CRAAASH!
My sword cracked down across Roland's blocking arm, shattering bone this time, but–
CLANG!
My blade broke in half from the sheer force of impact. Metal flew in every direction.
"Tch!" I clicked my tongue, already gathering mana in my palm.
Whoosh!
In an instant, I conjured a blade of wind and fire flickering like a phantom, unstable, but sharp as hell.
Roland lunged before it finished forming.
"RRAGHHH!" He howled, fangs bared as his claws swept in a horizontal arc.
SCHRACK!!
I ducked. Sparks flew as his claws scraped stone behind me. I immediately drove my foot right up into his gut before blasting him with lightning.
BOOOM!!
His body twisted mid-air, crashing into a collapsed wall, chunks of debris raining down on him.
Alice dashed in, her radiant blade humming with pure light.
Roland burst out from the rubble, laughing again.
"Hahaha. What a feast!"
He swung at her mid-charge.
WHUMP!
She ducked. Her blade scraped across his chest, cutting a searing line of golden light.
His smile twitched.
But then–
RIP!!
He twisted, claws slashing horizontally.
Alice's eyes widened.
I moved at full speed to save her but–
I wouldn't make it in time.
Just then–
WHOOOM!!
Beatrice's barrier of flame intercepted the claws at the last second, bursting between Alice and death.
I tackled Roland from the side, both of us smashing through the charred remains of a wall and tumbling into an abandoned library.
The one I had visited during my first days back in this world.
Bookshelves collapsed like dominoes. Pages fluttered in the air like ash.
CRASH–CRACK!!
We tore through the floor of the second level, slamming into the ground below.
I rolled, spitting blood.
Roland landed in a crouch, his manic eyes glowing.
"You're being a buzzkill, Richard. I was just about to enjoy my little meal."
"Alice," I called through grit teeth, "Fall back. You can't keep up in close quarters combat with us. Stick to support magic."
She stood near the broken entrance, eyes wide, trembling slightly.
Beatrice supported her with one arm, pulling her back.
"I... yeah. Got it." Alice's voice was shaky but I could tell she at least understood.
They both nodded, conjuring their magic again from afar, just far enough to dodge any stray attacks that go their way.
Roland straightened, brushing ash from his shoulder, eyes narrowed now–more annoyed than amused.
"Support huh. Cute. But all you're doing is delaying the inevitable."
I took a deep breath.
This isn't working.
My elemental magic is strong, devastating at this level even, but nothing's working. Roland's regeneration as a demonic human, made him absurdly durable.
Tho light did hurt him. As a demonic human, he must find it difficult to heal as fast from light magic than other types.
Still tho... it's not enough. Tho light maybe his weakness, Alice's light magic isn't that strong.
And what's worse is, he isn't tiring as quickly thanks to his regeneration and his demonic form which grants him insane amounts of mana.
His current amount should be slightly larger than mine.
I, on the other hand, am tiring.
Damn it. Should I just leave? Its not like I'm obligated to leave.
Suddenly, the faces of the children at the orphanage flashed before my eyes.
Damn it. Even though I could easily run away. I doubt this guy could catch me if I seriously try to escape.
Especially if I use Alice and Beatrice as bait. And yet... I just can't. Even tho it's clear that if I do that and just activate el...
Suddenly, I remembered something.
During my training days, this was a technique I used quote often. Well this was a technique most elemental mages could do as well.
Muttering beneath my breath, I gathered my mana inward.
The air grew hot. Magic warped around me.
I focused on not just controlling the element, but becoming one with it.
This was Elemental Mode.
Then–
FWOOOOSH!!
Flames burst from my body like a second skin.
My limbs glowed–embers and molten light wrapping around them. Flames danced along my shoulders, down my arms, coiling around my fingers like living serpents.
FWHOOM!
Wings of flame burst from my back, vast and furious, radiating heat with every flicker.
Even the air screamed as it twisted around me.
This wasn't armor or metal or forged steel.
It was fire incarnate.
I stepped forward. Every step left melted impressions in the stone beneath.
Ahh. It's been a while since I last used this.
So this is how it feels. Nice. Now to deal with him.
Roland blinked.
For the first time–he frowned.
"Ohhh... well, that's new."
He smiled again–but slower this time.
I grinned back.
"Let's turn up the heat."
I lunged forward, much, much faster than before.
BOOOOM!!!
My fist collided with his jaw–no wind-up, just pure speed. His head snapped sideways, fangs cracking.
He retaliated, slashing at me.
But unfortunately for him, they were melted mid-swing.
He snarled, stepping back–but I was already behind him, my flame wings flaring–
FOOM!!
I exploded forward in a burst of speed, uppercutting him with a blazing fist. His chest seared and cracked under the impact.
Alice fired a light beam from afar.
Beatrice summoned a dozen fire bolts, orbiting her before slamming into him like guided meteors.
BOOOOM!!!
Roland staggered, steam rising off him, parts of his torso blackened and raw.
But his eyes were still bright.
Still mad.
Still loving every second of it.
"YESSSSS!!" He bellowed, laughing through the pain. "More!!"
I said nothing, instead, I conjured a sword of pure flame.
It hissed and shimmered in my grip–long, curved, unstable, yet perfect for this fight.
I twirled it once and vanished again, reappearing above him.
He slashed up at me with his claws but I blocked it as our clash exploded with heat and darkness.
CRACK!!
The sound shattered what remained of the library ceiling.
I brought the sword down in an overhead arc–
SLASH!!!
It carved through his shoulder, cleaving deep, leaving molten trails in his flesh.
But he grabbed the blade mid-swing.
His hands burned for that. And yet like the madman he is...
He didn't care.
"Let me show you," he whispered, "what pain is all about."
But before he could move–
ZZZWOOOM!!!
Alice fired a concentrated light beam right into his face again.
At the same time–
BOOM!!
Beatrice launched a fire arrow into his gut.
I pulled free, then detonated the sword in his hand.
BOOM-CRACK!!
The explosion knocked him back through the rear wall of the library, fire trailing from his limbs.
I stood there, flaming wings flared, as my chest heaved in and out, panting.
Finally. It's working.
This is actually working.
Tho the fight isn't over yet, but still...
He was at least slowing down now.
I strode through the burning debris, my entire body a beacon of fire and death.
And Roland?
The fucker rose again.
Half-burned. His limbs were cracked. Yet his eyes were still glowing.
"Let's keep dancing, Richard," he whispered. "Till one of us is ash."
I narrowed my eyes. Looks like he's finally lost it. Oh well.
I conjured another flaming sword in my hand and pointed it at him.
"Come at me then."