“I, I-I-I—” Aqua flusteredly tried to cast a spell, but before she could finish, two more frogs were drawn by the commotion and leaped toward her with wide-open mouths.
“Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit—” “Stay away!
Stay away from me!!!” Just as Aqua was about to have her head swallowed by the third frog, a silver figure rushed out.
“Stop!
Don’t you dare harm my companion!” Darkness held her longsword high, looking as righteous as a knight about to rescue a princess.
“Even if you’re just frogs, don’t think you can—in front of me—” A frog’s tongue wrapped around her ankle.
“Ah~” Darkness let out a satisfied sigh, then was hoisted upside down.
The flush on her face spread at a visible rate, and a faint smile even tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“This feeling…
this…
it’s wonderful…” “Darkness, what are you talking about!
Hurry up and save me!” “I’m being captured!
This is true knightly training!” “Ha—!
Ha—!
Ha—!
As expected, I’m the one who has to step in!” Megumin stood on high ground, her staff already raised high.
Beneath the black brim of her hat, a raging fire burned in her crimson eyes.
“Behold!
This is true power!” “Darker than black, darker than Darkness, even darker than the dusk…” Ash’s brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
“In the name of the Crimson Demon Clan, I release thy shackles!” “Explosion Magic!!!” Then, nothing happened…
As if swallowed by something, all the mana surged in one direction, flowing into the golden ripples that suddenly unfolded in front of Ash.
“…” Megumin froze, maintaining her spell-casting pose.
Her body began to tremble as her mana was depleted; the staff slipped from her hand, and she slumped to the ground.
But her eyes were fixed on the golden ripples, her mouth hanging open wide enough to fit a frog.
“W-What’s going on?” The Explosion Magic had indeed been cast, and the mana had indeed been consumed.
But…
“No explosion?” “Why?
Why was there no explosion!” Ash crouched down and patted her head.
“Because I told you, all you need to do is release the Explosion Magic.” “But—” “We had a deal, remember?
You just release it.
As for where the magic goes or whether it explodes, that’s not your concern.” Megumin opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for how to argue back.
Her lips trembled, and tears were already welling up in her eyes.
“Waaaah!
This is too weird!
The whole point of Explosion Magic is the explosion!
What kind of Explosion Magic is it without an explosion!” “It’s ammo!” Ash stood up and looked toward the grass.
Aqua was still sprinting wildly, followed by four frogs with wide-open mouths.
“Help!
Help me!
Ash, I was wrong!
I shouldn’t have questioned your decision!
Please save me!” Darkness, meanwhile, was held in a frog’s mouth with only half her body showing, a look of bliss on her face that was hard to watch.
“It’s coming…
that feeling of being soaked in digestive juices…
it feels like I’m melting…” Ash took a deep breath.
“It’s about time to use a cannon to swat a mosquito.
I bet Goldie would never use EA on a frog in his life.” With that, he raised his right hand and activated the power of the Ea.
“EA!” Ash struck instantly.
Though it was but a fraction of its power, a pressure wave capable of cleaving the world had already taken shape.
Red and black currents spread outward from Ash as the center, carving crisscrossing furrows into the ground wherever they passed.
The four frogs chasing Aqua didn’t even have time to struggle before they were sliced into pieces, mucus and blood exploding into the air.
The frog holding Darkness fared no better; its massive body was torn apart by the wind blades.
“Waaaaaah!” Aqua was sent flying by the shockwave, tumbling through the air like a kite.
Darkness was also flung from the shredded frog corpse, and the two of them flew off into the distance one after the other.
With a wave of Ash’s right hand, several silver chains shot out from the ripples.
Enkidu accurately wrapped around Aqua’s ankle and Darkness’s waist, pulling them back steadily.
“Thump!” Aqua slammed headfirst into Ash’s chest, pinned by the chains and unable to move.
“Cough, cough, cough—” She was covered in frog slime, her blue hair was a mess, and her face was smeared with tears and snot.
“You jerk!
Ash, you jerk!
Couldn’t you have acted sooner!” “What was that?
The wind was too loud, I couldn’t hear you.” “I said you’re a giant jerk!!!” Aqua flailed her fists, trying to hit him, but bound by the chains, she could only wriggle like a fish out of water.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Darkness…
“Ah…
chains…
and in front of so many people…” “This feeling of public execution…
this inescapable restraint…” Her cheeks were so red they almost looked like they were bleeding, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
“Can you be normal for once?” Ash looked at her expressionlessly.
“I’m enjoying…
I mean, enduring it!” Darkness quickly corrected herself, though the dazed look in her eyes betrayed her.
[Ding!
Progress updated for the chain quest ‘Trial of Axel’.] [Quest 1: Kill enemies with the ‘Beast’ trait (10/10).
Completed!] [Reward issued: Martial Art ‘Nine Lives’ has been loaded.] Ash’s pupils constricted suddenly.
It wasn’t just simply learning a move; it was as if his body had been rewritten into an existence capable of performing that technique.
The martial art Heracles used to slay the Hydra—whether using a knife, sword, spear, bow, fists, or anything else—involved launching lethal attacks on multiple targets simultaneously, each strike precisely aimed at a vital point, a perfect combination of speed and power.
It was a combat technique that surpassed human limits.
[Notice: Current physical stats have received a milestone upgrade.
Strength, speed, and reaction time permanently enhanced.] Ash clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.
If before he was just an ordinary person holding divine artifacts, now he at least had the foundation of a warrior.
“Haha, I rejoice in becoming stronger.” A second later, another notification sounded.
[Quest 3: Deal cumulative continuous damage to ‘Human’ attribute targets (30s/30s).
Completed!] [Reward issued: Noble Phantasm ‘robe of nessus’ has been added to the gate of babylon.] Ash froze.
He slowly turned his head to look at Darkness, who was currently bound by Enkidu and looking blissful.
“…” Silence.
Darkness blinked and looked at him innocently.
“What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” Ash withdrew his gaze, his expression complicated.
“I just suddenly realized that your existence is indeed very valuable.” “Eh?” Darkness’s face turned even redder.
“T-This is so sudden…” Ash ignored her and delved into his consciousness to check the new item in the gate of babylon.
[robe of nessus] [Rank: B] [Type: Cursed Noble Phantasm] [Description: A robe stained with the poisonous blood of the centaur Nessus.
Once worn by a ‘Human’, it triggers a triple curse—the Hydra’s Devouring, Nessus’s Adhesion, and the Impulse of Self-Immolation.
It burns muscle and bone from the inside out; any attempt to tear it off only causes the skin to peel away with it.
Ultimately, the wearer will meet their end in endless agony.] Ash silently closed the treasury interface and looked into the distance with a complex expression.
The legendary hero of Greek mythology, Heracles, died because of this very robe.
The pain of being gnawed by fire and serpents simultaneously was described as “the limit of what a human can endure.” Now, this thing was in his hands.
“Might come in handy sometime…” Ash muttered to himself, then temporarily pushed the thought aside as Aqua interrupted his musings.
“Ash!
What are you spacing out for!
This Goddess was almost eaten by frogs!
Three whole times!
And you just stood there watching!” “Didn’t you say you wanted to prove your strength?” Ash countered.
“I did prove it!
Frogs are very slippery!” Aqua said righteously.
“…” Ash took a deep breath and decided not to argue with this logical genius any longer.
He turned to Megumin, who was lying on the ground panting, and walked over to help her up.
“Can you still walk?” “My…
my dignity…” “Explosion Magic without an explosion…
such a thing…” Megumin’s eyes were red.
“Don’t worry, today was just storing ammo.
Didn’t you say that being able to release Explosion Magic was enough?” Ash comforted her.
Megumin bit her lip, her crimson eyes full of grievance.
“But…
if I can’t see the explosion…” “I’ll let you see it in the future.” Ash patted her hat.
“And it will be an even bigger explosion.” Megumin was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding reluctantly.
“It’s a promise!” “It’s a promise.” Darkness also scrambled up from the ground, covered in frog slime, but with an unexpectedly satisfied expression on her face.
“Today’s training…
was very rewarding.” “Shut up.” “Yes!”