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.

those useless dodging actions. Instead, its sharp and sturdy nails swiftly danced around as none of my attacks were able

violently repelled back, creating an opportunity

Clang—! Clang—!

metal being exchanged sounded throughout the battlefield, as the ringing metallic sound lingered in the air for a while after each

Bang—!

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

"Kuhk"

down and found blood lingering by the thumb area

my eyes locked onto the demon opposite to me. Although the demon was also sent back during our previous exchange, for anyone that witnessed our exchange, they would've been able to

air and letting my hair loose,

'Enough playing.'

of my mouth, a subtle green glow

reappeared a couple of meters away from the demon, much

to figure out the demon's attack pattern and what worked against it. Although I did suffer

of the demon, three rings revolved around

time to

—Bang!

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,

ring before I tensed my leg and shot towards the right

the demon could react, I was already upon it. The demon's face finally changed,

powerful wave of mana suddenly burst out from

"Huuup!"

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

about to block the attack, using my last remaining ring, I used its gravitational pull effect and

"Puchi!"

down from above, creating a misty rain of

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

Thud—!

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

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

turned into soft powder before it was blown away by the winds

rubbing my chest, which had somewhat swollen, I let out

I can't fight

that the fight in the distance was slowly showing

as though the second wave was coming to

of my mouth, I

was no longer in the condition to fight

***

its body from Waylan, who stood opposite, disappointment flashed the Marquis ranked demon

attack is

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

Kracka! Kracka!

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

the size of a car

well even the playing field

WIIIIIING—!

the demon was about to attack below, Waylan suddenly appeared before it. He had not been staying still

wasn't like he was just going to let the demon do as it

the broadsword, the golden glow around it brightened considerably. Right after,

"Uaaghh!"

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

"You annoying fucker!"

demon was obviously not happy with this new development as it glared at Waylan.

Fwuap—!

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

then that

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

hand. The broadsword once again lengthened, this time, a lot more than before.

"You!"

at the incoming attack, the demon had no choice but to discard