Before she even realized it, Reflia was at his side.

Though she was a specialist in close combat, it would be difficult for her to act effectively in such a situation.

There was no choice but to land the advanced technique of Shadow Bind—Dark Coffin—at the perfect moment. It was uncertain just how much it would hinder his movements, but it should be more effective than Shadow Bind. If done right, it might significantly reduce his mobility.

"Reflia, perfect timing. When he comes down, I'll restrain him with a new spirit technique. Then you go all out and hit him hard."

"Ah, um..."

"Yeah, of course—don't push yourself too hard. Since Dark Coffin should be stronger than Shadow Bind, don't hold back at all—go ahead and attack freely."

"Hikaru! Listen!"

Refreia tugs firmly at the hem of my clothes.

When I turn around, she looks straight at me with a solemn expression, yet one filled with determination.

"D-Do you feel anything...? Did I hurt you somewhere...?"

"No, it's not that. I... I never told Hikaru something... No, there's something I need to tell him..."

"Huh? What? Wait, why now? Isn't this a bad time?"

I can tell this is something deeply important to Refreia, but right now we're in the middle of a battle against the Demon King. Who knows when he'll strike next?

"...Actually, there's... a way to attack from the air... I mean, in the sky..."

"Really? Like throwing a sword? I guess projectiles could reach that far, but—"

"No, that's not it... I mean..."

While keeping a wary eye on the demon lord soaring through the sky, she faltered for just a moment—

　

"Hikaru, just like how I couldn't bring myself to tell you that you came from some other world and are being watched by strangers, there's something I couldn't say either. Honestly... I should've said it... But I didn't, because if I did, we'd never be able to be together again... How selfish of me. Even now, during such a critical time... I've been hiding it all along..."

"What's wrong, Reflair? What are you—?"

"...Hikaru, you said you'd stop training with spirit magic, didn't you? But actually, the day before, I went to see the Great Spirit. I had nothing to lose... And then—"

She stopped speaking, her words catching in her throat.

She clenched her jaw, staring straight ahead, raising her right hand toward the sky.

She could feel the spirit energy gathering in the palm of her hand.

It became a glowing orb of light, converging before her palm as if gathering energy.

"I can't believe it—"

"I thought even the Demon King would be able to handle this, given so many explorers were around. That's why I decided not to say anything. I thought I'd keep it a secret... That's why, even in this situation, I couldn't bring myself to speak up. But—after you've saved my life twice already... I can't possibly ask for more."

The glowing orb flickered, struggling to release itself from her.

She aimed her palm directly, turning it toward the Demon King soaring through the sky.

"Pierce! Photon Ray!"

A dazzling beam of light shot from Reflair's palm, slicing shallowly through the Demon King's wings in midair, blood splattering into the sky.

The Demon King roared in fury at the unexpected attack from below, which he had thought impossible.

It wasn't quite enough to make flying impossible, but she'd certainly learned that the skies weren't safe anymore. If ground combat became the main focus, the impact of this one strike would be enormous.

I'm not so dull that I can't understand why she kept this a secret.

I can now grasp just how much turmoil must have been involved in confessing it like this.

I can't help but think, "In a situation like this..."—but I have no right to blame her.

"……I missed. Phew... I think my spirit energy's gone wild."

"It's tough to hit the mark on the first try, especially with a full-force attack. But still, great job, Refreia."

If it had truly been light-speed magic, she might have hit her target, but in reality, it wasn't that fast.

I don't understand the physics of this world, but it's a speed just barely within my sight. Since it's power derived from spiritual energy, it might not be the same as light as a physical phenomenon.

"Guaaoooom!"

The demon lord roared, a sound like a scream, blood streaming from its wings, shifting its trajectory in midair and preparing for a steep dive.

Just because we've found a way to counter aerial attacks doesn't mean the tide has turned instantly.

The battle continues.

It's still far too early to let our guard down.

"Alex! I'm going in head-on!"

"Got it! Cover me!"

"I'll do my best!"

The demon lord, descending like a plummeting storm, glided toward the ground with its roar echoing.

Its target was Alex, but a warrior bearing a shield stepped forward to intercept.

But stopping that charge head-on was impossible. As expected, the shield-bearing warrior was knocked flying like a car had hit him.

Yet, even so, this opportunity couldn't be missed.

"Dark Coffin!"

A subtle sensation of spiritual energy draining from his body.

Then, after a brief pause, a massive dark coffin appeared, centered on the demon king, as if it were about to swallow its target whole.

The demon king sensed the anomaly and stepped aside, escaping just outside the coffin.

A moment later, the dark coffin completed its formation—but—

"Alex, sorry! Missed it!"

"What can I do?! Hyaah!"

Alex's spear strike was easily deflected.

With a light step, the demon king created distance and then leisurely leapt into the air once more.

Perhaps they learned that aerial dives were effective, having knocked out several rescuers at once with a single strike. In truth, being hit repeatedly like that would be dangerous.

Yet retreating into the stairs is also a poor choice.

The stairs are unstable, giving an advantage to quadrupedal monsters, and even more so if they unleash fire breath repeatedly.

Given that, it might not be so bad if the opponent keeps fixating on those dives.

The demon lord seems to be just intelligent enough to be dangerous.

That very trait is what creates an opening we can exploit.

The demon lord Marquisias, leisurely soaring through the sky.

Though I can't gauge exactly how much damage our attacks have inflicted, he doesn't look close to death at all.

His movements through the air appear completely relaxed.