Arifureta After III Abyss Lord Arc Chapter 2 Unknown Second
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「Unknown First」 was uploaded at the previous chapter.
The update today is two chapters.
Those who haven’t read it, please go to the previous chapter.
Claudia fell into the black hole while being dragged by tentacles, however she was calm.
「――Respond, Holy Cross.」
Just those. With just those words that couldn’t be even called as a scripture, the Holy Cross deployed a radiance in spherical shape around its user.
The tentacles were instantly dissolved and dispersed.
Claudia tasted a strange sensation for a few seconds where there was nothing like sense of weightlessness even though she was definitely falling. The darkness where she couldn’t even see an inch ahead opened up all at once right after that.
What flew into her sight were skyscrapers with flowing river of magma.
It was an amazing sight of a bunch of buildings that should be called as a metropolitan and flowing river of magma at all the parts where originally the streets should existed.
She couldn’t see the horizon, however, seeing that she could see the bedrock ceiling until the faraway distance, she understood that this was an underground city with vastness that beggared imagination.
Claudia seemed to be falling from a hole that was opened in that ceiling.
With the speed of freefalling, she would crash into any of the skyscrapers in a few second. Even if she was lucky and could avoid that, in a few second more she would enter the worst dive into the street of magma.
But, as expected Claudia didn’t look anxious. Right now she was Claudia in exorcist mode. In the middle of work, even the god of clumsy girl was docile.
「――The wings of the summit right here. Please grant me a temporary sky.」
The Holy Cross shined. At the same time, shining wings appeared on Claudia’s back. They flapped loudly and feathers of light fluttered. Those wings that were enveloped in silver light closely resembled the apostle wings that Kaori possessed.
The figure of Claudia enveloped in spherical light while dancing in the sky by flapping silver wings was divinely beautiful in this hell. That sight was truly worthy to be coming from someone who was called a saint, not a single one from thousands of people would be able to deny that.
Claudia traveled glidingly in the sky like that and landed on one of the skyscrapers. The wings softly scattered silver feathers and then vanished.
「Kousuke-sama……everyone……」
Her gaze naturally moved above. She had become completely alone. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t feeling forlorn. And as expected, she would be lying if she said that she wasn’t worried about her comrades.
But, the words of a hero that surfaced in her heart immediately cleared away that anxiety.
‘Everyone won’t die. I too won’t die. I’ll bring down Unknown. I’ll accomplish my longstanding desire, save the world, and return home alive with everyone to eat lemon cake.’
‘Fuh’, Claudia’s lips formed a smile.
In that moment, intense impact and ripple spread on Claudia’s barrier surface.
「Tsu――Unknown!!」
Her sworn enemy was on the rooftop of the adjacent building. The body of deep shadow was around three meter tall. Eyes and mouth of flame, blazing blood vessels that were like magma were running through his whole body. He had materialized even more. His twisted horn wasn’t there previously. The fierce pressure that she didn’t feel even twelve years ago looked like it was distorting the surrounding space.
Ordinary people, no, even the average exorcist would lose consciousness or stiffen and became unable to move just from facing him. He truly boasted a majesty that should be called as “King Class”.
『Claudia. My mother body. You don’t know just how much I have been waiting for this time.』
Even his words had become far smoother. As expected, it seemed that his power had increased considerably perhaps thanks to his worshippers.
Unknown slowly made his body floated and landed on the same building with Claudia.
The group of huge high-rise buildings that couldn’t be found that easily even in earth had rooftop width that was also in different level. The space was around as large as a baseball field.
Thus, there was still quite some distance between them. Although, with Unknown getting that closer, the pressure became so strong it even induced nausea.
Claudia scolded her legs that almost backed away.
Her gaze was sharp and her overflowing dominating aura would make anyone wondered that there must be some mistake of her being a clumsy self-destructing saint. Truly, she was certainly worthy to be called as the “strongest exorcist”.
「I’ve also waited for this time. This time for me to take revenge for father and mother. This time where I’ll destroy you!」
『Kakah. What a pleasant hatred. It’s astonishing to hear that coming from a servant of god.』
Unknown spoke in ridicule, to corner his opponent.
『In the first place, wasn’t it you who summoned me? The death of your mother and father was――』
「Yes, it was my fault.」
But, it didn’t work anymore against Claudia.
Because,
「It seems that it’s fine to hate. It seems that it’s also fine to fight for personal enmity.」
Because that was human heart. Because there was no doubt, that it was an important heart.
But, that wasn’t all. There was certainly things that she had accumulated until now.
「I will destroy you with following my personal enmity and my mission.」
The sense of mission that she held together with her comrades was also Claudia’s strength.
Thinking of him that made her notice that, Claudia recalled his fearless smile and tried to imitate it. As though to fire herself up and push back Unknown’s pressure.
「You want me right? Then, stop with the trifling talk and come at me.」
With the Holy Cross in one hand, her other hand gestured invitingly,
「I am, the “Saint” Claudia Barenberg. If you think that you can make me fall, you can try.」
A war declaration. Killing intent and sense of mission throughout these twelve years were filling it.
『Kakah, very well. I’ll make you fall and become pregnant with me. If it’s me with the reborn flesh, I’ll surely be able to trample even those irritating technique users!』
Unknown lifted his hand. Right away, a pressure attacked Claudia. It wasn’t a mental pressure. It was more physical, yes, it was super gravity.
「Tsu――o lord-, please protect thy child! So that all evil will be thwarted by the solid fortress!」
She kneeled while supporting the Holy Cross. Claudia’s prayer resounded. The Holy Cross’s barrier increased in radiance and protected the user from the super gravity.
『Let’s see how far you will be able to endure.』
Unknown increased the pressure further while mixing a scorning laugh.
*Blam-*, the rooftop around Claudia sunk. But, even while groaning Claudia was still going strong. Her strong gaze pierced Unknown and the radiance of the Holy Cross was getting increasingly stronger.
But, it was the building that became unable to endure that intense pressure.
Cracks were spreading in radiating shape around Claudia.
「――Wings of summit!」
A moment before the rooftop caved in, she deployed the silver wings and glided. The high-rise building was crumbling below with a rumble and thunderous sound. During that time Claudia was trying to move to the adjacent building.
But,
『That light is an eyesore.』
「――!?」
Unknown’s figure was right in front of her. His arm was drawn back and then it attacked Claudia like a cannon that was fired from close range.
Terrific impact instantly almost made her lost consciousness, however, the light of Holy Cross, the strongest sacred vessel wasn’t pierced and protected the user fully.
Although, the place was midair. Claudia was blown away along with her barrier like a pinball and pierced through the adjacent building. Without stopping she crashed into the upper floor of even farther building.
「Uh, kuh」
Even though she was groaning, Claudia had endured an attack that normally would turn the victim into a lump of flesh. Her consciousness almost left her once more, but she absolutely wouldn’t let go of the Holy Cross’s protection.
Then, at that timing, a powerful torrent of power outside the building was……
「Tsu――o lord, sever the evil of the wicked and support the righteous to stand firm! What protect me is the shield of god! God saves those with earnest heart!」
The moment she strengthened the barrier further, the space screamed. Her field of vision flabbily distorted as though her sight was blurred, but the next instant the very space itself shook.
The high-rise building that received an impact that should be called a space blasting instantly turned the spot above the floor where Claudia was located into dust.
Even the floor itself was filled with cracks like spider web and it would collapse anytime.
At the center of the floor that now had good visibility, Claudia was clinging on the Holy Cross with a pale expression. Even while the barrier had countless cracks in it, it somehow endured.
But, she had used a lot of power for strengthening the barrier just now. Claudia tried to take out a test tube from her pocket with trembling hand――
『Is that a kind of holy water? I won’t let you.』
Unknown tackled. Claudia who was blown away once more yelled 「aAAAAAH」 while pouring strength into the Holy Cross.
Claudia was blown away as though being pushed while piercing through several high-rise buildings. Before long, she crashed onto an open space near the surface ground.
「Ua, hh, kuh」
She groaned. From outside the barrier, Unknown was looking down with enjoyment at Claudia who was enduring the pain.
Claudia who tried to retreat was stopped by foot trampling on the barrier’s top.
『Kakakah. What’s the matter, Claudia. Is your high spirit only appeared at the beginning? You won’t be able to defeat me by simply defending you know?』
Unknown trampled the barrier while cornering Claudia with words. Claudia glared back wordlessly.
Even now when she was forced into defense one-sidedly and getting shown the difference in strength while being completely isolated, Claudia kept sending a rebellious gaze. Unknown narrowed his eyes and right after that he grinned repulsively and spread out his hands.
Then,
『Claire……please, save father.』
『It’s painful, Claire. Why are you tormenting your mother?』
Besides Unknown, the father and mother of Claudia appeared. They were broiled in black and flamed writhed in pain.
It was Claudia’s fault that they were suffering. It was only Claudia who could liberate them from this suffering.
That’s why, don’t be disobedient even more than this……
I beg you, be a good kid……
You are, really a bad kid……
「Fufuh」
A chuckle leaked out.
Yes, it was Claudia’s laugh.
Unknown narrowed his eyes in puzzlement.
『Are you going crazy?』
「No way. I’m just amused, at how cornered you are.」
『You are saying, I’m cornered?』
Unknown was getting even more puzzled. Claudia fearlessly laughed even with her pale face.
「In reality that’s how it is right? You cannot break through my barrier, but considering the possibility that I might die, you also cannot attack seriously. That’s why, you are even doing this kind of play to break my mind.」
『Just when I’m wondering what are you going to say. The delight of trampling over your heart is――』
「Even though that person is coming?」
Unknown closed his mouth. Claudia’s smile was getting increasingly wider.
「You are fearing that person.」
『What are you……』
「You aimed at him first when we stepped inside hell. Even when you were dragging me here, you sent an intense attack only to that person. Above all else, you yourself said that you have to be reborn. You are aware that you won’t be able to win against the technique users――the returnees right?」
*Creak-*, the barrier made a sound. It was creaking from Unknown’s stepping foot. It expressed the condition of Unknown’s heart more eloquently than anything.
「Even though you were dragging me away here without being able to finish off that person, my defense is harder than you imagined. That’s why, you even did this kind of provocation wanting me to go out into offense.」
Even if it was Claudia, the strongest exorcist, it would be difficult to activate defense and offense simultaneously at the same level. She was able to endure Unknown’s attack right now exactly because she was persisting in defense.
The moment she shifted into offense, Unknown would definitely take advantage of the opening in the defense that would slightly loosen at that time.
「That person said it.」
Claudia showed a bright grin that was terribly irritating for the enemy no matter what and she spoke.
「A demon king will be lying in wait brazenly. You who are running away, hiding, and making petty provocation have declared it yourself through that.」
That was to say,
「That you have no caliber as demon king.」
『……You don’t need any limbs to conceive me.』
Unknown became serious. Intense rage and hatred surged. His feeling that wanted to make Claudia into his mother body unharmed had vanished. As though to say it would be fine as long as she survived while conceiving him until he was reborn, he was going to unleash an attack without holding back.
「I’m grateful that you are going along with my conversation.」
『What?』
「I’m saying, that I have bought enough time.」
Furthermore, Claudia who was forming a wide smile with loveliness that was unthinkable for someone who was in hell called out with her happiness in full display.
「Right? Kousuke-sama!」
「Exactly.」
『Guo!?』
The one who answered to that call was of course, that person, the abyss lord. The invisibility that was working in full made even Unknown to not notice his approach. A flying kick of gravity & blaze from directly horizontal――Jutsui Engeki Kyaku exploded. (TN: Gravity Crash Blazing Kick)
The technique that was created by ad-lib blew away Unknown that was hit by it once more. His body pulverized the pillar of a high-rise building and vanished to the other side.
「I’m sorry Claire, for leaving you alone like this.」
「No, Kousuke-sama. I believed in you. Besides, I am someone who introduced myself as the strongest exorcist. It will be out of the question for me to be unable to struggle through just this much by myself.」
「Fuh, I see. By the way, right now call me Abyssga――」
「Kousuke-sama! Please be careful! Unknown is even more powerful than before!」
「Ri, iight……」
Ri, iiight~~~
‘Why won’t you call me Abyssgate? Right now, it’s okay even if you call me Aby you know?’ the lord thought, but he closed his mouth seeing the towering building at the other side of the street of magma collapsed with a thunderous sound and a spire of darkness color pierced the sky.
The lord that felt a sever killing intent directed to him carried Claudia in his arms and attempted to escape to the sky.
Right after he flew up with his pseudo flight, the place where they were at just a moment ago was hit with a shower of countless tentacles like a rain. The foothold was destroyed and sunk into magma.
The lord who flew without paying attention to that landed on the highest skyscraper.
Even though this highest high-rise building that had huge clock attached in it was devastated, it possessed a majesty that gave the impression that perhaps it was the symbol of this city when this underground city was still in good state. The stopped hands of the clock might be engraving the time when this city was destroyed……
The lord let Claudia down, at the same time Unknown also landed on the rooftop of the clock building.
『So you are going to get in my way no matter what, human?』