GRAHHHHHH!
Still a bit dizzy, the man stumbled slightly as he made his way to the young man.
"Kid, why'd you turn out like this?"
"L-lack of training, I guess?"
"Let's fill in the gaps if we survive and the war isn't won."
They exchanged quips, but both were aware that they were in a precarious situation.
The captain approached, yet he could only look down at his unit soldier, not sure how to handle the mutilated body, but they had to move for they weren't in a safe place.
The moment the enemy recovers, two heads will roll in an instant if they tarry; that's what his gut is telling him.
It was the same for another attack. His decades of experience as a military man on the frontlines warn him of the danger they'll face if he raises his gun once again at that point.
All he could do in the meantime was drag the battered kid away. To where? He totally has no idea. They were surrounded by enemies on all sides except one; it would take a miracle for the two of them to escape alive.
Fortunately, the other demons are not making any moves and are just staring at the scene, as if awaiting instructions.
"Hah! What a headache. Kid, why can't you just let me die in peace?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but no can do. E-even on the brink of death, you still need to be useful..."
The impudence was excused for the time being, but it still made the team leader's face immediately crumple in disgust, perceiving the next lines.
"…it is so you can be a proud ash that'll build the foundation of a victorious Lohiya ---"
The kid was brave in all aspects, necessary or unnecessary, even at the brink of death. He was trained extremely well.
"Argh, this shitty kid ---!"
His unit's team leader, the captain, is the very same guy who received them after they got released from prison. Not used to his antics, even with how long they've been stuck with each other, the Captain glared at him with his face reddening, recalling the embarrassing words in the manual that he was instructed to say every year.
"And I'll need you to lend a hand, sir."
"Of course."
The captain answered quickly and without hesitation, recognizing the dire need of the kid, who seldom asks for help.
"T-thank you, sir."
"There's no need to force yourself. It's too late to act like a good kid."
The young man closed his eyes, biting the soft flesh in his mouth to keep the show of his emotion at bay.
When he tried to move or whenever he talked, he felt a sharp pang on his shoulders, legs, ribs, and a hundred others; his body parts are all uselessly connected and synchronized.
Seconds ago, he was dizzy, yet his consciousness, again, is gradually returning, making him more aware of his condition; but the pain somehow made him relieved.
As long as he isn't sure he's going to kick the bucket, he doesn't want to fall out of consciousness.
He dreaded the idea of waking up and finding himself at the demon's headquarters.
Through shallow and rapid breathing, he asked the team leader to place him in the safest place he could think of.
"Hah, then… Could you please move my body to the edge of the abyss, sir? Lay me down where I'll surely fall if I roll once."
His inconceivable words were responded to with the expected remarks by his team leader or any other normal person.
"Have you finally gone nuts, kid? Is your brain clotted?"
"Not sure."
"Then what bullsh*t are you sayi---?"
"T-that bastard is Kerioth."
With that, the captain immediately shut his mouth.
As the penal military unit's team leader, he was the first to receive all the records of the chosen men from the detention centers in the areas under his jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the story between the monstrous Liberator and his nemesis, Kerioth, is an open secret. One time, he got to ask the kid about it. And of course, he trusted and believed the kid.
He nodded as he understood the young man's intention.
"We have to be quick then. Don't go complaining."
"Y-yes."
Though the captain himself has his body on the verge of collapsing, the injuries he accumulated were no joke either. He mustered all his strength to carry the kid, who had bitten his lip so badly that a bit of blood trickled right down his cheek just to keep himself from screaming.
"Urghhh…"
"Damn it, he totally wrecked you. This is definitely not good for the heart; why are you still alive?"
"H-heh..."
From around him, the captain felt the tension and heard the sounds of grunting. But ignoring them while being vigilant against attacks that might come from behind, he approached the edge.
As they neared the extremity, he stopped dead on his tracks as he gradually felt the trembling of his legs. However, he was sure it wasn't due to the injuries.
Even in his old age, he felt slightly overwhelmed by the extreme vastness and danger of the hole with no end.
It was the first enemy of Lohiya, collectively, and by far the greatest. He hoped against all hope that it wouldn't be the last, for that could only mean one thing, given how dire things are turning out.
Cold sweat started to build up on his face and back, but he carried on.
Finally arriving, the young man was carefully placed on the ground, with his back against the abyss. His face scrunched up slightly as he felt the domineering emptiness behind him. One wrong move, and to the pit he goes; his team leader is truly good at following instructions.
"I, I think this position is too much, sir."
It was his way of saying well done.
"Why, yes. If things go well, I might finally do what I've been wanting all this time with just a little push."
And it was the captain's way of saying he got what he meant.
Though the team leader responded like he'll be the first to do the shoving if things go south, he still turned towards the enemies in the distance, finally raising his rifle, all set in seemingly protecting him.
It was only the first time he got to take a good look at Kerioth.
Kerioth was still in some sort of trance, and the other demons behind him were fidgeting and grunting, but it was difficult to ascertain how they reckoned with the matters with their own leader.
'Kerioth, you should have at least lived a good life as a demon.'
As Kerioth said earlier, even though the demons under him know that he may be weaker, they can't do anything about it. But in the end, they moved neither out of respect nor loyalty but because Kerioth held the authority. Even when Kerioth was in danger, they didn't bat an eye.
"So what's the plan, kid?"
"I, I dare not steal your thunder, sir; should you be the one to do the planning?"
"Should I?"
When the shotgun's butt prodded his side with enough force for his heart to skip a beat, he knew it was not the time to be joking.
"Ah! I'm on it."
"I'm on it, what?"
"I'm thinking, sir, seriously."
"Be quick."
Of course, even without anyone threatening him, his mind and eyes were already moving to whip up a plan.
Thinking if there could be a plausible way to defeat Kerioth at the moment, who was still in a daze, he activated his ability for the eighth time.
"Ouch."
"What's wrong, kid?"
"N-nothing."
The pressure he felt on his eyes was no longer at a level he could easily shake off. As he thought, there was a limit to him using his ability.
But ten seconds were enough to get him the information he wanted.
It was, however, nothing but the uncomfortable truth.
"Damn."
"Hey."
"The bastard is recovering."
"Don't say the obvious. Of course he is; he's a demonized human; there's no way that shot drove the nail in the coffin."
'No, sir, it certainly could have.'
A hole should have been driven in Kerioth's center. But the demon must have done something to lessen the impact.
Kerioth must be saving his energy to recover, with him still in a state of unconsciousness. But he'll surely recover in no time, thus there's no longer any moment to waste.
"Y-you have any extra weapons, sir?"
"What, do you think you still have enough strength to handle this?"
Despite questioning, the team leader handed him a modified Magnum Research loaded with mana bullets. It wasn't the right time, but he somehow felt touched, knowing how important the gun was to the team leader, and he immediately took it with his remaining working hand.
"Is it alright for me to take your child, sir?"
"Hah, why ask when you're already grasping it? You're an excellent soldier, kid, but you really talk too much nonsense."
He was already about to aim at one of the green spots remaining on Kerioth's body.
If properly marked, he'd be able to destroy Kerioth completely. But of course, he'll be thrown straight into the Abyss as he won't be able to handle the recoil. He had already come to accept that he wouldn't be alive by the end of the day, but what mattered to him was that his death would not be at the hands of Kerioth.
"I'll go for the heart, and you go for the head, sir. These are Kerioth's remaining weaknesses."
"What? The acquired blessing isn't a lie?"
"In the next life, let's talk about how your inner workings perceive me, sir."
"Ah, then you'll be greatly disappointed."
From an awkward position and with nothing to support his hand, he aimed at Kerioth's heart. When he was about to open his mouth to say a short farewell to his team leader, a chill ran down his spine as an immense power was felt.
"What the ---?"
He was so distracted that he lost focus as his body started to tremble. It wasn't just him; the team leader also felt the heavy atmosphere.
The golden lights that illuminated the surroundings began to falter and soon disappeared.
He couldn't help but look at the direction of the esteemed party, where the peculiar events are currently unfolding.
That's when he saw the most unbelievable sight he ever had for the day.
From a distance, he clearly saw the Saint push the Renarian Hero towards the Abyss.
As the Renarian Hero fell without any hint of struggle, the Saint raised his head upward; the bright smile he saw hours ago was still plastered on the Saint's face.
Silence ensued, and when the Hero was already a long way down the Abyss and the darkness had already engulfed him, he and the Saint caught each other's eye.
'What the heck?'
'Best of luck.'
Those were the words the Saint mouthed right before the crowned demon that approached cut his head off.