It really started.
Hyue vs Raphael.
A one on one between the wind hero and the Demon Lord.
But as expected, Raphael has been on an overwhelming advantage since the beginning.
“[Calamity Storm].” (Raphael)
The tornado that Raphael created with one flap of his butterfly wings was tormenting Hyue who was driving Kukulkan.
“Guaaaaa!!” (Hyue)
She is able to resist as of now because of the thick and heavy armor of Kukulkan, but if she were to receive that in the flesh, it would be over in one hit.
The divine power of a Demon Lord is truly out of norms.
“Hahahaha, what’s the matter? Is the only trait of that big thing its weight?” (Raphael)
“Keep barking! Fine, bear witness to the power of the Wind Mobile Gun, Kukulkan!!” (Hyue)
The left arm of Kukulkan is directed at Raphael.
This left arm has a big gunport equipped to it.
“[Wind Rippling Gun, Nobel]!!” (Hyue)
At that instant, the air between Hyue and Raphael exploded.
It didn’t shoot a bullet of wind, but made the air itself exploded in the area between them to deal damage to the target. This is a technique that resembled the one Shiva used in his time as a wind hero, the wind dual gun technique.
It is an attack that explodes the air in the target’s surrounding with no time lag, making it impossible to avoid or defend.
But…
“[Vacuum Blade]” (Raphael)
Raphael had nullified it as if nothing.
“Wa?!” (Hyue)
“What a stupid technique. You can easily block this attack by cutting off the air in the surroundings.” (Raphael)
And then, Raphael made a sudden descent from the sky, at close range to where Hyue is —to where Kukulkan is.
“By the way, I have already found the weakness of that big thing.” (Raphael)
Raphael stands at the feet of the robot.
Kukulkan’s size is enough to have one human inside, so its body is pretty big, and it had to look down at Raphael, but…
“It covers its whole body with thick metal to protect itself, and has several types of wind guns installed to it. As a result, it has this big of a body…… But it is exactly because of its big frame that you can’t do anything when approached like this.” (Raphael)
It is as Raphael says.
In the first place, the arms of Kukulkan are not made as dextrous as a human’s arm, and it takes its all to use it as a battery.
If he were to enter into the inside range of those arms, Hyue would lose all means of attack.
“Kuh!” (Hyue)
Hyue revved the mobility engine of Kukulkan and was thinking of retreating at high speed, in order to create distance.
But there’s no way the Demon Lord would allow this.
“Too slow!!” (Raphael)
From each of the five fingers of the gauntlet of Raphael, tightly compressed air claws were shot.
“[Kamaitachi]” (Raphael)
Their sharpness made it hard to believe that it was air, and it easily cut the metallic armor of Kukulkan.
“Guaaaaah!!” (Hyue)
Hyue took a defensive stance, and thanks to that, both of the arms of Kukulkan had been cleanly cut.
With that, there’s no way she will be able to use the weapons installed in them, and won’t be able to defend herself with that same move anymore.
If he were to do the same attack, it would be the end.
“Didn’t even think of the possibility of me fighting you in close range? Well, the first time we fought, I did leave all the job to the size of my divine power and was attacking crudely after all.” (Raphael)
“Guuuh…” (Hyue)
“It just means I have also grown. Even if you guys were to try struggling with your schemes, I will always be walking ahead of you humans. One of the proofs that monsters are superior to humans.” (Raphael)
It is true that Kukulkan wasn’t made with plans of fighting a Demon Lord in close combat.
In the first place, the Wind techniques themselves are not suited for close combat. That’s the territory of the Earth techniques.
That’s why, Kukulkan not being suited for close combat is not the fault of Juo-san and the driver Hyue…
“Now then, let’s leave the playing around. How about fighting seriously now? Show your trump card.” (Raphael)
“W…What?!” (Hyue)
Hyue dragged the feet of Kukulkan and took a fighting stance.
“Are you playing dumb? Did you think I didn’t know?” (Raphael)
“What are you talking about?” (Hyue)
“God Hero. God-He-ro.” (Raphael)
Those words made not only Hyue gulp her breath but me as well.
This guy…!
“Is it something to be so surprised about? Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel were defeated by the God Heroes, right? There’s no way I wouldn’t know.” (Raphael)
That’s true, but that’s not the problem here!
“It means that, in the end, humans have received power from the Gods and have finally managed to be equal to Demon Lords. Now, go ahead and turn into a God Hero as well. No need to hold back. In your case, you would be the Wind God Hero, right?” (Raphael)
“……”
Hyue kept silent inside Kukulkan.
“You guys finally managed to fight equally with us after becoming God Heroes. If I don’t crush you in that state, there would be no point in this fight. In order to have you taste true defeat…turn into a God Hero.” (Raphael)
“I refuse.” (Hyue)
What came out from Hyue was clear refusal.
Hyue refused turning into the Wind God Hero.
“I have decided. This fight is one that I will overcome with my own strength. By defeating you with my own strength, I will be able to become a true hero.” (Hyue)
“…What?” (Raphael)
“Line up, Demon Lord Raphael! I will be the one to defeat you! No God Hero, or anyone else; it will be this wind hero, Toreido Hyue!!” (Hyue)
- 362: Point of no return
Why are you so stuck in fighting alone, Hyue?!
A Demon Lord is originally not an opponent that a single human can do something about.
In the fight of Michael and Mirack, the confrontation of Celestis and Gabriel, the overwhelming of Uriel by Sasae-chan; it is not as if they overcame those difficulties by themselves.
Humans and Gods, humans and humans, and even humans and demons; with those many connections, they changed it into strength and managed to overcome those things that strength alone wouldn’t be enough.
That’s supposed to be a strength of the humans.
Why are you throwing that strength away and challenging the Demon Lord?!
“…What. So you won’t be turning into a God Hero huh.” (Raphael)
Raphael was showing a truly bored expression.
“In that case, I have no further business with you. I will kill you quickly and go after the next prey.” (Raphael)
His gaze is directed at me.
“First, it will be you, Kuromiya Haine. Since you are already close by, I will be having my revenge for the first time we fought.” (Raphael)
“…”
Being directed clear hostility, I got on guard.
“The next would be that man called Shiva. I will never forget the humiliation this Demon Lord Raphael received from you and him. Once I settle that, I will be beginning the humanity eradication plan at full.” (Raphael)
“Fine then. Before fighting, tell me something.” (Haine)
Dark matter was already being released minutely from both of my arms.
If Hyue won’t turn into a God Hero, I am the only one here who can defeat him.
“Do we really have to fight each other?” (Haine)
“Hoh?” (Raphael)
“I thought at first that there was no other way but having only one side survive. That there was no way but to fight and decide by the erasure of the other. That’s how I thought.” (Haine)
But the ones who taught me that this was a flawed way of thinking were the humans that look weak at a glance.
They placed their all in their fight and made the impossible possible.
What brought this about was the strength that’s deep inside the heart of humans, the ability to belief.
This surpassed races and even reached the lord of monsters; they changed them.
The coexistence of humans and demons that even Gods didn’t believe in, the humans were trying to make it true.
“Your comrade, Michael, said that he accepted walking alongside humans. Gabriel and Uriel as well.” (Haine)
Not a future where you step on someone else to gain glory, but a future where everyone shares the glory.
“Raphael, can’t you also walk alongside us?” (Haine)
If he does that, there’s no need for us to fight here.
“Hmph, every single one of you people, wasting time with such stupid things.” (Raphael)
But my expectations were betrayed by those simple words.
“It is true that Michael said something like that too. That instead of eradicating humans, we should walk alongside them…!” (Raphael)
So Michael is really trying to fulfill his promise with us.
And Raphael is trying to go the completely opposite path.
“Why?! Why can’t you walk the same path?! Even when you are a Demon Lord like Michael and the others!” (Haine)