dimension tore open, and a divine spear was summoned amidst the storm of mana, shining brightly.
Swoosh! The spear shot towards the Demon King. Boom! It penetrated his side, unleashing a burst of light.
But…
The boundless mana cascading from the Demon King seemed to laugh at Acella’s finishing move, nullifying it.
…Ha.
Gradually, Acella’s hair turned white.
She had sacrificed this much of her lifespan, yet it was all for naught.
It was only natural to think so. The Demon King had reached a level beyond a tier 7 mage. He was receiving nearly infinite mana through the Blue Moon.
It was expected I wouldn’t defeat him with a mere level 7 spell.
But how can I defeat an enemy that even the divine spear doesn’t work against?
Is there any way?
If only I had the powers of a hero like Lars… if I had the strength to change fate… then I could have done so much more.
Her hand gripping the wand began to tremble.
Tap.
Another hand landed on the back of her hand.
“Your Highness.”
Acella turned her head.
Just as always, her attending physician stood by her side.
He asked her.
“Can you use Recall?”