Chapter 222 (1/2)

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Death Mage 222 – Those who toy with Guduranis

With 'Soul Destruction Fighting Technique' activated and his soul h 'Erotesque form

“Talking to your own fragments… so, you think you have already won YOU damnED MIDGET! DON'T LOOK DOWN ON ME!” Birkyne screamed furiously as he severed his own bound limbs

Using the no-attribute spell 'Strengthen Physical Ability' deliberately in an unbalanced way, he snapped his own bones andthem so that he could escape

This would be a suicidal act for ordinary living creatures, but Birkyne was a Pure-breed Va, he was already growing back new limbs

Vandalieu attempted to chase after Birkyne, but he stopped as he noticed Birkyne's severed lis and fly towards him like arrows

“The 'Long-distance Control' Skill, huh,” he murmured

Not particularly shaken by this, he repelled Birkyne's li' destroyed Birkyne's ared fros

He tried to chase after Birkyne once more, but at that moment, his body became immobile

Birkyne was delighted to see this You fool! I hid the De's shadow inside my fist!

He was capable of using 'Long-Distance Control' to ments broke his flesh and bone into pieces, the shadows did not disappear

The shape of the shadow hidden within his fist had changed shape and bound Vandalieu once et some more distance from Vandalieu

But Vandalieu's glowing, blue-white spirit for him to take back his internal words

“I just noticed, but it sees that cast shadows,” said Vandalieu, who had used 'Out-of-body Experience' just in case

Birkyne groaned as he took Vandalieu's kick directly in the face, and he flew spectacularly across the sky once more Even his shadoere unable to stop Vandalieu's foot, on which he had used 'Embodiment' just before the attack landed and destroyed Birkyne's attractive, young-nobleman-like appearance in an instant

B-but I have gained some distance! Birkyne told himself

Vandalieu's physical body was still bound by the shadow Birkyne used theaway, activated the 'High-speed Flight' Skill and successfully moved away from where Vandalieu was

Once Vandalieu was out of sight, he used his newly-regenerated hand to reach for the Itein blood inside

His jaws and collapsed cheekbones ienerated, and his broken neck cracked loudly as it returned to an ordinary angle on his shoulders

Pure-breed Vampires had a phenoames on Earth It was more effective for them to drink blood than Potions in order to heal from injury

“I've healed back to nor is unwise… But still, this is…!”

Birkyne had never intended to fight Vandalieu At the very least, he hadn't even considered trying to defeat him here

But now that he was actually facing Vandalieu, he was overwheler, frustration and bitterness towards hi him in this predicament

This fury stopped Birkyne froh the situation was as bad as it could possibly be, with no hope of victory and the chance of escaping hanging by a thread as thin as a spider's silk

He did think that it would be better to beg for his life and lick Vandalieu's shoes, and even if refused, being killed and turned into an Undead would be better than having his soul destroyed and being wiped from existence forever

But Birkyne, coe towards Vandalieu, could not do that This was different from his usual temper He felt a pri to Vandalieu, and was driven by his anger

“That's right I will not yield to hi with my sanity intact! I can do it; I am no different from him!” he told himself

His fury faded, and self-confidence rose within hi's shadohich wrapped itself around him

“… I did it! I did it! I have acco as him! I will not be defeated by him!”

He took control over his own body with the De like he was dressed cohed loudly at the sense of invincibility that dominated his entire body

There was no o back, kill Vandalieu and take the fragments that he possessed!

“It's laughable that even your s have come this far, Guduranis,” said a familiar voice

Birkyne stopped in mid-air and turned around

“Well, if it isn't Eleanora To think that you had come to this city as well… It seems that Vandalieu has disciplined you quite well,” he said, recognizing his for? That is quite the co's shadow”

Eleanora continued s coldly at her former master

Bellmond and Isla arrived on the scene as well

“Well, well, if it isn't the last of the Five Dogs It see a Tamer than me or Ternecia You are all very well-tamed,” said Birkyne with a tone of contempt

“… He's just suddenly started praising Van-sa at Birkyne

“Yes, and saying obvious things that anyone would agree with…” said Isla

“It seems that he is not sane after all,” said Bellmond

Though Birkyne had been speaking sarcastically, it seemed to not have sounded that way to Eleanora and the others… even though all of the people like Eleanora that Birkyne had betrayed so far had lost their coer Birkyne's pets

But it was Birkyne who lost his composure this time

“Y-you wretches!” he screamed in fury

With his claws covered in the De's shadow, he leapt at Eleanora

Because of the De's shadow, his movements were faster than before and so efficient that it was difficult to believe that he was enraged Perhaps this was to be expected of aTechnique' Skill

Eleanora barely ed to raise her sword in time, still inside its scabbard

Wait, she has raised her sword still inside its scabbard? Birkyne thought, noticing soe about Eleanora's behavior

But before he could do anything, Eleanora opened her mouth

“Transform!”

In the next moment, the scabbard that looked as if it were over-decorated began squir itself onto Eleanora's body Feeling a sense of danger at this change, Birkyne swung his claards her neck

“As I thought, you're not as scary tohis claith her sword

With her body covered in the liquid Dark Copper armor that was both hard and flexible, she launched her offense against the astonished Birkyne

“'Super Acceleration!'”

Accelerating tiic, she unleashed martial skills one after another Birkyne blocked lance to be an even battle

I, even with these Magic Items that I've never seen before, Eleanora, a noble-born Vahter' that has received my blood, why is she able to keep up with me despite my new evolution?!

Birkyne's strength and speed had increased dra's shadow Despite that, Eleanora, a little girl who beca evenly against him

This was too bizarre, even considering her being strengthened by Vandalieu's guidance

Meanwhile, Eleanora was feeling strange In the past, Birkyne had been fearso as she could keep him happy

Indeed, Birkyne was a being from another dimension compared to the Eleanora of the past She wouldn't have stood a chance in a fight against hi from him would be difficult

But what about now? She was exchanging blows equally against him, wasn't she? On top of that, all of his confidants had been separated from him and crushed one by one Birkyne was isolated and helpless, like a rat in a cage

She was not fighting hi him But what she felt towards him was certainly far from fear

It was a trivial e sensation that she felt towards Vandalieu

“As I thought, you are nothing compared to Van-sama!” Eleanora declared

Birkyne's claws, unable to deflect the next blow from her sword, were severed Her blade cut deeply into his chest

Birkyne screaet so full of yourself just because you've been given soood tools!”

He fell to his knees clutching his wounded chest, and Eleanora swung her swords down at the back of his defenseless head

But the De's shadorapped around Birkyne's body extended like tentacles and atte her to retreat with a click of her tongue in frustration

“I know everything! That's technology from another world, isn't it?!” Birkyne shouted “I spoke with Hill and Solder; there are warriors in other worlds that transform into special forms! Li –”

“Silence, you fiend!” said Isla, throwing a chain over Birkyne that bound hihtly

“We won't let you say anyhis torso and limbs with her threads

“Wait! The plan was for me to stir hi their interference

But the two of theuilt

“Even if he is cornered, he is someone who ruled over the darkness of huirls by such a person at all costs,” said Bellical-girl-related titles or the appearance of irl-related Jobs

“Exactly But to think that the champions ere summoned froical girls… Are s that transcend boundaries betorlds?” Isla wondered, shuddering

It see heroes that were not , they hadn't noticed this

TLN: Birkyne was likely referring to a series called Liveers

Isla and Bellmond had both also activated their transformation equipether Bell a chic body-suit with butler-like decorations, while Isla earing ar chains that rapped around her like bondage gear

As Vandalieu had said before, their appearances, including Eleanora's, were not irl-like But theyheroes and villainesses of Earth's fictional works

“Y-you…at the three of them

His body, having been sliced into pieces, was being forcefully held together by the De's shadow But Isla's chains and Bellmond's threads were already separate from their bodies, so he couldn't use the's shadow

What is this?! My wounds… They are taking too long to regenerate! Birkyne thought, frustrated by the fact that his sliced torso and liether

Until a few enerate his severed li to join back together

Nor to join back together within seconds would be considered an extraordinary regenerative ability But it was unthinkable for Birkyne

“What did… you do to…of his foes

Eleanora turned back to her former master and Vampire 'parent'

“Leaving the irls aside… it seeh we're deliberately showing you an opening, you're not even trying to escape, let alone attack,” she said

“Indeed Vandalieu-sama overestimated you, Guduranis,” said Isla

Eleanora and the others hadn't done anything to disrupt Birkyne's regenerative ability All they had done was use their equipment to transform and power themselves up, then attack him

“What?! That's,that this is it?!” Birkyne shouted “That's impossible –”

At that moment, the voice of Hihiryushukaka, the evil God of joyful life, echoed in Birkyne's an to stretch

“That's right You are finished, Birkyne – No, the being that has fooled hi that he is Birkyne!” the voice said

Hihiryushukaksama?! W-wait, I can explain… I am your loyal servant! I have no intention to betray you whatsoever!

In response to the voice of the God he worshi+ped, Birkyne split his mind in two On the surface, he submitted to Hihiryushukaka, and deeper within, he deliberated to think of a way to fool the evil God to not incur his wrath and use his power to find a way out of this situation

Hihiryushukaka had ordered Birkyne and the other Pure-breed Vampires to destroy Vandalieu, and if he learned that Birkyne intended to forression with Vandalieu instead, Birkyne would receive divine punish his best not to peer into Hihiryushukaka's thoughts

He did not think that his plan would be revealed to Hihiryushukaka frohts of Mortor and his other subordinates He knew that the structure of the minds of evil Gods differed too much from that of mortals, and so it would be difficult for Hihiryushukaka to read and understand the thoughts of mortals such as his subordinates

The only ones whose thoughts Hihiryushukaka could read were those who exceeded the lions, true Colossi, other evil Gods and Pure-breed Vaht that his intentions would not be discovered, but…

“Your cunning is desirable to aze upon those who have nothing but loyalty To put it si,” Hihiryushukaka said “This plan of yours ca Especially when you tried to manipulate his brain If you had succeeded, I would have interfered and stirred his brain from the inside…”

Birkyne's plans had not been discovered Hihiryushukaka had known everything fro, and watched and waited in order tobefore Birkyne bound Vandalieu with his shadow

Th-then please, grant me your aid! At this rate, I will be defeated and you will no longer have any servants who can stand against Vandalieu!

There were still many Vampires in the faction that worshi+ped Hihiryushukaka But many of them were either Subordinate Vampires or noble-born Va of a hundred such weak Vampires would be no enemy for Vandalieu

Without Ternecia and Guba noble-born Vampires, Hihiryushukaka could not afford to lose Birkyne if he wanted to kill Vandalieu

I am not finished yet! With your aid, I will turn this battle around before your eyes! Birkyne insisted

But Hihiryushukaka laughed in amusement “No, I have already said that you are finished Have you not noticed yet? Your Mana and your body have already reached their li 's shadow around your body and forcibly exceed the limits of your body and mind”

Indeed, Birkyne had less than 30 of his Mana left To properly imitate Vandalieu, he would certainly need the Soul Destruction Fighting Technique' Skill and the Dements, but most importantly, he would need the vast amount of Mana that Vandalieu possessed Despite that, Birkyne had attempted to imitate him without any prior practice

It was only natural for him to not kno to control his Mana properly and waste a lot of it in the process

That's why I need your power – Birkyne began

“I have already told you that it is impossible I am not an oh “In addition, your body… and your mind, will not be able to withstand it Even if I forcibly revived your spent body, it would begin collapsing again immediately! Give up on Birkyne's body, Guduranis!”

What are you talking about?! I am not Guduranis, I am Birkyne, a Pure-breed Vampire!

Hihiryushukaka began laughing uncontrollably “You say such aree' is Level 10! Your soul has been encroached upon by the frag Guduranis's soul to the furthest extent possible Let me ask you this: Who are you, then?!”

Birkyne felt an i his head This impact shook him more than Vandalieu's roundhouse kick or Eleanora's slashi+ng attacks

“Had you fooled yourself into thinking that you had kept your sanity?” Hihiryushukaka continued “Your hysterical behavior, when did it begin? Did you not realize that it was the Pure-breed Va's 's shadow… amore than a shadow of him”

Birkyne's true identity was a shadow of the personality of the Deical terms, it hat could be referred to as a persona

But naturally, the structure of the Dereatly to that of a 's shadoas a hollow thing to Guduranis, void of e and emotion

It had eroded Birkyne's mind and taken over him, but it would have been unable to sustain itself that way, so it had fooled itself into thinking that it was Birkyne That hat Birkyne was

That hy he felt anger and rage towards Vandalieu He felt a primitive sense of rejection towards the one who had stolen the fragments that should have been his

“All along, I was a frag Guduranis?!” Birkyne screa to reality

Ti as normal

“… So, you really hadn't noticed Van-sama said that you didn't seem unaware, so I was still half-in doubt,” said Eleanora

She had not heard the conversation between Hihiryushukaka and Birkyne's ood idea of the situation from Birkyne's last, screamed words

From the moment that Birkyne had proudly declared that he reree' reaching its maximum, Vandalieu had suspected that his

Through telepathic coarn, who had known Guduranis personally, and asked about how he behaved Using this knowledge, he had lured Birkyne into this Dungeon

“The De Guduranis was calm and had a tactician aspect to him At the same time, he had tremendous belief in his oer and was short-teer towards those who disobeyed hio as he desired Thus, he will certainly chase after us if we embarrass hies away,” Gufadgarn had advised

And thus, Vandalieu had followed her advice to the letter

“You are lying! That cannot possibly be true! I am the Pure-breed Vampire Birkyne! One of the three who has ruled the Va an evil God for over a hundred thousand years! Isn't that right?! Tell ht!” Birkyne shrieked, his eyes open wide, with no care for the fact that his sliced lined

From the perspective of Eleanora and the others, it wasrevealed, but to hi truth that instantly obliterated the pillars upon which his mind stood, a complete denial of his self

And as a result, his th to prevent it fro

“That is why it is easy to take over you,” a voice said

Without warning, Birkyne's body twisted

Froony and, at the sahter

“The past hundred thousand years have been very pleasant!” Hihiryushukaka said gleefully “It was very pleasant, forcing the obedience of a part of the soul of the De with it!”

Eleanora and the othersto use Birkyne's body as a vessel as had once been done by Ravovifard, the evil God of release

“'Delay!'” Eleanora yelled, casting a time-attribute spell that slowed time around Birkyne's body

“Now, Dannsa Birkyne once more with her threads

“Fire,” said Vandalieu, who had been watching the scene unfold the entire time

He took ai Artillery Technique'

Although he had not realized this until Hihiryushukaka attempted to use Birkyne's body as a vessel, it was possible that it was concealing so Guduranis

In order to draw this out, he had made Eleanora, ould stimulate his nerves the most, as well as Bellmond and Isla, to taunt him And in the meantime, he had made preparations to fire his attack

The De's horns were fired froulated blood protruding from both of Vandalieu's arms They struck the immobile Birkyne accurately in the head and chest

S bone, spinal fluid, flesh and blood spraying out from his back

But Hihiryushukaka's laughter did not stop “You were not showing yourself, so I knew this ould happen!” he cackled

It seemed that he had already created a spare brain and heart inside Birkyne's body

When Gods becae They gained weaknesses in the brain and heart, which they did not possess when they existed only in thetargeted

But even with the surprise attack failing, Eleanora and Bellmond didn't undo their restraints

“Then let's try again,” Vandalieu muttered

The walls of the building next to the ones that Vandalieu had been hiding behind opened, and a large cannon barrel appeared from inside

“Large Cannon-type De Familiar, aim set”

“Cannonball-type De Familiar, loaded”

Hihiryushukaka was shocked by the appearance of the large cannon barrel that he hadn't seen anywhere in the memories of Birkyne and the other Vampires, but he maintained his composure and hastily tried to run away

But as his transformation wasn't yet complete, and his body was bound by Eleanora's spell and Bellmond's threads, he couldn't move

“Fire,” Vandalieu said once more

With a thunderous noise, the Large Cannon-type De Fa's tumors as the base

At the sah-speed Flight' Skill to get some distance from Hihiryushukaka

Hihiryushukaka forcibly gained control over his new body with his Mana and th and screaround in order to escape, but the Cannonball-type De Familiar followed his movement and collided directly

“'Flame Prison Death,'” Vandalieu murmured

The resulting explosion and shockere enough to shake the entire Dungeon floor that was based on the city The De's tunited to create a pillar of fla prison

“Vandalieu-sama… If you were to use this in the real city, half of it would be destroyed,” Isla said as she returned to Vandalieu's side with Eleanora and Bellmond under her arms

As this was just a Dungeon that was a replica of the city, the buildings and walls ulfed in the flas would have likely suffered tree

Eleanora briefly thanked Isla and looked at the burning pillar of flame with a stiff expression “More iht up in it? They were supposed to be chasing and disposing of Birkyne's confidants,” she said

“There is no need to worry, Eleanora Everyone except for myself, Chipuras and Berkert have returned to the fake orphanage,” Daroak assured her

“And the fake orphanage should be protected frois,'” said Vandalieu