Hiroaki faced him one-on-one, but with their overwhelming power difference, he was helpless.
A large shadow suddenly burst in, shaking its thick shoulders and shedding snow. Was it a descendant of the giant wolf, Fenrir? No, this was…
“Gulf, is that you?”
The wolf’s face turned to look at him and grinned. No doubt about it, the unmistakable beastly scent clinging to this exceptionally large figure. He was truly a creature of misfortune. How had he survived fighting so many enemies? The last time he saw him, he was fighting a horde of berserk Werewolves.
If he looked closely, his body was covered in countless scars. He didn’t know if they were old or new.
“Why are you here?”
“You can see for yourself, can’t you?”
Gulf turned back to Auroa, whom he had just avoided.
“Revenge? Did you follow us?”
“It was incredibly easy. You reeked of blood.”
If you were following us, why didn’t you help? That way, perhaps fewer sacrifices would have been made. But such angry emotions were meaningless. After all, the opponent was him. Although he had helped me partially along the way, his fundamental nature wouldn’t have changed.
“With that said, this is my prey.”
As he said that, he let out a growl and charged at Auroa. In response, Auroa sent a giant flame from his hand. Gulf’s body was engulfed in flames. However, he didn’t seem to mind, pushing through the wall of fire and swinging his mighty arms.
He didn’t have the greatsword he wielded in their previous battle. Was he planning to face his arch-enemy with just his body?
The Berserker, his gray fur stained with blood, lunged at Auroa. It was an incredible battle. Fights between high-level individuals were truly interdimensional.
I’ll take this chance to move ahead. I pulled Pauline’s hand and passed by the two fighters. Behind me, flames exploded in Gulf’s face at close range. Then, Auroa swung his scythe.
Claws that tore through the smoke caught the scythe. He then pulled it towards himself. Finally, Gulf’s fangs seized Auroa’s shoulder. However, it wasn’t a complete grip, and Auroa vanished, turning into black mist.
I wish they would both be defeated here. If not, I hope the battle lasts as long as possible. I can’t deal with either of them right now.
With the fierce battle between these two giants behind us, Pauline and I continued walking. Visibility was almost zero due to the blizzard. We were heading straight for the deepest part of hell, the place where death and despair swirled most intensely. Extreme cold and darkness that rejected all life and hope.
And desire that stood in front of the gates of heaven.
“Hurry, hurry, release me…”
“What is your wish? A woman, money, or power?”
Ugh, my head feels like it’s twisting. A low voice coiled in my mind like a snake.
“Your lost companions?”
Stop it, that’s not it! I must seal your power and stop Auroa’s ambitions.
“I can give you everything. Companions, power, everything.”
If I had the power, Auroa… No, that’s not it, don’t listen.
“Are you okay?”
“Uh, I’m fine. We’re almost there, let’s keep going together.”
Somehow I managed to hold onto my fading consciousness and tightly gripped Pauline’s hand. It was cold, painful, difficult, and tiring. Pushing down negative emotions, I managed to take the next step.
“Don’t you want to rest? In a soft bed in a mansion. Devouring mountains of food, living purely by instinct.”
Shut up, get out of my head! Even so, those images naturally came to mind. Eating a table full of delicacies with my companions, and then soaking in a large bath. Sleeping soundly in a plush bed in a safe world with no injuries or battles.
Ah, how wonderful it would be if that were possible. I’m so sick of this ice-covered world.
“Isn’t that right?”
“No, no!”
Don’t look away from reality. What I need to do now, what I need to do… Suddenly, Pauline stopped and looked back. There stood Auroa alone.
Gulf was nowhere to be seen. That means he…
Snow swirled, and Auroa approached us. I instinctively shoved Pauline forward.
That was all I could do in that brief moment.
“— Ah!”
Sharp eyes, the high nose characteristic of an Elf, right before my eyes. And the smell of blood.
Looking down, a black sword of magic pierced my chest. My consciousness faded with the shock and intense pain. Within it, I clung to the faint anger that was bubbling up.
Don’t mess with me, with that smug look on your face. Don’t think everything will go your way. Don’t forget to fight back until the very end, that’s what it means to be human.
I pulled out my dagger and thrust it into Auroa’s shoulder. The magic contained within exploded all at once. A pillar of fire erupted like a dragon from the point of impact. This was the blow Elana left for me!
Even Auroa seemed affected by this, as he pulled the magic sword from my chest and kicked me away.
“For a rat, you certainly came up with quite a trick.”
I could feel blood pouring from the hole in my chest. I tightly pressed on the wound and stood up.
“Huuugh, I… I am the Brave, Arisugawa Hiroaki. One who literally received courage from everyone!”
