Chapter 328: Telekinesis Magic
Zest's mind had just processed Zolgear's order to intercept someone when a crimson streak of light flashed past her, blocking Zolgear's path.
Glancing sideways at the dark-skinned, buxom bunny girl who still hadn't grasped the situation, Zolgear cursed with a dark expression: "Useless."
Of the only two subordinates he had brought with him, the competent one had betrayed him, leaving only this artificial lifeform who was good for nothing.
"Maria, take Mio and go first."
Haruto knew exactly what Zolgear had done to manipulate this space. Though he didn't consider it a major threat, it was better to eliminate unstable factors beforehand.
"Alright, Brother Haruto. Be careful."
Maria picked up the unconscious Mio and flew toward the Naruse Sisters.
The Naruse Sisters had already activated the magic circle. Lars, Sheila, and Lucia were all present, waiting only for Maria and Mio to arrive before teleporting away from this space.
Zolgear watched helplessly as Mio disappeared, his eyes bloodshot with rage, yet he dared not take any action.
Facing Haruto clad in the Red Dragon Armor, he felt no desire to fight—only an urgent need to find an opportunity to escape.
"Zest, hold him off," Zolgear commanded again. "Even if it costs you your life, stop him."
Though the white-haired bunny girl was artificially created and not particularly bright, she wasn't foolish—just average.
The sheer magical pressure radiating from Haruto alone made it nearly impossible for her to move. Zolgear's order was clearly a death sentence.
Bitter resentment filled Zest's heart, but she could not defy the master who created her.
Zolgear had implanted an instant-death curse within her and could monitor her thoughts and emotions at will.
She had no doubt that at the slightest sign of resistance, Zolgear would immediately activate the curse.
Haruto naturally saw through Zolgear's intention to escape, but even Kokabiel couldn't escape from him after he had just broken through, so how could Zolgear, who wasn't skilled in speed, possibly manage it.
Unless someone bought him enough time to use his teleportation magic.
As for that person, it clearly couldn't be Zest.
Zest attacked Haruto with a determination to die, but Haruto didn't even glance at her, simply flicking a bright yellow lightning bolt from his fingertip.
"Ah..."
After a scream, the dark-skinned, rabbit-eared girl with S+ strength fainted from the intense pain.
The lightning, enhanced by Akeno's talent and Fallen Angel bloodline, dealt nearly true damage-level effectiveness against demons.
If Haruto hadn't held back, Zest would have turned to ashes the moment they clashed.
Zolgear's gloomy old face turned completely dark like the bottom of a pot. In such a short time, no matter how skilled he was in magic, he couldn't possibly complete a spatial transfer magic circle.
After knocking out Zest, Haruto transformed into a red meteor and slammed into Zolgear.
Forced to abandon his half-formed teleportation magic, Zolgear evaded while deploying a magical barrier for defense.
In Balance Breaker mode, Haruto's casual strike shattered Zolgear's magical barrier.
The dense magical power dissipated into specks of light in the air.
Seeing escape was impossible, Zolgear could only brace himself and fight Haruto.
"Brat, don't look down on me! I've survived since ancient times!"
Zolgear drew a peculiar black-purple weapon shaped like a crescent moon. He called it a sword, and Haruto didn't argue.
After several exchanges, while the sword couldn't break through his armor's defense, it didn't shatter on contact either, making it a decent weapon.
Although he had earned the title of Weapon Master, Haruto hadn't acquired a suitable weapon yet. It seemed he could get one to play with this time.
Zolgear's combat skills were indeed good—certainly more proficient with the sword than Toujou Basara—but they paled in comparison to Haruto's.
Bam!
Spotting an opening, Haruto sidestepped through Zolgear's guard and punched him in the chest, sending him flying.
The old yet tall body crashed through a section of the bluish-gray wall, and a trickle of blood spilled from Zolgear's mouth.
Knowing he was no match for Haruto in close combat, he had to reveal his final trump card.
A pale purple magical energy covered his eyes, and an invisible hand gripped Haruto's neck, attempting to lift him.
"Huh?!" Haruto felt his breath catch but couldn't locate the source of the attack.
Swinging his fist at the empty space before him had no effect.
It was only by firing a magical beam at Zolgear that he broke free.
The unexpected move gave Haruto a minor setback, but he cracked a smile.
Right, Zolgear had a psychic magic similar to telekinesis. He'd almost forgotten that.
Zolgear's abilities were well-rounded, but his greatest expertise lay in psychic magic.
Not only did he possess this unique psychic magic, but he could also use psychic magic to control others, with effects stronger than a succubus's control.
Next came his research abilities and proficiency as a magic artillery platform, with close combat being his weakest area.
Zolgear might be able to bully Toujou Basara in close combat, but against Haruto, he was just asking to be beaten.
Magic turrets are at a disadvantage in close combat, forcing Zolgear to resort to his unique psychic magic.
This spell is convenient to activate—wherever his gaze falls, he can form telekinetic force with his mind to launch various attacks.
Telekinetic force cannot be neutralized by physical or magical attacks; it can only be defended against with magical barriers or endured with one's body.
The drawback is that while using this magic, the user cannot perform other actions, not even move.
Moreover, the telekinetic force can only operate within the user's line of sight.
So when Haruto blasted Zolgear with a magic cannon, forcing him to move, the invisible telekinetic force gripping his neck dissipated.
Zolgear dodged the magic cannon and attempted to reuse the same tactic, but with Haruto now on guard, how could he possibly succeed again?
Though telekinetic attacks are formless and intangible, their speed is determined by the user's reaction time.
Haruto moved at high speed, leaving dozens of afterimages, directly countering Zolgear's move.
Bam bam bam!!!
Each of Haruto's strikes shattered one of Zolgear's magical barriers.
Once Zolgear exhausted his magic power, his death would be imminent.
Using other trump cards could speed up the process, but it wasn't necessary.
As for instantly killing a Satan-Class, only a god-level being could accomplish that.
Half a quarter-hour later, Zolgear used up the last trace of his magic power in despair.
He lay supine on the shattered ground, eyes vacant, body broken and bloody, with almost no intact areas left.
It wasn't that Haruto intended to torture him; to conserve magic, Zolgear had only protected his vital areas with magical barriers later on.
Naturally, Haruto wouldn't deliberately avoid the unprotected parts—it could only be said that Zolgear brought this upon himself.
Thud.
A sharp Red Dragon Claw pressed down on Zolgear's chest as Haruto demanded, "Hand over that bizarre psychic magic, and I might spare your life."
He had kept this old man alive precisely for this spell.
Despite its drawbacks, the magic's power and utility were undeniable.
Especially when combined with Haruto's formidable mental strength, its effectiveness would far surpass Zolgear's.
Hearing a chance at survival, a glimmer of light seemed to return to Zolgear's vacant eyes.
But that glimmer vanished completely after he attempted to use psychic magic to control Haruto.
Haruto only felt dazed for a moment, then his soul trembled instinctively. Underfoot, Zolgear, who had been barely clinging to life, was now completely lifeless.
"Tch..."
Haruto kicked the corpse in annoyance. Though he had never planned to truly spare Zolgear, failing to obtain the telekinesis magic was still regrettable.
After Zolgear's death, the space around them began to distort.
Haruto knew this was Zolgear's contingency plan taking effect.
This castle was actually created from a monster. Once Zolgear died, the monster would revive and devour everything in this space.
Haruto deactivated his Balance Breaker, lifted the unconscious dark-skinned, large-breasted rabbit-eared girl, and prepared to leave.
He could deal with the monster, but it would be troublesome. Since no one else was in this space, it was simpler to just leave.
He could report it later, and the Satan-Class beings would naturally send someone to handle it.
As he pulled Zest to her feet, Haruto suddenly remembered something.
This was Zolgear's final stronghold, featuring not only the castle-monster and the birdcage electromagnetic device but potentially other useful items as well.