Having watched Luke wield his sword against smaller monsters, I have to agree it won’t last long against a real monster. He’s beaten a ton in the time we’ve been in the forest and had to hold back his power each time, either because they weren’t worth it or because he was worried about breaking his sword. I’m not trying to be mean, but his sword is more of a blunt object than a sharp one at this point. It’s covered in chips and looks one strike away from splintering.
Leila claps her hand on Luke’s shoulder. “We really need to get you a sword that’ll match you.” She turns to Molozov. “Molozov, would you mind watching out for Sakurako and Kazuya?”
“Um, w-we can help, too! You all keep protecting us during battles, but we don’t want to burden you,” I say.
Luke smiles kindly. “I’d rather you stayed clear of the battle. I don’t want you involved. Please leave it to us.”
“But…” To be honest, I might be pretty strong. I bite back the words, worried about what he’ll think. I don’t want him to dislike me, nor do I want anyone to call me a monster and say I have superhuman strength like people used to. But this is a crucial moment, so it’s now or never—
Kazuya puts his hand over my mouth and murmurs, “Let’s let them take the front line. We aren’t combat classes. Besides, they say it’s on their level and they’re up for the challenge, so they’ll be fine. It’s okay to take a backseat and chill every now and then.”
“Kazuya…” I mumble back, still lost as to what to do.
“Thanks, Kazuya. You, too, Sakurako. Just your offer to fight alongside me makes me happy. But I can show my full potential so long as you’re a safe distance away, so I’d prefer that.”
“Oh, I’ll be in your way otherwise? Sorry,” I apologize, flustered. Now that I think about it, I’m not used to playing in a team. Martial arts are always one on one. I haven’t fought a major monster before either, so I’d probably be a hindrance.
“No, that’s not what I mean. How can I put it? I feel stronger when there’s someone I’m trying to protect.” Luke hits me with his usual passionate gaze.
Which makes my heart pound, like I’m a normal girl—Uh, ignore that; I mean, I am 100 percent a normal, fragile girl!
The party devises a detailed strategy, then we head to where the Owl Demon Lord is sleeping. As we creep into a position with a good vantage point where we’re hidden from its eyesight, everyone shuffles so nervously that the tension is suffocating.
The Owl Demon Lord must be reeeally strong. Its name alone has ‘Lord’ in it!
Finally, we reach a point where we can see the monster clearly. I lean forward through bushes until I see it… Um… It looks a lot like the monster whose body I put a hole in. It’s got an owl head and a humanoid body, but a point of difference is that this one has wings stretching off its arms. Its hands are capped with big, sharp talons.
And it’s tall. The monster I defeated was about six-and-a-half feet tall and brown. This one is ten feet tall, and its wings are silver. More significantly, its talons are enormous, and it has two large horns growing out of its head. It looks very strong.
What’s especially weird is that it’s not moving and seems to be asleep, but its eyes are wide open. I wonder if it gets dry eyes, sleeping like that.
Ganzi spreads out Kazuya’s map and double-checks that the ‘Z’ mark is still there.
Leila nods and starts casting. “‘Fire, burn all to ashes. Let us all fall at once in the Goddess of Fire’s embrace. Burn along with all reason in the world, leaving naught but sweet silence.’”
Heat erupts in front of her and I raise my hand to block the blast of hot wind coming from her so I can still see what’s happening.
“Fire Lance!” she cries and sends a fireball hurtling toward the Owl Demon Lord.
“Gaaaugh!” A pained cry signifies a direct hit, but the monster doesn’t die. When the flames dissipate into smoke, we see it standing, its body scorched. “Aeeeeeee!” it screams.
Leila raises her staff and Luke and Ganzi step forward. Molozov steps in front of me and Kazuya, blocking us from harm with his shield.
“If anything happens to Luke and Ganzi, I’ll go help them. If I do, hide behind this shield. In the worst-case scenario, run away.” The usually taciturn Molozov says a mouthful, then turns his watchful stare on the monster.
The worst-case scenario? No one’s mentioned that yet. Guess this means that monster might be that strong.
The scorched monster has suffered burns to most of its body, so it’s moving in awkward, jolting, probably pained motions. But despite its slowness, Luke and Ganzi can’t launch a decisive attack because conditions around it are weirdly windy… Yeah, gusts of wind are blowing around the monster.
Ganzi grips the ground to avoid being blown away. He can’t get any closer, so he throws a dagger at the monster instead. The wind blows it off course.
There’s no mistaking it—this wind is blowing around the Owl Demon Lord as if to block Luke’s attack.
“Damn it, it’s got permanently activated wind magic!” Ganzi says in disgust.
So this is what wind magic looks like.
Ganzi can’t get closer, but Luke resists the wind and swings his sword at the monster. Although his speed and strength have been halved, it by no means makes him an easy target for the monster, and the two commence a protracted one-on-one battle.
Kazuya casts a spell next to me, then says, “It’s using wind magic generated by its wings. If we wet its wings, it’ll halt the wind temporarily.”
“Did you just analyze it?” I ask.
Kazuya nods. “That’s how we can beat it. Leila, can you shoot water magic over its head?”
Leila sets her jaw grimly. “I can. Why? To soak it so it can’t use magic? How can we get water close enough with all that wind?”
“Look at it closely. The leaves of the tree are whirling around the monster like a tornado, so it’s likely there’s a dead zone above its head, like the eye of a vortex. We should be able to drench it if we pour water down from there.”
It does look how he explained it. The wind’s like a mini tornado blowing around the Owl Demon Lord.
Leila nods firmly. “O water, O intangible, pour down at my bidding, like a flowing, writhing python, acquiesce! Water ball!”
A sphere appears like a bubble just above the monster’s head and drops, dousing it. It clenches its eyes shut at the sudden deluge, and the wind ceases. Right at that moment, Luke hefts his great sword high and swings it down. It strikes the monster’s shoulder and slices through it vertically like it’s made of soft cheese. It slowly falls to the ground and fades into mist, leaving a fist-sized green jewel and a smattering of feathers.
“You did it!” Ganzi yells with glee and pokes Luke in the ribs.
Leila runs to hug Luke, who’s frolicking like a little boy. “Well done! That’s my son!”