Chapter 60

As I took a big step forward to help the unconscious Rea and Rose,

"Wait, Allen!"

The president immediately grabbed my hand.

"With that arm, you can't fight properly. I understand how you feel, but you need to calm down for a moment!"

Only then did I realize my own condition.

My right hand, which was so badly injured that I couldn't even hold a spoon.

In this state, I couldn't fight properly.

"Phew..."

I exhaled deeply to cool my heated head.

"...President, thank you."

"Don't worry about it."

She said this in a gentle voice and then directed a sharp gaze at the giant in front of her.

"...You must be Zak Bonbar, right? I heard you've been missing for a few years, but I never thought you'd join the Black Organization..."

"Oh? How nice, you know me too?"

"As a member of the Arcstria family, it's only natural. ...Still, to allow such a big catch to intrude... What are the border guards doing...?"

The president said this with a bitter expression and then asked another question.

"---So, what's your purpose? Are you planning to burn down another Holy Knight branch like before?"

"Hahaha! Not bad, but today I'm here on business. I've come to kidnap that little girl, Rea Vestaria."

Saying this, Zak turned his gaze to Rea, who was lying on the ground.

"Rea...? And 'business' means it's related to the Black Organization, right?"

"Damn right! If I do a good job, I can become 'Sparkly'! Not just a dull light, but a much more brilliant one!"

"...'Sparkly'?"

As the president continued to talk with Zak,

"Don't move! You're the thug we were informed about, right!?"

"You're coming with us to the Holy Knight Association!"

"Citizens! This area is dangerous, please leave immediately!"

Over thirty Holy Knights instantly surrounded Zak.

"Hehe, you're quick."

The president smiled in satisfaction, having apparently been buying time with her conversation.

Sure enough, she made a calm judgment.

"---Holy Knights, I've been waiting for you. I'll take the lead, so please provide support."

She said this to the Holy Knights while keeping Zak in her sight.

"You, what are you saying...!? Ah, Miss Arcstria!?"

The moment they realized she was a prominent figure from the government and the Arcstria family,

"Yes, sir! All units, provide support to Miss Arcstria!"

"Hai!"

The Holy Knights immediately saluted and followed her orders.

"Thank you. And, could I have a sword?"

"Of course! Here you go!"

A Holy Knight drew his sword from his belt and respectfully handed it to the president.

Thus, the president quickly obtained a weapon and prepared for battle, pointing the blade at Zak.

"---Surrender quietly, Zak Bonbar. Higher Holy Knights and the deans of the Five Academies will arrive soon. There's no chance for you to win, not even a sliver."

Then,

"Deans, you mean that 'Black Fist'...! Hahaha, I can't wait to see how 'Sparkly' he is...!"

Whatever he was imagining, he twisted his mouth in a sloppy grin.

"Hmm... It doesn't seem like we can have a proper conversation."

The president muttered this briefly.

"---Hey, are you 'Sparkly'?"

In an instant, Zak had taken a position behind the president, already raising a giant sword high into the sky.

"...What!?"

"President, get out of the way!"

I warned her instinctively, but it was a bit too late.

"---<Cataclysmic Flame Circle>!"

A massive explosion of flames erupted centered on him.

The shockwave destroyed the surrounding buildings, and the intense heat scorched the road.

"Kyaa!?"

The president, blown away by the flames, hit the back of her head and lost consciousness.

"Ugh, gah..."

"It, it hurts... It hurts..."

"Y, you monster..."

The Holy Knights, who had boasted such numbers, were reduced to a state of devastation in just one blow.

"Is, is this real...?"

He displayed an overwhelming, incomparable power.

"Hahaha! None of you are 'Sparkly' enough!"

His laughter echoed through the scorched earth of Oriana Street.

After mocking the president and the others for a while,

"Here we go!"

He picked up the unconscious Rea and started walking away.

I watched this scene as if it were happening in a distant world.

(Why... did it come to this?)

Today was supposed to be a busy but enjoyable day, led by the free-spirited president.

As the sun began to set, I was supposed to take the president back to her mansion, then return to the dorm to have dinner with Rea, and finally, when the time was right, sleep together in the same bed.

(I was supposed to have a normal, happy day...)

Why did it end up like this?

"...Hey, wait."

"Hmm...?"

Responding to my mutter, Zak slowly turned around.

I could see blood dripping from Rea's shoulder, which he was carrying under his arm.

"..."

The anger I had suppressed earlier began to bubble up from deep within me.

"...Give her back."

"What did you say?"

"...Give me... Rea back!"

I borrowed a sword from an unconscious Holy Knight and gripped it firmly with my bandaged right hand.

"..."

A sharp pain shot through me for a moment, but it quickly disappeared.

"---Wooooo!"

I charged straight at Zak,

"Eight Blades---Eightfold Crow!"

I poured all my strength into a powerful strike.

Eight slashes from my hands, feet, head, neck, chest, and abdomen converged on his body.

"Hmm... Weak light... <Cataclysmic Flame Shield>"

With a light swing of his giant sword, a heavy shield of flames appeared.

The shield, a blinding red, instantly swallowed the eight slashes.

"What!?"

The output, which easily surpassed Rea's <Primordial Dragon King>.

As I was stunned by the power gap,

"Here you go!"

Zak followed up with a powerful front kick.

"Ugh, hah...!?"

A sickening crack echoed from my abdomen, and I was blown away.

"...Damn it."

The broken bones must have damaged my internal organs, as the taste of iron filled my mouth.

As my vision flickered, I managed to stand up.

"Wait...!"

"Ooooh, weak but tough! Hahaha!"

I ignored his mocking laughter,

"Give me... Rea back...!"

Despite my injuries, I charged again.

"Five Blades---Boundary Break!"

I gritted my teeth against the pain and swung the sword with all my might.

"Too slow... I'll be asleep before your sword reaches me... <Cataclysmic Flame Spear>!"

My vision was filled with flames.

"What...!?"

The sword I borrowed from the Holy Knight was split in two, and the scorching Cataclysmic Flame enveloped my entire body.

"Ugh...!?"

It was hot.

It was painful.

It was suffocating.

Unbearable pain coursed through my body.

But,

"I... won't... give up...!"

I didn't back down.

Despite being burned by the torrent of flames, I took a step forward.

(I will... take her back...! I won't let her be taken by this unreasonable guy...!)

The sword to cut him had already broken.

Still, I didn't give up, clenching my fist and taking another step forward.

"Hey, hey... Are you really human...? You'd die from this...?"

Through the relentless Cataclysmic Flame, I could barely see Zak's face.

(This is... my last chance...!)

I poured all my strength into a right straight punch, aiming for his face.

"Uooooo!"

"Hahaha! You have the spirit and endurance of a grown-up, but no real power! <Cataclysmic Flame Shield>!"

A massive shield of flames appeared in front of him,

"Ugh, gah...!?"

The intense flames burned my right hand.

(I won't... give up...! I can't end here...!)

I drew back my right hand again and threw another right straight at the flame shield.

"---Uuuuuuugh!"

At that moment, a dense 'black something' was born in my right hand.

The pitch-black darkness that overflowed from it easily devoured the flame shield.

"What the...!?"

The darkness continued its momentum, advancing to devour Zak.

"Guh, <Cataclysmic Flame Spear>!"

He instinctively threw Rea aside and unleashed the scorching Cataclysmic Flame.

The 'black' that devoured everything and the 'red' that burned everything collided fiercely.

"Uooooo!"

"What...? What is this ridiculous power...!?"

And then,

"Ngh, uuuuuuugh!"

The pitch-black darkness devoured his flames, and Zak, who was consumed by it, was blown away to a distant place.