But before his death was inevitable, Roald appeared out of nowhere and thrust the sharp branch toward his throat.
"Looks like I'm just in time, Kayle."
"Right on time."
Roald pushed Defrus's arm away, but he didn't back down.
-So what? Another dead body in my lab.
Roald had to parry the multiple blows raining down on him. His reaction speed was extraordinary. Kayle had never seen him fight like this before. His spear spun in all directions.
However, Kayle could see that he wouldn't last long.
"Kayle, his branches are too strong. I'm not going to last much longer. Any brilliant ideas?"
Kayle observed the situation carefully. He obviously couldn't get directly involved in the fight, but he had to support Roald, who was struggling.
-No idea.
-What?
I could have started a fire. But I'm not capable of that. If only I had a little az, I could have created even a small flame to burn the wood, but I have nothing. No gas, no az, no az. Damn, I need to find another name for it.
-Kayle!
Suddenly, a branch reached out and broke through Roald's defense, which he couldn't stop. It headed straight for Kayle's foot.
-Damn it.
Kayle jumped just in time to dodge the blow. The apostle was taken aback.
"Well, you're pretty skilled for a nobody."
But when he looked up, Kayle saw that Roald's body had five large branches stuck in it. He was spitting blood. So much blood that Kayle was deeply affected by it.
-Ro...ald.
"Well, that's it. It looks like..."
"Kayle, get down."
It took less than a millisecond for Kayle to react. He recognized the tone that had preceded a blast so powerful that the monsters had retreated. He leaned heavily on the ground and propelled himself toward the apostle. He quickly grabbed Roald while Defrus had his back turned to Lilly. He then lay down on the ground without wasting any time with Roald. The apostle then saw Lilly utter the last word.
"...fira."
A huge trail of fire then appeared. Defrus saw it coming so fast that he was lost for words.
-Damn elf.
He was wiped out instantly as the flames raced past Kayle's feet.
-Are you okay?
-Lilly, MVP. Lilly, MVP.
-Stop yelling, idiot. Show me Roald. I can still heal him, but don't count on me for anything else. I don't have any az left. I'm going to need to recover.
-But you destroyed him. How could he come back?
Lilly reached out her hand toward Roald's dying body. Fortunately for him, the branches hadn't hit any vital points.
"Kayle, if it were that easy to kill an apostle, the former soldier would have come back."
"Damn, she's right. That would mean he'll probably reappear, rematerializing with his branches somewhere. We have to find François."
-I neutralized his az that plunged us into darkness. We should be able to find them more easily now.
-Lilly, what rank are you?
-I don't know. I've never taken a test.
'She must be crushing most of the azgons. I don't know how powerful the S and X ranks are, but she can't be that far off.'
-I have to stay here to help Roald. He won't be back here for a long time. Kayle, find François, Roid, and Jean and go find those two idiots. I'll come back when I've recovered enough az.
Kayle stood there silently, then suddenly.
-Kayle?
-I have an idea, Lilly. Trust me...
-Damn it, that damn elf is giving me a hard time. Why is such a powerful azgon here?
Not far away, a branch was slowly transforming into a human.
-Obviously, with my attribute, I don't stand a chance against the flames. I'm going to have to pull out all the stops. I'll have to avoid her for a while, but at least...
Defrus walked toward a door that stood there in the void. He opened it. The interior was gloomy, and rats were scurrying across the floor, eating bits of pink meat. Yet there were no animals here.
-There you are... Huh?
On one wall were chains that were supposed to hold two people. There was also dried blood on the wall.
-Where are they? Where the hell are they?
Defrus stormed toward one of the cages lining the hallway. Inside were men so thin they seemed to be struggling against their own body. Purple veins seemed to be bursting out of their body. He grabbed one of them and yelled at him.
-Where are they?
-They're gone. The former soldier... as soon as he heard noises outside, he did something and escaped.
-He was waiting for reinforcements ? Damn it.
He then violently threw the man to the ground.
-That man was also stronger than expected. Everything is slipping away from me. Damn it.
Then he strangely calmed down, raising his head to the sky as if something reassuring had come back to him.
-I didn't think I'd have to use you now. Come out, Gargamas.
In the darkness of the room, where nothing seemed to move, something growled and rose. Strange liquid sounds could be heard falling to the floor. Defrus looked up.
-Crush them to pieces. My masterpiece.