It was a desperate bloodbath.

The onslaught of countless enemies filled the horizon endlessly, and the people had to dedicate every ounce of their strength to fend off the relentless tide of foes that pressed upon them, leaving no room for breath.

The situation was far from hopeful.

Having just faced the Witch of Gluttony, they were not at their best, while in contrast, the number of enemies seemed infinite, a tide that would not recede no matter how many they killed.

Yet, despite such circumstances, everyone managed to endure without despair, thanks in part to one person who fought the most lonely and arduous battle ahead.

Sylvia, who was conjuring barriers to thwart the flying demonic insects aimed at the city, felt the weight of the moment.

“Miss Scarlet…”

It was agonizing.

No matter how recent her recovery had been, her internal injuries had not healed completely, and every time the insects crashed against her barrier, a surge of pain shot through her.

But every time that happened, Sylvia saw it.

Amidst the thick darkness surrounding her, flames flickered here and there, shedding light.

How could she not know?

That Scarlet was drawing the enemy’s attention away from her to lighten the burden on her.

“With Miss Scarlet fighting like that, I can’t just sit back here…!”

Thus, Sylvia could endure.

No matter how the blood welled up inside her and how her vision faded to white.

She could bear it.

Perhaps others felt the same.

No matter how difficult and painful it was, because their comrades were enduring alongside them, and there was a flame illuminating the path ahead.

It was this flame that allowed them to grit their teeth and continue on to the very end.

But no matter how hard they tried, a limit would eventually be reached.

While they grew increasingly exhausted, the number of enemies seemed endless.

As a result, one by one, they collapsed from fatigue or were slain by the demonic beasts.

Ultimately, the limits had come for Sylvia as well.

No, she had already surpassed her limits countless times.

She had shouted out “I can still do this!” over and over, but now it truly felt like she could squeeze no more strength from her body.

“I’m sorry, Miss Scarlet…”

Beyond the fading starlight, Sylvia gazed at the flame.

A flickering light, as if a candle swayed under the wind, looked ready to be extinguished at any moment.

She felt it.

The flame that burned within everyone’s hearts was extinguishing alongside that flame.

The moment the flame went out, all would crumble.

But tragically, the flicker was slowly growing weaker.

Unable to bear watching the dwindling flame, Sylvia lowered her head, tears pooling in her eyes.

The tears streaming down Sylvia’s cheeks contained the flame.

As the flame began to dissolve into her tears, suddenly it burst forth.

“…Huh?”

With her eyes widened in astonishment at the suddenly brightening view, Sylvia looked up.

And she saw it.

“Ah…”

Fires spreading like wildfires across the darkened land.

The might of fire driving away the darkness.

“What’s that…”

“The flames… they’re the demonic beasts of wrath…”

Voices filled with confusion could be heard from those who had just moments ago been dying.

It was surely only natural, as what was driving away the enemies they had been facing was none other than the demonic beasts.

“At any rate, they’re our allies, right?”

“Geez, I can’t believe I’m seeing something like this in my lifetime…”

But what was important to them at that moment was not the trivialities.

What mattered was that support had arrived on this desperate battlefield, and the demonic beasts now stood as their most trustworthy allies.

The despair that had draped over everyone’s faces was swept away by the light radiating from the flames.

“Cough! You bastards! Even if it feels like we’re dying, let’s hold on a bit longer! There’s a chance for victory now!”

“Thanks for coming to help, you guys!!”

And amidst the renewed fervor of the people’s cries,

Sylvia gazed at a specific point and quietly wiped her tears, smiling.

In the distance, the sight of a girl, majestic as she began to fight again against the enemies with a massive firebird and the army of flames behind her, filled her with pride.

The flickering flame of hope that had been dimming began to blaze anew.

*

-■■■■■■■!!
-■■■■■■!!!!

The army of flames poured onto the battlefield.

Their numbers were definitely not small, demonstrating a significant presence against the horrifically large mass of lustful foes.

[W-what on earth are these…!]

The Witch of Lust sounded utterly flustered, having suddenly been besieged by the flames.

[Ah, but still, as a witch, you bring your demonic beasts with you? But what should I do! My forces are vastly superior!]

However, she soon realized that her horde of demonic beasts vastly outnumbered those flames, and she commanded her minions with exuberance.

[Let me show you the terror of numbers! Go! Hold them back until we conquer the city!]

At the command of the Witch of Lust, her demonic beasts immediately obstructed the army of flames.

But that command bore little fruit.

[W-what!!]

Her minions’ wall of numerical strength fell helplessly before the army of flames.

The demonic beasts, bursting forth with the flames, turned one side of the battlefield crimson.

[Block them! I said block them!]

The Witch of Lust shouted at her soldiers, but that didn’t change what had previously been impossible.

-■■■■■■■!!
-■■■■■■!!!!

The firepower of the furious demonic beasts was more than enough to incinerate the approaching lustful forces.

With hundreds, thousands of the enraged demonic beasts burning bright, their screams echoed as they engulfed twice that number of foes.

I recalled vivid memories from the past.

Whenever boys gather and A and B fight, they often debate about who would win.

Since most boys during school were fond of games, one day a question arose among friends.

“Hey, do you think Zerglings are going to win against 30 Firebats?”

The Zerglings and Firebats were unit names from a popular game called StarCraft.

The Zerglings were optimized for mass attacks, while the Firebats were Terran’s flame-throwers.

Since I didn’t own a computer back in school, I had only seen and played a few rounds at an internet café, so I casually replied to the question.

“Of course, the Zerglings would win. They have a tenfold advantage in numbers.”

One of my friends laughed and showed me footage of the units actually battling.

The outcome was a crushing victory for the Firebats.

The Zerglings melted before the Firebats’ flames.

Amazed by the sheer gap, I said, “Wow, Firebats are incredibly strong,” but my friend corrected me that Firebats aren’t that powerful of a unit.

The reason the Firebats could dominate the Zerglings was due to their mutual counter-type.

This was precisely why the lustful forces were being decimated without putting up any fight.

If I were to put it metaphorically, the enraged demonic beasts were the Firebats while the lustful forces were the Zerglings.

[Ugh, useless bunch…!]

The Witch of Lust seemed to realize she was completely outmatched and took a different tactic.

She sent the demonic insects, which were scattered around, toward the enraged beasts.

Yes, the reason the Witch of Lust was such a formidable opponent was precisely this.

When it comes to fighting with numbers, she would always lose in sheer numbers, and even if she were to face a stronger opponent like this, she possessed the ability to turn her foes into her allies.

But—

“…Do you really think it’s going to go your way?”

I mocked the witch, who had until now easily dealt with any opponent.

And at that mockery, I saw the demonic insects hesitate.

Of course, they would; they wouldn’t be able to do anything.

The controlling ability of the Witch of Lust required her to implant insect-like demonic beasts inside the bodies of others.

However, the furious demonic beasts either had flames surrounding them or were entirely made of flames.

There was no structure for the insects to sneak inside and survive.

What will you do? Our guys are immune to mind control!

With a victorious grin, I observed the direction where the Witch of Lust stood.

As the insects parted momentarily, I glimpsed her face twisted in annoyance.

[Ugh…! What the hell do you think you are to meddle with me? Just a common witch! I amplified my power with a sacred relic, so why can’t my ability affect you?!]

As the Witch of Lust screamed in rage, a black gem hanging from her neck began to glow, and newly summoned demonic insects filled the sky like dark clouds.

Simultaneously, insects pouring toward me and the ground-bound demonic beasts surged forth.

-■■■■■■!!

In rage, the enormous firebird behind me roared, “How dare you!” and enveloped me with one wing.

Then, flapping its other wing wide, it unleashed a scorching gale that incinerated every incoming demonic beast.

I nodded in gratitude to the firebird that protected me and again directed my gaze toward the Witch of Lust, feeling the piercing glare full of annoyance and wrath directed at me.

[Ugh…! Let’s see how far you can hold out! Do you think you can withstand my infinite army?!]

Though she must have been feeling the tide turning against her, was it pride?

No, upon closer inspection, even as her gaze was fixated on me, significant portions of her force continued to advance toward the city.

Did she believe that as long as she could capture the city, it didn’t matter if she lost to me?

Her petty actions fueled my anger.

I instinctively sensed the need for a powerful strike.

A strike so powerful that it would crush the spirit of the Witch of Lust and force her to retreat.

“…”

No, perhaps I just wanted to land a solid blow on that damn witch.

Just at that moment,

-■■■■■■

Flames streamed towards me.

From the firebird behind me.

From the other furious demonic beasts that had cut through the ranks of the lustful army to reach me.

The flames, the essence of power, were delivered only by the enraged demonic beasts.

“…You, no, you all.”

Feeling the sensation of power filling me again, I blankly asked them.

“…Are you lending me your strength?”

-■■■■■■■■■

As if to respond on behalf of the others, the firebird nodded, stating that your intent was our intent.

“…Thank you.”

I expressed my gratitude to them, turned my gaze towards the foes in the distance, and spoke.

“Why can’t your power reach me?”

The flames sent by countless demonic beasts whirled around me, gathering above my head.

The gathered flames resembled a small sun.

“Why are you asking such an obvious question?”

With that, I raised my fist, glaring at the enemies.

Slinking in the midst of innumerable forces, they don’t lift a finger while hiding cowardly.

The scum that had tortured countless people and toyed with their hearts.

“You, while hiding cowardly and toying with people’s lives—!”

As I aimed my fist at the enemy, the sun above shrank, converging onto my fist.

My fist, containing the sun’s power, transformed red, white, and blue, then returned to a deeper red.

Fueled by fury towards the enemies before me.

Thus, I thrust my fist outward, shouting.

“I—! I fought with every ounce of my being—!!!”

And—

The darkness enveloping the earth was pierced by the red sun.

Boom—!

“…Hah, hah.”

Breathless from the ultimate blow, I gazed ahead.

From the spot where my fist struck, traveling in a straight line, the blinding flash and deafening noise swept through, completely cleansing a space that was once filled with the enemy.

The sheer pressure and heat of my striking fist wiped away all the demonic beasts in its path.

In addition, the repercussions of my attack even obliterated the surrounding foes, effectively burning them away.

Did I take out more than half of what remained in one go…?

But tragically, such a powerful blow did not achieve the target I intended.

[Ah, Aaaah—!!! Hwaaaaaah!!!!]

The Witch of Lust shrieked.

Still, even managing to make most of her minions act as a shield did not spare her left arm, which flew off.

Half of her once-beautiful face could not even be saved and was scorched with burn marks.

[You, you!!! How dare you hurt my arm…!! My face…!]

Fueled by rage, she screamed at me.

[I’ll never, EVER forgive you—!!!]

Whether seeking revenge or not, she clutched the gem around her neck with her remaining right hand, sending me a glare filled with hatred.

But…

“…”

[Ugh…!]

As I silently raised my fist toward her again, her eyes instantly shifted to one of fear.

[Ugh…! Damn it, just wait and see!!!!]

Seemingly terrified by my threat, the Witch of Lust began generating a cloud of insects, abandoning her remaining forces and fleeing without a backward glance.

Watching her retreat, I lingered for a while.

“…I’m done for, for real.”

I collapsed right there, unable even to move a finger, believing I would fall flat-faced with my fists raised.

In any case, it seemed my threat had worked effectively.

I had landed a solid blow as well.

“—Miss Scarlet!!”

Beyond the hazy edges of my vision, Sylvia rushed towards me with an expression of shock.

It’s okay, it’s okay.

I just overexerted myself—it’s nothing serious.

Gathering my last ounce of strength, I raised my thumb towards the approaching Sylvia and spoke.

“…We won, heh.”

Moments later, I promptly lost consciousness, but I’m fairly certain Sylvia was smiling too.