Amaranth's missed strikes created craters in the ground as if meteorites had struck, effortlessly felling nearby trees. The dust clouds and falling trees appeared in slow motion.
But it was impossible to maintain these movements.
Amaranth's movements, which had seemed so slow, were gradually becoming too fast for me to follow. The pain throughout my body was intensifying. This was the price to pay. The price for a commoner performing movements akin to a master's.
This dynamic vishion and evasive action were probably by-products of being possessed by Holly, but such movements were impossible without her assistance. Evidence of this was the unprecedented amount of sweat pouring from my entire body, as if I was a soldier artificially strengthened by drugs.
It reminded me of the drugs that are popular among mercenaries and soldiers to dull fear, which my father had always sternly warned me against. It felt as though such a drug had been forcibly injected directly into my heart and brain.
I was going to die. Definitely.
But stopping meant death, too.
"Damn it! I can't... I can't end like this!"
Since my childhood, I had been in awe of the hero's power. And now, just using a fraction of that power had brought me to this state. It was the worst. It felt like the ultimate act of overreaching.
"Remarkable! But this is the end!"
At that moment, Amaranth's kick landed squarely on me. I heard the sound of my ribs shattering. I was blown back at an unbelievable speed.
It was over. I couldn't stand up.
As I lay on the ground, unable to move, Amaranth approached me.
Somehow, in my efforts to match my 'ordinary person trying hard' identity, I ended up overdoing it. But it seemed that was all I could do.
Considering my capabilities, I thought I did quite well. But what would Shion, the hero girl who would find my body later, think?
I didn't care about what happened after my death.
Still, after struggling so hard, I didn't want to see an ending where the hero girl falls into despair and the world ends.I wouldn't be able to see it if I died.
"Then, farewell," Amaranth said, raising the Oni-God Sword over my head to strike me down.
Oh no, this is bad. I'm seeing my life flash before my eyes. No, not a flashback, but a hallucination. I see Shion, grown up into a glamorous blonde beauty, running towards me.
Was I really waiting for such a young girl to grow up before making a move? That's kind of perverted.
"Big brother!"
With a loud clash of metal, the Oni-God Sword's movement halted.
The Oni-God Sword, aiming to decapitate me, was locked in a standoff with the grown-up Shion's Holy Light Sword, right before my eyes.
"Grr!" Amaranth leapt back to create distance.
Shielding me was Shion, merged with Holly.
"Big brother! Are you okay!?"
"We made it just in time. Barely," Holly said.
"Holly, you useless ghost! This is why I said it's no good without me!"
"What!? How was I supposed to expect a monster like that!?"
Their usual bickering ensued, but Shion's appearance was that of an 18-year-old, her prime form seemingly fast-forwarded.
She was indeed a beauty, overshadowing even Holly, and she was clad in my clothes: black boots, pants, and a jacket. A total black ensemble that, while essentially men's wear, suited her incredibly well.
"Big brother, it's okay now. I'll take care of her quickly," Shion said, brandishing the Holy Light Sword.
"Holly, let's finish this in one strike. Maximum power release."
"No, that armor can't be destroyed by magic. We have to fight in close combat and aim for the gaps in the armor."
"So, it's better to fight with possesshion only?"
"Yes. Focus all magical power on possesshion."
"Okay, Holly. You just strengthen me. I'll take control of the body."
"Understood."
You two really get along, huh? Couldn't you always be like this?
Shion kicked off the ground, and I, unable to stand due to my broken ribs, watched as she lunged forward.
In an instant, the shockwave from her movement blew me away, tumbling across the ground once again."Ouch, ouch, ouch!"
The pain was excruciating, with my ribs broken.
It wasn't because Shion had kicked the ground.
When Shion and Amaranth clashed with their divine swords, the shockwave hit the surroundings, and I was blown away by the aftermath.
I watched the sword fight between Shion and Amaranth.
The clash between Shion wielding the Holy Light Sword and Amaranth with the Oni-God Sword.
What an indescribable spectacle.
Every time the two divine swords collided, a thunderous roar resonated, sending shockwaves.
The intensity and frequency of these clashes escalated boundlessly.
Within minutes, or perhaps seconds, countless strikes were exchanged.
A mere amateur like me couldn’t possibly discern the trajectory of their swords.
I could only understand that the divine swords were clashing, indicated by the fierce metallic sounds.
Was this the real thing?
Was this a real hero?
Despite being in the midst of a storm where approaching meant instant death, I was utterly captivated by their sword fight.
No, I was mesmerized.
This was the real thing.
A true battle befitting protagonists of a story.
Incredible. Tremendous. Marvelous.
Who else could swing a sword with such speed and strike with such power?
Each blow had the potential to crush anything in its path, yet these two parried, dodged, and counterattacked incessantly.
Such a sword fight would not occur even between a hero and a demon lord.
"Amazing..."
Such an intense battle.
I might never witness something like this again in my life.
Realizing this, I found myself staring intently, even though I might be facing death.
Ah, this was it.
The existence I had given up on as powerless since childhood, the one I never even dared to dream of.
The being who could influence the fate of the world, carrying the lives of all humanity.
The Hero.
An object of admiration that everyone once wished to be.
The existence I had yearned for from the depths of my heart was right before my eyes, with two of them engaged in battle.
"Ah..."
I finally understood.A desire I felt too embarrassed to admit to anyone.
I wanted to become such a being.
I had always admired and yearned to be like this.
Now, I can clearly realize it.
Deep down, I always wanted to become a monstrous entity with overwhelming power.
I yearned to be an individual who held the power of life and death over all humanity.
In my heart, I had a vague admiration and longing for the hero, an overwhelming individual.
It was impossible.
It was impossible for me to become like that, so I ignored it.
But now, it's impossible to ignore.
After witnessing such a scene, I can't look away.
I have to acknowledge it.
The existence I longed for and admired so much...
"Is right here, now!"
Ignoring the fact that my broken ribs were puncturing my organs and causing me to cough up blood, I screamed.
Setting aside my slight madness, the battle between Shion and Amaranth showed no signs of ending.
Upon closer observation, it was an incredible situation.
Amaranth was fighting on par with Shion, the hero.
Indeed, Amaranth, capable of using the Oni-God Sword and Raksasha Sword simultaneously, is an extraordinary Saintly Sword user.
But at this point, there's nothing I can do.
I may usually give commands to Saintly Sword users, but that's only because I relay information from Holi to others.
Now, all I can do is trust in the combination of Shion and Holi.
"Astonishing hero. Your strength surpasses what I've heard. But now I am certain. A demon lord that can be defeated by someone like you is not my enemy."
Amaranth spoke, but Shion didn't respond.
This was typical of Shion when it came to battle, being quite serious.
"Well then, Hero. Shall we settle this? I suggest you come at me with all your strength."
Saying this, Amaranth ceased her swordplay with Shion, leaped backward to create distance.
With just one leap, she was twenty meters away.
Her jumping ability was abnormal.