The black flames engulfed the towering Beast King but couldn't halt its advance.
Elfman charged out of the flames in Zankuro's astonished gaze, landing a punch on his chest.
"Ugh... ah!"
The sound of bones cracking echoed as Zankuro screamed and coughed up blood, flying backward into the crowd.
"Lord Zankuro!"
"Waaah!"
"That guy took down Lord Zankuro..."
The flunkies fell into panic, while a few who still retained their senses shouted:
"Don't just stand there, attack together! Such powerful magic can't last long!"
"Yeah!!!"
The crowd surged forward, forming a semicircle in front of Elfman, then becoming cautiously vigilant.
Elfman made no unnecessary moves, just stood there.
His upper garment had completely vanished; his lower body was left with only tattered pants, and small black flames clung to his shoulders, chest, and ankles.
Simply by standing there, he caused the flunkies surrounding him to hesitate.
At some point, Elfman suddenly widened his eyes, baring a mouthful of fangs:
"Roar!!!!!!"
The furious roar sounded like thunder, spreading forward with a fierce gale.
"Waaa~~~"
The flunkies surrounding him were blown about, their clothes disheveled, hats flying, and hair standing on end. The few in front even felt their cheeks sting, almost smelling the blood in the wind.
"No, it's not magic. Just by his roar..."
"This guy is..."
"Monster, monster!"
The word "monster" captured everyone's sentiments, causing them to tremble and retreat unconsciously, with some dramatically falling to the ground.
Elfman glanced at them no more, instead turning to return to Mar and Vina's side.
Even with his back to the enemy, even as his form recovered, not a single person dared to step forward.
Elfman placed one hand on Mar's shoulder: "Bandage the wound, try to stop the bleeding. If we reunite with my companions, she might still be saved."
Mar was still drowning in the grief of losing his last family member, eyes blank: "Such severe injuries, such severe..."
Elfman grabbed Mar by the collar, shouting up close: "If even you give up! She's truly done for! Isn't she your sister?!"
"Pull yourself together like a man! At least she hasn't disappeared yet, there's still hope to save her! You bastard, is this how a brother should be?!"
"I get it, I'll do it right now!" Mar finally hadn't completely lost his will.
He tore his clothes, striving to bandage his sister's wound and press to stop the bleeding. Although he didn't know if it would help, if he didn't try, he'd truly have nothing left.
The flunkies hesitated on whether to seize this chance to capture them, but the voice from behind sent a chill down their spines.
"What... are you all standing around for?"
"Zank, Lord Zankuro!"
They saw Zankuro limp over, holding his left shoulder with his right hand, his chest appearing somewhat collapsed, and his yellow hair even more disheveled than before, with bloodstains at the corner of his mouth.
Yet even in that state, he still instilled fear in the flunkies, who instinctively parted to open a path.
Zankuro couldn't be bothered to talk to them further, staggering forward: "Damn it, daring to make me this miserable..."
"You..."
Elfman stood up, still shielding the two siblings behind him, but his face now looked somewhat grim.
He was at his limit.
First, the prolonged group battle, then exhausting a large amount of magic to shield the siblings from attacks, and after that, his whole body receiving the Beast King...
(The act of exhausting one's magic to protect another is inspired by Mira protecting Lisana on Celestial Wolf Island, don't say I made it up.)
The little magic he had left wasn't enough to receive the Beast King again.
Elfman touched the pocket on his pants; the Magic Book was no more, leaving him with only two Bursting Magic Crystals inside.
Rhode used to say that it's better to be safe than sorry, though these preparations had never been utilized.
But now, Elfman had to thank him for giving the last chance to fight back.
"Come on, next round!" Zankuro's left hand seemed inconvenient, only extending his right hand to hold a flame.
He shouted fanatically, "The Divine Fire will burn you to ashes!"
Elfman's face turned solemn, with cold sweat dripping from his temple: "Be ready, if I don't escape this time, I won't have any means left."
"Ah." Mar tightened the cloth band around his sister and prepared to escape.
Swish, swish—
Two Magic Crystals fell at Zankuro's feet, exploding with a thunderous roar, the explosion's fire engulfing Zankuro.
"Lord Zankuro!"
"Waaah!"
The power of the Bursting Magic Crystal was impressive; the violent explosion sent several nearby lackeys flying.
But Elfman seemed a bit stunned, as he hadn't made a move yet!
"It's from above!"
With Mar's reminder, Elfman looked up, his face lighting up with joy: "Rhode!"
Rhode, covered in red feathers, landed beside Elfman: "Sorry, I'm late, ran into a bit of a situation."
Elfman was about to say something when he saw the explosion's flames quickly dissipate, the fire being sucked into Zankuro's mouth like flowing water.
"What tasteless flames." Zankuro wiped his mouth, clearing the bloodstains at the corners, "Another offering for the Divine Fire."
"He ate the fire!"
Mar was shocked, but Rhode and Elfman were quite familiar with such scenes.
Precisely because of this, their hearts felt even heavier.
Rhode asked with a tentative attitude: "Are you a Dragon Slayer Mage?"
To his delight, the opponent actually answered.
"Dragon Slayer?" Zankuro said disdainfully, "Don't equate such low-level magic with mine. I am able to slay gods, a God Slayer Mage!"
Elfman suddenly understood why this guy kept mentioning Divine Fire.
Even if he's a God Slayer Mage, with Rhode here... He suddenly paused, this wasn't right.
Elfman realized that Rhode had attacked Zankuro using Bursting Magic Crystals and not Magic.
He remembered Rhode saying that the Magic Book and Magic Crystals were a last resort. So, Rhode's condition might not be much stronger than his?
Rhode wasn't impressed by Zankuro's boast; whether it was Godslayer Magic or Dragon Slayer Magic, ultimately, it was just another form of Lost Magic, bragging—
If it was truly that impressive, how had Elfman managed to beat him to such a state?
Still... it turned out this kid was of such a personality.
He 'feigned shock': "Beyond Dragon Slayer Magic, there's Godslayer Magic! No wonder you can consume flames from such a high-temperature explosion!"
"Heeheeheehee..." Zankuro laughed, "It's just flames. Flames were bestowed upon mortals by the gods! All flames in the world must be subject to the gods' command!"
Rhode 'rebuffed': "Don't speak so confidently. I have a flame here that you absolutely can't consume!"
Elfman roughly understood which kind of flames Rhode was referring to, but the opponent couldn't really be provoked by such a simple taunt, right...
"Impossible! If you truly have such flames, show them to me!"
He really could! Elfman was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend how this person could be so... he didn't even know how to describe it despite being heavily injured.
The lackeys wanted to alert Zankuro not to listen to the enemy's nonsense but feared speaking out would get them burned, so they kept quiet.
After all, it's just flames; Lord Zankuro surely can handle it... right?
"Then watch closely!" Rhode clasped the pendant, chanting, "Appear here, Flame Spirit, answer my call!"
"Ancient Stone Beetle (whispering)."
Rhode pushed his Magic Power to the limit: "Receive·Ancient Stone Beetle!"
Two Stone Beetles appeared, and Rhode completed the reception.
Elfman was somewhat stunned as this was different from what he expected; wasn't it the Tree Monster that could create flames?
"Next is the strongest flame in the world, you better be prepared!"
Coordinated with a monster to launch, could it be a Fire Element Combined Magic? No wonder there's this confidence.
But as long as it's flames, Zankuro isn't afraid: "Bring it on! All flames are..."
Zankuro's words faltered, his expression frozen.
Because he saw the large Stone Beetle biting Elfman, and the smaller one biting Mar, both burrowing underground.
And Rhode turned, carrying the unconscious Vina, sprinting off, gradually sinking underground as he ran.
What strongest flame, what Combined Magic... it was all a lie!
Zankuro trembled with rage.
He clasped his hands, even his injured left arm joined in the motion, hurling scorching black flames violently onto the ground!
"Bastard——things——!!!"