The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 56

Frenzy of Depravity

She felt like she was about to vomit.

Was it because the girl in front of her had died instantly in just three seconds?

Or was it because the girl’s fate had turned into a grotesquely fused monster?

No. Ariasphil knew the most repulsive answer.

She simply couldn’t acknowledge it, for doing so would overwhelm her with nausea.

“…”

Ariasphil remained silent.

“Doesn’t this evoke any emotion? Or is the performance still lacking?”

The Clay Shaper, wearing Leonardo’s face with a smile, pushed the modified girl aside.

“Do you think your feelings might change a little if you play with her? Since she’s a girl, how about playing house?”

“…Gurrrgh…!”

The modified human let out a monstrous scream as it charged at Arias.

It wasn’t particularly threatening…

Whoosh

But Ariasphil couldn’t counterattack in her current state.

“You’re not fighting back? Do you like the clay doll I gave you that much?”

In terms of speed and power, Arias held the advantage. If she switched from defense to offense, she could decapitate it instantly.

“Gurrrrgh…!!”

But Ariasphil did not attack. She focused all her posture and movements on defense and evasion.

“Kr…save…me…”

The moment it was confirmed that these monsters were all once human, Ariasphil couldn’t bring herself to strike.

[…Arias… if you don’t, you’ll die…]

Arias had once been the girl who killed her own brother. She couldn’t bring herself to behead a girl with her own hands.

If she continued to cut them down, if she accumulated any more sins…

Ariasphil herself wouldn’t be able to bear it.

[I understand, Arias.]

This time, vines sprouted from the ground. The spirits of earth and plants made the vines grow, binding and subduing the monster.

“Wow, spirit magic~ It’s not a good match for me~”

“…You… at least you…!!”

Arias charged at the Clay Shaper in genuine fury. There was no guilt in killing a bastard like him.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like my creation?”

“Shut up…!!”

Arias’s sword strikes were fast and precise, even in her rage. Not even the Clay Shaper, skilled in assassination and slaughter, could avoid being wounded by her swordsmanship.

“To turn people into such things…! And then you say something like that…?!”

“Haha, that’s harsh.”

The Clay Shaper healed his wounds and transformed his hand into a blade.

“You killed people too, didn’t you? So why are you speaking so self-righteously, like a hero?”

In that moment, Arias’s thoughts froze. The image of the first monster she had cut down, and the memory of that girl’s brother, paralyzed her mind.

“You’re a killer too.”

That girl must have thought the same thing as she looked at Arias.

“Haha! Your weakness is so obvious. There’s no twist at all.”

With those words, the Clay Shaper grabbed Arias’s abdomen.

“This is what a twist looks like.”

Suddenly, a sharp pain coursed through her, like every cell was being plucked with tweezers and reconnected.

“Krrak!”

For a brief moment, the aura around Arias exploded. The pressure of mana, combined with the gust of wind, pushed back the Clay Shaper’s unique magic.

“You instinctively defended yourself. If you had been even a little slower, it would have been more fun.”

Though she had defended herself, it was only enough to withstand the shock, not nullify it. The pain still lingered in her abdomen.

Releasing more aura than usual had also taken its toll.

“Shall I change my strategy then?”

The Clay Shaper extended both arms and unleashed his unique magic. However, since the transformed limbs were now longer, their trajectory was visible, making it easy to dodge.

“I told you, didn’t I? It’s an important twist.”

What the extended hands grabbed were the two subdued monsters, still alive though bound.

“I’m the type who doesn’t leave any materials behind.”

The two monsters melted away like wax exposed to fire. With grotesque screams, the two masses fused together, forming a gigantic golem.

“A sister mingling her body with a strange man in front of her brother—how’s that for a poetic title?”

“You… you demon…!”

It was an evil so vile it made her nauseous.

He was no mere human who felt no guilt in killing.

This murderous fiend genuinely found artistic beauty in fusing these living corpses together and took sadistic pleasure in the reactions of those who witnessed his work. He was a mad demon who reveled in such perversion.

Ariasphil felt a deep, pervasive disgust from the bottom of her heart.

“Why so upset? If you think about it, it’s partly your fault for not killing them.”

At that moment, something in her rationality snapped. It wasn’t driven by anger or hatred, but by something deeper.

“…No…!! I…!”

“Really? Did you spare them out of genuine concern for those people?”

The golem swung its fist. The two heads attached to its body let out a sound that could only be described as a harmonious wail.

“You just didn’t want to dirty your hands. You lacked the courage to bear the sin of killing.”

“No…!! That’s not true!!”

Her strong denial only served to affirm the truth. Arias’s swordsmanship became wild and frenzied, as if she were succumbing to the same madness exuded by the Clay Shaper.

“But shall I tell you one thing?”

The golem attacked again. She dodged the massive, powerful blow, but the real threat came from the Clay Shaper’s hands, aiming to strike in unison.

If he touched her this time, it would be over. Calling on the spirits to block it might barely save her.

“In the end, you’re a killer too. Just like me, you’ve committed an unforgivable sin that will haunt you forever.”

Even her ability to communicate began to fail. The taut thread of her mind snapped.

It was an undeniable truth, and because of that, Ariasphil couldn’t close the gap left by a fleeting moment of hesitation.

“You’ll make for excellent material…”

•Shooter Form 9: Target and Fire

That filthy hand was torn off, arrow and all.

“Of course it’s different, you bastard.”

But that arrow wasn’t the end. More arrows followed in rapid succession.

“How dare you compare yourself to her?”

Four arrows struck simultaneously, accurately hitting the golem’s two heads and the spot where its heart would be.

“You’re a psychopathic killer who murders innocent people for pleasure, and the lady here is a hero trying to stop you. Do you really need me to spell that out?”

The one who fired the arrows was none other than the knight who had been mimicked by the Clay Shaper, Ariasphil’s knight.

“And what’s so bad about not wanting to kill more? Even if they’ve turned into something like that, I prefer a lady who values life. I really like Ariasphil just as she is.”

Leonardo continued to hurl fireballs in rapid succession. Three fireballs hit the Clay Shaper directly.

Boom, Boom!

The Clay Shaper was slightly thrown back by the impact of the explosions. Although the force pushed him back, it neither killed him nor tore away any flesh.

But the explosions provided enough cover. The heat and smoke from the blasts obscured the view.

“So, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve already killed or will kill in the future. Even if the burden of your sins stays with you for life, I’ll carry that burden with you.”

With that declaration, Leonardo charged into the smoke-filled scene. Grabbing Arias’s hand, he began to run.

“Hold on tight. We’re taking off.”

“Wh… What?!”

As he spoke, Leonardo shot a black stone wire toward the building.

The wire contracted, pulling Leonardo into the air.

“…Leo, how did you…? No, more importantly, how are you…!”

“I’ll answer once we’re further away.”

With a brief reply, Leo leaped across rooftops, trying to put as much distance as possible between them and the previous spot.

During that time, Ariasphil noticed—no, being so close, she couldn’t help but see.

The wounds scattered across Leonardo’s body, ranging from minor injuries to severe ones, some of which would have been life-threatening if not staunched or cauterized.

She felt pathetic for having crumbled under the weight of her guilt.

“…If we stay here… they won’t find us right away.”

“Leo… your wounds…”

The wounds he had barely managed to staunch had reopened during the escape. The growing bloodstains on his clothes indicated just how much pain he was in.

“Miss, please use your spirit magic to heal me first. If I get treated, I’ll be fine.”

“…Okay… I got it…”

Ariasphil began summoning the surrounding spirits with mana. She gathered as many as she could, and the mana that formed the world began to envelop Leonardo.

“Heal Leo.”

[Understood.]

[We’ll help.]

[We’ll try our best.]

Several spirits responded, imbuing Leonardo’s body with their healing energy. Shattered and broken bones realigned, and torn and split wounds began to close.

‘…The blood itself wasn’t restored… but this is good enough.’

Considering she had used spirit magic she had learned in such a short time to perform rapid healing, it was more than commendable.

“Are you okay?”

“Thanks to you. I might’ve been in real danger if it weren’t for you.”

It was probably a lie. If he had really chosen safety, he would have taken refuge in a large building like the Magic Tower and asked the wizards there for healing.

“What should we do about that… thing? It heals even when cut, and touching it would mean instant death.”

“…I have a plan. If it works, we should both survive.”

Of course, it was Leo. He was always calm and calculating, thinking of the next move.

“What’s the plan…?”

Crack

Leo lightly tapped her neck, activating an electric spell.

“Forgive me.”

Arias, who had briefly let her guard down, was struck by a powerful force, causing her to lose consciousness.

“…I can’t see you.”

Leonardo spoke to the invisible spirits around him.

“But I beg of you, please move Arias to a safe place. As far away and as safe as possible.”

There was no audible response, but as Arias began to levitate and move through the air, it seemed the message had been understood.

“…Now then…”

Leonardo gripped his weapon once more.

[…Hey.]

“…”

Leonardo didn’t respond. He simply started running back to the battlefield.

[Answer me.]

“…”

[I said, answer me.]

The Sage demanded a response, but the boy remained silent.

[What are you planning to do?]

“…I’m going to buy some time.”

Time for Ariasphil to escape.

[Are you planning to die?]

“…”

His silence was an affirmation.

[That creature isn’t like Jehad. The fact that it wasn’t just regenerating but actually restoring itself means you stand no chance. Plus, your body may be healed, but your mana hasn’t recovered at all.]

It was a harsh and cold assessment.

All of it was true, and the situation was grim.

Yet, Leonardo kept running.

Before long, he encountered the Clay Shaper’s monsters, who had already used other people as materials while they had been fleeing.

“That’s why I need to buy more time.”

He cut down his enemies. Blood splattered and flesh was sliced away. Amidst the echoing screams and cries, Leo continued to dispatch the monsters with his sword.

[…And then what?]

“…At least Arias will survive.”

There was no assumption of his own survival.

It was a plan based on the premise of his death.

[I see.]

The Sage’s voice was resigned.

[Has your guilt faded?]

For a moment, Leo’s sword trembled. He couldn’t even bring himself to glare at the Sage; he simply continued to kill his enemies.

[If you’re going to die anyway, you should know this before you do.]

He cut them down, piece by piece.

[What you’re doing isn’t some noble sacrifice for Arias.]

He decapitated them.

[Arias would rather die fighting alongside you than survive like this.]

He pierced their hearts.

[You’re just saving her because it makes you feel better. If she died by your side, you’d completely lose it.]

He killed and killed again.

[This isn’t a sacrifice; it’s stubbornness. You’re clinging to self-pity, trying to soothe your own conscience.]

Finally, the boy snapped.

“Then what should I do?!”

At that moment, a monster emerged from behind. He had expected this.

“This is the only way to make sure Arias lives…!!”

[Sure, you might keep her alive. But,]

But as he sliced through the monster, the Clay Shaper emerged from within, like a snake shedding its skin, placing his hand on Leo’s face.

[Have you thought about how Arias feels?]

His counterattack was too late. Even if he unleashed more aura than he could handle, the attack was aimed at his brain.

Even if he managed to defend himself, the internal shock would damage his brain. There was no way out, either mentally or physically.

<…I’m sorry.>

It was both an apology and a final farewell.

[Apologize to her, not me.]

With the Sage’s last words, the Clay Shaper was suddenly blown away.

The force that had sent the Clay Shaper flying was a gale of sword wind, a combination of spirit magic and a knight’s swordsmanship.

“…Leo, I’m really angry.”

Arias spoke as she stepped onto the rooftop, standing before him.

“Why did you lie?”

She then tossed a potion toward Leo. It seemed to be a high-quality product, likely taken from a nearby Magic Tower’s potion shop.

“…S-Sorry…”

“You said you’d stay by my side forever.”

“…What?”

Leo asked, confused by her words.

“…What do you mean…?”

Arias looked at him with a chilling yet brilliant gaze and spoke.

“You’re going to stay by my side forever. You don’t get to choose. No matter what you do to push me away, I’ll keep you by my side. Resistance is futile. Your opinion doesn’t matter.”

No matter what, not even death would separate them.

“Because you belong to me.”