Chapter 44: Dawn

“Go.”

The long spear swirling behind me moved with my thought, thrusting toward the chasm in the gargoyle’s chest.

The instant it struck, it snapped with a sharp sound.

Still can’t break through its defense.

No… Even though the spear did break, as it shattered, it turned into black sludge that spread over the gargoyle’s surface. Wisps of white smoke rose from the creature’s body, followed by a sizzle of corrosion.

This black sludge… it has corrosive properties?

But when I was entangled by Iris’s black sludge before, my body wasn’t corroded.

Did she go easy on me then?

Instinctively, I glanced to the side, meeting Little Evil God’s gaze.

“Mmm-mmm… Yuuri-chan, your technique is really sloppy.”

Ugh…

Well, it’s her first time using it, after all.

In the moment I got distracted, the gargoyle broke free from its restraints and lunged at Yuuri in big strides.

Its body looked heavy, but it moved surprisingly fast.

A chilling gust from its fist blasted toward me. Yuuri quickly retreated, widening the distance and dodging the punch.

Missing its target, the gargoyle suddenly reached behind its back and pulled out a stone axe as large as itself.

What the… It even brings its own weapon?

Yuuri had seen many Abyssal creatures, but this was her first time witnessing one that carried a weapon.

The gargoyle spun the giant axe with both arms and swept it across.

If that hit, losing a limb would be the least of her worries.

Dodging the massive axe, Yuuri started to consider her options.

Although the corrosion could deal effective damage, facing a gargoyle this massive, defeating it this way would take too much time. If the fight dragged on, she’d probably run out of stamina first.

More importantly, the longer this took, the more likely the nest would create another gargoyle.

That would be endless. She needed a swift victory.

Treading on the soft earth beneath her feet, a sudden inspiration struck Yuuri—a bold plan formed in her mind.

[Simulacrum: Shackles]

The black sludge beneath her instantly shifted shape, condensing into several pitch-black chains as thick as bowls. Like sentient serpents, they darted toward the gargoyle.

The gargoyle reacted instantly, raising its stone axe for a heavy strike. But before it could chop through all the chains, the axe froze in midair, unable to move any further.

What’s happening?

The ghostly flames in its eyes noticed the source: the black sludge that had wrapped around its body had turned into chains, binding the arm that held the axe and halting its movement.

The gargoyle quickly shattered the restraints, but the interference allowed the other chains to slither up its body. More chains sprouted from beneath its feet, locking it firmly in place.

But mere shackles weren’t enough. Yuuri knew the chains alone wouldn’t last long.

Now, it was time for the real gift she’d prepared.

[Simulacrum: Forging]

Countless black sludge surged from underground, rapidly gathering into the form of a gigantic hammer, much larger than even the gargoyle.

The massive hammer came down hard on the gargoyle’s head. Its huge body shuddered violently. The soft ground beneath couldn’t withstand the force, and the gargoyle’s legs sank deep into the earth.

With her current strength, Yuuri couldn’t hope to defeat the gargoyle in a straight fight. She had to find another way.

The soft soil of the forest provided the opportunity for this wild plan—anywhere else, she wouldn’t be able to use such a tactic.

Yuuri wasn’t sure how many more strikes she could manage with the hammer. Summoning that much black sludge and molding it together was already draining her stamina fast.

Not to mention she still had to swing the giant hammer down.

“Hang on…”

Gritting her teeth, she slammed the massive hammer down again.

She’d paid too high a price—she couldn’t let herself fall here.

So, keep smashing!

Another strike landed. The instant it hit, the hammer dissolved into nothingness.

She couldn’t maintain it any longer.

Hot sweat dripped down her forehead; her legs felt as heavy as lead. She could only steady herself against a nearby tree, panting hard.

Her stamina was gone, but most of the gargoyle’s body was now buried underground. With the chains still binding it, breaking free wouldn’t be easy.

Good. Now’s the time to destroy the nest…

Dragging her unbearably heavy body, she took a step forward—then her vision went black, and her legs buckled. Yuuri collapsed to the ground.

Her body gave out first after all.

She’d gained new abilities from her deal with Iris, but her physical state hadn’t recovered. When she left the consciousness realm, her strength was almost gone.

Each time she used her powers, it felt like burning her own life away. Now, she was truly at her limit.

She’d already restrained the gargoyle—if she could just destroy the nest, it would all be over.

So why, at this crucial moment, did she collapse?

No… Not yet…

Clenching her jaw, she resolved to crawl if she had to. As long as she destroyed the nest, everything would end.

Behind her, a complicated light flickered in Little Evil God’s crimson eyes.

“Tch… Well, just this once—oh, wait, looks like she doesn’t need me after all.”

Watching Yuuri’s struggling form, Iris’s lips curled into a smile.

“Yuuri-chan, should I call you unlucky, or lucky?”

“Aiya, if I’d gotten here a little sooner, maybe you wouldn’t have had to pay this price.”

At that moment, Yuuri finally saw the nest’s blurry outline.

Forcing herself upright, she knew—as long as she could reach that place, she could…

But despair unfolded before her eyes.

The nest had shrunk again, and thick black mist gathered in front of it. From within, another gargoyle emerged.

Ahaha…

Even after all this, it’s still not enough?

A familiar figure landed in front of Yuuri. It was Iris.

“Aiya, your luck really is rotten. What should we do? How about you make another deal with me? Maybe if I help restore your body, you’ll have no trouble defeating the next gargoyle.”

“The price is the same as before—let me take a part of your body. How about that?”

Yuuri staggered to her feet.

Her gray-blue eyes filled with determination. After coming this far, how could she…

“Shraaak!”

A brilliant light suddenly tore through the darkness at her side, striking the freshly born gargoyle dead-on.

With a thunderous roar, blinding lightning swallowed the upper half of the gargoyle.

Startled, Yuuri instinctively shielded her eyes. When the light faded, the gargoyle had collapsed, a charred hole in its chest letting out a foul burnt stench.

Who—?

She turned reflexively, seeing a tall figure step steadily from the shadowy forest.

He wore plain iron armor, covering him head to toe like a walking can. On the breastplate was a sun-shaped emblem, as if drawn on by his own hand.

In his left hand, the knight held a thick round shield, also bearing the sun mark. His right hand was half-raised, as if it had just fired the lightning spear.

The knight strode forward, reaching the fallen gargoyle before it could get up. His sword flashed out, glowing so brightly it turned night to day.

The blade pierced the hole in the gargoyle’s chest. With that single strike, its massive body began to crumble, the flames in its eyes went out, and it became a pile of useless rubble—then drifted away on the wind as ash.

The gargoyle was slain.

The knight sheathed his sword. Lightning flickered in his hand, and a new lightning spear formed instantly.

The nest tried to resist one last time, but the knight’s spear was faster, crashing into it before the black mist could gather.

A blast of lightning tore the nest to shreds. When the light faded, only scorched earth remained.

The moment the nest was destroyed, the long, torturous night finally ended. On the distant horizon, dawn’s first light pierced the clouds, shining down on the battered forest.

So, she’d been fighting all night?

An overwhelming fatigue washed over her, but she managed to stagger to the knight and was about to thank him when the knight suddenly put away his weapons, facing the rising dawn.

He raised both hands high overhead, as if embracing the light at the horizon—his gesture brimming with reverence and solemnity. Then a deep, fervent voice rang out from beneath his helmet.

“Praise the sun!”

“Eh?”

The sudden scene left Yuuri momentarily stunned.

Then she saw the knight lower his arms and face her.

“Strange warrior, this is our first meeting. I am the Sun Knight, Solam.”