Mushoku Impact

Instead of allowing her Geo-formed wall to dissipate and crumble to dust, Zhongli thrust her hand forward and caused it to skid across the floor like a bulldozer on nitrous.&nbsp;
Though they were far from indestructible, constructs formed from Geo Energy were comparable to Anti-Magic Bricks in terms of durability and magic resistance. With the wall constructed by Zhongli being more than 3m thick, trying to stop it was like an ordinary person attempting to stop a semi from rolling down a steep incline.
Realizing she couldn't slice through Zhongli's wall, even at a much closer distance, the Black Knight had no choice but to evade. In the same series of movements, black tendrils shot out from her armor to pick up Sayu's body, holding it up like a shield as she exclaimed, "Drop your weapons, or your friend-!?"
Before she could conclude her threat, the Black Knight felt an intense chill permeate her entire body as a brilliant purple 'meteor' passed by her in an instant. In its wake, her right arm could be seen spinning through the air, but the more pressing issue was that every nerve in her body was tensing due to the 'electricity' flowing through it.
As the purple meteor burst apart to reveal Ei, the Black Knight's tendrils hurriedly brought Sayu closer to her body, seemingly moving of their own accord.&nbsp;
Dodging under the blade of light that attempted to cut off her head, Ei charged toward the Black Knight as if she was oblivious to the fact Sayu was being used as a human shield. Paul could always resurrect her come nightfall, and, more importantly, Ei knew that Sayu wouldn't allow herself to be used as leverage if she were conscious.
Realizing she was up against someone ostensibly cold-blooded, the Black Knight's tendrils hurled Sayu's body toward Ei, following it with a veritable volley of highly penetrative tendrils.
Though she felt a pang of guilt as she did so, Ei's body appeared to flicker as she evaded both Sayu's body and the tendrils. Her highest priority was eliminating the enemy before her, so she accelerated like a radiant purple beam of light the moment she had an unobstructed path between her and the Black Knight.
Feeling any icy chill suffuse through her body, the peculiar pupils of the Black Knight's eyes started to contract. Before they could even finish, a ring of rainbow-colored light seemed to overtake her, robbing the world of its color as her perception of the world abruptly split in two.
Appearing behind the Black Knight, seemingly in an instant, Ei exhaled a visible breath before rising to her full height. As she did, the two halves of the Black Knight's body began to fall away from each other, perfectly split from crown to crotch.
Just as the tendrils covering the Black Knight's body attempted to pull her back together, two hexagonal columns formed from Geo Energy erupted from the ground, seemingly crushing her as they came together to form a triangular arch.&nbsp;
Looking over to the smiling Archon, Ei's brows briefly furrowed as she felt Zhongli had robbed her of her triumph. The Black Knight wasn't nearly as powerful as she had anticipated, roughly the same level as Reida, so she was confident in securing a solo victory.
Unbothered by Ei's glower, Zhongli shifted her attention to the entrance of the Great Hall, informing, "Our young kunoichi friend is still alive. Ganyu, if you would be so kind..."
Poking her head out from the relative safety of the Great Hall's massive doors, Ganyu immediately located Sayu's unconscious body and rushed over. She would ordinarily wait for Paul's orders, but she already knew he would give her permission to treat Sayu's injuries.
Interpreting Zhongli's words to mean it was safe, Paul, Kishirika, and Yae also poked their heads out. When Paul noticed Sayu's body collapsed on the ground, his expression immediately darkened. He was happy that she was still alive, but the loss of an arm and a leg wasn't something a girl her age should be forced to endure...
Turning his attention to the triangular structure formed by Zhongli, Paul's voice was several bars deeper as he questioned, "Did you kill the asshole responsible for this?"
Earning a disproving look from Ei, Zhongli shook her head and replied, "I attempted to crush them, but I can sense they're still alive. The odds of them being immortal are quite high."
As immortality was becoming an increasingly common gimmick, Paul was unsurprised by Zhongli's response. In response, he narrowed his eyes at the two conjoined pillars and remarked, "I recall you using your powers to seal your pet dragon, Azi-something. Can you do the same thing with the person trapped between the pillars...?"
Though she showed a rare expression of surprise, Zhongli didn't hesitate to reply, "It's not impossible. However, it requires a tremendous amount of energy. I'm not exactly running low, but..."
Understanding what Zhongli was trying to say, Paul nodded his head and said, "Leave it to me. Hell, I'll do you here and now if it means this assbag pays the price for harming Sayu..."
Adopting a narrow-eyed smile, Zhongli playfully replied, "I'm feeling more motivated already. But first..."
Vanishing from view, Zhongli appeared behind Paul just as a trio of black tendrils attempted to impale him through the back. The Black Knight's arm had managed to avoid the fate of being crushed, and the tendrils covering it were still active.
With Geo Energy condensed in her hand and body, Zhongli backhanded the tendrils, causing them to fracture like broken glass. Geo Energy could be used to petrify opponents in its pure form, so Zhongli decided to test if it would be an effective countermeasure against the tendrils. Seeing the tendrils shatter into crystalline fragments upon contact with the ground, it was fairly safe to assume it was.
Shifting her attention to the tendril's origin, Zhongli was about to crush the Black Knight's arm into pulp when Kishirika abruptly exclaimed, "Wait! Don't destroy it...!"
As she didn't take orders from Kishirika, Zhongli made a chopping motion with her left hand that caused a hexagonal pillar to emerge out of thin air before smashing down on the arm like a hammer. The moment she did so, Kishirika shouted, "You stupid fucking moron...!" before stomping the floor in frustration.
Though she was initially unperturbed by Kishirika's insult, Zhongli blinked in surprise when she could no longer sense the Black Knight's life force. It hadn't simply faded away like when an ordinary living creature lost its life; it had disappeared entirely...
Without waiting for Paul's command, Zhongli dispersed the pillar she used to crush the Black Knight's arm. The mangled armor was still present, but the interior was filled with what appeared to be rainbow-hued ash...
Witnessing the unusual sight alongside Zhongli, Paul felt a palpable chill as pure, undiluted fury rose from within him. He wasn't angry at Zhongli for crushing the Black Knight's arm; he was pissed off at the realization that the Black Knight had likely escaped.
Unable to contain himself, Paul shouted, "Fuck...!" at the top of his lungs before punting the remnants of the Black Knight's arm. He knew that the entity was likely only doing as it was programmed, but he couldn't stand letting something that had harmed his allies escape.
In a reversal of their previous conversation, Kishirika was the voice of reason as she said, "Calm down. We managed to get our hands on the Longsword of Light and save your companion. I also have a pretty good idea of who, or, more precisely, what attacked her..."
Though he continued breathing heavily through his nose, Paul did his best to calm down when he heard Kishirika's words. He knew anger was one of the least-useful emotions on the battlefield, sans when you had given up on survival, so he took several deep breaths before saying, "Tell me what you know..."
Nodding her head, Kishirika explained, "Those black tendrils you just saw were a trademark of Laplace. He was unable to wield Touki, so he tried to compensate for his weakness by recreating the material used to construct the Golden Armor. Fortunately, at least for his enemies, he wasn't the type of person that could focus on a single project at a time..."
Realizing she was getting a little side-tracked, Kishirika shook her head before staring into Paul's eyes and stating, "One of the subjects Laplace was most interested in were the various forms of immortality. He wanted to find a way to make himself unkillable while developing methods to kill every other immortal. One of his more successful experiments concerned the production of living dolls, vessels in which his soul could transfer to in the event of his untimely death..."
Shifting her gaze to the ash on the ground, Kishirika narrowed her eyes as she appended, "Though he ultimately decided upon a different method of transference, likely hoping his enemies would die of natural causes before his revival, those tendrils and this ash are a testament to his experiment's success. Once we retake the castle, we need to locate his laboratory and destroy it. If that research found its way into the wrong hands..."
Even without clarification, Paul could guess who Kishirika was referring to when she mentioned the wrong hands. Hitogami was certainly a cause for concern, but his powers and influence were limited thanks to being sealed in the Void. The more significant threat was humanity, or, more accurately, the bags of dick that suppressed others and prioritized the accumulation of wealth and power over the lives of others. If they got their hands on a method to transfer their spirits into vessels of their choosing, they would become even more brazen and corrupt...
Understanding that some technologies should never propagate beyond a highly regulated lab environment, Paul left Kishirika feeling fairly gratified as he nodded his head and affirmed, "I understand. Though I"m sure that Laplace's research notes would shed light on many things, there are ways to advance without relying on the insights gleaned by a madman...if there aren't, maybe society doesn't deserve to prosper..."
Though she felt his final remark bordered on the extreme, Kishirika didn't disapprove of the sentiment Paul was trying to convey. Several thousand years ago, magi-science and technology were much more advanced than the present. Countless airships dominated the skies, fortresses the size of castles guarded the borders of major nations, and issues such as disease and famine only existed in societies that willfully isolated themselves from others. It was an era of relative peace and prosperity, ruined by the desire for even more...
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Located in the depths of a labyrinth that spanned nearly the entire Demon Continent, connecting several key locations, was a warehouse-sized room housing hundreds of crystalline cylinders containing near-identical female forms. Some were distinctly older or younger or possessed features from other races, but every single one of them had violet-purple hair and goat-like horns.
Following the Black Knight's death, one of the containers glowed brighter than the others before the liquid within began to drain rapidly. The tubes and apparatuses supporting her retracted soon after, forcing the naked beauty within to stand on her own two feet as she bent over and coughed up a citrus-smelling, jelly-like substance.&nbsp;
Without waiting for the container to drain completely, the violet-haired woman smashed her hand against the crystalline container, shattering it as she growled, "Those despicable fiends! They dare to steal the sword entrusted to me by my Master!? If I don't kill them all, then my name isn't Kishirika Kishirisu...!"
As the luminescent green liquid finished draining, an inky black substance began rising from the self-proclaimed Kishirika's feet, enveloping her from head to toe before congealing into a set of familiar black armor. This time, however, it had a golden trim and glistened with a faint purple hue...
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Though she couldn't regenerate limbs, Ganyu managed to reattach Sayu's missing arm and leg without so much as leaving a scar. The process took several hours and left Sayu completely exhausted, but Paul was prepared to camp out for several days if it meant allowing her a full recovery...
With Ganyu watching over Sayu, Yae preparing dinner, and everyone else providing security, Paul made his way across the highly varnished, almost mirror-like surface of the floor to where Kishirika was lounging lazily atop an almost comically oversized throne.
Kishirika's throne, much like the chamber it was housed in, was one of the most unnecessarily grand and extravagant things Paul had ever seen. The well leading up to the throne was nearly six hundred meters long, seventy wide, and polished to a mirror shine. The hemispherical ceiling above the throne was approximately a hundred meters at its tallest point, and, much like Sistine Chapel, murals lined the walls and ceiling, seemingly detailing the destruction of the Demon World and the great migration that brought them to the Demon Continent...
Though she noticed Paul's approach long before he ascended the flight of stairs preceding her throne, Kishirika continued to stare listlessly at the murals overhead as she inquired, "What brings my beloved fiance to the base of my throne? Shouldn't you be fretting over the little one or going to town on one of your pet monsters? Don't let the acoustics of this chamber deter you..."
Shaking his head, Paul approached the throne, held up an expensive-looking brush, and asked, "Mind if I take a seat...?"
Seeing the brush in Paul's hand, a faint smile replaced the listless look on Kishirika's face. She had also been feeling a little lonely ever since she sat atop her throne, so, without needing to consider her response, she rolled to a seated position, pulled her legs up so that the soles of her feet were touching each other, and replied, "No need to ask! This throne is as much yours as it is mine...!"
Resisting the urge to repeat he had no interest in ruling over anyone, Paul adopted a smile of his own before climbing atop the oversized throne. The moment he did, Kishirika elected to lay across his lap instead of sitting in front of him, her back arching and breasts emphasized as she stared up at him with her off-colored eyes.
"What did you want to talk about...?"
After setting the brush to the side, Paul proceeded to comb his fingers through Kishirika's bangs as he asked, "Would you believe me if I said I just wanted to spend some time with you?"
Adopting a shark-toothed smile, Kishirika mocked, "How diabolical...you're surrounded by beautiful women willing to lay down their lives for you, yet here you are...willfully allowing yourself to be exploited by a woman who only sees you as a means to an end..."
Instead of reacting as Kishirika expected, Paul closed his eyes, exhaled through his nose, and placed his left hand on her abdomen. She was still wearing her dark-purple bodysuit, but he could feel her body heat against his palm as he moved his hand in a slow, steady, figure-eight motion.
As pleasant as it was to have her belly caressed, Kishirika's smile became a little predatory as she remarked, "I'm not a member of the Beast Race...it'll take a lot more than a few belly rubs to tame the great Kishirika Kishirisu!"
Shaking his head, Paul maintained a faint smile as he said, "I'm not trying to tame you. As annoying as you can be at times, I wouldn't know how to deal with you if you suddenly became timid or started acting like a proper lady..."
Rolling her eyes, Kishirika replied, "Well, you can rest assured. I'm many things, but a 'proper lady' isn't one of them..."
Punctuating her words, Kishirika guided Paul's hand to her breast, adding, "If you're trying to get me in the mood, you don't need to beat around the bush. Just get on with it..."
Though he readily fondled Kishirika's breasts, Paul wasn't in the mood to take things further. He hadn't lied about wanting to spend time with her, so, after enjoying the pillowy sensation of Kishirika's breasts for several seconds, he returned his hand to her toned abdomen and asked, "What have you been doing these past few hours? Every time I looked over, you were just lying down and staring at the ceiling..."
Realizing the reason Paul had come over to check on her, Kishirika rolled onto her side and groaned, "I've said this time and again, but I don't need your pity or concern. If you want to make me happy, defeat Badi, kill that shitty bastard, and make good on your promise to create a world where humans, demons, and the other races can live alongside one another...me feeling lonely should be the least of your concerns..."
With a self-deprecating smile on his face, Paul answered, "You've seen it yourself...despite my struggles, nearly all of my Spirits are more powerful than me. I'm not going to give up trying to grow stronger, but I've come to terms with the fact I won't be the one to defeat our mutual enemy. The-"
Interrupting Paul's self-denigration, Kishrika turned toward him with a baffled look as she questioned, "Are you an idiot? Jeez, it's no wonder you requested my wisdom during our first encounter..."
Without waiting for Paul's response, Kishirika rose to a seated position and asked, "Who do you think is more powerful, the Sword God or the King of the Asura Kingdom...?"
Though he was briefly taken aback by Kishirika's sudden inquiry, Paul eventually replied, "The Sword God..." in an uncertain tone.
Judging by Paul's intonation that he already had an idea of where she was going, Kishirika gave a curt nod before answering, "You're right. However, if the two were at odds with one another, who do you think would emerge victoriously...?"
"..."
With Gal willfully serving the King of Asura, it was easy to understand how things would play out if he rebelled against the Kingdom. He could do some incredible damage before he fell, but it was only a matter of time before he was defeated or captured. Afterward, everyone he cared about would be arrested and made an example of, regardless of whether or not they had anything to do with his rebellion...
Interpreting Paul's silence as understanding, Kishirika nodded a second time, stating, "At least you're not a complete idiot..."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Kishirika abruptly straddled him, her arms linking around his neck as she adopted a devilish smile and stated, "Might that endures the test of time isn't denoted by a person's strength or Mana capacity. It is measured by their influence over others and their ability to shape the world around them. You consider yourself weak, but how many people are you aware of that can topple entire nations with a single word or phrase?"
Drawing her lips closer to Paul's, Kishirika narrowed her eyes and added, "You consider yourself 'unworthy' of the power you possess, so you push yourself tirelessly in an effort to prove yourself. What makes your actions nonsensical is that you're the only one who feels that way. As far as I can tell, none of the Spirits you have summoned actively look down upon you or deem you unworthy. The only person who appears to need convincing is you..."
With her lips close enough to brush against Paul's, Kishirika felt a sudden urge to activate her Demon Eyes of Affection. Instead, she gave his lips a lick before evading his kiss and playfully snapping her teeth.
Surmising that Kishirika expected some kind of response before giving him his 'reward,' Paul exhaled a sigh and asked, "What do you want me to say? It's not like I'm in denial of my problems. I know better than anyone that most of my issues are manifestations of my lack of confidence or the result of my out-of-place morality. I can't just make them go away..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Kishirika retorted, "Why are you asking me? As far as I'm concerned, it isn't that big an issue. I mean, everyone has some form of doubt. Your biggest issue is that you allow your problems to define you despite encouraging others to seek change. It's annoyingly hypocritical."
"..."
Seeing Paul's expression turn downcast, Kishirika countered with a smile, grabbing the sides of his face and forcing him to stare at her as she said, "Relax. No one is asking, much less expecting you to be perfect. You have knowledge of the future but choose to dedicate yourself to helping others and fixing systemic issues that have plagued this world for thousands of years. You might not consider yourself worthy, but we both know how the vast majority of people would misuse the power you possess...who cares if you also happen to pick up a few beauties here and there? I sure as hell didn't feel forced..."
Observing Paul's pupils contract, a mischievous snicker emanated from Kishirika's throat. While it was apparent that Paul suffered from a bit of an inferiority complex, Kishirika had suspected the true nature of his ailment from the very beginning. He wasn't troubled by the fact there were people more powerful than him; he felt emasculated due to the fact most of them were women...women who would readily obey his every command despite the vast disparity in their power...
Repeating her actions from earlier, Kishirika drew her face closer to Paul's as she said, "You've stated multiple times that you have no desire to be a Hero or rule over others. While that may have been true at one point, your foreknowledge and disdain for the world compel you to try and 'fix' things. You tell yourself you're okay with providing support, but the reality is that you can't stand being weaker than the women you wish to protect..."
With her lips once again close enough to graze against Paul's, Kishirika purred, "How chivalrous~" in a sensual tone before sealing his response with a kiss. She truthfully didn't care whether her words were correct. So long as Paul had doubts, he would be vulnerable to Hitogami's influence. If she had to manipulate him to remedy his self-esteem issues, she didn't care if he eventually came to hate her. The only thing that mattered was Hitogami's death...
Fortunately for Kishirika, Paul ate up her words hook, line, and sinker. He would mull over them later, but, for the time being, the only thing he cared about was the fact that Kishirika had, at the very least, tried to help him make sense of his underlying issues. She was far from the first, but Paul had always had a weakness for women who chastized or lectured him for his benefit...
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Seeing Paul and Kishirika disappear behind the latter's throne, an amused chuckle emanated from Zhongli's throat.&nbsp;
Though she was 'ashamed' to admit it, Zhongli had been listening in on the conversation between Paul and Kishirika by analyzing the vibrations their voices created through the floor. Kishirika seemed to sense what she was up to partway through, but it took a lot more than keeping your voice low and sitting atop someone's lap to trick the archaic Archon's senses.
Following her laughter, Zhongli adopted a marginally more serious look as she muttered, "So long as the ideas you plant in his head coincide with his desires, you need not fear our response. Just try not to go overboard...our Master's mental wellness is one of the most important things to us..."
While others might not be able to discern it, Zhongli could feel Kishirika's intent lock onto her shortly after she vanished behind her throne. It was very subtle, but, as someone who had spent millennia observing others, Zhongli was very sensitive to others attempting to return the favor...
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(A/N: Chapters will be intermittent these next couple of weeks as I shift my focus back to EPIC. I'll try to put out one a day, but there are no guarantees.)

With few enemies standing between them and the Great Hall preceding Kishirika's former throne room, it only took a few minutes for Paul and Party to arrive outside a black barrier covered in esoteric, glowing blue runes.
Recognizing the barrier at a glance, Kishirika preempted Paul's inevitable question, explaining, "This is the result of someone using Demon Eyes of the Absolute Void. They stockpile Mana over time and allow a person to create a nigh-impenetrable barrier."
Though he was well aware of the Demon Eyes of the Absolute Void, Paul couldn't help frowning when Kishirika said it was nigh-impenetrable. She enjoyed exaggerating things, but she was usually pretty straightforward concerning Demon Eyes and their effects.
Preempting Paul's follow-up question, Kishirika adopted a toothy grin as she added, "You might not be able to break it instantly, but the duration of the barrier decreases as it accumulates damage. There is also a hard limit to the amount of magic power the eyes can store. The record is around 39 hours, held by yours truly."
Hearing everything he needed to hear, Paul shifted his attention to Ei and said, "Tear it down." in a firm tone.&nbsp;
Without needing to be told twice, Ei struck her iconic pose, pulling a tachi formed of pure Electro Elemental energy from between her breasts before spinning in a graceful, clockwise motion and unleashing a terrifying sword slash that seemed to rend the very fabric of space and time. It was easily a God-Tier sword slash, but while it left a large, Electro-purple scar on the barrier, it failed to cut through it.
Adopting a visibly annoyed expression, sparks began to emanate from the depths of Ei's eyes. She had yet to replenish the energy she expended in her fight against Atofe, but it hurt her pride to be unable to perform when her Master needed her.
Before anyone could think to stop her, an aura of Electro Energy burst out of Ei's body, violet-purple lightning crackling around her before her form morphed into a series of afterimages. If one strike didn't work, Ei decided she would just keep hitting it.
As it was pretty rare to see Ei so 'emotional,' even Paul had to take a step back as the aura exuding from the purple-haired Archon's body settled in him like a sheer cold. It wasn't his first time enduring Ei's sword intent, but he still felt he was being cut apart just observing her in action.
Making things much easier for everyone present, Zhongli waved her hand to generate a rectangular stele of Geo Energy in the middle of the group. The moment it was fully formed, it began to release pulses of golden light that washed over everyone present, shrouding them in an amber-colored barrier that mitigated the effects of Ei's sword intent.
Inspecting the malleable barrier covering her entire body, Kishirika was about to ask how durable it was when a frighteningly loud sound, similar to all the glass on a skyscraper shattering, echoed through the area. Ei's onslaught was akin to a Sword God unleashing numerous Longswords of Light in concert, so the infamously indestructible barrier didn't even last six seconds before shattering like expensive porcelain.
Seeing the barrier shatter into countless pieces, Ei turned around with a rare, self-gratified smile as she stared at Paul in a manner that expressed, 'Look at what I did. Feel free to praise me.'
Though he intended to do precisely that, Paul wasn't even able to get out the first syllable before a bright white laser left white hot trails across the barriers of nearly everyone present. The only exception was Paul, as both Ei and Zhongli reacted to shield him with their weapons and bodies. Even then, visible lines were left on both their weapons and bodies, clear proof they had failed to deflect the surprise attack.
Before Paul could fully process what had just happened, Zhongli erected a wall of Geo before exhaling a rare sigh of relief and asking, "Is everyone okay?"
Thanks to the barriers Zhongli had created for them, the only person to sustain even a minor injury was Ei, or, more accurately, her kimono. The back was unaffected, but the nigh-instantaneous white light had burned through the fabric of her obi, kimono, and bodysuit. It also left a burn on her skin, but it was nothing life-threatening.
Recovering from his momentary stupor, Paul's complexion was several shades lighter as he asked, "What the fuck was that?"
Before Zhongli could offer her speculation, Kishirika answered, "That, my beloved fiance, was the Longsword of Light..."
Looking toward Kishirika, Paul made no effort to conceal his incredulity as he retorted, "Bullshit. The Longsword of Light is a close-range technique, not something that can be utilized at long distances..."
Crossing her arms, Kishirika gave Paul an, 'Are you seriously arguing with me?' kind of look before reiterating, "It is the Longsword of Light. Just not the technique."
Knowing Paul was going to demand answers, Kishirika averted her eyes, staring at the wall created by Zhongli as she asked, "You've heard of the legend surrounding the Sword Sanctum's creation, right? About how the first generation Sword God utilized his Longsword of Light to slice off the top of a mountain?"
Seeing Paul nod out of the corner of her eye, Kishirika explained, "The original Sword God didn't utilize any techniques. He was just a guy that swung his sword faster than anyone else. What made him such a pain to deal with was the sword he wielded. That's what you just witnessed, the original Longsword of Light, a weapon so absurd it could even leave scars on the Moon..."
Opening his mouth, Paul wanted to refute Kishirika's words, but the look on her face was as serious as they came. She clearly had some personal experience with the Longsword of Light.
Verifying Paul's thoughts, Kishirika met his gaze and said, "The original Sword God was not the first to wield the Longsword of Light. Before him, it was wielded by that annoying vixen that became Saint Milis, the King of Heroes, Ars Anemoi Asura, and the Holy Dragon of Light, Lucielle..."
With an expression that was equal parts pain and fury, Kishirika balled her hands into fists as she added, "No other weapon in history has slain more Demons than the Longsword of Light. Those chicken bastards concealing themselves in the Heaven Continent forged it with the intent of wiping us out completely, but humanity used it as an instrument to persecute us..."
Slamming her fist against the wall, Kishirika's expression revealed a trace of madness as she growled, "That bastard, Laplace! We went through hell to steal that blade from the humans and seal it away! What could he have possibly been thinking!?"
Raising his hands in a placating gesture, Paul attempted to calm Kishirika down by assuring her, "It's going to be okay. Once we defeat whoever has the sword, we'll seal it away so that no one can ever use it again..."
Reacting to Paul's words, Kishirika stared at him with one of the most intense expressions he had ever seen, her voice filled with venom as she retorted, "Oh? Do you mean to tell me you would give up the opportunity to wield one of the most powerful weapons in the world? With your Mana reserves, the Longsword of Light would easily elevate you to the status of a God. Can you resist such a temptation?"
Catching the frenzied Demoness by surprise, Paul didn't hesitate for a single moment before answering, "Without question. I already have more cheats than I know what to do with. At this point, I wouldn't accept such a weapon even if you tried to force me..."
"..."
Though she wouldn't have believed any other human making such a claim, Kishirika felt the tension in her body relax when she noticed the sincerity and visible frustration in Paul's eyes. She had momentarily forgotten due to her anger and frustration, but Paul really did have an overabundance of gifts and blessings. So much so that he pushed himself beyond his natural limits just to feel worthy of them...
Feeling a lot calmer, Kishirika inhaled a deep breath before exhaling a long and exasperated sigh. Then, as if her prior anger had been nothing but an illusion, she regained her customary shark-toothed smile and replied, "Oh, yeah. I got so caught up in the moment that I nearly forgot how ridiculous your existence is. You don't need a weapon like the Longsword of Light to leave a path of destruction wherever you go..."
Furrowing his brows, Paul was about to insist he would never do such a thing, but, as per usual, Kishirika interrupted him. This time, however, she didn't use her words. Instead, she threw her arms around his neck, locked them in place, and planted a kiss on his lips.
As surprised as he was by Kishirika's sudden 'assault,' Paul instinctually lowered his hands to grasp the shapely Demoness's ass. Fortunately, her armor left her two pliant mounds completely uncovered, so he was able to enjoy the texture of her springy bottom through the remarkably thin fabric of her plugsuit.
Eager to reclaim both the Longsword of Light and her throne, Kishirika retracted her lips from Paul's immediately following his first squeeze. She also knew he wanted to save the little girl wearing an animal costume, so before he could lean forward to steal her lips, she stared into his eyes and stated, "If we don't hurry, that girl you sent ahead to scout will die..."
Though he felt like a brick hit him in the face due to how quickly Kishirika changed the subject, Paul quickly recovered, releasing the violet-haired Demoness from his embrace as he turned to Party and asked, "Zhongli, Ei, can you handle it...?"
Without needing to consider her response, Zhongli nodded her head and replied, "As fast as the attack was, it didn't deal a substantial amount of damage to my barrier. If Lady Baal and I combine our powers, defeating the enemy shouldn't be an issue."
Eager to get back at the person who had damaged her outfit, a gift Paul had invested a small fortune to acquire, Ei narrowed her eyes and added, "Leave it to us. I'll show you that not even light cannot escape the bounds of Eternity..."
Resisting the urge to ask how Ei's concept of Eternity had anything to do with their present situation, Paul nodded his head and expressed, "Good. I entrust this matter to the two of you. And if it turns out Sayu has already fallen...show them no mercy..."
After nodding in concert with one another, Zhongli manifested a second Geo Stele, providing everyone present with a barrier. At the same time, Ei took a stance for the second time since her summoning. What left Paul at a loss for words was the fact it was clearly the stance for the Longsword of Light. He had never once seen Ei perform the technique, but he could easily guess what was going through her mind...he didn't know if it was due to her pride or something else entirely, but she evidently intended to surpass the 'original' Longsword of Light with her own...
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After failing to eliminate her targets the moment they broke through her barrier, the Black Knight began to feel nervous for the first time in her life. The power of the Longsword of Light diminished with range, but the Great Hall was only 200m in length. Even if she was severely weakened due to her internal injuries, she should still be able to slice through a Saint's touki at five hundred...
While moving around her sword to prevent it from melting the castle floor and walls, the Black Knight shifted her gaze to the severely injured figure on the floor, Sayu. She had lost an arm and a leg, but a quick application of Healing Magic had prevented her from bleeding out. The Black Knight had initially intended to question her once she woke up, but she was now starting to look like perfect hostage material...
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(A/N: No actual lolis were harmed in the making of this chapter.)

Chapter 176: MI176: Power Overwhelming