Red-Eyed Siblings (5)

Booooom!

Titan had never thought he lacked strength.

While he had felt the difference between having aura and not having it, being overwhelmed in pure strength was a first since leaving his kingdom.

Even when Cotinus first overpowered him in strength, the man had been enhancing his body with holy power.

But what about now?

“It’s been a while since I’ve hit a wall……”

To hunt an opponent generally stronger than oneself, one needs accompanying means to overturn that difference.

Titan’s attacks only inflict scratches on his opponent, while the opponent’s attacks would be fatal if allowed even once.

Then, would he not allow even a single attack while repeatedly inflicting scratch-level damage?

‘That would be the most reliable method, but… that won’t work.’

Titan listened carefully to the sounds coming from atop the wall.

The sound of metal clashing. The sound of a gun firing, and even the sound of lightning created by holy magic being discharged.

While he only had to worry about the Ogre, Lost, who was facing other magical beasts from the wall, also had to watch out for attackers.

It was clear that the situation couldn’t improve until he took down the Ogre.

“Phew……”

Titan decided to gamble. The important thing was that his attacks were having some effect.

Even if it was only a scratch-level attack, Titan’s spear had pierced the Ogre.

He needed to either repeat that to induce death by blood loss or attack the same spot to create a deeper wound.

“A moment to test my abilities.”

Normally he should have chosen the former, but this time he chose the latter.

The precondition was that it had to be a vital spot.

If he was aiming, it would be the head or heart.

He needed to strike the head or heart multiple times to win. Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.

But that’s what he had to do.

Thud!

Titan stomped the ground with all his might.

The earth sank under his weight and strength, with rock shards jutting out around the depression.

And as if magnifying that sight, massive rock mountains rose up around Titan.

“Hnnnnngh!!”

Titan’s chronic issue was in controlling spirit magic.

Perhaps because he hadn’t exercised that power for years, it was difficult to control.

There was a limit to the power he could adjust. He couldn’t even use 1/3 of the power he possessed.

Then what if he didn’t adjust it, if he completely let go of control?

The answer appeared in the form of randomly rising rock mountains.

The rocks that had been rising only to about the Ogre’s waist now soared so high that the Ogre had to look up.

Rumble!

The earth’s power that consumed everything around except Titan, who was using spirit magic. Even the Leze Viscounty’s wall was no exception.

Some of the earth’s power that escaped control struck the wall and crumbled it.

“What the hell is this crazy bastard doing?!”

“I apologize.”

Lost, who had been placing a barrier around the wall, coughed up blood.

But Titan judged that he would be fine too.

‘Anyway, this strike has completely blocked the magical beasts’ path.’

Apart from Lost suffering internal injuries, his burden had been somewhat reduced. Since even the Ogre couldn’t break through these rock mountains, the magical beasts would have to detour around them.

They weren’t a group with clear intent anyway, so some would likely drift back into the forest.

So if he took down the Ogre and hunted the remaining magical beasts, Lost would be able to move.

Titan’s forceful move, taking on the risk himself and then bringing back returns.

“Hnnnnngh!”

Titan jumped as high as he could onto the body of the Ogre, which had lost its balance and fallen, surrounded by rock mountains.

He was taking a risk.

Having climbed to a position where he could visually confirm the fallen Ogre, Titan attempted his gamble.

Bang!

Fortunately, the Ogre, not used to someone being in a higher position than itself, didn’t recognize Titan’s spear coming down from the air.

The spear deeply plunged toward the Ogre’s heart. However, it still couldn’t pierce through those tough muscles.

“Hmph!”

That was all as expected.

He had succeeded in piercing the skin, but he never thought he could penetrate the muscles and bones from the start.

Clang!

Attacking the same spot multiple times. With spear and hammer, it was simpler than expected.

Clang!

A massive hammer swung toward the tip of the slightly embedded spear shaft.

By using the spear as a nail, he could deliver the same impact to the same spot multiple times.

Clang!

Each time the hammer swung, the spear gradually drove deeper into the Ogre’s body.

The Ogre, which had been flailing its arms after falling, flinched each time.

The rock mountains that had risen below its shoulders constrained the Ogre’s movements.

Thump!

The third hammer strike.

Immediately after, Titan ended up allowing an attack from the Ogre. Actually, it was remarkable that he had succeeded in attacking three times.

It would be strange if it just let him repeatedly inflict pain from the same position with the same action.

“Urgh……”

But Titan had already calculated the Ogre’s strike.

That’s why he endured. He held onto the spear that he had driven in with all his strength, enduring on top of the Ogre.

Clang!

While gripping the spear with one hand to endure, he continued to strike the spear shaft end with his hammer using his other hand.

The sensation felt through his fingertips changed. After piercing through the tough skin and muscle, he finally reached bone.

Just from that, the Ogre’s hand that had been grabbing Titan temporarily straightened as if it had been electrocuted.

Clang!

Titan didn’t miss the moment and repeated his maximum strike.

But that was his limit.

The spear that Titan had driven in couldn’t go any further.

He could feel that the bone’s hardness was stronger than the spear he possessed.

Even if he continued hammering, what would break would be the already worn-out spear tip, not the bone.

“Huff…… Huff……”

He was blocked.

The moment Titan sensed this, he felt a chill run down his spine.

The Ogre would soon regain its senses. If that happened, the opportunity Titan had barely caught would be wasted.

And it was a situation where such a chance clearly wouldn’t come again.

But instead, Titan smiled, something he hadn’t done until now, and declared.

“I’ve won, giant.”

A blue energy cloaked the hammer. Pure mana, not yet refined into aura.

Titan finally took the last step. Now the preparation was complete.

Having learned how to move mana, all he needed was to form it into a circle, and all preparations would be done.

Of course, right now, more than that……

Clang!

Titan brought down his hammer, which had started to gather blue energy.

A blue light, barely visible up close, flows through the hammer to the tip of the spear shaft.

Slash!

Finally, the bone protecting the heart shattered, and the spear, which had been feeling resistance all along, drove in.

Immediately after, Titan grabbed the spear and tried to twist and pull it out as much as possible.

From the gripped spear, he felt a vibration like being submerged in a rapid current.

“Hmm.”

Splash!

As he pulled out the spear with that distinct feeling of victory, the Ogre’s blood poured out like a waterfall.

“Hehehe……”

Titan, drenched in the rain of blood, caught his breath and immediately turned to look at the horde of magical beasts.

“So this is it.”

Despite being covered in fatigue and intense pain, Titan smiled.

He had succeeded in a life-or-death gamble. The reward for that was sweet.

“This is exactly it!”

Titan felt mana.

He succeeded in clearly recognizing the unknown sensation he had felt during his battle with Allen Wise.

“Uahahahahahahaha!!”

And fear began to creep into the eyes of the magical beasts who had been eagerly eyeing the blood-soaked orc.

*     *      *

The evacuation of the domain’s residents was complete.

Viscount Leze, who had boldly gone with soldiers to meet the domain’s residents, even achieved the feat of using magic against a half-demon, leaving a small wound on his cheek.

“Hehah! Hahahahah! As expected, I had talent in magic after all.”

“……Why is the lord acting like that?”

“Just leave him be.”

Of course, only Viscount Leze thought of it as a feat.

His magic wasn’t actually much help, but just by leading other soldiers to join, the domain’s residents and soldiers acknowledged him.

Not exactly a remarkable person, but a fairly decent lord.

Just for that, Viscount Leze could be said to have received quite a favorable evaluation.

“Come on, come on. Quickly establish defensive lines! We need to take turns resting and then wipe out all the demons that have infiltrated the domain!”

Having apparently thought of some strategy, Viscount Leze commanded his soldiers.

Though not grand enough to call it a strategy, his change was so evident that bitter smiles appeared on the faces of the soldiers, including Rectus.

“Oh! Our hero, Sir Rectus. Why aren’t you going to rest? If you’re expecting merit rewards, I’ll make sure to reward you generously after this is over.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Viscount Leze didn’t know what Rectus had accomplished. He only knew that Rectus had exerted himself.

That’s why he merely pushed Rectus, who seemed lost in thought, telling him to rest.

“Haha, then I’ll organize the troops and go rest.”

“Is that so? Then it can’t be helped.”

Rectus had finished what he needed to do. Though Viscount Leze had grown, he still wasn’t entirely reliable.

Just recalling the magic he had cast toward the back of an allied soldier’s head still sent chills down his spine.

After finishing his tasks, as Rectus was returning to his room.

“……”

Rectus felt a strange discomfort.

Probably something he wouldn’t have detected originally. It was thanks to reaching the master level and having his senses expanded that he could tell.

He had already checked the inside of the lord’s castle.

If they had infiltrated, there’s no way they would be discovered like this.

Then…….

“Were they mixed in with the townspeople from the beginning?”

A possibility he had forgotten.

Demons can’t be identified until they reveal their identity.

Even priests capable of such detection are extremely rare.

If the opponent had joined the evacuees and entered the lord’s castle, who could have known?

‘How did they infiltrate?’

Rectus’s steps grew faster.

Even if demons had infiltrated the domain disguised as civilians, there would be corresponding risks.

It’s already a small domain.

Because of that, distinguishing between locals and outsiders is instantaneous.

‘Did one of the domain’s residents become a demon like Alce? No, that can’t be it.’

This many. Unless there were many infiltrating demons, in this state, one mediocre demon infiltrating wouldn’t be a problem.

Then the opponent must be skilled enough to handle this many.

And despite being an outsider, they have an appearance that wouldn’t be regarded with suspicion by the domain’s residents.

“A child……”

Rectus felt goosebumps rising. Yes, a child would make sense.

Even as an outsider, if it’s a child, it’s easier to lower the other’s guard.

Moreover, demons don’t age, so if they became a half-demon during childhood, they would have accumulated strength while maintaining that appearance.

“Damn it!”

Rectus turned his unease about the possible presence of demons into certainty and immediately ran toward the room where the domain’s guests were staying.

If there was a target, it would be Claire Ryan.

He had already heard about it from Lost in advance.

Though he mentioned they had prepared some defenses, one shouldn’t be overconfident.

Rectus immediately ran toward the room where Claire was staying.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too far away.

Rectus moved cautiously yet quickly with his sword drawn, and finally found someone in front of Claire’s room.

“……Lady Línea?”

“Ah, Sir Rectus.”

Rectus carefully examined the dagger Línea was holding before quietly lowering his guard.

At least Línea is Lost’s companion. Seeing her so calm, it might have been an unfounded concern.

But Línea spoke with a troubled expression.

“We have a big problem.”

“What is this……?”

The direction Línea pointed.

The door to the room where Claire was resting.

Purple mist spreading as if blocking it.

“I’m baffled as well.”

Línea had been hiding while watching over Claire. She had also spotted the demon approaching Claire.

It was somewhat surprising that the demon had taken the form of a boy, but……

She was confident she had perfectly caught him from behind. So she had planned to kill him decisively when he was most off guard.

But even Línea hadn’t anticipated something.

“I never imagined Claire would make the first move. I didn’t expect her to use this here.”

That Claire, upon encountering the demon, would use <Morpheus’s Dream Fragment> before Línea could even act.

“This mist is the <Dreamer>.”

Claire had fallen into a dream, taking the demon that had targeted her as a companion.