"What?!" Pudden was shocked, frozen in place.
"Aren't you fond of crying?" Jehfrit said indifferently, "When you walk, when you show bias, and even today, when even you came here to die."
"Why have you stopped crying? So-called Knight of Mercy?"
*BOOM*
A thunderclap exploded in Pudden's mind.
His body swayed, as if drenched by a bucket of cold water, chilling him to the bone.
Crying
He cried incessantly.
Over Peace.
Over Sins.
Over the omnipresent evil and chaos in the world.
But why now...
"You're not even as good as Juvia," Jehfrit shook his head. It took him more than three times longer to influence Juvia than it did with Pudden.
"What nonsense are you spouting at a time like this, hoping I'll spare you?!"
"Impossible!"
"Let me judge you!"
Pudden roared, wielding his spear and thrusting towards Jehfrit.
Jehfrit didn't move.
'I can't kill him!
What right do I have to kill him!
A sinner like me!'
Pudden suddenly stopped. His trembling hands couldn't hold the spear; it fell, sinking into the deep sea.
"What... what did you do to me?" Pudden suddenly felt fear.
"After being deceived, that's when a person trusts the deceiver the most," Jehfrit said. "Deceivers thrive on exploiting that trust to pull off their scams."
"The object of that trust doesn't have to be the deceiver," he continued.
"It could be yourself—specifically..."
"Confidence."
Jehfrit extended his hand, catching raindrops falling from the edge of his umbrella.
"Mirage Domain: Fog Valley, Hollow Mountain."
"When walking through a foggy valley, one is filled with unease, unsure of what lies ahead."
"Even though the fog may hide nothing at all, the mind conjures up terrifying, unseen creatures."
"Fear and anxiety take hold, but these emotions can be overcome with understanding."
"But when walking through a serene, empty mountain, there's a sense of joy, freedom, and fearlessness."
"You might even shout out, or sing a song."
"Picking your nose or scratching your back is fine, too."
"The beauty of the place, the secure stone paths beneath your feet—there's no danger here."
"People believe in this place. They trust what they feel."
"They let go, open their hearts."
Jehfrit reached out to Pudden.
"What nonsense are you—"
"Calm."
Before Pudden could feign anger, he was "controlled" by just one word from Jehfrit.
With a calm gaze, he watched Jehfrit draw his blade without concern, as if numbed all over – unable to move or feel pain.
Jehfrit sheathed Hani, leaving no blood, pristine as new.
*CLACK*
He leaned on his cane, expressionlessly watching Pudden.
"You bastard –"
"I will pass judgment on you!"
Pudden suddenly became enraged.
"Sorrow," Jehfrit said calmly.
"Ah – so sad, I'm so sad, why am I so weak, why did I come here to find you, doing such a suicidal thing, I don't want to die!"
"Damn it, what did you do to my body?!" Pudden suddenly became angry again.
"You're directing your anger wrongly," Jehfrit reminded.
"Ah – I'm so angry, how foolish I am, why did I seek out a strong opponent like you, a fool like me deserves to be killed! I should kill myself!"
'What's wrong with me?'
"Magic is the power of the heart, with emotions occupying a large part," Jehfrit explained, "People cannot defy their emotions."
"Extremely self-loathing and sad people pierce their eyes."
*Squish* Pudden cried loudly, his fingers penetred each eyes blinding him in the process leaving two trails of blood on his face remplacing his usual tears.
"When extremely depressed, one might contemplate suicide."
*SHUNK* Pudden's right hand plunged into his left chest.
"What kind of magic is this..." Blood gushed from Pudden's chest as he turned toward Jehfrit in despair, "When I last saw you, it wasn't this terrifying..."
"The second stage of Deception Magic," Jehfrit explained, "Mirage Domain: Fog Valley, Hollow Mountain."
"An almost inescapable deception."
"Even if one truly escapes the deception and approaches the truth."
"The truth is – I control emotions, while you become a puppet to them."
"By the way, Pudden," Jehfrit grinned, "You worship Ansa, right?"
"What are you going to do?" Pudden shouted in terror.
"Hate Ansa, follower of Ansa." Jehfrit chuckled softly, changing the ice block's direction, turning his back to Pudden and moving away.
From behind came Pudden's roar of anger.
"Damn Ansa!"
"You evil demon!"
"You should go to hell!"
This angry voice sounded like a lament.
"Remember what I said before? Look at your back, then die filled with regret and despair, weak – Pudden." Jehfrit's voice drifted into Pudden's ears.
"Ah!!"
"I'm so regretful!"
"Why did I become a demon's slave!"
"Why create injustice in the name of peace!"
"Why did I come here to die!"
"A person like me, how could I have lived until today!"
"How sinful."
"Hell Spikes!"
Countless spikes formed from seawater.
"No, no, no, no..."
Pudden turned at Jehfrit's gradually retreating figure, making his final desperate plea.
Unfortunately, the next moment –
He lost the desire to live.
Dully, he grabbed his head with both hands and twisted hard!
*CRACK*
His head turned backward, drooping down with gravity – he saw his own back.
He gave a tragic smile.
*BOOM*
Thousands of sea spikes fell, shredding everything instantly!
Fog Valley Hollow Mountain.
It's a Domain, a technique.
First, the magic envelops the enemy like fog, making them aware of its influence.
People feel fear and worry, but those with strong minds can suppress these emotions.
Such people can traverse the Fog Valley to see the Hollow Mountain beyond.
There's no danger here.
Like an enemy thinking they've broken Jehfrit's deception, resisted his emotional manipulation.
They relax, even become somewhat indulgent.
Because they think they've won.
At this moment, they're very confident – having dominated the deceiver's power, turning his abilities illusion into mere party tricks.
But they failed to notice – passing through the foggy valley wets their clothes; by then, Jehfrit had already "gently" infiltrated their mind, controlling their organs, manipulating various hormones.
Thus –
It ended.
When the enemy thinks it's over, it truly is over.
Because they can't quit the Hollow Mountain.
People are slaves to emotions, while Jehfrit is the master of emotions.
This is the true power Deception Magic's second stage!
///////
Translator's Note:
Peak fight.