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164 – The Ninth Stratum – The Domain of Space-Time ​​and Demons 1

The Ninth Stratum – The Domain of Space-Time ​​and Demons.

Originally, the ninth stratum is a place where people can see a flashy magic battle, but this time, Agares’ trusted intermediary has welcomed several Majins from other Dungeons as helpers and succeeded in strengthening his forces.

The ninth stratum has an unusual space feel to it.

It’s basically pitch black. Up and down, left and right, even the bottom and the end are all black.

In such a space, there are small sparkles laid out around it.

I guess it would be easier to imagine that the space is like a night sky in all directions.

Then, clocks are added on top of that.

There are wall clocks, table clocks, pocket watches, wrist watches, and even hourglasses. Countless clocks of various designs and sizes are floating in the space.

The sound of the clock ticking is a mess, and even the speed of the clock needles are different. 

The numbers engraved on the clocks are also inconsistent. The stage is filled with a bunch of clocks that seem to throw the flow of time out of order.

Although the sixth and seventh stratums were stages of sea and sky, there were still paths laid out in it.

However, the ninth stratum doesn’t have that.

Even though I’m definitely standing on the floor beneath my feet, I could still see the starry night sky below me.

Such a mysterious space.

「It’s time.」

All of the Majins who came said that.

Some of them were looking at specific clocks and the others were looking straight at the opponents, but all of them said it simultaneously. It’s time.

「Time for what?」

Wraith asked.

There was an immediate response.

「…for battle.」

In addition, the other Majins answered like this.

「…for destruction.」, 「…for your demise.」, 「…for you to be massacred.」, 「…for your defeat.」, 「…for the end.」.

「It’s time.」

「Hmm, for your side?」

As expected of Wraith, he didn’t lose his composure.

The response was a magic attack.

A flame ball about the size of a large beast attacked Wraith.

「Did I make you angry?」

Wraith isn’t perturbed even when he is faced with merciless and powerful magic.

The fights have begun in various places.

The resurrection right obtained in the eighth stratum was used on the Thunderclap Hero Scathach.

The remaining ten members are the Storm Hero Aerial, the Gale Hero Ewan, the Blade Alchemist Louie, the Hero of the Cursed Sword Hervor, the Thousand Form Summoner Margret, the Thunderclap Hero Scathach, the Far Reaching Swordsman Hamill, the Faceless Archer Suuri, the Water Hero Wraith, and the Destroyer Fran.

Herv and Fran are engaged in a hand-to-hand combat against the Majins.

Aerial, Wraith, and Scathach’s Hero group also took on one opponent each and started a magic battle.

「…Come!」

Ewan is also confronting one of the Majins.

「You are just a young and inexperienced Hero. What exactly can you do?」

「I’ll prove it to you right now.」

It seems that both of them are good at Wind Magic. They shortened the distance between them while their Wind Blades were fiercely clashing.

The swaying of their hair and clothing, and the clocks drifting around the space showed the intensity of the battle.

It was the moment when Ewan was about to step back to avoid a certain Wind Blade.

With a thump, his back bumped into something.

It was a wall created by Earth Magic.

「Majins don’t need to inquire a Spirit’s mood.」

Therefore, Majins are not tied to just one element.

It is also possible for Majins to simultaneously use Wind Magic and Earth Magic.

「I know.」

Ewan, who had been flustered until a moment ago, smiled.

Was he acting?

The next moment, his body soared high. He flew in the air with Wind Magic.　

But there’s something strange about the timing. It was too quick. If he hadn’t prepared this in advance, there’s no way it would be this fast.

「Sir Hamill!」

「I’m already on it~」

「…」

Blood is flowing from the Majin’s chest. From two locations.

He was bleeding from the position of his heart and Magical Energy organ.

「It’s called Soaring Thrusts – Part 2.」

Hamill put his thumb and index finger on his chin and said that with a cool expression.

His Flying Slashes can be used for any kind of slashing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a slash or a thrust, as long as the blade can cut the opponent.

That was a well-known fact, but the previous situation was also a good opportunity.

As a result, the Majin personally obstructed his own view and was pierced there.

Were you aiming for this? From the beginning?

「It’s true that I’m young and inexperienced, but-」

「This kind of injury-」

The Majins have horns. So, even if he can’t escape death, with his inherent sturdiness, he still has a little time before having to leave the field.

He can still defeat a Hero with his remaining Magical Energy. Of course, that’s only if the magic can hit the opponent.

Ewan also prepared a huge Wind Blade.

「I’m definitely not weak! Moreover!」

「……Urgh!」

「I’m not alone!」

The clash between the huge Wind Blades did not last long.

It’s not because he ran out of Magical Energy. It’s because he has reached the limit of his body from continuously using his Magical Energy.

The Majin’s body collapsed and the magic was undone. Then, there were Magical Energy particles fluttering.

He was defeated.

He’s like a completely different person.

In the past, Ewan seemed to have been careful to not fail, especially since he left the field in the second stratum.

Whenever he received support from his teammates, he would seem apologetic and apologise to them.

That’s what the Monsters in the Demon King Castle saw as well. Since they watched the unedited version, they know much more than the viewers.

Now, he is utilizing the inexperienced parts of him that had been accumulating so far in the battle.

He acted as if he hadn’t changed since the eighth stratum and set up the Majin who tried to exploit that weakness of his.

He incorporated the opponent’s evaluation of him into his strategy and actively asked for help from his teammates.

Ah, Hamill’s surprise attack worked so well because Ewan’s planning was so skillful.

His expression seems refreshed, perhaps because he had a breakthrough.

He has accepted the fact that he is inexperienced, but he does not abase himself for that and instead changed it into a tool for the sake of victory.

Even though he’s the opponent, he did well.

「As expected of Sir Hamill!」

「Little Ewan also did really good~」

「That… calling me little is a bit…」

While saying that, the two of them moved on to the next opponent.

It seems that they are heading to support Margret, who looks like she’s struggling.

People can change with just one trigger.

He’s an excellent person to begin with, so it’s just a matter of how he manages it.

He had stumbled and seemed to have dragged it along, but he seems okay now.

I’m happy that a promising Adventurer had escaped the darkness, but as the Chief of Staff, I’m troubled by the birth of a strong opponent.

But only a little. As a senior Adventurer, I could at least mutter something to him.

「Congratulations, Ewan.」

That’s it. That’s all.

He and I are opponents. An opponent to be defeated.

After a moment of celebration, I stiffened my expression and returned my attention to the screen.