Chapter 291: The Root of Mana (Patreon)

Perhaps the monster had poured all its Mana into the Corrosion Magic, because the vines' growth and their assault had begun to slow.

The interference on Nanoda's Mana Perception was also fading. She could already sense that both Lois's and the monster's Mana were being consumed at a rapid pace.

Killing Magic broke through the Corrosion Magic, and the Corrosion Magic in turn swallowed the Killing Magic.

In the sky, white and green light collided like shooting stars, flashing back and forth. Now and then a monk's light spear would slam into the crimson roots, and more than once it forced the red flower hiding behind the root-wall to let out a snarl.

The monster, multiplying its Mana even as it cast Corrosion Magic, was burning through its own reserves faster than Lois was.

This was exactly the outcome Nanoda had anticipated.

Once the monster's Mana ran dry, delivering the killing blow would be effortless.

In an instant, every magic circle in the sky collapsed.

Lois could barely even keep his Flight Magic going.

"Looks like a draw?"

A vine lashed toward him. He tried to raise a barrier of Defensive Magic with what little Mana remained, but the unstable shield shattered the instant the vine struck it.

Luckily, the burly monk, warned in time by the nun with the Heavenly Eye, rushed over and smashed the vine apart with one powerful punch!

Time was almost up — not just for Lois, but for the monster as well; its Mana was nearly spent. The vines' growth had slowed by half, and no more Corrosion Magic circles appeared. The whole trunk had begun to bend, taking on a look of utter decay.

Severance Magic had finished building up.

With everything she could currently muster, she meant to strike through the blood-red roots' defenses in one blow and pluck out that fanged red flower.

It all happened in an instant — a fresh row of magic circles appeared before Nanoda's eyes.

Corrosion Magic!

"Skreeeeee!"

The roots wrapped around the crown parted just a sliver, and the red flower opened its mouth wide, letting out a mocking shriek.

"Impossible! This thing's Mana recovered in an instant!"

Lois had never seen a monster like this. There was no doubt — with his Mana nearly spent, he was no match for it. A thread of fear rose in him, born from the unknown nature of the creature.

"A war of attrition won't work."

From her Mana Perception, Nanoda could tell this wasn't the monster hiding reserves — it was drawing in Mana rapidly through some other means.

With the Mana-laden vines interfering, all Nanoda could sense was that the flow of Mana was happening underground.

A reversal paradox would make this much easier.

"Lady Nanoda, maybe we should retreat for now."

"You've done well. That monster's been pushed to use everything it has. Leave the rest to me."

Nanoda patted Lois on the shoulder. The instant more than a dozen streams of corrosive water came pouring down from above, a massive barrier of Defensive Magic unfolded.

Nanoda's pillar of Mana expanded, shuddering as it grew, and that suffocating pressure Lois knew all too well rose again.

White smoke billowed upward, and the ground before Nanoda had already been eaten into a deep trench.

Thirteen golden light spears burst through the smoke, driving straight at the monster's crown! The instant they touched the crimson roots, crimson sap oozed from the severed strands — and right behind them came a jet-black broken horn!

Severance Magic surged forward, unstoppable!

The roots wrapped around the red flower crumbled in an instant, and before the flower hidden within could even shriek, the broken horn, now a streak of light, pierced straight through it!

A hole a full two meters wide opened up in the monster's crown. A few petals drifted down, withering to brittle yellow.

The vines that had been thrashing wildly along the branches went limp all at once, drooping like puppets with their strings cut.

This monster clearly loved toying with its prey — from the lures at the very start to all the magic it had used since.

"Thank goodness. It's finally over."

The nun let out a breath, relief washing over her.

"No, it's not over yet — those roots are still moving."

Nanoda had already guessed that the red flower wasn't the weak point — it was probably just bait. The tree itself was likely the true body.

She crooked a finger, and the broken horn she'd thrown earlier flew back to her hand, a thin silver thread glinting in the sunlight.

This was a spell Nanoda had developed in recent years — Thread Magic. Under normal circumstances it lacked the cutting power of Draht, but its resilience was quite impressive.

"Lady Nanoda, watch out!"

Nanoda grabbed Lois and sent him flying over toward the monks.

Corrosion Magic, vines, and roots came at her in three waves — high, middle, and low — but Nanoda simply walked forward to meet them, one slow step at a time.

Zeno's Tortoise Paradox.

Under everyone's astonished gazes, every attack from the monster tree missed its mark by the narrowest of margins, landing all around Nanoda without so much as grazing her.

Walking straight through the barrage of attacks that could never hit her, she made her way to the base of the tree before finally stopping.

The Paradox Magic of motion and stillness unfolded.

Nanoda no longer held back her Mana. Severance Magic — once, twice, three times, four, five... She kept casting until the Paradox Magic's Mana ran out, then withdrew back to Lois's side.

"BOOM!"

The instant the spell released, countless slashes rained down all at once upon the monster's roots! The ground shook violently.

The translucent roots with crimson fluid running through them were "shredded" by countless slashes too small and fast to see! The entire stretch of ground where the monster tree stood collapsed instantly, scattering Mana flying alongside clumps of dirt.

"God."

The one-armed monk stared at the scene before him and swallowed hard.

That monster he'd had absolutely no way to fight — dead, just like that? He hadn't even managed to see how the Acting Bishop had done it.

"Long live Lady Nanoda!"

The nun, though well along in years, waved her arms and cheered like a teenage girl.

"Seriously, what was even the point of me trying so hard?"

Lois tipped backward and flopped flat onto the ground.

His black restraint robe already in tatters, the muscular monk tossed aside the broken vine in his hand and gave Nanoda a thumbs-up.

"Good work, everyone."

Nanoda put away the broken horn and let out a long breath.

This monster had been strong — strong enough to be considered on par with a Great Demon. As she finished it off, a thought crossed Nanoda's mind:

If her current self were to face Himmel back then, using Paradox Magic — could she come out ahead?

Green Mana particles scattered and expanded outward, swirling and drifting through the air.

This creature — a trunk thirty arm-spans around and over ten meters tall — was gradually dissolving away.

"How many people did this thing eat, anyway?"

Beneath the vanishing roots lay skeleton after skeleton, bones bleached white. Looking closer, scattered among the remains were some white, translucent minerals half-buried in the soil.

Crack! Nanoda caught a piece of the white mineral, jolted loose by the tremors.

"This stone seems to hold Mana?"

Nanoda had never heard of a mineral like this. Its pure white color made it look almost like a piece of glass.

Perhaps this was the reason the monster's Mana had seemed endless.