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…'

was already in close proximity to me, and

was not something I

the [Keiki Style]

Click―!

front of me… just a few inches away from my nose, and I felt sweat trickle

came to a stop, and after a short while, the hand shattered right in front of my eyes in the form of golden particles, at which point I was

had a surprised look on his face

"Haa…ha… haa…hhaaa…"

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

took just to stop that one attack was anything but

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

"Sh..hhaaa…it…haaa"

That…

everything

was able to unleash an attack that was far more powerful than what I'd normally be

"Haa… Haaa…"

stream of liquid gushing into my body. Instantaneously, both the rhythm of my breath and the mana

have several

hurt to

you managed to

did not immediately launch another attack after the previous one. At this point in time, he seemed more interested in my abilities than anything

but there is no doubt that you will eventually develop the same level

"Again, with that?"

glance in Waylan's direction. Channeling the mana within my body, the pain

not interested? Why don't you understand

stepped forward

Clink―!

a small barrier appeared

proceeded with another slash and then another slash after that. I was able to sense an increase in both the speed

"This is…"

changed for some unexplainable reason, and the space around

of his actions, but I

Clink―! Clink―!

space of a few seconds, and by the time I had reached the thirty-first movement, the space

'Almost…'

my teeth

was only a few slashes

was close… so

Bank―!

"Huh?!"

came to a

barrier and grabbed hold of my blade. His face, which had shown only minute shifts in appearance since the last

"This… This sword art…"

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

clarity that

'Oh, shit.'

sword the moment he reached out for it, but it was as if an invisible force had wrapped itself around it, and I was

He gently stroked his face with his other hand, following the line of

"…I'm sure of it."

away from the sword and turned to