Chapter 236 (2/2)

But Vandalieu quickly extinguished the flames on his own body with 'Demon Fire,' a spell that conjured a y

“I can't make foam from my mouth, so you'll have to make do with this fat,” Vandalieu said to Hajiue into his eyes to remove and throay the needles

“Everything is wrong with this dauished the flames

It see a wind-attribute spell that reen from the air around him

“This serves as proof that the oxygen in the air is necessary for things to burn, even in this world,” Vandalieu observed, having figured out what Hajime Fitun had done based on the movement of his Mana

“Why are you saying so to provokerelatively calm for someone who had just been turned into a human torch

He was almost completely unharmed

He had received the 'Death Attribute Resistance' Skill fro Vandalieu, he had taken the tiic Items in preparation for this day He wouldn't receive fatal dah of course, the reason why he had et away from Vandalieu's 'Flame Prison Death' with only minor burns was because Vandalieu had only cast it at a shallow level

Vandalieu had held back, as the flae an area if he had cast it at full strength

“Are you trying to buy tione 'Heroic Spirit Transformation,' you'll also have realized that we have a time limit imposed on us Once that limit is reached, not only my subordinates but I myself will also lose our power and beco for?” Hajime Fitun questioned “This won't be enjoyable at all if that's the case, so I'll tell you this: Buying time is pointless”

The heroic spirits had incarnated inside the bodies of adventurers forced into a vegetative state by the 'Marionette' ability If they wielded the full power that they possessed as heroic spirits while in this state, the bodies of the adventurers would collapse within minutes

But through harsh training in Fitun's Dungeon of Trials, they had trained these weak bodies into ones that were fit to be used by heroic spirits On top of that, each of theic Iteh the items' effectiveness varied

By doing this, they had succeeded in extending that time limit of 'several minutes' to over ten minutes

Gordon Bobby and the Fla Fitun's subordinates who had been exceptionally compatible with the bodies of the adventurers they had taken over; they had beco periods of time

The tiht for was still less than an hour, but a little conversation posed no problems

And Haji a Skill like 'Heroic Spirit Descent' What he was using was the 'Marionette' itself, in order to manipulate his own body

While living in Origin as Inui Hajime, he had only used his ability to control others But Fitun, as a God of war and had been athe 'Marionette' ability to freely control his own body

Fitun was a h the worshi+p of his strength and his countless achieveainst other humans alone was vast

He was using that experience to the fullest while controlling Hajiainst Vandalieu

Naturally, there was no time limit for him

“If you do nothing but buy time, your precious allies will be killed by an, but he was interrupted by the loud noise of a Mountain Giant's corpse landing after having been thrown by its own allies that had been turned into Zombies

“Transform!” said Kanako and Melissa's voices as they raised their staves, drowning out that thundering sound

“What the hell is that?!” Hajime Fitun shouted

The liquidKanako and Melissa's transformations in an instant

Both of them were now in h Kanako's clothes featured a large nuht design

When Vandalieu first startedtransfor to ical circles upon, so he had been forced to make transfor that, Melissa's clothes were a significant technical improvement

“What is that?! They look completely different!” one of the Flame Blades shouted

“They're Magic Iteuard down!” Gordon Bobby warned his companions

The heroic spirits possessed the knowledge that Fitun had gained fro the body of a reincarnated individual, but they hadn't been taught about Earth's sub-culture work

Though Kanako and Melissa's appearances were very peculiar and surprising, the heroic spirits becauard down and laughing

But Fitun possessed Hajie and understood where Kanako and Melissa's transformation staves came from

“D… daa a battle to the death?!” he shouted, his surprise turning into anger at this sacrilege of the sanctity of combat

Seeing an opening, Vandalieu flew in Putting his Gyubarzo staff back on his back, he swung the claws of all four limbs

But all of this was an act from Hajime Fitun

He fell for it!

He activated 'Marionette' against Vandalieu, who had already come into contact with his electricity But he didn't expect to be able to manipulate Vandalieu

Vandalieu was an inhuain control of his body, he would si Haji able to control hi

But there's another way to use this 'Marionette' ability I'll read your thoughts!

'Marionette' could not only ically-produced electrical currents flowing along thehts inside the brain This was one of Hajime Fitun's trump cards

This was an advanced use of the ability that was only possible through the knowledge Hajime possessed as a reincarnated individual and the power that Fitun possessed as a God of the wind attribute

This isn't directly reading thethe s your thoughts! It's like lip-reading but with brain waves; even resistance Skills are useless against this! Now then, let's have a look inside your brain… WHAT IS THIS?!

As Vandalieu fleards Fitun, Fitun read his thoughts, but his astonishment caused his reaction to Vandalieu's attacks to be delayed His act al an act

“'Thousand Beast Dual Claws,'” said Vandalieu, unleashi+ng a flurry of rapid, consecutive claw attacks

Hajime Fitun shouted in alarm “'Extreme Rapid Response!'”

Barelyto deflect Vandalieu's attacks with his sci his reaction time with 'Extreme Rapid Response,' Fitun broke out into a cold sweat

What the hell kind of brain does this guy have?! I get that he's thinking s at once, but there has to be a liht in disbelief

Vandalieu, swinging the claws of all four of his li attack with his tongue, was operating with a countless nu Technique'

It wasn't just his fine control over his liiving orders to the Dragon Zo alert to his surroundings With a countless nu at the same time, Hajime Fitun had been unable to immediately decide which to read

But I see now This is the one I should be reading, Hajiht process that he should be reading after exchanging several more bloith Vandalieu This is it If I read this, I'll knohat he will do before he does it!

However, this thought process was far faster than could be explained through the science of Earth On Earth, there was a lihts… In principle, it should have been ihts to occur faster than the speed of the electrical currents traveling along the neural network

Despite that, the electrical currents traveling across Vandalieu's brain wereat incomparably faster speeds

If scientists on Earth were to observe this, they would be astonished by the i and think that there was some kind of mistake But this was Lambda, not Earth

This was not only a world in which ons roamed the skies, where Giants strode across the land, where even humans could run on the surface of water if they were S-class adventurers As the laws of physics were different in this world, it wasn't unusual at all that Earth's scientific knowledge didn't apply here

The other problehts; it would have been iendary mercenary who had become a God of the wind attribute He was confident that he could do it

Hajih “Die! 'Transcend Liic Sword,' 'Twin Heavenly Thunder Blades!'”

Pushi+ng Hajiical swords to their limits, he unleashed the martial skill of an advanced Skill

“… 'Hollow Bullet,' 'Iue,'” Vandalieu murmured in response

Surprised by Hajith, he activated 'Transcend Liressively

But Vandalieu's attacks had suddenly begun to not work against Hajime Fitun at all

There were more instances in which his claere deflected by a scimitar and attacks that should have at least forced Hajied completely And in turn, there were more instances in which Vandalieu was forced to block Hajime Fitun's scimitars

Deciding that it would be bad if the exchange of blows began disfavoring hiating Barrier' for an instant to try and stop Haji attack with his extended tongue

But Hajih the barrier with an Orichalcum scimitar the ue without stopping his movement at all

“One blow to begin with!” Hajime Fitun mused to himself as his scimitar struck Vandalieu's torso in return

His lips twisted in a se to Vandalieu for the first tiue as he realized that the wound was shallow because of the liquidbeneath his clothes

Meanwhile, the exchange of blows continued

It's a good thing that he's not using the 'Radiant Life' that Heinz used or any spells that delay regeneration, Vandalieu thought

The shalloound had regenerated ied liquid metal armor had returned to liquid form and repaired itself within seconds as well

It was indeed fortunate that Hajiic like the 'Blue-flamed Sword' Heinz had

But why is he able to readthat he has the advantage when it coth shouldn't be that much different from my own

Fronificantly greater strength than what Vandalieu could display due to the need to protect his reputation But he was dealing with Vandalieu's attacks as if he could see the future; it was difficult to ireat that Vandalieu should be forced into a one-sided struggle to defend himself

With that being the case, heThe one who predicts the future is the 'Gazer' Hitohts to knohat I' to do?

'Marionette' was an ability that controlled others But it was possible that it could be used as a way to read their thoughts as well

Then let's test this… Staff, he said in his mind

The Gyubarzo staff on Vandalieu's back let out a peculiar noise in response fro merman-like skull on its tip

The skull's jaw opened with a click and released a strange bea's eyeball and the Delands inside it

There was no way that Hajied attack from a staff that wasn't even in Vandalieu's hand

But Haji as he did so Seeing this, Vandalieu was certain that his thoughts were being read

Hajihts that Vandalieu are of it But at the saht: So what?

Hu their brains and nerves; the brain was absolutely essential for fighting by casting spells and using one's body

But with this, it was possible that Vandalieu would now bring out his full power as the De his attee to the city Haji a special, deadly attack to put an end to this battle before that happened –

“Hmm? W-what?!” He shouted in alarm

In the next instant, he screae chunk of flesh from his side

If the wound had been a little deeper, or if his arh-Rank ans

But Hajier shock not fro else

He had suddenly becohts

Iht in astonishment and panic

Meanwhile, Vandalieu disconnected his li noises “'Whip Strike Claws'”

He unleashed an attack that co Technique' Vandalieu's disjointed, extended limbs flew about in a rapid assault upon Hajime Fitun

Haji of this?! You bastard, how did you stop my 'Marionette?!'”

Unable to defend hi in froe and unpredictable directions, Hajime Fitun became covered in his own blood in an instant He hadn't sustained a fatal wound yet, but that was only because he had only barelyhis vital spots like his head

He knew he had to regain his cohts In order to do that, he put more of his concentration into his use of 'Marionette,' but that caused a drop in the attention he paid to his own defense

But that effort paid off; Hajime Fitun now understood what Vandalieu had done

“You bastard… You're not using your brain?! Just how ?!” he exclaimed

Using 'Marionette,' Haji soan that carried out the function of the physical brain, or hi been replaced by an illusion or a Golem by a third party

But it wasn't that he had becohts Vandalieu's brain had si whatsoever

“Don't say that like I'm some kind of idiot,” said Vandalieu as he cast 'Flanited Hajime Fitun's blood that was on the surface of his body

Suppressing a screauished the fire in the sa a Potion taken from his pocket

He looked with an expression of fear towards Vandalieu, as speaking and casting spells without using his brain

“It's regrettable that you're looking atmy brain,” said Vandalieu

Fro extraordinary He was si his body with just his soul and spirit

In Origin, he had spent a long period of time in the presence of other spirits, with the freedo been robbed fro into an Undead, Vandalieu had always possessed the ability to think without using his brain, and it didn't take him much effort at all

That hy he was able to do things like'Out-of-body Experience' andhis spirit's heads

To Vandalieu, the brain was ian in his body; it was nothing an to his soul

Well, it would be inconvenient in various ways if I stopped ALL of its functions… I'd have toand heart rate, so I'd die if I lost consciousness, Vandalieu thought to himself

This hy Vandalieu didn't choose to do this when it wasn't necessary

“It seems that 'Marionette' is unable to interfere with ue,'” said Vandalieu

He swung his tongue that was extended fro for Hajime Fitun The whip of flesh struck Hajime Fitun's arm and wrapped itself around it

“Not yet, it's not over yet!” Hajime Fitun shouted

He rasped it instead and tried to pull Vandalieu towards himself

He was likely under the impression that unlike a whip, Vandalieu would be unable to let go of his own tongue if it were to be pulled He intended to strike Vandalieu's head with his scimitar once Vandalieu lost his balance

But this was a bad move It would have been understandable for Hajime to make this error, but it was carelessness on the part of the war God Fitun, even if that carelessness was because he still hadn't regained his composure from the shock and surprise that he had experienced moments earlier

As Hajirew longer And without any hesitation, Vandalieu closed his ue once it had reached a sufficient length

Now free and separate from Vandalieu, the whip made of flesh turned into a snake and coiled around Hajime Fitun's body

Hajiain?! It's no use, I'll use ic to put it out no matter how many times you –”

“No, I'ue,” said Vandalieu

The ue wrapped around Haji color

Skill explanation: assassin Fighting Technique

A Skill specialized for co 'assassination Technique,' 'Unarer Technique' It is effective when attacking other humans, and there are specialized ainst nificantly different anatoons, or monsters like Slians

Thus, this Skill is more often acquired by mercenaries and assassins rather than adventurers

However, it is still effective against demi-human-type monsters, so some adventurers do possess it