Staring at the approaching Ogre, I readied my spear. Even for an Ogre, its leader was nearly three meters tall. It was a superior species called a High Ogre, and due to its massive size, its attack range was wide. It only used physical attacks, but in the game, there was a pattern where it would attack even the backline from its wide range, causing them to become incapacitated.

“Even if you’re huge, it won’t work.”

I mentioned it, but Sheldat maintained his composed expression and let them charge.

In that case, I first unleashed a “Holy Lance” towards the High Ogre. The spear pierced through the Ogre’s chest with terrifying speed, but it still didn’t stop moving.

“What…?”

“It’s useless. We are aware that your abilities are quite formidable. We’ve taken countermeasures.”

Sheldat said. Staring at the approaching monsters, I tried to begin the incantation to use “Rune Cyclone” as before, and then I realized something.

The approaching unit, including the High Ogre, was being controlled by Demonic Power. The reason they were still moving without disappearing even after their chests were destroyed was… because the Demon Race was forcibly maintaining their magic power.

If such measures had been applied to all the monsters in the squad…

“I’ve inferred the extent of your power from your magic. Surely you can’t deal with this, can you?”

Is he trying to guess my strength and forcibly maintain the monsters to break through? No, in this case, it’s a strategy he set up to finish me off.

However, Sheldat has made a mistake. I haven’t even unleashed my full power yet. From the Demon Race’s perspective, they would likely believe that a human with extraordinary abilities like mine couldn’t exist, and it wouldn’t be strange for them to perceive my current abilities as my limit.

Now, how should I move? While I was thinking, the High Ogre approached.

“Have you run out of strategies?”

Sheldat spoke again… and I made my decision. I gripped my spear, showing my stance to meet the attack.

Immediately after, the High Ogre with a hole in its chest approached. The monsters following behind also increased their momentum.

I regulated my breathing and poured power into my spear. Against the approaching monsters, I unleashed my magic power.

Wind attribute advanced magic sword technique, “Holy Wind.” It’s a powerful attack that scatters a whirlwind accompanied by particles of light over a wide area in front, hitting multiple times.

In addition, the output was higher than ever before. In an instant, Sheldat’s expression changed.

The next moment, a whirlwind danced in front of me, and the High Ogre with a hole in its chest was blown away.

Furthermore, some of the monsters behind it were also destroyed… At this point, I began my incantation. With even greater magic convergence than before, I thrust my left hand towards the still advancing monsters.

“Perish.”

I used the Wind attribute Advanced Magic, “Rune Cyclone.” A fierce wind danced around and collided head-on with the monsters.

Sheldat had set up a strategy, but contrary to his expectations, the monsters were instantly obliterated by the blades.

“…I see, so there’s still more to it.”

At this point, Sheldat’s voice was laced with caution. However, he didn’t seem to fully understand my abilities yet. I continued to intercept the attacking monsters… Suddenly, their advance stopped.

I looked at Sheldat. Noticing my gaze, he vanished with a short-range teleportation.

“What will you do?”

Garuku asked. I thought for a moment… then watched the retreating monsters and muttered.

“Let’s observe… Garuku, where are the Demon Wolves’ reinforcements?”

“They’ll arrive soon.”

“Then, make sure to surround the army so the monsters don’t scatter.”

“Scatter? Why?”

“The Demon Race will likely be more serious next time, so it wouldn’t be strange for a commanding Demon Race member to appear.”

Immediately after I replied, Sheldat appeared in the spot he had just been standing.

“Thanks for waiting.”

“Are you ready?”

“Well… I guess I have no choice but to admit it in this situation.”

Sheldat shrugged. Just then, a report came from a familiar in the sky. It wasn’t the army, but the demon race that was approaching them.

“What is your objective?”

Sheldat asked. I stared at my opponent and said,

“To crush you here.”

“So, you’re an assassin for that purpose, I presume.”

The demon race entered my sight. Some were clad in black robes, others in armor. Some looked like humans, while others were almost indistinguishable from demons.

There were over ten of them. Realizing that monsters alone wouldn’t be enough, the demon race seemed to have taken direct action.

“Are these…elite guards of the demon race?”

“That’s right.”

Sheldat admitted to my question.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you play any longer. I’m going to crush you.”

“If you can.”

I regulated my breathing and readied my spear. Sheldat, as well as some members of the demon race commanding the monsters, were probably mixed in. The army was still present, but… I had no choice but to do it.

“If you’re coming, then come. I’ll send you to your end.”

“Then, I’ll do just that—!”

Sheldat moved. The other demon race members also moved in unison, attacking me to surround me.

It was a desperate situation—or so it would have seemed to an outsider.

“—Go, Lord Ruon.”

Garuku said… the next moment, I threw away my spear.

“What…?”

Sheldat uttered. The spear created by magic vanished in mid-air, and in exchange, I began my incantation.

The magic I used was “Durandal.” It was the magic I was most skilled at, and it rapidly increased my magic power.

And I unleashed the magic power sleeping within me as if it were exploding.

“Wha—”

Sheldat sensed my ability.

In an instant, the light sword swept around me. As a result, the attacking demon race members were slashed—and with just one strike, they were annihilated, except for Sheldat.

Only he avoided it with a short-range teleportation just before my blade reached him—thinking I’d deal with him later, I turned my gaze to the demon race members who hadn’t entered the attack range. Without exception, their faces were filled with astonishment.

A large opening. I rushed forward fiercely, bringing them within sword range.

The demon race members finally began to move, but it was decisively too late. With a single swing of my sword, the remaining demon race members received the light sword and were completely annihilated.

“…That was anticlimactic.”

“It’s a natural result when Lord Ruon is involved,”

Listening to Garuku’s words, I shifted my gaze. The only remaining Sheldat stood there, half-bewildered.

“Impossible… You…”

Sheldat turned his head towards me and groaned. I wanted to attack, but he would probably escape the moment I made any move.

So, I spoke.

“So, the strategy was to not let you realize the full extent of my power.”

At the same time, the monsters roared in unison. I thought they would rampage, but they hadn’t moved yet.

“There must have been many demon race members serving as commanders. The reason they’re not rampaging is probably because the remaining demon race members are desperately trying to control them, isn’t it?”

“—I see, I understand completely.”

The moment I stated my conjecture, Sheldat’s voice came again.

“It seems I was wrong from the start… but it’s not over.”

“That Demon Race earlier must have been a considerable force, right? There are still a lot of monsters… how do you plan to fight?”

Sheldat vanished without answering my question. I sighed and dispelled my magic.

“Now, what move will he make next…?”

“Lord Ruon, reinforcements have arrived. The Demon Wolves are surrounding the army, blocking their escape route.”

At this point, I received a report from Garuku. I nodded and squinted at the remaining enemy army.

“Tell them not to move yet, as we don’t know what Sheldat will do.”

“Understood… If I had to guess, would it be an all-out army charge?”

“Now that he knows my abilities, he must have realized that half-hearted methods won’t work. In that case—”

At that moment, the stirrings of magic power emanated from the center of the army. A thick miasma, clearly visible even from this distance.

“I suppose this is his final strategy…”

I muttered at the immense power and gave Garuku instructions.

“Tell Zaam and the Demon Wolves to stand by here.”

“Yes.”

“Resveil, let’s go.”

I ran with the Spirits. An eerie amount of magic power swirled at the center of the army.

What was he planning? As various conjectures crossed my mind, I headed towards the enemy army to settle things with Sheldat.