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The knight, startled by the sudden intrusion, flung himself backward.

“My… woman…”

Stella repeated Nova’s last words with a blank expression.

Her face quickly flushed red.

“Are you okay, Stella?”

“Y-Yes?! Of course!”

Stella, hastily hiding her bewildered expression, made Nova’s face stiffen.

Her wrist was bruised blue, and her clothes were torn.

It was evident that she was shaken, her legs trembling as if the shock hadn’t worn off.

“…Did you do this?”

A chilly killing intent radiated from Nova.

Reacting to that aura, the knight’s eyes sharpened.

“Why… are you here? Lilith… lost?”

“Ah, that woman?”

In response, Nova tossed something in his hand toward Alastor.

It rolled to a stop, revealing a delicate lady’s arm.

“Don’t tell me… you captured her?”

“That stupid succubus couldn’t catch me.”

“Succubus…?”

Hearing this, Stella hurriedly grabbed Nova and asked.

“Nova… that succubus didn’t do anything to you, right?”

“Huh? Well, nothing…”

“Right?! She didn’t do anything? Like, she didn’t pounce on you or hug you or anything…”

“Y-Yeah? But Stella, we’re in the middle of a battle…”

“Lilith… how could she be beaten… who exactly are you?”

At Alastor’s question, Nova turned and looked at him.

“You… you’re that guy from back then. I owe you one.”

Bang!

As soon as he finished speaking, a bullet was fired at his mask.

The knight appeared like light and glare, deflecting the shot.

“That’s a bit annoying.”

Evan (LV.???)

Power: SUR+

Speed: SUR-

Defense: SR

Magic: SR-

‘Two SURs and one SR… This is the highest ability I’ve seen so far.’

The visibility of abilities meant they could be copied, but the duration would be drastically shorter.

Thinking about the risks coming later, it wasn’t easy to use abilities casually.

“That guy is strong, we need to be careful.”

‘Has Stella been fighting against such a guy?’

Nova questioned, glancing at Stella.

Her abilities were far too low considering she was up against that.

“Stella, you…”

Stella (LV.???)

Power: A+

Speed: A+

Defense: A+

Magic: Unmeasurable

To have reduced her abilities so drastically against a foe of that caliber?

Looking at her normal fighting stats, it was an exceptionally low figure.

Noticing the meaning behind his gaze, Stella quietly spoke.

“I can’t use my magic right now, so I can’t unleash explosive power like before.”

“That strength all comes from magic?”

Nova’s confusion cleared upon hearing that.

The power and speed Stella had shown until now had been foreign.

No matter how much she trained her body to the limit, due to human anatomy—

And given her petite frame, there were things she shouldn’t be able to do—

“You… had an unexpected weakness after all.”

Despite saying that, Nova was reminded of her remarkable prowess.

That a fight could even be fought with such a disparity in physical capabilities was hard to believe.

If you compare the ability difference from A to S, it’s like worlds apart.

If it’s SR, the disparity would be even more severe; just one hit could end it right there.

“I-I was strong when I was a man in my previous life!”

“Your original body, huh…?”

Suddenly, Nova recalled her past appearance.

What he remembered from back then didn’t fit at all.

With her delicate appearance and small stature, she was often mistaken for a girl.

In fact, just changing her hairstyle from her current state wouldn’t raise any eyebrows.

“You… I feel like I’ve made a terribly rude assumption.”

“…It’s nothing.”

“Lilith… to be caught by a run-of-the-mill like you…”

The knight, sword in hand, boldly approached.

Alastor muttered, still unable to comprehend.

‘No matter how weak Lilith is, that was in the context of the Enforcers! How could this be?’

“Who would have thought the day would come to fight alongside you… It’s kind of touching.”

“Stop being cheeky! There’s got to be a way, right?”

“Well… how about we get out of this space first?”

Saying that, Nova pulled something from his pocket.

Stella’s face clouded with confusion at the sight of the item.

“What is that…? A whip?”

What he pulled out was indeed a whip, its strands dangling helplessly, divided into multiple cords.

It was clearly not in a shape suitable for use as a weapon.

If she had to think of a purpose for it…

“Why are you carrying something like that?”

Stella looked at Nova with a rather skeptical expression.

Sensing her gaze, Nova hurriedly denied it.

“It’s not like that.”

“Oh, so that’s your thing, huh? It’s okay, I understand…”

“I told you, it’s not like that, dammit… This isn’t even my weapon!”

Seeing the whip, Alastor shouted in shock.

“Why do you have her weapon… damn it, stop him right now!”

As soon as he shouted, the knight charged at Nova with his sword raised.

However, just before he arrived, Nova swung the whip toward the ground.

“Alright, spit it out, now.”

The ground began to tremble violently from the point the whip touched.

“■■■■■■■!!”

In that moment, a gigantic roar echoed throughout the area.

The ground rippled like a trampoline, causing Stella to lose her balance.

“W-What is this!? …Huh?”

“Hold tight.”

As Stella stumbled, Nova caught her.

He then lifted her gently in a princess carry.

“W-Wait! This is a bit much!”

Suddenly a tremendous suction force began pulling all four of them in from somewhere.

A hole was pulling them in like a whirlpool, shining with white light at its end.

As they passed through the light, they found themselves back in the hospital.

“We’re… back, right?”

“This is the Enchanting Whip! If you get hit, you can control the opponent.”

“Such an insane weapon… how did you get it?”

“I made it.”

“?”

Stella, whose expression had become puzzled from Nova’s words, suddenly realized something.

“Hey! Could you put me down now?”

‘Th-The distance is too close!’

Caught in an unintended close proximity, gazing at his face, Stella felt her mind freeze.

Such an occurrence could only happen to a princess in a comic for the first time in her life.

She felt a mix of embarrassment and surprise that it was happening to her.

Plus, every time she looked at his face after being held, her heart raced uncontrollably.

“Argh… let me down already…”

She was worried he might hear her, trying to escape, but Nova wouldn’t let her go.

“It’s alright, you’re not that heavy.”

“That’s not the problem…!”

As they were having their little moment, a figure stepped forward, breaking the atmosphere.

Upon seeing the black knight before him, Nova’s expression grew serious.

“Hmm… let’s save this for later.”

Quietly setting Stella down behind him, he pulled out his gun.

“That one is dangerous! I need to catch him…”

While the environment allowed magic use, Stella’s condition was already poor.

Noticing her trembling legs from the shock, Nova said,

“It’s no good like this; I’ll handle that guy.”

“But! He definitely said he was a Former Hero!”

“Former Hero?”

“Yeah, he looks like someone who can control even the souls of the dead.”

“Wait… is that the former hero from back then?”

“I don’t know how he controls them, but you can’t hope to go up against him.”

Stella was also aware of Nova’s rapid growth.

But this being before her was a hero, a being that surpassed human limits.

Even if he had made progress, it would be unreasonable to face that.

“Since I can use magic now, Nova, stay back…”

“Really now… do you not trust me at all?”

She hurriedly grabbed Nova’s hand, stopping him.

“It’s not like that… if you get hurt…”

Nova gently ruffled Stella’s hair.

“Ugh… now’s not the time for that!”

“Just give me a chance to show off a little.”

For some reason, his voice was overflowing with confidence.

Come to think of it, that’s how he always was.

Even though he seemed weaker, he always gave off the impression that he must protect her.

“I promised I’d protect you.”

…Yeah, he was like this. To do something that seemed utterly impossible, he did it with a confident face.

Stella thought maybe, just maybe, he might show something again now.

Letting go of his hand gradually, she said,

“I’ll finish this quickly.”

Stepping forward, Nova glared at the knight.

More precisely, he was focusing intently on the knight’s sword.

A great sword, stained black and sharpened with murderous intent that pointed straight at him.

“A mere human like you… thinks you can compete with a star?”

Alastor sneered as he glared at him.

‘No matter how you captured Lilith, in the end, you’re just a bug.’

The adversary before him was a hero, a being that even the Demon King could only face.

“You could turn the world upside down, but you won’t win against me!”

“Shut up; you’re being annoying. Quiet down.”

That was the last thing Nova said before he dropped his great sword to the ground.

Everyone was horrified at the incomprehensible act.

“Nova…? What are you doing?!”

“What the hell is…?”

Even the knight seemed to hesitate, not understanding Nova’s actions.

But he quickly regained his stance and charged at Nova once more.

“Hahaha! Have you gone mad with fear? I won’t go easy on you!”

[—————–]

Nova held his breath and closed his eyes.

Stella was aghast at his actions.

But then she noticed something change about Nova’s body.

‘What is that…! Magic energy?’

He felt all his magic coalesce in his left arm.

As Nova opened his eyes, his pupils locked onto the knight’s sword.

“Reflection.”

His left hand stretched outward into the air.

Magic circuits emerged visibly on the surface as magic energy poured out with intensity.

“Could it be… that?”

The knight seemed to sense it too, his deadly intent intensifying.

His eyes flared with a clear malice as he sensed what was to come.

“■■■■■!!”

He charged in, resembling a black beast.

The knight shouted his last breath as he lunged to strike down his enemy.

The blade approached, exuding the force of raging currents.

“Sword.”

Nova gripped the imagined handle that had yet to appear tightly.

He met the incoming blade with it, targeting precisely eight vital points: the shoulder, collarbone, Adam’s apple, crown, solar plexus, rib, genitals, and thigh.

“Ordre.”

[Eight Blades that Circle the World]

“!”

Light enveloped his body from the eight targets.

As the light dissipated, the pupils of Stella widened in shock.

The knight, hit in all the vital points, crumpled to the ground weakly.

And there stood Nova, holding a sword identical to the knight’s.

 

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