A deep abysmal voice can be heard behind the clearing mists...

"Kill!"

Andrea and I both felt a strange chill after that. Is this a sudden transformation? No. That wasn't the case; it was the same appearance. It was almost as if the aura itself was changing from within. There was an aura of intimidation around him, but deep in his eyes was something else to notice. However, more importantly.... Is that the infamous line "Kurosu!" (which means "kill" in Japanese) that I frequently see in anime? So, the villains actually say them, aye?

[Note: A tremendous amount of magical power is perceived. The investigation is finished. Magic Swordsman's appearance has been confirmed. That thing is dangerous, Master!]

"Yeah, I see what you mean!"

I said that, but I was bothered by something other than fear of the demon. I stood steadfast, but then turned my head after hearing a mechanical sound from my side.

[Starting: Battle mode. Master, I'll show you what I'm capable of!]

Andrea is pumped and ready to go. However...

"Wait a minute, Andrea; let me go this time."

[Question: Master, why is that so?]

...Instead, I insisted on going. And in response to Andreas's inquiry, I said...

"His eyes... are the same as mine; they bear sadness hidden deep within those pretentious gazes that pretend to be strong; that's why... won't you let me go again, Andrea?"

With a gentle smile. It is not that creepy, right?

(But, unbeknownst to him, that smile he wore while saying those things made Andrea's heart beat as fast as she had never imagined or felt before; of course, she has no idea what these feelings are; all she knows is that time her admiration for her master grew even stronger, and it is something she could not say to him.

Her face turned red, and her entire body's temperature rose as if she were being boiled, and deep within her mind she said... 'I wonder... what this physical phenomenon is?...' But she hid what she felt because she was unsure, and as an alternative she responded with her usual self.)

[Affirmative: Master, I agree!]

"Umu... Good to hear that!"

Phew... Thank God, I was worried for nothing! It would really be painful if she were to say 'What the hell, Master, you're creepy as fuck!' With dead eyes.

On the other side, the changes were finished before I knew it. And what emerged from the mist was the same appearance and demon... However, the aura, feeling, and atmosphere surrounding that particular demon bore fang to the two of us.

Wait, weren't we on the West Side? Swords shouldn't appear in random places, right? Nonetheless, his right hand held a blood-red sword, and his left hand was raised toward me and Andrea.

"{Originator of Flame burst! FIREBALL!}"

Oh... he's chanting!

"Hoo. Half-chant? Not bad~."

There are three levels of chant: full chant, long chants, and short chants, which are typically used by beginners. Half chant; words are shortened, high levels and veterans are both capable. None chanting/Chantless; the highest level. There is no need for a chant, only the name of the speel, which is used by only a few individuals with unimaginable levels.

"Andrea, could you please step aside for a moment?"

I raised Brunhilde and went for the same tactic.

"I'll beat the sense out off you! Prepared for that!"

As the ball of fire approached, I made a move as well.

Fire cancels out other fires. So, in that case...

"FIREBALL!"

You know what it means, right?

"What?!"

To his surprised expression, the same magic collides, dissipating one another and releasing smokes with a loud explosion. Even if they were at a low level, those spells were still impressive.

The demon is again banished in the midst of smoke and mist, or so you might think... However, in the blink of an eye...

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

*CLANG!!!

...the sounds of our swords clashing echoed across the misty plain. The demon suddenly appeared in front of me, his sword drawn and aimed at mine.

He's a fighter! He just used a speed type, BLINK magic. This guy is intriguing!

The impact of the swords blew away the mist and smokes as I successfully defended myself from the attack. I know a few of them; one of my online friends enjoys sneak attacks. That kind of ambush is nothing new to me.

A battle, on the other hand, does not end with a single strike. This demon drew back before launching another attack, but this time it was magical.

He has a keen sense of battle. I can tell you that his abilities aren't something you'll find just anywhere!

"FROST LANCE! BEAR YOUR FANG ICE OF LIFE!"

"Half-chant yet again?"

A scripture appeared out of nowhere in the thin air, and sharpened ice particles were immersed in it. Slowly at first, but after a few seconds, the ice lances burst in my direction!

I guess I have no choice but to stand firm and confident; avoiding these kinds of attacks is not cool. Of course, the source of this unwavering confidence was...

"SAKURA, COME!"

...It's this Katana. As I drew my sword, the battle space was filled with shattering sounds of ice breaking, and the ice lances were shattered in an instant, as if it were natural. To be fair, Sakura's blade can easily sever a meter of iron pillar. As a result, accomplishing that feat is a piece of cake. I suppose you could call it bragging. But with Andrea watching, I shouldn't be seen as a lame-ass right?

But, surprisingly, this demon is obstinate in his pride and went for another assault.

He was blinking, charging, and using magical attacks repeatedly for a while, but the demon never landed. It was as if he was saying, 'the land is yours, but the sky is mine.' He floated in mid-air, only sending a strategic approach, his gaze oblivious to its significance. To be honest, this irritates me greatly!

Sigh... You're giving me a headache.

"If you wouldn't go down... Then I..."

I applied force to my legs, and with a swoop, I leaped in the blink of an eye!

"...will come at you!"

*SHING, CLANG, CLANG!!!

The sounds of our unseen swords filled the skies, and magical attacks exploded, clearing the misty high. This is fun!

(From below, it appeared to be a luxurious firework display, but in the skies, it was a dangerous place for those who dared to approach; Andrea is enjoying the show.)

*BAM! BANG! THUD!!!

For a long time, the noise had not stopped. But with a single *BANGGGGGGG! Everything came to a halt.

Silence descended on the plains and the sky, as if the previous battle had been a lie.

(From Andrea's point of view, the two of them were floating in mid-air, staring intently at each other, and a certain thought was conveyed in their minds: "This person is strong!")

We haven't said anything and have only stared at each other, both of us holding swords in our hands...

Strong. Extremely powerful! That's what makes it all worthwhile!

His face was flushed with perplexity! With his teeth clenched, the demon raised his sword and began to chant...

"The ruler of the abyss, the punisher of all! Creator of land and the guide of the lost, grant me strength equal only to yours! The darkness and light, punish this fool who dared to oppose you, rain down your rage!"

That's a lot of pressure. The heavens trembled with the sound of thunder, and then the heavens were scripted by a magical circle covering the entire Plain that had already been cleared by the previous battle.

Isn't this some kind of Grand Magic? How amazing is this guy's Mana?!

A magnificent magical circle capable of encircling the entire land appeared from heaven, illuminated by a certain dark light. Slowly, blades of blooded color descended from the sky. They formed perfectly one after the other, and after that, they rushed like the rain only prepared for me!

Without saying it, the entire situation was fraught with peril! It makes me feel a little special.

[{MASTER!]

Andrea called with her usual speech, but her worried face revealed the worry of a companion... As I turned to face her, I said nothing. But my face was smiling and saying, "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

"RELEASE: SAKURA! RAPHAEL, COME!"

I yelled, and Sakura faded, but nothing changed. Nothing came to me, I'm sure of it. However, in my back, I sprouted golden wings! To be honest, it's dandy. But the golden light feels so holly that it clashes with my black clothes. Well, it matters not much, doesn't it?

I want to get a better sense of the situation, just like in the novels. So as the rains of swords rushed towards me, I closed his eyes and begun to chant.

"Blesser of light and pure magic, protector of the righteous and good, pay heed to me! GRAND MAGIC: DIVINE PROTECTION!!!"

I can sense it. Its blessing's warmth! Light expanded from the gold wings, illuminating even brighter than before. I was floating with open arms, as if accepting the gift of life (He just wanted to look cool from below. Like a descending Angel). Yes, absolutely! In exchange, the light embraced my entire being, but that's not all...

As violent rains of blades fell on the lands, grass, flowers, and grounds... There was not a single scratch made to appear. The DIVINE PROTECTION shielded everyone equally. Andrea, everyone in the room was blessed with protection, including the demon. This is one of the reasons I don't use Raphael in matches very often. If I do so, the battle will not be over because all of us will benefit from its holiness.

Oh, before I could forget, the blades continued to rush violently. However, when viewed from above, they appeared to be rains of liquid rushing down to bless the lands. It was as if everything was normal with the DIVINE PROTECTION! Raphael rolls!

Atlas, the magical circle that consumed the sky and covered the land, faded slowly, like smoke being blown away by the wind. My golden wings faded in tandem with the gentle light of the DIVINE PROTECTION...

If I do say so myself, I look pretty cool descending from above!

And, yes, the place was silent for a brief moment. That is, until...

"Who are you...?"

A chance?!

The demon's confused deep voice came out in search of a clue... In turn, I responded. Hell yeah! Here we go!

"My name is Yuiga Guren; bear thy name in mind!"

Ahhhh. Nailed it! I always want to say it, even if only once!

...To be continued...

Chapter Quiz!

If you were given a chance to introduce yourself in a battle, how will you do it?

A. Just normally. Normal is always the best!

B. Of course cooler! Cool introduction is a man's romance!

C. I'll do it like a Jojo's Reference!

D. "It's common to say first your name before asking others!" With my finger pointing on him!