SWNOVELXO Chapter 145
145. For That Power
“Let’s go, Beast! Show me the strength they call legendary to its fullest!”
With a roar, Rudolf-san charged forward.
His speed was incredible, making it hard to believe he was wearing heavy full-plate armor.
Turning into a red streak, Rudolf-san closed in on the Phoenix and—
“Tch…”
Clicking his tongue, he sidestepped.
The next moment, a heat ray spewed from the Phoenix’s mouth, sweeping over the spot Rudolf-san had just occupied.
──The surroundings were engulfed in a crimson glow.
It felt as if the entire world had been dyed red.
The overwhelming heat and light exuded a divine radiance.
The crimson light carved through the ground as it advanced.
A direct hit would reduce a human to ash, leaving not even bones behind—a strike of utter annihilation.
Just as it reached my position, a rainbow-colored radiance blocked and dispersed it.
I had already activated [Armor Phase].
Of course, I ensured Alice and Sarome were within its protective range, so they were unharmed.
Meanwhile, Rudolf-san had maneuvered behind the Phoenix with astonishing speed.
He should’ve been caught in the attack’s aftermath, but it didn’t faze him.
His resilience was beyond human.
“This is the end!”
With a battle cry, Rudolf-san thrust his spear..
Shuuu!
only for the dazzling red light to deflect it.
“Damn…!?”
Rudolf-san’s massive frame was sent flying dozens of meters.
So, it can emit heat rays not only from its mouth but also its entire body!
“I see… That’s why they call it a Class Legend S.”
Rudolf-san said, slowly getting up.
The armor covering his body was half-melted, emitting white smoke.
His exposed skin bore painful burns.
“I’ll admit it. You’re strong. Unbelievably strong.”
And yet—his face, visible beneath his helmet, was smiling.
He looked pleased.
Excited.
But it wasn’t the expression of someone enjoying a battle.
It was the face of someone reveling in destruction and violence—a face thirsting for it.
“You’re worth destroying! You’re my prey! And I will hunt you—without fail!”
“You can’t do it alone, Rudolf-san!”
I shouted, forming a rainbow-colored sphere of light in my right hand.
[Wing Sphere]—a preparation to deploy defensive skills at will.
To apply skills to multiple locations, I had to focus more than usual.
After gathering that concentration, I activated the skill to cover both our surroundings and Rudolf-san’s position—
But just before I could,
“…Planning to support me with defensive magic? Unnecessary.”
Rudolf-san said, turning to me.
“You’ve seen its attack power, haven’t you? A direct hit, and it’s over.”
“Then don’t get hit. And—I told you not to interfere, didn’t I?”
His voice, calm yet exuding an unnatural intensity, declared:
“I warned you, didn’t I? If you get in my way, I’ll cut you down.”
“It’s strong. We should fight it together.”
I met his overpowering gaze head-on.
“The worst-case scenario is being picked off one by one. Or worse, letting it slip past us into the royal capital—”
I grit my teeth.
“Countless lives would be lost.”
“Pointless.”
Rudolf-san dismissed my words in a single breath.
“I became an adventurer to hunt demons. To defeat, destroy, and annihilate. To wield ‘power.’ I don’t care about collateral damage.”
His eyes gleamed with a dark light.
Darker, more stagnant than any demon’s.
“Anyone with great strength or superior power would naturally want to wield it. That’s what this power is for.”
With a sweeping motion of his spear, he created a shockwave that sent violent winds rippling through the surroundings.
A feat of strength beyond human—no, surpassing human limits.
“Have you never felt it? The joy of wielding power beyond human? The superiority? The omnipotence? Don’t tell me you haven’t.”
“I became an adventurer to protect people. I don’t want to cause unnecessary harm.”
I said, staring directly at Rudolf-san.
“Not to wield power. Not to revel in it.”
“Hypocrite.”
Rudolf-san spat, turning away from me.
The Phoenix emitted a full-body burst of crimson light again.
An unavoidable, high-powered attack from every direction.
Without attempting to dodge, Rudolf-san advanced without hesitation.
Even with his superhuman durability, could he withstand it repeatedly?
No, perhaps Rudolf-san didn’t care about such things.
He simply followed his instinct for battle and destruction, aiming to defeat, crush, hunt, and slaughter his enemy.
A being purely devoted to destruction—a vessel of devastation.
“But that’s not acceptable.”
I said, sending the rainbow light to encase Rudolf-san in [Armor Phase].
Naturally, I also shielded myself, Alice, and Sarome.
What I had mastered in the temple of the ancient dragon—‘multi-point skill deployment’—had become second nature.
The Phoenix’s red light scattered easily against my skill.
And then—
“Your defensive magic? Cease your meddling.”
Rudolf-san said, turning with an enraged expression.
That pressure—perhaps even greater than the Phoenix’s.
“If you interfere with my battle, I’ll cut you down first. The beast comes after.”
With that, the crimson warrior charged at me.
──Wait, he’s ignoring the Phoenix to attack me!?
“Why fight another adventurer!?”
“Pay for your meddling, Halt Reeva!”
Ignoring my words, Rudolf-san closed in.
“Pay for interfering in my battle!”
The massive spear tore through the air with crushing force.
“Let’s see you shatter!”
“So, words won’t reach you.”
I muttered, bracing myself.
I didn’t move an inch.
I didn’t flinch.
I simply stood my ground—and stopped his attack.
With a metallic clash, Rudolf-san’s spear strike was repelled by the rainbow light I had created.
“Tough—but!”
He continued to strike his spear, blow after blow.
While it wasn’t at sublight speeds like Luka’s, the destructive force might exceed hers.
The strikes came by the dozens, then hundreds.
But no matter how many, my barrier didn’t budge.
Even so, Rudolf-san kept hammering away.
“Have you had enough?”
“Don’t mock me! If my attacks fail, I’ll keep attacking until they succeed!”
“If you want to be overpowered, I’ll grant your wish.”
I altered my barrier to reflect his strikes back at him.
“Guh…!?”
Dozens—hundreds of shocks blew the crimson warrior away.
The third form──[Kaleidoscope Shift].
“D-damn it…!”
Even after enduring his own attacks, Rudolf-san seemed significantly injured.
Though he weakly stood using his spear as support, he didn’t advance toward me again.
I glanced at him and turned away.
“Alice, Sarome. Let’s take that thing down ourselves.”
I called to them, facing the Phoenix once more.