Hector Ludwig is an unfortunate old man who was a respected High Priest of the Church of Reatlas, but in the last years of his life was kidnapped by the Dragon Slayer and forced to become a subordinate of the evil god.

"May the blessing of the twilight star be with them..."

He paused, making the sign of the cross out of habit because of the voice of the evil god in his head.

"Hypocrite, do you still harbor vain hopes?"

He should not have said this, he already knows that it is in vain and nothing more than hypocrisy. No matter how he justified himself, it was all the result of his choice.

If on that day...

If he had not succumbed to evil, if, like the great men of history, he had not renounced his convictions and made all the sacrifices, he would never have reached this place. Many would not have died in despair, and the explorers he met today would have ended their expedition and returned home without any problems.

*Compression*

Ludwig clenched his wrinkled hand into a fist. It was a meaningless assumption and regret. Even if he had returned that day, he would surely have made the same choice.

*Oooh!*

As if to prove his words, he was still standing in front of the shimmering portal to carry out the Dragon Slayer's orders. More precisely, in order to protect his precious grandson, he guarded this place in case these people escaped to this place.

A thought flashed through his mind.

I hope they don't come here.

It was the only hope he had left. "Small" would not be enough to describe this tiny hope.

However, the evil god was not satisfied even with this.

"Grow up.

Long years of despair had broken his aspirations, and now he had lost even the desire to solve the problem. Like a slave who rejoices in being hit only once in a day, so he has resigned himself to the miserable reality, assuring himself that this is the lesser evil and the best thing he can do, even though he has the means to end it all.

As if that wasn't enough, the evil god spoke.

"Hypocrite, look. This despair and pain are born of you.

The voice resonated as if it was engraved in his brain.

Soon, a scene appeared in front of his tightly closed eyelids. The barbarian and his allies fought a great evil in a situation where, it would seem, they had no chance of winning, unlike himself, resigned to fate.

—Behella

***

"Then you can't run away.

Vagos looked at me and laughed as if I were nothing to him.

I lifted the corners of my lips with an effort, as I had no intention of retreating in psychological warfare.

In any case, it doesn't look like he'll let us go.

The current situation was extremely simple. In a friendly game, a message like this would appear on the screen:

[Use a mage to survive until the state of [Soul Depletion] ends].

[Soul Depletion] lasted for about 20 minutes. I'll have to hold on until then.

In addition, it was impossible to escape. There was no easier prey than the one that shows the back.

"Defend the dvalki!" I shouted with all my might.

*Jerk!*

Vagos pushed himself off the ground, as if he did not want to give us time. His body instantly sped up. In his hand was the Snake Fang, which he had taken from Mike.

Damn, how do I take it away from him?

I drove away bitter feelings and focused on the guy's movements to the end.

*Klang!*

As I blocked the sword's blow with the mace, my foot slipped backwards. This meant that I was overpowered in what I was most sure of - the Force.

*Whoosh!*

The sword swung again in a smooth curve. I hurriedly stepped back, but it wasn't enough to keep track of his movements. This also meant that he had an advantage in Agility as well.

*Blow!*

Acidic blood spurted from the tears in his skin. [Iron Skin] didn't work either. I hoped otherwise, as he didn't seem to be able to use the arch sword anymore. It was a skill that increased in effectiveness as Physical Resistance increased.

*Woom!*

I wiped away my complaints and waved my mace.

*Colic!*

I couldn't even touch the guy. Instead, I have more wounds. However, I swung my mace again. Buying time for my teammates by taking punches over and over again was my role.

"Dvalki, how much time is left before the spell?"

"It's ready." But you two are too close...

"Just shoot!"

Finally, the long-awaited ice spear fired. As expected, Vagos quickly retreated. Fortunately, he felt that it would not be beneficial to be struck with me.

*Jerk!*

I also stepped back and left the range of the [Ice Spear]. Before I could catch my breath, I quickly reached back and took a shield from my backpack. I still couldn't use [Gigantization], so I decided that the shield would be much more useful in battle, given that the arch sword was out of play. If I had my way, I would also wear a breastplate, but...

He won't give me enough time to do that.

I put the regret of what I didn't have out of my mind.

I decided to focus all my attention on what I needed rather than what I couldn't have.

Discard what is not needed, and take only what is to be taken.

In this sense, I needed to check one thing now.

"What happened to Misha?"

"It looks like her bones are broken and her intestines are affected. I gave her a potion, so she will recover soon.

Until then, therefore, we had to fight four against one. It was cold-blooded, but I was glad that it wasn't Dvalki who was knocked out. If it was him, we wouldn't stand a chance.

"Careful!"

Vagos ran to me again. Of course, he doesn't have time to wait patiently. So far, this has been a positive factor.

Yes, you're in a hurry too.

I expected this, but what I saw gave me confidence. This guy didn't suffer from a short-term anomalous state, which could be judged by the way he raced as if he couldn't waste a single second.

*Klang!*

He pressed to bring the battle to an end before the [Soul Exhaustion] was over.

*Colic*

Simply put, this meant that we would have an opportunity if we stood for 20 minutes.

Will I have to hold on for 20 minutes? This is crazy.

Time was not on our side. He didn't know, but now we only had four potions left: two advanced, one mid-rank, and one high-rank. At this pace, they will definitely be exhausted in a few minutes.

'Behellaaa

I shouted at the top of my lungs and pushed him away with my shield, then quickly rushed forward, swinging my mace.

I reasoned that such relaxed tactics would not give 20 minutes. He seemed pleased with my reckless behavior. Of course, this contentment lasted only the first few minutes.

*Whoosh!*

If he increased the distance, I would immediately catch up with him and concentrate more on offense than defense, regardless of whether Rothmiller's arrows or Dvalka's spells were flying at us.

— ... Do you want to kill me with you? Vagos said.

Swinging my mace, I followed him incessantly, like a dance partner

Steadfast Barbarian Mode.

Ironically, this tactic really reduced my damage and made him not even dare to approach Dvalka.

This proves that the best defense is an attack.

"Click."

Vagos stopped wielding his sword and turned to avoid the blow of the ice spear. Unfortunately for him, he turned in the direction where the crossbow was aimed.

*In here!*

It was a grandiose first hit. Due to his Physical Resistance, the wound was not deep, but since it hit the thigh, it led to limited mobility. Perhaps he also began to understand something.

Enough games.

From that moment on, the momentum in his eyes changed.

After that, I quickly retreated.

Someone who has learned to give up something in order to achieve a goal is dangerous in any case.

"Tenacious creatures...!"

I felt a strong killing energy from the sword he swung as if his shackles had been removed. His sword, which limited the trajectory for defense, traced a free trajectory with the sole purpose of attacking.

But the biggest change was something else.

*Whoosh!*

Despite the fact that the arrow grazed his shoulder, he did not flinch and rushed at me. As a result, after a few blows, his blade plunged deep into my stomach.

*Blow!*

Since I had lost my Natural Regeneration, this injury would have been fatal if I hadn't taken action.

[Your body regenerates under the effects of [Recovery (Medium)]].

By Rothmiller's decision, another vial of the potion was used. Now, there was only one high rank and two advanced, which was not good.

*Jerk!*

I couldn't stop him.

As if performing some kind of acrobatic trick, he stepped on a raised mace and jumped over me.

Bloody hell.

I spun quickly and held out my hand, but it was too late. The guy pushed off the ground again and quickly closed the distance from the rear.

"Back!"

Hikurod stood in front of Dvalki, but it didn't do much. How could he stop the monster head-on if he didn't have the key skill [Weight Balance]?

*Bach!*

The dwarf flew like a soccer ball with a single blow, holding on to his shield. Rothmiller threw down his crossbow and swung his sword. Of course, nothing came of it.

*Blow!*

Vagos parried Rothmiller's sword very easily, plunging the green blade into his stomach. But as soon as he tried to draw his sword, Rothmiller grabbed his arm and stopped him.

— This is our subject.

*Whoops!*

Fortunately, the ice spear shot out in time. Vagos let go of his sword and stepped back.

*Shuffle*

Soon Rothmiller, having lost his footing, collapsed to the floor. However, the sword stuck in his stomach was gone.

He put it in Mimic's [Treasure Vault], which doesn't require Soul Force, so that Vagos can't use it and help the team even a little.

I can save him if I give him the potion in time.

Despite the wound of my comrade, I remained calm.

However, not everyone could.

"What did you do... with Rothmiller...!

Mike, leaning against the wall and coming to his senses, swung his sword at Vagos, unable even to move, knowing that he would not be able to reach him. This was done for a single purpose.

"You won't touch Dvalki-agrkh!"

From his blow, Mike's body hit the wall again. But instead of heading towards Dvalka, he quickly moved towards the unconscious Misha. It was obvious what he was going to do.

Apparently, he intended to finish her off and steal the only remaining sword, that damned thieving bastard.

"We told you. It's ours.

I waved my mace as if driving away flies, and Vagos, without hesitation, rolled away from Misha.

He laughed.

"Barbarian, are you still counting on him?"

What was this freak talking about? Wasn't that obvious?

Instead of answering, I rushed to him.

*Woom!*

He easily retreated and evaded.

"Do you really believe in this nonentity?" At a mage who, minus a few curses, is only able to throw ice blocks and blow cold air?

Of course I do. What was wrong with low-level offensive spells? If they hit in the head, they could kill in the same way. Even one successful blow would have been enough, so Dvalki just had to hit him once. Until then, I'll buy time somehow.

"Dvalki!"

I shouted at the top of my lungs that it was time to use my magic. But what is it?

.

The magic did not fly.

***

It is no coincidence that a certified mage, Riol Varb Dvalki, decided to apply to join the team with two wars. He wanted to look like a special person, so he chose the team that looked the easiest. It seemed to him that having two warriors would make a mage more valuable. However, it didn't take long to reveal the essence.

"My name is Riol Warb Dvalki. I am a rank 8 mage and a civil servant of the Rafdon Royal-"

"I see, so you're trash."

Trash, someone who was not even considered a mage by his fellow mages.

"Hahaha! So are we a team of only losers? Yes, it will be even better. This means that we will no longer have to lose heart in front of each other."

Nevertheless, these people did not mind. They said that they were in the same position and understood it. It was like salvation. He even thought that perhaps 25 years of his life had been spent meeting them.

But...

"Do you really believe in this nonentity? At a mage who, minus a few curses, is only capable of throwing ice blocks and blowing cold air?"

In the end, the essence has not changed. Despite the fact that the moment had come to shine, he did nothing worthwhile. No matter how strong his mana was, he was still an undermage, not even living up to the expectations of his precious colleagues.

But...

"Back".

Despite this, his friend defended him.

"This is our subject."

He was unable to save his smiling colleague, whose body was thrust by a sword.

"You won't touch Dvalka-agrh!"

He could not protect the woman he was in love with.

This fact made his head go wild. He could hardly breathe from a feeling of helplessness. If he could, he would want to escape from this harsh reality right now.

"Unfortunately for you, he seems to have already given up.

However, he must not give up. Maybe if he was all alone, but his precious teammate was still fighting, protecting them all alone.

"Barbarian, you should know that it's all over.

Ignoring the ridicule, Bjorn silently waved his mace, spurting blood from his mouth onto his face. To the last, he gave all his strength to fight back.

"Hey, your face has brightened. Do you really like your colleagues so much?"

As he began to chant, Dvalki remembered a conversation from the past. It was a conversation with the instructor at the magic tower training center, right after the battle with the Troll.

"What? Do you want me to teach you magic to fight the Troll? Hmm, well... it's not impossible."

That day, Dvalki paid a large sum of money to the teacher to learn the spell. More precisely, he learned the combination of the spell. The teacher agreed to teach him, but insisted that he never use this technique.

[Speeding Up Thinking] greatly improved Cognitive Abilities and made time pass slowly.

[Mana amplification] stimulated the mana stored in the heart and temporarily increased its production.

[Heart Stimulation] forcibly increased the heart rate and spread mana throughout the body, and also intersected with psychosensory magic, which was known to have serious side effects.

*Tum-tum-tum!*

Dvalka's heart was beating as if it was about to explode, spreading mana throughout his body. On the other hand, his mind was clearer than ever, and his eyes were sharp.

It seemed that he could do anything.

"What is it called? There is no exact name. It's a combination that everyone knows. However, if I wanted to give it a name... Hmm, well... 'Sacrifice' doesn't sound quite right."

Dvalki held out his hand. That was all he did.

"Yes, Awakening will be just right."

Dozens of arrows of light shot out.