Chapter 103: I Lack Nothing Now!

The divine power of the dragon talisman combined with the fiery demonic aura unleashed Roland’s most fundamental strength in its deepest form. Even the black mud, capable of withstanding noble phantasm attacks, could only melt before this raging wave of flames.

At this moment, the substance flowing over Angela Manue’s body was no longer the cursed black mud but molten lava. He struggled desperately, but it was all in vain. Roland’s physical might completely overwhelmed this monstrous beast, a grotesque mass of flesh.

“I have to use the power of the talisman— which one?”

In a sealed state, relying solely on the talisman’s passive power was useless. But since Angela Manue was not the original owner of the talismans, even if he used infinite mana as an external battery to activate their power, he could only simultaneously unleash one or two at most.

“No matter!”

Angela Manue roared furiously. His tentacles suddenly erupted with strength several times greater than before, overpowering Roland’s claws. An invisible shockwave slammed heavily into Roland’s chest, pushing him back several steps and momentarily freeing Angela Manue from suppression.

After catching his breath, Angela Manue hurriedly examined his injuries, only to find that aside from the parts burnt away by flame, he had suffered little serious damage—despite Roland having plunged his claws into him.

Suddenly, he lifted his head sharply and looked at Roland.

“Roland!”

Hearing Angela Manue’s voice, Roland’s lips curved into a faint smile as he opened the two claws that had just pierced Angela Manue’s body.

Nestled in the palms of those claws lay two dormant talismans: one depicting a lively monkey, the other a loyal dog.

Upon contact with Roland’s body, they voluntarily sank in.

“Transformation and immortality. Though insignificant compared to the total, at least I’ve regained a bit.”

Feeling the faint power of these two talismans, Roland sighed.

“Though they are said to be the embodiment of humanity’s malice, your activity is less than that of Danik and Zouken Matou, two individual malices.”

Roland fixed his gaze on Angela Manue without blinking.

“At least they know greed—they sacrifice for the talismans and harness their power. Though their methods differ, the end results are the same: those two divine powers were indeed unleashed.”

At this, Roland couldn’t help but shake his head.

“And you? Has the title ‘Malice of This World’ blinded you? You possess ten talismans, yet you foolishly use only their most superficial powers. Do you deserve the malice within you? Such sloth—when do you plan to annihilate all humanity?”

“Sorry... huh?”

Angela Manue froze. In Roland’s eyes, he saw an emotion akin to frustration over someone’s stubbornness, as if Roland truly understood him.

But he quickly came to his senses. Wasn’t the fate of painstakingly unsealing divine power still fresh in his mind? All his efforts to unlock power only ended up dressing up this guy.

“You damned dragon!”

“Compliments come too late now. Round two begins!”

Roland sneered and pounced again on Angela Manue.

Angela Manue roared and, empowered by the talisman, extended several tentacles to entangle Roland.

He had confirmed that with the ox talisman’s blessing, his strength should surpass Roland’s. But before his tentacles could touch Roland, scorching flames pierced through them.

“You can’t even fight properly? Did hell turn you into a fool?”

Roland tackled Angela Manue once more, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He plunged his hands again into the other’s body, searching for his talismans.

“No—!”

Angela Manue watched helplessly as a terrifying roar erupted, a soul-shaking blast that upheaved the collapsing earth, turning the land layer by layer.

But it was too late. Two more of his talismans vanished. As Angela Manue began to check, an involuntary wail escaped his lips.

His horse talisman was gone!

The horse and dog talismans were the foundation of his survival and regeneration. Even against the holy sword wielder’s overwhelming release, they had kept him alive.

Without these two talismans, facing Roland—already stronger than him—the Malice of This World was nothing but a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Though the situation was already dire: every attack from Roland stripped away a talisman, and Angela Manue was powerless to stop it. Moreover, the tally was now six to six.

He dared not grumble further. Silently, the pitch-black Malice of This World seeped from his body, enveloping the talismans to transfer them out of his body at the critical moment, even locking them away. In any case, they would no longer aid the enemy.

Rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, rooster, pig... and these six. Wait, what talisman did Roland just take?

Angela Manue lifted his head warily but found no sign of Roland. The imposing and dangerous presence of the monster seemed to have never appeared—no trace remained.

Unable even to shout in fury, Angela Manue ordered the Malice of This World to crawl around and probe for the invisible entity.

Unexpectedly, Roland appeared of his own accord.

At some unknown moment, he had returned before Angela Manue, landing a heavy punch on his body. Another restless hand swiftly probed inside.

“You won’t succeed!”

Angela Manue’s form suddenly collapsed, dissolving into strands of black mud, then reassembled into a chaotic serpentine shadow. Like a released arrow, it darted straight backward, retreating from Roland and leaving behind a twisted trench. Roland remained, holding a lump of black mud in his hand.

In less than the blink of an eye, this gecko-like tail-shedding maneuver was complete—clearly, Angela Manue had rehearsed this scenario countless times.

Such fluidity left even the indifferent Roland somewhat speechless. Yet he did not pursue; instead, he plunged his other hand into the mud and formed a strange magical seal.

Angela Manue stared blankly at Roland’s actions, confused. Didn’t the opponent chase him? Shouldn’t he have been fleeing? Why did the cat suddenly stop chasing the mouse?

“Changed your mind?”

Angela Manue halted and cautiously asked. Roland only glanced at him coldly and replied indifferently:

“No, just unnecessary now. You reminded me—the efficiency of fighting you is too low. Better to use a spell. Besides, you’ve already willingly delivered the spell components. Why refuse such kindness?”

Heat spread over the black mud in Roland’s hand, outlining a strange mark.

“I have half the talismans and your body. Next, I just need to use this as a catalyst to create a reverse spell. Some things work well as tools—you forcefully snatch them, but absorbing them into your body often leads to unexpected results.”

“Although it sounds odd coming from me, I am a genuine demon sorcerer after all.”

Roland chanted an arcane incantation, causing the black mud to slowly levitate. A massive suction force emanated from Angela Manue’s body as the six talismans locked within rose, forming six waves of black energy surging toward the flame-engulfed mud floating in the sky.

“Damn it!”

Angela Manue gripped the ground tightly, trying to slow the process, staring at Roland in disbelief.

“You’re a mage?”

Such a strong and beautiful body, innate divine power, as if crafted by the world’s favor—this demon used magic?

He had no time to marvel. The suction grew terrifyingly strong, and finally, the six remaining talismans burst forth from within him, soaring into the sky!

The six talismans spun in circles in Roland’s hand, then gradually merged into his body.

“Ha—!”

Seeing this, Angela Manue abandoned all prudence, unleashing every ounce of strength to dive at incredible speed, sliding and shifting on the ground, leaving two deep trenches behind.

With Roland having reclaimed all the talismans and the question of whether Angela Manue could escape even with a clone, it was time for a desperate gamble.

The roaring wind swept past, accompanied by the thunderous roar of air. Angela Manue transformed once more into a jet-black beast and charged at Roland with reckless force, knocking him down.

The black Malice of This World surged from his body, rapidly entwining around Roland, attempting to corrupt this perfect form as it had done to others.

But before Angela Manue’s weight could press down, Roland extended a claw and gripped the other’s throat tightly.

Despite the deadly struggle, Roland’s expression showed a gleeful excitement.

The remaining six talismans had fully integrated into his body. Though their strengths varied, their powers began to cycle spontaneously!

Having reclaimed all twelve talismans, Roland’s strength surged wildly, increasing fiftyfold beyond any prior moment—domineering and frenzied. What could possibly stand against such a detestable demon?

What, indeed, could possibly stop him now?

“I lack nothing... now!”

In the next instant, golden sparks blazed in Roland’s eyes, and scorching flames gathered in his mouth, both unleashed simultaneously, piercing through Angela Manue’s body!

But the assault did not cease. Roland suddenly raised his left leg high and stomped down with tremendous force.

Angela Manue, similar in size, was violently thrown, smashing into the ground.

Countless cracks spiderwebbed beneath him, intersecting wildly. A fierce gale erupted, scattering debris around.

Roland rose again but did not chase immediately. Instead, he flexed his claws, savoring the surging power within.

“Angela Manue, you should understand: although these talismans are sealed, the Holy Grail connects to infinite mana beyond the world. Even if you are not their master, you can manifest the talismans’ power through such an exaggerated quantity. So tell me, as the rightful owner linked to the world’s outer realm by the dragon talisman, how many talismans do you think you could wield simultaneously?”

Angela Manue gritted his teeth without answering, leaving dark claw marks on the ground before transforming into a streaking thunderbolt, charging toward Fuyuki City.

He originally existed as the Black Holy Grail. The rat talisman granted him the vitality to act, allowing the Malice of This World to spread from within without any wish being granted, proliferating his own flesh.

Though his body was self-generated and he could move without talismans, losing the rat talisman meant this was his last life.

If this black mud body died, he would revert to a defenseless Black Holy Grail.

Such a fate was utterly unacceptable.

Forfeiting even a shred of desire for what he had lost, Angela Manue shattered the sound barrier, soaring across the sky, desperate to escape immediately.

“Whoosh—!!!”

But the next moment, a figure streaked past, stirring fierce gusts that howled by his ear.

In a blink, Roland appeared before him again, standing steadfast.

“Hmph, trying to run? Go back.”

With a casual flick, thunder exploded.

Terrifying power whipped up a sharp gale, carving a deep trench into the earth, crashing toward Angela Manue’s previous position.

“Ahhh—!”

Thrown back, Angela Manue tried his old trick, dissolving into black mud to create countless clones to mask his true body. Yet a beam of light struck him.

“Maintain your original form.”

Roland’s icy voice halted Angela Manue’s transformation. He remained in the form of a gigantic beast. Unlike his usual flesh heap, beneath this appearance lay corresponding bones and muscles, as if born this way.

“Your power of transformation is far inferior to mine... Although the gate to the world beyond will close afterward, before that, as the master, I am free to wield the talismans’ power.”

Roland slowly opened his palms, lifting Angela Manue’s body into the air. His limbs flailed but grasped nothing—surrounded by air as if swimming in a pool.

“In other words, I have many ways to deal with you now, Angela Manue. How do you wish to face your end?”

(The chapter ends.)