Facing Licht, the four-leaf clover grimoire of fire magic hovered to Ethan Hayes's side.
Having lost the advantage of speed, all he could do now was defend!
"Wind Creation Magic – Gale Barrier!"
"Fire Creation Magic – Wall of Blazing Flames!"
Shing!
Shing!...
Two layers of magic formed a protective wall before him, bracing against the relentless rain of light swords.
Behind him, Noelle raised Sea Dragon's Cradle to aid Ethan in his defense.
But this was only a temporary fix—
Defending forever was a dead end.
Neither of them had enough mana left to maintain a standoff with Licht.
And yet, they had no other choice.
"Ahhh~ I... I'm so scared…"
"Are we... are we gonna die here?"
"Mom... Dad... where are you…"
The children behind them began to cry uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the fear.
Though young, they weren't stupid.
They could tell something was wrong.
That cool older brother—after changing clothes, suddenly seemed weak and unsure.
Clearly, this wasn't going well.
And that pretty big sister? Sure, she was beautiful, but from the moment the fight started, she hadn't even landed a blow. She seemed... useless.
And as for themselves? Completely powerless.
"Tch..."
A decision flashed through Ethan's mind. His eyes turned sharp with resolve.
"Noelle, I'll try to keep him occupied. You run. As for the kids... you decide whether to take them or not."
With that, Ethan shot out of the defensive shield, launching himself into the air again.
He knew running wouldn't work.
Licht would chase him down without mercy.
Until death.
But the others—Noelle at least—still had a chance.
He had to do the math.
If someone had to die, better to give Noelle a sliver of hope.
That way, even if he was gone, maybe during some festival, or on the first or fifteenth of the month, someone would burn incense for him.
Because worse than death... is being forgotten.
"Wind Creation Magic – Boots of the Gale!"
"Fire Creation Magic – Blazing Spiral Bullet!"
With wind at his feet and fire swirling in his hand, Ethan charged forward like a comet.
The spiral of flame blazed and spun violently, its destructive force immense.
If it hit, even Licht—who had stepped into the Third Realm—would be injured.
But...
Under the effects of elf assimilation, Licht barely took him seriously anymore.
With a flicker, Licht dodged and instantly appeared behind Ethan.
"Light Creation Magic – Blade of Condemnation!"
Shing!...
Shing!...
The blazing spiral dissipated.
Ethan's eyes widened as he looked down—
The tip of a light sword had pierced straight through his torso.
A wave of numbness washed over him.
His thoughts blurred.
His eyelids turned heavy.
"Ethan!!"
Noelle screamed in panic.
She stared up at the figure skewered mid-air, his body bathed in holy light.
As he began to fall, she rushed forward with trembling steps.
Thud!
His body hit the ground like a lifeless fish, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Golden blood poured from his mouth and stomach, quickly staining the earth around him.
He hadn't even managed to stall Licht for a second.
That was the difference between their levels.
Between their attributes.
But so what?
He had known the moment he charged that this wouldn't end well.
"It's just... why didn't you run..."
Through his fading vision, Ethan saw Noelle's tear-streaked face rushing toward him.
Maybe this was what set him apart from the heroes in those anime.
They fight even knowing they can't win.
They never back down, even when they know they'll die.
They don't abandon others. They don't give up.
It might seem foolish...
But it was also honorable.
At least, he wouldn't have nightmares tonight.
At least his conscience would rest easy.
But in exchange...
He had to pay with his life.
"Ethan... Ethan... please don't die. You can't die!"
Noelle cried, holding his limp hand.
The moment he dashed forward, she had felt something inside her shatter.
Only now did she realize—
That was the mask she had worn all her life.
The mask of strength.
The mask of indifference.
Ethan... wasn't just a friend.
He was the person she liked.
"Light Magic – Judgment Ray!"
A beam of holy light surged from Licht's hand, aimed directly at the two figures on the ground.
To Licht, it wasn't cruelty.
It was justice.
What humans had done to his kind—the elves—this didn't even begin to compare.
Ethan's golden blood hinted at a mysterious identity, yes...
But he had stood in Licht's way.
And for that, there was only one verdict.
"Vanish."
Zzzzaaaap!
Mana surged.
The golden beam fired down like a laser cannon.
At that moment, Ethan felt... peace.
No dreams of becoming Wizard King.
No obsession with strength.
His mind was calm—
Like a still lake.
Noelle gripped his weak hand tightly, ready to meet the divine-yet-deadly light together.
BOOM!
The ground quaked.
But the beam of light suddenly veered off course, smashing into the cave wall beside them.
This wasn't Licht toying with them.
It was deflected.
Noelle opened her eyes in shock, staring at the massive mirror that now stood before them.
"Gauche!" she gasped.
There was only one person in their squad who used Mirror Magic—Gauche Adlai.
But the moment her eyes fell back on Ethan's bloody form, her hope dimmed again.
Gauche couldn't use healing magic.
Even if he could... Ethan's wounds were likely beyond saving.
And besides—was Gauche just throwing his life away now?
"Gauche, don't worry about us! You can't beat him! Get out of here!"
Get out?
Where would he even run to?
Gauche knew full well how powerful the enemy was.
Ethan's condition alone said it all.
But he couldn't leave.
He wouldn't.
His eyes locked onto the terrified children huddled near the cave wall.
He didn't care about the others.
Never had.
But his sister—Marie—was among them.
Dust-covered, bruised, and scared.
They dared to hurt his precious, adorable little sister?
"You all call me a sis-con... Fine.
Today, I'll show you the fury... of a maniacal sis-con!!"
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