Chapter 123: The world will be no more (2/2)

”Shut up, you ugly piece of shit!” Layn shouted, allowing his inner feelings to get the better of him for a short moment. Then, infusing just a tiny shadow of the magic that was currently raging all over him, Layn quickly matched the power of the roar.

For a moment, it appeared as if space wouldn't be able to confine those two opposing forces. In the place where two soundwaves clashed, a hole was ripped out of the space itself, allowing the void to momentarily invade the real plane.

Then, the monster made its first step towards Layn, sending tremors through the entire plain.

*****

”WATCH OUT!” Al shout alerted Markus just a moment too late. The ground shook powerfully. Unable to keep his footing on the shaky ground, the former saint desperately lunged forward, hoping that by the time he would land, the tremors would calm down.

But they didn't.

”We are close enough. I will run on my own now!” Yelna shouted, using Markus's back as a foothold before kicking herself forward.

By the time Markus managed to get back on his feet, the girl was already several tens of meters ahead, rushing forward without a care in the world.

Just as if she was capable of seeing through the darkness. As if the complete lack of light didn't hamper her perception at all.

”Damn it,” Markus muttered as he gathered himself up, only to start chasing after the girl right away. Before he could get far, though, someone suddenly picked him up before speeding up.

”Leave the running to me,” Al said, holding Markus under his arm. ”I can tell that you guys know what's happening, so you should also be able to deal with it.” Al didn't even bother to look at Markus as he spoke. ”You have the means to deal with it, right?” he asked after a moment in a threatening tone.

”To be frank,” Markus said before swallowing his saliva. ”If Layn really goes all out, then this world is done for.”

*******

”Come...” Layn shouted while rushing forward, ”here!” His shout carried yet another onslaught of mana, this time directed at the monster itself rather than its attack.

Layn was rushing forward while burning everything on his path. He didn't pay any mind to the collateral damage to the plain he wanted to settle on. He didn't pay any mind to the monsters dying left and right.

He only paid his mind to the monster ahead.

”ROAR!” The monster cried once again when Layn's magic brushed off it. Then, clearly annoyed by the pesky human, the monster accelerated its steps, making the ground tremble even harder.

Layn didn't really care for the footing. Be it the ground itself, some random monster that escaped the fiery onslaught, or literally anything else, he would use it to move forward.

There was no fear in the archmage's heart. His mana-fried soul was no longer capable of producing higher-level emotions like fear. The only thing in his mind was the massive monster charging right at him!

”DIE!” Layn shouted as soon as the distance became short enough for his heavy-hitting spell to work. Then, drawing arcanas in his mind on the go, he fueled them with the same mana that was burning his body into bits.

For a moment, the reality itself wavered. The amount of magic that Layn infused into his arcanas was greater than what this world could stomach. But before the reality itself could break apart and put a stop to Layn's shenanigans, his spells fired.

In an instant, the land that still separated Layn's tiny body and the mountain-like monster ahead... changed.

For an independent observer, it would be better to turn his eyes away from the sight as no human brain could process the visuals.

The land was burning. The ground was frozen. The land was cracking apart yet condensing at the same time. Layn overloaded the area between himself and the monster with so much mana and various constructs that the reality itself warped.

In this relatively small area, the universal rules of the world no longer made any sense.

But the monster ahead didn't seem to be affected by it at all. Instead, its massive jaws parted a little, as if the gianormous beast was about to let out a hearty laugh.

Then, it lashed its castle-sized arm at Layn, baring its fangs at the archmage!

'I should be far enough,' Layn thought in the short moment in which his mind regained clarity. Then, his thoughts once again got influenced by the onslaught of mana, making his eyes open wide as blood started to trickle down all his orifices. ”COME!”