The large island trembled, causing me to wince. Reacting quickly, I drew water from the surrounding trees, creating a barrier to shield us from the aftershock.

As the dust settled, it became apparent that the shadow giant's attack had been thwarted by an invisible barrier.

However, my concern wasn't focused on how the strange creature managed to block the attack. I was more worried about the attention this commotion would attract. Truth be told, I had no idea what could happen next.

Regardless, I knew that leaving Gem in the midst of the chaos would be extremely dangerous for him.

Just as I contemplated the best course of action, the sky shimmered, and bright clouds swirled. One by one, peculiar creatures started materializing.

There was a four-armed monkey wielding batons, a man riding a cloud with a head adorned with red gems and a disturbing grin, and many more like that.

I had some knowledge of what these beings were—they were all failed experiments from this island's attempt to create God. In some ways, they were even more dangerous than the demons that managed to return from the outside world.

Soon enough, demons from outside also began to emerge. Typically, demons had grotesque appearances, which wasn't uncommon. However, the demons that returned from the outside looked as if someone had dismembered and assembled various parts from demons, animals, and humans haphazardly.

Describing these outside demons was challenging, as they possessed an unsettling quality. Even though they were nothing more than weaklings, staring at them too intently made me wince and clutch my head. They had a similar effect to certain otherworldly monsters—looking at them for too long was unwise and could drive someone to madness.

With Gem confined within a cocoon of darkness, he had no means of escape. I locked eyes with Sei and nodded. "Take Anika away."

"No way," Anika shook her head. "I'm tired of you always doing everything. We're a team, so don't act as if we're insignificant and continue shouldering everything alone."

Sei shrugged. "I somewhat agree with her. Plus, she might genuinely kill me if I forcibly try to take her away. She's a vindictive bitch."

"Hey! Don't talk about me like I'm not here," Anika exclaimed, her voice filled with indignation.

Sei looked at her and narrowed his gaze. "You’re right. You're not just a vindictive bitch... you're an extremely vindictive bitch."

Realizing that Sei's behavior could potentially lead to his demise, I gently karate-chopped him on the head. "Come on, now. Let's not say such things. You should act like a gentleman. Besides, if you're going to fight, do it later."

Now, the big question was how I was going to free Gem from the cocoon.

The battle between the Kuro Clan Head and the other creatures raged on. Space cracked and shadows swirled around, but none of the creatures seemed to die due to their peculiar powers. Could I make it out alive if I entered that chaotic mix? And could I successfully rescue Gem from the cocoon?

Suddenly, strings wrapped around me, pulling me into a mirror. Before I could react, a tremendous force hit the spot where I had been standing, creating a deep crater. It appeared that we had caught the attention of some of those monsters.

Damn, this was bad! I didn't want to lose another one of my friends.

Considering my current condition with my arm injured and out of commission, it would be too risky for me to help Gem without a high chance of dying. It would take a considerable amount of time for my injury to heal.

In that case, I had no choice but to ask someone else to do it… Someone I knew for sure would give it his all to further my goals.

***

Gem found himself enveloped in a cocoon of darkness, a comforting embrace that made him feel secure. It was akin to being wrapped in the arms of a loving parent, promising protection without conditions.

Deep down, Gem knew this sense of security was likely an illusion. He was well aware that his father didn't genuinely care for him. Nevertheless, like any child, he occasionally allowed himself to dream, mistaking his father's anger as a form of concern rather than something else entirely.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Abruptly, someone reached through the cocoon, instantly snapping Gem back to reality. Fortunately, it was not a demon but his own father who had grabbed onto him.

"Take hold of this," his father instructed, creating a platform of shadows and connecting rods for them to cling onto. Without wasting a moment, they blasted away at breakneck speeds.

The trees below flashed by in a blur of green, revealing the expansive size of the island as they had yet to reach its other side.

However, Gem had no time to ponder such trivial matters. Strange demons pursued them relentlessly, including a four-armed monkey and a man with a crimson ruby crowning his head, both hovering on clouds despite their breakneck pace.

"Screw off, you bastard demons!" Gem bellowed, and from his sleeves, shadows erupted in the form of wolf paws, enveloping his body and anchoring him to the shadow rod.

Gazing at the sky, Gem noticed the sun inching closer to the horizon. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes, clapped his hands together, and held them in a prayer-like gesture. The approaching night would grant him an opportunity to use the full power of the Queen chess piece nestled within him, allowing him to amass as much Ord as possible.

…

As the sun set, Gem noticed that his father's traveling speed began to slow down. Glancing over, he discerned that, despite his father's attempts to conceal it, there was blood staining his shirt. His father had been injured!

Relieved by the approaching sunset, Gem let out a sigh and prepared himself. The shadows surrounding him morphed, forming the head of a wolf. He placed his hand over the mouth of the shadow beast and retrieved a sharp scythe, a weapon several times his own size.

The scythe, lighter than a coin, became even more weightless when enveloped in shadows. With the beautiful full moon casting its glow, Gem could fully use his special ability, pushing them beyond their limits.

"{The Dark Wolf Awakens!}"

Shadows converged, coalescing into a massive, stadium-sized wolf. The creatures leaped towards the pursuing demons.

However, just as the shadow wolf was about to sink its teeth into the four-armed monkey, the demon discarded its batons. Its fists swelled in size, radiating intense heat as they crashed down upon the shadow creature.

"Fuck," Gem muttered under his breath.

While the heat emanating from the demon's fists posed no severe threat to the shadows, the feeble light was enough to inflict some damage upon Gem's shadow wolf.

"Father, stop here and save your energy," Gem instructed. Yet, he need not have spoken, for his father's weakened body wavered, and he began to fall as their shadow platform dissipated.

Using shadow paws, Gem swiftly caught his father, gently lowering him to the ground. Taking a page from his father's book, he fashioned a cocoon of shadow paws for protecting his father.

Then, propelled by determination, he lunged at the demons, swinging his scythe at the four-armed monkey. However, the demon was not alone. An old man, his head crowned with a red gem, joined the fray.

In a sudden display, a white sword with a black handle materialized in the old man's hand. Even though Gem was well out of range, the old man swung the sword. Instinctively, Gem leaned back, narrowly evading the attack. Casting a glance behind him, he witnessed a mountain splitting in two, severed by an invisible slash.

An invisible attack?

Gem's heart threatened to burst from his chest. It was sheer luck that he had survived! For a moment, he had considered exploiting the old man's "blunder" to launch a counterattack. But had he followed through, he would have met his demise.

Gem couldn't afford to stay still, immediately launching another attack. Brandishing his scythe, he lunged towards the four-armed gorilla.

As soon as his shadow-coated scythe made contact with the gorilla, the magical weapon shattered into a hundred pieces, leaving the monkey unscathed.

This level of durability was exclusive to ultimate-class demons, creatures that Gem knew he couldn’t face on equal footing.

Despite knowing his slim chances of success, not a single fiber of Gem's being entertained the thought of giving up. He had little choice, after all. It was either fight or meet a coward's end.

With that realization, Gem drew a deep breath, perhaps his last. Yet, a smile adorned his face. There weren't many regrets in his life, except for maybe still being single and never having a girlfriend.

Manipulating the surrounding shadows, Gem constructed a protective armor around his body in the body of a wolf before opening his mouth. A dark beam surged forth like a cannon, but far more potent, carving a ravine in its wake.

The ruby-crowned old man, perpetually wearing a fixed smile, attempted to wield his sword once more to intercept the beam. However, a shadowy paw coiled around his arm, momentarily impeding his movement. The old man’s eyes, more in surprise than anything else. It only stopped him for a second, but it was more than enough time for the beam to strike at point-blank range.

The ensuing explosion reverberated with such intensity that tremors echoed far and wide. However, Gem had no luxury to bask in pride. Instead, he sprinted away from the scene as fast as he could.

As he rushed to retrieve his father, Gem instinctively touched his chest, where the Queen Chess Piece resided. Ordinarily, someone like him would never possess enough power to execute such an attack. Yet, with Bets' assistance... he had achieved the impossible.

Gem clenched his teeth, unwilling to surrender his life so easily. He owed a great deal to someone in particular.

If he were to die now, Bets would undoubtedly taunt him in the afterlife. He was the kind of smartass that was to shatter any arguments.

What Gem desired was a glorious demise, one that would be celebrated for generations to come. In his short life as an exorcist, he had learned that how one lived didn't matter much; it was more important how they died.