The Author's POV

In a large and wide corridor, footsteps echoed.

"Do you think it was the right idea to just let him go like that?"

Kevin asked, while he turned to face Amanda who was running next to him. Before she could answer, he raised his sword and slashed toward his right.

SHIIIING!

"Huek!"

The body of a demon split in half.

"Yes."

Amanda nodded. Taking out her bow, she brought the string back as three arrows formed on the bow.

Clang—!

Letting go of the string, the arrows shot toward the distance and impaled three nearby demons.

"Since he's recovered his mana, he should have no trouble protecting himself, and…"

Lowering the bow in her hand, Amanda proceeded to head deeper into the corridor.

"…he's not exactly alone."

***

Ba…Thump! Ba…Thump!

Feeling the demon's hollow gaze pause on me, my heartbeat started to rapidly increase and my breathing also became more difficult.

My back began to sweat when the demon once again began to raise his hand.

'Well, shit…'

I thought to myself as the Duke ranked demon slowly brought his hand down.

But…

A figure materialized behind the demon as his hand was halfway down and attacked him from behind.

Spurt—!

The demon began spraying black blood on the ground, and I noticed an enchanting figure standing behind him.

Her hand was currently reaching out for the demon's orb that was now visible to the naked eye, through a gaping hole in his chest area.

"Took you long enough."

I muttered with a smile and supported my body up.

'Thank god our plan worked.'

It was clear from the moment I decided to save Liam that I would not be able to defeat a Duke ranked demon with my current capabilities. Even if it was weakened and I had Liam's help. I still saw no way to defeat it.

Thus.

into a ring like usual,

I was able to get Liam to push the demon toward the pillar where Angelica sat

plan, and

Bang—!

Angelica's body being swung to the other side of the room, before crashing into one of the pillars as a loud banging sound

later, my

Drip—! Drip—!

the demon's chest as he held onto his

into his body, and

'…how is this possible?'

I thought in shock.

exposed like that, he was able to move his body and force Angelica out of his way

alternated my gaze between Liam and Angelica. They were currently both still alive, but

especially true for Liam who was bleeding profusely and a

knew that I had to

that the demon wasn't in the best condition at the moment.

weaker his attacks became. I understood then that he was on the

fighting using the last shreds of

less, then he would without a

Angelica and Liam's condition, mana erupted from my body as I placed my hand on

"Now!"

I turned to glance at

the hilt of a black sword,

Click—

servant's figure disappeared from the spot and reappeared right in

third movement of the [Keiki

Bang—!

spite of the extreme speed at which he appeared and attacked, the demon didn't seem to

area, completely severing the servant into two. He soon

"Ugh."

I pressed my sword's hilt with my thumb and carefully took a

'Good enough.'

I sent the shadow servant toward the demon, the goal was to stop it from healing and buy me enough time to accumulate enough

last and most powerful movement

the [Keiki style]

Cr..crack…crack…

suddenly enveloped the surroundings as the space around the Duke ranked demon

the span of half a second, and it wasn't long before fissures formed next to the demon, and

"Huek!"

impaled the demon's body, and even more black blood started to spill on

not as injured, he may have been able to easily avoid my attacks, but he wasn't, and it wasn't long before his figure started looking like a porcupine

Drip—! Drip—!

the demon's body, a black pool of blood formed, before the white lights impairing him scattered and he collapsed

before the demon and

Crack—!

as Angelica, the moment I felt the core in my hand, I rapidly shattered it into pieces,

"Haaaa…."

I leaned back and heavily gulped

I

was a lot harder than I

everything I had to kill him. It also had to be noted that I had the assistance

'That was really close…'

my body, I turned to gaze in Liam's direction and

"Ugh."