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.

ring like usual, and dropped her

with Liam, I was able to get Liam to push the demon toward the pillar where

plan, and things should've

Bang—!

being swung to the other side of the room, before crashing into one of the pillars as a loud banging sound echoed

later,

Drip—! Drip—!

spilling from the

then pushed it into his body,

'…how is this possible?'

I thought in shock.

was able to move his body and force Angelica out of his way before hiding the core

eyes wide, I alternated my gaze between Liam and Angelica. They were currently both still

was especially true for Liam who was bleeding profusely and a small pool of

I had

wasn't in the best condition at the moment. He was currently in a weakened state as he was healing from

to notice that the longer the time passed, the weaker his attacks became. I understood then

the last shreds of life energy inside of

less, then he would without a doubt die without

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

"Now!"

I turned to glance

the shadow servant pressed his hand against the hilt of a black sword, and the mana inside of my body started to rapidly

Click—

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

movement of the [Keiki style] :

Bang—!

in front of the demon, the shadow servant stabbed his sword right where the demon's core was. Unfortunately, in spite of the extreme speed at which he appeared and attacked, the demon didn't seem to be the slightest bit

the shadow servant right in the abdomen area, completely severing the servant into two.

"Ugh."

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

'Good enough.'

toward the demon, the goal was to stop it from healing and buy me enough time to accumulate enough mana

last and most powerful

of the [Keiki style] :

Cr..crack…crack…

as the space around the Duke ranked demon started to crack

it wasn't long before fissures formed next to the demon, and lights

"Huek!"

body, and even more black

helpless screams echoed out. Had the demon been in the right state of mind, and 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 as a myriad

Drip—! Drip—!

blood formed, before the white lights impairing him scattered and he collapsed

advantage of this moment, I rapidly appeared before the demon and reached out for

Crack—!

the core in my hand, I rapidly shattered it into pieces, and the

"Haaaa…."

my butt, I leaned back and heavily

burning, and I

a lot

had made in order to handle the Duke-ranked demon, it took everything I had to kill him. It also had to be noted that I had the assistance of both Liam and

'That was really close…'

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

"Ugh."