In fact, the man who had concealed his presence and rushed to Shia's side, and carried her back to Ayako for treatment, was the one who had accomplished this plan so beautifully.

However, Xia was not going to listen to him any more with those bunny ears!

"Teacher-sama! Please cast soul magic on Kaori-sama again!"

“Uh, got it!”

Shia strengthened her body to the maximum and charged forward. Her target was Kaori, lying on the ground nearby. With the force of a truck, she charged at the giant wolf, its claws digging deep into Kaori's back. With a single blow of her sword, she crushed it. She then continued her charge towards Yarbu.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Liliana, risking her life to speak to Yarbu, bought time for Aiko to chant and Ayako to heal, and returned to her companions while setting up a barrier. Meanwhile, Jūgo went forward to bring Kaori back.

"I'll deal with Yarbu! Please go save Hajime-san!"

"Understood!"

"Leave it to me!"

One of the apostles standing on either side of Yarbu was about to step forward to resist, but Xia's words "I'll handle it" seemed to make Yarbu feel looked down upon, so he stopped the apostle and stepped forward himself.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhh!”

Seeing the opportunity, Xia raised the sword high and chopped it down vertically with great force, sending out a shock wave like a raging wave.

"That's not the arm strength a bunnyman should have."

Despite Yarbu's words, the greatsword was still blocked by the barrier before his eyes. On the inside of the barrier, he wore a relaxed expression.

"I want to be stronger, I want greater, greater power!"

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The impact sounds rang out one after another.

Xia swung the sword continuously, and within just one second, she didn't know how many times she swung it. The speed was so fast that the shape of the sword could not be seen clearly.

"It's no use trying several times—huh?"

"Please fly out of here!!"

A crack appeared in the barrier, and the next moment, with a sound like shattering glass, Shia's roundhouse kick, in a graceful arc, struck Yarbu. He didn't even have time to exclaim, "Impossible!"

But Yarbu was a god after all, and in desperation he raised his arms to block the force. However, under the immense force, he could not stand and fell with the throne, rolling on the altar.

The apostles who were waiting on the side were about to take action when they saw this, but—

"No thanks. Kicking a god is so disrespectful, I must punish him personally. Otherwise, I won't be able to swallow this."

Yarbu blew the throne that was pressing on him to pieces and stood up with an expression of extreme anger.

Shia shouldered the greatsword.

"Great, come on!"

Shia's body was filled with light blue and white magic power, and she rushed forward as if she had entered a state of "Limit Breakthrough".

Meanwhile, Tio and Shizuku, who went to rescue Hajime at Shia's request, were immediately blocked by an apostle each.

The two apostles simultaneously fired disintegration flashes at Tio and Shizuku. At that moment, they both released the same Word Spirit.

“――『Forbidden Zone Release』!”

The clear black magic light and the deep blue magic light transformed into a whirlwind, sublimating all aspects of the two people's abilities.

Shizuku held the greatsword at her waist, slipped under the decomposing flash, and approached the apostle. Tio didn't dodge, but crossed her arms to block the flash.

Although there was a hole in Tio's Japanese-Western style outfit, her hands were not damaged at all.

Her arms were covered in black scales, and the scales overlapped in several layers, making her hands look twice as thick.

This could be called sublimation, transforming into the composite magic "Dragon Scale Layer Hardening." Not only does the black scales themselves improve their endurance, but the layered structure significantly increases their defense. This way, even if they're broken apart, they won't cause any damage to the body.

"Shizuku, I'll cover you. Charge in!"

"Understood!"

At this time, Shizuku had already used her unique and unpredictable footwork to get into the apostle's chest.

This move was not only faster than "Shrinking the Earth," but also had the effect of confusing the opponent's sense of distance, causing the apostle's eyes to widen slightly. When she came to her senses, she found herself in a state of dizziness. Shizuku grabbed the apostle's arm and threw her with a backhand throw.

The apostle was in mid-air, upside down. In an instant, the greatsword was thrust upwards, aiming directly at the apostle's neck.

——Yaegashi's fluid technique: Mirror Thunder.

If he was struck by this sword, his head and body would be separated. Even if he didn't die, he would definitely be seriously injured. But...

The apostle was blown into the air by the impact, but before he landed on the ground, he flapped his silver wings and his whole body stayed in the air.

Immediately afterwards, the rubble hit the apostle's eyes.

——Yaegashi-style Throwing Technique: Gravel Piercing.

Although Shizuku's original strength was relatively weak, her arm strength had been explosively increased by the sublimation magic, and it had already surpassed that of an ordinary person. Furthermore, the hall's floor was solid, and being hit in the eye by such powerful hurled debris should be enough to subdue the apostle. Although Shizuku planned this, but...

"It's not that easy after all!?"

"That's right."

His eyes and neck were unharmed. Even his expression seemed indifferent, cold and lifeless.

The apostle then launched a counterattack, firing silver feathers like a barrage of bullets.

Shizuku stepped forward, activating her skill, "No Rhythm," and moved through the barrage of bullets with a fluid, slow, and fast movement. Sometimes she dodged the silver feathers, barely missing her body, and other times she raised her greatsword to block them.

"Get down!"

“──!”

In a desperate moment, Shizukucai dove down like a dancing dancer and slid forward. Then, a jet-black dragon's breath roared past her head, scorching the air.

The apostle who had launched the silver feathers saw this and flew up into the air to avoid it as if nothing had happened. Tio then swept the dragon's breath to the side and pursued. Only then did the apostle cross his greatsword as a last resort.

The dragon's breath, strengthened by sublimation magic—the "Dragon's Roar"—was incredibly powerful, sending the apostle flying against the wall.

Although she saved Shizuku, Tio paid a price for it. The apostle that was originally confronting her launched a bombardment and headed straight for Tio.

"Tio!"

"Don't worry about me! You must get your master back. At least buy some time until Kaori comes back! There's no other way!"

Tio's whole body squeaked, and black scales covered her entire body, making her look like a humanoid dragon.

Perhaps the effects of the forced transformation magic cast under "Forbidden Zone Release" were causing her to express intense pain, leaving her expression etched with anguish. Yet, despite this, she managed to utilize her pain perception with her "Pain Transformation" skill, granting her sufficient endurance to survive a direct hit from the disintegration bombardment. Such shrewdness and skill could only be described as flawless.

Shizuku continued to use "Shrinking the Earth" and transformed into a slanting shadow, passing by the apostle who was bombarding Tio.

Another apostle continued to spray her with silver feathers. Even after being hit several times, Shizuku simply gritted her teeth and endured the severe pain, ignoring the apostle's attacks, lowering her body to a crawl, and continued to break through.

At that moment, the apostle appeared before her again. Her abdomen was slightly dented, indicating the individual that Shia had just sent flying. When Shizuku realized she was being caught up, it was too late. The apostle had already slashed down with her greatsword—

(Oops!)

“—『Tian Jue』!!”

Suddenly, Ling's desperate cry echoed, and several angled orange barriers intervened. Barrier after barrier blocked the path, forcing the greatsword to gradually change its trajectory.

Finally, the greatsword swung past Shizuku's head with a slash of hiss, sending cold sweats all over her body. However, her movements didn't stop at all.

Even without her divine weapon, Ling was able to accurately shield Shizuku from dozens of meters behind in a desperate situation, while also using "Holy Zetsu" to protect Myuu and Remia. Her skills were simply amazing.

Shizuku knew that Suzu's hands were stained with the blood she'd used to draw the magic circle. She must have been straining herself to control her magic. Given that, there was no other choice but to repay her efforts with all her might.

Shizuku thrust upwards from below. The apostle blocked it with her second great sword. She had anticipated this attack.

"disease!"

"!"

Shizuku used one hand to support herself on the ground, leaped out from behind the greatsword, and, upside down, kicked the apostle. This move was like a replay of a vulture aiming at its prey from the sky, swooping down and tearing it apart with its claws. Hence the name—

──Eight-layered Fluid Technique·Reverse Eagle Claw.

The apostle's figure wavered. It turned out that the kick had only pierced through an afterimage. Then, the apostle knocked Shizuku's greatsword away, gracefully turning to appear behind her. He then swung the first greatsword and slashed at her.

It looked like Shizuku was about to be cut in half.

"drink!"

Shizuku took a short breath and, using the centrifugal force of her kick, she jumped sideways. As the apostle's horizontal slash passed beneath her, she spun like a top and countered with another kick.

──Yaegashi's fluid technique: Reverse Eagle Claw II: Heavy Claw.

This kicking technique originally had a two-part structure, and it beautifully kicked the apostle in the face, causing him to somersault.

The extraordinary skill of the physical technique made the apostle lying on the ground look surprised.

(It works!)

Shizuku saw out of the corner of her eye that Tio was restraining two apostles, and she had just gotten past one of them.

Now she could move forward to Hajime's side. Just as she was thinking this—

“──!?”

A sudden surge of fear shot down her spine, as if struck by ice. Unable to steady herself, Shizuku could only flinch to the side.

Instantly, a silver cannonball powerful enough to lift the ground shot past her from behind. Even after that, Shizuku's instinctive warning continued, forcing her to subconsciously continue rolling on the ground.

With a clang, a large sword lodged itself where Shizuku had been a moment before. Shizuku continued to roll on all fours like a wild animal, narrowly avoiding the oncoming rain of silver wings.

Although he dodged the attack, the distance he had just narrowed with great difficulty was pulled back to almost the same distance as before.

In front of her were two apostles who had been serving Yarbu; behind her was another one, the one that had just been kicked and somersaulted by her.

The situation she faced was undoubtedly hopeless, but the person she was seeking was right behind the despair.

(He's the first person I've truly loved. He's saved me countless times. Not just my life, but my soul... If it's for him, I'll do anything. Even if my opponent is an apostle, even if I don't have weapons, it's no reason for me to surrender! Because, this time, it's my turn to save you!)

Shizuku encouraged herself and stared at the apostle with a determined look.

When will Kaori be able to return to the front line? At least I have to buy time and hold on until she gets up. Even if I can't get Hajime back, if it's Kaori, maybe she can do it...

She thought so much about her best friend. Perhaps because of this──

"what?"

One of the apostles suddenly turned his gaze away from Shizuku and looked at the other students.

No, what she was looking at was Kaori, who was being hugged tightly by Aiko.

The apostle left behind an afterimage and disappeared.

"Stop, stop! Fight me—"

"It's enough to have us accompany you."

The Apostle fired two disintegration blasts, one to block her advance and the other aimed at her.

"Don't be distracted, idiot!"

Covered in wounds, Tio rushed towards Shizuku, protecting her. Even though blood splattered all over her body like fireworks, she successfully brought her out of the bombardment range.

Without interruption, the apostle shot silver feathers at the two men.

“Ugh…! ‘Holy Zetsu’!”

Without a divine weapon, Ling cast a barrier of the highest level several dozen meters away. The heavy burden made her groan. Although Tio also added a barrier to defend herself, but...

The silver feather's decomposition ability ruthlessly broke through the defense. A large number of silver feathers penetrated the barrier and rained down on Tio who was protecting Shizuku.

Tio cast regeneration magic on the accumulated black scales, but the simultaneous use of three Age of Gods magics made it nearly impossible for her to maintain consciousness. She gritted her teeth to avoid fainting. Shizuku's expression turned to sorrow as she watched Tio like this.

(Don’t I even have the ability to buy time!?)

Apart from Hajime and the others, he was the only one who could use sublimation magic.

If it was me, I could at least buy time for everyone. Shizuku originally thought so, but she didn't expect...

"Don't give up, Shizuku! If your heart gives in, it's truly over!"

"! I know, I know!"

Although she was on the verge of tears, Shizuku still encouraged herself and waited patiently for the opportunity that would appear at any time.

Never give up. Never give up. Because, this is—this is Hajime's strength. This is the light that makes Tio's heart flutter and Shizuku fascinated.

Then, at this moment, as if in response to Shizuku and Tio's feelings, the light they had been waiting for finally appeared.

"Get away from them!"

Silver light—the decomposition bombardment headed straight for the apostle. It was obvious who fired it.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like