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.

dodging actions. Instead, its sharp and sturdy nails swiftly danced around as none of

meet the demon's claws, they would be violently repelled back, creating an

Clang—! Clang—!

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

Bang—!

backward, I crashed against the side of the tower. Fine miniature crevices began to spread

"Kuhk"

looked down and

me. Although the demon was also sent back during our previous exchange, for anyone that witnessed our exchange, they

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

'Enough playing.'

mouth, a subtle green glow enveloped the

blurred, and I reappeared a couple of meters away from the demon, much to its

figure out the demon's attack pattern and what worked against it. Although I did suffer quite a bit during our

front of the demon,

was now time to

—Bang!

the demon's attacking range, I stomped my foot on the ground and tried to stop my body from fully entering it. But this wasn't enough as the momentum I had pressured me forward, but I had a solution. Pointing with my finger forward, one disc appeared towards my left and another towards my right, a bit further from the second

in the air, my foot softly touched the left ring before I tensed my leg and shot towards the

was already upon it. The demon's face finally changed, but it was

of mana suddenly burst out from my

"Huuup!"

using the Keiki style, I simply unsheathed my sword and swung upwards. This was

its gravitational pull effect and changed the course of the swing. Since I was already going fast, the demon was unable to

"Puchi!"

above, creating a misty

immobile and upright body. Leaning forward slightly, the demon's body fell heavily towards the ground

Thud—!

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

my scabbard, I walked up to its body and once again pierced my arm through its body and removed the

powder before it was blown away by the

which had somewhat

I can't fight

head, much to my relief, I found that the fight in the distance was slowly showing signs of

though the second wave

mouth, I decided to move upstairs to the

longer in the condition to fight

***

from Waylan, who stood opposite, disappointment flashed the Marquis ranked demon as it looked

attack is also

swirl around the demon's hands. Following this, a ferocious black ball levitated on top of its palm.

Kracka! Kracka!

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

which had become the size of a car

we're losing, I might as well

WIIIIIING—!

Waylan suddenly appeared before it. He had not been staying still when

to

the golden glow around it brightened considerably. Right after,

"Uaaghh!"

Waylan cut diagonally. From the bottom

"You annoying fucker!"

as it glared at

Fwuap—!

hundred meters away from Waylan. Outside of the striking

was then that

about to miss, steam slowly expanded out of Waylan's body. The veins on his

shot out from his body before it directly converged with the broadsword in his hand. The broadsword once again lengthened, this time, a lot more than before. The weight of the sword

"You!"

the demon was unable to react in 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