Night fell unnoticed.
As per the agreement, Arcueid came to the park under the cover of night.
It was already past 9 PM. This area was a residential district, and at this hour, not many people would come to the park. Even if there were, the Bounded Field set up by Naoki and Aoko would drive them away.
"Naoki, Aoko, I'm here. Where are you?"
Sitting on a park bench, Arcueid called out to the seemingly empty park. And shortly after her voice fell, the air in front of her underwent a slight, abnormal distortion, slowly forming Naoki's silhouette.
Blinking a few times, as if understanding something, Arcueid unconsciously chuckled: "Looks like you're in prime condition. Did something good happen during the half-day you were out with Aoko?"
"Not really anything good, just that it's been a long time since I ate until I was full."
*SMACK!*
A straight chop landed squarely on the back of Naoki's head. Aoko pressed down on his head with a sad and angry expression: "You still dare to say that? Even though I said I'd treat you, even though I did say I'd treat you... but who eats like you, emptying almost the entire stock of the store?!"
During the day, Aoko's treat ended with Naoki almost making the store owner cry from running out of food, and then being forcibly kicked out.
"T-this can't entirely be my fault either. Miss Aoko herself said she'd treat me. Of course, I thought about not eating too much and restraining myself a little, but I really couldn't help it. It's been so long since I ate until I was full."
"Huh? Never been full? Didn't you eat quite a bit at the hotel last night?"
"It could only be said to be fifty or sixty percent full. If Shiki hadn't come at that time, I was planning to keep eating. At that time, I even used suggestion Magecraft so as not to scare others."
'That suggestion Magecraft was actually used for that!'
Even Arcueid was momentarily speechless. His appetite was this big? It was truly amazing that Naoki usually managed to refrain from saying he was hungry.
"Then why don't you usually eat until you're full, Naoki?"
"No money. You saw it yourself, once I eat my fill, Miss Aoko gets so sad about her wallet. If I ate to my heart's content, I'd probably be washing dishes to pay off my debt right now."
"You should indeed be washing dishes to pay off your debt right now! For the next year, I have to save money for my next trip!"
Aoko gripped Naoki's head tightly: "And besides, since you're full this time, then give it your all, understand! If you slack off, I won't forgive you!"
"No need for Miss Aoko to remind me repeatedly, I understand myself."
While speaking, Naoki had already looked towards the entrance of the park.
As if emerging from the darkness of night, Nero Chaos, dressed entirely in black, was already standing there.
Seeing the three people standing together, Nero's cold expression showed a hint of relief: "The princess's actions are different. I initially thought she was ready to die, but it seems she's preparing to start round three?"
"In that case, you knew it was a trap but still came?"
"It doesn't matter." Nero didn't show the slightest fear, "Whether it's the princess, or the Magus, or my kin. Whoever it is, in the end, I will only devour them."
"Truly confident. This time, your life will be lost."
Naoki stretched his arms and legs, then walked towards him, taking a deep breath.
*JRENG!*
His magic circuits fully opened, powerful Mana radiated out from his body, the swaying Mana light resembling flames rising around him.
Was he letting the fire fairy enter his body again?
'No, this is just a normal Mana Burst, but pure Mana like this...'
Nero's cold expression finally showed a hint of doubt: "Such strong vitality, even Demon Beasts or Phantasmal Species might not be as strong as you. Besides Summoning Magecraft, is your very existence also an anomaly?"
"It's just because I'm full. After being full, strength comes out naturally."
*CRACK!*
The ground beneath Naoki's feet suddenly caved in. The flames that were initially burning quietly suddenly stopped for a moment, then like firewood being added, the intensity of the burning instantly surged!
Like a volcanic eruption.
*WHOOSH!*
Moving as fast as lightning!
A flash of light crossed the sky! And before the thunderous sound of his footstep reached Nero's ears, Naoki had already surpassed the speed of sound, arriving before him at close range even earlier!
Swinging his fist felt like firing a Gandr.
*BAM!*
The lightning-fast punch directly pierced Nero's chest!
Rather than saying Naoki swung his fist, it was more accurate to say he thrust with a lightning-fast spear!
'A faster and more powerful blow than last night.'
'What happened to him overnight?'
Nero didn't plan to think about this deeply. No matter how amazing this punch was, in the end, it was just bait offered to him voluntarily.
"ROAR!"
The pierced chest instantly transformed into a lion's head!
'Next is Petrification Magecraft, petrifying my body then breaking free.'
*BANG!*
Another lightning-fast punch without warning landed on Nero's face! Instantly twisting his entire face!
'The same hand?!'
'Did he pull it back and punch again in an instant? After piercing his body, he could pull it back that fast?'
Hastily retreating a few steps, the darkness beneath Nero's coat suddenly spread, and hundreds of Demon Beasts instantly surged towards Naoki like a wave! No matter what, his attack style was only with his fists, at least for now, so take this opportunity to bite and kill him!
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
Dozens of Gandr shots launched from behind Naoki instantly swept away the swarm of Demon Beasts!
Blowing on the tip of his non-existent smoking finger, Aoko laughed: "Don't think I'm not here. Seriously, Kouhai-kun is working so hard, it makes me feel like just being an assistant is enough."
"Miss Aoko, I think I'm enough on my own now."
"Then go for it. Arcueid, let's go buy something to eat over there."
Although saying so, Aoko's fingertip remained pointed forward as she spoke, and dozens more Gandr shot out, accurately destroying one by one the pythons that flew out from behind Nero.
Nero's cold expression could no longer be maintained.
'Such accurate Gandr, and although the scale isn't large, the destructive power is still strong. It seems it will require a bit of effort.'
"Hey, looking where?"
Naoki's voice, like the ghost of a grim reaper, suddenly startled Nero. When he came to his senses, his face had already been split again by a powerful sickle kick!
Almost half of his head was severed by a single kick!
*BAM!*
'This guy!'
The gaze that initially seemed without ripples suddenly became extremely sharp!
Disgusting and nauseating turbid Mana instantly erupted from Nero's body. Naoki, who was at very close range, instantly wanted to break his head, but before he could act—
"ROAR!"
An ear-splitting roar suddenly exploded! The terrifying sound wave instantly created a physical impact and a violent gust of wind, directly pushing Naoki back two steps!
And within those two steps, Nero disappeared before Naoki's eyes.
Replacing him was the composite Demon Beast seen only once last night—the Chimera.
"A monster created from four hundred animal factors, this is a bit overkill to deal with ordinary humans."
Flying in the air while looking down at Naoki, Aoko, and Arcueid, Nero thought for a moment, then released another two hundred animal factors from his body.
"SHISSSHHHH!"
A jet-black three-headed snake suddenly fell from the sky, spitting out blood-red forked tongues, and a strange black mist even spread around it!
His skin felt a slight stinging sensation, and Naoki frowned: "Poisonous fog?!"
"Chimera, plus Hydra, although it shouldn't be as strong as the actual prototype, it should be more than enough right now." Nero sneered, "Enough already, bury yourselves here with the princess."
*BOOM!*
Before Nero could finish speaking, a dazzling blaze suddenly erupted. Without even a moment to defend, the Chimera and Hydra were burned to ashes in the blinding firelight—no, not even ashes remained!
And in the center of the flames, wearing a blazing red eyepatch and a billowing feathered cloak, Naoki stared at Nero.
"Sorry, what did you just say?"
"My ears aren't very good; I can't hear others clearly, it's easy to misunderstand."
"You don't want to repeat that—who's going to be buried here?"