The Author's POV

-Tap!

Ren's footsteps halted as he stood ten meters away from the Matriarch. He indifferently gazed at her who coldly stared back at him. A stifling atmosphere prevailed in the sorroundings. Breaking the silence, the Matriarch spoke

"So you're him..."

...the youth from the picture.

Staring at Ren standing on the opposite side of her, the Matriarch frowned. According to the report she got, her target was only an ranked kid.

Someone that was far beneath her notice.

...in fact, she didn't believe that it was him that killed Elijah. How could an rank kill a rank? that was impossible. But, even if he didn't kill Elijah, he at least must know something. After all, what would Everblood gain from giving her such information?

The only reason why she didn't attack Ren already was because of her wariness towards Kevin who was slowly recovering. Moreover, she wanted answers...

Staring at Ren, the Matriarch coldly said

"Tell me, are you responsible for killing Elijah"

"..."

Staring at the Matriarch before him, Ren didn't respond. He just stood there looking at her with no emotions.

"Answer me!"

Seeing Ren being unresponsive, the Matriarch screamed in anger as a red hue expanded out of her body creating a gust of wind that swept everything near her away.

...even so, Ren stood rooted where he was. Completely unfazed by the Matriarch's outburst.

Seeing that Ren remained unfazed despite her show of might, the Matriarch venomously spat

"...if you refuse to speak, then I'll make you speak!"

"Ren watch out!"

Noticing that the Matriarch was about to move, Kevin couldn't help shout as he tried to warn Ren about the incoming danger.

Having gone against her before, Kevin knew how fast and powerful she was...she was on another level compared to the people he had fought before.

Although he didn't believe Ren was any weaker than him, if caught off-guard, the situation could get serious. Moreover, even if she was injured, he didn't see any possibility of Ren being able to beat her.

"Answer me!"

Appearing right before Ren, the Matriarch extended her hand forward and reached for his neck.

"Ren!"

However, contrary to Kevin's expectations, Ren didn't show any apprehension towards the Matriarch and merely raised his left hand in the air. Thereafter, with his right hand on the grip of his sword, Ren snapped his fingers.

-Snap!

"khhh'”!"

Just as the Matriarch's hand was about to reach for his neck, her hand suddenly froze. In fact, not just her hand froze, but her whole body.

The first movement of the [Keiki style] : Quick flash

Thereafter, the world around the Matriarch turned white as the last thing she heard what a subtle clicking sensation before she felt something pierce the scalp of her head.

-Click!

prevailed in the

"Wh-at happened"

eyes wide, similarly to before when he was

-Thud

world regained its color, what Kevin saw next made

the pavement as a large thud resounded across the place. The look on

remained indifferent, Kevin couldn't help but point towards him

"Y-ou, how?"

head around and glancing at Kevin, Ren didn't answer. Pointing towards the distance, he slowly

and break the

to say something, Kevin pointed towards the

"B-u"

indifferent

it,

himself down, Kevin nodded his head. Since the fight against the demons started, Ren had become a completely different person. He seemed completely emotionless, almost as if anything

these past few

*Sigh*

the end, an extended sigh escaped from

had many things to ask, he knew that any type of conversation at

be equivalent to talking

Pointless.

"...alright"

head and prepared to look

hidden too far from them. Thus, glancing at Ren one more time, Kevin's eyes soon paused on the Matriarch on the floor. Deeply staring at Ren for a couple of seconds, he eventually

"hm"

towards the distance where a statue with two ruby-red

artifact twin

that the reason he managed to win

eyes were staring right where the Matriarch's body was

future thanks to the

busy setting the pieces in motion...Because he knew that he couldn't beat the Matriarch one

Matriarch beforehand, Ren took advantage of the

managed to pinpoint the exact location at which the Matriarch would move and carefully placed the

he was done setting up the artifacts, right after Kevin was on the verge of losing, calculating the

up to lure the Matriarch to him. Like this, when the Matriarch attacked, all Ren did was snap

for a split second, that was enough

the timing, right before the Matriarch froze due to the statues, Ren already activated the first movement of the Keiki

as the Matriarch was wide open due to her body

within Ren's calculation.

"Stop pretending...wake up"

on the ground, Ren's indifferent voice rang out. Raising his sword in the

-Spurt!

"Gyyyyaaaa'”!"

eyes soon regained some

"Yo-u!"

Matriarch, unfazed by the fact that she was still

you higher-ranked demons only die when

"Ghh..."

him as she tried to retaliate.

she wasn't dead, her

only helplessly lay down on the floor. Gritting her

do you want from

imbued on her stomach,

-Spurt!

the Matriarch's horror, his hand