214: They say if you believe in humans, there’s no wall you can’t overcome.

Raidock faced Lucas head-on, with Camille standing behind him, twin daggers gripped tight in both hands. A little further back, inside the barrier crafted by Marilyn, stood Eva, Marilyn, and Solar.

Even further behind, Kyle stood at the center of a circle formed by Alphard and the others. From the adventurers stationed on the city wall, defense spells rained down in waves—layers upon layers of magical barriers shielding them.

Damn, those Goldendown adventurers are good. Hitting this far is impressive.

Not even close to Eva or Marilyn’s level, but the adventurers’ strength—honed in brutal conditions, fueled by various potions—was leagues ahead of anyone from other regions.

I hesitated for a second—whether to back up Raidock or guard Kyle—but seeing the dependable Goldendown teammates, I went with Raidock.

That’s all. This Demon guy really feels like a big problem.

Still, I don’t think Raidock and the others need help.

“Huh. So demons really are strong, huh.”

“Pfft! You’re lucky you took my strike! But listen—humans scream bloody murder when my needles pierce them!”

“Not happening!”

Raidock and the bee demon Lucas move at the same time. Honestly, I can’t see a damn thing past their arms. I can barely track the slower parts of their bodies.

Raidock’s face has lost all its calm.

The sword clashes come in rapid bursts, like drumbeats—telling me just how fierce their clash is.

"Shit—can't even touch that kind of offense."

I kept myself ready to toss any potion from my belt at a moment's notice, though honestly, I probably wouldn't need to.

But Raidock’s party? Different story. They’d fought side by side for ages—coordination was second nature.

"This can't be stopped! 'Phoenix Claw Shatter!'"

From Soral, an arrow shot with a force that defied belief—Lucas did the same thing as before, wiggling his tail-like rear, firing needles from the tip.

But those thick, massive needles shattered instantly against the arrow.

"Damn it!"

The bee guy cut through Raidock’s flurry of attacks, launching needle after needle, barely holding back Soral’s secret technique.

"There! 'Hellfire Crimson Spear'!"

Evah launched another fire-lanced spear with magic. Changed the element from before—probably scouting the enemy’s weakness. Perfect.

“This power! You’re really one of those old relic holders, huh!”

Lucas spread his wings from his back and leapt clear of the magical beam.

“Too bad. The real move’s this one.” — “Dark Dance, Funeral Twin.”

A dozen Camiels leapt from behind Raidock.

“What?!”

That was the same mirage sword technique from the Mizoho Shrine Nation! Can’t dodge this!

“Don’t underestimate us, human!”

Lucas shouted, turning his back on the Camiels right there.

“Huh?”

Who was more shocked? Me? Or more than one?

The wings aimed at the Camiels vibrated at high speed, blowing all the incoming Camiels away.

“Kyaa!”

Camie tumbles across the ground, slashed and bleeding. I fumbled for a Healing Potion, but before I could throw it, Marilyn’s healing spell was already flying.

Camie wipes the blood off and stands up—no scars left.

Since they’ve been teaming up, they’ve barely fought a real opponent, yet their offense and defense are perfectly synced. Impressive.

The back-and-forth battle continues, but no matter the combo, it always ends with their wing barrier blocking it.

“Damn it! You guys are annoying!”

“Say that again. I dare you.”

“Ugh. This bug’s getting on my nerves.”

Even Raidock’s cursing, along with Camie, at the demon’s insults. They’ve clearly been stressed out.

Sure, it heals fast, but only Raidock’s team’s taking hits. I can see why they’re nervous.

...If we seal those wings, they’ll figure the rest out, right?

Good thing they’re using their wings for defense—can’t fly off or attack with them, seems like.

Give it a shot.

I racked my brain, pulling every scrap of knowledge I’d ever gathered, trying to recall the right medicine.

I poured every scrap of experience from my adventures, every bit of knowledge from the sigils, every lesson from Master Javir, into forging a new alchemy.

(We can do this!)

I pulled out several herbs and intermediate concoctions from the spatial storage, a little ways off, and started forging them all at once with alchemy. No alembic, but I didn’t need much—just a test tube’s worth. I forced it with magic, shaping it raw.

At that moment, Raidock had noticed my movements. I thought, 'How the hell did he catch that in the middle of such a brutal fight?' But anyway, he was certain I was doing something.

So Raidock gave a small signal to his companions.

(Craft, get to work—prioritize stopping those fiendish demons!)

((Understood!!))

Raidock’s team had been coordinating attacks to defeat the demons, but now shifted to coordinating to restrict their movements. Lucas’s speed slowed noticeably.

I didn’t notice that. But when I finished alchemy and looked up, I was relieved I could still track the horn demons’ movements—barely.

As if on cue, Raidock switched positions, and the demon Lucas turned his back to me.

"Now! Take this! Quick-drying hardening slime!"

I shoved the freshly crafted potion into a test-tube vial and hurled it at demon Lucas.

My magic shattered the vial the moment it hit him.

"Pathetic trash, getting in my way!"

Lucas flapped his wings, trying to blow off the spilled alchemical potion—but that was the whole point!

The alchemical goo exploded outward. A mix of hardened stone and sticky resin, it clung to the wings of the bee-kin instantly and set solid in a heartbeat.

“What?!”

Lucas staggered in shock—just as Raidock’s party moved.

“Now! ‘Unicorn Horn’!”

“You’re such a pain. ‘Distract Knife’!”

“Die! ‘Abyss Collapse’!”

Soral loosed an arrow wrapped in a white aura—like a giant horn.

Lucas, wings sealed shut, twisted his body with a sharp “chii!” and dodged the attack.

He must’ve realized a needle couldn’t stop that. I think so too.

The moment his stance wavered, Camille’s technique struck. From every clone, blades like short swords flew—too fast to be natural.

He parried Raidock’s relentless sword flurry with one hand, deflecting the storm of blades with the other. But his balance was off. A few slipped through. One grazed a compound eye.

Oh! First real damage! That clone trick’s cheating!

Then, from Eva, a pitch-black magic blast slammed into him.

Lucas frantically tried to knock it down with his arm—but the insect’s arm that had been holding Raidock’s sword shattered, crumbling like sand.

That magic’s worse than it looks!?

No point letting the bug with one arm and one eye live.

“Believed in you, Craft! Take this! ‘Crimson Rising Dragon Sword Strike!’”

Raidock’s flaming greatsword sliced through the side of the insectoid demon Lukas, cutting from under the armpit up to the opposite shoulder. His body split in two, limbs flailing through the air.

Right in front of me, the demon’s upper half crashed down with a thud.

“Ow!?”

“Yeah, yeah. Didn’t have time to think about where it’d land.”

“I- I guess it’s fine as long as it’s dead… damn, startled me.”

He’s dead, right?

I pull the branch out and poke at the bug-faced skull.

“Guh…”

“Gyaa!?!”

A muffled groan escapes Lukas. I nearly fall on my ass. Raidock and the others immediately close in on the enemy.

“N- no way… a human… me… a demon… losing to a human…?”

He’s panicking like hell, but still barely alive. Don’t scare me like that!

...

Yeah. I’m gonna get roasted by Van later for this.