“Rey…”

Soel lifted her head and gazed at Rey’s back, who had arrived despite everything.

Having met several times before, she had a solid understanding of Rey’s abilities.

That was why Soel shouted in a trembling voice.

“You can’t win like this… Run away! I will handle this…”

“Please don’t push yourself, Master.”

As Soel tried to stand, a healing light rained down upon her.

Rey had activated it in an instant—All Heal, a spell that previously took her considerable time to cast.

(With this… maybe…)

Feeling her disciple’s growth, Soel struggled to stand and watched the battle unfold.

Bertoll swung his hand.

Rey cut down the storm and blades of wind that rained upon her with a single stroke.

“Ho… Not bad.”

“Don’t underestimate humans… too much!”

Bertoll cast magic in rapid succession, while Rey advanced, slashing through each spell.

Bertoll sought to keep her at a distance, while Rey aimed to close in for melee combat.

The sword Rey wielded was made of orichalcum, surpassing even mithril in hardness and durability.

Though she repeatedly cut through Bertoll’s magic, each time, the wind left small wounds on her body.

But Rey healed those wounds with magic while swinging her sword.

Rey was a magic swordsman, more adept at magic than swordsmanship.

Thus, compared to warriors who had mastered pure swordplay, she was physically inferior.

That was why she preferred to combine magic and sword techniques.

In this battle, Rey had instantly recognized Bertoll as a magic-specialized monster.

So she aimed for close combat, the range where she could fully utilize her strengths.

Of course, Bertoll was aware of this and continued to fight while keeping his distance.

The distance remained unchanged, and Rey’s body bore more wounds.

Yet, she healed them immediately with magic.

Even so, she continued moving forward.

Their battle dragged on, with both continuously casting spells, draining their stamina and mana.

Rey had several opportunities to get close, but she had yet to land a decisive hit.

However, the one growing impatient was Bertoll.

He was struggling to defeat a mere human.

That fact alone irritated him.

If the battle dragged on, he would likely win.

Yet, his pride refused to accept such a passive approach.

“Tch… Die with this—Storm Break!”

Ultimately, Bertoll, realizing this battle would never end at this rate, lost his patience first.

He unleashed the pinnacle of wind magic.

Unlike the earlier wide-area spell meant to wipe out all humans nearby, this was a concentrated version—Storm Break, one of the strongest wind spells for single-target annihilation.

If it hit, the outcome would be disastrous.

But at that very moment, a smile appeared on Rey’s lips.

“Master Soel. It’s true—I’m still inexperienced. I can’t even defeat a single member of the Demon King's Ten Fingers alone. However…”

“Saint Shield!”

A massive shield suddenly appeared before Rey.

Soel, bewildered, watched as Rey smiled at her.

“For now, that’s fine. Because—I have comrades.”

“Kessetsu Ken-Tei!”

“Cursed Strike—Curse Break!”

Rey had been waiting for this moment—when Bertoll’s attention was entirely on her.

Maria raised a holy shield to block the attack.

And from outside Bertoll’s awareness, Icicle and Hamil struck.

Their attacks landed perfectly.

It wasn’t enough to kill him outright, but a hole opened in Bertoll’s stomach from Icicle’s strike, and a deep slash ran across his back.

“Hmph… Bertoll, you truly haven’t changed.”

“You… Icicle!? Have you lost your mind!?”

Bertoll coughed up blood as he shouted.

Rey wouldn’t let this rare opportunity slip away.

She poured all her remaining magic into her first offensive spell of this battle.

“—Magic Sword.”

Rey raised her sword high and sprinted forward with focused determination.

Magic Sword—an advanced enchantment magic that imbued a sword with magical power.

If the magic was too strong, the sword would break.

It also required delicate control to ensure the magic harmonized with the blade.

Only those with a high affinity for magic and exceptional control over their mana could wield this rare technique.

This was Rey’s ultimate technique as a hero.

A lethal strike only she could use.

Flames spiraled around the orichalcum blade.

Water swirled around the flames, with wind flowing along the outer layer.

Finally, earth compressed around them, fusing everything into the sword.

The blade, enveloped in four elements, turned pitch black.

Then, light erupted from it.

When the glow subsided, what remained was—an orichalcum blade shimmering in rainbow colors.

“Magic Sword—Rainbow Ruin.”

By harmonizing six attributes and combining them with the sword’s innate magic, it generated seven waves of magical power.

They were condensed into a single strike.

This was Rey’s ultimate magic sword—Rainbow Ruin.

Maria’s shield shattered.

The remnants of Storm Break, which Maria had partially blocked, rushed toward Rey.

Instead of dodging, Rey charged straight through.

To take the shortest route, she leaned forward and clashed Rainbow Ruin against Storm Break.

Though its power had been weakened by defensive magic, Storm Break still had enough force to shred anything in its path.

But Rey’s magic sword—erased it in a single thrust.

“What!?”

Bertoll sensed the danger.

He could still move—if he dived into the water now, he might escape.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, a knee strike smashed into his face.

“I have not lost my way. This is my ans-wer!”

“Icicleeeeeeee!!”

Rey's sprint was far faster than Bertoll’s flight.

Before he could evade, the magic sword pierced his chest.

A magical explosion followed.

A torrent of rainbow light engulfed the battlefield, forcing everyone except Rey to shut their eyes.

When they reopened them…

“Yes!”

Rey stood triumphantly, while Bertoll lay charred and near death.

“Rey… you’ve grown strong.”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

Bertoll, impaled on Rey’s sword, stared wide-eyed.

But his magic had nearly faded.

In minutes, he would be dead.

Soel felt proud of her disciple, yet also a pang of loneliness—like a master watching their pupil surpass them.

She healed Rey’s wounds.

“You… won’t get away with this… The second and third of the Ten Fingers… will come for you…”

“O-hohoho! A loser’s words mean nothing to me~”

Icicle laughed for some reason, and Bertoll gave her a puzzled look.

With a resigned sigh, he turned to Rey.

“What… are you?”

“Me? I am… Rey.”

“A hero…?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I see… Then at least… I have some honor… before the Demon King…”

With those words, Bertoll’s body went limp.

His consciousness faded—never to return.

Thus, Rey and her companions successfully defeated one of the Demon King’s Ten Fingers.

The onlookers erupted in cheers.

Soel turned to Rey with a smile.

“Rey… things will get busy for you. This battle will bring you great attention.”

“Ah… It’ll be fine, Master.”

“Fine? What do you mean?”

“There are two people far flashier than me… They’ll steal the spotlight.”

“…?”

Soel tilted her head in confusion.

Rey just smiled wryly and left the mystery unsolved.

With the battle over, the group continued their journey.

Meanwhile, Bruno and the others, who had left for another battlefield, arrived at the northern port city of Galaria—the most embattled front.