Despite the current situation, it truly wasn’t advantageous for Leya.
As the monster had stated, Leya’s stored magic was rapidly leaking away.
Originally, Leya believed that as a deity, she should possess an endless supply of magic, thus never having to worry about it depleting.
However, while this held true in theory, reality often introduced strange coincidences that veered events away from their intended conclusions.
Just like this time.
[Host, less than five minutes remain until the transformation ends. Alert: less than five minutes remain until the transformation ends.]
As the system’s utterly emotionless, neutral voice echoed, Leya froze in place.
“Hey, you’ve got to be kidding me! No matter how I calculate it, it couldn’t have been more than five minutes since I transformed, could it? Even if it was, it couldn’t be this absurdly over!”
‘Seriously, I’ve only spoken a few sentences from start to finish! At most, it’s been about three minutes, definitely not more than five!’
‘How could it suddenly be less than five minutes left? You must have gotten it wrong, system, right?’
“Of course not. Rather, as the world’s foremost divine artifact, how could I make such a basic mistake? And isn’t the reason for this situation because you, Host, were too reckless and underestimated your opponent?”
“Uh… what!? This has something to do with me?”
“Of course it does. If you, Host, hadn’t come here knowing nothing, and then stayed in this cursed wind for so long, still knowing nothing, how else would your magic have been drained dry?”
“…………”
‘That makes so much sense! Yet, something about it feels off!’
“Magic drained dry? Wait, isn’t my magic infinite? You, system, told me that yourself! If that’s the case, how could it be drained?”
“No, I never said that your magic, Host, was infinite. In fact, the very first time you encountered Edwin, I reminded you that as a deity, you possess divine power, which transcends magic. While you do have magic, it is not in abundance.”
“Then before, I…”
Before Leya could finish, as if anticipating her question or rebuttal, the system continued its explanation.
“While your magic, Host, is limited, your divine power is vast, though currently inaccessible. The Intermediate Divine Power Card, however, can temporarily convert divine power into magic to sustain your magical expenditure, much like the Sword of Promised Victory.”
“When you unleash the Sword of Promised Victory, you are, in fact, consuming magic converted from divine power. However, please note that this conversion is passive and completely detached from you, Host. This means that while you theoretically possess infinite magic, you cannot actively tap into it, and thus your actual magic reserves cannot increase.”
“Ugh… that sounds incredibly complicated. Could you perhaps answer my question more simply?”
“…………”
“Sigh…”
With an exasperated sigh, the system’s voice carried a hint of helplessness. “Still don’t understand? Simply put, the magic generated by the Intermediate Divine Power Card itself, which sustains your Saber state, is almost completely drained. Since it cannot be actively replenished by the divine power within you, the transformed state will be dispelled once the card’s magic is exhausted.”
****
Thus, by the time Leya finally grasped the full situation, it was already almost too late.
“Then… then can’t I find a way to actively replenish my divine power? Since I have so much of it…”
Even with things having progressed to this point, Leya was still incredibly reluctant to accept the truth.
‘What kind of joke is this…?’
‘I’ve only just transformed, spoken a few words, and now it’s going to end so anticlimactically?’
“Of course not. If it could be replenished, what would be the point of a time limit? Furthermore, actively using divine power… for a Host who can’t even master the most basic magic, that’s truly a joke that isn’t funny.”
“…………”
“Oh, a friendly reminder: if you don’t run now, you might genuinely lose your chance. Less than three minutes remain!”
“…………”
Silently, she tightened her grip on the Sword of Kings in her right hand.
Her expression was as grim as a storm cloud in a leaden sky.
“Hey… you’re still there, aren’t you? Monster…”
And sure enough, just as before, that unpleasant, ancient voice echoed in Leya’s mind once more.
“Of course, I’ve always been here… because this is my home. So, what do you want? Though, if my predictions are correct, the magic within you should be on the verge of exhaustion.”
“…………From a certain perspective, you’re incredibly confident. Aren’t you afraid I’ll escape this black mist?”
“Heh heh… Humans trapped here, just like you, always think that, and always try. But regrettably, not a single one has ever succeeded.”
As if recounting its glorious history, the monster spoke with a touch of pride.
“However, considering you’re one of the more interesting individuals I’ve encountered in thousands of years, I’ll mercifully tell you the true nature of the black mist that traps you, before I devour you.”
“True nature? Isn’t it just cursed power? Hmph, merely such a thing…”
“Cursed power? Heh heh… Is that what you believe? Well, I suppose so. After all, if you had known the truth of my Wind of Death beforehand, you surely wouldn’t have rushed in so recklessly…”
“Wind of Death?”
At once, Leya was greatly shocked to hear that term. Clearly, she had never imagined such an extraordinary phenomenon could exist in this world.
“Indeed! And I can say without any bias, any life that bathes in my Wind of Death cannot escape the ultimate fate of demise!”
[Host, only less than two minutes remain… For safety, please evacuate as quickly as possible.]
‘Evacuate?’
As Leya continuously processed the information the monster’s words conveyed, she shook her head with a sense of helplessness.
‘If I retreat now, where would I even go? Darkness is everywhere; who knows where the exit lies? In the end, it would just be as this monster said: utterly futile.’
“…………”
‘So, rather than senselessly waste my life, I might as well be straightforward and face it head-on here, to decide this once and for all!’
But…
The prerequisite for that would be for it to fight her fairly. Regrettably, the monster lurking deep within the darkness had yet to show its face.
“Very well then… Since your decision is made, I can only support it. Sigh, I only hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Come on… don’t be so pessimistic, system. It’s just a monster that doesn’t even dare to show its face, right? Logically speaking, I’m a deity; how could I lose to it?”
‘Exactly!’
‘How could I lose? What a joke…’
‘It just got a temporary head start, that’s all. To be so smug, it truly doesn’t see me as a threat, does it?’
A breath escaped her lips.
Although the situation had escalated to this point, even Leya herself no longer believed she could defeat it with just over a minute remaining.
“Contract…”
Light, golden light! It began to leap forth from thin air within the otherwise pitch-black space!
“This… no, impossible! How can you still harbor such immense magic within you?!”
“Oh? This is the first time I’ve heard you sound so flustered… Ah, it’s just a pity that I likely won’t be able to witness your even greater shock and surprise afterward, that truly amusing expression…”
“Wh-what? What are you saying?! Could it be… could you be sacrificing your life force in exchange for magic?!”
Heaven knew what Leya’s phrase, ‘I likely won’t be able to witness,’ had been conjured into in the monster’s mind to elicit such astonishment.
Yet, clearly, none of it truly mattered to Leya anymore.
‘Sacrificing life force… is that it? While I don’t know what I’ll do after this, as of now, I neither intend to do nor have any idea how to do such a thing.’
‘Tsk… but honestly, I’m still so unwilling! To finally encounter an interesting opponent, only to be unable to have a fair showdown and leave… instead, carrying such regret…’
****
[BOOM—-]
“Wh-what… what exactly happened there?”
This was several thousand meters away from the black mist.
It was precisely the first front line where Captain Thorne, Gilbert, and their group of retreating adventurers were intercepting the demonic beasts.
“I don’t know… but tell me, does anyone else feel like… that mass of black mist seems to have shrunk considerably after that huge explosion?”
“Uh… now that you mention it…”
Only then did everyone scrutinize it, and indeed, they found…
It truly was the case!
“Could it be… could someone have… engaged the monster within that black mist?”
One of the adventurers pondered for a moment before quietly offering their opinion.
What followed immediately was a sneering retort from a seemingly refined mage, exuding an aristocratic aura and dressed like a person of high standing. “Hmph, don’t imagine magic to be so simple, commoner! Magic of that caliber can only be cast by at least a Level 3 mage. Even if you gathered all the Level 3 mages in the entire city of Volantis, there would only be a mere dozen of them, and they are all at the Mage’s Association. How could they possibly be here?”
“Uh… but… but such things aren’t absolute, are they?! Besides, don’t think I don’t know; your family is merely a fallen noble house. Otherwise, why would you be working at the Adventurers’ Guild?”
The adventurer, feeling their pride wounded, retorted defiantly.
Surprisingly, however, faced with such blatant provocation and mockery from the adventurer, the mage actually held their tongue!
After glaring fiercely at the adventurer, they fell silent and began to focus their attention on the approaching Orcs.
Indeed, it was the Orcs!
Gilbert’s analysis had been correct. Roughly five minutes into their confrontation with the Netherworld Wolves, the Orcs surged forward and joined the battle.
With their arrival, the front line, which had barely been holding, instantly became exceptionally strained.
Under these circumstances, everyone could only fight and retreat, desperately seeking an opportunity to withdraw.
Even so, the original eight-person interception team was now reduced to just six.
A casualty rate of one-quarter in less than five minutes!
Frankly, such statistics were far from encouraging.