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.

area where

as he gazed in the direction of where he previously stood before looking up at the Princess, who was

able to dodge

soft, echoed powerfully in

Liam's expression changed, and he

"Wait."

and put her hand on his shoulder just as he was about to make a move. It was

"Don't attack."

aware in advance who it was that had arrived beside him, and as a

his head,

"Why?"

you're not

the elven queen extended her hand in front of her, a magical circle materialized once more. This time, it was a lot more complicated

Princess maintained her position in the air, where she was, and opened her mouth as if she were waiting

didn't

noticed that she

looking at Maylin with a

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

"I know."

didn't seem like Maylin was

"Then…"

"I'm just buying time."

"For?"

"For you."

it were the

"Huh?"

her words, and he looked

She explained further.

here. I'll attack her, and you can take that chance to leave. I'll buy

"Oh."

head,

leave, and attack her

"I see."

that

with power and headed directly for the demoness who was

in her direction, opened her mouth, and the

"Go!"

attacked, Maylin pushed Liam from the back, and lightning started to

Cracka! Cracka!

figure blurred on the spot and disappeared

was so fast that even Maylin was unable to tell where he had gone. When she managed

"This bastard!"

right behind the demoness, Liam thrust his

and twisted, and a powerful hue

he had ever thrown, and the Princess, who was halfway through digesting the force

Spurt!

was still able to land on her body, and a large gash appeared on the side of her abdomen.

him, and he appeared right behind her, sword thrust directly

core is in her left

said to Maylin while thrusting his sword at

him started to

"huh? ...I missed?"

it became clear that his attack was going to miss, the demoness turned

to react in time and dodge her large hand, but he wasn't lucky enough to dodge

Bang—!

"Ukh."

sucking him in, he felt his