LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 30: By Someone Like You
William's mind raced. Two adventurers, who seemed like decent people, were dead. Aella was the only one left from their group. Gorn, despite his wounded arm, appeared ready to fight, but his power had clearly waned.
'Damn it... I don't know if I can face that thing,' William thought, fear gnawing at his resolve. Even with his recent progress, he was nowhere near the demon's level.
Gorn, ever perceptive, addressed them, "I'll use a technique to weaken him, but after that, it's the two of you against him. Understood?"
Before William or Aella could respond, Gorn began casting his spell. Twenty intricate runes materialized around him, shimmering with potent energy.
Aella, a mage with extensive knowledge, gasped. "Th-that's a high-level spell!" she exclaimed. "Just who is this man?"
The runes converged on Gorn, sinking into his flesh. His eyes blazed with an intense blue light, and the mana in the atmosphere surged towards him, drawn to his form like moths to a flame. He became a conduit for raw magical power. The runes enhanced his mana absorption and granted him the capacity to withstand the immense influx of energy.
His muscles bulged, his entire body growing in size. He reached a towering height of three meters, his clothes tearing under the strain of his newfound power.
William stared in awe. 'G-Gorn is incredible!'
Fear flickered in the demon's eyes, but it was too late. Gorn charged, his fist cocked back. The blow landed with earth-shattering force, caving in the demon's chest and sending him flying through the cavern wall, crashing into the forest outside.
After the devastating attack, Gorn reverted to his normal size, collapsing to one knee. He was visibly weakened.
"F-finish the job," he gasped, his voice hoarse. "I can't fight anymore. I need to rest..."
That devastating blow was the last act Gorn could muster in the fight.
Aella and William emerged from the cave through the gaping hole created by Gorn's attack. Near a towering oak, they found the demon, his body ravaged, a gaping wound in his chest, blood staining the forest floor.
Yet, impossibly, he rose to his feet. William felt a wave of terror wash over him. The sheer power granted by the demonic artifact was horrifying.
"D-do you think you can kill me?" the demon rasped, his voice laced with malice. "That old man is out of the fight, leaving just the two of you. A mage and a weakling who can barely cast a spell. This will be easy."
Aella, though shaken by the loss of her companions, steeled herself. "I'm still standing," she declared, her voice firm. "Don't underestimate me."
The demon laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the trees. "Oh, I don't underestimate you, mage. You're probably only weaker than that brute back in the cave. But a mage is only strong if they can use their magic, wouldn't you agree?"
Aella frowned, confused, but then she understood. The demon had one more trick up his sleeve.
With the last vestiges of his demonic energy, he conjured a cage of dark energy around Aella, trapping her within its confines. This wasn't just a physical barrier; it was a magic-suppressing prison. Aella was completely incapacitated, unable to cast even a single spell.
William and the demon were alone.
"Sorry, kid, but I have to do this," the demon said, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "This power I've gained from the demon lord is just the beginning. We will dominate this world. And even if you humans try to summon your heroes, we won't lose!"
'Summon heroes? So my classmates and I were brought to this world to fight the demon lord?' William thought, his mind reeling.
He recalled Elric mentioning the Shadow Lord and his impending return to Aethel. Could the demon lord and the Shadow Lord be the same entity? It seemed plausible, considering the corruption was linked to this demonic energy.
"I can fight too," William declared, drawing his sword. He activated Swiftfoot, enhancing his agility and speed.
[+20 Agility points]
[+10% movement speed]
He felt the familiar surge of power. The demon clapped slowly, a mocking smile on his lips. "My, my, you can use magic after all. I underestimated you. But is it enough?"
Despite his wounds, the demon's speed was still formidable. He lunged at William, the obsidian sword aimed at his head.
William reacted instantly, parrying the blow. Swiftfoot allowed him to match the demon's movements, but only because the creature was severely weakened. At his full strength, William wouldn't have lasted a second.
'Damn it, I'm still so weak... I need to train harder!' he thought, frustration mixing with fear. Even in this life-or-death struggle, he couldn't help but critique himself. He was still new to this world, and he had much to learn. But he was improving rapidly, and that was a good sign.
However, even his enhanced abilities weren't enough. The demon's attacks landed with increasing frequency, drawing blood. William grew pale, his movements sluggish. The blood loss was taking its toll.
Just then, a small notification appeared, visible only to him.
[You can use the skill Hero's Limit. Do you wish to activate it?]
It was the special skill he had gained during the fight at Gorn's cabin. Despite the risks, he had no choice.
'Activate!'
[All attributes increased by 50% for 1 minute.]
The effect was immediate. Combined with Swiftfoot, the boost in power was overwhelming. William felt invigorated, his strength and speed surging. The fatigue from blood loss vanished, replaced by a rush of adrenaline.
He became a whirlwind of steel, his attacks relentless. The demon, caught off guard, staggered back.
"Impossible! What did you do? How did you become so strong?" he sputtered, fear creeping into his voice.
Aella watched with a mixture of awe and curiosity. She remained silent, her hopes pinned on William's victory.
William pressed his advantage, forcing the demon to his knees. With a well-aimed kick, he sent the obsidian sword skittering away, leaving his opponent disarmed and vulnerable.
"Any last words?" William asked, his voice cold.
The demon leaned against William's arm, his fear seemingly replaced by a strange sense of acceptance. "H-haha," he chuckled, "to be killed by someone like you... it's an honor, I suppose. Not such a bad way to go."
William frowned, unable to comprehend the man's words. "I see. Well then, die."
With a swift, clean stroke, he ended the demon's life. The battle was over.
And then, darkness consumed him. William collapsed, unconscious.