Berganda’s axe slammed down over the small body.
The sheer force of it was enough to fold the kobold in half, and the momentum of the swing threw the gray form into the ground as if tossed aside like a worthless rag.
Sheto bounced off the ground, crashed down again, and then rolled until he stopped.
“Aghh…!”
At the same time, Berganda clutched his side and fell to one knee.
Apparently, the blow to his flank had cut deeper than he expected. And the spinning and twisting of his body had made the wound even worse.
“…What do you think? My technique?”
Still, Berganda forced himself back to his feet, and then he glared down at Sheto.
“My technique used my own body as the axis. And by channeling power through my center, I can swing faster than any strike my arms alone are capable of. And deliver it with greater force.”
The kobold was still alive. Blood streamed from his nose and mouth, and his broken arms thrashed desperately as he glared back.
“You don’t understand, do you? Well, I am not not explaining it for your benefit. I am merely passing the time so that your wounds can heal.”
Berganda said as he rested the axe on his shoulder again.
“Gah…hah…ha…ga…zah…hah…”
Though his breath was ragged, Sheto managed to rise to his feet while using his weapon as support.
“That is the spirit.”
The throbbing pain in his side was growing stronger.
And the lightning fast movements had placed a considerable strain on both of his legs.
If he shifted into a defensive stance now, and deflected Sheto’s attacks, he could likely break Sheto’s spirit.
But who would want an ending like that?
Berganda grinned and continued to taunt Sheto.
“Surely that is not all you have got! Show me more! More!”
—
Berganda’s taunts echoed through Sheto’s head, which was already ringing violently from the pain.
“Do-don’t…tell…me…”
Sheto could hardly believe that his body was still in one piece. He had been hit again and again by powerful swings, and every time, his body healed but was left more battered than before.
Even with the power of his divine vessel, his magic and the blessings supporting him, the pain crashing over him was nearly unbearable.
“What…to do…”
He said, as if those were magic words.
Berganda’s body was a fortress of iron.
Even if Sheto tried to slip past him, Berganda would turn to face him in an instant. And with that same attack would be unleashed.
The only reason Sheto was still alive was because the demon general seemed to enjoy toying with him. But the moment he decided it was no longer worth the amusement, he would kill Sheto without hesitation.
He looked down at the weapons at his disposal.
The armor protecting his hands and feet were useless against that axe. Still, they had prevented his bones from being crushed completely, which was more than he could ask for.
His thorn whip and hatchet could not stop Berganda. In order to stop that attack, he would have to use up the power of his divine vessel.
And he could not rely on Guto, who was now taking care of Fi. And he had given them the invisibility vessel in case they would need it.
The only thing remaining to him was the blessing that would use Salia’s life as a sacrifice.
“Salia. Do not use, your blessing. No matter what.”
With those words, Sheto was casting aside his last lifeline.
‘Very well.’
“Instead, if something happens, to me. Care for Fi, and Guto.”
‘I refuse.’
While her voice trembled, she was determined.
‘I will not permit you to fight with the intention of dying. You must return alive.’
“…Fine.”
He nodded, and then tore the cloak from his shoulders with one swift motion.
And then he stripped off the armor from his hands and feet and threw them aside as well.