“I did it!”
Behind him, Mizuki shouted in joy. Her joy, however, was premature. She seemed to have thought her magic had been a fatal strike, but there was yet life still in her target.
Peering into the flame, he observed that their foe was still moving.
Just as he gripped his sword and shifted into a combat stance, the flame magic was blown away.
It looked like it had blown the flame away with a swing of its arm. Standing within the fiery embers left behind, their enemy stood with one arm held outstretched.
Standing there within a heat so intense that it warped the air itself, it emitted an overwhelming pressure.
Having attacked him, regardless of his status as the Hero, this, the sole survivor – its comrades’ corpses littering the floor – was his true enemy.
In this scenery filled with the dead, it took a step forward. Reiji eyed his opponent, awaiting an opportunity.
This was no human. No, this was a monster. Even though it was humanoid, this was something other than human – a Mazoku.
Bat-like wings stretched out from its back and twin horns sprouted forth from its head, its entire body the color of rust. Aside from the nose, eyes, and mouth on its face, it bore not the least resemblance to humans. In its entirety, it reminded one of nothing so much as the devils of myth and legend.
The pitch black claws that came flying at him gave off a dull gleam.
The fearsome might of those claws was clearly evidenced by the shattered remnants of the boulders that lay around them.
Coupled with terrific, inhuman arm strength, the claws tipping the five fingers of each hand were like the scythe of the Reaper himself.
The Mazoku cracked a smile, a mocking, condescending grin. Having withstood everything they’d thrown at it so far this battle, it seemed to have developed an unshakable confidence.
In their confrontation so far, Reiji’s all had been unable to match his opponent’s, whether it be with respect to speed or strength. Accordingly, an expression appeared on Reiji’s face, demonstrating his resolve to conclude everything with the next strike.
—The Mazoku took action. A storm of sand was thrown up behind it as it accelerated in his direction. That lightning speed was on an altogether different level from what it had shown previously.
A vision of his body being torn to shreds passed before his eyes: the sheer strength and speed of the attack sending his sword flying, his body powerless in the face of those ferocious claws.
However, that was only presuming that Reiji were to allow the “current situation” to continue, of course—
“Burn Boost…”
Mana began to circulate within his body as fire element reacted to his call.
Power is in my grasp.
That unfeeling invocation filled his body with power. Reinforcement magic.
As the flame enveloped his body, power sprang forth in abundance. That overflowing, omnipotent feeling turned into a brilliant, light that shot toward his enemy.
――■■■■■■!?
The expression on the face of the Mazoku, charging toward him, changed.
It had been certain of its victory. That judgment, however, had been incorrect. This was Reiji’s first time invoking this reinforcement magic during this confrontation.