With a roar, the demonic beast Skol deployed countless tentacles and the battle resumed to intercept it.

　However, from now on, it's not just a war of attrition to endure in the dark.
　It's the beginning of a counterattack to seize the winning opportunity we found.

'I want to get behind him!　Just give me a little opening!

　He skipped instructions to the members of the vanguard and immediately turned to Garnett and gave him an outline of the plan.

''As soon as there's an opening, run with me. If you can successfully slip behind--
"--Hey!　You're an idiot!

　Garnett grabbed me by my chest and put his face close to mine, ready to bite me.

'No matter how much you can regenerate with [Restoration]!　That's one thing that could get you burnt to a crisp.　If you blow your mind, that's the moment you're done!
I know. But, you see, there's no such thing as a risk-free fight. You know as well as I do.
...... I can't let you do this, man!
'I have to do it. We can't stop Skoll if we lack one of our vanguard forces. We have to move.

　I ran my hand over Garnett's fingers, which were gripping his chest, and let him untie them.

　Surprisingly, I didn't feel any resistance at all, and I could tell that Garnett understood that this was the best move in theory.

　Unfortunately, I don't have the time to convince him with words.
　The only way to make up for what we've offended and worried about is after the fight is over.

　If we don't do what needs to be done now, we won't even be able to return to earth.

'Sir Luke. Sir Luke, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll cover you myself, although it's not easy.
Edward......, don't do anything you wouldn't do.
'No way!　I'm not in a hurry to get ahead. I'm just going to do what I can do steadily.

　There was no hint of impatience or undue excitement on Eddie's face as he said this.

　He had no intention of pushing himself too hard, but he also had no intention of timidly withdrawing from the situation. I could sense that kind of determination.

'Okay, cover me. If Hild is able--'
'No problem!　We're almost there and we'll have minimal interference!　Reducing the amount of magic will make it a little easier for you!
Oh, yeah, please!

　Hild also seemed to have heard the explanation earlier, and replied without looking at us while moving the control panel frantically.

　The question that remains is whether or not an opening will be created to move to the desired location.

　Just as I returned my gaze to the vanguard, Lionel ran up the front legs of the restrained demonic beast Skoll and slammed his axe spear (halberd) into its head from the side.

''Oooh ......!''

　The skill is activated at the moment of impact.
　The tremendous impact shakes the giant body and makes it lose its stability.

　It didn't make it roll over, but it deflects its stance to one side, creating a spatial margin on the other side.

'Now!'

　There was no way I was going to miss this moment.

　Without a pause, I ran through the side of the monster beast Skoll at full speed with Garnett and Eddie in tow.










　--The actuality of this is that it's not just a matter of time before you're going to be able to get the most out of it, it's also a matter of time before you're able to get the most out of it.

　In just a split second, many times more thoughts than usual flashed through his mind.

　Obviously, the Demon Beast Skoll recognizes Luke as the only enemy.

　They themselves are the ten-grasping obstacles in the way of it.
　They are only trying to eliminate him because he is on the direction of travel, and if Luke is going to go around behind him, it's not worth dealing with him.

　The restraints and stalling so far were 'to prevent progress'.

　It was ineffective against the movement of turning around and trying to jump backwards, and it was torn off steadily, bobbing and weaving in and out of view as if in slow motion.

　The subordinate Fenrir Wolf is left in place and seems to be turned around to stop Sakura and the others.

　It must be stopped. That's for sure.
　But will he be able to accomplish this on his own?

(---- not)

　You don't have to take on the challenge on your own, and I'm sure it's not enough.

　No matter how scared I am, no matter how many bad memories pass through my mind, I have a choice to make now.

'...... norzuri!　Match, let me, ......!

　The black sludge of magic (Tar Flood) that I activated stretches out its many tentacles to entangle Skoll.

Congeal (Congeal) ......!

　A hardened, tarry, ropey muck frustrates the giant's rushing cues.

　However, this alone would be too much to stall the squall.
　A delay of about one second would be the most that could be produced.

　That's why we need the power of the Demon General (this guy).

''Don't give me orders!

　Magic gushed out with an angry shout.

　Cold air ran through the tar flood, freezing the joints in Skol's front legs.

　This added three seconds.
　Furthermore, Noir invoked another magic and aimed at the open jaw to release the scorching heat.

''...... Shadowbind ......!

　A ring of jet-black shadow appeared around Skoll's proboscis (muzzle).
　As Noir made a gesture (gesture) to crush it with his hands, the ring of shadows shrank vigorously, forcing Skoll's jaw to close.

　Skol squeaked the circle of shadows with all the force he could muster to open his mouth, the feedback of which made Noir's hands try to pop off.

　Struggling to withstand the pressure with his slender arms, Noir looked sideways at Norsuli as he tightened his ice restraints.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world," he said. You have to do this, or else we won't be able to save face.
"I, ...... I, am only ...... cowardly, ...... cowardly. Cowardly, so ...... run away ...... cowardly, so ...... disappointed, because I'm afraid of being disappointed, because... ...fight ...... only, what the hell .......

　There is a girl on earth who respects me for being such a helpless person.

　She's a kind girl who supports me from the bottom of her heart and cares for me from the bottom of her heart.

　After returning to earth after the battle, I don't have the courage to report that I couldn't do what I should have done because a scary demon tribe was next to me, but I don't have it.

　I'm afraid of being disappointed.
　I'm afraid of being given a by-the-book consolation that I didn't have a choice.
　I'm afraid that they will look at me with diminished longing.

　Compared to such fear, the fear of rubbing shoulders with the Demon Lord's army's demon generals and using each other is a trivial matter that is not worth worrying about.

''The only warriors who have no fear are barbarians like Austri. Even for me, the fear of losing His Majesty's trust is greater than death!　I wouldn't hesitate to say that to avoid that would be to put my back to a grudge enemy!

　Norzuri's magic power flowed even more, trapping the huge upper half of the demonic beast Skol's huge upper body into the ice in an instant.

　Feeling a strange familiarity with that motive, Noir also accelerated the increase in the amount of magic power he poured into the restraint.