The Author's POV

BOOOM—!

Ferocious shockwaves appeared in the sky.

The residual mana that spread from the shockwaves enveloped the entire battlefield.

BANG—!

This exchange had been going on for about a day now, and it had started to become progressively stronger. Both sides were still not going all out as they were gauging each other and buying time for those fighting below. Whenever the situation shifted for one side, the other would quickly interfere to return the balance.

"Why don't you guys open up the barrier? The situation looks tough for you guys."

The Marquis ranked demon pointed at the battle that was ensuing below as he coldly laughed.

"Will you guys be able to last without it?"

"You're really full of nonsense."

Waylan glared at the Marquis-ranked demon. His hand that held onto the large broadsword swung downward.

The large broadsword whirled around, releasing waves of pressuring wind sounds.

WIIIIIING!

Seeing Waylan's swift and ferocious attack, the Marquis ranked demon's face grew darker. Finally, he let out a cold laugh, and a ferocious aura suddenly sprang out from its body.

"You're truly one annoying human."

***

At the same time.

"Khh..."

Taking a couple of steps back, a light groan escaped from my mouth.

Standing opposite of me was a demon. Similar to the other demons that I had killed before, it was Baron ranked one. However, this time, the situation was different.

"Haaa!"

—Click!

Crying inside of my heart, I tapped on the sheath of my sword. Just like usual, a subtle clicking sound rang out.

Clang—!

However, unlike my previous fights, the demon did not cower at my attack as it met it head-on. The demon appeared to specialize in speed; therefore, it left me with little to no time to attack. The moment I was about to attack, the demon was already upon me, preventing me from releasing the full might of my attack. Taking a step forward, the demon's sharp claws carried a powerful force as they violently met my sword mid-swing.

Clang—!

A clear sound of metal on metal came rippling out from the mid-point where my sword and the claw met. Then, following the circular sound waves that came as a result of the collision between my sword and the demon's claws, a powerful force soon began to spread out, blowing everything that was near away.

The ground beneath me and the demon also began to crack, forming small crevices that expanded for a couple of meters.

"Khh…"

At this fierce exchange, I came out at a disadvantage as I took a couple of steps back in contrast to the demon who was merely pushed one step back.

"Kekeke, very good human. I didn't expect to meet a human this strong at your age."

A disdained laugh escaped from the demon. It appeared that the demon was feeling confident about its chances against me. Or perhaps it was just trying to provoke me.

BANG—!

Ignoring the demon's blatant provocation, I stomped my foot on the ground, and my body explosively shot towards the demon, like a sharp arrow.

demon seemed to have expected my attack, as it did not do any of those useless dodging actions. Instead,

violently repelled back, creating an opportunity for

Clang—! Clang—!

throughout the battlefield, as the ringing metallic sound lingered in the air for a

Bang—!

against the side of the tower. Fine miniature crevices began to spread around the area I crashed as I spat saliva

"Kuhk"

I looked down and found blood lingering by the thumb

Although the demon was also sent back during our previous exchange, for anyone that witnessed our exchange, they would've been able to

the hairband on my air and letting my hair loose, I started

'Enough playing.'

again, wiping the side of my mouth, a subtle green glow enveloped the bottom

reappeared a couple of meters away

attack pattern and what worked against it. Although I did suffer quite a bit during

front of the demon, three rings revolved

time to end

—Bang!

as the momentum I had pressured me forward, but I had a solution. Pointing with my finger forward, one disc appeared

air, my foot softly touched the left ring before I tensed

the demon could react, I was already upon it.

powerful wave of mana suddenly burst out from

"Huuup!"

low cry, rather than using the Keiki style, I simply unsheathed my sword and swung upwards. This was no regular swing,

I used its gravitational pull effect and changed the course of the swing. Since

"Puchi!"

poured down from above, creating

at the demon's immobile and upright body. Leaning forward

Thud—!

'lifeless' body on the ground, I was not fooled. Since the core was not destroyed, the demon

sheathing back my sword in my scabbard, I walked up to its body and once again pierced my arm

into soft powder before it was blown

rubbing my chest, which had somewhat swollen, I let

can't

I found that the

looked as though the second

the right side of my mouth, I decided to

fight and needed to go back

***

from Waylan, who stood opposite, disappointment flashed the

attack is also a

a ferocious black ball levitated on top of

Kracka! Kracka!

lightning crackled around the energy ball as circular waves of pressurized wind began to spread out throughout the surroundings, creating strong

a car slowly started to compress together before

losing, I might as well even the playing field

WIIIIIING—!

before it. He had

was just going to

around it brightened considerably. Right after, the

"Uaaghh!"

at the top of his lungs, Waylan cut diagonally. From the bottom right

"You annoying fucker!"

not happy with this new development as it glared at Waylan. Then, extending its

Fwuap—!

the demon appeared a hundred meters away from Waylan. Outside of the striking zone of the

it was then

out of Waylan's body. The veins

The broadsword once again lengthened, this

"You!"

time. Staring at the incoming attack, the demon had no choice but to discard its previous plans and slapped the palm that contained the ball of energy towards the incoming attack. Soon, the two forces