---

“Buff has been activated. Although Zion doesn’t seem to hear much of it.”

Calmly managing recovery and strengthening while adjusting our positions.

The Demon King stood silently next to the Gate isolated by Aurora, watching us as we regrouped.

Not attacking first indicates that the Demon King is also focused on guarding the Gate.

Having been hit once by Zion, it’s probably on high alert.

Not a good situation for those planning an ambush.

But,

“Alright, let’s go.”

We had no choice but to clash head-on.

– Clang!!

The sound of a sonic sword colliding produced sparks and shockwaves.

The Demon King endured the strikes in place, looking overwhelmingly stable.

When would he strike the Gate?

The best timing would be when the opponent is least expecting it.

A moment when they think it’s safe.

And that moment was right then,

“Local Space Connection Power Deployment.”

Immediately after the clash began.

Smashing expectations of a probing battle where both sides were timing their moves.

Pouring magic energy into a single point and connecting spaces,

Since it was a pre-planned operation, Zion quickly disengaged after the first strike and rushed into the spatial gap.

“…….”

It was a surprise attack, but the Demon King was well-prepared, mechanically reacting to Zion and quickly forcing himself into the space.

Trying to occupy the position first to block the attack on the Gate.

“I thought so. Hanamana!!”

And the real trap was at this very moment.

The moment the Demon King positioned himself, exposing the Gate.

“Heaven’s Punishment!!”

At Hanamana’s shout, the sky opened, and divine light fell, striking the Demon King.

“……!”

Thanks to the Demon King giving us ample time while guarding the Gate, it was a viable strategy.

Acting as if we would attack the Gate to limit the Demon King’s movements,

We unleashed the strongest attack right from the start, aiming for the Demon King instead of the Gate.

The Demon King, engulfed in purifying strikes like steam bursting forth, was:

“Mana Energy Mana Ball!!”

Following that, Now also unleashed her spell from the tip of her wand.

An energy concentrated in the air hurtling towards the Demon King.

Though non-elemental magic isn’t necessarily advantageous, this attack held significance as it transformed mana into pure physical force.

The Demon King seemed to realize it too, exhaling purifying smoke but slightly lifted his right foot, slamming it down to stabilize on the ground.

– Pwoooosh!!

Now’s attack hit the Demon King’s abdomen precisely.

– Drrrrr!!

Despite being blasted back with armor being distorted, the Demon King held his ground firmly.

Even when pushed toward the hole Aurora created in the space barrier, he clung on tightly to the remaining space, maintaining his stance.

And finally, Zion appeared, raising his sword high.

If Now succeeded in pushing the Demon King back, we could close the Gate; if not, attacking the Demon King would be our plan.

“No Resistance Type: Drop.”

The Demon King hung on the space barrier in a ruined posture against Zion, who swung the Holy Sword with all his might.

In a rush, the Demon King swung his Demon Sword upwards, trying to clash with Zion’s weapon.

– Kaaang!!

But Zion noted the Demon King’s stance slipping, slightly adjusting the trajectory of his own sword, causing the Demon Sword to just graze past it and embed in the ground instead.

Then spinning sideways while maintaining the speed of his strike,

“Drop Slice: Rising Sun Cut.”

He aimed for the Demon King’s neck in a horizontal slash.

If the Holy Sword landed on the Demon King’s neck, that would be the end.

Slaying the Demon King would deal a far greater blow to the Demon race than simply closing the Gate.

The heavily injured Demon King, scorched by holy magic and staggering from the significant hit to his abdomen,

– Tiiing!

Lowered his head to deflect the attack with his helmet.

No matter how sturdy the helmet, crafted from the Demon King’s magic, it should fail to meaningfully block the Holy Sword and lose his head, right?

Yet the Demon King took the hit not on the hard part of the helmet but rather on the face.

The Holy Sword didn’t pierce through but instead lodged in the helmet. What just happened?

– Shiiiiii…

The helmet, attacked by Heaven’s Punishment and the Holy Sword, split in two, burning away, revealing the Demon King’s face.

A completely black visage with purple whites and white irises, a blank expression.

With short hair, his appearance was androgynous, making it hard to determine gender.

And the reason his head didn’t fly off was simply that he blocked it by biting down on the Holy Sword.

Instantly pulling the sword out, the Demon King swung at Zion.

“Ugh!”

The sword must have been gripped tightly, forcing Zion to retreat to dodge.

“Summon Holy Sword.”

He called it back into his hand.

The sound of teeth clashing echoed, and the revealed Demon King regained his fighting stance.

“The space is closed.”

Once the Demon King stepped outside the space barrier, he was re-isolated by Aurora’s magic.

Though the meticulously prepared plan had failed,

“…….”

It seemed we had managed to deal damage to the Demon King.

Whether it was significant or not remained uncertain, though.

[This isn’t good. From now on, let’s try whatever we can. Hop, how long will it take to reopen the space?]

Since I had used the maximum output of magic power, I needed recovery to connect spaces with Aurora again.

[10 minutes.]

[I’ll cut it in half for you.]

“Meditation. Blessing of Nature.”

Hanamana cast a buff related to magical recovery.

[How’s that, Hop? Do you think 5 minutes will do?]

[Nope, it’s still 10 minutes. I counted Hanamana in too.]

[T-That’s not good!]

“Nice try, but it seems like you’ve used all your cards.”

The Demon King, still bathed in crimson all over, watched us expressionlessly as he began to speak.

Tough enough not to suffer fatal wounds even when struck directly by the largest scale of holy magic and non-elemental spells.

Like the Gate, it seemed that the Demon King couldn’t be assailed without striking with the Holy Sword.

Unless we could keep launching attacks like earlier until he fell.

That would only be feasible by gathering all of humanity’s heroes in one place.

“Really, you think so?”

While standing confidently in the face of the Demon King, Now was, of course, not someone the Demon King would underestimate.

“More is fine. But I guess I can’t break through the space for a while.”

“!!”

A direct hit to the core.

That means…

“The Demon King is coming on the offensive! Maintain formation!”

With Now’s order, the Demon King rushed in without caring for the Gate.

“Divine Shield!”

Hanamana immediately cast the holy barrier, but,

– Kaaang!

Since the barrier was weak to physical force, the Demon King swiftly swung his Demon Sword and shattered it.

“Severance.”

With no other choice, we defended with space magic. But the Demon King,

“Dark Genocide Cutter.”

Even that was destroyed with a technique.

Currently, the Demon King was the same as the one who manifested during the first great war.

The Demon King whom heroes couldn’t vanquish even after sealing the Gate is naturally capable of breaking through space.

“Hop, stop using magic and gather mana!”

If it’s just stalling for time, Then Now’s order seemed to be sound.

With our formation unable to hold up, Zion tried to block the Demon King, but,

– Tink! Tink! Tink!

Ignoring Zion, the Demon King endlessly charged at us, parrying our attacks just barely short of him.

Serin also aimed for the Demon King’s weaknesses, but when the blessed dagger struck his neck, he simply pulled it out and pressed forward.

“Sanctuary.”

Once more, a ward spread, and smoke began rising from the Demon King’s body.

“Flame Buster!!”

Following that, Now’s wand shot forth flames, engulfing the Demon King, but he didn’t even flinch.

[Formation cannot be sustained. Let’s regroup after breaking formation.]

Following Now’s order, the three at the back scattered in all directions to widen the distance, but,

– Splurt!

The Demon King was aiming for me.

The calculation was that if I, the only one capable of breaking through space, was out of the way, the Gate would be safe.

With the formation broken and me alone, the Demon King wildly charged at me.

Being able to respond to Zion’s speed beyond sound meant he could not be blocked when space was breached.

But that only applies to an ordinary supporting mage.

‘Time Acceleration.’

Using time magic temporarily, I reacted to the Demon King’s speed.

Dodging several sword strikes, I took the opportunity when Zion attacked the Demon King and joined Hanamana.

Before I knew it, Now had also come closer to Hanamana, and Zion was again in formation, blocking the Demon King.

“I’ll need to hold out a bit longer.”

It seems that the speed I just displayed appeared to Now like some kind of space movement or its application.

She must think I used mana.

But I hadn’t actually used mana; I had restored my state.

With the time acceleration, my mana recovery had sped up.

Pausing for a moment while the Demon King stared expressionlessly at me.

[Zion.]

[Yeah?]

I can use time magic to recover mana.

If so, I could ambush the Demon King with this.

He wouldn’t see this coming.

[The next time the Demon King reaches me, go to the Gate immediately. I’ll open a space for you.]

[…….]

[What? Is that really possible?]

Zion didn’t respond, and it was Now who questioned the possibility.

[It is. And I can avoid the Demon King’s attacks too. So, Zion. Understood?]

[…Got it, Hop.]

With Zion’s agreement, I decided to execute the plan.

The Demon King charged again towards our formation.

We attempted to stop him by casting spells or casting barriers, but it didn’t work at all.

[Break formation and regroup!]

Following the previous orders, we scattered again,

‘Time Acceleration.’

Using time magic to recover mana and evade attacks.

The 10 minutes necessary for mana recovery passed rapidly for me alone.

With sufficient mana now gathered, it was Zion’s turn.

[Zion, now!]

‘Local Space Connection Power Deployment.’

Zion moved to the Gate, and I opened the space before him.

But just at that moment…

‘Huh?’

I suddenly felt a cut across my chest.

That bastard Demon King, did he notice the time acceleration during the first skirmish and decided to follow suit now?

It was a small wound, but my body was in a state of accelerated time.

Blood gushed out rapidly, and if this continued, I would go into shock in no time.

I had no choice but to halt the time acceleration.

But then…

A Demon King’s blade loomed before me.

I had no way to avoid this. A single hit would sever my head.

‘Is this where my life ends?’

While my Rewind could trigger under any circumstance, I was in a position to cast it immediately.

Zion closing the Gate would be faster, but even if the Gate closed, the Demon King wouldn’t vanish instantly, so I would definitely die.

I must activate Rewind to avoid this death…

*** “Is Hop’s life precious to you?”

‘……!’

Suddenly, Zion’s voice echoed in my mind.

Wait, what’s happening right now?

If Zion closes the Gate like this while I die at the same time…

That would lead to the end he would never want.

This world would be protected with the Gate closed, and because I’d die, it wouldn’t be undone.

*** “Do you want to live without any meaning, purpose, duty, or dreams, Hop?”

Zion’s voice continuously questioned my heart.

I had always lived a life disconnected from the world, but this time it was different.

If I simply accepted death right now,

I would be able to die meaningfully.

Not as a disengaged outsider but as a hero remembered for saving the world.

At least, one person, Zion would surely mourn and remember me until his last breath.

Was this the life I desired?

No, was this the death I wanted?

What should I do right now?

*** “Is Hop’s life precious to you?”

I had to respond to Zion’s endless questioning in my heart.

I… I…