**Episode 050: The Ultimate Strike at the End**

The giant momentarily stepped back from me and began preparing for another attack. It seemed to be charging up a significantly powerful move, perhaps aiming to obliterate me completely with the next strike. Since I was already incapacitated, it probably deemed it acceptable to use such a grand technique.

“Don’t you dare give up, you bastard.”
“Yeah, don’t give up till the end.”
“Nii!”

As I lay there, on the verge of resignation, voices reached my ears, pulling me back to my senses. It was Shuji and Sato, dragging their battered bodies towards me step by step, along with my pet, Enjyu.

“You guys… should run…”

Unable to move anymore, I tried to at least move my lips to encourage them to escape.

“Heh. When we came to help you, we were prepared for this.”
“Yeah, we’ve already decided we won’t survive alone.”

However, the two of them approached me, dragging their bodies, and plopped down beside me.

Seemingly, they intended to share my fate.

“Nii! Nii!”

Enjyu perched on my chest, making affectionate sounds, rubbing its head against my face.

Cute as it was, I wished it had stayed away for now. But I couldn’t give the command; my ability to do so was beyond reach.

“You guys probably have families, right?”

I still had no parents or grandparents, so I was relatively okay. However, Shuji and Sato, despite being cut off from communication due to the recent network outage, likely had mothers and families still alive.

It felt unfair to involve them in my death. Even Enjyu, I wanted it to live. I saved it, and although I was sure Shuji and Sato would take care of it and treat it kindly, these guys didn’t deserve to be dragged into this.

“Ha. My mom would understand.”

“Yeah, my parents are lenient, so it’s fine.”

Still, the three of them didn’t make a move to leave.

Incredibly principled of them. On one hand, I felt sorry, but deep down, I also felt a sense of warmth. Dying alone would be lonely.

However, ideally, I didn’t want them to die. But I had no strength left. My body was a mess. No magical power. I couldn’t move a finger.

I had no means to defeat that thing.

“Did I really do everything I could…?”
“Are there no more options?”
“That can’t be…?”

Upon their questioning, doubts arose in my mind about whether I had truly exhausted all possibilities.

“Status Open.”

I opened my status, checking my abilities.

―――――――――――――――――――
■ Name: Rokudo Koutaro
■ Occupations:
Crafter – Rank 2
Sword Saint – Rank 1
Sage – Rank 1
Saint – Rank 1
Shield Knight – Rank 1
Special Tamer – Rank 1
■ Level: 54 (9 x 6)
■ Skills: Storage, Production, Repair, Enhancement,
Sword Techniques, Martial Arts, Elemental Magic,
Enchantment Magic, Appraisal, Chant Reduction,
Holy Magic, Provocation, Accumulation,
Total Reflection, Demon Contract, Reduced Hostility
―――――――――――――――――――

“Ah…”

As I observed my status, I remembered something I had unintentionally overlooked.

“What’s wrong?”
“Did you figure something out?”
“Maybe… I might be able to defeat that thing…”

Realizing what I had noticed, I conveyed to them the possibility of defeating the shadow.

“If that’s the case, we might have a chance.”
“Indeed.”

The two of them agreed to my plan. However, if it didn’t work, we’d be in serious trouble.

“Both of you… stay away…”

“Don’t be stupid. We’re in this together till the end.”

“Yeah, right! Nii! Nii!”

“I get it already… do as you please…”

I had initially thought that if they stayed away, they could escape if things went south. But it seemed it wasn’t going to be that easy. The two of them seemed to have seen through my intentions. Even Enjyu, determined not to leave its master, clung desperately and showed no sign of leaving.

These guys were truly peculiar, wanting to share my fate.

Unintentionally, tears welled up in my eyes.

“If I fail… I’m sorry…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah, that’s right. You’re the only one we can rely on now.”

I apologized one last time, and they responded with expressions that seemed to say, “It can’t be helped.” The decisive moment arrived when the opponent launched a full-powered attack.

『Vooooooom!』

The shadow, pulling its entire body taut and lifting both hands just enough, swung down a lethal blow toward me.

“Ha… Let’s see who wins… It’s a showdown!”

I stared at the approaching attack, calculating the timing.

Five
Four
Three
Two
One

“Total Reflection Full Counter!”

I quietly activated that skill.

―Boom!

The opponent’s attack was intercepted by the barrier that appeared just before it hit me. Not only that, but the shadow’s body crumbled away from its fingertips.

It made sense.

I could accumulate the damage received and unleash it along with the final attack through the Total Reflection skill. Although I didn’t know how many attacks I had endured, I believed that consolidating it into a single strike would have the power to defeat the opponent.

“What happened?”
“I don’t know.”

I answered Shuji’s question honestly. The mist gradually lifted, revealing that the shadow wasn’t moving. However, I could tell that its legs were still standing there.

As the smoke dissipated and cleared, the spot where the shadow’s body had been revealed nothing.