Chapter 125: The Undying Monster

"Gojo!"

He was really alive... I’d almost given up. But just like the kids believed, that guy wasn’t someone who’d go down easy...

"Elias, I need you to heal Freyja!"

"Got it."

Freyja and the dragon had taken serious damage from the lightning strike. I handed healing duties to Elias and rushed toward Gojo.

"Gojo, you okay?"

"Leo!"

I could feel more power coming from Gojo than before. Something happened in the last few days?

"Sorry for the burden."

"It’s fine, Gojo. We’re the ones who relied on you too much. That’s our fault."

"I’ll handle the Black Knight. Can you take care of the Leader? Fighting with all my unique skills sealed off? That’s gonna be tough."

"We’ll handle the Leader. There’s just one thing I need."

"What is it? Anything."

"Keep the Black Knight away from the Leader. They’re keeping a set distance. Probably know they work well together."

"Leader doesn’t have combat-type unique skills... Got it. I’ll try."

After talking with Gojo, I immediately headed toward the Leader—held down by Zuzaku, Carlo, and the kids.

If we all focus our attacks, he’s not unbeatable.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

The Black Knight rises, pushing aside rubble.

I raise my sword to mid-level, staying alert. I don’t think I’ll fall behind now, but this guy’s too eerie—no idea what he’ll do next.

The Black Knight slowly raises his sword into the air. It glows, and the light spreads across his whole body.

[Divine Favor of Helios]

What? Light magic?...Just as I thought—

The Black Knight surged forward with explosive speed, right in front of me. Sword clashed against sword, power meeting power.

Speed. Power. Both skyrocketed. This is...?

"Divine Favor of Helios?! No way—could that be the effect of that magic just now!?"

I forced his blade away with brute strength, regaining my footing. Seriously? That kind of trump card?... This is bad.

He’s got the effect of Divine Favor of Helios, but I don’t. Challenging him at night was a mistake.

Right now, my body’s under the effect of “Shadow’s Blessing.”

But that ability boosts intellect, defense, magic defense—useful, sure, but not much help in close combat.

Especially not against his sword strikes. Even a slight boost in defense won’t stop that.

"Looks like this’ll get messy..."

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

The Leader was a monster nearly five meters tall, with blue skin and red eyes. Dozens of arms floated independently in the air, each unleashing powerful magic.

Just one of those arms was enough to overwhelm even the strongest fighters.

"Leo! While we’re drawing its attention, do the big strike!"

"Got it!"

Wang led the Vermilion Bird members in launching an assault on the Leader, Lavana. I channeled wind magic into my sword, Durendal.

The other members and the children were holding down the “arms” using magic.

Now’s my chance to do my part. The gathered wind magic swirled around the blade, the air itself tensing, crackling with energy.

Holding the sword with both hands, I raised it high, aiming straight for Lavana’s head, and brought it down with everything I had.

"Boreas! Gust Slash!!"

I swung the sword with both hands, cleaving off the arm that rushed in to protect its core. But I missed the head—instead, I ripped open its torso from shoulder down to abdomen.

It should’ve taken a massive hit, yet it calmly stepped forward, raising its crescent-shaped blade to kill me.

“Leo! Get down!”

Freyja’s voice came from behind. Freed by Elias, she rode the flying dragon, swooping in low and fast.

I dropped my head instantly.

“Sacred Dragon Steel Slash (Ascalon)!!”

Freyja’s single strike severed Lavana’s head. The severed head bounced on the ground, vanishing into black smoke.

“Alright! Got it!”

I thought I’d taken down the Leader. But… the arm still flying through the air kept fighting. Why? The body was dead.

I looked—Lavana’s torso staggered upright, flesh bulging at the neck, and in an instant, a new head regrew.

“Back! This time, I’ll handle it!!”

Noah connected his rifle, extending it into a long, massive weapon.

“Emily, please!”

“Got it!”

A black magic circle unfolded right in front of the rifle. The bullet Noah fired pierced through the circle, wrapped in darkness, and shot straight toward Lavana.

It struck the chest—punched through, leaving a massive hole.

This time, it should’ve hit the heart. I held my breath—yet Lavana swayed slightly, then simply regenerated its chest, as if nothing happened.

“Is this guy… immortal…!?”

Lavana raised the golden magical artifact in its left hand. Thousands of lightning bolts struck the ground around us—blasting us all backward.

Flames engulfed the surroundings from the flying arm’s magic, and countless wind blades came slicing through the air. Water fell like bullets, the earth split open, and jagged rocks shot out at us.

“Damn it!”

We all staggered, battered but still standing. Lavana didn’t care—she raised her crescent-shaped sword high and brought it down hard toward me.

I barely dodged, but the sheer force of the blade split the ground open for dozens of meters.

This guy’s fighting style seems to be close-range swordplay, mid-to-long range lightning strikes… and now multiple arms attacking independently…?

And he’s immortal…? Not even flinching from our attacks. Does he even *know* they’re not working?

I glance toward Gojo.

The Black Knight’s clashing with Gojo almost evenly. Gojo’s clearly stronger now—but seeing him match the Black Knight’s power? Chills.

But it’s clear Gojo’s pushing forward. The distance between him and the Leader is widening.

“Emily! Still can’t use it!?”

Emily shook her head, her expression apologetic. Not her fault. Gojo’s doing his best—so I’ve gotta keep up too—

“Freyja!”

I signaled Freyja with my eyes, and gave Luca a hand signal. They caught on instantly.

Three arrows shot from Luca’s bow at the same time—impacting Lavana and exploding. Without pause, Freyja unleashed a burst of light magic—blasting the Leader back a step.

In that opening, I slipped inside Lavana’s guard.

The flailing arms are being held down with everything they’ve got. I pour every ounce of magic into Durandal, channeling it straight into the slash.

"Take this! Eaststorm Slash—Euros!!"

I rip deep into Lavana’s chest. Blood spurts out in a geyser. I step back, ready to finish her off—but two arms come at me again.

Wang cuts in, swings his staff to cleave one arm, kicks the other away. But in the process, he takes a direct hit from wind and ice magic, slammed hard into the ground.

"Keep going! Don’t stop!"

"Sorry, Wang!"

I swing my sword sideways right in front of Lavana’s face.

"Weststorm Slash—Zephiro!!"

With all my strength, I chop off her head. Step back—yet her head regenerates fast. Still not fully restored, she swings her right sword down at me.

But Anna drives her flame sword straight into Lavana’s side.

"I can help too, you know."

Lavana freezes, then backhands Anna hard. I watch my friend fly backward, coughing blood. I grit my teeth, blade raised. This chance—won’t waste it.

I drive my final magic sword into Lavana.

"Southfire Slash—Notos!!"

The blade pierces her chest, igniting a searing wind that burns her heart to ash. Lavana stumbles back, unable to hold on.

How about that— I glance at Emily.

"Everyone, get back!!"

Emily raises her staff, eyes sharp. I leap away from the spot instantly.

Darkness spreads beneath Lavana—like a circular swamp, pulling at his feet. He struggles, flailing, but it’s no use. He sinks slowly, helplessly.

“—Dark Eclipse, the devourer of shadows—!!”

The darkness surges upward from the edges, forming a massive mouth-like shape, swallowing Lavana whole.

The Leader vanishes into the abyss, utterly powerless. The “Arm” that had been flying through the sky dissolves into black smoke, scattering into nothing.

We humans, even me, just stare, stunned, at the scene.

“…Seriously… what a damn kid…”