Chapter 101 - Reckless Assault and Counterattack

Even so, it is not like everything is bad.

This is a big monster, but it is only one, and most of all, Dark Spirit Abilities work on it.

“Rifreya! Darkness works on this guy! The strategy we always use will work on it! Counting on you!” (Hikaru)

“Okay!” (Rifreya)

The ears of the Demon Lord are twitching. It must be trying to pinpoint the voices.

Those red eyes that felt as if they could see through even the darkness were glaring powerfully, and even if hidden in the darkness, I can’t erase the instinctive fear I have.

But now that it has come to this, I have no choice but to do it.

“Aim for the moment when it uses Dispel to erase my Ability!” (Hikaru)

I want to buy as much time as possible, so there’s no need to undo the Darkness Fog myself and attack it ourselves.

“Grrrrr!”

The Demon Lord growled and spit out fire, but I have casted Darkness Fog at its highest output. Blind attacks like that at that distance won’t be hitting us.

Also, with just the mere light the fire produces, the darkness of Darkness Fog won’t be cleared.

The Demon Lord runs around blindly to get out from the darkness.

If it gets out from the darkness, there’s the chance that it would target Rifreya who is alone.

“[Shadow Bind]!”

“[Phantom Warrior!”

“[Summon: Night Bug]!”

I used abilities consecutively.

Inside the darkness, even the attacks of the Night Bugs can serve extremely well as distraction.

And with the Phantom Warrior that makes loud noises, there’s an even lower chance that it can catch our location by using sounds.

The battle between the Demon Lord that wants to attack inside the darkness, and me who wants to buy time by not letting it out of the darkness continued.

“[Dispel]”

The Demon Lord finally casted that ability.

Judging from how it didn’t use it immediately, it probably means that the Demon Lord isn’t that good at abilities.

The Spirit Energy of the darkness, the phantom warrior, and the dark tentacles were diminished, and erased.

That was the expected flow of events.

The next instant…

“[Light]!” (Rifreya)

A dazzling sphere was created right in the face of the Demon Lord, and almost at the same time, Rifreya swung her greatsword with strength enough as if to cut off its head.

*Zuban!*

Such a fierce sound was made, and red blood flies.

“Kuh! Hard!” (Rifreya)

“Gwuruaaaa!”

It was an attack that carried all her weight, and yet, it was stopped by its bristles and hard skin, and it didn’t go as far as severing the body of the Demon Lord.

Even so, the attack did hit.

The combo of darkness and light really is simple yet strong. It works plenty well against a Demon Lord.

“[Shadow Bind]!” (Hikaru)

The dark tentacles bind the limbs of the Demon Lord and impede it from acting.

And a heated combo was dealt by Rifreya right at that moment as if she had been waiting for that.

“Haaaaaah!” (Rifreya)

The drawn blade was swung continuously as if dancing, dealing definite damage onto the Demon Lord.

However, maybe it was being blocked by some invisible wall, or it might be because it is deftly avoiding any fatal hit, those attacks that would have long killed your average monster were failing to do so here. It really won’t be as easy.

(Is its inherent defense high?! Even though it is getting direct hits from Rifreya…!) (Hikaru)

I use the valuable time Rifreya is buying here to exchange 30 Crystals for 1 Point, and buy a Barrier Stone with that Point.

I have judged that this will be necessary for refuge in the case there’s nothing we can do.

The Demon Lord is faltering from the flowing attacks that continue on, but it will eventually regain its posture.

“Rifreya, you are overstepping! Fall back for now! Attacking it from the front isn’t working much!” (Hikaru)

“No! I can still do this!” (Rifreya)

She ignored my order and continued attacking.

No matter how excellent swordplay she has, attacks from the front can’t help but end up turning monotonous.

The Demon Lord should have more power and faster decision making than us.

It definitely will eventually counterattack.

We have to fight with a hit-and-run strategy. We are dealing with an opponent that defeated a Lizardman Undead in just a few seconds.

And the Lizardman and Rifreya are most likely around the same strength.

“Rifreya, backout!” (Hikaru)

“Not yet! With this…!” (Rifreya)

“You are being reckless! Damn it!” (Hikaru)

A barrage of attacks that carried all of her power.

It certainly did land on its back, but even with that, it only managed to damage the hard fur of the demon lord slightly. We really have to aim for the Spirit Vein Center. If it were the axe of the captain from the Crimson Vials, it could deal fatal damage, but Rifreya still hasn’t reached that Tier yet.

Rifreya and the Demon Lord are moving at fast speeds while continuing their exchange of blows. It will be difficult to use Darkness Fog like this.

Rifreya must have taken this situation as a chance to one-sidedly attack it, but the eyesight of the Demon Lord has already recovered, and it has recognized Rifreya as a threat…that’s how I see it.

Against the Demon Lord, there’s not much difference between me and Rifreya. One can easily tell that it is not an opponent that can be fought one vs one.

Normally, we would use Darkness Fog for each hit, buy time, and accumulate the damage steadily.

Or more like, that’s how we have always been doing. Until now, Rifreya and I have matched our timing countless times, and have defeated hundreds of monsters.

Why is Rifreya suddenly being so reckless here?

Is she worked up because she is going against a Demon Lord?

Or maybe something bothered her after facing the Demon Lord?

Then, I should at least provide assistance.

“[Phantom Warrior]!” (Hikaru)

By having a Phantom Warrior head from the opposite site, I managed to divert its attention slightly, but it doesn’t look like it had much effect.

I want to use Shadow Bind, but the previous bind’s effects are not completely gone yet. I can’t cast the ability again until the effect of the previous one runs out.

“I am going to defeat it! I must be the one to defeat it!” (Rifreya)

Rifreya shouts this within her sword dance that doesn’t end.

I don’t understand why Rifreya is saying that.

We should just buy time while reinforcements come.

I clearly told her that…

“Gwaawooo!”

Marchosias, who had seen through the sword of Rifreya, did a backstep, making the attack miss.

Just like that, it changed the energy of that backstep for power into its hindlegs, and attacks Rifreya with a speed unimaginable from that big body.

A rush similar to a blind attack.

It swung its sharp claws like those of a feline beast, crossing attacks with Rifreya at high speed.

“Kyaaa!” (Rifreya)

“Rifreya!” (Hikaru)

It seems like she managed to avoid a direct hit by spinning her body, but even with that, the impact wasn’t completely killed, and she was sent flying onto a hedge.

“I-I’m okay! More importantly, the Demon Lord—” (Rifreya)

“Leave it to me! [Darkness Fog]!” (Hikaru)

I cast Darkness Fog and cover both me and Rifreya, blocking the sight of the Demon Lord.

The pitch black darkness ruled the area, and with this, we have managed to buy a bit more time.

“[Phantom Warrior]!”

“[Shadow Bind]!”

“[Summon: Night Bug]!”

I somehow manage to restrain the movements of the Demon Lord, and I run to the side of Rifreya.

“Are you okay?! Any wounds?! Why were you so reckless?” (Hikaru)

“I am okay. It was just a scratch! More importantly, we have to continue the offensive… Even though it was going so well… I…I am the one that must defeat it…” (Rifreya)

The eyes of Rifreya shone fiercely, and she was staring straight at the place where the Demon Lord was even through the darkness.

As if that were her purpose in life.

“I will stand up. It will soon be using Dispel again, and when that happens…” (Rifreya)

Rifreya tried to stand up inside the darkness, but…just like that, she fell as if she lost support.

Her face was shocked as if she herself didn’t understand what happened.

“O-Oi…” (Hikaru)

At that moment, I finally noticed.

Red blood was coming out from the thigh of Rifreya that had been cleanly gouged out -more than half of her left leg was gone.

She didn’t manage to avoid the attack of the Demon Lord.

The blood was dyeing the ground dark red soundlessly.