Fi─────i!

　Literally, a claw filled with Fenrir's deadly power swings down to tear my body apart.
　If I receive a blow, even a single blow, my death is inevitable.
　Because of this conviction, I dodge Fenrir's claw with all my might.

''Fi─ii!''

　Blood spurted out of Fenrir's claws, which had been detached from my body, and Fenrir let out a cry of pain.
　The way both of his paws are stained with blood, it looks like he's going to feel pain even though he knows that the other party is a demonic beast.
　A forceful attack with an injured claw can be very taxing for Fenrir.

　...... Just taking that into account, I still found myself at a disadvantage.

　Fenrir would ignore the damage to his claws and unleash a fierce attack while enduring the pain.
　I would make the most of my body enhancements to avoid it.
　But every time I avoid Fenrir's claws and fangs, I know.
　I know that I will only be able to avoid attacks like this for a few more moments.

''Haha, haha.''

　I glare at Fenrir, ignoring my aching lungs as I plead with him to let me rest.
　I'm trying to rouse myself so that my heart doesn't break.

'Fi──i!'

　...... What I saw in Fenrir's eyes as he looked at me was mockery.

　By this time, I had to realize that I was also forced to realize that I had made a huge mistake.
　I judged this situation to be advantageous, and that my judgment of a few tens of seconds ago was a big mistake.

　No, correctly speaking, my decision would not have been a mistake.
　If I could have fought decently, I would have definitely had the advantage.

　Hence, Fenrir did not allow me to fight decently.

'Fi─────i!'

　The claws are unleashed one after another, and I desperately avoid the fangs.
　The body, which is gradually becoming motionless, desperately moves and resists with all its might.

"......!

　But the fangs I failed to avoid graze my shoulder, making a deep gash, if you can call it a cut.
　I bite my lip as my body grows duller and duller.

　In the current situation ...... if the short term battle continued like this, I was certain to lose in the not too distant future.


　There is no more room for Fenrir, who is attacking with all his deadly force.
　I'm going to be able to run away and that's the only way I'll be able to gain an advantage.

　...... It should have been.

''Ha, ha.''

　I let out a ragged breath and tried desperately to rouse myself.

　But I couldn't fool myself about the fear of Fenrir that was born in my chest.

　Fenrir's muscular strength is more overwhelming than a mutated hydra, let alone an ogre.
　That was what I thought was Fenrir's greatest threat.
　However, that was not the case.

　The biggest threat to the demonic beast in front of me is precisely because of its intelligence.

　The fact that he saw that I was not able to catch my breath as I ran and saw that a short term battle was advantageous.
　He tried to defeat me even with his injured claws.

　─ Most importantly, he didn't attack your brother so that I wouldn't be able to take the fight to the long term.

'Huh!'

　Somehow I manage to get through Fenrir's gap and avoid the attack, while at the same time keeping my distance.
　Against me, Fenrir did not chase after me.
　Instead, I slowly drop back in the direction of the ...... motionless brother behind me.

''Fi──i.''

...... this!

　I reveal my anger to Fenrir, who contorts his face as if to taunt me.
　If I jumped out in front of Fenrir here, I'd find myself in a short-lived battle again, to my disadvantage.
　Even though I knew that, I was left with no choice but to run.

　In order to keep Fenrir away from your brother.

　Contrary to my expectations, Fenrir didn't aim at his fallen brother.
　I don't know if he decided that I was the enemy he had to take down first, or if he decided that his brother couldn't move anymore.
　But at first I didn't doubt it was lucky.

　Yes, until I realized that Fenrir was using your brother as a threat to me.

　After realizing that Fenrir was about to make a short battle, I tried several times to keep my distance and catch my breath.
　Fenrir's damage was not low, and I had the confidence that I could now successfully recover my strength while fighting.
　However, contrary to my expectations, Fenrir did not chase me away.
　On the contrary, he began to move backwards, closer to his brother.

　If you are too far away from your brother, you won't be able to protect him in a time of need.
　Hence, I was forced to step forward every time Fenrir stepped back.
　...... even though I knew it was a trap.

　That's why I've been forced to play a very short-term game that I know I'm clearly at a disadvantage.

Fi─────i!

...... hk!

　Claws dodging my fangs and deflecting them I desperately crossed over to Fenrir.
　I was still able to fight Fenrir, partly because I was able to strengthen my body without skills.
　Before now, I would have fallen down in less than half the time.
　It wasn't quite enough time to spare, but it wasn't the limit.

　However, I didn't have the confidence to continue judging Fenrir's attacks for another few dozen seconds.
　If I just continued to fight like this, I would be helpless to do anything but die.

''If only your brother was healthy, this kind of Fenrir ......!

　We could certainly beat them now, even if it would be against a perfect Fenrir opponent.
　Knowing this, I can't help but feel an irritation at our current situation.
　But I knew it was pointless to think about it.

　Your brother is now unconscious or not, and I'm the only one who can protect him.
　I can't afford to lose, no matter how unfavorable the odds may be.
　If that's the case, we have to change this situation while we still have some spare energy.

We have to take a gamble here at .......

　By deciding to counter again, I would make Fenrir's claws completely useless.
　Yes, I was determined.

'Fi────i!'

　Before I knew it, the momentum was gradually decreasing from Fenrir's attack as well.
　This onslaught, even Fenrir wasn't without damage.
　I once again confirm that.

　If we can reduce Fenrir's attack methods to two, there is a chance that we can withstand his onslaught.

　Nevertheless, there was no doubt that this gamble was a high-risk, Lauritans.

　In this onslaught, just deciding to counter the onslaught would increase the level of difficulty.
　If I made a mistake, my defeat would be confirmed at that point.
　With that much at stake, even if I succeeded, the victory would not be confirmed.
　From there, I would have to withstand Fenrir's onslaught.

　But that's the only way I'm going to get through this.
　I was trying to make up my mind to do so.

　And that's when I realized, when I tried to make up my mind.

"......!

　The first thing that rose in my chest when I first saw the scene was agitation.
　For a moment, Fenrir's fangs almost hit me as my movements slowed, and I managed to get a great distance from him.
　The fact that I just barely avoided him made me feel a cold sensation in my back.

'...... Why!'

　But the sensation was quickly consumed by anger and vanished.
　I wanted to scream, "What are you thinking about?
　But I couldn't say the words to that anger, because I knew it wasn't just a reckless act.
　I knew that this action was not just a reckless one.

　No, no.
　I deny my thoughts with a small smile on my lips.
　The real reason in my mind was not that.
　The reason why I feel angry and proud at the same time is simpler than that.

　It's only because I've noticed that you have faith in me in your actions.

...... I understand.

　He transforms his anger into a fighting spirit and glares at Fenrir.

　I'm not losing my anger.
　Still, if the meaning of that action is based on my trust.
　This time, I'll show you that I can live up to it.

　I point my fist at Fenrir, who tries to step back as usual.
　I don't have to do that, to tell him I'm coming.

'If you want to fight with me that hard, I'll show you.

　At that moment, Fenrir's eyes narrow.
　As if he was uncomfortable with me filling him with fighting spirit, a complete change from the anguished expression he'd been wearing until now.

　Even Fenrir's demeanor feels comfortable and I start to walk away, laughing.
　My face is immediately contorted with fear.
　Revealing his anger, Fenrir also starts to walk towards me.

''I'm going to give it my all now,''

F─────i!

　And then the curtain went up on me and Fenrir's crushing contest.