Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 191: Chapter 190 The Formidable Natural Enemy

“No matter how many times I see it, it always feels magical.”

Gazing at the scene before him, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but remark.

The battle with Faliagni had ended, but there was still a mess to deal with. The entire school had been damaged in the conflict between the two parties, and there were not a few people injured as a result. The only silver lining was that they hadn’t had their Power of Existence drained by Faliagni; otherwise, these people might have only had death awaiting them. Now, according to Shana’s explanation, as long as they used the Power of Existence to repair everything, they could be brought back to life.

Luckily, the Power of Existence that Faliagni had drawn while devouring the city was plentiful, so it could still be used for repairs. Otherwise, the situation could have become even more troublesome.

How wonderful, I really want to learn…

However, watching everything being restored as if a movie was being rewound, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but feel wistfully lost in thought. Sealing wasn’t a Domain, so there was no need to fear resistance. Moreover, inside a Sealing, even if it became chaotic as heaven and earth turned dark, it would not affect the Main World at all; it could even be used as a tool for escape when necessary—The biggest flaw of Sealing, in Fang Zheng’s view, was that it enveloped everything. If Sealing could be selective, at least excluding those ordinary people who had no power, then the battles would be even more convenient.

...

Just as Fang Zheng drifted off in thought, suddenly, Aralastor’s voice sounded in his ear.

“What Power are you using?”

“Hmm?”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng turned his head and glanced at the pendant on the young girl’s chest—It was indeed the Noble Phantasm where the Demon King of the Crimson Realm, Aralastor, resided. In this world, he could only continue to exist in this form.

“I could feel it, just at that moment, Faliagni’s existence was forcibly banished from this world.”

Aralastor’s voice was heavy with solemnity. In fact, he was as surprised as Faliagni and, unlike Faliagni, as one of the three great Demon Gods of the Crimson Realm, felt an even more profound sense of dreadful pressure. Most importantly, it wasn’t Fang Zheng, by his own power, who had banished Faliagni from this world—instead, it was the entire world that was banishing Faliagni!

Faced with the rejection of an entire world, even a powerful Demon King of the Crimson Realm could not withstand such force.

Aralastor was certain, in his long existence, he had never seen any Demon King or Fire Mist Warrior possess such formidable power, let alone the fact that Fang Zheng before him wasn’t a Follower of the Crimson Realm and had not made any contract with any Demon King—he was merely a simple human!

How exactly could a human accomplish this?

“How did you manage to do it?”

“Hehe.”

In response to Aralastor’s query, Fang Zheng merely smiled. Yet, even so, the Demon King had already received his answer.

That was, “I’m not telling you.”

“Well, now that we’ve defeated the Boss, it’s time to collect the spoils of war.”

Watching everything being restored, Fang Zheng stretched lazily, then he looked back at Aralastor again.

“Right, you mentioned earlier, that fellow called Faliagni, he was very adept at using Noble Phantasms?”

“That’s right.”

Although Aralastor didn’t know why Fang Zheng was asking this, he quickly provided an answer.

“Each Demon King of the Crimson Realm has their own ‘nature,’ and Faliagni’s ‘nature’ is the ability to instantly see through all attributes and uses of any Noble Phantasm. Therefore, he could perfectly use any Noble Phantasm in battle. It was only because of a surprise attack today that he was defeated. Given enough time to prepare…”

As Aralastor explained, as one of the most well-known Demon Kings among the Followers of the Crimson Realm, Faliagni’s fame as “Hunter of the Fire Mist Warriors” on its own proved his exceptional strength. In fact, if Fang Zheng hadn’t disrupted his teleportation with the Dimensional Anchor, Faliagni, who fled and regrouped, undoubtedly would have become even more difficult to handle.

But unfortunately, it was his own fault for not preparing a counter to the Dimensional Anchor spell; how was that Fang Zheng’s problem?

However, Aralastor did not realize that, hearing him speak, Fang Zheng’s eyes were growing brighter.

Faliagni’s abilities might be quite ordinary, but the “Magic Artifacts” he used were rather good. According to Aralastor, this “Hunter” was famous for using Noble Phantasms. Thus, it was evident that he certainly carried not just a few Noble Phantasms. Now that the unfortunate one was done for, who knew if there could be any treasures to be found in his lair… The “Magic Artifacts” of this world seemed pretty useful; perhaps he could find some nice things to bring back as gifts for Nymph.

That fellow’s lair…

Thinking this, Fang Zheng silently cast a “Prophetic Sight,” then he turned his head and looked toward the nearby shopping district.

It’s over there, huh.

“…Hey, where are you going?”

Watching Fang Zheng leave the school, Shana, who had just finished repairing everything, was taken aback, then she looked at Fang Zheng and called out loudly. Hearing Shana’s question, Fang Zheng, without turning his head, answered.

“I’m going to check out that guy’s lair for any treasures. It would be too disappointing to win a battle without any spoils of war. You can join me if you don’t mind.”

“Who, who would want to go with you! I’m not interested at all!”

Hearing this, Shana’s face turned red, then she shouted loudly. Meanwhile, Fang Zheng showed no reaction, simply waved his hand, and continued walking down the street toward the shopping district.

The girl stood there dumbfounded, watching as Fang Zheng’s figure disappeared. After a moment, Aralastor’s voice sounded again.

“Is this okay?”

“Of course, I have no interest in those Noble Phantasms, as you know, Aralastor…”

“Alright.”

Facing the girl’s rebuttal, Aralastor didn’t say much, only acknowledged her, then shifted the topic.

“So, what do we do next?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do we do’?”

“You came to this city to hunt down the Followers of the Crimson Realm, right? Now that Faliagni has been vanquished, should we set out and leave here to continue hunting the next prey?”

“………”

Hearing Aralastor’s question, the girl was stunned.

Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be a problem for her. Ever since leaving the Heavenly Dao Palace, her life had been just like this, but this time, the girl unusually felt hesitant.

“…Aralastor.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“I……am I really that weak?”

In the past, Shana would never have such doubts. She always worked hard and earnestly eliminated every Follower of the Crimson Realm that appeared before her, and she had always emerged victorious. This had filled Shana with confidence in her own power, but now, in Goki City, she had seen obstacles standing in her way for the first time. Whether it was that strange human called Fang Zheng or Faliagni, they were unprecedentedly formidable enemies.

Especially Fang Zheng…

Thinking of this, Shana clenched her fists tightly. She still vividly remembered the feeling of helplessness in the fight against him, as if she was completely being toyed with, the pain of being powerless. Not to mention Faliagni, the dread King of the Crimson Realm who even she had almost fallen victim to, was casually disposed of by him.

No, one could say that this battle, actually, didn’t matter whether she was there or not. For him, she was merely an assistant, more was more convenient, less would only be a bit troublesome. From the beginning, in his eyes, Faliagni was no threat.

What Shana didn’t know was that Fang Zheng was so composed because he had the Soulstone as a backup. In fact, Fang Zheng had already decided that if he couldn’t win the fight by himself, he would simply use his full power to summon Malthael to send his opponent back to his homeworld. So, for Fang Zheng, it was merely a choice between “defeating the enemy with normal attacks” or “using up NP to execute a big move.”

This made Shana feel unwilling.

She was a Fire Mist Warrior, and not just any, but one who had made a contract with the Punishment Deity’s Catastrophic Fire. How could she allow herself to leave at this moment, wouldn’t that be admitting she was inferior to him, and thus fleeing?

What a joke!

“……I don’t think you are weak, but it’s also a fact that there are many strong beings in this world. Especially that man, I advise you best not to make an enemy of him.”

“Aralastor?”

Hearing her Contractor’s warning, Shana was also taken aback.

“Is Fang Zheng such a dangerous existence?”

“Indeed, you’ve seen it, right? In the recent battle, he could banish his opponent from this world without killing the Follower of the Crimson Realm……You know what this means, right?”

“Wait, you mean……”

Hearing this, Shana’s expression suddenly changed.

“Indeed, whether it’s the Followers of the Crimson Realm or Fire Mist Warriors, our essence that allows us to remain in this world is the same. But that man, he can forcibly banish us from this world without killing us. Even if it’s just for an instant, once we are banished, then……”

“……the Contractor who has formed a contract with us will be deemed nonexistent, and then……the contract will be annulled……”

“Exactly.”

Aralastor’s voice deepened even more.

“This man is a natural enemy for both the Followers of the Crimson Realm and the Fire Mist Warriors.”

“I’ve decided! Aralastor.”

Hearing this, Shana raised her head and looked toward the sky.

“I will stay in this city for now!”

“Is that a good idea?”

“I must become stronger. Just like Fang Zheng said, I am too weak now, nearly falling into a trap set by a King of the Crimson Realm. I have always been fighting Followers of the Crimson Realm weaker than myself, but this can’t continue. I want to get stronger, much stronger. I must make Fang Zheng understand, I am not just a stumbling block, I am a Fire Mist Warrior, a Fire Mist Warrior who hunts down the Followers of the Crimson Realm! And, and……”

As she spoke, Shana’s face turned slightly red.

“He also saved my life at one point, and as a Fire Mist Warrior, I cannot be ungrateful.”

“………”

Hearing Shana’s response, Aralastor was silent for a moment, then he sighed softly.

“If you think it’s fine that way, then let it be……Shana.”