Chapter 328 Mental Magic
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Zest’s mind struggled to keep up with Zolgear’s order to stop Aki. Before she could even figure out who to target, a streak of red light flashed past her, blocking Zolgear’s path.
Zolgear glanced at the dark-skinned, busty rabbit-girl, still clueless about the situation, and spat out a dark curse: “Useless.”
Of the two men he had brought, the one with real skill had turned on him, leaving only this artificial lifeform who couldn’t do anything right.
”Maria, take Mio and go.”
Aki knew exactly what kind of tricks Zolgear had pulled on this space. While he didn’t see it as a big threat, it was best to get rid of any uncertain elements first.
Maria replied with a soft, respectful nod. “At once, Brother Aki. I will be careful, I promise.”
Maria scooped up the unconscious Naruse Mio and flew toward the Nonaka sisters.
The sisters had already lit up their Magic circles. With Ras, Shela, and Lucia all there, they were just waiting for Maria and Naruse Mio to arrive before teleporting out of this pocket world.
Zolgear watched helplessly as Naruse Mio vanished. His eyes were bloodshot, but he dared not make a move.
Looking at Aki, covered in his crimson dragon armor, Zolgear had no wish to fight — only the desperate need to find a way to run.
”Zest, stop him!” Zolgear ordered again, his voice dropping into a tone of cold, held-back threat. “Even if it costs you your life, stop him!”
Because she was artificially made, the white-haired rabbit-girl was not exactly a genius, but she was not a fool either. She was just average.
The Mana pressure coming off Aki was strong enough to lock her in place. Zolgear’s order was clearly a suicide command.
Zest felt a wave of bitterness, yet she could not defy the Master who created her.
Zolgear had planted a death curse inside her, one that could watch her very thoughts and feelings. She had no doubt that the moment she showed even a hint of resistance, he would set off the curse.
Aki, of course, saw right through Zolgear’s plan to run. But if Kokabiel could not escape a man who had just started Breaching, how could a clumsy non-speedster like Zolgear hope to do so?
Unless someone bought him enough time to draw a Transport magic circle.
And that someone, quite clearly, would not be Zest.
Zest launched an attack on Aki with the will of the damned. Aki did not even look at her; a bolt of bright yellow lightning flickered from his fingertip.
”Ah…”
After a sharp scream, the S+ rank dark-skinned rabbit-girl fell unconscious in pain.
Boosted by Himejima Akeno’s Talent and the bloodline of the Fallen Angels, the lightning dealt near-true damage against Devils. If Aki had not held back, Zest would have turned to ash the moment they clashed.
Zolgear’s grim, old face darkened like the bottom of a pot. In the time it took to deal with Zest, no matter how good he was at magic, he could not possibly draw out a spatial transfer Magic circle.
After knocking Zest out, Aki turned into a crimson meteor, slamming into Zolgear.
Forced to give up the half-drawn Transport magic circle, Zolgear scrambled to defend himself with a magic barrier while backing away.
In his Balance Breaker mode, a casual hit from Aki shattered the barrier. The thick Mana scattered into the air like sparkling dust.
Seeing that escape was impossible, Zolgear had no choice but to grit his teeth and fight.
”Brat, do not look down on me!” Zolgear snarled, his voice rough with the weight of centuries. “I have lived since ancient times!”
Zolgear pulled out a strange, moon-shaped weapon with a dark violet color. He called it a sword, and Aki did not bother to argue.
After several clashes, the blade could not pierce his armor, but it did not break at a touch either. It was a decent weapon, all things considered.
Although Aki held the title of Weapon Master, he had not yet found a proper weapon. This one, it seemed, would do nicely for practice.
Zolgear’s fighting style was solid — certainly better than Basara Toujou’s — but compared to Aki, it was amateur hour.
Bang!
Finding an opening, Aki dodged the sword’s block and landed a punch on Zolgear’s chest, sending the man flying.
His thin but tall body tore through a wall of blue-grey stone, and a trickle of blood leaked from Zolgear’s mouth.
Knowing he could not win in a close fight, Zolgear played his final trump card.
Pale purple Mana flooded his eyes, and an invisible, massive hand gripped Aki’s neck, trying to lift him into the air.
”Hm?!” Aki felt his breath catch, yet he could not find where the attack came from.
He punched at the air in front of him, but it did nothing.
Only by blasting Zolgear with a Mana beam did he manage to break free.
The surprise attack had done a little damage, but a smile touched Aki’s lips.
Right. Zolgear had that Mental magic — something like moving things with his mind. He had almost forgotten.
Zolgear’s abilities were well-rounded, but his mastery of Mental magic was his greatest strength. Not only did he have this special technique, but he could use it to control others — with more power than even a Succubus.
Next came his research skills and his talent as a magic shooter, with melee combat being his weakest point.
Zolgear’s close fighting was just enough to bully someone like Basara Toujou. Against Aki, he was nothing but prey.
His magic shooter style was beaten by close combat, so Zolgear had been forced to rely on his unique Mental magic.
The spell was easy to use: wherever his eyes could see, he could create telekinetic force (mind-power to move things) to attack from any angle.
The telekinesis could not be stopped by physical or magic attacks. You had to either use a magic barrier or take the hits with your own body.
The downside? While using it, the caster could not do anything else, not even move.
And the range was strictly limited to his line of sight.
So, when Aki blasted Zolgear with a Mana cannon, forcing him to dodge, the invisible hand gripping his neck disappeared.
Zolgear tried to do the same trick again, but now that Aki was ready, he would not fall for it twice.
Telekinesis attacks were invisible and formless, but their speed was set by the user’s reaction time.
Aki moved at high speed, leaving dozens of afterimages behind, effectively breaking Zolgear’s move.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
Every strike from Aki shattered another layer of Zolgear’s magic shield.
Once Zolgear’s Mana ran out, his time would be up.
He could have used other trump cards to speed things up, but there was no need. As for killing a Demon King-class instantly, only a God-tier could do that.
Half a quarter-hour later, Zolgear used up his last drop of Mana in despair.
He lay spread out on the broken earth, his eyes empty, his body broken and bloody, with hardly a single part left whole.
It was not that Aki was trying to torture him. To save Mana, Zolgear had been shielding only his vitals. Aki had not bothered to avoid the exposed areas — you could only say Zolgear had brought this on himself.
Thud.
A sharp, red claw stepped onto Zolgear’s chest. Aki leaned down, his voice calm and cold. “Hand over the formula for that twisted Mental magic, and I might let you live.”
He had kept the old man alive on purpose for this.
Despite its flaws, the magic was strong and useful. Especially when paired with Aki’s own powerful mental strength, it would surely be far more deadly than it was in Zolgear’s hands.
Upon hearing the hope of survival, a flicker of light returned to Zolgear’s dead eyes.
But that spark died completely when he tried to use his Mental magic to take control of Aki.
Aki felt his mind shake for a split second, then his soul instinctively trembled. Under his foot, Zolgear, who had still been hanging on to life, breathed his last.
”Tsk…”
Aki kicked the body in frustration. He had not truly meant to let Zolgear go, but failing to grab the telekinetic magic was a real disappointment.
After Zolgear’s death, the space began to twist violently.
Aki knew that this was one of Zolgear’s backup plans kicking in.
The Rook was actually a monster created by Zolgear. Once the master died, the beast would wake up and eat everything inside this pocket world.
Aki canceled his Balance Breaker mode, picked up the unconscious, busty dark-skinned rabbit-girl, and got ready to leave.
He could handle the monster, but it was a hassle. Since everyone else had already cleared out, he might as well leave.
He would file a report later, and the Demon Kings would naturally send someone to deal with it.
As he reached out to lift Zest up, a thought came to Aki.
This was Zolgear’s last lair. Not only was there a Rook-infused monster here, but there was the Birdcage super-electromagnetic device — could there be other useful things?
Something like, maybe, a grimoire (a magic book) holding the Mental magic.
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Summary:
Aki dominates the battlefield against Zolgear, who is desperate to escape his impending doom. After Zest is incapacitated, Aki relentlessly presses the attack, easily countering Zolgear’s attempts at using Mental magic and magic shields. With his Mana depleted, Zolgear is eventually defeated and killed, though he fails to reveal the secrets of his techniques before perishing. The chapter concludes with Aki preparing to abandon the collapsing lair after considering whether any useful grimoires remain.
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Trivia:
Zolgear’s Mental magic is a form of telekinesis that allows him to strike at any object within his line of sight.
The use of the Mental magic requires Zolgear to remain stationary and prevents him from performing other actions.
Zest, being an artificial creation, is bound by a death curse that allows Zolgear to monitor her thoughts and emotions.
Aki’s lightning attacks are significantly more damaging to Devils because of Himejima Akeno’s Talent and his own Fallen Angel bloodline heritage.
The Rook guarding the space is a monster created by Zolgear that is programmed to consume everything in the area upon his death.
Notes:
• Zolgear – This gaunt, ancient Devil Grand Duke is a cold-blooded magic master and researcher known for mental arts and artificial life creation, notably the creation of Zest. An Ultimate-Class demon leading a hostile Underworld faction from an isolated dimension, he is obsessed with absorbing Mio and Wilbert’s power for immortality. Though physically weak, he is a feared, ruthless threat terminated by Aki.
• Zest – A tall, curvaceous artificial lifeform with dark skin, purple markings, and white rabbit ears, she was created by Zolgear in his beloved’s likeness. Initially bound by a death curse to guard the Rook and serve Zolgear, she now acts as a loyal guide for Aki. Despite her programmed devotion, she harbors secret desires to break free from Zolgear’s oppressive control over her mind and emotions.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy strategist and King-status devil with a powerful, dragon-like physique and scumbag-like charisma, he wields Dual Cultivation and soul contracts to heal, empower, and psychologically condition his growing harem of schoolgirl knights and supernatural companions. A master of magical tool control and Evil Piece distribution, he pragmatically expands his peerage while indulging his immense sexual stamina and appetite, balancing flirtatious charm with dominant control as he ascends toward Demon King-class power.
• Maria – A young, sexually active succubus of royal lineage related to Shela and Lucia. Petite and cute with amethyst eyes and a heart-tipped tail, her mature true form is busty with long legs. Aki’s deferential subordinate eager to prove herself, she is tasked with saving Naruse Mio. She attempts to manipulate Zolgear by threatening Mio to buy time, but ends up paralyzed by his magic.
• Mio – Naruse Mio is a fair-skinned Kuoh Academy student with twin-tailed red hair and a voluptuous, buxom figure. As the adopted Naruse daughter with Demon King blood, she is a fire/gravity-wielding Bishop in Aki’s peerage. Sought by Zolgear and interacting with Yuki, her proud, tsundere personality shifts to total surrender in her deeply intimate bond with Aki as Maria transports her.
• Naruse Mio – A supporter and cheerleader for the Gremory peerage.
• Naruse – Mio Naruse is a fair-skinned, red-haired schoolgirl with twin tails and a voluptuous build. An heir to Demon King power and one of the “Sister Flowers,” she is protected by the Gremory household. Initially a hesitant tsundere, she becomes deeply devoted to Aki, accepting his polyamory. She refines her life essence while maintaining vital ties with Maria, Kurumi, and her adoptive parents.
• Nonaka – The Nonaka sisters—Yuki, Ikumi, Yuzuki, and Kurumi—are professional surveillance monitors. Maintaining a composed, unified identity, they double as Aki’s companions and Mio’s close security. One petite, long-haired sister with a delicate build observes Aki and Mio’s intimate encounter with curiosity, relief, and envy, later feeling physically exhausted after performing her own intimate tasks for Aki.
• Lucia – A magic-using Succubus with an icy, abstinence-driven demeanor, she lacks the typical physical traits of her kind and potentially harbors a hidden side. As Shela’s daughter and Maria’s half-sister, she was present during the teleportation sequence with the Nonaka sisters. Currently, she is imprisoned by Zolgear, held captive alongside her mother.
• Shela – A petite, former Succubus Queen with white hair, ram horns, and violet eyes, she balances matronly grace with youthful charm. The protective mother of Naruse Mio, Lucia, and Maria, and a potential partner of Aki, she is currently held captive by Zolgear. She guards vital Gremory secrets and super-electromagnetic device info while orchestrating plans for her daughters’ survival.
• Ras – An SS-Rank Doll Master and former orphan raised by the Naruses, this elegant, white-masked magic user serves as Zolgear’s trusted subordinate and infiltrator. Though he acted as a double agent for years, his complex ties to his childhood idols ultimately led him to return to the Underworld with the Naruse parents, abandoning his role as a pawn to guide Aki through the enemy base.
• Kokabiel – A burly, twelve-winged obsidian Fallen Angel and war-obsessed former executive. This arrogant Demon King-class combatant led the main combat faction, stole the Holy Swords, and summons Hellhounds and Light Spears. Defeated by the protagonists and unable to escape Aki in their past encounter, this notorious battle-maniac is now sentenced to solitary confinement in the Ice Prison.
• Himejima Akeno – A high-ranking member of the Gremory peerage and household, this buxom female student with black hair in a ponytail assists Rias with magical tasks. Known as the Lightning Flash, her previously reserved demeanor has shifted into a sultry, energetic, and passionate personality during cultivation, maintaining close ties as a supportive ally to her companions.
• Himejima – Akeno Himejima is a tall, curvaceous Kuoh Academy senior, high-ranking Devil retainer in Rias Gremory’s peerage, and a powerful Occult Research Club member known for her strength in combat. Bound by a Soul Contract to Aki, she possesses long black hair and a queen-like demeanor. Combining sadistic charm with maternal authority, she wields golden lightning and is deeply loyal to Rias and Aki.
• Akeno – Himejima, a tall, voluptuous Orc-devil shrine maiden with raven hair, red eyes, and dark wings, is the “Priestess of Thunder.” As Rias Gremory’s loyal S+ rank Queen and Vice-President, she gracefully manages administration. Beyond her combat prowess, she is the soul-bound contract partner of Akira, maintaining a deep, affectionate bond with him and constantly longing for his attention.
• Basara – A male Kuoh Academy student, pragmatic strategist, and Jin Toujou’s son. A magic novice wielding the sword Brynhildr and Banishing Shift, he is a skilled combatant, though inferior to rival Zolgear. Alienated by the Hero Clan post-Hero Village incident, this ally of Aki protects the Gremory household and links various heroines amidst potential family conflict.
• Toujou – Toujou is the family name carried by Basara and his father, Jin, connecting them to the Hero Clan and an ongoing conflict. Associated with Basara—a powerful individual whose existence is known to Aki—the surname is recognized for representing high combat potential and formidable strength.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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