An enormous magical power surged from Adam's body, forming a tangible pillar of light that shot skyward!
The terrifying pressure, like that of an endless abyss, forced nearby onlookers back several meters. The magical light pillar brought them to their knees!
Their appearances were disheveled.
"What's happening? That young man possesses incredible strength."
The speaker was Ricardo Welkin, a wolf-tribe demi-human and leader of Anastasia's "Iron Fang"!
His name matched that of a certain dragon warrior from the DC, though with a different surname.
"Indeed, Captain, this young man is extraordinary!" A sweet, childlike voice chimed in from nearby.
It was Mimi Pearlbaton, one of the three vice-captains.
She asked, "What should we do, Captain?"
"We must distance ourselves. Staying near that young man is too dangerous." The seasoned Ricardo swiftly led the Iron Fang members and Anastasia away from the area.
Priscilla, Felt, and Crusch quickly withdrew with their followers.
Though Emilia wished to stay, Puck dragged her away — when it came to her safety, he wouldn't compromise.
Within moments, a clear space formed around Adam.
He couldn't spare any attention for his surroundings now. His focus was entirely on controlling his internal mana, preventing the overflowing magical power from going berserk. If that happened, the consequences would be devastating.
Now fully prepared, he waited for Subaru to lure out the White Whale!
"AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH!"
Subaru roared at full volume, his voice deafening, yet Ram showed no reaction.
He was testing. If Ram heard what he planned to say next, she might die as Adam had before — he needed to ensure everything was foolproof.
Really now... Why had he accepted this task?
Subaru knew well that his next words would bring terror equal to death itself, so why had he agreed so readily?
Looking back at the blurred figure in the distance, that silver radiance shining under the sun seemed to say 'I'm always here.'
Ah, it's her! That silver-haired half-elf girl who saved him.
And for the first time, he truly wanted to help her.
Alright! He would give everything he had! Emilia's knight-in-training — Subaru Natsuki, reporting for duty!
Opening his mouth wide, summoning all his strength, using his loudest voice to reach the farthest distances, he shouted those words.
"—I can Return by Death!"
The next second! Darkness enveloped him like a〘Shamak〙, silence consuming everything, as if he were the only being left in the entire world.
"Going to die! Going to die! Going to die!"
Terror swept over him!
The familiar sensation — one he had endured ten times before — struck again. His teeth chattered, cold sweat broke out across his skin, and his heart raced wildly.
"I can't stop here!" Subaru clutched his chest as pain coursed through his body.
He wouldn't give up. How could he stop after just one time?
Again! He had to continue until the White Whale appeared!
Even if... his heart exploded and he died!
"I can Return by Death! I can Return by Death! I can Return by Death!"
Three times in rapid succession!
Subaru fought through the fear again and again. After just a few breaths, he was already exhausted — like a drowning person desperately gasping for air.
Though his nose couldn't detect it, he knew the stench around him must have grown overwhelming!
Come on, White Whale! Show yourself! Your favorite bait is right here!
"I can Return by Death! I can Return by Death! I can Return by Death! I can Return by Death!..."
He lost count of how many times he'd said it, but he endured each utterance. He pushed against death's boundaries with desperate determination, refusing to stop until that creature appeared!
As if answering his frantic wishes, the figure he'd been waiting for finally emerged!
"Finally... finally here, thank goodness..." Through his blurred vision, he saw the massive beast materialize.
His strength completely spent, he began to slip from the Earth Dragon's back. Ram quickly grabbed his collar, securing him firmly to the saddle.
"Well done, Barusu." She said with characteristic coldness, leaving her sincerity questionable.
Given the dire situation, and since Ram couldn't hear anyway, Subaru skipped his usual jokes. He simply gave her a thumbs up — both acknowledging his completed task and accepting her praise.
"The White Whale has appeared, now it's Ram's turn!... Hold tight, Barusu. If you fall off carelessly, Ram won't save you."
Contradicting her own words, she pulled the reins, steering the Earth Dragon toward Adam's position behind them.
But the White Whale's aerial pursuit was blindingly fast!
Within moments, it emerged from the distant horizon into everyone's view.
Its body was colossal, whale-like in form. Pure white in color, it bore a horn upon its head, crowned by a pink halo. Red light blazed from its eyes, and dense fog swirled around its form.
Even from afar, its terrifying presence was overwhelming!
"Is that the White Whale?!"
"Such... such an enormous size!"
"The largest of the Three Great Witchbeasts — the White Whale!"
Before the White Whale could even attack, their ranks fell into disarray.
Crusch, proving her worth as a leader, seized this crucial moment.
She shouted with fierce authority, "What kind of behavior is this?! As soldiers, cowering before battle — you're disgracing the military!"
Her words instantly steeled the resolve of her soldiers. Even the panicked members of Anastasia's Iron Fang regained their composure.
"Have you forgotten? There stands a Madman who vowed to subjugate the White Whale alone, asking only that we watch!" Crusch gazed at Adam in the distance and declared, "No matter the outcome, that man deserves to be called a Hero of the Kingdom! Shouldn't you offer your most sincere blessings and encouragement to such a warrior?"
"...That's right, we still have the Madman!"
"You can do it! You must win!"
"Avenge our fallen relatives!"
The crowd erupted in cheers for Adam, their voices swelling into a thunderous chorus of Enjoy reading on NovelHub - your free online novel platform. Even Wilhelm joined the rallying cry.
Adam drew his Nichirin Longsword with deliberate grace, raised it high, and aimed it at the approaching White Whale.
◈ Divine Convergence Breathing, Slayer Mode ⫸ Demon Slayer Mark ◈
Activating Slayer Mode!
The fusion of immense power and Breathing Technique fully activated the Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand within the Nichirin Longsword, merging with the〘Divine Protection of the Sun〙!
The Nichirin Longsword blazed bright red! Materialized magical power enveloped the blade like armor, transforming it into a sword of solar flames that pierced the heavens!
40 meters? No, 400 meters!
A colossal sword of light stretched 400 meters into the sky, making Adam appear like a mere speck below — its massive scale suggesting it could split the heavens or cleave the earth in two!
"Come, White Whale!" His eyes locked onto the approaching beast.
Whether from his Divine Protections or the presence of the terrifying Witchbeast, his vision transformed! The White Whale's very essence lay bare before him!
There it was! Every organ, every bone, every flow of magical power — all perfectly visible in crystalline detail!
This was the〚Transparent World〛! To master it at this crucial moment — what fortune!
His odds of defeating the White Whale had just soared!
"Adam—! The rest is up to you—! Make sure, make sure to finish it spectacularly—!" Subaru shouted at the top of his lungs.
Adam smiled slightly, "You can always trust me, I mean it!"
Ram drove the Earth Dragon past him.
Now Adam stood alone against the White Whale!
When the massive Witchbeast saw him, it sensed the danger and desperately tried to ascend to escape.
But Adam wouldn't allow it that chance.
He channeled everything — all Divine Protections, all Magical Power, all strength — into this single heaven-splitting strike!
◈ Hyakunin Hitotachi ⫸ One Blow, One Hundred Felled ◈
◈ Divine Convergence Breathing, Second Form ⫸ Solar Inferno Strike ◈
The pillar of light tilted with blinding speed!
In a single breath, it sliced across the sky, through the White Whale's enormous body, and carved an unfathomably deep abyss in the earth below!
The White Whale froze mid-air as a crimson line appeared across its snow-white body.
Its massive form split cleanly in two from head to tail, spraying blood in all directions.
A rain of blood showered down, drenching Adam and the distant onlookers.
—Even the crown of the Flugel's Tree was bathed in crimson.
The pure white corpse crashed to the ground, making the earth tremble violently!
The White Whale was dead!
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