"Ugh... pant... pant..."
The moment I deactivated my Ability, a crushing weight settled over my entire body.
(This takes... so much out of me...)
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Givea, what are you doing? Shion-san is getting really cranky, so just kill them already!"
The woman who had been spectating our struggle finally spoke up.
"I'm not particularly annoyed," the robed figure, Shion, replied. "However, I do wonder why this is taking so long."
"Tch, just shut up and watch! I'm ending this now," the man barked. "I played around a bit too much, that's all. Next time, they die for sure."
A staggering amount of pressure radiated from the man.
(Ngh...! He's terrifying... but compared to the Black Dragon, this is nothing!)
If I hadn't experienced the overwhelming aura of the Black Dragon first-hand, I might have lost my will to fight then and there.
"Sophie! Hit him with every offensive spell you’ve got! I don't care if I'm in the way!"
I forced myself to construct five spell formulas simultaneously.
(Wait, five? How did I—? No, it doesn't matter!)
"—!"
I unleashed three [Thunder Arrows] and two [Rock Needles] all at once.
Log followed up, thrusting relentlessly with a spear he had fashioned via [Earthenware], just as he had before. But he wasn't stopping there; he was weaving in beginner-level magic like [Thunder Shock] as he fought.
...He’s fighting just like Orun-san.
Yet even our best efforts failed to leave a mark on the giant of a man. If anything, his movements were growing even sharper.
◇
(Stop!)
"Tch, again!?"
We had repeated this dance of offense and defense several times now. Exhaustion was heavy in my marrow, but I ignored it, using my Ability to freeze the man's movements and forcibly reset the flow of battle whenever we were in danger.
By coordinating our attacks and using my Ability to disrupt his, we were somehow managing to survive. But I knew this was a losing game of attrition. Even if we somehow took this man down, three others were still waiting—and I had no idea how much longer I could keep my Ability active.
Finally, I reached my limit.
"...Ugh..."
"Gwah...!"
Log was sent flying. My Ability had failed to halt the giant's strike completely, and Log had finally taken a direct hit. It didn't look like a fatal wound, fortunately, but next...
"About time. Still, for a couple of brats, you held out longer than I expected. I'll put you out of your misery now."
I didn't even have the strength left to stand. I could only watch from my knees as the giant stalked toward me.
I’m scared... I don't want this... I don't want to die... Big sister... Orun-san...
"Stop it—!"
Ignoring Log’s desperate scream, the giant raised his sword high. In that same instant, a deafening blast—like an explosion—roared from behind us.
"...Huh?"
The man's attention flickered toward the sound. In that split second, a gust of wind rushed past me.
"—Drei."
"Gwoah!?"
The man’s startled cry grew rapidly distant, followed immediately by another thunderous crash.
"Sorry I'm late."
Amidst the confusion of the sudden turn of events, I heard the one voice I wanted to hear more than any other. I looked up, and there he was—Orun-san, his back turned to me as he stood his ground.
"Orun... san..."
He had come for us. The relief was so absolute that the tears I had been desperately holding back finally began to fall.
"Yeah, I'm here. You did your best, Sophie. You were both amazing. It's okay now—you can relax. I'll take it from here."