Resveil responds immediately to my voice. Against the airborne demons heading straight for us without hesitation, he raises his greatsword as if to swing it—and the moment the demons enter his range, he swings it powerfully.

The horizontal slash effortlessly cleaves the demons’ bodies. Moreover, it’s not just a simple slash; it generates the same wind blades I unleashed when I swung my spear, instantly obliterating the following demons.

“Indeed, it’s an excellent force.”

Garuku comments. I cover for the demons that the wind blades didn’t reach by shooting Holy Lances at them.

With this, we successfully intercepted them… Now I blow away the monsters approaching from the ground with my spear.

Using magic and techniques, the initial attacking unit is almost completely annihilated. The pursuing army is approaching, but there’s still some distance.

“Their movements still don’t seem to indicate they’re getting serious.”

Garuku suddenly speaks. As I was about to ask why, he explains.

“One reason they’re not getting serious seems to be that they think we still have a strategy and are investigating underground… but they don’t seem to have the slightest idea that they might be conquered and destroyed. Is it carelessness?”

“Well, from the demon race’s perspective, their opponent is just one human. They must have realized I possess considerable power, but they probably think my stamina and magic power will eventually run out.”

Even so, losing a unit should be a significant blow. There’s a good chance they’ll change tactics, but… while I’m thinking, the enemy approaches. As long as they’re not attacking with their entire army, this is a good opportunity for us to reduce their numbers.

I unleashed another hail of ice, defeating the monsters. I also further altered the terrain, blocking their path.

At this point, a report came in from the familiar in the sky. It seems they’re moving more of the army. And it’s the unit positioned behind where Sheldat is.

“Oh, looks like the Elite Guard.”

Apparently, they had their main force held in reserve. This unit is clearly superior in lethality to anything before, including high-durability monsters like Ogres and swarms of high-attack demons.

“I guess they thought it would be bad to continue as is?”

“Perhaps.”

While conversing with Garuku, I continued to defeat monsters with my spear and magic—and then, I spotted a new demon race.

“That’s far enough.”

A demon race clad in black skin and armor. Only its crimson eyes are visible on its face; it has no mouth or nose.

The demon race spewed magical power and charged at me, intimidating me—the fact that it’s “intimidating” is proof that it doesn’t fundamentally understand my abilities. Nevertheless, I gripped my spear, not letting my guard down.

In an instant, the demon race rushed forward as if flying. It doesn’t seem to have Sheldat’s teleportation ability, but it closed the distance in a flash.

Its weapon seemed to be its fist, and it swung its right arm back—the next moment, its fist suddenly swelled up.

“An ability to enlarge and increase power, huh?”

Garuku’s calm voice echoed in my head. Now, what should I do?

I could probably withstand it head-on, but—I chose to evade. The moment I quickly dodged to the side, the fist slammed into the spot where I had been standing.

A blow that even caused an earthquake. But the attack missed, and the demon race shifted its gaze to me—and I counterattacked.

“Gale Spear,” a lower-level Magic Sword Technique—the thrust enveloped in wind easily broke through the demon race’s defense, piercing its collarbone area. Not only that, but the wind exploded, creating a large hole in its chest.

“But, ah–!”

The Demon Race lets out a cry and collapses. In the meantime, I use more magic to defeat the monsters that are trying to approach.

Repeated use of “Earth Force” has made the terrain quite distorted. It’s getting harder and harder to detour here, and the army’s progress is definitely slowing down.

The Demon Race that took the spear earlier vanishes. The monsters show no sign of rampaging, forcing their way through the changed battlefield to get closer to me.

“–Wind”

I responded to such an opponent with Wind attribute Intermediate Magic “Dragon Claw.” I’ve made some arrangements, so the attack range is wider compared to what an ordinary magic user would use.

The monster touches it–and vanishes easily. But more and more keep coming from behind. Are they trying to overwhelm me with numbers?

“Then… let’s see.”

I decide which magic to use and begin the incantation. In the meantime, demons and griffins approach from the sky, and soldiers like kobolds attack on the ground.

“–Perish.”

But I’m faster–I used Wind attribute Advanced Magic “Rune Cyclone.” Originally, it’s a magic that causes a tornado to rise from the ground into the sky, but this time it’s an applied version. I released it horizontally.

As a result, a fierce wind is born directly in front of me. Each wind that makes up the tornado is a strong blade, and the demons and monsters on the ground receive the magic without time to dodge, one after another, and disappear.

The terrain is further disturbed by the wind, and the monsters’ movements become even slower–yet the magic continues, successfully destroying all the demons that were trying to approach from behind.

“……If I do this much, will I really be put on guard?”

I use my familiar to survey the situation… and at this point, the second unit that was trying to approach us began to retreat.

Instead, what approaches is the Demon Race’s main force… it seems they’ve judged that they can’t handle it with inferior forces.

“Well, it seems like they’re about to get serious.”

“That possibility seems high, but–“

Just as Garuku’s mental voice echoes, a Demon Race lands on the raised ground.

“Well, you’ve certainly messed things up.”

It’s Sheldat. I silently gaze at him, and he continues.

“Yes, I’ve realized that the monsters and Demon Race on the front lines can’t handle it.”

“Are you going to be my opponent this time?”

“I’d like to, but I’m the Commander-in-Chief, after all. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to make do with the main force.”

…There’s also the option of defeating Sheldat here, but since he’s the Commander-in-Chief, there’s a risk that the monsters could rampage if I defeat him carelessly. It would also be difficult to defeat them if they scattered in all directions, so maybe I shouldn’t defeat him yet.

“Well, if the main force is coming, I’ll wait.”

“You’re confident. How long will that last?”

Sheldat smiles. His relaxed expression hasn’t broken, but what is he thinking inside? If he fundamentally understood my abilities, I think he would change his movements more–

My familiar in the sky warns me that the main force, starting with ogres, is finally approaching. However, the battlefield, now full of obstacles, makes it impossible for large monsters to pass. I was wondering what they would do–then I heard the sound of rocks being crushed.

It seems the monsters have started clearing obstacles. Are they destroying them to forcibly create a path? It’s an act only possible because they have the strength.

“They are the reserve unit I prepared.”

Sheldat continues to speak.

“Originally, I didn’t think it was necessary to bring them out this far against the human forces… well, we also need to show the humans clearly what it means to defy us.”

–At that moment, I couldn’t help but laugh. Immediately, Sheldat showed a suspicious expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“–No, it’s nothing.”

I answered and looked at the ogres. A force that relies on brute strength… indeed, this kind of force would be a threat to the human side.

“……Does the fact that such a unit has come forward mean I can take it as a decent evaluation?”

“Ah, that’s right. I’ll make you regret defying us.”

“I see.”

After replying, I readied my spear. At the same time, an Ogre, about three meters tall, charged at me as if leading the vanguard.