Red flames, dark and acrid smoke. And the noise of fire alarms. Elements that interfere with human senses have coalesced.
However, Nardanit possesses another sensory organ: bio-fiber hair. The bio-fibers wrapped around the entire control room like vines taking root.
The function of the bio-fiber hair was not limited to merely detecting enemies.
When he attempted to cast a self-detonation spell, the bio-fibers intertwined to form a magical array—revealing their true purpose as a spell-constructing mechanism.
Replacing hand seals used by mages to assist in spellcasting with bio-fiber manipulation.
Each strand of hair filled with mana supplied from the Magic Core, glowing red as they charged with lethal magic.
Instead of immediately using water magic to extinguish the fire, Nardanit prepared for an attack for a simple reason:
The fire was actually more advantageous for him.
At first glance, this situation appeared deadly for Nardanit, who was tethered to the power lines and couldn’t move.
However, reality was different. With continuous mana supply from the Magic Core, Nardanit could use unlimited protective magic against the fire—something his opponent couldn’t afford to waste mana on.
Creating an air barrier to block the heat, purifying toxins in the smoke, and adjusting his stance.
If Ortes couldn’t withstand the heat and moved first, Nardanit would simply eliminate him with a carefully prepared spell.
Even if Ortes was detected first by the bio-fibers, it would only hasten the inevitable execution.
The movement of the hair covering the control room was both swift and precise.
Clang!
A sound clearly distinct from the aftermath of an explosion. Lightning and flames struck toward the source of the noise. The bio-fibers sharpened by hardening magic pierced outward like spears in all directions.
Only 20% of his hair was used for this attack. Nardanit knew his opponent was a skilled combat mage.
The first noise was likely a feint to provoke an attack.
Divert attention first, then deliver a fatal blow—a common tactic among mages.
Nardanit stored his strength to intercept any ambush. The previous attack was flashy but consumed little mana.
One second passed.
No sign of Ortes’ movement.
Two seconds passed.
He scanned the area again. Still nothing.
Three seconds passed.
Still no movement? What is he…
Grrroooaaarrr!
A massive noise shook the entire magic-powered locomotive.
The violent shaking reverberated through the engine room like a localized earthquake.
‘Trying to claim victory by manipulating the battlefield since he’s at a disadvantage in a direct magical output battle?’
d*mn. Worthy of his position as a secret inspector—quick thinking.
Nardanit considered disconnecting from the Magic Core. Without its near-unlimited mana supply, he’d be at a slight disadvantage in a full-scale battle.
However, being tethered to the power line impaired his mobility—a drawback partially mitigated by the bio-fibers, though—
As Nardanit checked the power line’s status, he froze.
No mana was being supplied.
“Could it be?”
He immediately and forcibly disconnected from the power line despite the excruciating pain, maintaining clear thoughts.
Kakkakakak!
Sharpened bio-fiber strands shot upward, slicing through the locomotive roof—a choice he wouldn’t have made under normal circumstances due to the fire situation.
The thick smoke filling the control room billowed upward into the sky.
Beyond the torn ceiling stretched a desolate plain. The passenger cars that should have been connected were now distant abstract shapes.
Only the locomotive’s engine room continued racing forward.
‘Ortes has separated the train!’
His victory condition was to k*ll Ortes, but Ortes’ victory condition was delivering this information to the Ten Towers. He had mistakenly assumed they would fight straightforwardly.
Of course the power line wasn’t supplying mana—the connection to the Magic Core located in the rear of the train had been severed.
‘Raising the fire was to mask the warning sound of the power line disconnection!’
It’s difficult to focus on another alarm when the fire alarm is already blaring. Drawing in large amounts of mana turned out to be a strategic mistake.
Had he not pre-stored mana in the control room, the locomotive would have stopped long ago. At least 30 seconds had passed since the separation.
He couldn’t hesitate any longer. Nardanit leaped outside the locomotive. The gathered wind supported his fall while pulling the torn roof plate toward him.
Refining magic swept across the locomotive roof. Handholds emerged while the edges sharpened like blades. Standing on these supports, Nardanit eventually charged electric magic into both sides of the track.
Between the crackling lightning along the rails sat the detached iron plate Nardanit stood upon, resembling a projectile.
Bio-fiber hair dug deep into the ground. Despite the shaking from accumulating lightning, the deeply rooted fibers held firm.
The crackling noise had grown so intense it could now be called thunder.
As the two bolts of lightning Nardanit gripped reached their critical point, he retracted all bio-fibers.
Following the straight line drawn by the lightning, a giant blade shot forward at tremendous speed.
‘That lunatic is using magic to create a railgun?’
The term “railgun” was something I’d only seen in novels or occasionally in the news, but I had a basic understanding of the principle: placing a projectile between two rails and launching it using electromagnetism.
That b*stard branch manager over there is using the severed locomotive roof and electrified tracks to create a makeshift railgun and approach me.
No, “approach” is too mild a word.
He’s charging directly at me!
“Hmph, d*mn it!”
‘Didn’t the Americans develop a railgun that could reach speeds exceeding 3 km/s? Judging by the incoming speed, it’s not quite that fast.’
But it’s already faster than most trains—more than enough force to obliterate a person.
Though the locomotive car has been torn away, inertia remains. This train is still slowly moving along the tracks.
And unfortunately, this track is a straight line. The magic-enhanced railgun is automatically closing the distance.
If I stay here, that iron plate will cut my body in half.
Then…what should I do?
Rapid acceleration powered by electricity. In Nardanit’s sight traveling backward along the hundreds-of-meters-long track every second, Ortes appeared.
There he stood confidently right in front of the passenger car, perhaps preparing to counter the collision with defensive magic.
No. His raised right hand seemed ready to fire something.
Was he aiming for my head? Probably some kind of projectile magic.
Controlling the trajectory of this iron plate leaves little room for additional magic use. Only a few seconds until impact. My auxiliary brain is already at capacity preparing defensive magic to deflect the shockwave.
If I use the prepared defense now, it might block Ortes’ magic.
But the warning message hasn’t fully transmitted yet. I must deliver this information to my comrades, so mutual destruction isn’t an option.
The only means available now are the bio-fiber hairs.
Nardanit gathered his hairs to form a protective wall.
At this point, less than three seconds remained until impact. The sharply honed steel b*llet aimed directly at Ortes.
However, the hunter’s eyes aiming the g*n were obscured by his own actions.
Kuugaagang!
The iron plate Nardanit clung to sliced through an entire passenger car and crushed half of the second one before finally stopping.
The moment the vibrations ceased, Nardanit dissolved the wall. He needed to confirm Ortes’ corpse—
Turning his head, Nardanit met two strands of blue light—the closed eyes of Ortes.
A bundle of hardened bio-fiber hairs rushed toward Ortes in reflex. Ortes’ left hand deflected one bundle. The rebounding hair blade cut its fellow. A gap appeared where the fiber bundles collided.
Seizing the opportunity, Ortes grabbed the severed bio-fiber still retaining residual mana and maintaining its blade shape, and charged forward.
The limit-enhanced blade easily pierced even its master’s body, accurately targeting the heart.
“How…?”
The final breath expelled with that question.
“I jumped. The iron plate you used as a b*llet was long horizontally but lacked height vertically. If your vision hadn’t been obstructed, you might have restrained me with magic.”
So he had leaped over me and hung onto the back of the plate. Nardanit realized the defensive magic he had cast inadvertently protected Ortes behind him as well.
“d*mn…”
Nardanit’s head dropped, and his body ceased moving.
*
They really fought to the d*ath. This is why I dislike associating with Blasphemia.
After catching my breath momentarily, hurried footsteps approached.
Ah, trouble.
“Brigadier…Brigadier!”
The bewildered young voice belonged to Niobe, looking at the corpses.
