First Outer World Story Series: The Black Mist that Devours - Chapter 61
Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter
Please note that there are some cheat expressions in this chapter, so please be careful if you don’t like them.
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(Kurokiri POV)
As my consciousness began to submerge, I found myself in an unfamiliar environment. And there Ichiko was, with a bizarre metal gauntlet on her left arm, being clutched on the head by a hooded child, right in front of my eyes.
Within a glance, I recognized the true identity of the child.
But the instant I witnessed the scene, my mind exceeded the boiling point at once, and I brought forth Kurokirinoko with all my might and swung it down.
“Fuuuu…”
A cloud of smoke billowed out as the Kurokirinoko slammed into the ground, accompanied by a booming explosion. In the midst of that cloud of dust, I held Ichiko in my left arm and the Kurokirinoko in my right.
“Oh. I wasn’t expecting you to show up at this time.”
A child was addressing me. No, this was not a child. She was…
“Shut up. You God of Calamity.”
“Oh. So, you’re aware of what kind of entity I am. As expected of specimen number 13.”
The God of Calamity displayed a slightly gleeful look.
In contrast, I was retreating, attentive to each and every move of the God of Calamity. I couldn’t let down my guard for even a second or exhibit any vulnerability. Because that one split second would prove to be devastating.
“Hahaha. Even so, ?The Lord Will Exercise His Power in My Path? was exercised? It seems that you and specimen number 667 are quite fond of each other.”
?The Lord Will Exercise His Power in My Path? huh. This is likely the skill that brought me here.
While mulling this subject over, I utilized ?Bewitching Mist? to interfere with Ichiko’s spirit.
Although I was not clear as to what exactly the God of Calamity had wrought upon Ichiko, there should be no problem in interfering with Ichiko’s mind if I made use of the connection that existed between the Demon King and his kin.
“Hahaha, good luck with that. Specimen number 13; I’m sure you have a rough idea of what I have done to specimen number 667. But well, I still admire your efforts.”
The God of Calamity’s mockery resounded throughout the area.
However, I had no intention of giving up. And then,
“Kuro… kiri…?”
Ichiko was awakening.
“You’re awake?”
“Eh, ah, yes.”
While drawing utmost vigilance against the God of Calamity, I asked Ichiko and set her down on the ground.
“Ichiko, whether by skill or by running, just hurry up and get out of here.”
“What about you, Kurokiri…”
“Isn’t it obvious that I will be stopping her?”
With both hands holding the Kurokirinoko in front of me, I faced the God of Calamity.
“Hmm. So you want to go toe-to-toe with me? I thought you understood the disparity in our capabilities?”
“Unfortunately, you are my ultimate goal. In fact, this is a golden opportunity for me.”
“Even though the odds are against you?”
“…”
While shifting my stance little by little, I watched the God of Calamity. In the meantime, Ichiko was gradually receding from this location.
“Hmm. Your ambition is applaudable, and your bond, which exceeded my expectations, is commendable. You should be complimented for your early development of outer skills as well. Nonetheless, revolting against the entity that empowered you is undeniably a felony. Therefore, the Demon King Kurokiri, who is the ?King of the Kirijin? and ‘King of the Devouring Black Mist,’, and the half-Demon King Ichiko, who is the ?Favored Princess of the Mist King? and the ‘Blade Princess of the Undefined Sword’, both of you deserve this as your punishment.”
The God of Calamity put her hand on her chin and announced as if all the people around her will hear her words.
Then the God of Calamity opened her mouth briefly and muttered, “?Spatial Transfer Gate? Open?, ?Invisible Thousand Hands?.”
“Arghhhhhhhhhh…!!”
Ichiko’s scream surged up from behind me as the God of Calamity muttered that.
“Ichiko!”
When I turned around in shock, a gate materialized as if tearing through space, and beyond the gate was distinctly the scenery of another location. Ichiko was then about to be dragged through the gate.
I hurried towards Ichiko in a panic, attempting to yank her out of the gate.
Yet, as I was about to reach her,
“?Spatial Transfer Gate? Closed?.”
Along with the words of the God of Calamity, the gate was closed and disappeared into the void.
“Damn youuuuuuuuuu!!”
“Seal.”
In my agitation, I slashed at the God of Calamity. Nevertheless, the Kurokirinoko that I supposedly swung down in full force could not inflict any damage on the God of Calamity, who had not even adopted a defensive stance, and the blade was no longer jerking even when I pushed or pulled it.
“Damn it! What the hell is your purpose! Why did you make us Demon Kings! Why did you grant skills to all the humans in the world? Why did you aim for Ichiko!”
I questioned the God of Calamity, drenched in greasy sweat all the while, letting my emotions get the better of me, and desperately trying to get the Kurokirinoko to budge.
But Kurokirinoko would not move. With a hand made of bone, the God of Calamity gripped my head, which was supposed to be mist. It felt as if my head was being constricted by a power shovel rather than a vise.
“Gghh… gah!”
A groan escaped my lips.
“Hey, you should narrow the questions down to a certain degree, shouldn’t you? Specimen number 13. I’ll give you a huge discount[i]. I shall answer your questions. To put it simply…”
The God of Calamity applied more pressure on the hand that grasped my head. At this point, I can’t even let out a moan anymore.
“It’s a research.”
“What…?”
I frantically replied to her answer.
“I’ve said it in the beginning, right? ‘Let’s save this world. And in order to advance my research, I’m going to do a minor intervention in this world’.”
Yes, that was the exact statement affirmed by the God of Calamity.
“And the first 666 people in the research were found to be well-grounded. Specimen number 667 was targeted this time because subsequent variations indicated that she is well-grounded. And so that’s all to it.”
“This…”
My whole body was trembling with wrath. But in reality, I couldn’t even wiggle a finger.
“Well, you disrupted my research, but I’m about halfway through transforming specimen number 667 into a Demon King. After that, letting the world flow in its natural course and watching the transformation would be a fine material for my research. Now, the only thing left to do here is to penalize you. Let’s see…”
The God of Calamity grabbed my head in a tight grip as if to imply that the conversation was over with a pretense of being distressed.
I struggled to resist. But there was no means of opposing. After all, I can’t even lift a finger.
“Hmm. Shall we go with this? ?Tsunagi-d? F?sa? Subject Designation: ‘King of the Devouring Black Mist’ Kurokiri, ‘Blade Princess of the Undefined Sword’ Ichiko, Time Designation: 10 years.”
“Gaaaah!!”
Something like sparks erupted from the God of Calamity’s hand, sending a rush of electricity and corresponding searing pain coursing through my entire body. Simultaneously, I had the sensation that one of the many gates inside me had closed and been locked.
“Well then, this shall be enough this time.”
“Gah… damn it… I’ll remember… this…”
“Hahaha. If you are frustrated, then you ought to be more diligent and attain a level of proficiency that will at least enable you to land a blow on me next time.”
With that, the God of Calamity faded away from my presence as if melting into the void.
And then I, too, had been sent back to the “White Mist and Black Swamp Forest,” perhaps after the effect time of ?The Lord Will Exercise His Power in My Path? had ended.
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A/N:
The following is a brief introduction of the skills used by God of Calamity:
?Spatial Transfer Gate? Open (Closed)?: A skill that allows the appearance (disappearance) of a gate connecting arbitrary locations.
?Invisible Thousand Hands?: A skill to manipulate a myriad of invisible hands by causing them to manifest into existence. AKA “Invisible Tentacles”.
?Tsunagi-d? F?sa?: A skill that seals the connection between the Demon Kings and their kin.
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T/N:
[i] ??????? /huge discount sentence here means, that with a huge discount the seller would get severe damage, as severe as they are bleeding. This is an exaggerated and figurative expression. But it’s very common, and an idiom.