**Episode 046: Illuminating Despair**

I was buried under debris, but I stood up. Thanks to the heavily reinforced equipment, all five senses were intact.

Yet, there was still a taste of blood in my mouth.

“Ugh. Healing.”

I spat out the blood collected in my mouth and cast healing magic on myself. The damage inside my body vanished rapidly.

“Attack Up, Defense Up, Speed Up, Magic Up.”

As the effects of the buffs wore off, I recast them and, using my ultimate technique of Ki Martial Arts, gathered KI externally to attack the giant.

“Cross Slash!”

I unleashed the technique with all my might.

*Bwoosh*

However, the giant, now serious, evaded my attack with movements that belied the heaviness of its colossal body.

“Tch.”

I couldn’t even click my tongue. The opponent effortlessly dodged a technique I had unleashed with my body pushed to its limits.

The one from earlier might not have been accustomed to this environment upon its sudden appearance, or perhaps it was just cautious. That’s how it seemed.

Moreover, it hadn’t been necessary to go all out against those slightly annoying foes. The fact that the Thunder had officially designated me as an enemy meant serious trouble.

I used the pole meant for raising the school flag, located in front of the giant, as a foothold to distance myself and look back.

“Damn it!”

However, by that time, the giant was already approaching me, preparing to strike with its fist.

This creature is completely different from what it was just a moment ago!

I cursed in my mind, but the situation remained unchanged.

I desperately dodged its attack.

*Tsk*

“Gu!”

I couldn’t completely avoid it, and its fist grazed me, causing damage with just that.

This is ridiculously frustrating!

However, regarding speed, I could manage to dodge to some extent. For now, I needed to hold my ground here and wait for reinforcements or something…

No, is there even someone like that?

Everyone I’ve encountered so far has been a single Awakened individual with only one awakened ability. I’ve never encountered someone who has awakened two or more.

At this level, no matter how many individuals with low stats I gather, it won’t be of any use. What’s needed is an individual with personal stats above Level 54.

Currently, there’s probably no one like that.

This is a test of endurance from here on. For a while, I continued the battle against the giant in a stalemate.

However, despair struck me here. It was the expiration of the Ki Martial Arts. The cooldown time for Ki Martial Arts is six hours. It’s almost impossible to restrain this thing without Ki Martial Arts for such a long time.

“Gugaggh!! Gwaaaaaah!!”

On top of that, intense pain, as if struck by lightning all over my body, ran through me. This was the price I paid for using Ki Martial Arts to draw out power beyond my limits.

This time, since I used Ki Martial Arts to its limits, the recoil was greater than usual.

“Healing!”

Despite being tormented by the pain, I somehow managed to cast Healing, restoring my battered muscles and internal organs.

“Haa… Haa… Haa… Haa… Damn it…”

I could no longer move like before.

And to make matters worse, I felt like I was about to lose consciousness.

“Damn it… Running out of magic power…”

It was a sign of running out of magic power. However, fortunately, I noticed it before losing consciousness. Whether that was a good or bad thing, I couldn’t tell.

I’ve done everything I can. Even my maximum attack was easily dodged. And now, I have no strength left.

“Darn it… Mocking me…”

The giant, seeing me in a sorry state, stopped its attack and looked down on me. Its entirely black face, showing nothing, seemed to twist into a sinister smile.

“Haa… Did they manage to escape?”

What I pondered was whether Yuna and Kana had safely escaped. Even though I promised to meet them again, it seems unlikely now. This is also the result of being arrogant with my power. Well, it’s too late to regret now. Anyway, for now, I just need to buy as much time as possible for them to escape.

“Well… Let’s struggle until the end. Uwaaaaah!!”

I confront the giant using only enchantment magic.

“Guhaa!!”
“Gah!!”
“Ghuee!!”

The giant, as if playing with me, doesn’t deliver a finishing blow but rather toys with my battered self. Still, I desperately stand up and face it.

However, such a struggle doesn’t last long.

“Gaaaahhhh!”

The giant, no longer interested in me, who showed no new reactions, launches a serious attack, and I take it head-on.

*Crack, crack, crack*

The sound of bones breaking throughout my body reaches my head. Bouncing like a rubber ball, I roll about a hundred meters on the ground, falling on my back, unable to move anymore.

The giant looks down on me from above.

“Haa… Haa… Is it over here? Well, I did my best…”

Realizing that this is the end, I close my eyes.

“If I think I protected the heroines of Assassin Girls, then this life is cheap…”

I close my eyes, waiting for the giant’s attack.

*DOOOOOOOON*

However, that moment never comes. Instead, an explosion sound overwhelmingly surpassing my Fireball echoes.

When I open my eyes, the giant is staggering back from the explosion.

“Niiiiii!!”

Then, a cute voice, completely mismatched with the atmosphere, is heard.

“Why… here…”

It’s someone who is likely fighting a new breed of Shadows in a different location. That someone is descending from the sky towards my face.

“Don’t give up completely, Rokudo.”

“Yeah, don’t forget that we’re here.”

Familiar voices are heard from above my head.

“Hahaha… Why did you guys come… I’m going to die, you know?”

“Fool. How can we live carefree after leaving our best friend behind?”

“That’s right.”

In my dire situation, my two best friends and the newly acquired family member, Enjyu, came rushing to my aid.

I felt overwhelmed with joy, and tears welled up.