Marbas’s footing slipped. His movement slowed for just a fraction of a second.

That tiny opening was enough. Two ice weapons struck him.

One hit his side.

The other cut across his shoulder.

Blood appeared.

"Aregh!!" He screamed in pain but instantly focused on battle.

Marbas’s eyes narrowed.

Then Damien moved. Golden light gathered around his sword. More and more mana poured into the blade. The weapon began shining like a piece of the sun itself.

Damien raised the sword high above his head.

His expression remained calm.

He was focused. And determined than ever.

Then he swung.

[Radiant Severance]

A massive golden arc exploded from the blade. The attack rushed forward with enough power to split the battlefield apart.

The air screamed around it. Everything in its path was illuminated by golden light.

At the same time, Noah thrust his spear into the floor.

Walls of ice erupted upward.

Total three ice walls erupted from the floor around the demon.

They surrounded Marbas from multiple sides. Only one path remained open.

The path directly facing Damien’s attack.

Marbas was trapped. This time a surprise appeared on his face. The golden slash rushed closer.

Its killing intent was unmistakable.

Marbas inhaled deeply. Dark violet energy exploded from his body. The chamber shook.

The ice walls around him cracked. The floor beneath him shattered. Then he lowered his stance.

One foot forward. One foot back. His remaining fist pulled behind him.

All of his power gathered into that single arm.

The violet energy compressed.

It was condensed. And became terrifyingly dense. Then Marbas punched. A gigantic dark violet fist of energy burst forward from his strike.

The attack surged toward Damien’s golden slash.

The two powers met in the center of the battlefield.

The Golden light and dark violet energy. For a single moment, everything became silent.

Then–

BOOOOOOM!!!

The collision exploded. A blinding flash swallowed the entire chamber.

This send Damien backward by the shockwaves.

The collision shook the entire chamber.

A violent storm of golden and violet energy swept outward, tearing apart the already damaged floor and walls. Dust, stone fragments, and shattered ice filled the air, reducing visibility to almost nothing.

Most people would have been blown away.

Noah wasn’t. The moment he saw the explosion coming, he thrust his spear into the ground and gripped it with both hands.

The force slammed into him. His feet slid backward several meters. Pain shot through his arms.

His muscles screamed. But he refused to let go. If he was blown away now, they would lose the pressure they had fought so hard to maintain.

So he endured. The shockwave gradually weakened. Dust continued to swirl throughout the chamber.

The air was thick with smoke and mana residue.

Noah pulled his spear free from the ground.

Then he moved.

Without hesitation and rest.

His body was reaching its limit. Every breath felt heavy. His lungs burned. His ribs ached from earlier injuries and taking so many shockwaves and impact of explosions.

Several muscles felt as though they might tear apart if he pushed any harder.

But none of that mattered, not right now.

’Move.’ The thought echoed inside his head.

’Keep moving.’ If they wanted to win, they couldn’t allow Marbas even a single moment to recover.

The demon was simply too powerful. Every second they gave him was another second for him to regain control of the battle.

They had to keep attacking. Keep pressuring him. Keep forcing him to defend.

Only then would they have a chance.

A tiny chance. But a chance nonetheless.

Noah ran forward through the dust cloud. His grip tightened around his spear. The smoke slowly began to clear. The ruined battlefield came into view.

Frozen patches of ice. Shattered floor.

And standing in the center of it all was Marbas.

The Demon who was behind all over this mess.

The demon was still alive. His breathing was noticeably heavier now. His clothes were in ruins.

Burns, cuts, and frost marks covered his body. The arm Damien had severed was still gone.

Fresh blood dripped from several wounds.Yet he remained standing.

Noah’s jaw clenched.

’Dammit.’

Even after everything. Even after all of their attacks. The demon was still standing.

But something had changed.

Marbas looked tired. First time since the battle began, Noah could clearly see it. The demon’s chest rose and fell more heavily.

The violet energy surrounding him had become thinner. His movements were no longer as effortles as before.

He was exhausted too.

Noah’s eyes sharpened. This was the closest they had ever come. The closest they had been to bringing down the demon. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Cold mana gathered around Noah’s spear. A thin layer of ice formed across the weapon.

The frost slowly spread along the shaft and blade. His mana reserves had partially recovered from the potion.

Around him, the sounds of battle faded from his awareness.

He could hear his own heartbeat.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Across the battlefield, Marbas raised his head.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, neither moved. Predator and prey. Hunter and hunted.

Neither side knew which was which anymore.

Noah tightened his grip. The ice coating around his spear thickened. Cracks of frost spread beneath his feet.

’This is it.’

His blue eyes narrowed.

’This is my chance.’

Every remaining drop of mana inside his body surged toward the spear.

The cold around him intensified. White mist escaped from his mouth.

His muscles tensed. Ready to explode forward.

One attack and one opportunity. One strike that could decide everything. Then Noah kicked off the shattered floor and shot toward Marbas like an arrow released from a bow.

Meanwhile Lyria who was unconscious, now she was conscious.

It was because of explosion.

She saw Noah kovinv toward Marbas. But she notice that Noah, his breathing slowed.

He was really tired.

So she decided to help him. Her hand extended in Noah’s direction.

A magice circle suddenly appeared beneath Noah’s figure.

From it warm light covered his body, making him stronger and giving him a small boost.