As Eden channeled miasma, I could see the dark energy seep into the magical barrier that had blocked my Holy Sword, turning it pitch black.
Somehow, due to the cracks that formed in the barrier as a result of the divine power within my sword resisting the miasma, I managed to break free.
The moment I did, Eden’s spider-like limbs plunged into the space I had just vacated. Had I been just a moment slower, I would have either endured his attack or, at the very least, been forced to relinquish my Holy Sword.
Swish!
Even after putting distance between us and hiding within a dark mist, Eden’s spider limbs pierced through, aiming directly at me.
Crack!
Swiftly raising my Holy Sword, I narrowly deflected the blow. An unimaginable metallic sound reverberated through the air, unlike any sound that might come from the collision of a living creature’s limb and a sword. Attempting to hide again in the mist after striking the spider limb away, I found his limbs once more coming directly at me. It appeared the thick miasma surrounding us was somehow detecting my location.
To make matters worse, even while evading the spider limbs, fiery blasts composed of dark flames periodically lunged at me as if hungry for my destruction. Rolling across the ground, I barely evaded both the flames and the spider limbs rushing toward me.
“Are you injured anywhere?”
“If we end up only hurt in this mess, we should count ourselves lucky… But for now?”
Given the futility of hiding, while Eden momentarily retracted his spider legs, I moved beside Selian. Despite the dire situation, she seemed to maintain a calm presence, half-jokingly asking me a question amid her concern.
“Any brilliant plans to resolve this situation?”
“Hmm… How about a plan where we simply give it our all, striving until the end?”
“That’s already in progress, you know.”
Truly, the Hero… or rather, the former Hero candidate, never fails to provide textbook responses.
As we exchanged this banter, Eden’s attacks continued relentlessly. Oddly, there was some respite in that his attacks toward us together were easier to block than if we were apart.
Though we stood shoulder to shoulder, which should’ve hindered our sword movements, Selian and I naturally maneuvered around each other’s defenses, seamlessly parrying Eden’s attacks.
Selian deflected the attacks aimed at her blind spot, just as I covered mine. Together, the two of us moved with a dynamic and efficient synergy better than if either of us fought alone.
Perhaps from our many sparring sessions, or maybe something deeper, I instinctively moved in harmony with Selian, without consciously thinking about her movements. It was as if we had been fighting in tandem for years.
But that harmony wouldn’t last. The longer the battle dragged on, the harder it became for my body to keep up with my mind.
Even though I understood Selian’s movements, likely due to my inferior skill compared to hers, my actions began to lag a beat behind.
Thud!
The consequences of this delay fell squarely on Selian. Ultimately, she was sent tumbling far across the ground, unable to evade a massive spider leg that I should have blocked, having not allowed a single attack through until that moment.
Receiving help instead of giving it, and worse, causing her harm, left me feeling utterly useless.
Damn it, what is a Hero anyway?
Immediately after Selian and I separated, Eden lifted two pairs of his spider limbs high into the air, beginning to form a colossal magical circle far greater than the previously seen human-sized one.
The unsettling movements of this magic were clear even at a glance.
Neither Selian nor I could simply stand by and watch, so we both charged at Eden from different directions. However, Eden appeared to have shifted his strategy, abandoning the aggressive attacks we’d seen earlier in favor of solely focusing on defense.
Though two pairs of limbs were out of the immediate fight, the combined defensive strength of the two remaining pairs of limbs and a human arm proved overwhelming for us to penetrate.
As the magic neared completion, our urgency grew, yet no sudden epiphany or miraculous power boost followed.
Or, rather, there was one method.
I clenched my teeth, gripping my Holy Sword tightly, drawing upon my inner strength. Just a little faster. Just a little stronger.
Recalling the moment of my first Heroic Awakening, I suppressed the strain on my body, forcing out the Heroic power with sheer willpower.
Enduring the excruciating pain as if my entire body were ablaze, I focused solely on swinging my sword faster and stronger. This pain wasn’t enough to stop me.
The frequency of clashes between my sword and Eden’s limbs decreased, with increasingly larger shockwaves echoing each time.
Nevertheless, it was still insufficient to breakthrough Eden’s defenses. I could go faster. Just like when I first awoke as a Hero and drew upon a future strength I had yet to attain.
More… More… More…!
A cracking sound echoed in my mind, and a searing pain flared in my lower abdomen. Yet, I dismissed it, refusing to distract myself with mere discomfort when I could focus on drawing out more Heroic power.
Given more time, I might have fully summoned the level of strength from that first awakening, but…
Because I was slow. Because I was weak. Because I was pathetic.
My sword never reached Eden.
“Rather amusing. Let’s conclude this.”
Eden ended his defensive stance, swinging his limbs to push us away.
From the enormous magical circle hovering above Eden’s head emerged a surprisingly small, marble-sized flame.
As Selian and I tensed from the immense power within that tiny flame, it shot directly at Selian.
Eden must have judged that taking out the Sword Master Selian would make dealing with me effortless.
I was utterly embarrassed by my inability to even serve as bait.
The flame grew larger as it neared the ground, expanding into an enormous blaze by the time it reached Selian, surpassing the size of an average building.
I noticed Selian gripping her sword tightly, biting her lip. But her eyes still hadn’t given up.
In what seemed like slow motion only to her, even as the flame encroached on her, she assumed the same stance she often took during our sparring.
With one deep breath.
A straightforward slash. Not the secret technique of the Deretia family, but rather a plain, honest downward strike that she executed daily.
Her sword traced an arc, reminiscent of a brush drawing a line in an empty canvas. It was a clean and beautiful path, mirroring her essence. Despite the tension in the air, all I could do was stare.
Though her slash aimed downward, the trajectory carved in the air by her sword seemed to cut straight through the immense flame, splitting it into two.
The explosion as the fire hit the ground was spectacular but non-magical, merely a visual show as the flow of magic had been severed.
Yet, the resulting dust and smoke darkened the already obscured battlefield.
Still, it was a relief to see Selian was unharmed…
Whoosh!
Through the smoky aftermath, all of Eden’s spider legs lunged toward Selian.
Selian, apparently spent from her recent strike, didn’t seem to notice the incoming danger through the haze.
I dashed toward her the moment I realized the attack, but the spider legs, too close, too fast, and too numerous, would undoubtedly reach her before me.
As if time itself had slowed, I watched all of Eden’s spider legs move, each limb targeting Selian’s head, heart, arms, legs, and torso.
With only ten steps separating Eden’s attack from Selian, the doom seemed inevitable.
Finally, recognizing the incoming attack, Selian’s face twisted with shock.
But instead of raising her sword in defense, she turned her head toward me, away from the incoming limbs, her face smiling.
There was a smile, as if accepting her fate with resignation.
She… she was going to die.
… Don’t make me laugh. Who said you could die? Not on someone else’s whim.
I vowed that even if it cost me my life, I would protect Selian.
Selian, didn’t we say that not even death could part us? No, death is not permitted for you.
As long as I live, you won’t get to die, even if you wish to. I’ll ensure it.
Just like that time, I’ll protect you. It’s the only atonement I can offer for all the unforgivable sins I’ve committed against you.
