440 Angel VS Void Beast (1)
The red beam of powerful energy came closer and closer to my body. Just as I was thinking that it was over for me, two voices suddenly reached my ears.
"Master!"
"You little brat!"
And along with their voices, I felt a powerful tug from the back of my neck. As if I were some stuffed toy, I was pulled forcefully and slammed against the ground in one go.
"Ugh!"
Air got knocked out of my chest as I slammed on the ground, but rather than worrying over the pain I was feeling, the concern for Ember took up a majority of my thinking facilities.
"Ember, no!"
Ember's portal was about to close, but the energy beam managed to pass through it at the last instant. Ember tried to dodge it, but it was so fast that she couldn't avoid receiving damage.
*ZIIIIIING!*
After the light faded, Ember knelt on the ground with her right hand over her left shoulder. The energy beam took her entire left arm!
Just as I was about to run to her side in panic, she turned to face me, her face warped in pain and covered with cold sweat. "M-Master, I'm fine... Focus on the necklace."
"...!"
Despite her current state, she was still focused on her role. Right. I cannot waste the time they bought for me!
The necklace was almost filled to the brim with energy, based on my intuition, so it should end in a few more seconds. However, Ember's wound was starting to turn black, like the ground surrounding us, making me feel worried. "Namia!"
I turned to the only one left able to move freely, Namia, and bowed my head slightly.
"Please, buy us a little more time!"
"Don't order me around; I'm not your tamed monster."
Of course, she didn't simply nod her head but instead responded to my request with a little anger. Despite her reluctant reply, she still ran ahead, moving toward where the Void Beast was and engaging it in another exchange of attacks.
Furthermore, she positioned herself on the other side to make sure that no stray shots reached our position.
While she was trying to distract the Void Beast, firing attacks that wouldn't even scratch the enemy's defenses, I turned to the necklace and gritted my teeth. Can't this thing fill up a little faster? Ember needs help; I don't have time to waste on filling up this f*cking thing with energy!
*SHINE!*
And as if listening to my curses, the necklace suddenly started to shine. It wasn't the same as when the Empire's prince used it before!
"...!"
I used my left arm to block the light while squinting my eyes to glance at the necklace. The central part suddenly swung open, as if it were a gate of some sort. So the gate is the necklace itself?!
In an instant, a ball of light popped out of the necklace and flew forward, ahead of where I was kneeling. The ball then rapidly expanded and slowly turned into an angelic form.
"Azrael!"
A second later, the familiar figure of the gate's guardian appeared. The gigantic form of Azrael is a beyond-god-level angel! As soon as he appeared, he looked around, scanning the field, and quickly frowned.
[Why are there only three of you? Did all the other tamers die?]
What an ominous thing to say!
"No. Everyone retreated, but the three of us got stuck in this place! Anyway, you promised to fight the Void Beast, right? Now's your chance!"
Right, wasn't this the perfect situation for their one-on-one? Not only was there no pesky god-level demon army around, but Azrael could also even expect backup from Namia and me!
"Hello?! A little help over here!"
And just as I finished cheering for Azrael, Namia started to call for help. Checking her out, she was already backed to a corner with nowhere to go; the entire space around her was cut off. She was like a trapped rat!
[Alright. I'll go now. You and the other two should back off!]
Azrael, seeing that Namia was in a pinch, quickly manifested a flaming sword, with its blade curved like waves—a Flamberge. Now, with a weapon in hand, he quickly closed the distance and swung the blade down on the Void Beast's head.
*RIIIIIIING!*
But instead of the usual pinging sound of metal getting rebounded, his sword continued to forge on, slowly eating through the protective shell of the Void Beast.
[Over here, you spawn of the Void! Envoy of Chaos!]
*ROOOOAAAR!*
The Void Beast, feeling the tangible threat coming from Azrael, completely ignored Namia and turned around. Without missing a beat, it swung both hands, trying to catch Azrael's Flamberge.
But at the very last moment, Azrael managed to pull back, gaining enough distance to continue attacking while being wary of incoming attacks.
After that, an earnest slugfest began. Azrael swung his Flamberge rapidly, like an expert swordsman, without leaving the slightest opening. While the Void Beast disregarded all defenses and went on a counteroffensive.
Both sides were fierce, and their fight was gradually changing the entire field.
The ground cracked while the sky darkened. Thunder and lightning fell as if summoned by the intense exchange of their energies.
"Now, while that thing is fighting the Void Beast, we should escape."
Namia, who returned to our side without our notice, quickly suggested. Although her idea was sound, I wasn't fond of it. Why would we leave our "ally" behind when we know that he's at a disadvantage?
"No."
Definitely not.
My resolute answer made Namia frown, but I didn't care. More than that, we need to make preparations while we still have time. I quickly pulled the three swords that I took out of my [Spatial Storage] and dropped them to the ground between the three of us.
"Namia, Ember, I need your help to bless these swords. We need them to help Azrael if we want to win!"
Ember didn't doubt my words and nodded before kneeling beside the three swords and showing them with her Void Energy. This was despite the "festering" wound on her missing left arm slowly encroaching on her entire body.
Namia, on the other hand, looked irritated. She seemed as if she wanted to drag me out of here if she could, before heaving a really deep sigh as she moved, mirroring Ember's actions.
"..."
The two of them were now busy "blessing" the swords. Since they both know that time is of the essence, it shouldn't take too long.
[UGH!]
Azrael flew back, a deep wound appearing on his right side. Red blood seeped out of his fingers, adding pressure to the wound, as he kneeled down on one knee.
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