Chapter 10

If I were to abandon Elphise Zark, I alone could escape.

Such a thought crossed my mind.

With my current strength, I cannot launch an attack powerful enough to break through the Earth Demon General's hard armor. Attempting to buy time would also be extremely dangerous. A single misstep could cost me my life.

The Earth Demon General is charging towards me with fierce momentum. I have only a few seconds left to think.

To begin with, it was Elphise Zark who proposed this joint battle. Just like when I joined forces with Riusas and the others, I was swept along and reluctantly agreed to cooperate. She is a demon, and might have had some ulterior motive towards me.

"Right."

Elphise Zark is a demon. An enemy I have been fighting all along. What's wrong with betraying an enemy? There's no need to save her.

This might be the last chance to escape from here alive. I should betray her and run. I still have things I need to do.

Elphise Zark's back is in front of me. She hasn't noticed my movements yet.

"..."

With the intention of abandoning her, I took a step forward. The sound of sand being kicked up echoed continuously. Elphise Zark must have heard this sound and realized I was trying to escape.

Yet.

"..."

Elphise Zark said nothing. She remained defenseless, continuing to trust me and gather her magic power.

—You saved me, didn't you? It doesn't matter whether you're human or demon, right?

Those words came to mind. Did she really mean it? Did she truly believe she could trust me, despite the enmity between humans and demons?

Elphise Zark didn't turn around. With her abilities, she should have been able to tell that I was trying to escape.

Her silent back—she continued to trust me.

"Oooh!"

The Earth Demon General raised its arm. That arm, capable of crushing a person with ease, was brought down on the defenseless Elphise Zark.

"..."

Before I knew it, I had jumped forward, holding Elphise Zark.

"...Azusa."

In my arms, she wore a surprised expression.

The arm that struck the ground gouged out the floor, shattering it. I dodged the debris and put some distance between us and the Earth Demon General.

"Unite and vanish."

The Earth Demon General growled, its mouth opening wide. A vast amount of magic power concentrated there. That would surely kill both of us.

I can still escape. If I act while it's gathering magic power, I still can...

"I'll block that one attack. Hurry, Elphise Zark."

That's what I said.

Ah, right.

Abandoning her here and running away is wrong. Using her is fine, but deceiving and betraying her is wrong. If I do that, I'll become just like them, a piece of trash.

"Ah!"

Seeing Elphise Zark nod firmly, I made my decision.

◆

"You've been clever, but it's over now. I'll send you to the afterlife!"

The Earth Demon General roared. The amount of magic power concentrated at its mouth was overwhelming. If it were to be released, there would be no stopping it. And with my current strength, I have no way to defend against it.

—That's right, with my current strength.

I took out a rainbow-colored labyrinth core. It contained enough magic power to activate the labyrinth.

I crushed the labyrinth core in my hand.

"Ku—!"

The surge of magic power flowed into the proof on my right arm. The intensity made my body strain. The storm-like magic power caused noise to run through my vision.

"—Ah."

Then, I realized. It's not enough. The amount of magic power contained in the labyrinth core is not enough to activate the proof.

"And I'll report to the Demon King that you are a worthless, insignificant existence!!"

The Earth Demon General's laughter echoed as it completed its spell. There was no stopping it now.

"..."

Even in the face of that, Elphise Zark remained calm. She continued to trust me, gathering her magic power without any doubt or anxiety.

"—'Pile Driver'"

A massive stake was created, as large as the Earth Demon General itself, and launched like a bullet. If it hit, there would be no surviving it.

"F*ck this...!"

At this critical moment, the proof refused to activate. The frustration of not being able to use the power I needed, and the realization that I couldn't do anything without it, made me extremely angry.

I took out the maximum number of magic stones I could use at once from my pouch. I gripped them so tightly that blood seeped out, and released the magic power they contained. Even using the magic stones to their limit, I couldn't cast a spell strong enough to block the stake.

"..."

The strain of using magic beyond my limits made my magic power scatter. The overwhelming lack of magic power.

"I have things I need to do."

I can't die here.

I forced something blocking the proof to break, drawing out the magic power. If I don't have enough, I'll take it by force from where there is none.

"Get out of my way...!"

The stake of destruction approached with a thunderous sound.

The magic stones I gripped were embedded in my palm, and blood dripped. My right arm felt like it was burning.

"Oooh—!"

The magic power that should have been insufficient overflowed from deep within my body, gathering in my right arm. I extended my arm, which felt like it was about to burn, and shouted.

The strongest defensive magic I once used.

"Magic Destruction Seal—!"

A shield as large as the stake appeared in front of me. The stake collided with the shield, stopping its movement amidst the shockwave.

"What...!?"

Magic Destruction Seal. A shield that never breaks—this is the defensive magic I created. It not only blocks physical attacks but also nullifies and seals the magic it comes into contact with, a shield of light.

The unbreakable shield, opposing the stake of destruction, wavered and strained.

I can't lose.

"Ku—aaaaaah...!"

I screamed and stomped the ground. As I crushed the magic stones in my grip—

"...What nonsense."

The stake and the shield shattered simultaneously. The Earth Demon General's voice, filled with shock, echoed in the room.

...I managed to block it.

If I had been just a little short on magic power, my shield would have failed. The strain of using magic beyond my limits made my body feel exhausted. My right arm, which contained the proof, felt like it was burning.

"Then...!"

"Ku."

The Earth Demon General opened its mouth to fire a rock projectile. I couldn't use that shield again. In a desperate attempt, I aimed to deflect the projectile with the treasure sword.

"—Well done, Azusa."

The Earth Demon General froze at the sound that echoed clearly. The source of the voice had eyes dyed a deep red and was enveloped in a storm of magic power.

"...Elphise Zark!"

Realizing the disadvantage, the Earth Demon General abandoned its attempt to fire the rock projectile. Like when it first appeared, its massive body began to sink into the ground.

"—Not a chance!"

Before it could, Elphise Zark moved. Her eyes, now a deep red, widened.

"What nonsense... A defeated coward like you...!"

"—'Demon Eye: Ash Explosion'—!"

A crimson flash struck the Earth Demon General, which was about to sink into the ground, causing a blinding explosion. A storm-like attack that obliterated the rock armor, just like before.

"..."

The smoke cleared, revealing the Earth Demon General, its body burned and one arm obliterated by the explosion. A fatal wound.

But,

"I... am not... defeated yet!"

"...You, still!"

Despite taking such a powerful attack, the Earth Demon General refused to fall. Despite its magic power being nearly depleted, it forcibly activated a healing spell to mend its wounds, albeit at a much slower pace than before.

"Ku... I'm almost out of magic power. I have only a little left..."

Elphise Zark, who had used her Demon Eye twice, was holding her forehead and grimacing. If the Earth Demon General were to move again, we would be helpless.

But, I can't lose after coming this far.

"Elphise Zark! Can you pour your remaining magic power into this sword?"

"What do you plan to do?"

"With this, we'll finish it."

I handed her the treasure sword, and her magic power began to flow into it.

"Sorry... This is my limit."

The treasure sword, infused with Elphise Zark's magic power, turned a dark, ominous color. It was a terrifying amount of magic power.

"...No, it's enough!"

I kicked off the ground and ran towards the Earth Demon General. As I approached, it swung its arm down, groaning in pain. The attack, made in desperation, was poorly aimed and missed, hitting the ground beside me.

"Oooh—!"

I leaped onto the arm, covered in rough rock, and ran up it at full speed.

"I'll end this here."

"Gu—Ohh!"

I swung the darkened treasure sword at the Earth Demon General's head, where the armor had been stripped away, slicing through its flesh.

"It's... useless!"

"!"

Despite this, I couldn't deliver the final blow. The Earth Demon General shook its head, and I was thrown into the air. The treasure sword remained embedded in its head.

"Die, human!"

The Earth Demon General raised its arm to strike me, mid-air. I couldn't dodge it in my current state.

But,

At that moment, the treasure sword embedded in the Earth Demon General's head began to glow.

"What is this...!?"

A strategy I had thought of before the battle. One of the Earth Demon General's weaknesses is its internal body, not covered by rock. If I could activate a special attack from within...

"You... You...!"

"—It's over, Earth Demon General."

This treasure sword is a magic-imbued item that contains magic power. If I can make the internal magic power go berserk, it can act as a bomb. The sword alone has enough magic power, but with Elphise Zark's magic power added—

"Magic Destruction—!"

A sinister light exploded. The raging fire of magic power flowed into the Earth Demon General's body.

"—!"

A piercing scream. Immediately after, the Earth Demon General's head exploded, and a flame of magic power blossomed. Smoke billowed, piercing the ceiling.

"..."

The massive body, now headless, tilted and sank, causing the labyrinth to shake. The Earth Demon General did not move again.

This time, the master of the Nether Labyrinth was completely dead.

"...Azusa!"

Just before I hit the ground, I was caught again by Elphise Zark. This time, our positions were reversed.

The strain of using magic beyond my limits made my body feel drained, like a battery running out of power. In Elphise Zark's arms, my consciousness began to fade.

"—As I thought, you..."

Those were the last words I heard.

Next chapter → 10/8 21:00

We're almost at the end of the first chapter.

Stay tuned for a revenge and satisfying moment coming soon.