I read the future. To be precise, I sense danger within 5 seconds.
Therefore, in this moment, Ignak could fight like a skilled superhuman with accelerated neural processing. After all, no matter how fast an attack comes, you can respond if you detect it before it hits.
As a result, his body gradually speeds up along with the rising dark mana. He's becoming more precise.
A sharp sword strike aiming for his nape—dodged.
A thrust targeting his chest—deflected.
A flame spell directed at his head—avoided with a tilt of his head.
A powerful axe swinging at his back—redirected with his shoulder blade.
"Clang! Clang-clang-clang!!"
Even against four opponents, he doesn't falter. Rather, he's overwhelming them. With greater strength and more intense mana. From the beginning, the youngsters before him were inexperienced, and even injured.
All four of them were ragged and panting. Like candles about to flicker out. Yet they clash with all their might at every moment.
But candles burn brightest just before they go out.
"Thwack—!!"
For the first time, a direct hit landed. An axe blade falling from an angle that, though he sensed it, he couldn't avoid.
Ignak swallowed the rising nausea and swung his staff.
"Crack!"
But he was blocked. Two warriors intercepted the orc warrior's powerful strike aimed at Asidis. Isabelle and Oskar. They blocked the attack with precision that seemed measured to the inch.
And then, the next blow strikes.
"Whoosh— Bang!"
A fireball targets Ignak's head. He tried to turn his head, but it was impossible in this position. Despite sensing it in advance, he couldn't move further with his staff caught.
"Grrrr—!! You bastards—!!"
Bloody foam spewed from Ignak's mouth. His rage made him dizzy.
The longer he fought, the clearer it became. Because he could see the future, he understood more precisely.
These kids were becoming more refined with each passing moment. With bodies that looked ready to collapse at any touch, they gritted their teeth and didn't stop despite the pain tearing through their bodies.
Throwing themselves to protect their comrades, and another pushing forward to support an advanced ally.
"Bang—!!"
When the forward comrades fully absorbed Ignak's strength, another person delivered a strike. At an angle impossible to dodge despite foreknowledge, and at a speed difficult to react to.
Thus, their "neural acceleration" was being honed sharper and faster.
By now, Isabelle had exceeded her time limit. Her overloaded nerves were ragged, ready to snap at any moment. Yet she didn't stop. One step ahead, one more strike.
Today, no one can die before me. It will never happen.
Isabelle's blue eyes shone like a cluster of stars. Even pain couldn't blur her perception. The blade finally sliced deeply across Ignak's side.
"Slash!"
Blood sprayed into the air. Since everyone's time perception was extremely accelerated, it looked like a gliding wave. It shot up toward the night sky, reflecting the bonfire.
Stagger—Ignak's posture crumbled. Is it now? No, not yet. His strength isn't completely depleted yet.
"Grrrrrr!!"
Ignak, foaming with rage, swung his arm toward Isabelle.
The physical difference between orcs and humans is so unfair that even dozens of direct hits might not kill Ignak, but he could end their lives with a single blow.
So Isabelle, whose posture had collapsed after her attack, smiled as she watched Ignak's massive fist approaching.
"I... protected them!"
She kept her promise. The promise that no one would die before her.
She protected her comrades. With this strike, she broke his posture, and by taking his attack, her comrades would finish the job.
But if there was one regret, it was that she couldn't confirm her uncle's safety one last time.
Please be alive. Please be healthy and alive. As she thought this and was about to close her eyes.
"Clang!!"
A blade wedged between them and pushed away Ignak's fist. Oskar gritted his teeth as he saw his right hand holding the sword twisting in an unnatural direction.
"You idiot! You should have attacked instead of saving me!"
"But I saved you, didn't I?"
With this, Oskar was out of the fight. He should have been already.
At Isabelle's shocked cry, Oskar, with his dangling arms, smiled faintly and collapsed to his knees.
Ignak's eyes gleamed. Once more, this time for the final blow—.
"Thwack—!!"
"Guhk!!"
At that moment, an axe struck his back.
"Crash—!!"
A massive ice chunk hammered down on his head as he staggered back.
And then.
"Slash."
A star-filled blade glided smoothly through the darkness. Golden hair fluttered gracefully, and beneath it, arms holding a sword swept the ground like waves.
Isabelle, who had regained her posture in that momentary gap, bent her waist and drove in her blade. The backs of both knees were deeply cut. Blood poured down, and Ignak's posture greatly faltered.
He knew it. He had foreseen all these attacks!
But he couldn't reach. Death was approaching. Ignak tried to steady himself with trembling hands, raising his staff—
"Bang!"
Suddenly his vision shook and his body collapsed. Huh? As he turned his head, he saw his forearm that had been on the ground flying far away.
Asidis, holding an axe, was looking down at him, taking position again.
From his unbalanced posture, a fireball struck his head. His vision darkened and his ears rang. Perhaps due to his brain being shaken, his sense of balance mixed up, and Ignak vomited on the ground.
"Splat—!!"
On his back, a sword was driven straight down.
Ignak stiffened with a jerk. It was over. He couldn't move anymore.
Breathing heavily, he slowly lowered his head.
"Tumor, guide me to the plains..."
Ignak muttered, spitting a handful of blood.
"If we, if we have a heaven too. Brothers, brothers. Let's fight... forever..."
With lifeless, white eyes, he struggled to look up. He could see the four people surrounding him. Above them, the brightly burning moon, and the stars that didn't lose their light even under the moonlight.
Heroes.
Ignak could trace their faces from old memories. Yes, so similar to those cursed ones... yet why couldn't he recall?
Hatred welled up,
And satisfaction pressed deeply on his chest.
He had crossed swords with heroes. He had fought until the end and fallen like a warrior.
May Tumor not be ashamed of today's defeat. After all, even you were defeated by heroes back then.
Ignak slowly closed his eyes. They would never open again.
Blood deeply stained the ground.
Crackle, pop.
The sound of the burning bonfire comforted the silence that followed the intense battle.
"We... won..."
"Anyone hurt?"
"Me."
"Me too."
"Do you need to ask to know?"
Oskar smiled faintly as he waved his dangling arm.
"Just trying to joke. I feel like I'm dying. It really hurts."
"For a knight of Tilles, this much."
"Knights are people too. When both arms are broken, you actually want to cry, but I'm too exhausted to even shed tears."
"For the record, I'm shedding tears mixed with blood, so I can barely see. This must be what sacrifice means. The Grikenkos have always sacrificed for humanity."
"Every time I talk with you, I feel like I'm learning history I never knew. I keep hearing things that aren't from our world."
"That's human-like. Limited learning. Usually both lifespan and learning are short."
Isabelle chuckled at Elfihera's words and stood up unsteadily.
"Bella...? Where are you going?"
"To save my uncle. Who knows where he's collapsed right now. Sigh. I wonder if he's even alive."
Isabelle shrugged and began walking. Before taking three steps, she unexpectedly sat down.
Asidis, who had approached her side, was supporting her arm.
"Ah, thanks."
"No problem. I have the same reason, shall we look together?"
"Uncle?"
"Yes, uncle. I'm worried. He's family, after all."
"Faaamily...??"
Asidis gave Isabelle a mature smile under her gaze.
As even Elfihera was considering whether to stand up now, and Oskar just sat down letting whatever happen, happen.
"Step."
Footsteps rang clearly.
"No need for that."
With a somehow.
Familiar.
And therefore somewhat unsettling voice.
"Huh...?"
Isabelle was the first to react. She stared ahead with blank eyes. Her focus was blurry, but she could recognize the approaching shadow.
With difficulty, she raised her trembling arm to rub her eyes, then focused again to look straight ahead...
To see.
"Uncle...?"