("She's back already?") Saito thought as he fell to the ground.

Behind was Elizabeth, and she had somehow managed to sweep his legs from under him.

When he fell to the ground he immediately pushed himself away from them avoiding the blades of both his opponents. He then stood up but not before being dragged back to them by Ezekiel.

("The hell kinda magic does that dreadlock bastard have?")

When he was placed back in front of them Ezekiel backed away and let Elizabeth do the heavy lifting. Her sword cut through the winds as if it was a supersonic jet but she could only get very shallow cuts on him.

All the stepping back and dodging Saito was doing eventually led to them going into the forest. Saito then decided he had seen enough and prepared to deliver another punch. This time he was able to see Elizabeth being moved though he still missed. He was able to barely manage to avoid getting his arm cut off by her counterattack.

("So that's their game, huh?") The demon thought.

("So the bastard is gonna play defence for her? What horseshit, they're starting to ruin my mood.")

He then backed away a few meters and raised his hand towards them. He held out his finger and a black ball formed.

He was going to use the attack he tested earlier in combat.

As he released it he noticed his aim was off though he could tell the pair hadn't moved. It seemed as though trees for several kilometres had a small hole in them in the direction he fired but he paid that no mind. He looked at his hand and noticed a knife embedded in it. He looked up to the trees and noticed movement and several eyes staring at him.

("So the small fry wanna play too, huh?")

He pulled it out and then pointed his finger at one of them and prepared another beam. This time he was interrupted by Elizabeth as she punched his hand causing him to miss yet again.

He delivered another punch and actually hit her though she blocked it. A cracking sound could be heard from her forearms when she blocked and the solemn expression she wore throughout the fight faltered slightly.

An unapologetic smile grew on his face when this happened. He knew by her expression that this was different than before. He was finally able to break her down. If he landed a clean punch it would be over for her. Then remembered something and jumped a few meters to the side.

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

Behind his old position was Ezekiel who had a knife positioned at neck height.

He audibly clicked his tongue and Elizabeth took the lead by rushing towards Saito.

("I swear, you can't let one of these guys out of your vision for a second.")

As Elizabeth was approaching, he was struck by a bolt of magic in the trees when had his focus on her. This gave her an opportunity and she used this to go directly for the head.

The smoke of the supporting attack had kicked a bit of dust but she felt her blade stuck in something.

The dust soon settled and Saito was standing at an awkward angle with the blade held between his teeth.

He then aimed towards Elizabeth with one of his fingers that had an unnaturally black orb at the end of it. A chunk of ice soon flew out of the trees and slammed that hand.

However, he had not yet fired and soon aimed in the direction of the attack. Elizabeth's fist arrived a moment too late and the void-like beam went into the tree. A yell of pain was heard before the movement at the top of various trees could be seen.

He used the sword in his mouth to do something that confirmed he was something beyond human. He used only the movements of his neck to fling the sword in between his teeth and its owner above the trees of the forest. He then lowered his hips and prepared for a punch, most likely an uppercut. He wasn't even allowed the pleasure of watching her fall before he was moved away a few meters back. He turned around and swung his fist but nothing was there.

He then noticed an odd feeling coming from his back. He saw Ezekiel a few meters back with his hand opened. He then pulled whatever was causing the odd sensation in his lower back. It was a knife and it was covered in a black, almost tar-like substance.

It had gone directly into the lower part of his spine yet he was still standing. The only person with a look of surprise on their face was Ezekiel. The disbelief on his face was clear for anyone to see. He even had his jaw agape for a few moments. Saito then felt his lower back some more before looking upwards and throwing the knife into the night sky.

Thankfully Elizabeth had reached the ground but now one of their hard hitters had lost his weapon.

The bald demon looked at Ezekiel and cracked his neck.

"Well, this is getting a bit boring so I'll have to go full force now. Try not to die."

Those last four words raised every hair on Ezekiel's body. Full force? That wasn't full force before? Everyone here was struggling with this monster yet he wasn't even trying that hard?

Ezekiel then got into a fighting stance though it felt strange to him without his knife. Was there any way to kill this monster? He took a stab to his spinal cord yet he still stood.

Even the stab from earlier didn't seem to faze him. Did he really stand a chance with only his fist?

Yet he didn't run away.

Whether he liked it or not, only he and Elizabeth had any chance of defeating this monster. If this monster was released on the parish no one would be able to stop him.

He briefly wondered if having Tibaut would increase their chances but doing that would be no help. He had to win using the cards he was dealt.

He gave a sigh and stared down his opponent.

Thankfully it didn't seem like he could regenerate. So he saw only one way out of this. Elizabeth seemed to be in the forest biding her time for an opportunity. Whether in a bush or in the trees he had no idea. When he was hiding himself it may not have worked but a sword would be a different story. He now had a clear goal.

Have Elizabeth cut his head off.

Draw this monster's attention to the point he leaves his back open.

The monster soon kicked off the ground and rushed towards him.