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…'

others who went for the core of the mana compressor, I knew that they would attract the attention of a Marquis ranked demon, and in turn, stop any reinforcements from

needed any since he was already a lot

"Where is everyone?"

one as the Duke ranked demon seemed taken aback by the

this moment

'Let's go.'

task was even before we spoke as mana erupted from my body and a dark shadow appeared beside

[Shadow Servant]

a step forward, a black disc formed beneath my

Crackle. Crackle.

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

hand, he slashed toward

SHIIING—!

pressed my hand against the hilt of

of the [Keiki

Click—!

as mine and Liam's attack landed simultaneously on the Duke

Clang—! Clang—!

the disappointment of Liam and 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,

do you

sinister and aged voice echoed throughout the place

pressure suddenly sprang out from his body, forcing the two of us back, as the wings on his

the Duke ranked demon didn't say anything and just flapped his wings once. His figure disappeared from the spot

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

'Shit.'

cursed to myself as my heart tightened

should've known better not to challenge a Duke ranked demon in spite of the

rapidly declining, the

'Fucking Liam.'

think he could fight against a Duke ranked

for even one second, I could kiss goodbye

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

'Fast.'

stared at

had to be noted that currently, time was flowing a lot slower than it was supposed to be. For the sword to be moving at the pace that it was…it could only

couple of inches away from the demon's temple, I noticed the demon's eyes slowly moving

rather, he was now trying to defend himself from Liam's sudden attack. Apparently, it wasn't

fast for the demon to stop, and it

and I saw the demon's body

Bang—!

"Haaa…haaa…"

appeared next to me as he supported his

'What just happened?'

stared in Liam's direction

when has Liam become so

similar, however, right at this moment, he seemed a lot stronger

"You broke through?"

pressure coming from Liam's body, at that moment,

me, as I

he break through in that short

How monstrous.

"Haaa…haaa…yeah."

before placing his sword on the floor and facing the direction of