Then the attack hit Rajas, who was surrounded with steam like source of power―but
“You’re tough.”
Rajas was still alive and well despite having received Basan’s attack head on. There were cuts everywhere on his body with steam sprouting everywhere, but he was standing. He was struck with Suimei and my attack consecutively. Just how strong was this mazoku?
“Kuhhp….!!”
While my face was frowning with anxiousness and tiredness from consecutive attacks, Rajas suddenly took a huge step back.
I was tense wondering what his plan was, but his gigantic body turned around.
Was he planning to cut and run?
“What― stop right there!”
“... We’ll push back this duel to next time. Swordsman of Noshias.”
He probably decided that it was disadvantageous for him to continue. Rajas, who spoke as if he was outraged, attempted to escape. It seemed he had some strength left as he flew and moved far away in a blink of an eye.
“Hyaaaaaaaa!!”
I launched a torrent of attack towards Rajas as if I would cut his backside whole. But the speed of the red wind couldn’t match Rajas’. Crimson flash that couldn’t close the distance became weaker and turned into a normal breeze.
― He got away. There was no way to land an attack with that kind of distance. The story would be different if I could fly like Rajas, but I couldn’t.
That was why it ended here. I could finally get here thanks to Suimei. He helped me, but the enemy I needed to defeat managed to get away from the place where I was suppose to defeat him.
“Damn it…..”
The duel was postponed to later. To end things in such a clammy manner… I just needed to take one more step… Just a little bit… If I surpassed him just a little bit more… Then I might have…
― It was when I bit my lips in dejection.
Intensity of mana rose behind my back. No, a lukewarm expression like “rose” wasn’t suitable to describe it. This was the shockwave occurring when mana explosively increased. And the one who was creating it was of course ―
“S, Suimei?”
Did this boy have no end to his mana? Did he still have strength left over after defeating the mazoku army, defend against Rajas’ attack and even fight him? He walked over here while maintaining his power. It was like he was taking a leisurely stroll and soon he stood beside me. And what rang out was the magician’s voice.
“Abreq ad habra.” (Death, you will be destroyed before my thunder)