-- If I leave Elfiszak behind, I can get away with it.

　Such thoughts pass through my head.

　With the current me, I can't deliver an attack that can break through the hard armor of the earth demon general.
　It would also be very risky to buy time.
　If I strike poorly, a single blow could cost me my life.

　The Earth Demon General is furiously coming towards us.
　We only have a few more seconds to think about it.

　In the first place, it was Elfiszak who brought this co-operation to us.
　Just like when I joined forces with Ryuzas and the others, I was swept away again and had no choice but to form a cooperative relationship.
　The other party was a demon race, and they might have had an agenda for us.

''That's right,''

　Elfiszak is a demon.
　He has fought and fought for so long, he is the enemy.
　There is nothing wrong with betraying your enemy.
　There is no need to help them.

　This may be our last chance to make it out of here alive.
　We have to betray our enemies, and we have to get out of here.
　I still have things to do.

　In front of me, Elfiszak's back is in front of me.
　He hasn't noticed our movements yet.

''---''

　I stepped forward, intending to abandon her.
　The sound of a continuous kick in the sand with a zap echoed.
　Elfiszak must have heard this sound as well.
　He would have noticed that I was trying to escape.

　And yet.

----.

　Elfiszak didn't say anything.
　He exposed his defenseless appearance and just kept building up his magic power by trusting me.

　--because you saved me, you know. What do humans and demons have to do with it?

　I remember those words.
　I wonder if this guy really thought that.
　That humans and demons have nothing to do with each other, even though they are hostile species, and that you can trust me.

　Elfiszak doesn't turn around.
　If you are as capable as she is, she should have been able to tell that I was trying to escape.


　I'm not going to be able to say a word about it, but that back that didn't say anything - it just kept believing in me.


''Oh, oh, oh!''

　The arm of the earth demon general is lifted up.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

''----''

　The next thing I knew.
　I was jumping up and down with Elfiszak in my arms.

'...... Iori.'

　In her arms, she had a surprised look on her face.

　The slammed arm gouged the ground and shattered on the floor.
　She dodged the splinters and got away from the earth magic general.

''Wrap it up and obliterate it.''

　He growled abominably, and the Earth Demon General barked.

　The demon general opened his mouth wide.
　The huge amount of magic power concentrated there.
　This is a surefire way to kill both of us.

　We can still escape.
　I'm sure you'll be able to get away with it as long as he's got his magic built up.

At least I can prevent that blow from happening. "So hurry, Elfiszak.

　Yes, he said it.

　Oh, yes.

　It's not like we're just going to ditch him here and walk away.
　You can use them.
　You can use them, but not by cheating and betraying them.

　If I do that, I'm going to end up a piece of shit just like them.

"--Aah!

　Looking at Elfiszak, who nodded vigorously, I made up my mind.


◆

''You've done some clever tricks, but that's over now. You're going to hand over the reins to me!''

　The Earth Demon General barked.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of it.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

　--And I'm not going to be the only one.

　The thing I took out was the rainbow-colored labyrinth core.
　It contains enough magic to make the labyrinth mobile.

　I crushed the labyrinth core in my hand.

''Ku--uh......!''

　The torrent of magic power that spewed out flowed into the proof of his right arm.
　In the harshness, my body creaks.
　A noise ran through my field of vision from the stormy magic blowing out.

''--ah.''

　And now I know.
　It's not enough (・・・・)--and
　The degree of magic power contained in the labyrinth core is not enough to make the testimony mobile.

''And let me tell you, Demon Lord. ''And I'm going to tell your Majesty the Demon King that you are an insignificant and insignificant existence!

　The loud laughter of the earth demon general, who had finished accumulating his magic power, echoed.
　The procedure has been completed.
　It's out of control.

Don't go to .......

　Even with that thing in front of me, Elfiszak is unfazed.
　She doesn't doubt or get anxious, she just believes in me and is storing her magic power.

"Collapse Stake."

　What was produced was a huge stake.
　The stake, which was large enough to rival the huge body of the Earth Demon General, was shot out like a bullet.
　If such a thing struck, there wouldn't be an ounce of hope.

''Don't be silly. ......!

　At this point in time, the testimony does not try to activate.
　I'm terribly frustrated with the power that doesn't work, and most importantly, with my inability to do anything without it.

　From the pouch, I take out the maximum number of magic stones I can use at once.
　I tighten my grip on it to the point that my blood seeps in and release the magic power inside.
　You can't use enough magic to prevent that stake, even if you use the magic stone to the limit.

''Hu......ku.''

　The magic power almost fizzles out in the exercise of impossible magic.
　An overwhelming lack of magical power.

'I've got some things I need to do.

　I'm not going to die here.

　Something that is blocking the testimony - I'll forcefully break through it and draw out the magic.
　I'm going to be able to get everything that's there, if that's not enough, start by forcing yourself to get what's not there.

"Don't get in the way ......!

　With a roaring sound, the collapsing stake looms.

　The magic stone I clutched stabbed into my palm, blood dripping from my hand.
　My right arm is hot as if it were burning.

''Oh, oh, oh, oh!

　A magic power that shouldn't be enough.
　That is why the magic power that seems to burn from deep inside your body overflows and gathers in your right arm.
　I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it.

　The strongest defensive magic that I used to use in the past.


""Demon Sealing (Il Ataraxia) ----!"


　Unfolding in front of me was a shield as big as a stake.
　The stake released collided with the shield and stopped moving, scattering the impact.

''What the ......!

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on it.
　It's the defensive magic that I created to create a shield that will never be broken.
　It's a shield of light that not only physically attacks, but also annihilates the magic it encounters, literally sealing it off.

　The shield of indestructibility that rivals the stake of collapse.
　Activated in an incomplete state, it shakes and creaks.

　It cannot be defeated.

''Ku--ahhhhhh......!''

　I scream and stomp the ground.
　And at the same time as the magic stone that was clenched shatters--.

"...... stupid

　The stake and shield shattered at the same time.
　The upsetting voice of the earth demon general echoed in the room.

　...... prevented it from happening.

　If I didn't have even the slightest bit more magic power, my shield would have lost.
　Perhaps under the influence of the forceful use of magic power, a sense of malaise comes over my entire body.
　The proof of my right hand is searingly hot.

''Then ......!
''Ugh.''

　The earth demon general opens his mouth and tries to release a shell of rock.
　I can't use that shield anymore.
　That's when I set up my treasure sword to see if I can't deflect its trajectory with one or the other.

''--d*mn it, Iori.

　That voice, which echoed with dignity, caused the Earth Demon General to freeze.
　The owner of that voice's eyes were dyed crimson, and he wore a magical power that seemed to be blowing wildly.

''Ah ...... Elfiszaak!''

　Perhaps realizing his disadvantage, the Earth Demon General canceled the activation of the rock cannon.
　Just like when he first appeared, Zubuzu and his huge body began to sink to the ground.

''--Sasen!''

　The one who moved before it was Elfiszak.
　His crimson eyes widen.

''Foolish ....... To the sunny defeated, etc., this my--'

"--"Demon Eyes, Ash Explosion"--!

　A flash of red lotus light ran to the screaming Earth Demon General.
　It caught the demon general, who was sinking to the ground, and caused a dazzling explosion.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.

''Ga......a''

　The smoke of the explosion cleared, revealing the figure of the earth demon general who had been eaten by the demon eye.
　His entire body was scorched and one arm was obliterated by the explosion.
　A sure-fire fatal wound.

　However.

"I am ...... not yet defeated by ......!
''...... you still haven't!

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on it.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of this.
　With a crunch, the wounds healed at a slower rate than at first, which was incomparable to the first.

''Ku...... I'm almost out of magic now too. I've only got a little left, ......!

　Elfiszak, who had used his magic eye twice, held his forehead and frowned.
　If the Earth Demon General starts moving again, there is no way for us to do anything about it.

　But there's no way we're going to lose after coming here.

''Elfiszaak!　Can you use the last bit of magic you have left in your sword?
What do you think you're doing?
This is the last thing we need to stop him.

　Her magical power is poured into the treasure sword she handed over.

''I'm sorry ...... this is the limit.''

　The treasured sword, which was filled with Elfiszak's magical power, was dyed a dark and evil color.
　It's a terrifying amount of magical power.

''...... No, that's enough! ''

　Kicking the ground, I run to the earth demon general.
　While letting out a cry of anguish, the demon general swings his arm down at me as I approach.
　It's aim in anguish is poor, and it's knocked right into the side.

''Huh, whoa!

　On that arm, I jump on it.
　I ran at full speed up the craggy, rock-covered arm.

I'm going to end this.
"Gu--Oh!

　The blackened treasure sword was swung down to the head, which was stripped of its armor and exposed.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get your hands on it.

''It's useless......!
''Huh!''

　Even so, it still doesn't stop the earth demon general from putting a stop to it.
　The earth demon general shook his head and I was thrown into the air.
　I'm not going to be able to get any more than a few of these.

''Dying, ningye, ningye!

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　You can't duck it.

　But.

　It's a good idea to make sure that you're not going to be the only one who can do this.

''What is this ......!?

　This is one of the strategies I came up with beforehand in fighting the Earth Demon General.
　One of the weaknesses of the rock cave dragon is - its body, which is not covered by rock.
　Then you can launch a special attack inside its body.

''No way ...... you, you!

It's over, demon lord.

　This treasure sword is a magical power-granting item that contains magic inside.
　Just like the magic stone, if you let the magic inside run amok, you can turn it into a bomb.
　The amount of magic power from the treasured sword alone is sufficient, but if you add Elfiszak's magic power to it--.

"Break Magic--!

　A devastating light exploded.
　The rampant magic fire flowed into the body of the earth magic general.

''----!

　The first thing that comes to mind is the deafening demise.
　It's a good idea to make sure that you have the right information.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

''----''

　With a wobble, the giant body that had lost its head tilted.
　The small mountain-like body sank and the labyrinth shook.
　Once again, the Earth Demon General did not move.

　This time, completely, the Lord of the Abyssal Labyrinth was doomed.

''...... Iori!''

　Just before falling to the ground, he is again held back by Elfiszark.
　In this case, the position is reversed again.

　Is it the effect of using magic forcibly?
　Like a battery running out of juice, the power drained from my body.
　In Elfiszak's arms, my consciousness fades away.

''-- After all, you are...''

　I thought I heard such a murmur at the end of the day.