Chapter 116: Full Affinity Awakening

What was the correlation between speed and the power of one’s attack?

The answer might seem obvious to all of us.

It would clearly significantly enhance the power of one’s attack.

After all, a punch that hypothetically travelled at supersonic speeds would clearly be more powerful than a regular punch.

Even if said regular punch was from a trained boxer.

***

A few minutes earlier...

’It’s not time yet... I only have one chance, so I mustn’t waste it!’

Pandora bit her lip as she observed the heated battle between the monster and her companions

There were many times where it could have been dangerous for them, but she believed that they would be able to handle themselves.

After all, if she failed to take advantage of her element of surprise, her one and only opportunity, there would be a high chance that the monster would target her.

This would lead to her becoming a deadweight as the two would need to focus on protecting her.

It was the reason why she hid and patiently bided her time, not even letting out as much as a sound as she breathed.

At this moment, she saw the monster scraping the ground with its hooves.

Pandora’s eyes constricted.

Like Regis, she was able to remember the moment the monster was able to instantly arrive before them despite being a hundred meters away.

She then immediately tried to analyze the situation, ’The monster had its back towards Regis so it won’t be likely that he’s the target.’

’Then that only leaves...’ Her eyes darted around the area as she raised her right hand.

’Think! Think! A charge would mean that it can only dashed in a straight direction so while it’s fast, it’s also predictable.’

Pandora’s mind buzzed with a stream of thoughts in the span of a second.

As she charged the fireball with large amounts of mana, her right arm began to tremble.

She then used her left hand in order to support it, continuing to pour mana into the fireball.

’Launching the fireball straight at the monster would be like tickling it, so...’

Just as the horse-like lower back of the monster twitched, the large fireball on her hand also shot forward at high speed.

Woosh—

Woosh—

When the monster and the fireball were parallel from each other, Pandora made the fireball explode.

The shockwave caused the monster to crash to the ground.

However, Pandora could clearly sense the hostility hidden within its eyes as it stared at her.

It was obvious that the monster was annoyed by her little stunt.

The following events happened in a second.

Currently, time seemed to slow down as Pandora felt like she was staring death straight in the eye.

The monster instantly arrived in front of her after it broke free from the mana strings.

’It’s too fast...!’

Pandora felt the fear of death grip her heart as she stared at the bear claw that was already reaching towards her.

’Am I going to die...? But, isn’t it too fast? I’m just starting to enjoy life with Regis and yet...’

In the next second, the fear in her eyes seemed to disappear as it was replaced by utter calmness.

’It’s alright, I guess. At least I was able to be of help to him...’

Pandora smiled as she closed her eyes.

However, the certain death that had been reaching for her didn’t arrive.

’Hmmm?’

She slightly opened her eyes, but it widened in the next instant, "Wha-!?"

What greeted her sight were three things:

Regis’s expression of tranquility...

...the monster’s eyes that were filled with shock...

...and the large arm of a bear that was flying past her.

Pandora could also see the clean cut that had severed the monster’s arm from its shoulder, making her speechless.

She didn’t know what happened, but she knew better than to stand still in the middle of a battle.

Taking advantage of the fact that the monster wasn’t looking at her, she hid in the bushes.

"What’s up?"

SPLAT—

"Ow! Why did you slap m–"

"Shhh, I’ll use you as bait if the monster sees us because of your shout."

Pandora interrupted Killian with a deadpan expression as she returned her attention towards Regis and the monster.

Killian had an indignant expression on his face as he muttered, "You were the one who slapped me..."

"Are you saying something?"

"No..."

At this moment, Pandora glanced at him and saw that he was bleeding profusely.

"Don’t you have any bandages with you?"

"I have. It’s in the bag right there." Killian pointed his chin at the bag on the ground.

Pandora then frowned, "Then why don’t you bandage yourself?"

"I can’t." Said Killian with a shake of his head as he held his shoulder.

"Why?"

"It will fall off."

"What?" Pandora’s frown became deeper.

Killian chuckled and showed her the part of his shoulder that he was covering with his hand.

Seeing the few strands of tissues and muscles that connected his arm to his shoulder, Pandora understood what he was implying.

"Tsk, annoying."

"Don’t you pity me-!"

"Shut up. I’ll bandage your injuries right now so please just shut up."

Pandora had an annoyed expression on her face as she fetched the bandage and a healing potion from the bag.

Seeing her start to bandage him up, Killian laughed, "Do you even know what you’re doi-"

However, he couldn’t finish his words as he saw her bandage him up in an orderly manner.

For some reason, he remembered the way he showed the two of them the correct and effective ways of bandaging.

"This..."

He had an unsure expression on his face as he watched Pandora, ’It’s just like how I did it back when I showed it to them...’

"Urkkkk!!!"

However, he was shocked in the next second as he saw her opening his mouth before shoving the bottle of healing potion.

’Fucking hell—!!!’

Killian’s eyes widened tearfully, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

After all, one of his arms threatened to fall if he didn’t support it. So he had no choice but to gulp the healing potion.

"Don’t waste even a single drop. Unless you want your arm to fall." Pandora said with a monotonous voice.

After the bottle was emptied, she tossed it back to the bag before looking at the situation outside.

’Fucking demon!!!’

Killian couldn’t help but bow his head and have a coughing fit.

Cough— Cough—

Seeing her ruby-red eyes struck fear in his heart.

’I almost died...’

"Hey."

At this moment, Pandora called out to him before pointing outside the bushes.

Killian followed it with his gaze and saw that Regis and the monster were at a standstill.

"They had been like that since earlier. Do you know what’s happening?" Pandora asked as she frowned in confusion.

Killian chuckled and replied, "That monster must have felt it too."

"Huh? Felt what?"

"Try to sense it harder."

Following his instructions, Pandora closed her eyes and focused.

Almost half a minute had passed and she still felt nothing, making her frown.

Just as she was about to think that Killian was spouting bullshit, she felt it– an indescribable but weird feeling.

It was like boiling water– no, boiling magma that was threatening to erupt at any time.

’What’s this...’

At this moment, she opened her eyes and saw the white glow that Regis was emitting.

It became brighter as time passed by.

Pandora also noticed the fact that the monster seemed to be slowly backing up.

Glancing at Killian, she asked, "The monster seemed to be frozen. Won’t it be better if we attack it now?"

"No. Doing so will only spoil his fun..."

Replied Killian as he shook his head while staring at Regis, "He’s already got it."

"Huh? Got what?"

"The power of his affinity."

"Like your lightning?"

Killian nodded, "Yes, do you remember what he did to save us from Count Orpheus?"

"Ohh..."

Pandora had a look of realization on his face.

Killian spoke again, "Don’t worry too much. Nothing bad will happen to your crush."

"My wha–" Pandora blushed at his words.

However, before she could react, Killian pointed outside with a smile, "It’s starting."

"What’s starti– can you stop speaking in a mysterious manner? I’ll chop your arm personally if you do that one more time!"

Pandora had an annoyed expression on her face as glared at him.

However, Killian didn’t seem fazed this time as he only smiled, "Regis’s full awakening."

At this moment, Regis opened his eyes.

He then stared towards the monster before him with utmost tranquility.

Grrrrrr–

The monster’s human head tilted slightly as it showed a wary expression.

Then like a badly edited cut scene in a movie, the white haired boy in front of it suddenly disappeared.

SPLURTTTTT—!!!!!

The monster could only stare in disbelief as it saw its other arm in the air.

ROARRRRR!!!!!

It let out a deafening roar as it stared at the white haired boy behind it.