This chapter is a battle-focused episode.

Let’s dive straight into the fierce fight!

“You fool, more pitiful than the lowest of pests. Allow me to utterly annihilate you.”

The last of my puppets, a priestly puppet named Lycia, spoke confidently as she wielded a jet-black flame in her hands.

Lycia turned to face the lesser demon, her fiery hands ablaze.

“I understand why I was summoned.
It’s to purify and finish off that fool after Flare and the others weaken it, isn’t it?
But! But, but, but! That alone isn’t enough to satisfy me!”

Lycia’s voice grew louder and louder, leaving me with no choice but to watch silently.

“To dare to distract my master and steal away his precious time!
Yes, yes, yes!
I shall pour all my hatred, anger, and jealousy into the light of purification and show you the result!”

And then, she declared:

“I will obliterate all the pests infesting this world.
— Wither away into oblivion! Inferno of Envy!”

The jet-black flames she unleashed were so ominous, they seemed to consume all the light in the world. The power they contained was overwhelming, far beyond any technique I had seen before. The flames rushed toward the lesser demon—

“Wait, it’s going to hit Flare and Tetra too!”

“Do not worry. That flame burns only what I designate as an enemy!”

As Lycia had said, the flames passed through Flare and Tetra without harming them, slamming directly into the lesser demon.

“Wha-! This is... Hot! I’m burning?!”

The flames began to spread across the demon’s body, starting from the point of contact. No matter how desperately it flailed to extinguish the fire, the flames would not relent, eating away at its hardened skin bit by bit.

Good. It’s doing significant damage.

“Now’s our chance! Close in and finish it off!”

“Got it, Ike!”
“On it.”

Blades and fists rained down relentlessly on the demon, slashing its arms, denting its back—it seemed victory was within reach.

But then—

“Enough—I care not for heroes anymore!
I shall kill you all!”

“What?!”
“This is—!”

With the demon’s roar, a violent burst of magical energy erupted, blowing away the flames and flinging Flare and Tetra far into the distance.

The interruption allowed the demon’s wounds to heal rapidly. Not only that, but its aura became markedly more formidable, signaling a complete transformation.

“Was it holding back this whole time?”

“Of course! Why would I have fought seriously against anyone but a hero?
But I cannot hold back any longer. I will kill you all here!
— Starting with you!”

The demon’s first target was me.

It closed the distance at a speed rivaling even Flare’s.

“Master!”
“I’ll be fine! Trust me!”
“!!! I... I love you!!!”

With a thump, I felt myself enter a heightened state of focus. Activating Enhancement, I prepared myself.

Just as with the cyclops, I analyzed the demon’s every move. Predict its actions, evade everything.

The claw aimed for my temple—I dodged with a backward sway. The tail sweep that followed—I leapt over it by a hair’s breadth. But the spinning kick aimed at my midair form—

“Damn it!”

I couldn’t avoid it completely. The edge of my left arm was grazed, resulting in a deep cut.

“You cannot escape me with such movements!”

The demon’s attacks grew faster and fiercer, forcing me to think in fractions of a second.

I realized that merely reacting wasn’t enough; my abilities couldn’t match the demon’s sheer speed and strength. But if I kept this up, I would eventually lose.

I had to give it my all—here and now.

With a deep breath, I activated my greatest technique: All Vision.

By dividing my mind into four domains, I had previously controlled four puppets simultaneously without injury. Now, focusing entirely on myself, I amplified my calculations thirtyfold.

This was no longer mere prediction. By comprehensively analyzing all possibilities, I could foresee and even influence the demon’s actions.

The battle tipped in my favor. The demon’s attacks no longer touched me.

“What’s happening?!”

It grew desperate as its strikes failed to land. Meanwhile, Flare and Tetra returned to the fray, empowered by a surge of magic I supplied to them through close proximity.

“You’re wrong! Ike isn’t powerless!”
“His strength is ours—together, we’re unstoppable!”

Their combined might overwhelmed the demon. Flare’s blade severed its arm, while Tetra’s fists pierced its body.

The lesser demon, defeated and cornered, attempted to flee.

“Lycia! Can you stop it?”
“Of course, Master. With your... passionate energy, anything is possible!”

Harnessing the magic I gave her, Lycia cast her ultimate spell:

“Inferno of Envy: Binding!”

The black flames wrapped around the demon, immobilizing it completely.

“Flare, Tetra—finish it!”

Flare delivered the final blow, splitting the demon in two. The flames consumed its body, leaving nothing behind.

Victory was ours.

“We did it, Master!”
“Yeah, thanks to all of you.”

In that moment, we celebrated together—a team united for the first time, victorious against overwhelming odds.

This would be remembered as the first battle where we truly fought as one.