CHAPTER 60: 2VS1 BECAUSE I ONLY LIVE TWICE!

A beam of violet energy pierced the air right in front of me, grazing my cheek. I threw myself to the side, instantly on guard.

...If I hadn’t instinctively dodged — and if Saddler hadn’t slightly shifted his aim at the last second — my head would’ve been blown to bits!

Saddler clapped his hands again — another laser blast shot toward me, and I leapt away just in time. He pursued me relentlessly, like I was prey in his hunt.

And the moment I understood the nature of his magic...

...Saddler’s hands lit up with violet energy. Enhancement Technique.

Commonly used for spells that deal continuous damage. With it, the beam he summoned through Resonance Magic had its power boosted by 1.5 times!

The laser scorched my clothes just by brushing close to me.

I dashed in a wide arc, dove sideways, and slid beneath him.

"Witness the Light."

A touch.

BOOM!

Saddler was blasted back by an eruption of scalding steam so dense it seared his skin to the point of boiling.

A few more of those — and his flesh will sizzle like meat on a red-hot skillet!

He crashed to the ground, steam billowing from his body like he’d just been boiled alive.

"Tell me, Atheron. Do you remember when you passed out after our last fight?"

"Hm? Yeah. You called your butler to drive me home."

"Correct..." he cracked his knuckles. "Back then, I was impressed by your use of Light. But now I see... most of your spells can’t even deal damage. And yet, you don’t even know minor healing spells. Does that mean your spell knowledge is limited?"

"Tch. Shut your damn mouth."

Saddler gave a smug, commanding grin.

"So I was right. Come now, don’t be foolish... it’s time for you to show your trumps."

He clapped his hands again. This time, they conjured a blazing violet sphere, as if forged from raw plasma.

The sphere wrapped around him in energy, drastically enhancing his power. Then he lit his hands again — Enhancement Technique.

Combined, his power more than doubled!

And the moment Sid realized that...

Saddler charged at me with such force that every step quaked the ground and tore through the air.

BOOM!

Even though his first strike missed me — the shockwave alone shattered the space around him. His blows were so destructive that just hitting the air was enough to hit me from afar!

Argh...

My forearms burned from blocking his splash attacks.

I tried to close the distance — and he summoned another beam.

That bastard had become completely untouchable!

"Damn."

I stopped. Suddenly, the earth beneath my feet rumbled. My eyes began to glow blue.

"High Magic Entity..."

Magical sparks filled the air above. Saddler tried to fire another beam — but it was blocked by my temporary multi-layered barrier.

"...Come Forth!"

The sparks gathered into the shape of a colossal lizard with majestic wings.

"GRRRRAAAHHHH!"

Kagerou summoned a sword in his maw, spread his wings wide, and dove at the enemy in a sweeping arc.

Thankfully, this vast arena gave him the space to fly freely.

Yeah, it’s two versus one. So what? I’m not some suicidal fool obsessed with honor. The Hero’s Code died long ago in this world. And I... I want to live.

"GRRRAAHH!!"

Kagerou soared above, hammering Saddler with a fiery breath. The enemy struggled to fight two of us at once.

I didn’t give him a moment to breathe — pressed him in close quarters.

The wyvern slashed at him mid-flight, nearly cleaving him in two. This bastard... how the hell is he still standing?!

Runes appeared on my palms. I aimed them at him and—

BOOM!

Fired spheres of raw energy that exploded a few seconds after launch. In that window, I attacked him in close range so he couldn’t escape before the blast.

Saddler’s back seared from the sphere’s impact.

"Argh...!"

Kagerou flew overhead and unleashed a torrent of flame across the battlefield.

We leapt out of the blaze and started trading fists.

I spun and drove my heel into his jaw. He retaliated with a vicious uppercut to my ribs — white-hot pain erupted in my chest.

As we exchanged blow after blow, Kagerou would swoop in and swing his sword from above.

This damn Kagerou... at this rate, he might kill me too...!

But then, I spotted it.

A point. A place he wasn’t guarding.

One second — and I slipped behind him.

If I can land a throw right now, he won’t be able to stand!

I grabbed him by the torso—

Whip.

I felt something sharp pierce through my chest.

Saddler had stabbed me with a sword forged from pure magic!

Sid was delighted. His eyes savored every moment of us tearing each other apart.

"Arghh..."

Blood splattered onto the ground.

Saddler wrenched the blade free and kicked me back.

"Didn’t expect me to know more than three techniques, did you? Your insight didn’t help you spring a surprise on me. Sometimes I’m amazed at how predictable my enemies get when they think victory’s in their hands."

Blood poured from my mouth. I could barely breathe.

My head was pounding. My legs buckled. If I don’t move now, he’ll shoot again—

Saddler took a slow step forward.

"I wonder... how fast can you heal from this wound?"

You bastard...

"GRRRRAAHHH!"

Kagerou soared above him, flapped his wings, and unleashed a shockwave.

Dark fog rose across the battlefield, curling around our legs.

Saddler clapped his hands — a piercing beam shot upward at the wyvern mid-flight.

Damn it! Kagerou’s helpless against attacks that strike from below. If this keeps up, he’s—

Kagerou staggered. He roared in pain.

Suddenly, I was behind the enemy again. Radiant swords in my hands. With a wide slash, I forced him to leap away.

Blood sprayed from his back. I’d scratched him.

Saddler slashed at the air — I dodged his splash attacks.

CLANG!

Our swords clashed — but mine shattered his. He raised his forearms to block — I left a deep gash on them.

I slipped behind him and slashed again. Saddler countered with an axe kick.

I can’t block that...!

SMASH!

He slammed my head into the ground. For a moment, I blacked out.

Kagerou roared with such fury that he flew straight into the enemy. His sword — unwavering.

Saddler waited for him.

And the moment the beast collided—

Saddler swung his sword... and carved it straight across Kagerou’s face. The blade pierced the wyvern’s skull, tore through his flesh, shattered bone, and without a hint of resistance — burst out through his spine!

"GRRRRAAHHH...!"

Kagerou collapsed and slid across the battlefield. A long, gruesome wound split his body. The wyvern was drenched in his own blood.

He screamed in agony, and as I got to my feet...

No... my friend...

My eyes trembled at the sight of Kagerou crying out in such unbearable pain.

Then... Kagerou vanished, dissolving into sparks.

’When a summon nears death,’ Sid thought, ’it can urgently disperse itself to preserve its life. What a sight — man conquering beast of legend.’

Kagerou left me and abandoned the battlefield!!