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.

just moved when, all of a sudden, the area where

where he previously stood before looking up at the Princess, who was

were able to

echoed

voice, Liam's expression changed, and he pressed his hand against his sword, ready to

"Wait."

put her hand on his shoulder just as he was about to make a

"Don't attack."

aware in advance who it was that had arrived beside him, and as a result, he was not surprised by her sudden

head, he

"Why?"

you're not strong

hand in front of her, a magical circle materialized once more. This time, it was a lot more complicated than the previous one, and the

the air, where she was, and opened her mouth as if she were waiting

reaction didn't go

are you doing? Haven't you noticed that she can absorb your

out while looking at Maylin

did it, so why was she doing it again? Did she really

"I know."

it didn't seem like Maylin was

"Then…"

"I'm just buying time."

"For?"

"For you."

if it

"Huh?"

taken aback by her words, and he looked

She explained further.

can take that chance to leave. I'll buy you as much

"Oh."

head, completely misinterpreting

me to leave, and attack her from upfront… thankfully, she's not

"I see."

that you

Liam's nods, Maylin smiled, and the magic circle before her burst with power and

Adephagia, upon realizing that the attack was headed in her direction, opened her mouth, and the attack ended up landing

"Go!"

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

Cracka! Cracka!

figure blurred on the spot

where he had gone. When she managed to spot him again,

"This bastard!"

the demoness, Liam thrust his sword at

twisted, and

attack was unlike any he had ever thrown, and the Princess, who was halfway through digesting the force of Maylin's attack, could only turn her body to

Spurt!

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

cared, as lightning crackled around him, and he appeared right behind her, sword thrust directly at her

is in her

to Maylin while thrusting his sword at her armpit.

him, the moment he appeared behind her, the very air around him started to twist, and his sword bent to the side and his attack

"huh? ...I missed?"

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

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

Bang—!

"Ukh."

his breath, as if something were sucking him in, he felt his body move, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of