Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The relentless clashing of steel reverberated through the dense forest, a testament to the ferocity of the battle unfolding.
Yukina and the lancer knight moved at speeds beyond ordinary human perception—one wielding her silver spear, the other a cavalry lance—charging at each other like unstoppable war machines. Their weapons danced in blinding arcs, colliding in showers of sparks and gales of wind.
The lancer knight's combat skills were undeniable. Knowing Sekkaro could neutralize Foreign Erosion, he refrained from using it, relying purely on physical prowess. Yet even against Yukina's Spirit Vision and body-enhancing spells, he held his ground.
But failing to gain the upper hand was itself a disadvantage.
With the gun knight down and the lancer knight occupied, the staff knight was left alone to deal with the dragon from Shinjin Lake—and was now facing its furious counterattack.
ROOOAR!
Seizing the opportunity, the bloodied dragon ignored its wounds and fought desperately. It clamped its jaws around one wyvern's body, tearing out a chunk of flesh and sending the shrieking creature crashing to the ground.
Freeing itself from one foe, the dragon swung its massive claws like hammers, smashing several mechanical puppets aside. Then it lunged at another wyvern, sinking its fangs deep into the beast's neck. The wyvern writhed in agony, its struggles growing weaker.
"Damn it!"
The staff knight's face twisted in fury as she raised her staff—only for Yuiri to intercept.
"Haaaah!"
Moving with speed rivaling Yukina's, Yuiri closed the distance in a flash and swung her space-severing blade downward.
The Improved Six-Armed Demon-Slaying Sword's spatial fault could cleave through any material—assuming the enemy lacked a counter.
"Stay out of this, brat!"
A cold, disdainful woman's voice rang from beneath the staff knight's mask. With a sweep of her cloak, black auroras erupted—
Clang!
The unblockable sword struck the Foreign Erosion barrier and rebounded harmlessly. Against the power that nullified all supernatural abilities, the Demon-Slaying Sword became just an ordinary greatsword.
Without a weapon like the Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven, Yuiri stood no chance.
"Ugh...!"
She hastily retreated—but the staff knight pressed forward instead.
To Yuiri's shock, the staff knight closed the gap with unexpected agility, delivering a knifehand strike to Yuiri's wrist.
Thud!
"Aah!"
Yuiri cried out, her grip failing as the sword clattered to the ground. Now disarmed, she froze in panic.
"Die!"
The staff knight spun into a flying roundhouse kick aimed straight for Yuiri's neck—a blow that would snap it instantly.
Yuiri's mind blanked.
Until—
Thump!
A fist suddenly buried itself in the staff knight's abdomen mid-kick, sending her flying.
"Guh—!"
The staff knight crashed and rolled across the dirt.
"Eh? Ehhh?!"
Yuiri stared dumbfounded at her own fist—not with joy, but utter bewilderment, her eyes wide with confusion.
Then Yuiri realized - an invisible force had enveloped her fist, guiding her movement.
Pure telekinesis.
"What were you doing?"
The voice came from behind her. Yuiri turned to see Rozen frowning at her.
"As a Sword Shaman with Spirit Vision that can see seconds into the future, you should be the last person to be caught off guard in close combat. How could you let yourself be ambushed like that?"
Yuiri flushed with shame. He was right.
With Spirit Vision, she should have easily predicted the staff knight's moves and countered them. But the Foreign Erosion had shaken her focus, disrupting her timing.
"Calm down. Your skills aren't far inferior to Himeragi's, but you lack the composure to assess situations and adapt quickly. That's precisely why the Lion King Agency paired you with your roommate - not just because your weapons complement each other, but to compensate for each other's weaknesses."
Rozen rarely spoke so much. As he did, he clenched his fist, and swirling mana coalesced into a pure white spear in his hand.
"Still, you have no way to counter that Foreign Erosion. Take this."
He tossed the spear toward her.
"Ah-!"
Yuiri fumbled but caught it, then gasped as she saw what it was.
"This is...!"
"The Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven?!"
Rozen had given her his own divine spear - Tenyuryo.
"Use it in battle."
"But...I don't have the qualifications to wield Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven! That's why I wasn't chosen as your moniter!"
"Just use it."
Rozen cut her off firmly.
Against her will, Tenyuryo activated in her hands. Divine energy surged through it.
The sacred spear capable of severing all barriers and nullifying magic began radiating brilliant light.