The Author's POV

"Oof."

Liam felt his arm go numb as something struck them. He was barely able to react in time, and he felt himself being thrown toward the ground at an alarmingly rapid rate. The speed at which he was traveling was terrifying.

Boom—!

Just before he touched the ground, lightning crackled around him, and he was just barely able to twist his body and position himself in a way that helped him land on his feet rather than on his back.

Bang—!

The ground began to crack beneath him, and rocks began to fly past him.

'That was close.'

He thought, looking up at the bulky figure that the Pillar Mater of the House of Gluttony was.

After only a few encounters with her, he realized that he was no match for her. Without a doubt, she was one of the most powerful individuals he had ever faced.

Even so…

Bringing his hand toward his shirt, Liam clenched it and felt the beat of his heart.

Ba...Thump! Ba...Thump!

It was beating wildly.

Cracka. Cracka.

As lightning exploded all around him, he could feel excitement coursing through his entire body, and his grip on his sword became increasingly firm.

Boom—!

Another explosion went off above him, and the elven queen suddenly materialized directly above the Pillar Master. She had a complicated magic circle materialize on the top of her palm at the same time.

It glowed a green hue.

The surroundings started to twist, and long and thick vines erupted out of the magic circle, flooding the surroundings. The momentum carried all the way toward Princess Adephagia, who gazed at it with a serious expression.

She, too, couldn't take it lightly.

The attack was strong, and even Liam felt troubled by it.

But just as he thought the attack would land, Princess Adephagia suddenly opened her mouth.

WOOOOM—! As if there were a powerful vacuum inside of her mouth, the vines abruptly changed their direction and headed directly for her mouth as she swallowed them all at once.

"…"

The scene left Liam stunned. The sight... It most definitely wasn't the most pleasing to look at.

He was only able to concentrate on the scene for a short period of time before he became aware that the power that emanated from the Princess's body was beginning to increase.

"Not bad."

The Princess muttered, her gaze turning toward Liam.

'Not good!'

Craka! Cracka!

Immediately, Liam's expression changed as the lightning around him crackled even more fiercely, and he took two steps to the side.

all of a sudden, the area where he had been standing

down Liam's face as he gazed in the direction of where he previously stood before looking up at

were able to

echoed

voice, Liam's expression changed, and he pressed his

"Wait."

her hand on his shoulder just as he

"Don't attack."

was aware in advance who it was that had arrived

his head, he

"Why?"

you're not

materialized once more. This time, it was a lot more complicated than the previous one, and the

where she was, and opened her mouth as if

reaction didn't

Haven't you noticed

pointed out while looking at Maylin with

was she doing it again? Did she really think that a more powerful attack was

"I know."

like Maylin was unaware

"Then…"

"I'm just buying time."

"For?"

"For you."

as if it were

"Huh?"

her words, and he

She explained further.

chance to leave. I'll buy you as much time as

"Oh."

head, completely misinterpreting her

she wants me to leave, and attack her from upfront… thankfully, she's

"I see."

good that you

Liam's nods, Maylin smiled, and the magic circle before her burst with power and headed directly for the demoness who was still

that the attack was headed in her direction, opened her mouth, and the

"Go!"

the

Cracka! Cracka!

figure blurred on the

so fast that even Maylin was unable to tell where he had

"This bastard!"

behind the demoness, Liam thrust his sword at

the sword cracked and twisted, and

the Princess, who was halfway

Spurt!

land on her body, and a large gash appeared on the side of her abdomen. Black blood leaked down, and the Princess's

cared, as lightning crackled around him, and he appeared right behind her,

in

Maylin while thrusting his sword at her armpit. He wasn't as lucky as

to twist, and his sword bent to the

"huh? ...I missed?"

going to miss, the demoness

but he wasn't lucky enough to dodge her leg, which hit

Bang—!

"Ukh."

few paces, but before he even had a chance to catch his breath, as if something were sucking him in, he felt his body move, and before he knew