"Guh...!"
Confronted by the silver monster radiating a malevolent aura, Torin stumbled back, overwhelmed by the sheer pressure.
An indescribable terror seeped from Lost. Taking the brunt of it, Torin felt as if an invisible hand had reached into his chest and seized his heart.
Lost stood with elegant poise, the embodiment of the despair he claimed to be. Torin gulped, his eyes fixed on the mysterious entity.
Terror continued to gnaw at him, but even so, he didn't have the luxury of retreat.
"What 'despair'?! I won't bow to that! I have the power of miracles on my side! There’s no way I'll lose to a freak like you!"
With the power of the Clear Plate granted by the mighty Abyss—the power bearing the name [Miracle]—Torin believed he had no equals.
Seeking to vent the humiliation and frustration he had endured, Torin aimed his arms at Lost. He unleashed a rapid-fire barrage of golden light bullets, desperate to erase the man before him.
"Die! Die! Dieeeee!!"
Torin wielded supernatural abilities worthy of the name [Miracle].
Though he fired destructive projectiles in a relentless stream, Lost remained unfazed. He wove through the approaching bullets with ease, occasionally casually kicking them aside.
"Beautiful. Truly a moving sight—too bad it's utterly useless in a real fight."
"You...! Don't you mock me!!"
Realizing that standard attacks were getting him nowhere, Torin slammed his fists into the ground.
Several golden Magic Armor Beasts erupted from the earth, encircling Lost in a flash.
"Heh. So you can summon underlings as well as fire long-range attacks? That’s somewhat interesting, but... judging by your reliance on minions, your personal combat power must be abysmal."
"Shut. Up!!"
Infuriated by Lost’s cold appraisal, Torin commanded his summoned beasts to strike.
It wasn't a coordinated assault, but by simply utilizing the advantage of numbers to attack from all sides, they should have been a lethal threat.
"Hmm, I see. Yes, just as I thought. This is your limit."
"J-just as you thought...?"
"I’m genuinely glad I sent My Hero ahead. If I’d let him waste his time on a third-rate hack like you—someone whose only talent is stalling—it would have ruined his performance. Did Abyss give you a new toy? Did you get all worked up and rush into the city to settle some petty grudge? And now look at you..."
"Grr, grr, grr...!!"
Lost’s assessment was painfully accurate.
Abyss had ordered him to wait until given further instructions, but Torin, consumed by the desire to wipe away his shame, had abandoned his post at Hauvent Castle to hunt down the loathsome Yugo.
He had found his target and launched his ambush, which was all well and good... until this mysterious man had obstructed his vengeance and subjected him to a barrage of insults.
His rage boiling over at Lost's constant condescension, Torin’s emotions finally exploded in a primal scream.
"Don't mock me! I'll kill you! I'll kill youuuuu!!"
"Whoops, well now...!"
As Torin barked, he swung his arms forward with violent force. Two golden-shining arms elongated like rubber, lashing out to entwine and bind Lost's entire body.
As the limbs coiled around his foe, Torin let out a triumphant howl.
"How's that?! See?! I’m going to torture you to death! Experience the full depth of my wrath!!"
The golden arms tightened, sealing Lost's movements and crushing any hope of resistance. Torin ordered his summoned beasts to launch a simultaneous finishing blow.
As the Magic Armor Beasts pounced on Lost from every angle, Torin was certain of his victory. But the Silver Despair shattered that confidence in a heartbeat.
"How naive... Do you really think this is enough to win?"
"Wha...!?"
Even with his body constricted, Lost spoke with chilling composure.
In the next instant, twin swords manifested directly from Lost's body. Torin let out a cry of shock as he felt his own elongated arms—the ones supposedly restraining his enemy—being sliced to ribbons.
The twin swords danced through the air, severing Torin's limbs before returning to their master's grip. The blades pulsed with a crimson radiance.
Lost spun, carving arcs of crimson light through the air. As he came to a rest, the golden Magic Armor Beasts that had been lunging at him disintegrated. Their bodies crumbled into dust, vanishing one after another.
"...Are you finished summoning your little friends?"
"Ugh, aah...!?"
Though his severed limbs felt no physical pain, Torin was drowning in a sea of despair.
He stared at the overwhelming combat power of the man wielding those glinting twin swords, unable to find his voice. Lost slowly leveled the tip of a blade at Torin’s throat, his voice carrying a dark, playful lilt.
"Let’s put an end to these delusions of convenient miracles. I will show you true despair... and remove a third-rate actor like you from the stage forever."