The battle that was going somewhat favorably suddenly flipped back again. This was because Hans, who had temporarily retreated due to injuries, had returned to the front lines. Zaiha clicked his tongue as he looked at Hans.
Still, he thought he had delivered a deadly strike. Could it be that he was still able to fight? As Hans re-emerged at the forefront, the situation quickly shifted. The monsters began to falter against the dragons.
The team members were easily dealing with the Blood Demons as well. This was because Hans’s judgment had hit the mark. Caught off guard, they had initially intended to fall back.
However, the one blocking their retreat was none other than Hans. If they abandoned this place now, it would be akin to giving the demons a forward base. Plus, considering their trump card, he thought it over and over.
No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem like normal power. In other words, there had to be a weakness or a great cost involved. Of course. Even time reversal had a penalty, and one had to pay a price to use it.
“No retreat.”
“What?! But…!!”
“The enemies are cornered right now. That’s precisely why they’re using such cards. So, we need to respond accordingly.”
After cooling his head, he thought slowly. This ambush was truly reckless. Had the envoy attacked while separated, their response would have been delayed significantly.
But they didn’t do that. Was it simply a lack of strategy? No, that’s not it. The demons’ strategy was quite formidable. Even so, what was the reason for this reckless assault on the fortress?
On the surface, it appeared to be the rampage of the queen who ruled over the demons. Following her orders, the demons had executed an audacious attack. To Hans, this was the only interpretation, and he clicked his tongue.
The end was slowly approaching. However, to see it through completely, he first had to defeat the enemy in front of him. Hans gritted his teeth as blood began to flow from his burst wound.
“It looks like the wound has opened up. Should I not bother with it?”
“If not me, who will stop you?”
“That’s a good judgment. But it will cost you your life.”
Zaiha spoke in a cold voice as he swung his great sword. The swiftly swung sword targeted Hans’s shoulder directly. Hans barely managed to respond, swinging his fist and striking Zaiha’s face.
At that moment, even buying time was immensely taxing. He had to use time stop, acceleration, and deceleration to stretch out the time somehow. But the problem was the injury. He could feel the wound growing worse little by little.
“Damn it, was it really just first aid?”
Bitter pain surged from his insides. Now, it was so difficult to even move his body due to pain. Could it be that he recognized a change? Zaiha’s attacks began to intensify.
Zaiha didn’t possess any special techniques. His overwhelming specs were worthy of the title of second-in-command of the demons. Just that alone, coupled with his high-level skills, brought him close to the highest rank.
If he were in normal condition, he could hold out much longer. However, with his stomach already pierced and nearly dead, even using all his powers, he could only be pushed back little by little. Zaiha spoke.
“It seems you use some peculiar power. One that slows me down and makes you fast.”
“Guh.”
“Yet even that seems to have reached its limit. I can feel the duration getting shorter.”
Zaiha’s assessment was accurate. His consciousness was growing hazier due to his injuries. Thanks to that, Hans was struggling to maintain his powers. Recognizing his weakness, Zaiha raised his great sword high.
“I must kill you for sure, right here.”
Having lived countless years and having killed many heroes and warriors, Zaiha’s instincts told him that. If he didn’t kill this man here, they would ultimately lose the battle.
But he couldn’t strike down the great sword. Before that, a steel chain flown in like an eagle quickly bound his arm. Thanks to that delay, the others intervened.
An arrow shot from behind shattered his waist, splitting his upper and lower body in two. Taking this chance, Yuren kicked Zaiha’s head. Cluna fixed Zaiha’s severed head with magic.
“You said it keeps regenerating, right?!”
“So let’s see what happens if it doesn’t have a head.”
“…This is bad.”
If it were a normal system, at the very least, his head wouldn’t reform after being severed. However, that was not the case. Zaiha’s shattered body regenerated instantaneously. Yes, even the head.
“I have no choice then.”
“What the heck is that? What happens to this head then?!”
“Now that is Zaiha. I’m just a corpse.”
“What?!”
“So, die.”
Death. Even with death right before him, Zaiha’s head remained unnervingly calm. Instead, Zaiha, with a completely regrown head, charged, swinging his great sword with an attack that thought of nothing but the worst.
The Royal Knights somehow managed to hold up a defense. While the members held Zaiha at bay, the dragons were dealing with the encircling monsters and Blood Demons. The number of monsters was quite substantial.
Even they, like the undead, kept coming back, but the overwhelming physical difference with the dragons couldn’t be overcome. Unlike the demons, the monsters faced rapid demise as time passed.
Zaiha frowned. If the dragons joined them after clearing their surroundings in a short while, there would be no chance of winning. In that case, it would be wiser to retreat and save at least his fellow tribesmen.
However, their master would not allow that. Instead, she desired to tear apart and kill them all in hatred. Zaiha smiled bitterly. In the end, were we falling, a natural consequence.
“All is as Her Majesty the Queen wills.”
To lead his master to the right place was loyalty too. Simply obeying orders silently was also loyalty. And now, in this place, two loyalties met. Zaiha turned his gaze.
“In the end, you’ve sided with them, Revel.”
“And you’ve completely become a monster.”
“As Her Majesty desires.”
“True, that could also be called loyalty.”
It is indeed a regrettable matter. Those who served the same lord and still do eventually took different paths. If that’s the case, even at the end, to leave without a trace of regret, until the last.
Soon, the fists of Revel and Zaiha met without retreating. Kwaaaang!! A massive explosion erupted. The ground and sky trembled with the shockwave. Revel was now also putting forth all his power.
After all, Zaiha had decided to bury his bones here. Then, it would be faster for a comrade in the same position to send him off. Finally, the great sword and fists clashed tirelessly.
In the midst of that, other members began their attacks as well. But this time, Zaiha didn’t easily fall. He defended against all deadly attacks while allowing non-lethal ones, even countering.
“What a nonsensical monster!!”
“Certainly not a leader of mere Blood Demons.”
“I’ve never seen such a monster before.”
“But his movements are getting slower.”
Could it be the continuous side effects of death? Zaiha’s body had clearly slowed compared to the start. Like a broken puppet. However, even in that state, Zaiha still did not let go of his great sword.
“……I see, it seems this is the end for me.”
Zaiha sensed his last moments. No longer could he revive. If so, then he would at least go out in a grand blaze. All of this was for my lord, Her Majesty the Queen. Only for her.
In that moment, Zaiha’s body vanished. In his final moment, casting aside everything, only the great sword infused with pure intent moved swiftly. It was a strike that none could block except for one. Kwaang!!! With a gigantic noise, someone blocked Zaiha’s great sword.
That someone was Hans. Feeling the threat, Hans stopped time to catch up to Zaiha.
“I can’t let you do as you wish.”
“Indeed, you are a hero.”
“You’re the monster.”
“Correct, I am a monster. But…”
Zaiha’s eyes turned crimson. No longer could his body regenerate. The countless resurrections he had experienced had finally reached their limit. In that moment, Zaiha shouted.
“There’s pride even in being a monster!!”
I cannot die like this. Regardless of whether to walk the glorious path of Her Majesty or the dirty path of hatred, until the very end. This Zaiha will pave the way for Her Majesty!
As the dimming flames reignited once more. But even so, nothing would change. Even if the flames burned again at the point of death, they would only extinguish after a short while. Zaiha looked at his arms.
The two arms that had definitely been attached to his body were gone, and empty air welcomed him. Zaiha lifted his gaze. The shining sword was rushing toward his neck.
“……Glory to Her Majesty.”
Swish!
With a chilling sound, Zaiha’s head fell to the ground.
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