The Author's POV

"Looks like I'm not too late, no?"

Brushing my hair back, I moved to where Liam was. In my right hand was a small silver sword. It was a spare sword that Kevin had handed me before separating from me.

"Just a little…"

Liam's words left me speechless. Especially after he took out an apple and started to take bites out of it.

While he took a bite of the apple, the juices from it spilled all over his fingers before falling onto the ground.

I shook my head when I saw this.

"Here."

I handed him a potion.

"I don't need it."

"Hm?"

Catching the potion, Liam threw it back to me. His actions surprised me as I blinked a couple of times, unable to fully understand why he rejected the potion when he was clearly not in a good state.

Seemingly being able to read my thoughts, Liam raised his hand and showed me the apple.

"You see, this isn't a normal apple."

Standing up, his broken foot magically started to twist and squirm. Within the span of a couple of seconds, his leg had completely healed and he lightly jumped in the air.

"See? I'm fine."

Liam threw what remained of the apple on the floor and turned to gaze in the direction of where the demon was.

I did too.

"…Another intruder?"

Unfortunately, my surprise attack didn't seem to have had much of an impact on the demon, as he appeared to be completely unscathed.

The situation was made worse by his apparent anger, as his face twisted savagely and a powerful force enveloped the scene. Currently, we were standing in a small hall, with tall pillars supporting the ceiling.

A smoky and iron-like scent lingered in the air.

"Not bad…not bad…"

The demon spat through his clenched teeth as he alternated his gaze between Liam and I. Then, looking toward the other demons present in the room, he finally noticed something.

"Dead…"

The aura that was revolving around his body fluctuated slightly.

A thin smile spread across my face when I noticed this.

'I was right to kill the others first.'

It had been quite a bit since I had arrived here, and during the time that I was here, I spent my time killing all the demons that were in the room.

None of the demons in the room were that strong, but they still posed a liability that could cause trouble in the middle of the fight, which was why I decided to kill them before saving Liam.

'The others should also be attracting the attention of the other high-ranked demons…'

I knew that they would attract the attention of a Marquis ranked demon, and in turn, stop any reinforcements from coming

that he really needed any since he was already a lot stronger than Liam and

"Where is everyone?"

the correct one as the Duke ranked

was right at this moment that I exchanged glances with

'Let's go.'

was even before we spoke as mana erupted from my body and

[Shadow Servant]

beneath my feet, and I propelled

Crackle. Crackle.

same time, lighting crackled around Liam's body, and his figure vanished from the spot, before reappearing

hand, he slashed toward the

SHIIING—!

my hand

[Keiki style] :

Click—!

as mine

Clang—! Clang—!

I, the only thing we heard after our attacks landed was

shocked to see the Duke rank demon blocking both of our attacks with just an arm. Or, to be more precise, his bones, as he didn't seem to have any muscles in

do you think

sinister and aged voice echoed throughout the place as his red pupils glared in

the two of us back, as

anything and just flapped his wings

so fast that by the time I had activated Eyes of Chronos he was already

'Shit.'

cursed to myself as my heart tightened and cold sweat dripped down my

a Duke ranked demon in spite of the fact that it was

the demon was still leagues above my

'Fucking Liam.'

did he even think he could fight against a Duke ranked demon? He was worse

for even one second, I

situation I found myself in, I noticed what looked like a sword tip heading for the Duke's

'Fast.'

thought as I stared at the moving

lot slower than it was supposed to be. For the

sword was a couple of inches away from the demon's temple, I noticed the demon's eyes

he was now trying to defend

to be too fast for the demon to stop,

normal and I saw

Bang—!

"Haaa…haaa…"

appeared next to me as he supported his body with both knees and heavily gulped

'What just happened?'

thought to myself as I stared in Liam's direction with eyes full

Liam

right at this moment, he seemed a lot stronger than he was since I had

"You broke through?"

I noticed the pressure coming from Liam's body, at

me, as I just speechlessly looked

he break through in

How monstrous.

"Haaa…haaa…yeah."

his sword on the floor and facing the