After the Imp transformed into his demon form, the battle took a turn for the worse. Fully healed and now able to fly, he began overwhelming the group despite being outnumbered.
Not good. Even with Tsukihi recharged, this guy is holding his own. His weakening ability is going to guarantee his victory at this rate.
Leon kept his eyes on the fight. The girls were moving even slower now.
Roselyn was being driven back on the front line, struggling just to block the Imp's attacks. Valeria's strikes were either dodged or deflected, while Rika could no longer land a single hit, her acrobatics now too slow to keep up with the Imp's aerial movements.
Only Tsukihi's relentless barrage of attacks and Cersei's well-timed rescues were keeping the others in the fight.
I don't get it. If his demon form is so much stronger, why didn't he start the fight like this? There has to be some kind of cost or restriction.
Leon glanced over at Tala, whose throat had finally recovered from the blow.
"Feeling better?"
"...I should be."
She reached down and placed a hand on the grass. At her command, the blades spiral up together, hardening into wood until a new quarterstaff grow from the ground.
"So, what's the plan now?"
"No idea, Farm boy. Cersei, what've you got?"
"We leave the man behind and run."
"Cersei!"
Celestine yelled at Cersei for even joking about the idea
"Yes, yes, sorry, Princess. Haa... Just give me a second to think. He's gone into his full demon form, and we're already too worn out to overpower him. We'll have to take advantage of his reduced cognition."
Reduced cognition...
"He's angry at me. What if we used me as bait?"
"Not a bad idea, but I'm not sure how your Vitality will hold up against his weakening ability."
"Cersei's right, you might be able to outheal his weakening, but he also might be able to reduce your Vitality to the point where you can't heal anymore..."
Tala paused, A grin spread across her face as she stretched her arms overhead, quarterstaff in hand.
"But... I do have enough Essence left for a seventh-level spell. One that would kill that demon... if it hit."
Cersei immediately cut in.
"There's a reason you don't use that spell. It requires a full chant. He's far too fast for it to land, and if the others try to pin him down long enough, they'll be caught in the blast too."
"They don't have to. Our bait just so happens to have over a hundred Vitality. I'm sure Rika's farm boy would survive."
Why do I get the feeling she just wants an excuse to cast that spell?
"What exactly does a seventh-level spell mean? And how long does it take to cast?"
Tala grinned, already raising her staff as if she was about to cast the spell.
"Seventh-level is the highest tier of spell a non-hero can cast. It's what makes me the strongest in the guild! As for time..."
Tala tone quicken, as if to hide her weaknesses.
"Seven full lines of incantation. Remember Tsukihi's ~White Lotus~? That was a sixth-level spell... But she's quite fast and I don't really get to practice this one often, so it might take a bit longer."
"It's not a bad plan, but there are too many variables. We don't know how his healing will match against the weakening. We don't know if he can keep the Imp within range. The weakening might drop his Vitality low enough that the spell finishes him off."
"Well, we're running out of time, and it's the best we've got. You ready, farm boy?"
Cersei rolled her eyes, more irritated at losing the argument with Tala than concerned with Leon's life one way or another.
Leon looked at Celestine, the only one showing visible concern for his safety.
Yet she still put on a brave face as she spoke to him.
"I believe in you."
Leon felt his face heat up slightly.
Alright then! Time to be the hero. Bait the demon, tank the hit, and return to my harem of monster girls!
He broke into a full sprint, adrenaline surging through his veins. That same unstoppable feeling he'd had felt against the vampires on his first night was back.
"This spell of yours better be good, Tala. Because the Overseer of Death, Khariel or whatever, said Rika was the strongest."
Well, technically he said "deadliest" But what's the harm in a little extra motivation?
An old anime opening theme began playing in Leon's head as he ran. This was that moment! The triumphant victory rush!
"Oh really?! Let's change that!"
Tala slammed her quarterstaff into the ground.
"~Vents that open the World~"
The ground began to tremble. Roselyn immediately felt it and turned back toward Tala.
"What are you?!..."
She saw Leon running towards them and knew.
"We have to go!"
She grabbed Valeria by the back of her dress and started pulling her away.
"Wait what's happening!?"
"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!"
The demon shot himself through the air toward them.
"IMP! It's time I show you how great I am!"
The demon stopped mid-flight, his attention snapping to Leon instantly. The source of his rage and envy now charging straight toward him, brazenly boasting about himself.
"~Cracks that split the Stone~"
Leon ran past Tsukihi, who was still unleashing her relentless barrage of fire and ice bolts.
"Go! Go! Go!"
Tsukihi blew him a kiss, playfully cheering him on.
White smoke swirled around Leon's feet. Small wings formed along his shoes. Tsukihi had slipped in some magic to enhance his speed in between her attacks.
"~Chamber that bears the Flame~"
Leon zoomed past Roselyn, who was still pulling Valeria along.
"I hope you know what you're doing!"
"Not a clue! And Valeria; I'll feed you after this, just hit them with everything you've got!"
Valeria's eyes lit up as she immediately recalled this line he had said to her on their first night together.
"I got you!"
"~Let smoke reach the Sky~"
The girls fell back behind Leon as he and the demon charged straight toward each other.
"DIE!"
The Imp spun mid-charge, his tail whipping around and driving the stinger straight into Leon's gut.
His healing kicked in, stopping the stinger, but the force still slammed him backward.
The demon continued his chase on Leon as he flew back.
"IT'S TIME I SHOW YOU HOW PATHETIC YOU ARE!!!!"
"Bring it on!"
Leon jumped back up and threw a punch with his right arm.
The Imp blocked it with a punch to Leon's elbow, breaking the joint as his forearm went limp
"THAT'S IT!"
Leon threw another punch. This time with his left arm. The Imp blocked it once more with the same snapping of Leon's elbow.
"HAHAHAH!"
Leon pointed his upper arms towards the laughing Demon's demon's head.
"You really thought I had the strength to punch you?"
His healing shot his forearms back into place. The unpresentable attack smashing into both sides of the Demon's head.
"~Let Mountain rend anew~"
The demon took a few steps back, stunned from the direct hit.
"AAARGH! YOU THINK YOU'RE FUNNY!"
Leon had already started to charge into him, colliding his shoulder into the Imp's gut as Leon locked his arms around his waist.
"~My Blood, Written in the Stars~"
Both Leon and the Imp looked up. A thousand droplets of blood hung suspended above Valeria in the air, shining like red stars.
I swear it wasn't that many last time...if she had enough blood couldn't she cover the sky? Is that actually why it's called Nightfall?
"GET OFF OF ME!"
The Demon elbowed Leon in the back.
His spine slingshotted into his gut like an elastic band, causing him to lose his grip around the Imp.
"~Nightfall!~"
The droplets harden into spikes, then released, shooting in a fast, wide range rain.
The blood spikes struck the ground in a wave of red. The demon blocked as many as he could, but a few still managed to pierce through him.
Leon on the other hand had stood up and turned to face the rain of spikes, arms wide to catch as many as possible.
I'm really doing this a second time…
He ran towards the Imp.
"Porcupine Hug!"
Covered in spikes, he grabbed the Demon as hard as he could. The spikes pierced through the Imp as Leon reused this embarrassing combo once again.
"~Let Lava claim the Land~"
The Demon screamed out in pain. Yet his eyes were still locked on Leon. Even anger now after facing Leon and his bizarre fighting style.
"PORCUPINE HUG?!?! Let's see how much you laugh when I smash you into pieces!"
He pulled Leon off and flung him into the ground. Dropping on top of him to begin repeated strikes against his head.
Leon raised his arms to block but each punch either went around or through his guard.
Ahhh This hurts! But I need to keep him on me. Endured until Tala's done and then save Bloodless for the last second.
So long as my Vitality doesn't drop low enough that I died in the 7th level spell, I win!
"Did you forget about me?"
Rika had popped out of nowhere and struck down with her wakizashi into the same left side of the demon's neck.
Even Leon had forgotten that she never ran past him like the others. He didn't see her when he arrived at the demon, yet Rika had somehow stayed hidden in plain sight as the two fought.
"AAARGH!!!!! I'LL KILL YOU TWICE FOR THIS!!!"
He swiped at Rika but she had already pulled out her blade.
"Told you 'Porcupine Hug' is your special move."
She stayed as long as she could and now sprinted away to get out of range.
What a little brat I have
"~Ash, Rock, and Fire arise!~"
The Demon's eyes went wide. He had finally caught on to what was happening. He pushed off Leon and spread his wings.
"Oh no you don't!"
Leon lunged forward, latching onto the Imp's wrists.
"Let go!"
He swatted Leon's hand off quickly. But not far enough.
"~Bloodless~"
The liquid spikes around Leon's arm pierced into the demon's arms as well.
"~Eruption~"
The demon shot itself back with its wings. Dragging Leon along with him as they flew out of the forest clearing. Countless trees flew bye.
But before Leon could doubt himself, his mind was shut off as lava engulfed him.