Is that your p-plan, to intimidate me? Foolish, you dont stand a chance!

Maximilian braved the out-of-this-world bloodlust and rushed at Shadow.

His sword followed a straight path to the man at incredible speed. Its tip surely to pierce the throat.

Yet.

WHAT!?

That tip was caught between Shadows fingers.

Let me bestow you some advice

Shadow spoke in a soft voice.

Let, go!

Try as he might, Maximilian couldnt dislodge his sword from between the mans fingers. It was as if the blade was stuck into a boulder. It moved not no matter how much he pushed and pulled.

Show me all your power if you dont wish for a swift death

Shadow released the sword, causing Maximilian to pitch over and fall.

He quickly stood up and glowered at Shadow.

You will not underestimate me!

He then pulled out a red lozenge and swallowed it.

Now youll pay for that attitude. I will have you know despair.

Maximilians mana surged and his eyes were dyed blood red.

Behold It is your death that will be swift!!

Maximilian blurred.

He was suddenly behind Shadow.

An afterimage.

A slash faster than sound cut Shadow from behind.

It wasnt able to cut through Shadows longcoat.

Shadow turned around.

Faster than that, Maximilian once again blurred.

That too an afterimage.

Yet again, Maximilian cut Shadow from behind.

As I thought, you have no means of reacting to my speed. Yes, that is inevitable. I am not your average Awakened Ill have you know

Seeing how slowly Shadow was turning back, Maximilian spoke.

I am no 3rd I am a 2nd. He sneered and blurred once again.

Slow! Youre too slow, Shadow!! Now taste the power of a true 2nd of the Order!!

Maximilians voice came from all directions.

Relentlessly, he made slash after slash upon Shadow.

His afterimages seemed to be everywhere at he did.

This is my sword the Coldblood Kaleidoscope!

The myriad Maximilians in the fierce blizzard truly appeared as if he came out of a cold and deadly kaleidoscope.

Soon enough, that artifact of yours will be exhausted! That will be your end!!

The endless slashes had numbered to more than a thousand now.

Shadow couldnt do a thing, he just stood there and took it.

Each slash caused the snow to jump, turning everything white.

And finally, it ended.

Huff huff fool.

Maximilian wrested control of his breathing.

The ground around him was gouged.

Coldblood Kaleidoscope tended to have that effect on the landscape.

It was impossible to stay standing after a relentless onslaught like that.

Maximilian was about to sheathe his sword, when,

WHAT!

Beyond the veil of snow, stood a form.

As the uplifted snow slowly drifted back to the ground, the identity of the form was made clear.

Its not, possible

That form was of course Shadow.

Shadow was standing there, having withstood Coldblood Kaleidoscope without injury.

Without a scratch on him, the man in black stood as if the fierce rush from just now was but an illusion.

How are you uninjured after my Coldblood Kaleidoscope!? Th-this is impossible, no artifact like that could exist

Artifact? Might you be curious about this?

Shadow said indicating his garment.

Theres no other way! I am stronger than the likes of you! Just because you have that ridiculous artifact, dont think!

This, is no artifact. It is made of Slime.

Th-that is absurd! No Slime can withstand what I did!!

Correct. By itself Slime is very weak as material. However, what would happen if it were to be infused with mana of incredible proportions?

H-hah, idiocy. Indeed Slimes are said to have high mana conductivity. However, handling it as material is impossible. The mana paths arent even similar to that of a humans.

All too true In that case, what if we mix in human flesh?

Ah!

Combining a great number of Slimes with ones own flesh. It is similar to attempting to mix oil and water. But it is possible to fuse them using mana.

Impossible you merged human mana paths with that of a monster You would need an unimaginable level of control to achieve such a feat!

Verily. To my knowledge, those in this world who can perform such a task is I and I alone.

Y-you lie! You lying scoundrel, do you think I will believe that

Oh? Even if I show you this?

Shadows longcoat warped.

Within the white blizzard, the jet black garment expanded to both sides like wings.

No, they were wings.

Jet black wings like that of the devil had manifested out of the coat.

T-that isnt, no, thats not

Maximilian could think of only one material able to change shape so freely.

Slime.

And nothing else.

M-monster youre, youre no human, you monster!!

His expression warping, Maximilian rushed at Shadow.

However, the blazing speed of his sword was easily stopped by the now transformed devil wings.

Slow

N-no you cant react to my speed

Despair dyed Maximilians face.

The pair of wings had split into four.

They flapped once, allowing Shadow to be lifted into the air.

Maximilian was speechless.

Know this. The quantity of my mana is not so different from your own.

Jet black wings flapped in the white blizzard sky.

If well compressed, it only appears hundred-fold more powerful when released. I simply do that whenever I use it like so.

Shadow gathered mana in his wings.

The violet mana collected on the wings and appeared as small feathers.

Hyii Monster no, Demon Lord!

Quality easily trumps quantity when it concerns mana. And quality comes from control. To that end, the amount of control you can exert while you release determines everything.

Those feathers, were beautiful yet cruel as the devil himself

I. AM. ATOMIC RAIN.

As they fell on Maximilian.

Violet mana rain dwarfed the raging snow storm.

Its light enveloped Maximilian, erased the snow and swallowed up everything.

As it fizzled out, having ended everything, only a large crater remained where the walled camp once stood.

All was quiet for a time.

Then, the jet black wings flapped, taking their bearer high into the snowy sky.