I'll start with one....

　I'll get my mind back on track.

　The battle isn't over yet.

Another piece of the Demon Shard has been spawned on this earth.

Okay, next.

　Kilt-san, too, announces in an iron voice.

　Mr. Illtimina, Poe, Mr. Colontude, and Solstice nod.

(Yes!)

　I nodded and looked back at the 'Children of Darkness' fighting, with a fighting spirit lighting up my blue eyes.

　--Huh?

　For a moment, the scene left me speechless.

　The battlefield, some three hundred yards away from us, had been gouged out of the ground by fierce fighting, with the earth gouged out, buildings collapsed and trees ripped down.

　At the center of it all.

G... but...

　There was a figure of the 'Black Iron Fiend' who had lost both arms and was being lifted up into the air while its neck was being tightened by the tentacles.

　Those tentacles grew from the mouth of the 'Dark Woman'.

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

　The woman's dark skin had countless scars.

　But underneath the skin, a large number of thin tentacles were wriggling around, and when the damage was closed up, the skin became black.

''Couscous.''

The 'Dark Woman' was smiling like a red crescent moon.

　At a distance of about ten meters away from them, the 'Pure White Pterodactyl' was lying on the ground.

　One wing was torn off and there was a large laceration on its head.

　Its right eye is crushed.

''.........Ku.......''

　The pterodactyl's feet were gripping a large bow.

　It dexterously pieced together three arrows and squeezed the string.　

　Thush!

　Three arrows struck at the back of the defenseless 'dark woman'.

　Jurn.

　Behind the black hair, the tentacles growing from its back, the flying arrows wound up with surprising ease.

(!)

　Is it easy?

　The speed of the arrows just now was on the same level as Illtimina-san's spear throwing.

　How could he prevent that from happening so easily?

　And in the time created by that 'Pure White Pterodactyl' attack, the 'Black Iron Fiend' kicked up the tentacles that tightened his neck with his black iron feet with great vigor.

　Buchin.

　The tentacles shred.

　The demon's giant body lands on the ground.

　Gagiiin.

　Then a torn tentacle snapped like a whip and crashed into it violently.

The Black Iron Giant is blown away.

　Boom!

　He rammed into a nearby building and crashed it down.

　Rattle, rattle, rattle.

　The 'Black Iron Fiend' fell down amidst the collapsed stone, creating a crack in his chest.

　There seemed to be quite a bit of damage.

　''Julul.''

　A new tentacle regenerates from the tip of the tentacle that had been torn to shreds.

　You swallow it into your mouth.

"Couscous.

The 'Dark Woman' was laughing very happily.

　...........

　What's going on?

(Because just a few minutes ago, we were more than evenly matched, weren't we?)

　And yet, now it's one-sided.

　And.

Oh, my God, you're finally here.

　A black child, who was close to us in the midst of the two demons fighting, exhaled and said so.

(.........Child of Darkness)

　He noticed our questioning gaze and cowered his small shoulders.

'As you can see,'

　As you can see........

''Those two have quite a bit of power as well, but they seem to lose to 'Devil's Piece'. At best, they were just stalling for time.
..........
Come on, go add to the party.

　I was a little annoyed by the way he said it.

'What are you doing?'

　What are you doing here, even if your friends are fighting so hard, what are you doing here?

　No, why, I didn't do anything!

　He chuckled at my murderous intent, but he smiled faintly.

I'm sorry, but I'm not that good of a fighter.

　...What?

'Just because they're the same demon, they have different characteristics. In the same way, there are differences in the 'devil shards' as well.

　He said.

It's a bit of a fight.

　As he said this, he looked at the 'dark woman' who was hurting his own people.

'But I'm not good enough to go one-on-one with that one.
..........
'That's why I'm adding to my ranks and why I asked you guys to fight together?

　.....................

　We are stunned.

　The black child scratches his jet-black hair with his little hands.

'I should have brought more of my people with me if this was going to happen. I tried to keep it small so as not to irritate you guys, and it backfired on me.

　I blurted out.

　But he quickly changed his expression.

But you beat one of them. Now let's kill the other one, shall we?

　He laughed unbendingly.

(.........this guy.)

　What the hell is this thing?

　Honestly, I don't know how much to believe in it.

(Are we really so weak at fighting?)

　Or maybe it's a lie (bluff) for when they fight us in the future?

　I couldn't decide.

　Pang.

　Kirt's hand clapped me on the back.

'Don't get lost, Merle.

　Kirt-san.........

　The golden eyes are staring straight at only the 'Dark Woman'.

"Regardless of what he says, what the warriors must do will not change. That's the only thing you have to focus on.
"........... Yeah.

　I nodded at my beautiful master's words.

(Yes.)

　What we do remains the same.

　Defeating the two Demon Shards that appeared in Vega Country - that's our only goal!

"Hmmm.

　I was motivated, and the 'Child of Darkness' smiled happily at me.

　.............

　I say without looking at its face.

''You too, give me a little help?''
I know.

　Are you sure about that?

　Po-chan walked towards the Woman of Darkness, with her 'Dragon Scale Fist' glowing with divine energy.

　Kilt-san and Illtimina-san followed suit.

　Solstice and Colon-Tudo-san held up their respective magic activator wands so that they could use their magic at any time.

　I exhale heavily.

(Good.)

　Prepare yourself and put your feet forward.

　Zah.

　The Child of Darkness also started to walk alongside me.

'Hmph, I'm counting on you, Merle.
..........

　It's loud.

　Throwing the voice I could hear out of my consciousness, I held up the Fairy Sword and Marl's Fang, No. 2 towards the 'Dark Woman'.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


"Couscous.

The Woman of Darkness held out her black arms as if to welcome our approach.

　Julli.

　Like a long tongue, tentacles spill out from between black lips and wriggle.

　Fearlessness burns my brain.

'Pooh-oh!'

　The 'Divine Dragon's Young Girl' who was in the lead let out a yell and pounced on him.

　A white glowing fist.

　It is shot out.

　Boom! Papaan!

　A barrage of white light, but the Woman of Darkness met it with a tentacle extended from her mouth.　

　The air blows up and a shockwave ripple spreads.

''Nunn!''
Shh!

　Shumuria's two 'Golden Mark Demon Hunters' also attacked.

　''Bajin'' Baggyin'

　The attacks of the Tanatos magic armor, the Great Sword of Thunder and the White-winged Spear, also play off the tentacles that sprouted from the back of the Woman of Darkness, however.

　The blue lightning scattered and sparks flashed.

(I knew it was strong...!

　I stepped into the pause, chewing on that fact.

'Hey!'

　Huo Guiguin.

　The two blades were flicked by the tentacles.

(Kook ... it's like a steel whip!)

　It looked like slick flesh in mucus, but it felt horribly hard to the touch.

(Calm down, Merle.)

　He breathes and holds the 'Fairy Sword' at the upper level.

''Yes!''

　Whew!

　I shake off the beautiful blade with the intention of cutting everything off.

　Panto.

(KUH!)

　It popped the side of the blade, which was also prevented.

　Not even this one!

　Just as I thought that, another tentacle attacked me from a different direction, coming at my body.

(!?!)

　galliin

　While sparks were flying, I managed to prevent them with my left arm 'Marl's Fang, No. 2' and 'White Silver Armor'.

　And then.

Wha...?

　Nur, nur, nur, nur.

Three more tentacles sprouted from the back of the 'dark woman'.

　Buoh!

　It's all coming at me.

"Huh.

　Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup.

　I desperately prevented it with two swords.

　Even so, I was hit by a few flowing tentacles, but my new 'Fairy Iron Armor' prevented that from happening.

(Hey, good thing I fixed it!)

　I finally thought about it.

　But there's nothing I can do about the situation.

　I'm on the defensive, unable to attack, and I'm on the defensive.

　No, if you look closely, it's not just me.

　Everyone else was being attacked by countless tentacles and before I knew it, we were defending ourselves.

　And.

　slurp

(Lie!　(More!)

　Seven more tentacles sprout up and attack me.

　This is impossible.

　I can't take it anymore, and I fall back in a hurry.

　Kilt, Illtimina, and Poe were doing the same, each of them being attacked by more than 10 tentacles.

(How many on earth can this guy grow?!)

　It's like a thousand-armed Avalokitesvara.

　And the trouble is, the tentacles are long.

　Gun gee-ing, gaga-ing.

I won't be able to retreat in time!

　By the time I get out of time, I've been attacked by a ridiculous number of attacks.

　Hey, I can't handle any more of them!

　The two beastly demons who were those 'Golden Mark Adventurers' were also subjected to this unusual multiple attacks?

(Well, not good.)

　Imagine a direct hit that leads directly to death.

　And then.

What's the hold up, Merle?

　The black child behind me muttered as a sigh.

　Its black palm was directed towards the 'Dark Woman'.

　There, a purple light converged.

　paan　

　That violet glow shot out like a laser beam.

''

The expression on the "Dark Woman"'s face was strained.

　Dpaaaan.

　Then the purple ray of light struck, and a huge explosion erupted.

(Whoa!

　The shockwave and the blast blow me away.

　Rolling on the ground with a rumble, I panicked and looked up.

　The purple flames subsided, and eventually the figure of the 'dark woman' who had lost more than half of her tentacles appeared.

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

　The smile is gone from her beauty.

　....What power.

　Kilt-san, Illtimina-san and Poe, who had been blown away as well, had astonished faces.

　I couldn't help but stare at the profile of the 'Child of Darkness'.

　He gave a small laugh.

You're all back in one piece, right?

　I insinuated.

　'Not strong enough to fight?

　You're kidding me.

(I thought you were just preserving it?)

　He senses the will in my gaze and cowers his shoulders.

'You're the one who's preserving it, aren't you?'

　What?

What happened to your appearance in the Teteete Confederacy?
..........
''In that state, it should be good enough for that 'devil piece', right?　Why didn't he look like that in the first place?

　He said with a heartfelt wonder.

　.........that figure.

(.....................The Ultimate God Body Mode?

　I kept my mouth shut.

I didn't want to give the Son of Darkness any damaging information about us.

　But he read my expression.

"Hmm?　Maybe that one is wearing out?
!

　stunned

　I couldn't help but react.

　He laughed.

'Haha, I see. Once you use it, you can't fight afterwards. So it's really a short term battle mode of last resort.
"~~~~

　I didn't even say anything!

(d*mn, that's right!)

　If I can't get through, that's it.

With my 'Divine Qi' exhausted, I wouldn't be able to use my 'Divine Armor' either, and I would be completely unable to fight at this level.

　That's why I saved it until just before the time limit of being able to be a 'divine dog'.

(I can't believe they found that out so easily.)

　This guy is too smart, too.

　Even though we're fighting together now, he's a really tricky opponent.

　He's the one who might become an enemy one day, but he's only giving you information about us.......

(d*mn it.)

　When you grind your teeth.

All right. I'll give you a hand with the inner workings.

　....What?

'Child of Darkness' laughed and stepped forward.

　And now he realized.

　The injured 'Black Iron Fiend' had Colontude-san at his side, and Solstice at the 'Pure White Pterodactyl', and each of them was using a recovery magic.

　Mr. Colontude looked sleepy as usual, but Solstice had a slightly twitchy face, probably because her appearance was a demon cure.

　Paaaan.

　The green recovery light fades away.

'....Ok.
Hey, I think I can handle this.

　The two wizards nodded.

　In front of their eyes, the powerful demons stood up. As it is, they begin to move to protect their master, the 'Son of Darkness'.

　''Zunzun, basa-sa-sa.

The Black Iron Fiend walks the earth and the Pure White Pterodactyl flies the sky.

　Look at that.

Come on, let's go to work.

The Child of Darkness twisted its mouth into a red crescent moon.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　The 'Child of Darkness' walks forward with a smile on his face.

　The jet-black eyes of the "dark child" stare at the approaching black child, and a red crescent moon smile appears on his mouth.

'Couscous.'
"Ha-ha.

　The two 'devil shards' laugh at each other.

　Julli.

　Like a thousand-armed Avalokitesvara, many tentacles sprouted from the back of the 'Child of Darkness'.

The 'Child of Darkness' turned her hands forward.

　Hiiin.

　A purple light gathered in the palm of his hand.

　Before it could shoot out, dozens of tentacles struck the dark-colored child like a torrent.

　''Zun, Gagiiin.

　It was the 'Black Iron Demon' who received it in front of his master.

　Violent sparks scattered, and the hard black skin cracked.

　Hugot.

　Aiming at its tentacles, the Pure White Pterodactyl flies in from the sky.

　Click!

　A group of dozens of tentacles were severed.

''Huh?''

The 『Darkness Woman』's expression twisted in pain for a moment.

　However, the claws and beak of the 'Pure White Pterodactyl' were torn to shreds in reaction.

''You two are good kids.''

The 'Child of Darkness' laughed.

　Then, a 'purple ray' shot out of his black palm.

　Pow, pow, pow.

　Tentacles wrapped around the black woman's body like a cocoon.

　Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

　The explosive flames spread, and the shockwave spreads.

(Ku, u.........)

　I hurriedly lowered my posture and endured the blast.

　Pow, pow, pow.

　In the meantime, the Child of Darkness continued to shoot the 'purple ray', causing it to explode again and again.

　--which lasted for more than 20 seconds.

　And then.

Come on, you two, let's finish up, okay?

　The Black Child says softly.

　At that moment, the 'Black Iron Demon' and the 'Pure White Pterodactyl' roar loudly, their entire bodies glowing purple.

　An aura of darkness.

　They cloak that demon's magical power like a flame.

''That is...!

　I've seen that figure several times.

　Whenever the people who became demons performed that technique, it was always only right before their end.

　And the two of them.

　Zdan Hugo.

　Clad in purple flames, she rushed towards the 'dark woman' on the other side of the explosive flames and flew away.

''--Wait, wait!

　I reached out to both of them and shouted at them.

　But I couldn't reach them.

　Neither the voice, nor these little fingers.

　And on the other side of those outstretched fingers, the aura of darkness of the two people who would have been close to the 'dark woman' disappeared for a moment, and in the next moment, it expanded all at once.

''No, get down!''

　Mr. Kilt shouts.

　Ms. Illtimina panics and gets down on the ground.

　Solstice is confused by the spur of the moment, and a little further away, Mr. Colontude creates a crimson divine letter with his two magic wands shining.

　Poe opened his young mouth to the limit.

"Pooh-oh-oh!

　A tremendous amount of vocal screaming was heard.

　The bodies of all of us were wrapped in the red wards of the divine arts and protected by the divine dragon's yell - at that moment.

　Doppaaaaan.

　The purple flame exploded.

(Shhhh!)

　My blue eyes stare at the purple flame spreading across the world through the wards.

　It burns the earth and burns the plants.

　Buildings melt.

　And the trunk of the giant 'Holy God Tree' shattered and rolled to the earth.

　Zu, Zuun.

　The ground rumbles like an earthquake.

　Eventually, the blast dispelled the flames.

　What was left at the end was a huge crater of blackened and scorched earth and a hellish scene with only a purple remnant fire burning there.

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

　Mr. Quiiga and Mr. Warnack, adventurers of the Vega Nation, are nowhere to be found.

　Self-destruction.

　It was the same behavior that was once displayed by the 'Flying Dragon Lady' in the Cocudo District of the Arun Divine Empire.

(~~~~)

　My heart burns.

　Regret, frustration, anger, sadness ... all kinds of emotions.

　And.

You are very stubborn.

　The black child's back muttered out of the corner of my eye.

　It's surviving even in the midst of all those explosions.

　That's the 'Child of Darkness'.

　And in the air above the crater where those jet-black eyes were pointed, there was the same existence.

　It is the "Woman of Darkness" who has lost all her tentacles.

　The skin on its surface is melted in some places, and it has become incredibly ugly.



　The woman howled.

　It melted the flesh of her cheeks, and from it, wriggling countless tiny tentacles.

　Everyone felt the pressure.

　A horrible rage.

　That tremendous pressure is pressing down on us like an invisible substance.

　But...

.................

　mekki

　The overflowing emotions overtook it.

'Come on, we've been set up, okay?　I'll leave the rest to you.

　Black kid laughing.

　Yeah, well I'll show you.

"The divine armor ...

　I called out quietly.

　The metal wings on my back shattered, turning into particles of light.

　It enveloped my flesh as it swirled around.

　Gigiin'

　The resulting rainbow-colored exoskeleton.

This is a full-body armor that resembles an inu.

　This is the "Ultimate God Body Mode" where the power of the God Dog is maximized through the use of divine armor.

　I'm overflowing with power.

　I turn the helmet of the dog upwards.

　Von.

　The eyes created there emitted a blue glow and stared at the 'woman of darkness' in the sky above.

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

　The ugly woman's face is frightened for a moment.

　Then the next moment, she turns herself around and begins to move away, turning her back to us.

　--Run away?　

No!

　Mr. Kilt shouted.

'If we let him go here, he'll recover from exhaustion. If that happens, our chances of winning are slim!
..........

　Okay.

　Right.

　Mekhi.

　My rainbow-armored hand, with its sharp claws, grabbed the arm of the 'dark child'.

'Carry me.'

　I ordered.

The Child of Darkness looks terribly surprised.

　Then he chuckles.

Okay, let's end this with a real fight.

　He laughed.

　Magic gathered inside him, and four jet-black wings grew on his back, two pairs on either side, for a total of four jet-black wings.

　Basari.

　The flapping black body floats up into the sky.

　Naturally, I grab my arm and I'm with it.

"Merle!

　Mr. Illtimina called out to me, as if in a panic.

　I look at her for a moment.

'I'll be home soon.'

　I softened my heart a little and told him so.

　But my heart was soon filled with the rage that was flooding me.

'-- go.'

　In response to my voice, the 'Child of Darkness' with jet-black wings spread out, chased after the 'Woman of Darkness' who escaped.

　...............

The amount of "divine energy" is decreasing at an alarming rate.

　There's 10 seconds left until the limit.

I can see it.

　The 'Child of Darkness' flying in the sky said.

　The image conveyed by the divine Armor showed the figure of the 'Dark Lady' like a small dot in the sky behind the helmet.

　Seven seconds to go.

　Enlarge the image.

　An ugly face looked back at me and was tainted with fear.

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

　What if he's just recovered and isn't weak?

　What if you weren't consumed by the battle with the 'Dark Child'?

　What if we don't have the means to fly over here?

　Life born from that darkness could have survived.

(But...)

　Five seconds to go.

　I put my foot on the back of the Child of Darkness.

'Thank you. I'll put the burden on you one last time.

　I whispered to him.

　He looked at me in surprise.

'I can't believe you're thanking me. 'It's a pleasure, Marl.'

　I smile at that.

　Three more seconds.

　I didn't answer any more, but put my strength into my little back leg.

　Tantrum.

　A light leap.

　But the back of the Child of Darkness was gouged out with its claws and cracked wide.

　The impact sent black feathers flying.

　At the same time, I

　Huon Kashish.

　With the speed of an instantaneous movement, he caught up to the 'dark woman' and grabbed her head.

　One second to go.

''~~~''

　The ugly, demonic face that draws back in fear.

　There.

Goodbye.

　He whispered in a small, pitying voice, and at the same time, he put his strength into his grasping right hand.

　Pang.

　Like a water balloon breaking, there was a light impact on the palm of his hand.

　The sharp clawed fingers destroyed the head of the fearless 'Demon Piece', causing it to burst.

　Its entire body unraveled into thin tentacles, and just like that, it turned into a purple magic power that melted into the atmosphere and disappeared.

　And 0 seconds.

　The armor that covered my entire body disappeared.

　I gather up the 'divine energy' that remains like squeezed debris and glide through the air, sprouting the wings of my 'divine armor'.

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

　Ah .......the wind feels good.

　From above, I could clearly see the burnt earth, the crater, and the fallen "Holy God Tree".

　And the figures of my dear friends gathered there.

　They are waving their hands to us.

　............

　Is it because I used too much power?　I'm getting kind of sleepy.　

...Let's go home, let's get to the others.

　Come on.

　Quickly.....

　While wishing that, I glided through the blue sky, descending little by little - and I'm not going to stop.