Arc 1 Chapter 40 : Hasta la Vista, Baby ...

[Raul POV]

Valeria attacked the monster standing atop the building with her wind magic.

However, the monster easily dodged the spell before launching itself toward the green-haired girl with the force of a cannonball, propelled by its powerful legs.

A wall of earth suddenly formed in front of Valeria.

She had used Earth Wall, causing the monster to slam violently into the earthen barrier.

Valeria then pushed the wall forward, sending it crashing into the building.

However, an attack like that alone wouldn't be enough to bring the monster down.

Even so, I could already see how much Valeria had improved in her ability to manipulate magic.

Kriieek...

I turned my attention back to the other monster in front of me.

It launched itself toward me once again with another powerful leap.

Activating Repel to reinforce my defenses, I braced myself against the monster's punch.

Thanks to the momentum behind its attack, my body was pushed slightly backward.

Kriieeek!

The monster threw a right hook.

I quickly ducked beneath it before sweeping my leg toward its feet with a Sweep Kick, knocking it off balance.

Bam!

I then kicked its body, sending it flying toward its companion.

"Raul, aren't you going to use your sword?" Valeria asked without taking her eyes off the two monsters.

"Moonblanc Crickets—Level 5 monsters with powerful jumping abilities and skin as hard as steel."

Well... I could still cut them down by targeting the joints in their arms and legs, just as I had done when fighting Captain Zack, who possessed steel-hard skin spell.

But I wanted Valeria to be the one to defeat these two monsters.

As much as possible, I needed to hold them off until Valeria figured out how to fight them herself.

The two monsters had already gotten back on their feet.

They seemed to communicate with one another in a language I couldn't understand.

"Valeria, prepare a defensive spell just in case."

"Understood."

It seemed they were going to get serious this time.

Kriieekk...

Both monsters lowered their bodies before suddenly leaping from one building to another at incredible speed.

Their figures seemed to bounce endlessly between the surrounding buildings, making it difficult to predict when or where they would attack next.

Beside me, I noticed the ground around Valeria beginning to rise.

The earth clung to her entire body, gradually forming itself into a suit of armor.

Her magical manipulation has improved quite a bit.

*Bam!*

One of the monsters slammed into Valeria with tremendous force, sending her flying backward.

Fortunately, she had managed to activate her defensive magic in time.

Even so, Valeria wouldn't be able to defeat these two monsters in an open area.

Before the monster could attack Valeria again, I rushed forward and kicked it away.

The monster managed to dodge my attack.

I saw its mouth open wide, almost as though it were laughing at me.

The monster in front of me suddenly jumped.

But behind it, the other monster had already launched itself toward me at maximum speed.

*Bam!*

Its body collided with mine, forcing me backward.

All four of its arms wrapped tightly around my waist, preventing me from breaking free.

*Brak!*

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

My back slammed into the wall of a building, shattering it.

Yet the monster still refused to release its grip around my waist.

I repeatedly struck the back of its neck with my fists, trying to force it to loosen its grip.

It didn't even flinch.

Krieekk...

The monster laughed again before releasing all four arms from my body and jumping onto the roof of a nearby building.

However, I didn't pay any attention to the monster that had just grabbed me.

My eyes were fixed ahead.

The other monster was already rushing toward me at incredible speed.

"Repel..."

The monster slammed into me once again, sending my body crashing straight through the wall of the building.

*Ugh...*

This was what happened when you gave your opponent the opportunity to dictate the flow of battle.

---

[Valeria POV]

My entire body ached.

Fortunately, I had managed to activate a defensive spell before the monster's attack connected.

Otherwise, that strike would have certainly eliminated me.

The armor I had just created was already cracked and breaking apart.

I should dispel it now before it slowed me down.

After getting back to my feet, I cautiously peeked outside the building to check the positions of the two monsters.

I saw Raul engaged in close-quarters combat with one of them.

Whenever the monster tried to create some distance between them, Raul immediately chased after it and forced it back into close combat.

Why is he doing that?

Wait... Think about this carefully.

The attacks of the two monsters were extremely difficult to predict whenever they bounced between the surrounding buildings.

Could Raul be trying to prevent them from using that movement again?

I had to help him.

But the three of them were too close together.

I was afraid my magic might miss its target and accidentally hit Raul, causing him to be eliminated.

If I wanted to attack the two monsters with magic, I needed to make absolutely certain that my spell would hit them and kill them outright.

What should I do...?

What would Raul be thinking if he were in my position right now?

"Valeria!"

I heard Raul shout while exchanging blows with the two monsters.

"Look around you! Find a suitable location where you can take both of these monsters out at once!"

Use my surroundings?

Then let's see...

There were several damaged buildings scattered throughout the area.

Judging from the way Raul was fighting the two monsters, one of their weaknesses seemed to be confined spaces.

If he could force them into a narrow area, they wouldn't be able to take full advantage of their jumping ability and incredible speed.

My eyes fell upon a particularly tall building.

There were large holes in the walls on the seventh and twelfth floors.

I think I can use that.

If everything went according to plan, I could use those openings to eliminate both monsters with a single spell.

I left the building and began putting my plan into motion.

"Raul! The tallest building at one o'clock! I'll shout to give you the signal!"

Hearing my words, Raul turned toward me.

He was... smiling.

"I understand! Leave it to me!"

He understood my ambiguous instructions?

If Brian had heard what I just said, he probably would've been completely confused.

But I didn't have time to explain my plan in greater detail.

I immediately ran toward the building.

My heart was beating faster than usual.

Adrenaline surged through my body, making my breathing uneven.

But I had to do this.

I wanted to defeat an opponent far stronger than myself.

*Kriieeekk!*

I heard one of the monsters and glanced behind me.

It was rushing toward me at incredible speed.

*Bam!*

Suddenly, Raul appeared from the side and kicked the monster directly in the face, sending it flying backward.

"Don't stop running!" he shouted.

I nodded and continued forward.

He really is reliable when things get serious.

When I reached the building, I immediately entered.

However, there were no stairs leading upward.

Everything had already collapsed after years of abandonment.

I used Axio to leap from one floor to another until I reached the upper levels.

Looking down, I saw Raul and the two monsters had already entered the building.

Six... nine... ten...

I was almost there.

The twelfth floor, where the hole in the building's wall was located.

Below me, Raul had already reached the seventh floor and was still fighting one of the monsters.

The other monster had noticed me.

It suddenly leaped upward, chasing after me.

I finally reached the twelfth floor and immediately ran toward the opening in the wall.

*Kriieeekk!*

I glanced over my shoulder.

The monster had reached the same floor as me.

It immediately began running after me.

Just a little farther.

I was almost at the edge of the Hole.

I needed to signal Raul and prepare the spell I would use to kill both monsters simultaneously.

"Raul! I'm going to jump!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

After saying that, I leaped out of the building through the massive hole in the wall.

A beautiful view of the city in the middle of the desert stretched out before me.

But this wasn't the time to admire the scenery.

*Kriekkk!*

The monster following me jumped out as well.

My body plummeted through the air.

I turned myself around and began preparing my magic.

A moment later, I reached the same height as the seventh floor, where Raul was running from the other monster.

Raul suddenly jumped to catch me in midair.

The monster that had been chasing Raul leaped after us as well.

Both monsters were now directly above us, following us as we fell from the building.

"Valeria, now's your chance! Fire your spell! They won't be able to dodge while they're in the air!" Raul whispered.

I took a deep breath.

A magic circle began forming directly in front of my palm.

Then I muttered the words Raul had taught me when executing someone.

"Hasta la Vista, Baby..."

A green laser erupted from the magic circle and shot toward the monsters.

*Bomb!*

An explosion erupted as my spell struck both monsters in midair.

Raul then twisted his body.

My position was now directly above him, our faces almost touching.

"Repel..."

Raul activated his defensive spell to reduce the impact of our fall as we approached the ground.

*Brak!*

His body slammed into the ground.

Pain crossed his face.

Apparently, the impact was still considerable despite using Repel.

A moment later, pieces of the monsters' bodies came raining down around us.

Blood splattered across both Raul and me.

My heart wouldn't stop pounding.

For the first time in my life, I felt the exhilaration of battle.

That had been the craziest maneuver I had ever attempted.

"Good job, Valeria."

Hearing his praise made my chest feel strangely warm.

The corners of my lips lifted into a smile.

I was happy.

Satisfied.

I had finally defeated monsters far stronger than myself.

And it was all thanks to this man.

Right now, I was lying on top of Raul.

Our faces were close enough that I could see every detail of his expression.

Our chests were pressed against each other.

I could even feel his warm breath against my skin, the beating of his heart, and the firm muscles beneath his body.

"That was fun, Raul..." I whispered into his ear. "I enjoyed it."

I then rested my head against his shoulder.

Finally...

I had defeated monsters far stronger than myself.

And all of this had happened because of this man.

The man I had hated so much at first...

Yet somehow...

I think I like him a little now.