Aoko's immense thoughts and magical energy surged into the interior of what might be a divine weapon, probing its secrets.
Although Gourry was deeply puzzled by Aoko suddenly gripping the sword with both hands, closing her eyes, and saying nothing, the other three could somewhat understand what Aoko was doing—and were utterly shocked.
Is this woman, not a demon...?
Whether it was Aoko Aozaki's overwhelming magical energy or her ability to split her mental force into hundreds or even thousands of threads to infiltrate the interior of the Sword of Light, these feats were beyond what they, as spellcasters, could ever hope to achieve.
Setting aside Zelgadiss, the magic swordsman, both Zolf, who specialized in black magic and Lina, who was also a sorceress, felt somewhat embarrassed; their mental strength and control as magicians were woefully inferior by comparison.
Lina had already mentally prepared herself for Aoko's incredible power, but for Zolf, this was the first time he truly realized how terrifying this woman was. Fortunately, she was an ally for now, which was cause for some relief.
Regardless of what her companions were thinking, Aoko had already shifted most of her attention to the Sword of Light's interior.
The sword's internal structure left her in awe. At a glance, it was clear that this was not something derived from Earth's technological pathways. Its alien nature was overwhelming. Much of it seemed less like it adhered to mathematical or physical logic and more like a product of advancing magical technology beyond the industrial era.
The ingenuity of the design was remarkable—an artifact like this would be impossible to create in a world without magical technology.
Sure, someone in a non-magical universe might be able to create a weapon with similar functionality (like the lightsabers in Star Wars), but in terms of their operating principles, they would be completely different from the Sword of Light in her hands.
Aoko found significant inspiration in the sword's design philosophy. She was particularly intrigued by the concept of a non-physical melee weapon capable of amplification, magic infusion, and spell absorption.
If she were asked to wield a melee weapon and hack away daily, Aoko, as a spellcaster, would outright reject it. But if it were something as cool as a lightsaber (that could also amplify spells), that would be a completely different story.
However, based on Aoko's current level of technical knowledge, she couldn't create a super-advanced magical weapon like the Sword of Light, which had its energy source and an unbreakable property. But creating a replica that consumed the wielder's magic power and could absorb and amplify spells? That was within her capability.
Satisfied after unraveling most of the sword's structural principles, Aoko opened her eyes and handed the Sword of Light back to Gourry.
"Well, how was it?" Lina asked with concern. "Is this the legendary Sword of Light?"
"Of course, it's not a fake. Don't worry," Aoko said. "And its structure is incredibly ingenious. Even I can't fully replicate its performance."
"That's good to hear… Wait, WHAT?!" Lina, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, instantly shouted in astonishment. "You can replicate... the Sword of Light?!"
"Imitate it, imitate it," Aoko corrected, waving her hand dismissively. "And even then, my replica would likely consume a ton of the wielder's magic power. Ordinary humans wouldn't be able to use it."
...Even so, that's already incredible. Are all otherworldly sorcerers this powerful?
Now that they had wiped out a group of Rezo's subordinates and regrouped with Zolf, there was no reason to linger in the abandoned village. Given that Rezo had likely set up multiple surveillance measures here, it was better to head to the next inhabited town, grab a good meal, and rest.
"It seems our movements are all under Rezo's watch," Aoko said. "That guy probably knows the Goddess Statue is in our possession, so he's been sending people to ensure we head straight to his tower."
"That Red Priest Rezo sure is confident," Lina said, hands on her hips. "Does he think he can beat all of us?"
"That guy is pretty strong," Zelgadiss replied. "But with Miss Aoko on our side, I don't think Rezo has a clear grasp of her capabilities."
Zelgadiss wasn't wrong. The abilities Aoko had displayed before Rezo so far had been quite calculated, and most of them were highly specialized techniques. For example, the Heaven's Light spell could easily be mistaken for the magic of a White Mage.
...
Once the current situation was sorted out, the group immediately set off for the next town—a human settlement closest to the wasteland where Rezo's tower was located. From there, it would take less than half a day to reach Rezo's lair.
Rezo still harbored some doubts as to whether they would bring the Goddess Statue to his tower. Thus, he pulled a rather cheap trick by sending a weak demon capable of creating illusions.
This demon transformed a child talking to Lina into fragile glass right before their eyes, which promptly shattered in front of Lina.
"If you don't come, you'll surely understand what will happen to the residents of this town," Rezo's illusion said from midair.
Lina gritted her teeth, and even Gourry, usually lighthearted, wore an uncharacteristically serious expression.
But Zelgadiss and Zolf remained relatively unfazed, and Aoko's face was devoid of emotion.
"What does that have to do with me?" Aoko said to Rezo's illusion. "The reason I've decided to deal with you is not because of the lives of these people who have nothing to do with me, Rezo. It's entirely because I don't like you. Those who foolishly oppose me and deceive me will never have a good ending."
By maintaining her moral standards low enough, Aoko ensured she wouldn't be constrained by her opponent's tactics. Confidently provoking Rezo, she then fired a magic bullet, instantly killing the eyeball-shaped low-level demon that had been creating the illusion and relaying the message.
Rezo's threats left the group in a somber mood during lunch at a restaurant. But they quickly reached a consensus: after eating, they would head out immediately and deal with Rezo that very night to avoid any further complications.
Unlike the now-dead werewolf, both Zoldf and the bald warrior they had defeated earlier were loyal retainers of Zelgadiss. Since Zelgadiss agreed to the immediate departure, Zolf had no objections. The hot-tempered black mage—his old injuries now healed (as indicated by his removed bandages)—was eager to fight.
After their meal, the group officially entered the eerie wasteland, ready to face Rezo.