Turning Tide

Nova dodged about, Yudola stabbing at him while the blood giant tried to absorb him with huge punches and kicks.

『Come back, Nova~!』[Yudola]

He stayed quick on his feet, not staying in a spot for long.

Now that everyone was freed from her control, he was relatively carefree, even breaking into a grin.

『No thanks.』[Nova]

He narrowly dodged from the blood giant's swing before Yudola came lunging at him with her knife.

『Area!』[Nova]

Her knife entered the Area while going in, causing her to attempt to slow herself down.

Nova quickly glanced up at the blood golem that was slowly recovering it's posture for another swing.

『...Looks like we're getting two repeats.』[Nova]

He quickly grabbed her arm and shifted his body so that he was facing the Area.

『...GO!』[Nova]

He pulled her forward, throwing her into the portal.

『KYAAAH?!』[Yudola]

The second portal appeared from tens of feet above them.

After a few seconds, she crashed roughly into the ground.

『...KHAHK?!』[Yudola]

Nova stretched his body, slightly sore.

『...Copying Hanzo and Leo is a lot harder than I expected...』[Nova]

He quickly started running again, the blood giant moving again.

「...Blunt damage is soaked up by the mana shield at the point of impact, but to a much bigger extent that piercing attacks are. So, if I drop her over and over, eventually she will not able to move… while not endangering her life. 」[Nova]

She suddenly twitched, pulling herself off the floor.

『...You… You're not going at me seriously, ARE YOU?!』[Yudola]

She raised her arm up to her side and shouted at Nova.

『DO YOU SEE THIS, NOVA?!』[Yudola]

He stared at her arm, but nothing was perceivable.

She screamed at him, tears of anger running down her face.

『WATCH!』[Yudola]

She scrambled to pick up the feather knife off the ground before stabbing it into her arm.

He was taken by surprise, shouting back at her.

『What are you doing?!』[Nova]

Blood dripped onto the knife before hitting the floor.

『...This is how serious I am.』[Yudola]

Her blood covered her entire arm.

『Either I die… or you will!』[Yudola]

Her body was still, not an ounce of fear in her eyes.

「She's… insane! There isn't even a mana shield covering her body anymore! My plan won't work!」[Nova]

He backed up a few steps, but she raised her knife again.

Mune and Zousa were putting in their two cents.

『...This girl is crazy…!』[Zousa]

『...Wouldn't it be fine to just let her die…?』[Mune]

Nova turned to Mune and shook his head vehemently.

『We can't let her die! A hero wouldn't let anyone die!』[Nova]

Mune was taken off guard by this.

『...A… A hero?』[Mune]

Nova suddenly realized what he said, before his face turned a bit pink and he turned back to her.

『Reischneid!』[Nova]

He quickly formed a blade after the hilt formed.

「...Oops. That was pretty embarrassing...」[Nova]

「So you want to be a hero, Nova?」[Reischneid]

「Urk… shut it.」[Nova]

He shifted his stance to put his sword in front of him.

「Well, you know- history's greatest hero is right here!」[Reischneid]

「Really? Where?!」[Nova]

He ran toward Yudola, confident enough in his swordsmanship to disarm her.

「...Damn. Enough of this for now. Focus on her. I won't have enough mana to manifest myself long enough to help, and she's unpredictable.」[Reischneid]

Mune and Zousa got their weapons ready too, about to rush in before Nova glanced toward them while still running.

『Stay out of this!』[Nova]

They stopped in place, staring in shock.

『You both took serious hits earlier! You think you have it in you to fight right now?!』[Nova]

Mune was about to argue, but his knee suddenly gave out and he coughed out dark blood, prompting Zousa to grab him by the shoulder.

『H-hey! What's wrong?!』[Zousa]

『...My ribs..! I think… it pierced one of my organs…?! How didn't… I feel this until now?!』[Mune]

Nova clashed blades with Yudola before quickly backing up and dodging another swing from the blood giant

『...See?! Zousa, I can tell as well- you aren't in top condition either, are you?!』[Nova]

Mune looked over to Zousa as well.

Now that he was closer, he saw that Zousa was clearly out of breath, and as pale as a corpse.

『...Damn it… seriously?! You've got to be fucking kidding me…!』[Mune]

『...Regaining my body took its toll. The forbidden abilities that the demon used during that fight with you all also used a significant amount of my strength...』[Zousa]

Nova swung at Yudola's dagger in an attempt to disarm her, spraying sparks through the surroundings.

The blood giant began to pulsate strangely, causing all of them to eye it strangely.

Once Nova noticed it, any remnant of his carefree attitude disappeared.

『Isn't this…?! You two, quickly! Grab the people you took out and run! RUN!』[Nova]

Mune took only a split second to realize what he meant.

『GO!』[Mune]

He lunged forth toward Grynzael, but it was already too late.

A tentacle made entirely out of blood jetted out at him, absorbing Grynzael into the body of the blood giant.

『Damn it! Too late!』[Mune]

The three meter giant began to grow into a 4 meter one, and it showed no sign of stopping.

At this point, Zousa got the gist of it.

『...Not good.』[Zousa]