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The battle unfolded like before.

The Hero, the Sword Saint, and the Golden Lion engaged the Mined Creature T-1000. Daniel positioned the creature in front and unleashed magic upon them.

However, the tide was undeniably favoring the Hero’s party.

“Good grief.”

The reason was simply the presence of Archery Master Erwin, who was furiously firing arrows from over there. She should have been in eternal slumber, yet here she was, awake and firing dozens, if not hundreds, of arrows through the Mark.

True to her title, every arrow shot by Erwin flew in dazzling arcs, as if alive, striking at Daniel and the Mined Creature in vital spots.

Daniel had no way to block those arrows. He could only form a barrier of condensed magic to shield himself, which inevitably opened up a window for the three fighters.

[Wroooooaaaaaaah!]

The Mined Creature T-1000 let out a pained scream. The black armor it wore was already in tatters.

No matter how rapidly the magic was healing its body, the damage piled up faster, causing the creature’s stance to gradually falter.

“Guh!”

At that moment, one of the arrows pierced Daniel’s thigh.

It hurt, and it burned. The mana contained within the magic arrow had a mild dispelling effect, making it the worst possible thing for Daniel.

He broke the arrow while taking a deep breath. The magic quickly mended the wound, but it couldn’t eliminate the pain.

“Ha, ha, ha.”

What had led to this?

Daniel pondered continuously, but there was only one answer he could arrive at.

The Demon King.

Everything twisted the moment he descended.

The Saintess Ophelia, who should have been trapped in slumber longer, awakened too early, and the swamp of magic couldn’t engulf them. Even Archery Master Erwin had regained her senses and joined the fray.

All of this was a result created by the mysterious and irreversible being known as the Demon King.

“…Why?”

Daniel enjoyed this world but wasn’t loyal to the will of the Demon King. His body bore a Mark, and the Mark symbolized the intentions of the Demon King and the Evil God.

For that reason, the Demon King’s actions were bewildering.

“…Damn it.”

This was supposed to be a joyous hunt.

Yet, Daniel had inexplicably become the prey.

That fact stirred a rage within him.

Daniel had always been like a child tearing off the legs of insects.

That fury now turned towards the Saintess, who, instead of the Demon King, was tirelessly purging everyone’s magic.

Daniel understood as well. The only option he had to win was to either kill or disable that Saintess, thus orchestrating a war of attrition through magical addiction.

Paaah!

Daniel concentrated all the controllable magic into the Mined Creature T-1000.

[Ga, guaaaah!]

The creature screamed.

A quantity of magic far beyond its capacity flooded in, leaving only the inevitable future of its body crumbling.

But that didn’t matter.

It had one role to play.

It just needed to buy time.

Kaboom!

The Mined Creature moved, and a tempest of a different dimension swept across.

Azar, who had blocked with his shield, reeled back like a ragdoll as the creature’s physical capabilities were nearly godlike.

‘Now, aim for the Saintess.’

Daniel melted into the magic.

His control over magic was among the top five among dozens of possessors.

That’s why he managed to approach undetected, close enough to Archery Master Erwin to bypass her arrows.

Daniel condensed the magic into a dagger-shaped weapon and gripped it tightly.

It was a simple task. A ritual he had performed countless times to survive in this world. Just stab the pristine neck and twist. The moment the Saintess turned, he would slice her open, extracting her vibrant innards. A certain method to ensure the breath of life ceased.

The mental imagery was complete.

With a grin that threatened to split his face, Daniel approached the Saintess from directly behind and swung the dagger.

Bang!

Instead of the sensation of cutting flesh, a heavy feeling akin to striking solid steel resonated through his grip.

“What… the hell?”

Daniel blinked several times, struggling to comprehend the scene before him.

It was no use.

It was that bizarre.

“The Saintess, why is she holding a shield…?”

“Because the shield technique is fundamental for a warrior.”

The Saintess, Ophelia, was sticking her tongue out while wielding a kite shield.

“I’m aiming to be a warrior.”

At that moment, the sharp edge of the shield slammed directly against Daniel’s throat.

He couldn’t even scream.

*

The Mined Creature’s body was crumbling.

However, it still possessed overwhelming strength.

None of the creatures he had encountered in the game or faced so far could compare to this single Mined Creature.

“I’ve taken down the Dark Mage!”

A powerful voice rang out from behind.

While that was heartening to hear, our priority was to slay this creature urgently.

Crack!

The shield that thwarted the Mined Creature’s punch shattered against Azar’s defiance.

“Tch, that was a gift from Olmen.”

Azar clicked his tongue as he pulled out another axe from his belt.

No one was left to take the creature’s attacks now.

More importantly, I was beginning to feel my body slow down.

“…How much time is left?”

“Around thirty seconds.”

I sighed and readied myself.

There was no other way. The creature’s body would crumble faster than the effects of my Mark faded.

So it meant I had to finish this quickly.

I gestured towards Albrecht, and he switched from his Fluid Sword to a long-range weapon to keep the Mined Creature at bay.

“Azar, take one hit from the creature through a mighty strike.”

“I don’t mind, but how would that work?”

“Not like there’s no way.”

I had fought Mined Creatures throughout the Northern Mercenary Group for long enough to know the most effective method.

It would probably shock Laila if she were here, but the situation was urgent.

“Let’s begin. There’s little time left. At most, ten seconds.”

“I won’t delay.”

As soon as Azar exchanged glances with me, he crossed his twin axes and began walking forward, drawing the Mined Creature’s attention with a full-force strike.

As the Mark on Azar’s forearm illuminated, his axe crashed against the creature’s punch, creating a shockwave. Both Azar and the Mined Creature were momentarily flung backward, leaving them open.

Now was the moment.

Boom!

I kicked off the ground and charged at the Mined Creature.

It swung its fist with a terrifying force, even in its unsteady stance, but could not harm me, strengthened as I was by the Hero’s Mark.

I ducked down; the creature’s fist slashed through the air. Yet, I was already right in front of it.

I gripped the Holy Sword in a reverse grip, channeling all my magic into one point.

I didn’t slow down. I barrelled right into him.

That’s what they call a body slam.

At this moment, I was a human missile.

‘If you try to kill the Mined Creature like that, you’ll shatter your body.’

That had been Laila’s words.

Indeed, I was fully prepared to risk breaking a couple of ribs or even limbs in this reckless charge.

By the way, I had captured the Mined Creature I’d once asked for a name like this.

But right now, this was the only method left.

……

It felt as if time was slowing down.

With the Hero’s Mark enhancing my power in all aspects, the recoil would be much greater.

I could die.

Of course, I didn’t plan to.

Right now, I bore the Gears Mark. Until I captured the Demon King, there was no way I could die.

Even if I did perish, Ophelia had promised to resurrect me as an Undead.

“Ha.”

In this life-and-death scenario, how could I think such thoughts?

I felt like I had completely absorbed Ophelia’s essence.

[Gu, ghuoooor!]

“Yeah, you must be struggling too.”

It certainly should be audible.

This was a creature with enough intellect to utter the name Mereba.

“I’ll finish this quickly.”

With that, I crashed into the Mined Creature.

The Holy Sword pierced deeply into its chest. A shock greater than Azar’s strike slammed back at me.

Before I could even register the pain, I lost consciousness.

*

The territory of the Dark Mage began to dissolve slowly after Daniel fainted and the Mined Creature fell.

Gradually, the scenery of the forest came into view.

Of course, Ophelia had no time to appreciate it.

“Damn it, when you wake up, I’ll kick you right in the balls…”

With Elliot’s body twisted at an unnatural angle and soaked in blood, Ophelia channeled Holy Magic.

The recovery was slow. The aftereffects of the Mark were part of it, but the magic corrupted by the remnants of the shattered Mined Creature weighed heavily upon her.

“Hey, don’t die! Snap out of it! You promised to liberate me!”

With trembling hands, Ophelia placed her palm on Elliot’s chest, pouring in her Divine Power.

It wasn’t enough.

His breathing began to shallow.

If this continued, Elliot would die.

“…”

Ophelia squinted her eyes and looked around.

“What are you staring at? Turn your eyes away right now!”

“…C-could we help in any way…?”

“I told you to get lost.”

Her sharp words forced me to turn my head.

Confirming Albrecht looked away, Ophelia let out a heavy sigh.

“Damn bastard, making me do this…”

With a deeply furrowed brow, she gently caressed Elliot’s cheek before raising one hand high.

With her current abilities, she couldn’t heal Elliot.

Then—

“Hey, Heavenly Being. You’re still watching, right? This is your disciple’s call.”

Just like some fool had once done.

“I’ll swear, so open your ears and listen closely.”

Ophelia could just use Gears instead.

 

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