Flow, the Arcana of Gluttony, stare down at me, who is holding the twin elves, Casablanca and Hibiscus close to my chest while trembling and shaking in fear as the man with a visage of a wolf let out his thirst for blood.

“Why did you have to kill them…?”

What I can do now is to stall, hoping someone strong will take Flow as an enemy giving us a chance. The chances are slim and if he started attacking, I don’t have any choice but to defend myself.

I don’t what is his motive but, knowing that these two are my sisters, I have to protect them with all I got.

“Why, you ask? Because I was cringing at their statements earlier! It was bad…really bad. I just have to do it. Now that they are dead, you are going to gain nothing asking about it.”

“Dead…?”

“Kill..?!”

The two elves quietly muttered what they heard. I know that they already had the feeling of something is wrong, but it seems that just now, their clueless doubts was erased and already knew someone was killed.

And not waiting anymore, Flow starts walking towards us leisurely while leaving footsteps of blood in his trail and whistling happily.

As I though, I just have to do it. I need to fend off for our own safety against this monster! I don’t know how strong he is but I doubt I alone have any chances of winning.

I have to apologize to the dead for doing this, but it can’t be helped!

“[Barrier!] [Force!]”

My blue translucent barrier materializes and covers the three of us excluding flow and the remains of the soldiers and as per my command, it stretches far out ramming everything in its path.

With the sudden burst in size, Flow immediately jumps up casually to dodge the barrier. But my true intention came next as he dodges. The barrier rams the mutilated corpses, flinging over the raging flames.

Guilt attacks me as I did the atrocious act but it made me relieve that it is not there anymore.

While Flow is still in mid-air, I release Casablanca and Hibiscus from my embrace and quickly draw out the magical sword master granted me from my dimensional storage.

Without hesitation, I quickly rush where Flow is supposed to land and readies my stance. I know that barrier of this level is actually nothing for him, but it was generous of him that he didn’t broke it earlier.

“Oh! Inviting me in a battle? Bad! Really bad! I am getting excited!”

As Flow lands on my barrier, he kicks it and it shatters like a brittle mirror. He comes at me with his claw drawn overhead.

CLANG!

As he mows down his claws, it met with my sword producing a piercing metallic sound. But my knees, which I used to support the whole weight of the attack, shook even though, his attack was just a casual, slow one.

“Hey! That’s a good sword! I am getting more excited now! I wonder what Lord Nil loves about you?! I just have to check it by myself!”

Of course, Flow has two hands to use so he swings the other one to my side. I feel like I shouldn’t let him touch me, or even just graze.

“[Barrier!] [Thorn!]”

Flinging his hand that locks with my sword, I quickly withdraw my sword and blocks on my side, catching the effortless swing of Flow.

BAM!

Guh…!

As his attack made contact with my guard, I was sent flying several meters away from him. Even though it looks effortless, the strength packed in it is no joke!

My hand felt the attack deeply and trembles from the numbness it suddenly felt.

My body, which was sent flying, crashes into a burning house.

“GuuuaAAHH!”

I scream.

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I scream loudly as I felt my skin being burned and melted from the intensity of the flame. My body instinctively rolls out of the rabbles of fire as it cannot fathom the hotness.

“Gahh…”

““Miss Asagao!””

I heard the worried call of the two elven girls as I suffer the blaze of the fire that kept seeping throughout my body.

“[Water Ball!]”

“[Aqua Drop!]”

They immediately cast water my magic on the fire I am being grilled in. I wanted to use my barrier but my mind cannot focus on casting it.

Water immediately pours above me, extinguishing the fire that tormented me for a few moments. As I look at their faces, it’s full of horror.

I take a look at my skin and found out the cause of their horror…

Charred skin returning to its original paleness and beauty, recovering from the burns and injury it has suffered.

I do not want to speak of what happened to my face. It’s good that there are no mirrors nearby.

My oversized shirt was burned. The saving grace that prevented me from being fully naked is the dragon wear that I donned before.

My shorts, together with my underwear and boots were charred and now, it’s useless to wear them.

“Regeneration…”

“Miss Asagao…do you feel okay?”

“You fools! Run! Run away and don’t come back here!”

Taking out another pair of shorts and underwear together with boots, I shouted with ragged breathing.

I am thankful for their assistance. But at this time, I cannot simply let them be here. The intensity of Flow’s attacks could kill them in an instant.

“But Miss Asagao, we don’t want to leave you behind! Maybe we can help you out too!”

“Miss Asagao…we…we can use magic… to help you…”

“Impossible! The opponent…is too much…you two will get killed!”

I threatened them. No, I just stated the fact.

I already knew, without having that brief exchange of attack with Flow earlier, that it’s impossible to win against him.

Even Higanbana in Divine Ascension will be thrashed.

I fear that and I don’t want these two to be involved in this battle. I can’t even call this a battle.

“Miss Asagao…are you saying that we save ourselves and leave you behind?!”

“We don’t want that! We don’t want to leave anyone!”

Drat!

They’re persistent…

I was about to quarrel with these two when…

Where’s Flow?

………

“Boo!”

My intangible barrier reacted immediately.

Flow appeared behind Casablanca and Hibiscus!

As Flow startles us, Casablanca and Hibiscus turn around in hurry and look at Flow.

Terror immediately painted their faces as they discover the terrifying enemy they wanted to face. Upon Flow’s presence, the two wasn’t able to move because of fear and froze at their place.

Flow then brandishes his right claw. Magic bursts out from it and it formed three giant claws made out of pure magical power.

“DODGE!!”

Without a moment of hesitation, I pulled the two down into my place and fling my body towards the direction of the attack.

Fully resolving myself in meeting with this life reaping claws Flow used, with the Black Dragon Wears I am equipped with, I catch it with it.

“[Blooming Thorn – Morning Glory Ninety Nine Petal Layered Barrier!]”

SHATTER!

As I used everything in blocking the attack, one by one, the layer of barrier breaks as the claw moves leisurely without break or showing signs of slowing down.

In that moment, I drive my sword towards his chest, aiming to pierce his heart for a kill.

That’s right! I am aiming for a kill!

I don’t have time for moral values craps and alike!

It’s him or me!

“Haaaa! Eat this!”

My sword lands on him piercing right through his chest, in return, his attacks slams me.

All the three claws were blocked by the Black Dragon Wears and prevented any external damage to me, although, the part where the claw hits got shattered with blunt force.

“Ack!”

“Uoof!”

BAM!

At the moment I landed on the ground, my consciousness started blinking.

Holding the parts where my bones were shattered and my muscles got crushed, I glare at Flow, who is just standing there, with my sword piercing his chest and blood drips from its tip.

“Miss Asagao!”

“Are you alright?!”

Casablanca and Hibiscus run up to me worriedly.

I don’t know if Flow is still able to fight or not. It’s best not to let my guard down.

The elven twins tearfully approach me and assisted me in standing up.

Damn…

My body hurts all over and I can’t feel my legs…

………

I can’t feel my legs?

What?!

As I noticed it, I immediately look at Flow.

Noticing my unrest, the Wolf Race Beast Kin smiled gleefully as if someone is caught in his prank. Not minding the sword sheathed in his body, he faces us and began laughing.

“Hahaha! Bad! Really bad! Lord Nil has fine taste in choosing his favorites! I can’t stop myself from being excited!”

“As expected of…you lot. That degree of damage…cannot even kill you…”

“No, no! Little Missy! I have to commend you for doing this to me!”

“…What did you do…?”

As if expecting the question, Flow broke out in a grin.

“Actually I tried eating your soul earlier! But as expected, I wasn’t able to! That just shows that my ability has its limit.”

“…”

“You see, I ate the fact that you can walk. Amazing right? Don’t worry, it’ll return to you in a few moments. But at the time being…”

“You…”

“I will help myself with these two younglings you are trying to protect so hard.”

“Don’t!”

The twin elves, upon hearing Flow’s intention pales in an instant and they walk backward carrying me in both of their shoulders…

“You two! Run!”

“We…We can’t…”

“We won’t leave you…”

“Fools…”

Flow slowly and cheerfully approaches us while drawing out the sword stuck in his chest. Blood gushes forth as the sword were fully drawn.

“[Barrier!]”

SHATTER!

I knew, but I still did.

Upon my attempt, the two elves lay me down.

Are they going to run?

That’s good…

But, contrary to my expectation, the two started casting magic.

Hey!

“[Fire Ball!]”

“[Spirit Beast Summon!]”

Casablanca fires off a knuckle size ball of flame towards Flow and Hibiscus summoned a small pup.

Eh?!

As the fireball lands on Flow, it made a small explosion but it did nothing to him. The pup charges at Flow and bit his pants and pulls on it.

“Awww!~ What a cute little puppy!~ Too bad.”

BAM!

Flow stomps on it and it disappears into thin air.

Not giving up, Casablanca and Hibiscus keeps casting spells one after another even while crying and trembling to halt Flow’s advance.

Firing off different kind of low tier spell, Casablanca immediately runs out of magical power.

Summoning different species of spiritual beasts, in which in their attacks, were simply shrug off by Flow, Hibiscus collapse on the ground tiredly.

As Casablanca’s last attempt of attack was easily deflected, she also falls down beside Hibiscus.

Both of them hold hands while shielding me from Flow with their bodies.

“Is the futile attempt to tickle me ended? Too bad…really bad.”

“Awawa…We…will not run away anymore… we are g-g-g-going to fight…u-u-until the end.”

“M-m-mother always taught us…n-n-not to abandon comrades.”

“Such good mother! Well, it’s her fault that you two will end up in a bad…really bad situation.”

As Flow’s hand reaches out towards them, they again, tremble to the point their teeth are clattering.

Slowly and dreadfully, Flow’s hands came close and closer.

But before Flow’s hand reaches them, the fall down…

Both of them fainted from being bathed in such presence.

“Aww. That’s no good. I need them conscious or else there will be no screaming.”

But Flow didn’t stop. His hands keep reaching out to them and going to grab their heads.

But before he advances further…

TAP

I grab both of his hands with my own.

“I… won’t let you…”

“Still moving around lively I see!”

“I will…protect those who are important to me… I may be weak… I may have my bad times… I may be uselessly shy and timid at first…but… I will…now continue to move forward…”

“What are you blabbering about?”

I have to…

………

“Protect…”

“Important to me…”

“Those…”

“Important…”

“Protect…”

Eh..?!

Casablanca and Hibiscus…repeats some of my words earlier…

…!

Sensing the rising of new power, Flow immediately released my hands and leaps dozens of meters away from us.

The two elves stand up side by side while emitting power from their bodies.

………

I have felt this power before…

It’s same as The Rage King’s Astlan’s Ira…

………

As I look at the two, who stands up in unison, I noticed something…

They aren’t conscious at all.

These two… they are…after all… Astlan Lionheart’s genuine daughters.

And…

Casablanca, materializing a large crescent moon with a large sharp edge and emitting Astlan’s Ira… Her demeanor from earlier completely changes as she conjures flame as dark as Atlan’s Ira.

Hibiscus also materializes a cube-shaped orb that floats atop of her left hand, covered with Astlan’s Ira. In her right hand, a dark mass of spiritual beast was given shape, donning the guise of the enemy…a wolf… very large wolf.

Flow, who watched the spectacle, becomes vigilant.

“Hey..hey…that looks bad…really bad…!”