I caught sight of Eliana collapsed in a pool of blood at the edge of my vision. Whether she was alive or dead remained unclear, but even if she still drew breath, her wounds were undoubtedly grave.
I hadn't made it in time.
She was a troublesome princess who did nothing but drag me into her messes, yet it seemed I didn't actually dislike her—not if the cold fury and disgust churning in my gut were any indication.
If this opponent could corner someone as capable as Eliana, they had to be formidable. After all, this was the only demon to ever survive a direct strike from my lightning.
"Now then, shall I kill you?"
Spitting the words out through my rage, I closed the distance between myself and the demon.
The creature glared back at me. "You?! You’re the one who did this?!"
"That’s right. What of it?"
"Those eyes—are you Albert von Kronstadt?!"
"Correct. Are you finally ready to take this seriously?"
I retrieved a sword from one of the fallen knights and leveled the tip at the demon. "So—what is the name of the man I’m about to kill?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Heterochromia! My name is Zalgun! I am a close confidant of Demon King Aristia!"
Shut up, I'm her friend! I wanted to shout back, but I held my tongue. That would only add more chaos to the situation.
Zalgun... so it really was him. The scar on his left cheek matched the character from the game, and his features were unmistakable. As a self-proclaimed confidant of the Demon King, he was a major late-game boss. It was no wonder Eliana had been helpless against him, or that he’d survived my Chain Lightning of Divine Punishment.
He was an enemy that had no business appearing during this Forest Monster Hunt event.
Was this another deviation caused by the changing plot? It shouldn't have surprised me; the Demon King had already enrolled in the academy and become my friend, after all.
Still, even a displaced boss was a late-game threat. I couldn't afford to be careless. I stole a quick glance at the unconscious Eliana.
"Just come at me. I don't have all day."
"Kuhahaha! I’ll show you what I’m truly capable of!"
A violent rip echoed through the clearing.
Zalgun’s body split straight down the center, and something massive and white erupted from the gore.
It was a serpent. Or at least, that’s what I would have called a creature that looked like a snake but possessed four thick, muscular arms.
With terrifying speed, the giant serpent lunged, unhinging its massive maw to snap at me.
"Whoa!"
I managed to dive to the side just in time. To think he would molt and reveal a giant serpent inside—now that I saw it, I remembered. In the original game, once you defeated Humanoid Zalgun, he transformed into a giant snake for the second phase. This must have been the actual process of that transformation.
His massive frame radiated a disgusting, oppressive aura—but it also made him a massive target.
"Spell: Lightning Bolt!"
I unleashed a Lightning Bolt, which was internally the Thunder Emperor's Flash. The white streak of light slammed into the serpent’s flank.
The impact exploded with a thunderous roar. However, Snake Zalgun didn't even flinch.
"Was that supposed to do something?" he asked, his voice dripping with arrogance.
I see. Those scales possessed immense magic resistance. Even in the game, he had been a tedious opponent with high physical and magical defense.
"I'll grind you into the dirt!"
Snake Zalgun lunged again, tearing up the earth as he barreled toward me.
Of course, I had Frenzy active. As long as I relied on that, he wasn't an opponent I couldn't evade. However, even when I found a gap and landed a counter-slash—
A metallic ring echoed as my blade was parried by his hide. A faint scratch was the best I could manage.
"Kuhahahaha! It’s useless! Useless!"
Zalgun began to circle me, launching a barrage of strikes. This had become a battle of pure positioning. One mistake in my evasion pattern and I’d lose my footing and be crushed. He truly lived up to his status as Aristia's confidant.
"You're out of options now!" Zalgun’s boastful laughter rang out, certain of his victory.
I appreciate the assumption.
I had a few cards left to play, but one in particular was my trump card—a prototype of an original Ancient Magic I had developed alongside Demon King Aristia.
I had intended to test it during this forest hunt anyway. Since my opponent was a late-game boss and the Demon King's confidant, he was the perfect test subject. Besides, I was worried about Eliana’s condition; I didn’t have any more time to waste.
While parrying the attacks of a demon who thought he had already won, I began to knead my mana.
It was a staggering amount of power based on an unknown magic theory Aristia had taught me. If I lost control for even a second, I and everything around me would be vaporized. Was I really going to attempt such a high-difficulty feat against this monster? I had to. If I couldn't do this, I had no hope of ever defeating Verdict. I couldn't afford to whine about the difficulty now.
The gathered power began to overflow from my body.
"Wh-What is this?!"
As a high-ranking demon, he finally sensed the shift in the air. But noticing it wouldn't save him.
"Final Extreme Embers!"
The destructive energy I had woven between my palms surged violently.
It was a staggering, repulsive force, like trying to wrestle a rampaging bull into submission. Or perhaps like a lone willow standing against the fury of a hurricane. If my focus wavered for a single heartbeat, the spell would collapse and take me with it.
I grit my teeth, fighting the recoil. I had to control it. I had to—
Just before the spell fired, my left hand was jerked aside by the pressure. A white-hot pain lanced through my arm as the destructive energy was unleashed.
"Uoooooaaaaaaargh!"
Zalgun’s scream was cut short as he was swallowed by the light.
When the glow finally faded, a massive chunk of Zalgun's torso had been gouged away. My aim had been slightly off because of that last-second lapse in control, but the damage was catastrophic.
Normally, that would have been the end of it. But as expected of a Greater Demon, he was still clinging to life. His face was twisted in a mask of agony and pure, unadulterated rage.
"You... bastard...! I'll kill you!"
With a roar of fury, his thick tail whipped through the air, hurtling toward me.
Tch!
I tried to dodge using my Frenzy-enhanced speed, but I couldn't focus my mana. My movements were sluggish—the exhaustion from the spell was hitting me all at once.
I crossed my arms, pouring what little mana I had left into a desperate guard.
The impact was like being hit by a falling mountain. I was sent flying like a dried leaf in a gale. I managed to block the worst of it, but the shockwave left me battered and breathless.
"What's wrong? Used up all your strength?!"
"Hardly. Your precious scales are falling off in chunks; are you really in any position to gloat?"
I pushed myself up, using my sword as a crutch. I wasn't back to full strength yet, but the intensity of Frenzy was beginning to climb again. If I could just buy a few seconds to regain my footing and land one more strike, the win was mine.
"It's over! Die!"
The tail swung down once more. I prepared to move—but before I could, someone stepped in front of me.
A single flash of a blade parried the heavy-weight blow with ease.
"Are you alright, Albert von Kronstadt?"
In a flat, monotone voice devoid of sarcasm or provocation, Hero Leon spoke.