SWNOVELXO Chapter 146
146. What I Must Always Do Is—
“Wait…”
Rudolf-san staggered toward me.
“I told you, that one is my prey… Stay out of this.”
Despite reflecting countless attacks just moments ago—
His toughness was unbelievable.
“My ‘factor’ is warrior-type. My strength and durability far exceed a normal person’s… This won’t bring me down…!”
Rudolf-san brandished his spear.
…I see. He has the same kind of power as Luca and Sarome.
However, while they specialize in speed and stealth, he seems to focus on raw power and toughness.
“Haruto…”
Sarome looked at me with concern.
Alice also appeared anxious.
It was a troubling situation.
Facing a super S-class beast was bad enough,
But now I had to deal with Rudolf-san, who should’ve been an ally.
“This isn’t the time for allies to fight among themselves.”
As soon as I said that, the Phoenix unleashed a heat ray.
I deflected it with my skill and glared at Rudolf-san.
“I have no allies. You just deal with the small fry.”
Rudolf-san declared arrogantly.
“I hunt the cursed ones. And a Phoenix, such a rare, supreme prey—I won’t let it escape.”
Ah, it’s no use.
This man won’t listen to reason.
I gave up and turned my back on Rudolf-san.
I could probably overpower him, but if the Phoenix escaped in the meantime, we’d lose everything.
“You sure about that? I might cut you down from behind.”
“Go ahead and try.”
I let my anger seep into my words.
“…You…”
I sensed Rudolf-san raising his spear.
“Don’t mock me!”
With a furious cry, he attacked.
I didn’t turn around.
Clang! The sound of metal echoed.
My defensive skill repelled his attack effortlessly.
A second strike. A third.
Every blow of his spear was deflected by my defense.
“Damn you!”
But no matter how many times his attacks were repelled, Rudolf-san kept coming.
“Don’t you realize it’s pointless?”
What is this man thinking…?
“Destroy…everything…”
Rudolf-san muttered in a dark voice.
I turned to face him.
“Destroy… Humans, beasts… Everything!”
His gaze grew even darker, and his strikes became fiercer.
“…The ‘factor’ is consuming him.”
Sarome murmured.
“Huh?”
“I heard about factors before, at the Ancient Dragon Temple.”
Sarome said with a bitter tone.
“Those who inherit the power of gods, demons, or dragons—beings of the supernatural. Sometimes, that overwhelming power consumes their minds, turning them into beings that rampage uncontrollably.”
“So basically, he’s lost his reason to uncontrollable power?”
Sarome nodded grimly.
“That aura is likely from a demon’s factor—Rudolf-san has become a being with a human body and demonic power. A magic warrior, you could say.”
Sarome explained.
“That’s why he can’t stop. All he can think about is destruction.”
A tiger before us, a wolf behind us—
“…Sarome and Alice, you handle the Phoenix. I’ll hold him back.”
“But just the two of you—”
Before I could finish…
“We can do this!”
“So can I!”
“…Alright. But don’t overdo it.”
I activated my skill, splitting its effect into two areas.
One part covered me.
The other shielded Sarome and Alice.
This should protect them from the Phoenix’s attacks.
With preparations complete, I turned to face Rudolf-san again.
This wasn’t the time for adventurers to fight among themselves…
I swallowed the bitterness and summoned a radiant sphere in my right hand.
“I’ll break through your defense this time!”
Rudolf-san swung his massive spear.
Rapid strikes came at me in succession.
He raised his power even further, creating shockwaves that shattered the air and thrust the spear’s tip toward me.
But it wouldn’t work.
No attack could reach me.
The radiant sphere deflected his spear strikes, scattering their energy back toward Rudolf-san.
“Magic power will eventually run out. I’ll keep attacking until it does—thousands, millions, billions—endless strikes! Break under my spear!”
Fueled by inexhaustible will, Rudolf-san continued his assault.
But my power wasn’t magic.
His plan wouldn’t work. No need to explain that to him.
“Then I’ll seal away the destruction itself.”
With a sigh, I switched my skill.
The radiant sphere faded, replaced by an energy that enveloped Rudolf-san’s entire body and his spear.
“What is this—!?”
A nullification skill: [Void Seal].
“You can’t destroy anything anymore. We’ll handle the Phoenix.”
I turned away from him.
“Don’t get in our way.”
It seemed he tried to strike,
But the blow was so weak I barely noticed it.
“Impossible! My attack—!?”
Rudolf-san was bewildered.
Encased in my nullification skill, his spear strikes couldn’t harm me.
“I fight beasts not for the thrill of destruction or violence. I’m not like you.”
Ignoring the red warrior, I walked toward Alice and Sarome.
“What I must always do is—”
Swallowing my frustration, I reminded myself.
“Use this power to protect people. That’s all.”
A pang of disappointment gripped me.
A warrior like Rudolf-san could save so many lives.
Why use his strength only for destruction?
It was infuriating. Maddening.
But now, I had to focus on the enemy before me.
Protect Alice and Sarome. Defeat the beast. Complete the quest.
Save as many people as I can.
I joined Alice and Sarome, and we faced the Phoenix.
As expected of an Class Legend S, it was formidable.
But I used [Void Seal] to envelop its entire body, nullifying its attacks completely.
When splitting my skill across multiple areas, all instances had to share the same form.
Since Rudolf-san was still under [Void Seal], I could only use that skill here as well.
This skill nullifies physical attacks but can’t block magic.
Luckily, the Phoenix didn’t use magic.
Its primary weapons were heat rays and shockwaves from its wings.
Those, I completely nullified.
With Alice boosting Sarome’s power through support magic. Sarome launched a relentless series of attacks.
It took time, but we eventually defeated the Phoenix.