power difference

At the exact moment I pulled the trigger, a mammoth, spherical shockwave of pure electrical energy erupted from the tip of the Taser gun.

(BOOOOOOMMMMM!! ZAP-ZAP-ZAP-ZAP!!)

As a result, the output of channeled voltage was so brutal that it distorted the surrounding air into a blinding arc of blue and white light.

("GRRRRRRR!!!!!")

Because of that, the black armor withstood the devastating blast after receiving the impact head-on at point-blank range, taking dual damage—both physical and spiritual—that scorched its structure as the very fabric of space collapsed and cracked around it under the pressure of the unstable current.

"Aaaahhhhh!!!"

However, the sheer force of the shockwave was so overwhelming that it sent us flying through the air.

(BOOOOMM!!!)

Both myself, the horse, and the straw dolls were hurled backward.

"Uuufgghh...!!"

To make matters worse, after crashing into one of the tower walls mid-flight, the arm I used to hold the Taser gun was completely scorched due to the overload of released spiritual energy, right before the weapon exploded into a thousand pieces.

(FSHHHHH-BOOOOOOOOMMMMMRRRRRRR!!!)

Simultaneously, the electrical dome generated by the impact detonated with a muffled roar, pulverizing the stone floor and destroying the upper section of the tower before raising a dense, suffocating cloud of dust.

"Ha... Ha... cough, cough... Is it over...?"

It was only when the dust cloud began to disperse very slowly that, exhausted, I asked that with ragged breath...

"I'm... so... tired..."

Yeah, I know what you're probably thinking: "What on earth was that?". Well, the answer is simple: it's the only truly offensive technique I managed to develop within my severe limitations.

Are you asking why I didn't use it from the start?

That's because I simply couldn't!

You see, that {"Ultimate Technique = Maximum Voltage!"} is a double-edged sword of the worst kind. Look, it turns out that due to my absolute lack of native offensive abilities, I tried to force the creation of an attack move at all costs, and this monstrosity was the result... But here comes the catch...

It is literally a suicidal move.

Because its flow is absurdly unstable due to my lack of control and offensive talent, the technique absorbs all my spiritual energy in one single go for a single, indivisible attack.

"...My lungs are burning."

Then, transmuted through the Taser gun as a physical catalyst, it unleashes a destructive discharge that leaves me completely immobile for hours, plunged into unbearable pain and unable to move a single muscle...

"...Haaah... My whole body hurts so much..."

But the exhaustion and pain aren't even the worst part.

Do you want to know what's worst?

Well, the worst part is that it absolutely requires an electric Taser gun as a channeling medium to transmute energy into electricity, and furthermore, after firing, the overload destroys the weapon in the process.

Yep, as you might suspect, that makes it a stupidly expensive technique, both economically and energetically.

Do you have any idea how many electric Tasers I had to sacrifice and incinerate during training just to learn how to use it without dying in the attempt?

Granted, I'm brushing it off with some humor right now, but in reality, I tried to pull off something I wasn't prepared for. As a result, I spent an absolute fortune on an expensive, inefficient, and impractical version of an attack that any other warrior, like a skilled exorcist, could execute effortlessly... When I remember that... It makes me want to burst into tears right here...

"At least it worked..."

...Or so my naive mind wanted to believe.

(Crack, crack...)

Until a crisp cracking sound echoed through the settling dust.

"?!"

And when the smoke finally cleared, it revealed the scorched, cracked, and smoking figure of the black armor, which against all logic... was still standing.

"Are you serious?!"

Did it seriously survive a point-blank explosion like that?!

(Step, step...)

However, looking closely at its condition, it was clearly severely battered and weakened... Ahaha... Damn it... This still looks ridiculously bad as that damn thing, like Death incarnate, began slowly walking toward me.

(Stop!)

(Halt!)

(Don't move!)

In response, the remaining brave straw dolls that could still stand threw themselves desperately at its legs to try to hold it back.

(Slash!!)

However, the armor repelled them one by one with its sword, making its way, step by step, directly toward my position.

"Damn it!"

And I can't even move a single finger to defend myself or escape!

(Step, step...)

Thus, while lying helpless on the shattered ground, teeth clenched in bitter frustration, I watched as the armor reached execution distance. It began condensing the black flames from its entire body onto the blade of its greatsword as it slowly raised it above its head.

"You spiteful bastard!"

Is it planning to pay me back tenfold for the discharge I just gave it?

(Whoosh!)

The air cut sharply, and seeing the massive black sword descending straight toward my neck, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable impact...

("Eh?!")

...Which never came.

"You should remember what I told you."

It was only when I heard a serene voice, with a strangely familiar yet unknown tone, that I snapped both eyes open.

"I told you that whenever you were in danger, I would try to fix it."

Standing before me wasn't the small serpent's silhouette.

"...It's been a long time since I used this form... Investigating this place was worth it."

In its place stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman with dark skin, long jade-green hair that reached down to her waist, and golden eyes like the sun...

"Whoever built that formation truly is a genius... What a shame... I would have liked to meet them."

...Who, with astonishing calm, had stopped the armor's colossal sword using only her fingernails against the edge.

"Ehh...?"

Who on earth...?

"Even if it's temporary in this space, I can return to my true form."

...Those words... That confident, playful tone... It can't be...

"That form... Echidna...?"

Instinctively, without a shadow of a doubt, my mind confirmed that the majestic beauty in front of me was none other than Echidna.

"It's a pleasure to greet you for the first time like this, partner."

And as if to confirm it, she offered me a calm, elegant smile...

(SWISH!)

...While simultaneously sending the giant black armor flying into the air with a simple, effortless flick of her nails.

"Now then, as for you, I don't have much time, so I'll hand out your punishment quickly."

After speaking those words, the green and gold beauty made a giant circular golden formation with indecipherable characters appear right at the armor's feet.

"Do your best, will you?"

The circle expanded in an instant, glowing with a terrifying, radiant light.

"{"Megáli Kátharsi"}"

And with that whisper, a colossal torrent of divine light rained straight down from the sky, piercing through and blasting a massive hole in the highest ceiling of the tower to completely bathe the black armor.

("AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!")

...As a result, for the first time since this entire battle started, the armor unleashed a gut-wrenching scream of pure agony as its body was bathed inside the beam of light.

"Ha... Foolish thing, you should have tried to dodge it. That way you would have lasted a few seconds longer."

As it ended, while my consciousness began to fade from extreme exhaustion, the last thing my ears managed to catch were her words...

"Well, let's wrap up this adventure quickly. I'm hungry for dessert."

...I thought I knew Echidna was strong, but it seems I truly didn't comprehend how terrifyingly powerful she actually was.

"Ah... Yeah..."

In the end, I only managed to murmur that in response as I watched the agonizing armor dissolve from the ground, right before passing out completely.