The sight of Zeke's huge body with the magic sword in front of him flying through the air with great force.
For a moment, I couldn't understand what was happening.

I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it.
In the first place, even if he had been caught off guard, it is inconceivable to me that Zeke would have been blown away by Phoenix.
After all, Phoenix's muscular strength is extremely low among the super-difficult demonic beasts.
I don't care if you attacked him with a fireball or something, there's no way you could make Sieg-san fly away with a mere forceful push.

That's why for a few moments I couldn't hide my turmoil.
If nothing had happened, I might have been stunned for even longer.

''RuiAAAAAAAAAAAAA!''

Nah!

But the shifting situation didn't give me enough time to get confused.

...... With a muffled roar, the phoenix's body began to expand, and we were forced to come to our senses.

It was too bizarre a sight.
The Phoenix was supposed to have gone limp until now.
But now, that magical beast had the same or even more vitality in its body as when we entered the labyrinth.
As if to show this, Phoenix's body expansion became even more intense, and the wounds I had worn were regenerating.

The abnormality that had happened to Phoenix caused silence to rule the place.
I could see the expression on Armia's face as she looked to the side, as if to say she had no idea what was happening.
But I reflexively wanted to detect what was happening to Phoenix.

Because the Phoenix was radiating the same intimidating feeling as the mutated Hydra, that worst of beings.
...... Yes, that Phoenix is trying to mutate now.

Now, if we allow the Phoenix to mutate, we're going to have a hard time.

'd*mn,'

The next moment, I made that decision, gripped the dagger tightly and started running.

Phoenix's body was healing at an extraordinary rate.
As I watched the scene, I felt a sense of impatience.
Once his body was completely healed, Phoenix would next be clothed in flaming armor again.
If that happens, the dagger is the only thing I can carry, and I won't have enough reach to attack the Phoenix.
I've got to do something to settle the matter before that.

...... But I wasn't confident that I could defeat the Phoenix right now.

"I won't let you!

I wasn't the only one who noticed Phoenix's mutation.
Narcena, who fought the mutated Hydra with me, also noticed Phoenix's mutation a beat behind me and started running.

''Haaah!''

Narsena, who was closer to Phoenix than I was, immediately caught Phoenix in time and struck him.
In the next moment, Narsena's fist dug into Phoenix's body, which didn't even try to move.

''RuiaAAA!''

d*mn!

...... but even after that Narsena's attack, Phoenix still only leaked a small amount of blood from his mouth.

The attack should have injured Phoenix's internal organs, but that was only a wound that could be quickly healed for the current Phoenix, let alone for a human or normal demonic beast.
As a martial artist, it only increased the time it took to re-clothe itself in flame armor for a few seconds before it was still able to take the attack of the highly capable Narcena without resistance.
This reminds me of Phoenix's abilities, which have been raised to an unusually high level by the mutation, and it strengthens my belief that I won't be able to defeat Phoenix on my own.

If I had had time to attack the Phoenix, I could have crippled it with a single blow.
Yes, just like Hydra at that time.

But I knew that was impossible.
Most of the wounds I had inflicted on myself had already healed.
I'm sure that Narsena's wounds have given me some extra time, but it will only take a few moments for the Phoenix to put on the flame armor.
It's not difficult for me to reach the Phoenix and attack it before then, but it's impossible to strengthen the discarded body.

'That, but!'

Even though I understand this, I don't want to give up and try to strengthen my own body.
Even if I stand still, I try to strengthen my body, which should be impossible, while I am running, which is under an extremely unstable situation.
All in all, it's all about watering down the enhancements as much as possible.

......... Huh?

And that's when I noticed a change too big to be called growth that was happening only to me.

Normally, strengthening with magic and chi is something that can't be called a technology.
After all, that enhancement is too forceful and distorted to be called a technique, and it's better to call it a subterfuge.
So it's only natural that the enhancement method has its limits and dangers.

That's why I was inwardly surprised while running.
I'm sure you'll be able to say that it's abnormal for the body to grow so rapidly.

You have to be prepared to do a lot of physical strengthening while running, which is something I had to be prepared to do until now.
The only thing you can do with it is to raise the level of your existing strength, even though you are injured by the mistake of strengthening your body.

However, the current me was combining and strengthening my magic and qi with a smoothness that made that past a lie.
The sensation of my body becoming lighter, and the fact that it is not accompanied by pain, is uncomfortable.
No, the discomfort I feel is not the only discomfort I feel.
I don't know why the change was so sudden, or what triggered it, but various discomforts come to my mind.

I thought, "This will work.

But I laughed, dismissing all that discomfort as unimportant now.
What I see in my eyes is Phoenix, who still doesn't even try to move.
Right now, I can take it down before it puts on its armor of fire.
With that conviction, I kicked the ground and raised my dagger.

''ruaAAAAA!''

Noticing the marvel, Phoenix started to move when the dagger was closest to him.
I don't know what the expression on Phoenix's face is to me.
However, I remember the sensation as if Phoenix, who had begun to move in a desperate situation, was criticizing me.

Why do you always increase the power of your attacks so rapidly, as if to say.

'It's too slow to start moving.'

And letting those words slip out, I swung the dagger down.

In the next moment, the dagger sliced deep into Phoenix's brain.