----- Rudeus Greyrat POV-----
Clash! Crank! Clash!
The Death God lunged from above with the blade descending.
Eris jumped back. The ground beneath her bent inward from the force of his strike.
But he was relentless.
He pressed forward, hammering her short sword with brutal precision. The impact knocked it backward, but Eris refused to let go. She absorbed the momentum, her wound tearing wider as blood spilled from her mouth.
She clenched her teeth, twisted her body, and launched a head-on strike.
The Death God met her blow.
Steel screamed against steel as the two swordsmen locked in a brutal contest of strength neither yielding, both trying to overwhelm the other.
While Eris bought me time, I focused.
Circulating what little mana I had left that was barely enough to cast a spell.
I remembered a magician I met on the Demon Continent. He claimed he could cast spells without mana. Something about melting your skin into the air and weaving wind like a fishing net.
But he was an intuition learner. So naturally I never understood it.
I gave up on that magic long ago, but now I need it more than ever.
"Grrr…"
Eris was faltering.
Her wound reopened, blood pouring freely.
Sweat dripped down my face. My brow furrowed.
Concentrate.
The energy in my abdomen began to spin, faster and faster.
Then—
Eris was knocked away.
The Death God seized the opening.
Six rapid strikes.
Her feet slid across the dirt and her breath was ragged, but Eris's eyes were wide open and locked onto the swordsman's hands watching the shift in his grip and the flick of his wrist, like a lioness tracking every twitch of her prey.
The first strike came down
Shing!
She shifted her weight and snapped her head sideways as the cold iron blade grazed her forehead. Blood flowed into her eye but she didn't flinch nor blink.
Her gaze stayed locked on the next strike.
Her body shifted right, arms slightly raised, sword angled downward.
The second strike
Clank!
The short sword caught the blow, deflecting it from her chest to her arm. Blood burst from the gash, but her grip held firm.
She pivoted again in the opposite stance and angle.
The third strike
Clank!
The short sword met the half-sword with a sharp clang, absorbing the third strike.
But the fourth was already coming angled toward the exposed side of her stance.
Eris loosened her grip a split second before impact.
The blade slid and the momentum from the block was redirected.
Her wrist rolled, her elbow dipped, and the short sword snapped across her body, covering the weak side just in time.
Clank!
The sword that was supposed to pierce Eris's heart was suddenly flying in the opposite direction.
It spun through the air, end over end, before crashing into the dirt with a dull thunk.
Eris had shifted her defense mid-flow, using the force of the previous strike to reposition faster than reaction alone could allow.
The Death God's rhythm faltered.
The Death God's eyes widened.
A perfect parry.
The sixth strike—broken.
The Death God's combo relied on exploiting his opponent's momentum. But Eris reversed it. She turned his rhythm against him.
For the first time, someone had forcefully stopped his relentless assault.
For the first time, the Death God was stunned mid-battle.
The lioness had found her opening.
Eris planted strength in her legs and core, then launched herself upward, her body arcing through the air.
Pain tore through her open wound, but adrenaline drowned it out.
She pressed forward with sheer will.
"EEHRWAAAAAH!"
The world slowed.
Like a gymnast mid-flight, Eris spun her sword carving a full 180-degree arc.
It was as if an artist had painted the sky.
A bright red wave filled the Death God's vision.
And in the center of that canvas.
A predator's eyes pierced the man's soul.
For the first time in Death God's life he thought.
I am the hunted.
His soul trembled.
"RAHHH!"
Eris completed her 360-degree swing.
A magnificent crescent moon of steel flashed through the battlefield.
The blade passed within a hair's breadth of his neck.
"MUHHH!"
The Death God roared in return.
His black aura erupted, surging through his body.
The blade connected, piercing his neck.
He reacted instantly, crashing his own sword against hers, halting the cut mid-carve.
A deafening, ringing shockwave echoed across the battlefield.
"RAHHH!"
"MUHHH!"
Like a yin-yang symbol frozen in motion.
The Death God crouched low, knees bent, a blade buried deep in his neck resisting the final stroke.
Above him, Eris stood bleeding from her head and body, screaming through the pain, forcing her sword to finish the arc
And just to their side.
A bright orb of light pulsed in my hands, unstable, trembling.
I am ready.
This magic, similar to the laser beam I used before, was barely under control. Just keeping it steady demanded every ounce of my focus. One slip, and it would explode. All of us would be caught in it.
But I can't allow that.
I've made my decision.
Me and Eris, we're coming out of this alive.
I will end this fight.
With barely any strength left in my arms, I forced them upward, aiming at the Death God.
They were locked in a power struggle.
She was bleeding profusely.
He was immobilized.
Now or never.
Arms trembled.
Ands cramped.
Aim faltered.
I was too unstable to release it.
Eris would be caught in the crossfire.
I can't do that.
What do I do?
"Ru—Plaff—RUDEUS!"
My eyes snapped toward the swordswoman, blood spilling from her mouth.
"NOW!"
As if a trigger had been pulled—
"!!!"
The overflowing orb surged.
A blinding beam of light erupted from my hands.
My vision vanished.
My consciousness faded.
----
I opened my eyes.
And the urgency hit me like a hammer.
I forced strength into my arms and pushed my upper body off the ground.
My vision blurred, adjusting to the light.
In front of me, a massive line was carved into the earth as if some colossal force had torn the ground forward.
Then the memories came flooding back.
The fight.
The beam.
"E-Eris?"
I looked around.
No one.
The battlefield was silent.
"EERIS!"
Panic surged through me.
I began to crawl, dragging myself across the cold, wet mud, following the path of destruction.
"EEEEERIS!"
My voice cracked. My arms burned. The mud clung to me, slowed me, but I didn't stop.
I couldn't stop.
I reached the last rise of earth, pulled myself over it.
And heard a voice.
Rudeus
"Eris!"
Relief exploded in my chest.
For a moment, I was weightless.
Until I saw her.
Eris lay still.
Her body soaked in blood.
A massive, semi-circular wound tore through the left side of her torso, as if something had ripped a chunk of her away.
Her expression blank.
Lifeless.
The breath caught in my throat.
The world narrowed to that single image.
****PRESENT (2 days before D-Day)*****
I opened my eyes, snapping out of the trance.
The storm had calmed.
Thunder gone. Fire extinguished.
The skies began to clear, and the wind softened into silence.
Then I heard footsteps approaching from behind.
I turned my head.
A child stood there.
Mud dried across his face, water dripping from his clothes, soaked from head to toe. He looked at me with wide eyes, filled with anticipation, excitement, and determination.
I placed a hand on the ground, shifted my weight, and slowly pushed myself upright.
He patiently waited.
As if my silence had meaning.
I filled my lungs with the cold air, held it, then let it out along the only words I could offer.
"Kid, I need time to think."
*****1 Day Ago*****
-----Rudeus Greyrat POV----
This is tough...
Back then, it felt so natural so I don't know how to explain it to the child.
It was a whole new sensation, like I was part of the space itself. I stirred the ambient mana around me, connected it to my own, extending my will from my hands into the air.
I could try practicing on my own.
Break it down. Analyze the mechanics. Grasp the logic behind it.
But no matter how many times I tried.
The connection wouldn't form.
Given the traumatic past, I believe my body rejects it.
Or maybe… it's deeper than that.
Maybe it's my mind.
Because to connect with ambient mana, you need more than control.
It's clarity... Clearly I don't have any of that...
Not since that day.
So every time I reach out, something inside me pulls back.
"Master!"
The boy sat cross-legged.
"What is it?"
"I feel a warm, tingly sensation in my core! Just like you said!"
"Good. That's mana. Now guide it from your core to your heart."
"Mhm… hahaha! It tickles!"
"Wait—you did it?"
I opened my demon eye of magic identification.
My eyes widened.
Bright white energy pulsed in his heart.
"I feel hot!"
"Your heart is filtering the mana. Remember this feeling."
"Yes!"
"Now spread that warmth through every vein in your body."
"Mhm…"
I watched the mana circulate through him.
Strange.
He shouldn't have enough mana to cover his entire body… and yet his body was handling it well.
At first, I thought it might be touki since the wavelengths were similar but I've confirmed multiple times otherwise.
…
Oh well. Maybe the kid's a genius.
Unfortunately, even a genius will struggle to use a speck of an average magician's power. The power scale in this world is no joke. Even if he casts magic this way, he'll still will be limited. So in simpler terms the boy will be upgrading his firepower from darts to rockets while keeping the same amount of ammo.
"Master… my whole body feels itchy…"
"Keep at it. That itch means mana is stuck. Push through it. Keep the flow steady all afternoon."
"Right! What about dinner?"
"Don't worry. I'll cook for us."
"…"
What's that look?
I cook just fine. Don't give me that stinky eye.
Wait… don't tell me this kid prefers his own cooking over mine?
I pulled back my sleeve and charged my hand with electricity.
Crack. Crack.
"What's wrong? Got something to say, boy?"
"Erh… Nothing!"
****D-Day****
-----Rudeus Greyrat POV----
The kid has made significant progress.
He can now channel mana throughout his entire body. All that's left is learning how to stabilize the flow while making it faster and efficient.
Though...
Easier said than done.
"Practice makes right."
"Eeeh? But I want to learn the cool magic stuff!"
"Quiet down, kid. Keep at it. Eventually, you'll understand."
Yeah… he'll get it. He's a genius, after all.
Not that I'm bitter about forgetting how to connect inner mana to ambient mana. Not at all.
I'm the world's strongest magician. If I put my mind to it, it should be a piece of cake.
Yeah…
If I put my mind to it...
A cold wind brushed our faces.
I looked up.
The sky was flooded with red and blue, like a painting stretched across the heavens.
"Master?"
The boy stood there, holding his pocket watch.
I nodded and pointed toward a clear patch of grass, where a single tree stood tall.
"That's a good camping spot."
"Okay! I'll go set up the pot!"
He dashed off toward the tree.
This kid… he really doesn't like my cooking.
What a spoiled brat. I should remind him that back in my days on the Demon Continent, I had to eat-
Wait.
I squinted. Strange smoke was rising from his clothes.
Is that steam?
I activated my demon eye of magic identification.
And what I saw stunned me.
His mana was moving at abnormal speeds. I've never seen mana fluctuate like that.
To move fast like that, he must be training it nonstop while we were travelling.
…
Sebastian has really been giving his all.
He might just be more amazing than I thought.
That is... nice.
I reached for my necklace and held it tight.
Maybe I...
Maybe I can give my all as well.
Just like Roxy taught me.
Just like Sylphie supported me.
Just like Eris protected me.
I'll do the same.
For this child.
****Ambush****
-----Rudeus Greyrat POV----
THAT'S RIGHT!
JUST LIKE THEY DID FOR ME—
I'LL TAKE YOU OUT OF THIS SHITHOLE!
0 seconds before the sword hits the barrier
I poured mana into my core as fast and reckless I could disregarding the control. The energy spun violently, spiraling out of rhythm, overflowing like a storm I couldn't contain.
My thoughts scattered.
My vision blurred.
And then—
Light.
I was swallowed whole.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a white, endless space. No sound. No sky. Just horizon that stretched forever in every direction.
I turned slowly, confused.
And then I saw her.
A tall figure, back turned. Her long, wavy hair as if someone thrown unmixed red paint on it.
I reached out.
But my hand stopped mid-air.
I looked towards my old feeble hands.
I stared at it for a moment, then slowly curled my fingers inward.
Feeling the tension of the grip. The weight of everything I'd carried.
My eyes shut tight.
My lips trembled.
And I whispered.
Forgive me.
...
An explosion forms from the barrier
Then, just like the moment I lost Eris, that same sensation returned.
The air around me thickened and a thin layered barrier formed around Sebastian.
Boom!
The barrier shattered instantly.
Smoke flooded the space, and as it cleared, I saw him collapsed on the ground covered in minor burns and coughing the inhaled smoke.
I did it.
Then I felt a sharp killing intent aimed directly at my neck.
I twisted my torso and cast a wind spell mid-motion, the force slamming into my side and launching me sideways through the air.
Just in time.
A long steel blade sliced through the space where my throat had been.
Still airborne, my body spun from the wind's momentum. I spotted the attacker below, their stance exposed for a split second.
I didn't hesitate.
I thrust my palm downward and cast a fireball directly beneath their stomach.
The spell ignited on impact—
Boom!
The explosion sent a shockwave through the air, and the assassin was flung backward, limbs twisting mid-flight
Two more killing intents flared on my left and right.
I was still mid-air carrying the momentum from the recoil of the wind spell.
So I snapped my fingers and cast a wide water spell, forcing a sphere of liquid to erupt around me. The moisture in the air condensed instantly, wrapping me in a dense, water shell.
Shhk!
Two blades tore through the water walls like spears through silk.
One came from the left, slicing toward my neck.
The other from the right, angling for my ribs.
I felt the pressure shift so I clenched my jaw and dropped the temperature in a single pulse.
The water around me responded instantly, freezing solid in a blink.
Crack!
The liquid snapped into jagged ice, locking their arms mid-strike. The blades halted—mere inches from my skin, suspended in crystal.
I hit the ground hard, knees buckling.
I slammed my palm into the dirt and cast my signature move.
The earth soften and I sank into the ground, the soil swallowing me whole.
Shhk!
Two blades stabbed into the ground with brutal precision.
One drove straight through the earth and punched into my chest, hot pain blooming in the ribs.
The other tore into my thigh, pinning my leg in place.
ARGH!
I slammed both palms forward, fingers clawing into the dirt, and unleashed a massive wind spell.
The compressed air detonated outward, blasting the soil above me into the sky. The ground ruptured with mud, stone, and shattered roots exploding in every direction.
The assassins standing above were caught in the blast, flung into the air like broken dolls.
The sky turned brown with splashes of mud, streaks of blood, and fragments of steel raining down like a storm.
I staggered upright, chest heaving, blood soaking through my robes.
And the other three assassins?
They were ready to join the dance.
But I wondered.
Why do I feel so liberated?