This stupid goddamn parallel world and its ridiculous rules!
I wonder which genius decided that vampires here get stronger when sunlight hits them. It was completely absurd.
I still couldn't wrap my head around it as I dodged Demian's powerful attacks as best I could. His fists had grown so massive that a single blow would be enough to knock my head clean off.
And the worst part? His speed hadn't dropped at all.
"Kaizer, could you explain why you did that stupid thing?" Aqua complained. "Did you hit your head or something?"
"Aqua, you're not helping at all!" I shot back while ducking under another punch. "Besides, how the hell was I supposed to know sunlight would make this guy stronger?!"
"That's why I tried to stop you, Mr. Kaizer," Dikon said apologetically.
"GAAAH!" the Fang Demon roared furiously. "DAMN WORMS! WHY WON'T YOU STAY STILL SO I CAN CRUSH YOU ALREADY?!"
"That's it, Kaizer! Keep drawing his attention until he's exhausted so I can finish him with my divine strike!" Aqua cheered.
Strategy? Didn't she realize I was barely managing to defend myself? One wrong move and I'd be splattered across the floor with my bones shattered.
Taking advantage of Aqua looking away, the Fang Demon seized the opening and swung a devastating punch at the archpriest.
"WAAH!" Aqua shrieked in horror, covering her head with both hands.
Without thinking twice, I stepped forward and threw myself into the path of the attack, raising my shield to face level. The impact shook my entire body like I was standing in the middle of an earthquake.
"You okay?" I asked the blue-haired goddess.
She looked at me doubtfully. "Y-Yeah… I think so."
"Aqua, I need you to go ahead and rescue those girls. The demon already told us they're behind that door. Go make sure they're safe."
"Huh?! Why do I have to go?!"
"JUST GO!" I shouted. "We won't get another chance! Dikon and I will distract him as long as we can! Hurry!"
"Fine! I'll do it! But I'm doing it because I want to, not because you told me to!" Aqua protested, flailing her arms dramatically before finally breaking into a run.
Realizing what we were trying to do, the demon raised his massive fist again, preparing a second devastating blow.
Meanwhile, Dikon kept frantically slashing at the demon's thick legs, clearly trying to immobilize him. As usual, his attacks didn't even seem to tickle the powerful Fang Demon.
"TRASH!" Demian roared, unleashing his attack.
Knowing how pitiful Dikon's stats were, I was certain that if the boy took the hit head-on, he'd be sent flying in a thousand pieces.
So, I raised my shield once more.
"Look out!" I yelled, throwing myself toward him.
"Huh?!"
"You fell for it, idiot!"
However, at the last second Demian stopped his punch mid-swing and spun backward with surprising agility. His tail shot out like a whip.
A split second later, Dikon had vanished from sight — or rather, his body went flying through the air.
As for me, all I could do was raise my shield and brace myself. The blow was so strong that even then I was knocked backward.
"Mr. Kaizer… I'm really sorry… I wanted to rescue those girls… and in the end… I'm completely useless…"
"Dikon! Can you move?!" I rolled to the side and felt a sharp stab of pain that made me groan. I probably had one or two broken ribs. "Get out of here, quick! Go back to Axel and get help!"
"No… I… I can't do that… If I run now… you…"
"If you run now, you'll live!" I insisted.
The boy raised a trembling hand toward me. I never found out if he was asking for help or just trying to crawl closer.
Then his hand dropped to the floor, and Dikon stopped moving entirely.
Just as I was about to run to him, I felt enormous fingers close around my arm. The next thing I knew, I was lifted into the air like a rag doll.
The demon's red eyes, now burning with twisted hatred, stared straight into mine.
"Do you idiots really think I'd let any of you escape?" he asked in a cold, cruel voice.
"Well, what can I say? I've always considered myself a pretty optimistic guy," I mocked.
The hand gripping my arm squeezed even tighter.
Then I screamed.