The air changed.
There was no better way to describe the current situation.
Just as the body instinctively freezes when confronted with something beyond common sense, Riel and I found ourselves unable to tear our eyes away from it for a long time.
If we didn’t have strong enough minds, we would have been overwhelmed the moment we faced those countless eyes and lost consciousness instantly.
That was how imposing the monstrous being with enormous wings was—its mere existence clearly imprinting upon every living creature present.
It was declaring, without a doubt, that it was a transcendent being, far above any other lower life forms.
***
“You have quite the expression. This must be on a whole different level from anything you’ve seen before. Of course, this angel isn’t just another failed experimental prototype that we’ve summoned countless times in the past.”
“This is the real deal, our ultimate secret weapon, specially prepared to deliver a direct strike to the heart of the demon race—the lost capital, Trassion. Just imagine it. A great angel’s judgment, descending upon Trassion in a surprise attack, catching them completely off guard.”
“The filthy demons, lost in their arrogance and complacency, will be torn apart in an instant, unable even to let out a scream. Just like twenty years ago, when the previous hero, Kaiser, brought judgment upon this land. Tell me, doesn’t the mere thought send shivers down your spine?”
“Ridiculous… Maybe in another city within the Empire, but this is the capital of the Demon Kingdom, where their elite forces are gathered. No matter how powerful that monster you summoned is, as long as the entirety of their forces stand strong—let alone the Demon King himself—there’s no way this will cause any significant damage.”
“Well, unfortunately, you do have a point. This angel’s power is overwhelming, but it’s not strong enough to surpass the Demon King. But conquering the capital was never our true goal to begin with.”
Despite his reverence for the angel he had personally summoned, the man’s voice dripped with madness as he foretold the city’s destruction.
However, Riel, regaining some composure, immediately refuted his claims.
It was true that Trassion housed many innocent civilians with little combat ability, but it was also the heart of the Demon Kingdom, guarded at all times by its most elite warriors.
The enemy might achieve some success in the initial surprise attack, but as time passed, they would inevitably find themselves at a disadvantage.
The man in front of us knew this fact well.
And yet, he accepted it without resistance, his eyes gleaming sharply from behind his mask.
“While this angel rampages across the land, our forces—waiting nearby—will infiltrate the capital on a massive scale. We have only one goal: to reclaim the great hero Kaiser, whom the detestable demons have hidden deep within the city.”
“So you see, the angel’s role is simply to act as a diversion, drawing as much attention as possible.”
“…Are you seriously saying you believe that nonsense? Hero Kaiser was completely annihilated—both body and soul—when he was defeated by the Demon King twenty years ago. Even a child knows that.”
“No. He’s still alive. Maybe not in the conventional sense, but that much is certain.”
“Whether you choose to believe it or not is up to you. But now that you know the truth… You must understand—I can’t simply let you walk away.”
***
The man didn’t seem interested in convincing Riel, who looked at him with sheer disbelief.
Instead, he radiated an intense killing intent, making it clear that now that we had uncovered their plans, he had no intention of letting us live.
And the signal for our demise had already been fired.
While we were fixated on the threat in front of us, an overwhelming number of monstrous creatures had silently cut off our retreat from behind.
Krrrkk—! Kieeek!! Kyaaaah—!
At some point, they had completely filled the area, blocking every possible escape route.
Riel quickly stepped forward, manipulating the surrounding terrain to create a defensive barrier that temporarily halted their advance.
But the situation was far from favorable.
With her current strength, she could hold them off for now, but breaking through them to escape was impossible.
Which meant that I had to take down that being alone, without any outside help.
If I failed, everyone here would meet the same horrific fate as the countless missing humans before us.
In the end, it all came down to me.
Exchanging a final glance with Riel, I steeled myself and shot forward like an arrow.
My target was that grotesque, otherworldly monster, looming in the distance with an overwhelming presence.
Leaping from the twisted vines like stepping stones, I sprinted at full speed.
I briefly glanced upward, but the man showed no reaction to my movements.
His relaxed posture, as if daring me to try, was unsettling.
But I pushed the feeling aside, keeping my focus locked on my true objective.
For now, the most urgent task was eliminating that creature.
The eerie man could wait.
Praying that Riel would hold out until then, I relied on my trust in her and sharpened my gaze, analyzing the situation.
***
At first glance, the creature didn’t seem to have any distinct offensive capabilities.
Its countless disgusting eyes turned toward me, wary of my rapid approach, but beyond that, it showed no movement.
It had no intention of leaving its spot.
With a body that massive, even if it used its wings to move, its speed would be sluggish at best.
Which meant that the key to this battle was whether or not I could reach its core unharmed.
Of course, that monster wouldn’t be oblivious to this fact.
It would do everything in its power to stop my approach.
But blocking someone moving at a speed too fast for the eye to track was no easy feat.
At this rate, reaching it was only a matter of time.
And when that moment came, its massive body would make dodging my scythe virtually impossible.
So, what choice would it make in this situation?
If it didn’t act immediately, the winner was as clear as day.
And soon enough, the monster gave me an answer to my silent question.
A response I hadn’t anticipated at all—delivered with a sudden, precise, and deadly strike.
***
Thwack!!!!
“!!? …Ugh!!”
I had been sprinting with all my focus locked onto the creature at the center of that massive void.
Then, out of nowhere, a powerful impact struck my abdomen.
The force sent me stumbling, nearly knocking me off balance, but I managed to steady myself just in time, eyes widening in shock.
A sudden attack—completely silent and undetectable.
There had been no sign of it.
No movement in my field of vision, no shift in the air, no presence I could sense.
By the time my body registered the impact, it was already too late.
Avoiding it from the start had been nearly impossible.
But in the end, this was only the beginning.
***
Thwack! Thud! Smash!! Boom!!!
Before I could even analyze what had happened, more heavy blows rained down across my body.
Individually, each strike was weighty and precise.
Of course, my body was strong enough to endure most impacts without much trouble, but the real issue was my surroundings.
If I fell from the narrow vine I was standing on, the depths below were nothing but a vast, murky sewer with no visible bottom.
Since I lacked any means of flight, I couldn’t afford to be careless.
For now, I held my ground, raising my guard and taking deep, steady breaths.
Then, I clicked my tongue.
‘So this is its ability…’
Physical attacks that were not only invisible to the eye but also completely undetectable by any sense.
Even with my speed, it wouldn’t matter.
If I could only recognize the attacks after they landed, dodging was impossible.
And if this pattern of relentless, unseen blows continued, getting anywhere near the monster was out of the question.
In the end, I had only one option—figure out a way to counter it.
Most people would fall into despair against such an absurd ability.
But instead, I found my mind sharpening, thoughts racing with calculated precision.
Even in this dire situation, an inexplicable surge of excitement and exhilaration welled up within me.
Pushing my senses to their absolute limit, I focused everything on detecting even the smallest anomaly.
Then, after what felt like an eternity—
I caught a thread of weakness.
A minuscule opening in its pattern.
And for the first time, I successfully evaded one of its invisible strikes.
It wasn’t just a coincidence.
It was the beginning of my counterattack.