The matches progressed smoothly and finally came the time for my showdown with Porco-san.
He held in his hand the ominous shield he'd used during the preliminary rounds.
It was the 'pseudo-sacred treasure' given by Phinis-sama.
On top of that, rumors about him being a 'quick-footed fatty' had spread among the audience, so the excitement at the venue was at its peak, as though a fateful showdown was about to unfold.
Well, I wasn't sure if I'd call this a fateful showdown, but Porco-san said with a pervasive fighting spirit, "…Exa-sama, you've gone too far. For you to take not only Magmell-sama but also all those big-breasted beautiful women as your wives, it's outrageous! I'm so envious!"
"E-err, sorry…"
But not all of them have big breasts, are you going to brush them aside just like that…?
As I was lost for words, "Therefore," Porco-san said as he raised high ominous shield high to the sky, "The time for you to receive your retribution has come! I will take the goddess whom I love with all my heart from your clutch!"
"—?!"
At that moment, a black aura overflowed from the shield, enveloping Porco-san and enlarging his body.
His body became clad in heavy armor and his shield separated into two pieces, each of which was equipped to the back of each of his arms. He looked exactly the same as when he'd transformed into the Blackdoll form in Estona back then.
He wasn't just some 'quick-footed fatty'.
He was a 'charging rampart'.
I didn't expect he'd go to such lengths to get Magmell…
And what's more.
"Here I come!"
The floor of the arena collapsed with a loud crashing sound and Porco-san charged straight toward me.
The last time he had transformed into a Blackdoll, he had lost most of his ability to think, or to put it more accurately, his instinct had overwhelmed his reason, but he seemed to be fully conscious this time.
I can't let my guard down, I transformed into Vermillion Bird Form and manifested the hilt of the single-edged sword with a blaze, taking a sword-drawing stance.
"Grand Ray – Zero!"
Then I welcomed him with the fastest light element-based slash, but…
"Shield Bash!"
—Bang!
"Geh?! —Whoa?!"
Far from being daunted by the slash, the giant boulderlike Porco-san rammed straight into it, dispersing it.
"I have got you now, Exa-sama! —Double Shield Bash!"
—BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!
Having been pushed until my back touched the wall of the arena, I was crushed into the wall by Porco-san with a force that was far above the adventurer I had sent flying into the wall in the first round.
◇
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?! Exa-samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…—!"
"Hey?!" Nazarie caught the collapsed Magmell.
It appeared she had fainted from shock.
However, Magmell seemed to be a little too plump for the petite Nazarie to hold; she muttered "S-so heavy…" looking as though she was about to be crushed under.
After giving them a sideways glance, "Fumu," Arcadia said as she crossed her arms, "This is only to be expected after we trained him. He's not holding back at all."
"Yeah. Not to say I have no expectations for him, but he's doing surprisingly well. I'm impressed." Zana nodded.
"But it's really strange to see him like this… he's not the usual pig I know…" Elma looked at the arena with half-closed eyes.
"I know right," Tirna nodded and said, "Mr. Pig should be more flabby flabby. He can't go flabby flabby the way he is now."
"Well, he is strengthened by Goddess Phinis's power. In fact, it'd be troubling if he couldn't display at least that much power, instead. As a fellow 'Shield', I'd be embarrassed," Shiva said.
"Oh, right~, that fatty has the skill as the Shield auntie." Ophir hit her palm with her fist.
"…If you don't give it a rest, I'm seriously going to kill you, you know?"Shiva glared at Ophir through the cloth covering her eyes, but Ophir just innocently tapped Shiva's shoulder and said, "C'mon, don't get so uptight, auntie," causing her to finally turn livid and about to flip out.
But at that time.
"It seems it's still not enough, however…. Well, not that I ever thought that child would lose…"
""""""""!"""""""
The moment Phinis said so, the venue was enveloped in a dazzling radiance.
"No, before that, can someone lend me a hand here…? What is this, a neglect-play…?"
◇
"What?!" Having been forced to revert back to his original form, Porco-san panicked, not knowing what happened.
Meanwhile, I landed on the arena with my whole body wrapped in silver flames.
This was my anti-demon form—Phoenix Form that had the special ability to instantly purify all 'filth'.
Blackdolls' power fundamentally came from 'filth'.
It could be said that this form was as much their natural enemy as the demons'.
"C-could that be that the Phoenix Form…?! T-that's cheating, Exa-sama?!"
"No, even if you call me cheating… the fate of my beloved wife is at stake here…"
—Blaze!
"Eeek?!"
Saying that, I manifested a silver gauntlet on my right arm.
Since his blackdollification had been canceled, I could have returned to my Vermillion Bird Form, but he had devoted so much effort for Magmell, even though she was someone else's wife.
I must show the utmost respect for Porco-san.
Even though, again, he did all that for someone else's wife.
"Thank you for loving Magmell, Porco-san. But she's my wife. I can't give her to you."
"Kh, it ended like this, after all… No, I guess this is for the best… my goddess seemed to be happiest when she was by your side, after all…"
After making a self-deprecating smile, "—Very well!" Porco-san raised his voice and lifted up his right fist, "Let this be this Porco's final blow!"
Farewell, my goddess! Porco-san charged toward me.
Seeing his determined face, I…
"—Grand Prominence Blow!"
"Hebuu?!"
BOOM! Threw a punch to his face with all my might.
As an aside, although Porco-san stopped approaching Magmell after that, he'd faint in agony while weeping tears of blood whenever he saw us while we were going out on a date; as expected, it seemed he still had lingering regret.