The Author's POV

"I'm afraid I'll have to refuse once more."

I refused firmly, meeting Waylan's piercing gaze with a calm demeanor.

His face contorted, and I braced myself for the inevitable surge of power that was about to emanate from him.

Sure enough, the space around us began to distort, and the air crackled with energy. I could feel the pressure building up, suffocating me, until Waylan finally extended his hand in my direction.

"Very well. I guess there's no need for you to remain. Allow me to take your powers away."

I felt a strong force suddenly seize my entire body and drag me in the direction he was facing. The force that was surrounding my body caused my bones to crack, and my face began to distort under the pressure.

In spite of that…

"I'm good."

A white film suddenly erupted from within my body and covered every square inch of my skin, shattering the force that was encircling me at the time.

Golden runes and words floated around me at the same time, and I finally caught my breath again.

"Hm?"

My sudden actions seemed to surprise Waylan as he looked at me strangely.

I did not pay any attention to the expression on his face, and I quickly moved away from the area I was in. At the same time, I directed the demonic energy that was coursing through me all over my body, and I could feel my body beginning to transform.

Cr― Crack! I couldn't quite make out what was going on, but when scales started to form across my hands, and two wings started to shoot out from my back, I knew that the transformation had been successful.

That very moment, I felt my body burst with incredible power.

"How unpleasant."

Waylan's expression changed to one of abject revulsion as he witnessed my transformation. The manner in which he looked at me shifted even further, and he extended his hand to face my direction.

WOOOONG―! A colossal hand materialized out of nowhere in the form of a large projection, reaching around him and making its way in my direction.

'…It looks like I've underestimated him.'

I came prepared… I believed that I did, but as I watched the enormous hand coming toward me, I realized that I had grossly misjudged the power of a Protector.

Despite that…

"Ugh."

I reached out with my hand and took hold of my sword. As I continued to look at the enormous hand, I inhaled deeply and noticed that my body was undergoing yet another shift.

My muscles were rapidly expanding, and I felt a tremendous amount of energy rising up from the depths of my being.

"Huh."

The incredible pain that came along with the expansion of my muscles caused me to take a deep breath and hold it.

'It's fine… I'm already used to pain… this isn't anything new…'

it took for me to get ready, the hand was already in close proximity to me, and I felt

not something

fourth movement of the [Keiki Style] : World

Click―!

sound, the hand came to a sudden stop in front of me… just a few inches away from my nose, and I felt sweat trickle down the

my eyes in the form of golden particles, at which point I was finally able to

had a surprised look on his

"Haa…ha… haa…hhaaa…"

hand, I was having a tough time with it. My chest was on fire,

that my body took just to

I focused my attention on the serene figure of Waylan off in the distance, I cursed under my

"Sh..hhaaa…it…haaa"

That…

took everything

unleash an attack that was far more powerful than what I'd normally be able to release, but… the mana

"Haa… Haaa…"

teeth, which resulted in a stream of liquid gushing into my body. Instantaneously, both the rhythm of my breath and the mana that circulated throughout

thing I have several

hurt to be prepared

managed

one. At this point in time, he

you absolutely certain that you don't want to join us? You may currently be weak, but there is no doubt that you

"Again, with that?"

Waylan's direction. Channeling

tell you that I'm not interested? Why don't you understand that

stepped forward and

Clink―!

slash was rendered ineffective as it stopped mere inches from Waylan's face as a small barrier

slash and then another slash after that. I was able to sense an increase in

"This is…"

changed for some unexplainable reason, and the space around him

of his actions, but

Clink―! Clink―!

in the space of a few seconds, and by the time I had reached

'Almost…'

my teeth

I was only a few slashes away from breaking

was close…

Bank―!

"Huh?!"

came to

His face, which had shown

"This… This sword art…"

heaved up and down in an uneven manner, he appeared to be having difficulty finding the appropriate words to express

any trace of the tranquility and clarity that had previously been in his eyes; instead, he appeared

'Oh, shit.'

but it was as if an invisible force had wrapped itself around it, and I was unable to

sword, his face contorted into an incredibly repulsive expression. He gently stroked his face with his other hand, following

"…I'm sure of it."

the sword and