Kwa-jij-
[GGGGIIIIIAAaaa…]
“Phew…”
Jjeojeok- Hermila’s fist pierced through the beast’s head, pulling out the brain matter along with it.
“I’m one hundred seventy-six. How about you?”
Mia, holding a longbow almost as tall as herself, released the fully drawn bowstring and said.
“One hundred sixty, um… seventy.”
At that moment, an arrow shot through the beast’s forehead, swallowing the surrounding sounds.
“One hundred sixty-eight, with this, sixty-nine!”
Kwa-kwang- Not the same steel spike as before, but a colossal hammer-shaped steel smashed into the beasts’ heads, driving them into the ground.
“…I’m ninety-three.”
“You really are a flower, huh.”
“Loser.”
“Yuria is a support type from the start, so there’s no need to feel bad.”
Searching through the rubble for the bodies of residents and the liberation army, Hermila sighed in relief as she looked at the empty ground.
“By the way, where is Delia in this situation?”
“She’s probably with Heinzel. She ran off saying she had something to talk about earlier.”
“…Delia, finally. A confession?”
“Well, even if she does, can that girl even get a proper confession out?”
With a bitter smile, Hermila’s eyes met Jur’s while looking at the makeshift tower towering above the ruins.
– Many members of the liberation army and residents are facing the monsters in the northeast. Their number… is roughly about seven-tenths of the total.
– Is there no problem in the west?
– Lady Delia and Sir Heinzel are doing well. Moreover, the number of monsters heading that way seems relatively small, so you can be at ease. If any issues arise, I will let you know right away.
– Alright. Thank you.
Heinzel’s unique ability is best suited for chaos like this.
With Delia’s support, there shouldn’t be any problems in evacuating the residents.
Confident that there would be no issues in the west, Hermila turned her head to the northeast.
The place opposite the residents’ refuge.
The location of the enormous northern gate, which was where the most monsters had rushed in.
“From now on, we will go north through the center. The seven-tenths of the monsters that invaded Cartia are concentrated in the center, so prepare yourselves.”
The battle that began at dawn and continued until the new sun rose had left their bodies in tatters, yet the momentum of the challengers, including Hermila, was sharper than before.
A faintly visible end of Hell instilled hope within them.
They believed that happiness awaited them after everything was over.
“If it’s ended, let’s go.”
There was no hesitation in their steps.
It felt light.
It was filled with hope.
It was straightforward.
Unaware of the calamity approaching them.
They pressed on.
*
Kwa-ji-ji-k—
The golden lightning zapped across the battlefield, immobilizing the beasts and halting their steps.
“Whaaaah!”
Jjeojeong- A massive gravitational force smashed the beasts’ bodies down. The following surge of lightning rushed to the heads of the remaining beasts, setting ablaze those that had been devouring the residents.
“I’ll evacuate the people first, so be careful!”
“Got it!”
Pa-jik- As soon as the words finished, Delia disappeared in a flash of light, starting to rescue residents detected within the spider web formed from the lightning.
Recalling the fleeting sensation of the small electric current left behind, Heinzel scratched his head.
“…Delia’s been acting weird today.”
Her behavior had been odd ever since she came looking for him while talking to a mysterious woman in an alley.
Suddenly getting angry, shouting at him, crying out of nowhere that this situation was all his fault and wondering why he never looked at her…
If the mysterious woman hadn’t been there to comfort Delia, she might have cried for a month straight if it were just Heinzel.
The Delia who had been like that.
Ever since the invasion of the monsters began, she had completely changed.
Or rather, to be precise.
Ever since they would harmonize their movements.
At first glance, she seemed the same as usual, but there was a slightly more composed and sharp atmosphere about her.
She had definitely become much stronger.
Though it’s said that due to a wizard’s nature, they can’t unleash their full power alone, Delia was exceptional in getting that characteristic to stand out.
But now, that weakness was nowhere to be seen.
It might be because constant battle had compensated for Delia’s weakness.
Or maybe.
“Am I just too amazing? Kha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
Heinzel’s combat sense might completely cover Delia’s weaknesses.
Regardless, it was a good thing that their rhythms, which had never matched before, were now in sync.
With his thoughts wrapped up lightly like usual, Heinzel gripped his Halberd and moved toward where the beasts were clustered.
“You monkey bastards! Come on!”
To catch the attention of the beasts skipping around,
To catch Delia’s attention while she was rescuing residents somewhere.
He unleashed a mighty roar, crashing heavy gravity down upon the beasts’ heads.
Jjeojeok- Jjeo-eung-
[GGGGGGGWWWWAAAAAAA-!]
However, the beasts seemed to read Heinzel’s thoughts.
Using their own kind as a shield, a dozen monsters charged at Heinzel, overcoming the gravity.
“Whaaaaa!”
A strike without hesitation. With a Kwa-jik- the Halberd swung down without distinguishing friend from foe, bursting the beasts apart.
But the beasts did not stop.
Even with only their heads remaining, a gaping mouth tore through and lunged at Heinzel’s shoulder.
At that moment, Kwa-ja-ja-jak- a streak of lightning crashed down, piercing through the heads of the beasts charging at Heinzel.
“You crazy bastard!”
“Oh! Delia! I’ve been waiting! Kha-ha-ha-ha!”
“What, what did you say?! You were waiting for me— Uhk-!”
Sensing the ominous killing intent from the ground beneath her feet, Delia immediately hugged Heinzel’s body and soared into the air.
Then.
Tu-duck-
[KAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWW-!]
A monster, appearing different from before, burst forth from the ground they had occupied.
If the beasts crawling on the ground resembled monkeys, the one that emerged from the earth took the form of a caterpillar.
With its long cylindrical body and dozens of small tentacles protruding all over,
Its mouth on top was filled with countless sharp, thorn-like teeth.
The terrifying appearance sent chills down Delia’s spine.
“Ugh, damn it… What the hell is that ugly thing?”
“Hmm. It certainly looks horrifying…”
Even Heinzel, rarely showing such an expression, grimaced as he lifted his Halberd.
With Delia still holding onto him, Heinzel twisted his body while aiming at the monster that had sprung up from the ground.
“Hey, hey! What are you doing? It’s heavy!”
“Attack.”
“What? You crazy—”
And then.
“Bastard!”
Pa-jik- Tu—Kwa-ang—!
A sharp jolt of electricity wrapped around the monster’s body.
The launched Halberd obliterated the monster’s body, creating a massive crater stained with black blood on the ground.
With the overwhelming recoil, Delia, unable to bear the hideous backlash, lost her grip on Heinzel.
“Damn it!”
“Kha-ha-ha-ha!”
But Heinzel enjoyed the refreshing breeze passing by him, laughing heartily.
Moments before hitting the ground, he reduced his gravity, landing lightly.
“You crazy bastard!! At least say something! You almost got me killed!”
“Ugh! That felt so good— Urgh…”
Now back on the ground, Delia’s hand, wrapped in faint electricity, smacked Heinzel’s shiny bald head.
“Do you want to kill me? Or do you want to kill the monsters? Why do you keep—”
“Um, I thought you could take it. Sorry if it was a hassle.”
“Uh, uh? You thought… me? Why?”
“Since I felt it from earlier, our breaths seemed to match mysteriously, and without even realizing it, I believed it. If it’s uncomfortable, let’s not do it next time—”
“No! Do it! You can do it! I can handle anything! What, you think the great wizard can’t handle such reckless attacks?”
With a leap, Delia covered Heinzel’s mouth, her ears turning red as she shouted.
“Hmm? If that’s the case, I understand. I’ll do as I please.”
“Hmph! Let’s see you try it… Hehe.”
Delia tightened her grip on Heinzel’s lips, flashing a confident smile as she shrugged her shoulders.
And she mulled over Heinzel’s words repeatedly.
Their breaths matched.
How much effort she put into hearing those words.
Since the day she had her life saved by Heinzel, she had analyzed and adjusted her combat style by watching his battles.
She learned magic that could help him.
Practiced until she could wield it skillfully, until it could align with Heinzel’s preferences.
Even when she gained her unique ability after passing through the Temple of Memory, or when she reached the level of a challenger and could perform Reverse Heaven,
Delia wished for abilities that would benefit Heinzel.
She wanted the power to save him when the final moment came.
Delia loved Heinzel.
She loved him, who still cherished his family that had long passed.
That’s why, even with just a light-hearted remark that didn’t recognize her feelings at all,
Delia could smile happily.
“Ahem, hmm. Hey, bald guy. If you’re done resting, let’s go, there are still many people left to rescue.”
Her smooth hands, which had spent a lifetime studying magic, grasped the unyielding artificial arm and led it onward.
At that moment.
“…Hmm?”
[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA―――!]
Beneath the earth.
The primal beast that killed the gods.
‘Leviathan’ opened its eyes.
