Afraid to make any move, they didn't even breathe as the creature's empty eye loomed over them.
Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! This thing is different from the Kobolds or the bandits we've killed so far. I feel that if I'm careless, I'll die!
"Feel it!"
Another man emerged from the hole in the ceiling, carrying a huge axe imbued with mana.
Boom!
The axe struck the creature squarely, creating a powerful shockwave that shattered the entire floor. Colin and the girls were thrown out of the inn, but before their backs hit the ground, Colin recovered, landing softly. Safira did the same.
"It's been a while since I fought someone, but I think I've evolved… I moved so naturally just now…"
"Let's run!" he shouted, still holding Jamily in his arms and carrying Elara on his back.
He heard the clang of swords over what was left of the inn, then glanced over his shoulder. A group of fire mages were conjuring countless fireballs toward the creature.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
They should be able to defeat it. They're magic users, right?
A mushroom cloud rose into the sky as everything shook. When Colin looked again, he saw the warrior's head, the one with the axe, flying away—along with the heads of the fire mages.
The creature emerged from the smoke, swelling its lungs before unleashing a scream capable of leveling buildings within a twenty-meter radius. The shockwave hit Colin again. He hugged Jamily tighter, and Elara did the same.
Almost everything was destroyed. Countless corpses filled the streets—entrails, pools of blood. Only a few warriors remained, still fighting, using fire, water, and earth magic.
Colin took the opportunity to move farther.
"Colin!" Elara called. "Stop! Colin!"
"What?!"
"I can send it back into the abyss!"
"How?"
"A prayer! It's long, but it should work! I need to concentrate and use mana for it. Then, it will be sent back! It takes days to summon creatures like that—unless you use sacrifices. Just like banishing it!"
"Sacrifices? What are you talking about? Sacrificing yourself? It's easier to just run away!"
"I'm not going to sacrifice myself! The prayer will only drain my mana!"
Colin looked over his shoulder again, watching as even more mercenaries were slaughtered.
"And how long does it take?"
"Ten minutes, tops!"
He swallowed hard and turned the corner into the nearby forest. Gently, he placed Jamily against a tree and set Elara beside her.
"Alright! Start the prayer! I'll be right back!"
He started walking away.
"Mr. Colin, where are you going?" Safira asked, worried.
"They won't last ten minutes. I have to help them."
"You're going to die!" Safira cried, concern in her voice. "You don't know how to use magic, and all of them did—and still died!"
"You think I don't know that?!" He looked ahead, seeing yet more explosions. "Elara, Jamily, there's a lot of money in Sapphire's purse. When you finish, find some horses—they must have scattered. Keep going and get to the capital. It should be safe there. Once you've banished it, focus on first aid."
Elara swallowed. "Colin…"
"It's been fun spending time with you… This last week has been… Well, take care."
Colin started running through the forest again. Safira thought about chasing after him, but Elara grabbed her hand, stopping her.
"Better not."
"Miss Elara, if we don't help him, he's going to die."
"He's not going to die! Colin can't use magic, but he's a power user and a yellow-eyed Elf. And you're an Asmurg. You'll be more useful if you stay with me and help!"
"An… Asmurg?"
"I don't have time to explain! Just follow me, okay? You two, help me with the prayer." Elara held both their hands. "Concentrate. Listen to my voice. Visualize the creature in your mind."
Swallowing hard, Safira did as she was told. Even with the boy crying, Jamily tried to focus. She was lost, panicked, and willing to follow any direction her rescuers gave her.
[…]
Colin arrived at the battle site.
Beyond the destruction, few warriors were still trying to face the creature.
Ten minutes, right? I need to use my head, be smart. A direct fight will kill me!
Squelch!
An ice mage drove his halberd into the creature, but the wound closed instantly. The monster lashed out, and the mage leaped from rooftop to rooftop, desperately trying to escape its wrath.
Hit-and-run. That's what I have to do!
Scanning the battlefield, Colin spotted a chain. He grabbed it with his left hand, keeping his sword in his right.
I'm agile. I can jump high. I have the strength of at least ten men! These men who died today respected me. I just need to calm down. For once, the goal isn't to defeat the monster. So, just like the wizard—run!
Boom!
The creature smashed the wizard's head into the ground and gave another sonic scream, tearing the other mercenaries apart.
The monster climbed the highest structure, focusing its eyes on Colin, the only man standing in the middle of the chaos.
It wasn't me. This creature is strong.
He assumed his fighting stance.
Right, there must be nine minutes left now, and the center of the village has been completely destroyed. I need to use the scenery to my advantage, but not here!
Colin bent his knees and jumped on top of a house, casting a provocative glance at the creature.
Come on, let's play pike!
He started running across the rooftops.
Roaaar!
The monster leapt towards him, destroying the house he had landed on. Colin spun the chain in his hands and looped it around a tower, hanging from it and flying until he found another house.
He jumped just in time before the house was hit by one of the boulders thrown by the creature.
Boom!
Rising to his feet, Colin jumped from side to side, dodging even more boulders until the creature appeared at the end of the street with a bang.
Their gazes met again, and the monster advanced.
Whoosh!
He ducked, dodging the demon's sharp claws, then recovered, dodging the monster's attacks again.
I can keep up!
Bam!
In one abrupt movement, Colin hit the creature in the face with the chain. He dodged another blow and hit it again, leaping backward acrobatically.
"Who is he?" asked the cultist Elf to the human next to him.
They were standing in what was left of the castle, looking at all the destruction.
"I don't know. He must be a skilled mercenary. This village was full of such freaks. It's only a matter of time before the creature destroys him."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Colin continued to run, entering homes and leaving them before they were destroyed by the huge creature.
Shit! How many minutes have passed? That monster keeps moving around. I've got to stop running away and attack it, slow it down, or soon there'll be nowhere left to hide!
He returned his dagger to its sheath and used the chain to pull a longsword from the wreckage toward him. As he thought, even though it was solid iron, he didn't feel that it was heavy.
I can't do like the warrior with the axe. I can't attack and stay close to this monster. I'll have to be even more agile!
Woosh!
With his sword on his shoulder, Colin stepped forward and to the side, dodging the creature's claws.
Now!
Schtick!
He managed to make a deep gash in its back, spurting purple blood.
The monster tried to hit him in the head, but again, Colin ducked, gripped the hilt of his longsword, and cut the creature twice in the abdomen, causing its blood to splash onto his body.
Roaring, the creature tried to strike again, and once more, it was cut.
"Tsk!" The Elf grunted. "Isn't that a monster from the seventh level of the abyss? How is he managing to hurt you?"
The human pointed toward the forest, seeing a light shining through the undergrowth.
"Can you feel that? It's a banishing ritual."
"Shit! We have to stop it!"
In the forest, Elara glowed like a candle, a light enveloping her as the prayer was chanted without pause.
Safira could see clearly—she could feel that mana being burned, even though her eyes were closed.
This feeling… it's like being hugged by a warm blanket… it's… so good… I… I can feel Miss Elara's mana, it's so gentle… the calm mana of Jamily and her son… I can feel the creature's perverse mana and… is that Mr. Colin's mana? I thought he didn't have any, but it's… aggressive… and at the same time, welcoming… there are two other sources approaching… wait, I don't know them!
Safira woke up, coming out of her trance-like state.
She looked at Elara and was startled by the mana that was burning aggressively, but soon pulled herself together, turning her gaze to the two men who had arrived.
Jamily and the cleric were so immersed in the ritual that they didn't even open their eyes.
"A girl, two women, and a child…" The human removed a dagger from his cloak. "So, you're with the Elf, huh? That'll be easy."
Sapphire's purple eyes burned intensely, glowing with an almost ghostly light.
I… see… his mana isn't that high… he's not that strong.
She took off Colin's backpack and reached into her bag, pulling out the pocketknife Colin had given her as a present.
Miss Elara showed me how to do it. Mana is born in the stomach, and if I concentrate, I can change the direction it flows… Miss Elara made it manifest all over her body—I just need to make it go to my hand and then…
Crackle!
Her pocketknife ignited, mana snaking out of it like aggressive flames.
Wow… I… it's so beautiful…
The cultists took a step back.
"A user of the Flame Tree?!"
"That's not the problem!" said the Elf, his eyes also blazing. "Can you see that? She has too much mana—much more than you and me combined!"
"That's impossible! She's just a child!"
In the midst of the dense mana, Elara opened her eyes, still reciting her prayer.
So she's awake… that's good. I think we'll be able to finish the ritual now. I'm counting on you, girl!