The Author's POV

'I won't bother creating a signal for you. I'm sure you'll know best when using the arrow, but… don't use it unless you're certain it's going to hit… I trust you'll know the exact moment when to release the arrow, and you only have one shot, so… make sure it counts…'

Standing at the top of the building with her empty bow drawn, Amanda kept reminding herself of the words that Ren had thrown at her just moments before leaving for one of the Pillars.

Right before her very eyes, a battle of a scale that she couldn't fathom was happening, and all she could do was stare at it with her breath held tightly.

'How am I supposed to interfere in that?'

Amanda kept wondering to herself the same thing over and over again as sweat trickled down the side of her face and her grip on the bow tightened.

BANG—! BANG—! The aftermath of their battle reached all the way where she was, and a strong wind pressure blew past her, scattering her hair away. She had to channel her mana on her feet in order to remain in the same spot, and when everything cleared up, she noticed a sudden change in the battle ahead.

"Oh, no…"

Amanda's heart clenched at the sight of Ren getting pummeled by the Demon King, who punched him directly in the face and tore the earth beneath the two.

Immediately, the circular projections behind her started to line up—from largest to smallest—and her entire body started to tremble.

She was just about to call forth her arrow when she was once again reminded of Ren's words, and she stopped herself.

'Not yet…'

The time wasn't ripe yet, and she knew it.

BANG—! Seeing Jezebeth punch him again, Amanda flinched but didn't look away and kept her gaze fixed on him. More than ever, she wanted to interfere, but she stopped herself again and silently clenched her teeth.

With another hit, Amanda watched as the Demon King placed his hand over Ren's face, exposing his back to her. Shortly after, a familiar set of golden runes manifested on his hand.

The same happened to Ren, whose face became colored in golden runes that slowly moved away from his face and moved to the Demon King's hand. The world around them started to twist.

Rather quickly, Ren's body started to shrivel up like a mummy, and Amanda could no longer sit still.

Placing her foot forward, she drew a silent breath, and an arrow manifested on her bow. Immediately after the arrow appeared, soft whispers echoed in the air, and golden runes floated around the area she was in.

Her bow became increasingly heavy, and Amanda felt her entire body burn at that moment as she watched her hands age. Even so, despite the pain she was experiencing, her gaze was fixed on Jezebeth's exposed back.

At the same time this was happening, Ren's body started to shrivel up more and more, and right when he seemed to be on the verge of dying, Amanda finally let go of the string.

TWAAAA—!

She was unable to recall exactly what occurred after that, but the moment she let go of the string, her bow disintegrated into a fine powder that dispersed in front of her, and the world around her became entirely white.

What followed after was a strange silence that seemed to envelop the entire world. The world soon regained its color, but…

that right as that happened, her world turned white and she felt

Thump—!

***

TWAAANG—!

felt a sharp pain in his back. His entire body shook violently, and pain, unlike anything he had ever experienced, coursed through every part of

"Y,you…"

he saw Ren staring at him while smiling weakly. With both hands on his forearms, a glow emanated

"Akh."

all of the energy from within his

started to become fuller and

'I can't…'

worked hard for slip before his very eyes, Jezebeth raised

lot, and his head throbbed, but the pain

for nothing, and he felt

"Ah… ah!"

Thump! Thump!

himself from

"Haaa… haaa…"

he tried his best to channel whatever energy he had left inside of his body, but much to his horror, he realized that

from the direction opposite him, Jezebeth looked up to see Ren wobbling toward

having taken his energy, he too looked rather weak, and with both hands hung low, he moved to where

Jezebeth clenched his teeth

despite everything that he was feeling, he continued to move toward him

and they both threw a fist at each other. Both hits landed squarely

retrieved their fists and punched at each other

BANG—!

moment, the fight had taken a complete

races, everyone looked in their direction

visibly weaker than they were before, none dared to make a single move as they continued to stare

the victor of the fight would

exchanged blow after blow. When Jezebeth landed a hit, so would

on the other in spite of the fact that their punches were getting sloppier and slower with the passage of time.

"Uakh!"

Exchanging blows, the two of them stumbled backward, and just as Jezebeth was about to move again, he suddenly felt his back burst with pain, and his movements halted for a split

was all Ren needed to rush forward and headbutt him squarely in

Thump—!

found that he no longer had the energy to do so, and as he moved his head up, he saw a foot land squarely on his face,

"Urkh."

that moment on as he blankly

was broken, and the energy in his body had long faded

his former self, and realizing his own