Rock cave dragons.

　That's the race of this earth demon general.
　It is one of the dragon species dragons that lives in many mines where ore can be extracted and acts as a subordinate of the demon king.

　Its rock-covered outer skin is terrifyingly hard and cannot even be scratched by ordinary magic techniques.
　It is proficient in earthen magic and attacks by firing rock bullets from its mouth.
　It is a troublesome monster that causes extensive damage to its surroundings simply by moving.

''You guys will definitely be crushed here.

　The Earth Demon General slammed his huge arm down to the ground.
　At the same time as the room vibrated from the impact, magic power flowed to the ground.
　Immediately afterwards, all the passages leading to the other rooms were blocked, as if closing the open mouths.

''You can't escape now, you winged worms.

　Elfiszak has already retreated to the back of the room.
　For a while, I have to fight this dragon alone.

''--''

　I had started running before the Earth Demon General started moving.
　While running, I used the magic stone to increase my physical abilities to the limit.
　Fortunately, this room is large and there are not many places to escape.

""Break Magic!"

　As soon as you get a distance, you throw multiple magic stones towards the Earth Demon General.
　The magic stones that hit the earth demon general exploded with force.

''Hmph, petty.''
It didn't work.

　Even with the maximum attack I can unleash right now, I still can't break through the earth magic general's armor.
　If this doesn't work, no matter what other magic you use, you won't be able to do a single damage to him.

''Cowardly, human?

　The earth magician laughs mockingly.

　It's just as we expected so far.
　It is also expected that they will not be able to retreat and that our attacks will not be effective.

　Although the rock cave dragon is a powerful demon, it still doesn't have any weaknesses.
　The body that is not covered by rocks, and the tail that is the only one with thin armor, even I would be able to attack it now.
　I can't just jump inside the body, and it's the tail that I'm aiming for.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with the tail.
　If you cut it off, the balance is lost and a big gap is created.
　The base of the tail is thinner than other parts of the rock armor, and if you use the treasure sword, it will be possible to sever it.

"No way. It's here, General Tsuchima.
''Hou?''

　There are many demons and monsters with superior power who underestimate other races.
　This demon general is a typical example.
　I will take advantage of that opportunity.

"--!

　I'm going to run as fast as I can towards the demon general.
　You will need to reach there first if you want to cut off the tail.

"Your human appearance is an eyesore.

　The earth demon general opened his mouth, and a series of rock shells were fired from it.
　Bullets raining down like rain,.

''--, huh!''

　With my physical abilities enhanced to the limit, I run zigzaggingly to avoid the shells.
　He is hit on the ground and is hit on his back in the aftermath, but he grits his teeth and moves forward.

　I see the earth demon general try to raise his arm and activate his magic with an additional magic stone.
　The lightning is used, and the target is the earth demon general's vision.
　The lightning sorcery with low power but wide range attacks the earth demon general.

"Gu...... even twice!

　I'm not going to be the only one who has been in a position to do this.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　So far, so good.
　All that's left is to cut off the tail--''

''--It's useless!
Tsk!

　　The tail of the demon general fell from above my head.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work for you.

''Kukko......!''

　I pop the fragments with my sword, but I lose my balance and fall to the ground.
　Then again, the tail of the earth demon general falls down.

''The tail is your target, right?　''Aim firmly,''

　The earth demon general sneers at me as I evade.

　I use my body strengthening to jump up and just barely evade the trajectory of my tail.
　Then, just as I'm about to move out to attack.

''Dull!''

　Yet another blow, the tail of the earth magician was slammed into me in succession.
　The impact of the blow damaged the damage even more, and I was struck to the ground while breathing heavily.

I'm not going to be able to say that it's a good idea. You're not even close to your mouth. This is after all, a human being is only this much.

　A deafening loud laugh.
　The earth demon general has already won.

　Ah, as expected.

　With a loud laugh, the demon general put strength into his tail to raise it again.
　At that time, the demon general finally noticed something strange.

''What is this?

　The general's tail was firmly attached to the ground.
　I'm sure you'll find a sticky white liquid spreading around the tail.

''Ku ...... this is the earth spider's ......!

　The liquid overflowing from the earth spider's cocoon ball is what's sticking the earth demon general's tail to it.
　As soon as he evaded, he left all the cocoon balls he was holding at the fall of the tail.

　Despite its powerful adhesive power, the cocoon ball would only last for a few seconds.
　But that would be enough.

"Aim hard," was it? I'll take you up on your offer.
''You ......!''

　The earth demon general tried to peel his tail off the ground, but it was too late.
　He closed in time and swung his full-length swing from his body strengthening down to the base of the tail.

　This treasured sword boasts a high degree of sharpness at all times due to the magic power contained within it.
　Even the dragon's tail can be severed if the armor is thin.

''Hahhh!''

　I aimed at the thinnest part of the tail and flashed it.
　The treasured sword swung down, severing the earth magician's tail from the root.

''Goooooooooooooooooooo!''

　The roar echoed through the room, followed by the earth magician who lost his support and fell to the ground with great force.
　It's not just a matter of time before you are able to get your hands on it.

''Oreeeeeeeee!
''......!''

　With a shout of rage, the Earth Demon General forcefully lifted his body while losing his balance.

　The rock cave dragon that he fought before had been unable to even move properly after losing its tail.
　However, the fact that it's trying to move in spite of that is just like a stone demon general.

　And just before it tried to crush me with its huge body, it was going to crush me.

Well done, Iori.

　Elfiszak's voice echoed through the room.


◆

　We decided on the battle plan beforehand.
　My role in this battle is to buy time.
　My main focus is on Elfiszak's magic.

Let me take care of the rest!

　I noticed that Elfiszak, who was waiting in the back, was standing right next to me.

''Guuu, Elfiszaaak!''

　With his four feet, the earth magician rushed in with a sluggish momentum.
　It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

"- Eat me, demon general!

　With the majesty of it in front of her, Elfiszak is unfazed.
　She slowly turns her twin eyes to the earth demon general while wearing enough magic to shake the room.

　And then I saw it.
　Her eyes, which were once golden, turned to a blood-red glow.


"--"Demon Eyes, Haijinbaku


　The next moment.


　A hellish extreme light dyed the world, and immediately afterwards, the Earth Demon General exploded.
　The hot wind blew around the room and the entire room vibrated with a roaring sound.
　The scale and power of the explosion was incomparable to that of the necromancer, and the huge body of the general was blown away.

　One of the powers that Elfiszak possesses - the "Demon Eye".
　The eyes that are imbued with the power of demons can activate their own magic just by looking at them.

"This power when you've lost your power? ......

　If this thing were to be fired, there would be no hope for me now.
　If it had been a blow in its heyday, it would have blown up not only the earth demon general, but the entire room and caused a collapse.

　Seeing me in a daze, Elfiszak gives me a proud look.

"Huh, you're surprised?　It's not unreasonable. I'm sure you're not the only one who has tried to do this, but I'm sure you've made a mistake in adjusting the power and almost blew your own troops away!

　That's not good.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with us.
　The tremendous magic power he had shown earlier seemed to have all been released as well.

　The armor of the rock cave dragon has a hardness that would completely nullify if it were an ordinary magic.
　Elfiszak's blow had blown away the earth magic general's body with its entire armor.
　If he ate a blow like this, even a rock cave dragon would be killed instantly.

　-- If it was an ordinary rock cave dragon.


''--Oh, oh, oh, oh!



''--
''What the ......!?''

　Even after being struck by the Devil's Eye, the Earth Demon General was still alive.
　The color of his twin eyes was the color of an all-consuming rage.

　With a cracking sound, the blown up flesh began to regenerate.
　The blown out flesh, the erased armor, and even the severed tail returned to its previous state.

"The rock cave dragon is not supposed to be able to use healing magic--

　Even the powerful dragon species is not a panacea.
　Each race is limited in the magic it can use.
　I have never heard of a rock cave dragon that was able to use healing magic in the past.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on.

''- It's only when you overturn that that you become an 'earth magic general'. ''Don't lick it, winged insects.''
''With the magic element of the labyrinth, you've increased your power ......!

　The earth demon general with a tail lifted his huge body.

''The shameful behavior of the Demon King's army as a diminutive human to a human has caused me to be injured by ......!　I won't allow it, I won't allow it!　You will quickly turn that flesh into a stain in the labyrinth!

　In just ten or so seconds, all the wounds that he had inflicted so far had disappeared from the earth demon general's body.
　All that was left was the same overwhelmingly huge body as before and the rage at the humiliation inflicted.

''...... This is unexpected even for me, even for a quintessential stone. Only my pet Verdia-chan knows of a dragon that possesses healing magic.

　Even Elfiszak frowned when he saw the earth demon general's healing.

''Elfiszak. Do you think that guy can use his healing magic again?
As of this moment, he has used up most of his magic. I doubt he'll ever be able to cast a full healing spell.

　Do you have a magic eye that can see the amount of magic power, Elfiszak concluded as he looked at the earth magic general with his red eyes.
　If that's the case, it means that I can defeat that guy if I deal damage with the magic eye once more.

''Can you use the magic eye from earlier again?
Yeah. But it's going to take just as much time.

　The arm of the earth demon general falls from above.
　They broke off the conversation and both retreated at the same time.

''First of all, Elfiszak, I'll crush you first!

　Her magic eye would need to be charged for a few minutes to produce enough power to defeat the earth demon general.
　It could be said that during that time, she would be unable to use any other magic techniques and would be defenseless.

''...... alright. I'll buy you some time.

　There are still enough magic stones left in the porch.
　Even though they can't do any damage, they can still continue to fight.

''Alright. It's up to you, Iori!

　Believing my words, Elfiszak begins charging his magic eye.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.

　There's no way I'm going to die here.
　I still have things to do.
　I have to get out of here.

　I reached into the pouch and tightened my grip on the magical stone.
　I was about to draw the treasure sword with one hand and leap forward to protect Elfiszak.

'----'

　I've noticed something.

　Elfiszak, who has accumulated magic power and is exposing her defenselessness in front of me.
　The earth demon general is wary of the demon eye and is thrusting straight at her.
　And the road that leads to the blocked transition camp that can be seen across from the earth demon general.

　The current demon general's aim is narrowed down to Elfiszak.
　The blocked path can also be broken through in a few seconds if you use the insignificant demon stone breaking demon to its fullest extent.
　Then, if you abandon her now and run for the exit, bypassing the earth magician - if you abandon her now.

　If you abandon her, you can save yourself.

　--At the option that came to mind, I lowered the arm that held the magic stone.