"GARGGGHH!" A series of punches rushed towards Fat but were deftly blocked by his shield. Each punch generated a powerful gust of wind, making it difficult for Doug and Kiel to approach Demon Lord Dylas.
"What should we do? We need to help Fat immediately!" Kiel said.
"Do you think we can get close to them with this strong wind pressure?" Doug replied.
'ZHOOOOOSH!'
A swift arrow shot towards Demon Lord Dylas.
"Huh?"
'DOOOSH!' The arrow was promptly blocked by Demon Lord Dylas.
'ZHOSSH!'
'ZHOSSH!'
More arrows soared toward Demon Lord Dylas. He retreated far from Fat, evading all the arrows.
"Cehh! There's an interferer!" Demon Lord Dylas remarked, looking at his wounded hand from blocking the arrows.
*Raqnid?* Fat looked towards the direction of the arrow.
However, the individual wasn't who Fat had imagined. The archer who assisted earlier was Nolan, the greatest archer from the Elf nation.
"I've come to help!" Nolan yelled from a distance.
Now, Fat's group was complete with Nolan's presence as a long-range attacker.
"LET'S GOO!" Fat shouted.
"Do you think adding an archer can change the outcome of this battle? The result of this battle has been determined since the beginning of your clash with MEEE! GARGGGHH!" Demon Lord Dylas rushed towards them swiftly.
'ZHOOSH!'
Nolan didn't give Demon Lord Dylas an easy time to attack. Each arrow released disrupted Demon Lord Dylas's performance, forcing him to dodge each arrow.
"GERGHH!"
Now Demon Lord couldn't attack freely, as he had to be cautious of Nolan's arrows.
[Shield Boost]
Fat also had a little time to prepare for Demon Lord Dylas's attack.
'SHOOOSH!'
Doug and Kiel also acted to assist Fat.
While Demon Lord Dylas was busy evading Nolan's attacks, Doug and Kiel appeared to surprise him.
[Twin Blade]
"Huh?" Demon Lord Dylas, unable to dodge Doug and Kiel's attack, had to protect himself using his hands as a shield.
'HYOOSH!'
"Damn it! GARGGGHH!" Demon Lord Dylas changed his target, trying to attack Kiel and Doug.
"KIEELLL!" Doug shouted to Kiel, who was near Demon Lord Dylas.
'DHOOM!'
Unfortunately, Demon Lord Dylas's attack was successfully blocked by Fat.
"Thanks, Fat!" Kiel, saved from the attack, expressed gratitude.
"Gerghh, you again!" Demon Lord Dylas started to get angry.
'ZHOOSH!'
"ARGGHH!" Demon Lord Dylas yelled in pain after being hit by Nolan's attack.
"GUY, I'M READY!" Nancy warned her teammates that she was ready to attack.
"GOOD!" Doug, Kiel, and Fat responded.
[Fire Tornado]
Demon Lord Dylas could only stand perplexed and confused as a large magical whirlwind appeared where he stood. He couldn't think long, given the relentless attacks.
'BOOOM!'
The massive fire tornado engulfed Demon Lord Dylas within.
"ARGGHH!" Only Demon Lord Dylas's scream was heard.
The loud scream abruptly ceased, raising questions for the group.
"Is he dead?" Fat asked.
"I don't know!" Doug replied.
Suddenly, a black shadow emerged from the tornado. The shadow grew larger over time.
Laughter echoed, growing louder.
"HAHAHA HAHHHA HAHAHA, I'M DEAD? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!"
'FHOOOM!'
Demon Lord Dylas shattered Nancy's magic with ease, having evolved into a different form. He appeared larger and more menacing than before.
"GARGGGHH! BE READY, YOOUU GUYYYSS!" Demon Lord Dylas rushed towards them with great speed.
'ZHOOSH!'
Taking advantage of the dust and sand caused by the previous tornado, Demon Lord Dylas seized the opportunity to attack.
'SHOOOSH!'
"Huh?" Nolan was shocked to see Demon Lord Dylas suddenly in front of him.
"Goodbye!" Demon Lord Dylas delivered a punch directly to Nolan's abdomen.
'DHOOMM!'
Nolan was sent flying far after receiving that punch.
"NOLAAAANNN!" Kiel cried out, witnessing the situation.
Demon Lord Dylas shifted his gaze to Nancy, who stood alone.
"NANCYYYY!" Doug ran towards Nancy to save her.
However, Demon Lord Dylas's extraordinary speed didn't give Nancy or Doug a chance to react. In the blink of an eye, Demon Lord Dylas was in front of Nancy, smiling with a terrifying grin.
"Uhhhh!" A new fear, unknown to Nancy until now, gripped her. Nancy shivered and stood frozen, facing this newfound terror.
"NOOO!" Their cries reached Nancy.
"Now it's your turn, little girl!" Demon Lord Dylas, is ready to unleash his fist towards Nancy.
The fist was then slammed towards Nancy.
'KBOOMMM!' The area was destroyed.
Doug, Kiel, and Fat were stunned to see their friend struck by Demon Lord Dylas.
"Nancy!"
"ARGGHHHH.." Doug and Kiel lost patience. They both blindly rushed towards Demon Lord Dylas.
"WAIT!" Fat shouted.
'HYOOSH!'
"Huh?" They were both surprised as Demon Lord Dylas disappeared in an instant.
Demon Lord Dylas appeared behind them, catching both Doug and Kiel with his hands.
'CAUGHT!'
"Hahaha, this is why humans are weak. Your hearts are too easily shattered by trivial things!... Let me crush your small bodies!" Demon Lord Dylas clenched Doug and Kiel in his hands.
"ARGHHHH!" Doug and Kiel screamed in pain.
"Hiyarghh!" Fat came swinging his sword to rescue Doug and Kiel but was easily avoided by Demon Lord Dylas.
"Hurmm... I forgot about you!" Demon Lord Dylas gripped Doug and Kiel, breaking their ribs before slamming them into the ground.
'DOOOM!'
"Huh!" Fat could do nothing to save his friends. He could only watch with a wounded heart.
"Alright, let's continue our game!" Now, only Fat remained face-to-face with Demon Lord Dylas.
"Feel this!" Demon Lord Dylas unleashed his punch on Fat's shield.
'DHOOOM!'
The surrounding area shattered after that punch. Fat was still standing strong, but blood began to flow from his nose, indicating that Demon Lord Dylas's attack had an effect on him, even though he managed to deflect it.
*His attacks are stronger than before! How can I deflect the next attack?*
"Heh, you didn't disappoint me, human! As a token of appreciation, tell me your name, so I will always remember the name of the first human who managed to deflect my attack."
"Fat!" Fat replied.
"Hahaha, Fat it is! Well, Fat, you should be proud that I, Demon Lord Dylas, consider you as a worthy opponent."
"So, the others aren't worthy opponents for you!" Fat questioned.
[What you give, you get back!] [Skill] [SS]
Fat was ready, activating his skill as Demon Lord Dylas was busy asking for his name.
"GARGGGHH!" The next punch was about to be unleashed.
"GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA!"
'DHOOM!'
'DHOOM!'
'DHOOM!'
'DHOOM!'
'DHOOM!'
"ARGGHHHHHHHHHH!" Fat struggled with all his might to endure.
—------------------------------------------------------------------
'CLANNG!'
'CLANK!'
Zack attacked Demon Lord Dolce, but his large sword was blocked. Then Jilk came to attack Demon Lord Dolce, and his attack was also blocked. Sofia followed with an attack after Jilk was blocked by Demon Lord Dolce.
They continued, taking turns attacking Demon Lord Dolce. Demon Lord Dolce never failed to block their attacks and managed to counterattack. Although Demon Lord Dolce succeeded in counterattacking, the injuries sustained by the Heroes did not last long. Rose healed their injuries each time.
"Ciss! At this rate, we won't be able to touch him even by tomorrow." Jilk grumbled.
"Jilk, don't act on your own!" Sofia said.
"Sorry, guys!" Rose spoke up.
Because of Rose, Jilk and the others couldn't fully attack Demon Lord Dolce as they were bound in a formation to protect Rose.
"Don't worry, Rose, without you, we wouldn't have survived until now!" Sofia said.
"Zack! Sofia! You guys wait here, guard Rose. Let me handle the attack!" say Jilk.
"JILKK WAIT!" Sofia yelled.
'SHOOSH!'
Jilk acted alone, attacking Demon Lord Dolce.
[Lightning Spear]
"Hiyarghh!"
'CLANNG!' Demon Lord Dolce blocked Jilk's attack.
"Arrogant human, do you think you can defeat me alone!"
"Be silent, foolish monster, I'm not done yet! Garghhh!"
'CLANK!'
'CLANNG!'
'CLANK!'
Jilk continuously attacked Demon Lord Dolce, and all his attacks were blocked. Demon Lord Dolce allowed Jilk to attack, merely stepping back while defending.
"Heish, what is he thinking? Trying to fight Demon Lord alone." Sofia muttered.
"HIYARGHHHH!"
"Heh!" Demon Lord Dolce grinned.
'HYOOSHH!'
"Huh?" Jilk was surprised because Demon Lord Dolce didn't block his attack this time but dodged it. After dodging the attack, Demon Lord Dolce immediately counterattacked.
'SLAAASHH!'
A massive slash hit Jilk's back.
"ARGHHH!" Jilk cried out.
"JILKK!" Sofia and Rose shouted.
Zack didn't stay idle after seeing Jilk being attacked. He ran towards Demon Lord Dolce, hoping to help Jilk.
"ZACK WAIT!" Sofia shouted.
"Heh, another one falls for the bait!" Demon Lord Dolce moved towards Zack approaching him.
'HYOOSHH!'
Zack swung his large sword at Demon Lord Dolce, who came towards him.
'SHOOSH!' Easily avoiding the attack because of the massive swing, Demon Lord Dolce passed by Zack while dodging. At that moment, his sword cut through Zack's front.
"AHHHH!"
"ZACKKK!"
Demon Lord Dolce didn't stop there; he continued towards Sofia and Rose to attack. The actual plan was to break their formation.
"Damn it, ROSE, QUICK, RUN!"
'SHOOSH!'
In the blink of an eye, Demon Lord Dolce was in front of Sofia.
"GARGGGHH!" Sofia tried to attack.
'CLANNG!' Her attack was blocked, and then a punch hit her stomach.
'AHHHH!' Sofia fell to her knees after receiving the punch.
"Sofiaa!" Rose cried out.
"Qu—quick, ru—run away!" Sofia said.
"Now it's your turn, Healer!"
Rose stood there without running away, worried about her friends. Before she could heal her friends, Demon Lord Dolce's sword pierced through her body.
"Huh?" Rose was shocked as the sword suddenly pierced her.
"ROSEEEEE!" her friend cried out.
"You know, among you four, you are the most troublesome for me! If not for you, all your friends would have died by now!" Demon Lord Dolce whispered to Rose.
'SLUUURP!'
Demon Lord Dolce pulled his sword out of Rose's body.
"GARGGGHH!" Jilk, Zack, and Rose tried to get up from the pain they experienced and rushed toward Rose to help her.
'HYOOOSH!'
They attacked Demon Lord Dolce to keep him away from Rose. Sofia caught Rose, who was almost collapsing. She laid Rose down gently, tore a bit of her clothing, and used it to cover Rose's stab wound to prevent more blood from flowing out.
"Sniff... Rose, hold on!" Sofia said, shedding tears as she looked at her friend.
"Sofia!"
"Yes, Rose! Sniff."
"Why does it hurt so much?"
"Ughhh... You were stabbed with a sword, Rose, that's why it hurts. Bear with it for a bit!"
"Hah... No wonder it hurts... So this is how it feels when you're about to die!"
"What are you talking about, Rose? No one is going to die. We'll all go back together."
"But, Sofia, I can't endure this pain anymore. It's excruciating. Erghhh!"
Meanwhile, Jilk and Zack, facing Demon Lord Dolce, were in critical condition.
"Heh... Pitiful, brought into this world as a healer. The healer's job is the most unfortunate and sorrowful because they always heal others' wounds, but their own wounds can never be healed. They are weak, unable to fight, and always need protection. It's unfortunate isn't it when her life is always about saving people, but when it's other members of the group who cause the problem, they bear the consequences."
Jilk began to regret his selfish actions.
*He's right; this is all my fault! If I had listened to Sofia earlier, none of this would have happened. Gerghh!*
"You know what they are called when they run out of 'mana,' They are called a burden!"
"ROSE IS NOT A BURDEN!"
After hearing that insult, Zack and Jilk attacked immediately.
"Forgive me, Sofia, for being a burden to all of you!" said Rose.
"What nonsense are you talking about; we never considered you a burden, Rose. On the contrary, if not for you, we would have had a harder time, you know! Sniff!"
"Hehe, I'm glad to hear that... I thought I was a burden... Coug coug."
"Enough, Rose! Stop talking; you're injured!"
"What can I do, Sofia? This is just my way of easing my pain! Maybe this could be our last conversation."
"Ughhhh... Sniff..." Hearing Rose's words made Sofia even sadder.
"I miss them already, my classmates."
"Don't worry; after this, we'll meet them!"
"If I don't get to meet them, please convey my apologies to them, Sofia!"