"ROAR!!!!"
The Dead End Butcher threw back his head and howled, swinging his road-sign-like axe with brute force. With one mighty swing, he cleaved a tree trunk half a meter thick in two, then hefted it single-handedly and hurled it forward.
A sonic boom tore through the air, unstoppable as a cannonball, whipping up a wall of dust that blanketed the sky!
Phaga's eyes flickered, ready to act.
But Ellen moved first. The instant she entered her [Roaming Hunt] state, even Phaga could only make out a blur. The air grew cold, crystallizing into long streaking trails behind her!
Whoosh!!!
Boom!!!
A flash of icy light split the massive log clean down the middle, sending both halves crashing to the sides.
The swirling dust suddenly parted as an icy-blue aura pushed outward. Ellen landed lightly, her ankle snapping with force as she launched forward again, blade aimed straight at the Dead End Butcher!
"Roar!"
With a contemptuous growl, the Dead End Butcher swung his axe down. The strike landed with thunderous force, shattering the asphalt beneath them.
Ellen frowned, narrowly dodging to the side.
But soon, purple light began to coil around the massive axe, growing brighter and more violent. Black sparks flickered within the glow as it swelled like an inflating balloon, scattering rainbow-colored mirages under the sunlight—about to burst!
[Ether Burst]
Ellen's eyes narrowed. She raised her blade just in time—
Boom!
The Dead End Butcher flung his massive hand upward. The swollen Ether sphere burst like a balloon, exploding outward into a hurricane of force. Ellen was swept away like a ragdoll, slammed against a wall before finally crashing to the ground.
Cracks spread across the wall as she slid down, struggling onto one knee. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself upright, using her blade for support.
"Too careless!"
She wiped dust from her face and flicked her sword, her defiance unshaken!
As an Ethereal Abomination, the Dead End Butcher naturally wielded ether with mastery. Ellen had underestimated him, not expecting him to unleash such a devastating attack so quickly.
Still, she wasn't in dire straits—just superficial wounds.
For ordinary people, [Ether Burst] was a death sentence—just touching it could turn them into Ethereal. But Ellen's resistance was high. For her, it was nothing more than raw energy unleashed!
"Roar!"
The Butcher bellowed, his free hand clawing into the ground. Five sharp fingers gouged deep holes in the asphalt.
Then he lunged, ready to crush Ellen with a single strike.
Ellen's eyes sharpened, her entire body tensed and ready to dodge.
Crash!
The Butcher's claw smashed into the pavement. Ether-fueled legs erupted with explosive strength, collapsing the ground beneath him.
With a thunderous bang, he lunged forward—
Thud!
—and then crashed to the ground, tumbling about ten meters away!!
Huh?
Ellen's brows rose in surprise. She turned to see Phaga standing with his parasol raised, a faint wisp of black smoke rising from its tip.
Nice shot!
She cheered inwardly but kept her face cold as her footsteps rang sharply against the ground. In seconds, she closed in on the Butcher.
Her blade came down toward the Ethereal core—
But the Dead End Butcher wasn't about to let her succeed. Forced into a rushed defense, he could only muster a fraction of his monstrous strength. Ellen's blade rang off his guard, bouncing him back and leaving him wide open!
"Roar!"
In desperation, he twisted his body upward, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike. The blade bit into his shoulder instead.
Tsk!
Ellen quickly pulled her blade free and leapt back, a rush of wind grazing her ear—his counterattack.
If she had lingered for even a moment longer, that blow might have been her end.
But there was no time to breathe.
The Dead End Butcher lived up to his name. His beastly body gave him overwhelming resilience. Despite the fresh wound, he looked unscathed. His missed axe swing turned into a spin, using momentum to leap into the air and bring his weapon crashing down!
Ellen backpedaled fast, unwilling to take the blow head-on.
"Roar!"
The axe struck the ground with another miss. Shards of rock flew as Ellen glimpsed a sudden flash in the Butcher's eyes—bright as a star through the rolling dust.
He still had power left to spare. His forward step carried the weight of a tank bearing down.
The axe rose again, now wreathed in a purple glow. This time, he unleashed his special attack—[Ether Burst]
Bang!
A gunshot split the air!
Clang!
A crimson bullet slammed into the axe, sparks flying as the ether energy shattered under the impact. The Dead End Butcher staggered, his right arm falling limp at his side.
From afar, Phaga blew away the smoke from his weapon, then checked his magazine—only one bullet left.
He looked up just as Ellen seized the moment, closing in on the Butcher again to press the attack.
"Only one bullet left," Phaga murmured, his half-lidded eyes flashing with sharp light. "Just one more chance to interfere."
Ellen was thrown back once more, clicking her tongue in frustration.
This blade only dealt physical damage—it didn't suit her at all!
"Hey, Phaga, this blade really only does physical damage?"
Even as the Butcher charged again, Ellen dodged, unable to gather power in such short bursts. Her strikes barely scratched him.
Taking the briefest chance, she shouted the question.
From a distance, Phaga called back, "There's a button near the blade's hilt. Try pressing it."
A button?
Ellen barely had time to think before the Butcher's axe came down again. She raised her weapon to block, the impact sending a jolt of numbness through her arm as she slid backward to gain space.
Once she had room, her eyes stayed locked on the Butcher while her finger searched the hilt. She felt a narrow groove, raised a brow, and pressed it.
Pssst!
The words [Kunmutu] etched into the hilt flared with white light. Rings of fire burst from the blade, twisting like fiery serpents and coiling around its edge!
Wispfire!
It traded sudden bursts of power for a relentless burn. Once ignited, it clung like a curse—roll on the ground, cover it with dust, it would burn dust and all!
But as Ellen stared at the weapon, her lips twitched and her eyelids fluttered.
Disgust.
Pure disgust.
Within a second, she pressed the button again, snuffing out the flames.
Then she cast a glance at Phaga—both of them united in disdain.
Can I just toss this fire blade?
It's worse than the plain version!