[Advanced Death Magic: Soul-Devouring Reversal]
A dense, black miasma gathered in the palm of a cloaked beastman, coalescing into a spiraling vortex of death and screaming souls before everyone's eyes.
When Augustus unleashed his torrential dragonfire, the infernal blaze was immediately drawn into that dark vortex—swallowed whole.
As the torrent subsided, the beastman lifted his palm again. The vortex spun in reverse, and the stolen dragonfire erupted outward—this time surging back toward Augustus and the knight beside him.
"Tch. Annoying."
The dragon swore under his breath, readying another gout of flame to clash with the counterattack—
—but before he could, a clear, steady voice rang beside him.
"Lord Augustus, please—allow me."
The young knight stepped forward, her sacred sword raised high. Every rune etched upon the blade was now blazing with light.
"The sword of a knight is swung for the glory of the Lord of Holy Light—unto death, I will not yield!"
As her words fell, she brought the sword down. A radiant slash split the incoming torrent clean in half, sending twin arcs of fire screaming past on either side. The strike did not slow—it cut through the black-robed caster behind the spell, cleaving him cleanly in two.
The enemies standing behind him were caught in the shockwave, several hurled back through the air like rag dolls.
Seeing an opening, the knight dove forward like a meteor.
Wherever she passed, none could withstand a single blow.
The warriors' weapons shattered upon contact with her holy blade, and only the nimblest of mages managed to retreat far enough to launch spells at her from afar.
But every spell dissolved upon meeting the sword's light, breaking apart into raw, harmless elements.
"Damn it! Is she trying to kill herself!?" a hammer-wielding beastman cursed. His weapon had already been sliced to pieces earlier; if not for a nearby mage's protection, he would've been bisected by now.
"Hold her off! The Holy Sword's backlash will drain her soon enough!" a mage shouted from behind.
But just as he finished his incantation, a roaring inferno surged toward him—the dragon's breath. Panicked, he redirected his half-cast spell to intercept.
A blinding explosion followed. Flame and shockwaves ripped across the battlefield, the heat so intense it warped the air.
The mage exhaled in shaky relief—only for a massive, smoke-wreathed dragon claw to burst from the firestorm and seize his head.
He didn't even have time to scream. With a wet crunch, his body was reduced to crimson mist.
"Pathetic."
Augustus flicked the blood from his claws, expression one of disgust. The smoke still rising from his arm betrayed that even a dragon's body paid a price for such recklessness.
"Damn dragon!"
A furious roar came from the side. Augustus turned—just in time to see a towering wolf beastman charging at him, a massive greatsword in hand.
He raised a claw to block—but a sharp pain flared in his gut. Looking down, he saw a short blade protruding from his abdomen, and a dark figure darting away into the chaos.
"Cowardly rat!"
He bellowed in fury, ready to give chase—but the wolf beastman was already upon him. The greatsword came down, wreathed in deathly energy, aiming straight for his wings.
Augustus twisted aside, but not fast enough. The death-charged blade grazed his tail, and a spray of scalding dragon blood hissed into the air.
"Elena! How much longer do you plan to drag this out!? We're both going to die at this rate!" the dragon roared, swatting the wolf beastman away with a thunderous blow.
"Just hold on! Reinforcements are almost here!" the knight shouted back, her voice strained but resolute. Even with the Holy Sword, the endless waves of enemies were grinding her down. Their new tactic—sending only agile fighters to harass her—kept her from landing any decisive blows.
"Reinforcements, huh? Pity they're ours!"
One of the beastmen tauntingly laughed mid-duel. Around them, the other beastmen began to cheer.
"Reinforcements?"
Augustus frowned, glancing toward the horizon—but saw nothing.
"What reinforcements?"
Before his words even faded, a chill gust swept across the battlefield. The wind was cool, almost refreshing—so much so that even the great dragon shivered.
"Wind…?"
"No!" the knight's expression twisted in alarm. "It's her—the Gale Witch, Tempest Gail!"
"A witch!?" Augustus' eyes widened. A Saint-level witch was no easy foe.
He didn't have time to think further. The breeze suddenly turned savage.
Moments later, a colossal tornado roared into view, devouring everything in its path as it tore across the plains toward them.
"Damn it! Even the elements themselves are being pulled in—what kind of spell is that!?" Augustus cursed, already preparing to flee.
"Lord Augustus!" the knight shouted over the roaring winds. "I can unleash one more strike! I'm certain I can cut through this storm—but it'll drain the last of my strength! Please, hold them off for just a few minutes more—until the Church's forces arrive!"
"Then hurry up and swing, girl! Stop talking!" the dragon bellowed back—but he didn't run. He stayed.
He wanted to see it with his own eyes—whether this young knight, like her uncle before her, could truly create a miracle.
The girl's battle aura flared, turning near-solid as it poured into her sword. Holy light erupted from the blade, humming louder and louder until it sounded like the sword itself was screaming in fury.
Then, with a calm motion, she swung.
It looked like a simple slash—but the moment the blade cut the air, her energy burst forth like a dam breaking.
A massive arc of light—so bright it split heaven and earth—shot forth, cleaving straight toward the monstrous tornado.
In an instant, the storm that seemed like a force of nature itself was split clean in two.