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…'

core of the mana compressor, I knew that they would

he really needed any since he was already a lot stronger

"Where is everyone?"

decision proved to be the correct one as the

was right at this moment

'Let's go.'

what our task was even before we spoke as mana erupted from my body and a dark

[Shadow Servant]

a black disc formed beneath my

Crackle. Crackle.

around Liam's body, and his figure vanished

hand, he

SHIIING—!

on the other hand, pressed my hand against

movement of the [Keiki style] :

Click—!

mine and Liam's attack

Clang—! Clang—!

much to the disappointment of Liam and I, the only thing we heard after

demon blocking both of our attacks with just an arm. Or, to be more

you think

voice echoed throughout the place as his red pupils

pressure suddenly sprang out from his body, forcing the two of us back, as the wings on his back expanded, casting a large shadow over the

his teeth, the Duke ranked demon didn't say anything and just flapped his wings once. His figure disappeared from the spot before reappearing right in front

so fast that by the time I had activated Eyes of Chronos he was already a couple of inches away from my face,

'Shit.'

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

in spite

strength rapidly declining, the demon

'Fucking Liam.'

the world did he even think he could fight against a Duke ranked demon? He was worse than Kevin when it

even one second, I could

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

'Fast.'

stared

it was supposed to be. For the sword

away from the demon's temple, I noticed the demon's eyes

longer aiming to hit me, but rather, he was now trying to defend himself from Liam's sudden attack. Apparently, it wasn't something

too fast for the demon to stop, and

returned to normal and I

Bang—!

"Haaa…haaa…"

happened, Liam appeared next to me as he supported his body with both knees and

'What just happened?'

as I stared in

when has Liam

I had fought him, our strength was rather similar, however, right at this moment, he seemed a lot stronger than he was since I had

"You broke through?"

Liam's body, at that moment, I realized

on me, as I just speechlessly

only one week has passed. Did he break through in that

How monstrous.

"Haaa…haaa…yeah."

head before placing his sword on the floor and