The human body is fragile. No matter how you manipulate your blessings, you can't make up the difference in your innate physicality.
　There is no doubt that your opponent is a superior warrior. His spirit and abilities, which have not diminished in the slightest under such desperate circumstances, are among the best among the humans that Rainer has met so far.

　But even so, if the opponent was a mere demonic beast, it would be no problem, but compared to the lion dragon Rainer, who was born to be a champion, his power was a little too fragile.

　In the face of his ironclad fur, Dell's attacks were completely unsuccessful. No sharp slashes or gushing light energy could harm the body of the lion dragon.

　So this is what a human being looks like. .......

"Weak. Too weak. You're too weak. You should have brought the Dragon Slayer's sword so you could have some fun. ......

　Dell did not respond to Rainer's words. It's just that he's desperately trying to catch up with Lynell's attack.
　He dodged a blow that snapped his entire weapon, and turned quickly to his blind spot. He withstood the roar and boldly aimed for Rynell's eyes.

　His movements were seemingly undiminished, but the dazzling light that had filled his body was beginning to fade.

　The power of the demise knight's control--the blessing--is finite. There would be a difference in physical strength, and if the fight continued at this rate, it would be obvious that Dell would fall in the near future.
　But such a fight is not what Rainer wants. Defeating a warrior at the peak of his powers is the only way to make sense of it.

　After several crossings, Rainer stepped back for the first time. Del holds up his sword, which has been reduced to a mere speck of dust, and glares at him with glittering eyes.

"Knight of the End, there's no intent to kill in your attack. Why aren't you coming at me?

"Ha, ha. ......

　Dell is a great warrior. His skill, his strength, his courage are unparalleled for a human.
　But it's boring. There's not enough killing intent in Dell's attacks. That's why he doesn't step in against Lynell when he steps back. I'm sure he has an agenda, but it's too boring.

　Endo Baron's attack had the intention of killing Ryner at any cost. There was an almost cursed desire to kill him even if it meant being killed.
　The way he challenged him in front of his weakness, the holy silver, was something to marvel at even if his body had not yet reached the level of Rynell. And that will was still there just before he fled through the hole in the wall.

　Race doesn't matter. That's the monster. To kill the monster, you have to become the monster.

　The warrior in front of him was too good to be consumed by stalling.

　Build up your strength. A strong heat arose in my body. With a deep breath, his golden mane stood on end.

"Take it, warrior of men. Take my power.

　Sensing the change in the air, Dell's face twisted. All the power of the light flowing through his body gathered at the tip of his sword.
　It's not the same as before, it's the type that concentrates on the attack. I'm sure the swordsman in front of you has been through a lot," laughed Rainer.

　Rynell is a hybrid of a lion monster and a dragon. The dragon's blood flowing through him gave him not only a strong body, but also a concentrated energy.
　The energy is concentrated. A searing pain rushes to his throat. His pelt glows gold.

　Dragon's Breath.
　It's the dragon's way of transforming his power and releasing it. It's one of the reasons dragons are called the strongest.

　It's been a really long time since I've unleashed it. So far, most battles had been settled without the need to use it. Maybe not even once since he became known as the Demon Lord.

　Ryner was not a pure dragon, but the power of the breath from his well-honed body surpassed that of any other dragon.

　No signal was needed. Despite his diminutive size, the demise knight intends to receive the Breath.

　A steel sword should mean nothing in the face of a dragon's breath, but the knight had no fear.
　A quiet light is swirling around the sword's body. Fatigue doesn't matter. The power of the demise knight in front of him was at its peak.

　And this is the last time.

　Inhaling heavily, Lynell roars. And Dell roars back.

　And a golden light shines forth.




§ § § §




　It was a power worthy of the name of the strongest.
　There was no impact. The sound faded, the sensation disappeared. A surge of power so great that it temporarily paralyzed the senses.

　There was no evasion. If you turn your back you'll be burned in an instant. To overcome it, he needed to concentrate his power.


"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!


　He roared, gathering all his strength with all his soul. He concentrates all his blessings on the sword, and you can see the steel sword crack under the load.


　The power of the spirals swirling around his sword body seemed too helpless against the immense energy in front of him.

　But Dell had no fear. The Knights of the End have fought against everything for a long time.
　Among them, of course, is one of the strongest beings in this world, the dragon.


　《Photon Break》.

　That's what the technique was called.


　The Demise Knight is an offensive knight. Their techniques are naturally honed in that direction.
　The technique of blocking the dragon's breath is too difficult for a third-rate knight to use.

　Then cut it open. Defeat the fate of death head-on.

　The swirling light plunges headlong into the energy of destruction. The air burns and you feel intense heat on your skin.
　You no longer have any senses. You control your power only with your will.

　It's a tremendous energy, not unlike that of a pure dragon. But "Dragon's Breath" cannot be fired continuously.


"------

　I don't even know what I'm shouting anymore.
　The thick steel tip of the sword shattered, and cracks began to erode towards the base. A dull shock is transmitted to my arm.

　The 《Photon Break》 is not a technique to drown out the Dragon's Breath. It's a passive technique. It uses positive energy to disrupt the flow of power and pass it off to the left and right.
　The power released did indeed pierce the center of a much larger force.


　But--


　A moment later, in his stretched-out thoughts, Del Gordon realized that he had lost.

　No, the breath is too strong!

　The power that he had concentrated and sharpened in one area was being completely overwhelmed. It couldn't be shed. And the aftermath alone would kill Dell.
　That force was definitely full force. There's still a breath. A long breath. It's a long breath. It must be very hard on Rainer himself.

　The Demon Lord had given his all against Dell, who would have been defeated if he had fought on.

　Due to the nature of the technique, it could not be avoided to the left or right. He leaned forward and held his ground. The heat burns his skin, his face.


　The world-ending golden power that loomed before him was terrifying, yet so beautiful.


　It reminds me of the vampire who ran away.



　d*mn it. ...... I let you use the breath. I'll leave the rest to you .......


　It's a strange thing to think that the last thing you, a demise knight, will remember is the vampire you kept killing.



　As soon as you think about it, the pressure suddenly disappears.



　The next thing he knew, Dell was lying on the floor.
　I can't feel my body at all. But what he could see was indeed the ceiling of the castle where he had just been fighting.
　His powers were completely empty. The current Dell would be killed helplessly by even the lowest level hexenbiest.


　But he's alive.


　He didn't catch the dragon's breath. It stopped him in his tracks.
　Use all your strength and tilt your head slightly. And finally, the sound came back.

　I couldn't make sense of it. Then my heart quivered. Rainer was no longer conscious of Dell.
　What he was looking at was the vampire.


　But his entire body was covered in a hideous black flame.
　While his limbs, head, and even his deformed blade were being burned by the black flames, Endo Baron said.


I made it. If all you can produce is sparks, just burn them and then come back. I can kill this, I can kill this. I can kill you. I'll kill you. ...... Demon King Rainer".