Proofreader: Me!

After resting, I told them something pretty important.

“Fen’s up ahead, he’s why I’m still here.”

Serina’s spell utterly pulverised half of the demon Iveen. I almost pissed myself, realising that ray of destruction could very well be the cause of my demise.

“Aren’t you injured?” Uriel held my arm strongly, with a particular sensation being transmitted.

“N- not really!” I couldn’t simply ignore the feeling of being sandwiched between ‘that.’

“Are you sure?” She pressed further, heating my face.

“Ahem.” I swiped back my arm, “Fen’s with his brother right now, probably about to die.”

“Brother…?” Rodney lamented my words, confusedly brushing his short hair.

I halted his wondering, “Answers later, actions now alright?”

“Everything better be explained then,” Rodney remarked.

They all presented unanimous looks of agreement. Thus, we all sprinted following my pathing. Even if I was close to Fen previously, Iveen forced me to run across pathways abusing terrain at every chance.

“Everyone, before we enter, I just want to say one thing…”

Serina ignored me, however, walking further in. Clearly, she had no care for the matter. Once again, I’m being reminded how different her character was from the original.

I continued, “Even if they’re related, mercy is not an option.”

Ash and Rodney patted my back simultaneously, understanding my plight.

“Well, since our friend’s in danger, we have to help no matter who it is!” Uriel attempted to cheer us up.

Julia grabbed my shoulder, “We have to get going regardless, right Luke?”

I raised my arm, gesturing for everyone to raise their guard.

[Rayas Castelle]

[Attributes]

Vitality: Tier 2 (2%)

Agility: Tier 0 (99%)

Strength: Tier 1 (78%)

Mana: Tier 3 (8%)

Even without my will, Requiem’s status board came to my hand. His stars were befitting of a mid-boss, his mana and vitality were many leagues ahead of us all. With a tier 3 in mana, he outclassed Serina’s Tier 2 Mana attribute, while outmatching both Fen and Rodney in Strength.

‘It’d be tough.’

However, due to his agility and strength being close to the main party’s levels, it could be overcome through all of us fighting at once. I am certain that we can win.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

“I see the clowns’ circus have arrived!” ‘Requiem’ exclaimed, “The brother of a failure, doomed to being saved.”

Dozens of black needles struck Serina who barely managed to defend against it.

He cackled maniacally, causing shivers to run down my spine. His figure in person was even more disturbing than the CG in game. Such a sight accentuated through Serina lying on the ground battered.

“Game plan, Rodney, Julia, and I play vanguard, Uriel support, Ash grab Serina!” I banked on their language interpretation.

“Haha! Trying to communicate a plan in front of me?” He grabbed his head in an estranged trance.

Requiem threw Fen onto the ground next to us, to which Ash responded instantaneously.

“Good luck, o-children!” His body was illuminated with a white flash.

Through a work of fate, I, along with the five protagonists and Julia had reunited to challenge the introduction’s final boss.

“Fuck!” Rodney pushed his body forward tanking the charge.

Ash released a volley of arrows in their direction while a barrier was erected around Rodney. Taking advantage of this chaos, I grabbed Serina and Julia who had been on the sidelines.

“Serina, try to initiate a telepathic link between all of us,” I looked at Julia, “And you, the terrain in this area is terribly unstable, I trust you understand what I’m getting at.”

“What about you?” Julia grabbed my hand.

“Trust me.”

There had always been one condition recognised by the community, one way that they could make up. However, within the limitations of the introduction it was impossible.

Fen, and even you Rayas. I’ll save you both.

The first few seconds started with a bang, Rodney charged forward blessed by Uriel while tempest arrows were fired from behind. A black wall of gooey darkness blocked the arrows but collapsed in front of the raging paladin.

In retaliation, Rayas drew his sword arm sending a wave of solid demonic mana. The offence of Rodney shook as he drew his shield to defend against the cave-shattering beam.

Behind, Serina had drunk a few mana regeneration potions. At the same time, Julia uplifted the platform of rock Rayas had stood upon ruining his defence.

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“Hehe, nice tricks!” Rayas launched into Rodney.

‘Ron I’ll support you with prayers!’

‘Got it!’

Following her words, wings descended behind Rodney allowing him to take a step forward.

‘Come back,’ Serina solemnly ordered.

Rodney nodded, retreating. In his place was

Soon, phase one would end at this pace. And yet, what was I doing?

I retreated to the rear, holding Fen and hand feeding him healing potions, “Wake up, we’re here bud.”

He squinted, “Ugh… you should’ve left me behind.”

“No can do,” I smirked, “You and your brother need to get out alive.”

“You…”His eyes flickered with suspicion, but he sighed. “What do you have in mind?”

I whispered into his ear only a part of my plan.

“Luke, you’re crazy,” He paused, “I like it!”

If he knew everything, well I couldn’t take the risk and he most likely wouldn’t have reacted like that. Normally, there was no way to ‘save’ Rayas. It was such a waste considering fanfics were created about it. However, there was one hypothetical path in Fen’s route that was extremely popular among the theorists.

It was based on how Rayas’ katana could be targeted but not attacked, which was non-existent elsewhere except in a few cases. The only flaw was that no matter what, you couldn’t win this fight, and even if you used cheats the game would uninstall itself.

Now, this theoretical path, what was it?

To either break or steal the weapon away from him. The gift from the backer of Demon Rising, and ‘them.’ A sword from mythos, originating from the east, is rumoured to have been the remains of a god from hell, Kuronami.

I opened my Outer Eyes, examining Rayas.

[Kuronami] (S)

* The partner of a fallen God, #####.

* [Unable to view information.]

As expected, its stats and abilities were hidden. Fortunately, my researched knowledge of the warrior path came to fruition.

‘Luke, get up and help!’ Julia’s voice echoed in my mind.

Her skin glistened with sweat, her mana pool decreased by the second. Rodney’s frontal assault had lost the lustre when he charged in, as well as the disappearing display of holy wings.

‘Fen support Rodney’s flank!’

A gust of air signalled his support as Rayas chuckled and fell back. He bellowed, slicing the air once again.

“And that’s two down!” The crazed brother exclaimed.

Rodney was on his knees and Fen was hurting from moving without enough rest. Before the demonic blades of mana made their mark, a barrier covered in violet had taken the hit.

Fen and Rodney helped each other up, once again ready for another joint attack. Yet, it was in vain.

A tornado of black mana shattered our ears.

‘Everyone! He’s being cornered!’ I announced in their sudden confusion.

‘How? We’re losing!’ Rodney grit his teeth. ‘This tornado’s insane.’

‘No, that’s the ability of his sword,’ I explained.

‘Elaborate.’ This time Serina’s voice broke through the chaos.

‘He may be stronger than all of us individually, however, through burning the souls he reaped it is turned into pure mana.’

His insane mana pool wouldn’t be drained at all.

‘A battle of attrition,’ Fen affirmed.

“Tch.” I clicked my tongue, forcing myself into the eye of the tornado. Cuts and bruises opened across my body on entry.

I spotted the red circles on Rayas’ right arm in which he held Kuronami.

“Can’t believe you wiggled yourself in!” He stared into my soul with those empty eyes.

At this moment, I once again remembered his backstory. But, I had to free him first.

‘Magic Missle x 4!’

I breathed in the air as my limbs turned to lead, and my lungs became ragged.

“Magic Missiles? Hahahaha!” He held his head, laughing. “You’re even weaker than I thought!”

I launched one toward his head, simultaneously dashing along with it. Two dots were visible, right wrist, and left knee. I could see it, the surprise in his eye.

“Huhu, I like that attitude.” He dodged the orb of mana with a tilt to the side.

Julia’s voice rang again as I pushed forward. ‘Luke, are you alive?’

Weaving to the left, I spoke in my mind, ‘You all need to restore your mana, I’ll get rid of the tornado.’

I slashed my sword enhanced with both strength and agility, cleaving through a wave of demonic energy. His face was filled with amusement as if he thought of me as a plaything.

‘But… no, I understand.’

Her words matched the timing of his kick.

“Guh-“

I couldn’t evade it in time, he was simply stronger than me in every aspect. Speed, Strength, Technique, all of it.

“Already tired?”

“Really?” I smirked.

Four more dots became visible, hand, leg, and waist. Unleashing the rest of my missiles, I once again readied my sword. His relaxed posture, and smooth breathing, it assured me. That, I was correct in my decisions.

Rayas slashed apart all three of my missiles effortlessly.

‘Double enhancement!’ I layered my agility two-fold, swinging diagonally.

“Woah, be careful with that~” He stepped to the side by a hair’s width as if trying to look cool. “Oh-”

I was ready for that however, his attack patterns were something I couldn’t forget. His feet were intertwined and tangled in that short moment. I twirled, letting out a kick inspired by a certain black-haired demon.

[Critical Hit!]

The dot located at the back of his hand had been struck. He fell back, rolling with immense force. Timed with it, was the vanishing of the tornado I had been in the middle of.

“What was that?” He wiped the blood off his lip. “Explosion of aura? Mana?”

I remained stoic, “As if I’d tell a secret.”

“Ah well,” Rayas chuckled emphatically, while he rubbed his arm.

The tornado had long ago vanished, replaced by a chokehold of rocks surrounding him. It had been further reinforced with a layer of divinity, visible by the glistening of its surface. However, he still managed to send an attack my way.

‘Shit!’ I managed to barely deflect the beam of demonic mana, but I had been launched regardless.

“Haha… this isn’t fun,” He managed to squeak out.

To my right, was Serina, the Alkesius in hand.

‘That’ll hurt.’

“[Mana Ultima: Ray of Destruction]”

The same attack which pulverised Iveen now was directed at Rayas. The same magnificent light which made imprinted within my mind.

A pure beam of mana flashed passed my retina.

Before I knew it, the cave was in tatters and a perfectly circle hole had been etched into the wall.

“That- that was quite close.” Rayas was barely standing, with his grip on Kuronami loosened. His clothes were torn and ripped apart, showing that the ultimate attack was indeed not useless.

‘My apologies,’ Serina fell on her knees, panting heavily.

The burden of using that spell, I felt hurt seeing it in real-time. ‘It’s fine, but there’s still one more phase left.’

Fortunately, everyone seemed perfectly rested except for us. That was a good sign, that this raid was indeed possible.

‘I leave it to the five of you.’

‘’Phase?’’

Unfortunately, I couldn’t respond. The ceiling eventually met my eyes, my legs faltering in the process.

“Luke!”