Chapter 336: Fighting the Demon Lord IV

’T-This is bad...!’

Merriam inwardly cried out in distress as she darted through the air, desperately evading the relentless barrage of attacks converging on her from every direction.

Just moments earlier, Killian, Raxon, and Patti had joined the battle in support of Elysia.

’I’ve barely been able to keep up with the Queen while she’s fighting with nothing but her physical body...’

’And now I have to deal with three more experts!?’

Merriam secretly gritted her teeth.

Completely forced onto the defensive, she no longer had the slightest opportunity to launch a counterattack.

At her command, enormous blood-red vines covered in razor-sharp thorns burst from the ground, intertwining to form towering barriers that kept her pursuers at bay.

The colossal vines surged toward the heavens like crimson pillars, as though they sought to bridge the earth and the sky.

BZZZT—!

A flash of yellow lightning crackled across the battlefield with blinding intensity as Killian’s figure flickered from one point to another.

’Damn it... This lightning user is a pain in the ass!’

Every time Killian launched an attack, Merriam was forced to burst away at full speed, refusing to let him close the distance.

Swoosh—

Just as she thought she had created enough space to regain her bearings, a sharp gust sliced through the air behind her.

She instinctively glanced over her shoulder.

It was Raxon.

The dwarf-giant hybrid’s massive figure shot skyward like a launched boulder, his great weapon poised to strike as fierce determination gleamed in his eyes.

’What the hell...!?’

Merriam’s heart skipped a beat.

The towering warrior charging toward her felt less like a person and more like a small mountain crashing through the sky.

Realizing she had no time to alter her flight path, she hurriedly cast a magic spell.

[Master Rank Magic: Gravitas Aucta]

Merriam’s melodious chant echoed through the battlefield, though her face twisted in pain.

’Forcefully casting a Master-rank spell while maintaining an evil craft... This is my last resort! I can’t keep this up!’

Even so, her gamble paid off.

In an instant, the gravity surrounding Raxon increased severalfold.

His charging momentum came to an abrupt halt before he was violently dragged back toward the ground.

BOOM!

The earth cracked beneath his feet as he crashed down.

The crushing pressure was so overwhelming that it forced even Raxon to one knee.

Unlike the others, he possessed no means of flight and relied solely on the tremendous force of his leaps to join the aerial battle.

"Thank goodness..."

Merriam finally let out a sigh of relief.

But before she could catch her breath, a brilliant golden radiance suddenly filled her vision.

Instinctively, she raised a hand to shield her eyes.

’What now?!’

A golden figure was already charging straight toward her.

It was none other than Patti, his radiant golden armor gleaming like a miniature sun.

He gripped his battle hammer with both hands as he rode atop his golden shield, which weaved through the countless colossal thorn-covered vines.

Below him, while Auryn assisted the other mages in breaking the demonic barrier, her left hand remained raised, casually waving through the air as though she were conducting an orchestra.

With every motion of her hand, the shield beneath Patti responded instantly, weaving deftly through the chaotic aerial battlefield.

Auryn was multitasking, as her brother had no means of flight on his own.

The siblings’ teamwork had reached a terrifying level, coordinating so seamlessly that it was as though they could read each other’s minds.

’Why the hell is he so shiny!?’

Merriam gritted her teeth as she waved her own hand.

In an instant, the colossal thorny vines surrounding Patti converged toward him, completely blocking his path and forcing him onto the defensive, bringing his charge to an abrupt halt.

However...

That was exactly what they had been planning all along.

Now, with all the colossal vines converging on one side, Merriam’s only blind spot was finally exposed.

Swoosh—

"You dare use nature magic against me!?"

Wisteria-like tattoos still covering her body, Elysia shot through the sky as she swung her fist straight at Merriam.

"Hah! You’re truly predictable, Your Majesty!"

Merriam let out a disdainful chuckle as she turned around, her eyes calm and composed.

She had anticipated this from the very beginning.

"What would your people say if they knew that the Queen of the Elves needed to join forces with others just to fight a mere cult leader?"

Elysia’s expression remained unchanged.

During their prolonged battle, she had already learned to rein in her emotions as she gradually adapted to the condition of her soul.

Merriam’s taunts no longer had any effect on her.

Still, Merriam raised her fists, secretly gritting her teeth.

’Ugh... I can’t risk overloading myself by casting another magic spell. I’ll have to fight with my bare hands!’

Nevertheless, the demonic power—a higher form of energy that had corrupted her stars—also enhanced her physical body, allowing an otherwise ordinary mage to hold her own in close combat.

As Merriam effortlessly parried the punch aimed at her abdomen, a smug smile spread across her face.

She immediately seized Elysia’s wrist.

"Oho? Your attacks seem to be getting weaker~."

However, Elysia merely smiled.

Then, to Merriam’s surprise, she reached out with her free hand and firmly grabbed the wrist that was restraining her.

Merriam’s eyes widened.

Before she could regain her composure, Elysia shouted,

"Now!"

’Wha—’

Merriam did not even have time to process what had happened before a soft chant echoed beside her ear.

[Lux Aeterna]

Her instincts screamed.

But it was already too late.

Before she could react, an iridescent blade had already sliced halfway through her neck.

***

Within the demonic barrier...

"More! More! Just a little more!"

Aziza’s fanatic voice echoed throughout the sacred land.

Her previous elegance had completely vanished, replaced by an expression of pure obsession as tears of joy gathered at the corners of her eyes.

However, at that moment...

Thud!

A heavy impact resounded.

Aziza turned toward the source of the sound and froze.

Merriam’s body had crashed against the inside of the demonic barrier, causing the entire formation to violently flicker.

’What—?’

Before Aziza could process what had happened...

Crack—!

A faint but unmistakable sound echoed.

Her gaze immediately shifted toward the opposite side of the barrier.

The portion that had been under attack by the mages and aether users had finally begun to fracture.

The two events were connected as with Merriam’s defeat, the demonic barrier had also begun to collapse.