Phase Two
The knights of the House of Sivertant that I'd seen so far.
Valterion wasn't fundamentally any different from them.
Both were nothing more than puppets controlled by the World's Will.
Even though he'd acted relaxed, I figured his true nature would be the same.
"Kill... I'll kill you!!!!"
As expected, I wasn't wrong.
Valterion's eyes bulged as he spread both arms wide.
"Ceris."
I murmured quietly, and a warm surge of holy power bloomed behind me.
"Every time I give you the signal, I'm counting on you."
"I'll do my best."
"The signal will be gestures and words."
There was no time for further explanation, so I left it at that and dashed forward.
"Graaaagh!!!"
Valterion let out a pain-filled scream as blood sprayed from his body.
The blood that flowed out floated in the air as if it had a will of its own.
Valterion extended his arm.
The crimson fluid coiled around it and began to circulate.
'It's coming!'
*Swish!*
Shaped like a dragon, the blood-red mass came hurtling toward me.
I drew on my mana, twisted my body, and threw myself to the side.
*Boom!*
'What the—!'
The attack that struck where I'd been standing pierced straight through the ground.
That viscous blood had instantly transformed into a solid.
I couldn't allow a single clean hit.
With that thought in mind, I infused my sword with mana.
"I won't miss!"
Valterion whipped his head around with a flash and slashed at the empty air diagonally.
The blood, now reshaped like fingers, came rushing at me with terrifying speed.
I gritted my teeth and charged forward.
I had no intention of dodging anymore.
I unleashed the condensed sword energy.
*Crack!*
The blade trembled violently.
An overwhelming force surged through the sword and into my body.
Even so, I had to cut it down.
I squeezed out every last drop of the holy power Ceris had given me and sliced through the blood-formed shape.
Blood droplets splattered, and a sticky sensation seeped across my cheek.
I gave a light nod to send the signal, then took a large step and flew straight at Valterion.
My target was his shoulder.
I swung my sword without giving him a moment's rest.
The sword path glowed with a dark crimson light.
*Crunch!*
Blood burst from Valterion's heart and blocked the attack.
"Ethan!!!"
At the same time as Ceris's urgent cry, something pierced through my chest.
"Cough!"
I spat out dark blood and looked down.
The blood that had pierced my chest spun once in a full circle.
"Urgh... ugh!"
The excruciating pain made my mind go hazy.
Valterion retrieved the blood with a leisurely smile.
"A mere brat like you."
Then he stomped on my heart with his high-heeled shoe.
I was sent flying backward and rolled across the ground.
Dust poured into my mouth before I could even close it.
'Stay conscious!'
I clutched my chest with a trembling hand, trying to staunch the gaping wound as best I could.
"Ptui!"
I spat out a mixture of blood and dirt.
"I'll show you something even more fun."
Having seized the advantage, Valterion began to cackle again as he raised his palm upward.
Blood gathered in his hand and started to swirl.
'I have to stop it.'
My instincts weren't just whispering anymore—they were screaming at me.
I took a ragged breath and tried to turn toward Ceris.
"It's okay!"
Linea shouted in a terrified voice.
"Look at these little shits playing so well together."
The swirling blood suddenly converged into a single point.
I stabbed my sword into the ground to steady myself.
Then I immediately deployed a barrier to protect the area around us.
"Too late."
The blood concentrated at that single point bloomed in a brilliant flash.
Crimson fluid scattered everywhere and came crashing down on us.
*Crunch! Crack! Riiip!*
The bloodstorm tore at the barrier with ferocious intensity.
"Kyaaah!"
Linea screamed from behind me.
I glanced back and saw that she had also deployed a barrier, just like me.
True to her role, she was holding Ceris tightly in her arms while maintaining the shield.
'I can't give him any more time.'
Valterion knew it too.
It would be far easier to eliminate Ceris first than to kill me.
That's why I had to turn his attention back to me and block him.
If I kept rolling pathetically on the ground like this, what would happen to Linea and Ceris?
I suppressed the rage boiling up inside me and gripped my sword tighter.
I couldn't win if I only focused on defense.
I dispelled the barrier.
"Master!"
Linea cried out in shock at my action.
Valterion also twitched an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued.
"Ugh!"
The bloodstorm slammed into me.
Even so, I didn't close my eyes.
I simply stared straight at Valterion and kept moving forward.
More wounds carved themselves across my body.
Blood dripped steadily, painting a trail.
It didn't matter.
I had to kill that bastard Valterion.
That was the only thought in my mind.
I pressed forward.
My legs, which had been shaking as if caught on an invisible obstacle, refused to obey.
It didn't matter.
If strength wouldn't come naturally, I'd force it in.
I concentrated mana into my legs and squeezed out every ounce of power I could.
At that moment, a blow to my arm nearly made me drop my sword.
I barely managed to hold on and gripped it firmly again.
"What?"
Valterion narrowed his eyes at my stubborn behavior.
'It's not stubbornness.'
It's all to kill you.
I clenched my teeth so hard they felt like they might shatter and drew up my mana once more.
I wouldn't defend.
After all, I had insurance.
Therefore, there was only one thing I needed to do with magic.
Strengthen my body.
The tightly circulating mana raced through every circuit in my body.
Power surged through me once again as mana spread throughout my entire being.
The slow approach was over.
I instantly amplified my mana and charged straight at Valterion.
Caught off guard by my sudden rush, Valterion's eyes widened.
"An opening!"
Amplified sword energy coiled around my blade.
But it wasn't enough.
I needed even greater firepower.
Using Amplification repeatedly would come with severe side effects, but I had no choice.
I redirected the mana I'd poured into my legs for the charge and used it to cast the spell.
*Whoosh!*
Flames roared to life and fused with the sword energy.
"You bastard!!!"
Valterion roared as he brought both hands together.
Blood scattered around him, forming a wall that blocked my path.
A vivid crimson flickered across my vision.
But it was fine.
"Now!"
Because Ceris's holy power had arrived right on time.
Vitality flooded my body, and my mana grew even more refined.
Valterion realized the situation too late and his face twisted in fury.
'Too slow!'
The sword strike, now fused with both sword energy and flames, slashed down like lightning.
It sliced through the defensive line Valterion had created as if it were paper.
*Slice!*
I severed the arm of a horrified Valterion.
"Graaaaagh!"
Valterion writhed in agony.
I swung my sword diagonally again and again, intending to follow up with more strikes.
"Urgh!?"
Large gashes were carved across Valterion's body.
Black blood gushed from between the wounds.
I tried to keep attacking without pause, but suddenly an eerie chill seized my entire body.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue and leaped backward.
"To think I'd have to use this against a mere brat!!!"
Valterion's body began to change.
Attacking him in that state now would be reckless.
Having made that judgment, I ran toward Ceris.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes! I'm fine, but..."
At her words, I quickly shifted my gaze.
"M-Master..."
Linea was panting heavily, completely drained of mana.
She looked like she might collapse at any second.
"I'm... fine too..."
"No, rest for a moment."
I pulled Linea into a brief embrace.
She stroked my chest while letting out labored breaths.
"...Master."
Linea murmured in a voice that sounded like she was about to cry.
"It's okay. From what I can tell, touching him right now would only backfire. Just stay like this for a bit."
"It's because I'm useless..."
"Hey. Don't blame yourself. Thanks to you, the saintess stayed safe."
Linea had been making absurdly rapid progress under Seah's tutelage.
But in the end, she was still only at the level of an academy student.
She might stand out among students, but she was still lacking when facing something as abnormal as this.
Of course, given time, she would surely catch up.
Still, the fact that she had endured Valterion's attacks at her current level and supported Ceris was incredibly meaningful.
The reason I could ignore defense and charge forward.
The reason I could land a solid blow on Valterion.
It was all because I trusted Ceris.
And if it hadn't been for Linea, I wouldn't have been able to receive Ceris's help like this.
"Ceris. Heal Linea."
"B-But..."
"No. This is the right call. I still have the strength to keep fighting, but Linea doesn't."
Now that we'd entered phase two, it would be even harder for me to look after Ceris as well.
That made Linea all the more important.
Linea's survival meant Ceris's safety.
And Ceris's safety meant my own strength.
"I understand."
Having accepted my reasoning, Ceris released her holy power.
She frowned slightly, as if it was taking a toll on her.
"I'm all better now, Master."
Holy power seeped into Linea.
With her complexion restored, she slipped out of my arms.
'She's seriously overpowered.'
Ceris really was something else.
Her ability was downright ridiculous.
At this rate, couldn't she even bring back the dead?
Shaking off the pointless thoughts, I stood up.
"Master. Do your best."
"Ethan, don't lose."
Receiving encouragement from both women, I let a small smile form on my lips.
This wasn't so bad.
I walked forward with steady steps and looked up at Valterion.
A massive body that looked as if it had been formed from flowing blood, pulsing and writhing.
That body was made of endlessly swelling crimson fluid condensed into a single mass of blood energy.
To put it simply, it was a monster whose entire form was composed of nothing but blood energy.
It was almost insulting to even call it human anymore.
— Kha ha ha!
A sickening laugh echoed directly inside my head.
Valterion laughed uproariously, as if victory was already his.
— To think I'd have to use this on a brat like you. But now that I've brought out this power, you're finished.
If this were a boss raid, we'd just entered phase two.
Could I win if I fought him with the same strength as before?
No. The power I'd used earlier was nowhere near enough.
I could tell that even without having fought him in this form.
But.
'Does he think he's the only one with an ultimate skill?'
I wasn't the only one who could draw out greater power.
I raised my sword.
"Hoo..."
I exhaled and listened to the hum of the blade.
— I won't let you get away with this!
Valterion moved his enormous body.
And he swung.
— W-What?
"What do you mean, what? It's my ultimate skill."
My greatest ultimate technique, one that even the dean couldn't withstand.
It was the Concept-Cutting Sword.
"Phase two begins now."
After all, boss fights aren't something only the enemy gets to do.
Time for you to have a taste too.