When the girl stands up, light emerges around her, and she conjures swords.
The six swords appear like the wings of an angel.
“Did I take too long?”
The four-armed figure turns its gaze to the girl, showing no interest in me anymore.
“If I have to defeat you again, I’ll make sure to end you this time. But first, you’re in my way.”
Without looking back, it thrusts its spear toward me with deadly precision.
Having lost my sword, I have no way to block it.
With the strength in those four arms, even if I tried to defend with my arm, it would be pierced right through.
Is this… the end?
A shiver runs down my spine, an unpleasant sensation I haven’t felt in a long time.
The spear closes in.
Time feels as if it’s slowing down.
The other arms are already in motion. Even if I dodge, the follow-up attack will finish me.
If I die here… what will become of me?
I doubt I’d make it out of this unharmed.
Not a chance. I refuse to die in a place like this.
“Take this!”
The girl sends one of her summoned swords to me.
It reaches my hand instantly.
I grasp the sword formed of condensed light.
The spear is right before me.
I swing the sword with all my might, managing to deflect the spear’s trajectory just enough.
No matter the strength difference, if you add force to the tip, the spear’s path will divert.
It’s one of the spear’s few weaknesses.
Though my left shoulder gets grazed, I press forward.
If I stay back, I’ll only get bombarded with more attacks.
Barely avoiding one of the four-armed figure’s sword swings, I slip between its legs.
I’m still alive, somehow.
I run towards the girl.
Her wounds have mostly healed, and her previously tattered clothes have been restored.
“I’ve recovered enough to stand up again.”
“That’s good to hear. …Can we win?”
The girl falls silent for a moment at my question.
“Unfortunately, my power is slightly weaker than that thing’s. And I haven’t fully healed, either. If we can’t surpass it together, we’ll both be done for.”
“That’s unacceptable. I don’t intend to die here.”
“That’s the spirit. I’m not ready to die, either. I’ll hold it back; you must find a way to defeat it. I’ll give this back—it won’t do me much good now.”
She hands me Liese’ necklace.
With its power, the wound on my shoulder begins to heal.
“I’ll do what I can…”
“We have no choice but to succeed.”
The girl steps forward, her swords at the ready.
Her stride is steady.
The five remaining swords float around her, their points aimed at the four-armed figure.
As she extends her right hand, the five swords launch forward.
The four-armed figure moves in response.
It seems she fights by manipulating the swords rather than wielding them herself.
The figure deflects the swords with its various weapons: an axe, a spear, a sword, and a mace.
Just as the girl warned, the swords alone can’t stop it. The figure’s strength and skill are immense.
The distance between us steadily closes.
Then, the girl detonates one of the swords that the figure blocked.
A deafening roar echoes through the throne room.
So that’s what caused the sound we heard earlier.
The four-armed figure falters slightly.
But it quickly regains its stance and advances.
The girl summons her swords again to resist.
At this rate, she’ll surely be defeated.
I need to find a way to shift this power imbalance.
I slash at the four-armed figure multiple times, but its minor wounds heal almost instantly.
Though targeting its legs is somewhat effective, I’m always intercepted by one of its weapons before I can land more hits.
It’s a cycle of frustration.
The feeling of powerlessness—I haven’t felt it in ages.
But I’ve tasted this many times before.
That’s why I’m here.
I thrust my sword at the spot where a human heart would be.
“You’re in my way.”
The four-armed figure turns and swings its sword down on me.
To defend, I pull out the sword embedded in its chest and block the descending blade.
In that instant, all sensation leaves my arms.
The impact is too overwhelming, numbing my limbs.
Yet, somehow, I manage to hold back its sword.
The strength difference is obvious.
Even just blocking it is worth praise.
The girl tries to aid me, but the figure’s remaining three arms prevent her.
“Die here.”
Its sword inches toward me, and I struggle just to slow its advance.
I grit my teeth and resist.
…Sky Knight, huh?
If you’re truly my partner, you should be by my side at times like this.
If only I had the Celestial Sword, I could still fight back.
Then, the light-forged sword in my hand begins to change.
Its shape gradually transforms.
This sword… I know it all too well.
Finally, it has returned to my hand.
The Celestial Sword in my grip responds to me.
“Victor. Let’s go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Victor’s blessing activates.
I have no magical power left.
I must settle this while the Celestial Sword still holds its magic.
A short, decisive battle. I’ll go all out with the blessing.
With intense force, power surges through my entire body.
I repel and deflect the opponent’s sword.
It may have four arms, but against only one, I’m more than enough.
“What… is this power?!”
“You don’t need to know.”
As I ready my sword, the four-armed figure takes a large step back.
The girl runs toward me.
“That’s not the sword I gave you. What is that?”
“A trump card.”
“I see. Judging by your condition, it seems to drain you quickly. Let’s finish this. Its endurance is high; aim to take out its heart and head simultaneously.”
“Understood.”
The girl summons her six swords, and I ready the Celestial Sword.
The scales of battle have completely tipped in our favor.
Alone, I wouldn’t have enough strength.
The girl alone would face defeat.
But together, we can win.
