Ardis and Nicole noticed the change in the situation at the same time that the 'Spiritual Guide' fell and the 'Dragon Spire' launched an attack on the unfamiliar demon.

　Ardis noticed that the atmosphere of her allies, who had been gaining momentum with victory on the horizon until then, suddenly changed drastically, and she checked the situation around her.

''What's that?''

　Nicole also noticed something strange and seemed to have discovered the demon that seemed to be the cause of it.

'That's an unfamiliar demon: ......

　Ardis, who followed Nicole's gaze, saw an odd-shaped demon that was about three meters tall.

　Standing on two legs and balancing on its long, thick tail, its appearance resembles a reptilian demon like a dispare.
　However, unlike the disperser, it does not have front legs, and its length could easily exceed five meters if it were to extend its tail.
　Its body is dyed a bluish gray color. It had a mane of hair growing from its head to the tip of its tail.

　Despite its massive size, it was nimble in its movements.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on it.
　Every time the demon took a step, someone was blown away, and every time its head was thrust out, a red flower bloomed.

'This isn't good. This doesn't look like an ordinary demon.''

　The outnumbered mercenaries are floating.


''---- bikic.''


　Aldis stepped out to cover, but it was already too late.
　When Ardis rushed over, what was spread out in front of him was the sight of all of the 'Dragon's Spire' sinking in front of the demon.

''Uhee. This is ...... terrible.''

　Nicole, who arrived late, saw the situation around her and let out a voice.
　There is only one demon standing in the pool of blood.
　The mercenaries in the vicinity are just surrounding the demon from afar, as if they are looking at the situation.

　It can't be helped.
　''Spirit Guidance'' and ''Dragon Spearhead''. The mercenary party, which can be considered the best fighting force of the defeating army, was defeated one after another.
　Anyone could understand that the strength of the demon that did this was extraordinary.

So?　You're not going to fight that thing, are you?

　The demon at the end of Nicole's point moved its neck from side to side, assessing its next prey.

　Attached to the tip of its neck was an object of a shape that Aldis hadn't expected. A small, skin-colored, ovoid sphere is attached to the tip of its neck.
　The sphere has two indentations side-by-side, with a single protrusion at the bottom of the sphere, and if you look down further down the sphere, you can see a gaping hole in the side of the sphere.

　It was shaped like a human face.

　Furthermore, at a slight distance from the human face, what looked like two arms could be seen.
　Unlike its bluish-gray body, the arms are also human skin-colored, and the slender arms, which are disproportionate to its massive body, are divided into five fingers.

　Perhaps those are the demon's forearms. It's no wonder that the body has no forearms.
　It was as if it was watching the last moment of a human being being being swallowed into the mouth of a giant demon.

　The eyes on the human face stare at Ardis with a scowl.
　Apparently, that eye is not necessarily a decoration.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for, but I'm sure it's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good time. I'll do it on my own.

'Oh no, it's not like that. I don't want to stand in front of you, but if it's at least a check on you, well, .......

Do what you want.

　Leaving a cold reply, Aldis heads to the demon.


''---- pakin.''


　Two swords flew as they tore through the air and attacked the demon, trying to cut off both of its legs.

　But the demon showed an agility that didn't match its huge body.
　It leaps to the side to dodge the Chiku-Chun-Kaze and then flips its thick tail like a whip to knock off the Moonstorm.
　The surface of the tail is slightly covered in white frost, but that, too, quickly melts away.

　In the meantime, Aldis, who has closed the distance between them, reaves his sword with momentum.

''Tch, unexpectedly--!

　The demon that avoided even a blow from the "Sotensaika" attacked Ardis, leaning its head back.

''Mi......!''

　The demon stretched out its arms while emitting what looked like a voice from its mouth on the human face.
　While dodging it, Ardis thrusts the cutting edge of the Aoten Saihua towards the human face.

　That's when. The human face exposed to the thrust from the front split into three pieces and a red mouth appeared from inside.

''What!''

　Losing the response that should have been obtained, a slight impatience appeared on Ardis' face.
　The tip of the sword is wrapped in the demon's lacerated mouth, and is held by the countless teeth that are lined up in it.

　In the event that you're not a fan of the newcomer, you'll be able to find out more about him.

'There's one over here, though!

　As the demon was about to chase after Ardis, Nicole fired a blow from the side.
　The tip of the sword caught the demon's body beautifully, but all it could do was make a small cut.

''Hard, hey!

　The demon's point was about to turn towards her, and Nicole retreated in a hurry.
　The attack was not an effective strike, but thanks to that, Ardis was able to adjust his stance without being chased by the demon.

　Letting go of an acquisition in the middle of a battle would be outrageous by nature.
　But if he had stuck to his sword, he would have taken a decent hit at the point where he was stuck.
　A normal mercenary would have lost his or her weapon and fallen into a corner, but Ardis still has two swords flying in the air.

''So it's not what it looks like.

　Calling up the "Moonstorm" and taking it in her right hand, Ardis begins chanting while holding it guardedly.
　A hard rock made up of magic power is generated around the palm of the hand aimed at the demon, surrounding the arm.

''The crush that pierces is the unshakable contraption of a brave knight ---- rock (Dessel)!

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

　It's a completely different kind of magic that bears no resemblance to the "rock" magic that is usually composed of a single crush.
　The demons try to dodge by twisting around, but as expected, they can't avoid everything. Some rocks bite into the gray body and cause not a few wounds.

''Si......i......!

　The demon spat out the 'Aoten Aika' it was holding in its mouth and groaned.

''I'll have it back,''

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right.

　You can't deny that the two flying swords are aimed at the demon again, but it's still not strong enough.
　If it was an ordinary demon, it has enough power to cut down a single blade. However, the only thing they can do to the monster in front of them is to scratch it.
　It would mean that he is different in rank from other demons. I'm sure that's what you're thinking.

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on it.

　While checking the demon with the flying sword, Ardis began chanting.
　A dazzling ball of light appears at the end of the raised palm.

It is the only thing that can be said for the demon, "Open up the ebony sky, free the wingless ones, a thread of hope for us who are foolish enough to search for something we cannot reach. --Tierre cere quavis, the shining light!

　The photosphere grew in size, and when it reached a size of about fifty centimeters, it suddenly began to shrink.
　It tried to swell up, but it was forcibly held back by some force, squeezed and agglomerated.

　Eventually, the light that had been pushed down to the size of a fist showed a momentary pause, and then it was released at an unstoppable speed towards the demon.
　The shockwave spreads out a moment later, and a gust of wind blows around it.

''Zu......!　Ho......si......!

　The demon's body shook languidly as it let out a cry of agony.
　The single-stranded light that Ardis emitted brilliantly pierced the demon's body and caused it to suffer a deep wound.

　Without missing the opportunity, Aldis closed the distance with the 'Ao Tian Aika' in hand.

''Mi......!　Si...... i......!

　The demon rears its head with a murderous intent in its eyes on the human face.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

　I'm sure this was effective, and the demon cowered while screaming.
　But that movement is still not slowed down. The demon came to catch Ardis by extending its thin forearms on both sides of the human face.

　It's a good idea to cut off one of the arms with Aoten Saihua, and while dodging the other, Ardis thrusts towards the human face again.

''Zu ......!''

　Just as a recreation of the previous one, the human face split into three parts and a demon's mouth appeared.

''If you know the seeds, you can do a magic trick and--!

　The next moment, the demon's mouth caught not the Souten Saihua, but the tick-tock haze that jumped into the mouth of the demon.
　It's not just a matter of how much time you have left on the clock.

''Same!''

　After instantly ducking down, Ardis kicked the ground and jumped up, using the "Moonstorm" that was still floating in the air beside her as a foothold to jump further.
　After two leaps, Ardis took the top spot and her full length sword flash was aimed at the demon's neck.

''If you let your magic power cling to it!

　A half-hearted sword strike can only inflict a shallow wound.
　Ardis wraps the 'Aoten Aika' with the magic power of hardening and swings it out with all his strength.

''Mi......!　Zu ............

　As expected of a demon, even the demon couldn't withstand Aldis's all-out blow, and his thick neck was cut off in both directions.
　The human-masked head fell to the earth with a dull sound with a botry.


''---- Mekki.''


　The silence that comes.
　The mercenaries, who had been watching the outcome of the battle, eventually came to their senses and the place was in an uproar.

'Hey ......, we did it!'

'Seriously? That monster at ......?

Even though neither 'Spiritual Guidance' nor 'Dragon Spearhead' could stand up to it: ......!

"I took down ...... by myself, by myself!

'Wow!　Who the hell is that guy?

　Soon, the murmur turned to jubilation, and people began to appear here and there shouting high praise for the completion of the defeat and victory.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one. You've really defeated him all by yourself.

　As soon as he came to stand next to Ardis, about ten paces away from the demon, Nicole said in a tone that could be described as both dismay and admiration.

I knew you would be strong from the first time I met you, but ....... Well, I'm really glad I didn't make an enemy of you.

　But Ardis didn't even turn around and stared at the demon's body.

''Hmm?　What's going on?　Since you've won, I think you should be a little happier.　If the leading force behind the victory is wearing a pouting face like that, people around you will be confused.

　Most of the demons and beasts had already been defeated, and the battlefield had moved on to sweep up the remaining enemies.
　There was no sign of any new demons or beasts appearing, and the success of the defense of Leytin was unquestionable here.

　However--''

''It's true, that demon did cut off its head. But then, how could that main body be standing?

　At Aldis' words, Nicole looked at the body of the demon.
　There was a two-legged body standing there with its head cut off.

　That's right. It was standing.
　Even though its head was cut off, it didn't fall down, but stood with its two legs firmly stepping on the earth.

''Isn't the body just stiffening up ......?

　Any common sense speculation Nicole had uttered was quickly dismissed.

　A thud, a weighty sound echoed around them.
　With the weight of the giant body on two legs, the reptilian-like legs began to move in turn.

''You've been decapitated and yet you're ......!

　Nearby, Aldis's unseen mercenary let out a screaming voice.


''---- Mekimekh!''