Veronica landed several punches on Nigpyura’s face.
The real battle began when the enemy finally got serious. The ground beneath my feet shook, making it impossible to stand.
“Karubene, be careful! It’s coming from below!”
“I know, I know! Whoa!!”
I intended to jump forward, but due to the instability, my jump fell short. Karubene and I were blown away by the tree roots that appeared. Behind us, I heard the sound of something cracking. My vision suddenly darkened. These fragments falling from above…
When I turned around, the tree that Nigpyura had knocked down earlier was being lifted by its roots. He intended to crush us with it. Unlike me, Karubene was in a state where he could stand and run away.
“Karubene, run into the forest!”
“But, Brother—”
The giant tree approached us with a tremendous roar. It’s no use, we’re going to be crushed!
Just then, Piyo charged at me with incredible force. It wasn’t wind magic; this intense heat enveloped my entire body.
Pushed by Piyo, I was blown away. Just in the nick of time, the tree, which had approached my eyes, crashed onto the now empty ground with a bang and scattered branches.
“Ugh, *cough* *cough*. Piyo, are you alright?”
Piyo and I rolled on the ground, carried by the momentum. In that instant, her body seemed to be engulfed in flames. Did she set her own wings on fire and use them like a jet?
“Hey, snap out of it.”
Piyo lay nearby, limp. Her wings were scorched black and wisps of smoke were rising. She must have hit her head on the ground and fainted.
“Mmm, we escaped by a hair’s breadth. You seem good at struggling.”
Nigpyura looked down at us, raking his hand through his hair. The nosebleed from Veronica’s punch had dried under his nose. His lips were also bleeding, apparently from a cut inside his mouth. I should have punched him one more time without holding back.
I stood up and glared back at Nigpyura.
“Where did you put Ryoku? Did you kill him?”
“Are you still asking that? I told you I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie. You couldn’t attack because he was there, right? Your specialty magic is controlling trees.”
Nigpyura’s smile vanished from his face, and the tree roots rose again. I hoisted Piyo onto my shoulder and intently watched the enemy’s movements. This time, I couldn’t count on her help. I had to get her to a safe place somehow. That’s right, Todoroki’s hole should still be there. If I could just get her in there, she’d be safe for now.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Roots approached me from behind as I ran. I need to ask someone for cover.
“Elana, get Piyo to safety…”—
Suddenly, something grabbed my leg. Looking down, I saw roots growing from the ground, entangling my leg. I could cut them off with my dagger, but they grew back faster than I could cut them.
“Someone, Philiana! Nina, Sharin!”
“I-I’m here, right here.”
Lauren emerged from the shadows of the trees. I’m saved; I can ask her to carry Piyo to a safe place.
“Lauren, please take Piyo.”
The moment I tossed Piyo, a thick root wrapped around my torso and pulled tight. Lauren and Piyo, who had fallen into the bushes, receded into the distance. I was then lifted into the air.
“There are a few things I want to ask you as well.”
“Shut up! Tell me where you put Ryoku!”
“Sigh, truly, this is why they’re outcasts.”
He’s determined not to answer, is he? But for now, the enemy has the upper hand. This thick tree root could easily crush someone like me if he wanted to.
“Hey, Brother, down here, this way.”
Beneath me, Karubene waved his hand. What is he planning to do now?
“Oops.”
“Hey, what are you doing?”
He grabbed my legs and started climbing up. Is he trying to help me?!
“Th-thank you, but what are you doing?”
I thought he would cut off the tree roots, but he stuck his hand inside my jacket. Then, he slid down the roots.
“Karubene! Aren’t you going to help me?”
“Of course, that’s the plan.”
She began approaching Nigpyura alone. What was in her hand…
“Wh-why do you have that?”
“Heh, you know about it? As expected of a knowledgeable Dark Elf.”
It was the gun I had hidden. You might think this would solve everything with one shot. But guns have a major weakness: limited ammunition. If I missed, I’d be defenseless. Nigpyura certainly seemed aware of its existence.
“I don’t know where you got it, but don’t think you can defeat me with such a toy. Besides, a barbarian like you—”
A low OOMPH echoed, and silence fell over the area. The sounds of the battle with the Dark Elves behind me, Nigpyura’s words, everything was abruptly cut off.
The smell of gunpowder drifted on the wind. My heart pounded.
“Gah, guaaah!! Ugh, ugh—”
As if time had resumed, Nigpyura fell to his knees. Dark red blood flowed from his legs.
