Compared to the size of the whole, it was about the size of the tip of our little finger.

　Nevertheless, the evilness of the thing was so thick and concentrated that it felt as if it were being stroked directly down our spines by cold fingers.

　It was honestly terrifying.

(.........the new 'devil's piece'.......)

　Shivering, I stare at it as it floats in the blue sky, popping up.

　It's a tentacle about a meter in length.

　The pink worm-like form wriggles and wriggles, sprinkling white mucus and sprouting countless more thin tentacles, changing their shape.

　The thin tentacles intertwine with each other.

''........Ah.''

　Gradually, I could see that it was taking the form of a 'person'.

　Limbs intertwined with thin tentacles.

　A face that glows in mucus and forms distortedly, but still has no eyeballs, and a hollow space that looks like darkness is open.

　His whole body is writhing bewitchingly like a clay sculpture, which is more fearless.

　Brule.........

　I finally realized that my hand was trembling in the grip of my sword.

(Fool, don't let your feelings push you, Marl!)

　I chastise myself for wanting to cry.

　--I'm going to defeat him.

　I spread my wings again, ready to strike at the Third Son of Darkness.

　And then...

　Bashuuuuuu.

　My beast ears disappeared with a blast of white smoke.

''Huh.''

　The full body armor, like an exoskeleton, weighs down with a thud, and I fall to my knees with a start.

(It's been three minutes already!)

　The strength is drained from your body.

　At the same time, the trust in myself that I had until now disappeared.

　With the current me, I can't compete with the "Child of Darkness" - I was certain of that.

　What do I do?

　Forcing you to shed your 'divine energy' once more?

(...but in the spirit world, that's how we failed, right?)

　I wasn't ready to fight that time either. I have a feeling we'll repeat the same mistake this time.

　So what do we do?

　What should I do?

　Just when you feel like your unanswerable fears are about to swallow you up.

Merle, are you okay?

　From behind me, I heard that reliable voice.

(!)

　As I turned around, there was the figure of the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter' running towards us.

　Behind them, Illtimina-san, Solstice, Rapt and Recto Alice could be seen as well.

''........Kilt-san, everyone...''

　I felt like crying.

　Kilt-san makes a surprised face at my strange full body armor figure for a moment. But that expression quickly disappears, and he holds me in his arms so that I don't fall down, as I'm dizzy from my 'god body mode'.

''Are you okay?''
Yes.

　I nodded.

　But why are you here?　Didn't four men fight in the war?

'The guys who were fighting against the warriors pulled back the moment they saw that thing that came out of the Rock of the Seal. They may have achieved their goal.
..........
"He said, 'I'll leave the rest to you guys.'

　He says bitterly.

　I slump down.

'I'm ... sorry,'

　He apologized in a small voice.

'Mm?'
It was my fault. I thought we beat you. I thought I'd won. ...but I underestimated her resolve. I couldn't have prevented her from doing that...

　I confess with tears in my eyes.

　I should have ended it then, no questions asked.

My naivete brought about the crisis in this world.

　Floating in the sky above, the seeds of doom.

　It will soon sprout and cause more destruction in the world.

(...my...fault...)

　bang

　Kirt-san's fist fell on the depressed brain. .............Ouch!

　I look up in surprise.

'Stupid.'

　Mr. Kilts said to me as he stared at me with a strong light in his golden eyes.

You'll regret it and regret it later. Regret and remorse can wait," he said, "but it's not over yet. You'll do everything after you've done what you need to do.
..........

　I stare back in amazement.

　If I look, Illtimina and the others behind me are also nodding widely.

''That's right, Marle.''
Don't get cocky, a**h*le.
We're in there.
Yes, you're not alone.

　That's what they say.

(...everyone...)

　The gentleness of this is heartfelt.

'Yes!'

　Pulling my lips into a knot, I nodded widely and stood up.

　Kilt-san also smiles.

　However, his expression quickly disappeared and became the face of the 'Golden Seal Demon Hunter', and he stared at the 'Third Child of Darkness' floating in the blue sky.

　We also look in that direction.

　--This world is not over yet.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　I've regained my will to fight.

　But how can I actually fight the Third Son of Darkness in the sky above that?

　Kilt-san looks at his trusted 'Silver Seal Demon Hunter'.

''Irna, can you go?''
Of course.

　The 'Silver Seal Demon Hunter', who was good at long-range attacks, nodded reliably and stepped in front of us.　

　Kashan.

The wing decorations of the White Winged Spear opened wide, and the red magic stone increased in brilliance.

　At the same time, Illtimina-san's crimson eyes will also be filled with a strong magical light.

　Her white hand spins the spear around and grips it in her reverse hand.

　A calm, focused beauty.

　As usual, she begins to move as if she were to fall lightly forward, and then she takes a big step forward as it were.

Shh!

　Huibo.

　A white spear was thrown with tremendous speed.

　A flash of pure white.

　It split the atmosphere and flew accurately across the blue sky to the 'Third Child of Darkness' floating 500 meters above.

　Gulp.

　A head made of tentacles noticed and looked at me.

　An arm, wet with mucus and tangled with countless tentacles, was thrust out into the looming flash of light.

　Bajiiiiin.

(!)

As the purple aura of darkness consolidated at the tip of the 'Third Child of Darkness''s tentacle hand, a black barrier of sorts was created in front of it.

　It received a pure white spear.

''Nu.........''

　Kilt-san snorted.

　Illtimina-san narrowed her crimson eyes, looking like she was about to click her tongue.

The 'Black Barrier' distorts greatly, spreading ripples over and over on the part of the spear that hit it, but it never breaks.

　Eventually, the spear that was hitting the barrier lost its power to move forward and fell from the sky with a huuuuge. On the way, it changes its trajectory and returns to Illtimina-san's hand.



　He was disappointed and depressed.

　But that wasn't the end of the actions of the 'Third Child of Darkness'.

　Julli Gülle.

　A round hole formed in the distorted head where its tentacles had gathered, as if it were an open mouth.

(!?!)

　Scared.

　Kilt-san and Illtimina-san's expressions intensified, and Solstice's eyebrows furrowed suspiciously.

　At the same time.

"Lectoris!
Yeah!

　Two people with impatient expressions jumped out in front of us.

　When Recto Alice clasped her hands together in front of her chest, a round shield of light with a red magic circle drawn with a diameter of about 10 meters was formed in five layers. Behind her, Rapt held out his hands with a determined expression.

　In the next moment, a streak of black light shot out of the hollow mouth of the 'Third Child of Darkness'.

　Pic.

　It feels like a black line, like a fine hair, has been drawn across the world.

　It easily pierced through the five-layered magical shield created by Lectoris and slammed into Rapt's stacked palms.

　Rapt was blown away.

　At the same time, the black ray of light, which had changed in angle, collided with the sea of trees behind him.

　Doggone on.

　The part of the tree line that was hit by the black rays of light was blown up into the sky.

　Trees flew up and the destroyed earth exploded.

　The huge pillar-like boulders at the back were torn apart by the black ray of light and fell off at an angle, causing the earth to curl up in a cloud of dust.

(Na..........?!)

　What power.

　I'm stunned.

"Rapt!

　I huffed at Mr. Kilt's cry.

　When I looked, I saw that Rapt's palms were burning bright red and his skin had melted into mush.

''Duh, it's okay.......tru~!

　He frowns, but says stoutly.

　The auto-regeneration function kicks in and his hand is quickly repaired with white smoke.　

　We exhale in relief.

　But we can't be relieved.

　The defensive power that prevented Illtimina-san's attack, and the offensive power that it took two of the 'Divine Fangirls' to finally prevent, are both terrifying abilities.　

　--a powerful enemy.

　Along with fear, I realized again.

(But what do we do?)

　How am I going to defeat a monster like that?

　I have a feeling that even if I try to approach it through the air, it will shoot me down in the process. Even if you are lucky enough to get close, the attack there is likely to be blocked by that black barrier.

　Rapt said unexpectedly.

'Now's our chance.

　Huh?

Compared to 300 years ago, it's a much weaker attack. That piece of the devil is still weak right after breaking the God's Seal. It's now or never.

　In a strong tone of voice, he says so.

(Weak...?)

　With all that power?

　I am shocked by that fact.

　But if that's true, then that 'Third Child of Darkness' must be defeated before he regains any more strength.

　Right now.

(Something, there is no way!

　I stare, frustrated, at the tentacled humanoid floating in the blue sky.

　And.

''Marle. Is it possible for your 'Divine Armament' to strengthen your 'White Winged Spear' to do the same for Irna's 'White Winged Spear'?

　Suddenly, Mr. Kirt asked me a question.

　Huh...?

　I was puzzled and stared at the 'fairy sword' - the 'rainbow machete sword' that was fused with the 'divine armor' - the 'rainbow machete sword'.

　I answered my honest impression.

''Um ... maybe I can do it.''
Okay.

　She nodded.

　Receiving the gazes of the five of us, the strongest of the Golden Mark Demon Hunters spoke his opinion.

He said, "I remember the response I got when I attacked the Son of Darkness in the Kerala Desert before. Perhaps its physical strength is no different from those of other monsters.

　Rapt and Recto Alice were stunned by Kilt-san's words.


Are you really human?

　Quite a rude surprise.

　Kilt-san chuckles lightly.
　However, he quickly changed his expression and stared coldly at the 'Third Dark Child'.

''He seems to be the same. His ability with that technique is certainly a threat, however, as long as you can break through his defenses and hit him with an attack--''
..........
We have won.

　...

　For a moment we were silent at that affirmation.

　It was a sensation that suddenly made the invisible path to victory seem tenuous.

'All right, let's do it.'

　I responded unequivocally.

　Everyone else nodded broadly, too.

　But Illtimina-san was the only one who was looking at the white spear in her own hand and had a difficult look on her face.

''I have one concern,''
Hmm?
''I don't mind the enhancements made by the 'Divine Armor', but I don't feel like I can handle a weapon of that weight class with precision. To put it bluntly, hitting a target at that distance seems impossible with my muscle power.

　Huh...?

　The words squeezed out of my swollen hopes.

　Mr. Kilt wasn't expecting it, either. He looked reluctant.

'Excuse me,'

　Illtimina-san looks apologetic.

''Sister Iltimina.
Mmm.

　Solstice touches her sister as if to comfort her, and Mr. Kilt thinks about it again.

(............)

　I wasn't sure, but I said boldly.

"Then I'll throw it.
What?
What?

　They all looked at me.

　I said, "The armor I wear, the 'divine armor' armor, strengthens my muscles many times over.

''The 'divine armor' armor I wear strengthens my muscles many times over. I think I can do it if I just release my 'Divine Qi' the moment I throw it.

　bang

　The iridescent exoskeleton of a creaturely shape - my fist taps lightly on its chest.

　Mr. Kilt looked at my whole body from bottom to top, and

Can you guess?
'I've been watching Illtimina-san throw her spear for a long time. I'm sure I can mimic that move.

　I answered her question clearly.

'Merle...'

　Iltimina looked at me, her eyes moistening with emotion, as if she was happy.

　Solstice looked at the woman who was the leader.

　Pang.

I understand.

　Slapping his knee, Mr. Kilt nodded as if he was ready.

'I'll leave the attack to Merle. Everyone good?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Oh!
Yes, sir.

　Everyone nodded at me.

(Thank you, for believing me.)

　I was happy and just a little bit afraid of the pressure,

　Mr. Kilt looks around at us and says.

'Rapt, Recto Alice. You are to absolutely protect Marl from that man's attacks until he attacks you.
Of course.
Yeah.

　The two men nodded.

'Sol, you should prepare for Marle immediately after the attack. Just like in the Great Labyrinth, Marle's heart could stop beating again when it crosses the limit. We need to be able to revive him right away.
Yeah, okay.

　Solstice frowned for a moment at the unpleasant prospect, and then quickly nodded emphatically.

'Irna, stay with Marle. Your presence is enough to help this guy.
Yes, sir.

　Nodding, Illtimina-san comes next to me.

　Geez.

　He shook my armor-wrapped hand.

(Warm....)

　Maybe it's because it's a 'divine armor' armor that acts on the nerves, but the warmth and feel of the armor was firmly transmitted to me.

　Yeah, that alone is enough to make my heart feel strong.

　We look at each other.

　We smiled small and nodded at each other.

　Finally, Kirt-san looked at me like that.

I'm sorry, Merle. I'm sorry, Merle, but you're always putting me on the spot.

　I apologized, somewhat regretfully.

　I was a little surprised.

　Then I laughed and shook my head.

'Nope.'

　What does it say about someone who is always pushing themselves to protect us?

　She felt something in my smile, and she laughed, too.

　I put my hand on my shoulder.

'Come on, Merle.'
Yes.

　I nodded loudly at the powerful golden eyes, ready to go.

　Now, let's get started.

'Merle, please.'

　Illtimina-san holds out her beloved magic spear to me.

　With both hands, I received it carefully.

(............)

　A beautiful pure white spear.

　The spear that has been fighting to protect us ever since we met Illtimina-san in the Great Forest of Aldoria.

...lend me your strength, please.

　He whispered in a small voice.

　As if in response, the red magic stone in the center scattered glittering in the sunlight.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


Here, Merle.
You can take care of the rest.

　The two 'Divine Fangirls' hold out a rainbow-colored sphere three centimeters in diameter to me.

''Yes.''

　He takes it with his left hand and grips it firmly with his five fingers wrapped in his armor.

('Divine Armor (Koro)'........please!

　I wish and remind myself.

　Voooooooooooooooooooooooong.

　Dazzling light flooded out from the gap between his fingers, and the two spheres shattered and became iridescent particles of light that swirled around and adhered to the 'White Winged Spear' held in his right hand.

　The blade at the tip stretched out into an iridescent blade of about three medals.

　The beautiful wing ornaments increase to four pairs on either side, for a total of eight pieces.

　The spiral pattern was added to the hilt to make it stronger, and it extended further backwards by about two meds.

(Great.........)

　What was produced was a seven-med long 'Rainbow Giant Spear'.

　I couldn't help but admire its beauty.

''Oh.''
I mean...

　Everyone, too, let out an exclamation of admiration.

　And the next thing you know.

(!)

　thud

　The strong weight of the huge spear was on my right hand and I was dragged along and almost fell down.

''Ugh.''

　Hurriedly, he grabbed it with both hands and stepped on both feet.

(This, this ... might not be good.)

　I was in a bit of a hurry.

　In order to throw the spear, he had to first hold it up before he could throw it. But at this weight, that stance itself seemed difficult.

(What to do?)

　From the point when I held back and held it up, I thought about using 'divine energy'.

　But I wasn't sure if my body would be able to hold up to the throw.

　At that time.

　banging

　Suddenly, the weight of the situation became lighter.

'Let me help you,'

　When I hurriedly turned around at the sound of a beautiful voice from behind me, there was the figure of Illtimina-san, who stretched out her arms from my back side and smiled with her white hands on the spear.

''I am the one who made the 'Demon Blood Contract' with this spear. And in order to exert its power, I have to touch it until just before I throw it.　
Yeah.

　She says she's going to lend me strength and throw me together.

(Oh my god, that's a hundred people power!)

　I can't help but smile in delight.

　Illtimina also taps her forehead against my forehead.

Let's keep up the good work, Maar.
Yeah!

　I nodded widely.

　Kilt-san looked at the two of us and nodded with satisfaction.

'Okay, let's get started.'
Yes!

　I nod and breathe.

　Gasp.

　The helmet that had been folded at the back of my neck returns to its original shape and wraps around my head.

　The face of a dog made of metal.

　The ears protruding from my head make a cracking sound and move backwards like horns.

　Von.

Come on, remember.

　I've seen the heroic throwing of the white spear in The Demon Hunter of the Silver Mark many times before.

　That beautiful, strong and lean movement.

　The figure born in my brain, I strongly visualize it and drop it into my body.

　Jarry.

　He stepped on the earth and held the 'Rainbow Giant Spear'.

　A terrifying weight rests on my right hand.

　But it doesn't waver.

　Illtimina-san is with me, supporting this huge spear.

　She is holding the spear together, stacking herself behind me, but in a position and with a distribution of power that never interferes with my movements.

　It's like we're both in one body.　

Brilliant.

　At the sight of that, an exclamation of admiration unintentionally escaped from Kilt-san's mouth.

Even in the eyes of the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter', he must have had a perfect 'Illtimina-san's stance'.

　Kirt-san nodded in satisfaction.
　And.

"Sol,
Don't worry, I'll take care of it.

　Kilts-san's voice was answered by a wizard girl who made the magic stone of the great staff shine with a green recovery light.

　We looked upward.

　There was the figure of the 'Devil's Piece' that was wriggling its slimy tentacles in mucus and gradually trying to take on the form of a complete person.

　--a woman.

　Its form had a feminine roundness and unevenness to it.

　If time passes like this, that horrible 'dark woman' will be born in this world.

(Before that, I will definitely defeat her!)

　One hit.

　I don't think we'll get a second chance.

　I'm not going to let you get away with this one!

　girilyne

　The exoskeleton-like armor that wraps around the limbs makes a metallic sound, as if it were expanding muscles, and twists while making the armor creak.

　Now, all that's left is to release the 'divine energy' and shoot out.

(-- Let's go!)

　And then he tried to open the faucet inside his body - just as he was about to do so.

　Juri.

　The head of the 'Third Child of Darkness' that had been floating far up in the sky suddenly turned towards us.

　A hollow in its mouth area.

　Darkness converges at the back.

''No!''

　Kilt-san's sharp voice.

　At the same time, Rapt and Recto Alice both jumped out in front of me and Illtimina-san, who was holding a spear.

　Pic.

　A black ray of light fires out.

　Recto Alice clasps her hands together in front of her chest, creating a magical shield of five layers of red light, and Rapt thrusts forward with her small hands stacked on top of each other.

　Pakiin.

　Five magic shields were pierced and Rapt was blown away.

　Rapt's body slammed into Recto Alice, and the two of them rolled on the ground as they struggled.

　Doggone on.　

　The black ray of light that was shot out, again, destroys the land of the distant tree line.

　The blast that blew up.

　The fallen Raptor shouted as loudly as it could.

''Now, Marl!

　Both of my hands are burned, and my heart burns with the passionate thoughts that I still shout.

"--Releasing the divine energy!

　bang

　Beast ears sprouting along the helmet's ears and my fuzzy tail invading the inside of the armor's tail at the buttocks.

　An overflow of power.

　At the same time, I felt my body sizzle and contort.

　A force beyond the limit is invoked.

　My flesh is screaming.

　In the seconds before it pops and disintegrates, I must destroy that 'devil piece'!

Well aimed...

The image by "Divine Armor" clearly captures the figure of the "Third Dark Child" in the 500-medium distance.

　All you have to do is throw it there.

　As if drawing a bow, he swung the 'Rainbow-colored Giant Spear' wide.

　Illtimina-san's hands move together, supporting me to make my aim more precise. Her left hand has been touching my shoulder the entire time.

　With that sense of security, I was about to throw the spear as hard as I could.

　slurp

(Oh...)

The mouth of the "Third Dark Child" was open again.

　The second projectile.

　Faster than our projectiles, the other side's firing position was ready.

　--Not in time.

　In less than a tenth of a second, I realized it.

　Pic.

　The ruin called defeat stretches out to us like a "dark-colored thread".

　I kept watching it, helplessly.

"Demi-God's sword, Zekijan!

　In the next moment, I saw the sight of a slash of pale lightning bolts colliding with that black ray of lightning.

　Beside us.

　That 'Golden Seal Demon Hunter' had unleashed his greatest profound technique.

　Gogian.

　The crescent of lightning light disintegrates.

　But the black ray of light was also deflected at an angle and blew over our heads, blowing the earth behind us.

　Wind pressure crashing from behind us.

''Marl!''

　Illtimina's voice.

　Almost by reflex, my body was moving.

　I took a big step forward to fall forward, rotating my hips, transferring the force to my chest, shoulders, arms, elbows, and wrists, releasing my fingers so that they would naturally disengage.

　Von.

　The 7-med long 'Rainbow Giant Spear'.

　It didn't feel as if it weighed anything, and flew to the 'Third Dark Child' while spreading its eight wings.

　Jurn.

　A tangle of thin tentacles thrust out to us.

　A black barrier was born in the air.

The 'Rainbow-colored Giant Spear' collided with it, scattering rainbow-colored afterglow and easily piercing it.

　Phew!

　The human form in the back was hit.

　In an instant, it was obliterated.

　The moment the shining rainbow-colored spear touched it, its entire body was torn apart as if melted by the light, and it disappeared like a blaze of fire.

　Dpaaaan.

　The sound of the collision was heard belatedly.

　And the 'Rainbow-colored Giant Spear' had too much momentum and struck the 'Seal Rock' that was behind it.

　Bago-ooh-oh!

　The rock popped.

　With the impact, the giant, 700-medium-long, egg-shaped floating island of rock tilted and fell to the ground with a cloud of dust.

　Don-doh-oh!

　The ground shook like an earthquake.

　The birds on the ground took off in unison, and a huge rock in chains lay on top of the tree line in the Cocudo area.

''..........''

　Did we...?

　The destructive power beyond what he had expected was baffling even to him.

　So much so that the fusion of the complete 'Divine Armament' and 'Thanatos Magic Armament', and the attack in the 'Ultimate Divine Body Mode' caused by it, was tremendous.

　And - a strong pain occurred.

''........Gah!''

　Bashuuuuuut.　

The exoskeleton of the "Divine Armor" peels off as particles of light, and from inside, I, with my beast ears and tail missing, spills out.

''Marl!''

　As I collapsed, Illtimina-san hurriedly supported my body.

(I can't breathe........)

　I writhe.

　Soon, Solstice comes running up to me.

'I'll fix you up now. It's going to be okay, hold on, Merle!
.....

　The voice of a desperate girl.

　While being held by Illtimina-san, Solstice's recovery magic is applied.

　Keha.

　A clot of blood came out of his mouth, which seemed to have been stuck in his throat.

(.........Ah, gu.)

　My limbs are numb, but after about ten seconds, I can breathe a little more.

　Everyone was peering at me.

　I gave a small smile.

　Everyone seemed to be relieved to see that.

　As Solstice continued to treat me, I looked at Ms. Kilt as if to ask her a question.

　She nodded.

'Yup,'

　A word of exertion.

　The meaning of it permeates me.

(Oh ... I could have won.)

　Thank God.

　That relief is the only thing that fills my mind.

　Iltimina hugs me from the back, bringing our faces together, our cheeks together. Her soft, beautiful green hair tickles my neck.

'You did a great job, Marle,'
Yes.

　A compliment from someone I love.

　Yeah, that's all it took to make it all worth it.

　I smiled and exhaled heavily.

　There's nothing in the sky.

There was no sign of the "Sealing Rock" or the "Third Son of Darkness", only an endlessly blue sky.

　The sun was so beautiful.

　I close my eyelids as the beauty of it dazzles me.

　--Our battle in the Cocudo area has come to an end, safely.