I felt the difference in power between us during the battle.
Cedric was waiting for my answer. It was true that if I continued, I would be unilaterally pushed and it would end. He might not be a bad guy, considering he was trying to minimize the damage.
However, Nina seemed to dislike that attitude and immediately attacked.
“Do you think you can afford to be so relaxed? You seem to be underestimating us, but everyone we’ve fought so far has said the same thing.”
“That’s right! I won’t let you have Hiro!”
Piyo chimed in with agreement. I didn’t want to avoid this fight this time. If I were caught by them, not only would I not be able to return to my original world, but I would lose even that chance.
The Minotaur woman snorted at this.
“Hmph, is that so, Cedric? What are you going to do?”
“I told you not to call him by his name!”
“What do you mean? Cedric is Cedric. What else should I call him?”
He calmly mediated the argument between Riana and the Minotaur.
“I don’t mind how I’m called. By the way, are we continuing?”
“Of course! Here I go!”
Then, Cedric called out to Lucy, who was waiting nearby, telling her it was her turn. Nina was suitable for the small and agile Dark Harpy. Or so I thought, but Veronica placed her hand on Nina’s shoulder.
“I’ll handle that one. The sun is setting soon, and you’ll be at a disadvantage then. Go towards that dog guy.”
“Indeed, I understand.”
Nina nodded with a serious expression and yielded her spot to Veronica.
“So, let’s resume.”
The Minotaur woman smiled at me and charged towards me. The shaking ground testified to her strength. If I took one hit from her, it wouldn’t be without consequence. My hand gripping the sword grew damp and trembled naturally.
“Brother, run!”
“Ho, you want to go first, do you?”
The woman stopped midway and looked back at Karubene before leaping into the sky.
“Take this!! Bull’s Hoof!!”
“Karubene!”
My voice was drowned out by the thudding sound of impact. After jumping high, she crushed Karubene with her full weight. The scattering sand fell. The dust cloud cleared. Karubene had avoided it by a hair’s breadth.
“Hah, you missed. But what about next time?”
It’s no good. Karubene’s legs have completely given out. Witnessing that impact right before his eyes, he couldn’t possibly remain sane. Should I attack from behind? Just then, Piyo intervened.
“What? Are you really going to fight?”
“Mmmph mmmph mmmph!”
Then, a wind began to blow around Piyo. It gradually intensified and began to surround them both. Was it just wind? the Minotaur sneered. At that moment, sparks flew from a part of the wind. The small fire, carried by the wind, spread rapidly.
The opponent was trapped in Piyo’s ring of flames.
“This is, hahaha, you think you can trap me? Do you really think such a tiny fire can stop me?”
It was a grand magic for Piyo, but the layer of fire was still thin, and the firepower was weak compared to Elana’s. She would break through it immediately. Moreover, using both wind and fire, Piyo’s exhaustion was severe.
The swirling wind wavered, and the wall of fire disappeared.
“What, is it over already? Haggh…!”
Karubene charged through the fading flames. His horns dug into the enemy’s waist. Not only that, but he simultaneously thrust his sword into her side. Then he quickly pulled it out.
“You! Such a clever trick!”
As if to pursue Karubene, who had retreated, a large hand reached out. It grabbed her arm and threw her with all its might towards the nearby bushes.
With a groan, Karubene rolled on the ground. However, he quickly regained his posture and took a pose like a track and field athlete.
“Then I’ll show you a cool move too. ‘Counter Sprint’.”
For a moment, his figure vanished. The kick delivered from his spring-like bent legs became a leap, and he instantly approached the enemy. But the Minotaur raised her leg as if she had been waiting for this.
“Watch out, Karube–”
What had launched itself couldn’t stop suddenly. Karubene braked to avoid the stomp and shifted sideways. Though the broken hoof shook the ground, he seemed to have narrowly avoided a direct hit.
“Do you think the same trick will work twice!?”
A fist was swung down onto Karubene’s back as she tried to get up. With a dull thud, she was slammed to the ground.
“Ugh, Ggh.”
“How’s that? You can’t even breathe. You’d better not move. If you take one more hit, your spine will snap.”
