The attack hurled Kurena as she crashed into the wall of the martial hall. Ordo took his gaze from her, and turned to the rest of the angels.
«Everyone! Do not let anyone escape! Kill all of them!!»
«Hehe, you heard him. It's chop-chop time~!»
«Haaaa!!»
With the spectacular dominance of their supreme commander Orod, and chief staff Kyubel, the demons, and Archdemons—there should be 700 of them—all howled in enthusiasm. The vanguard was taken by Ordo, while Kyubel took the rearguard, and the rest of demons spread out in flanks, catching the trainee angels in their net.
What had been their strongest warrior, assistant instructor Murai, was killed in a flash. They'd no one to rely on, and the others had yet to return. Within the desperate situation, the disciples raised their voices to inspire their morale.
«Toughen up, everyone!»
«Yes. We just need to hold off until the reinforcement!!»
«I believe Kelvin-sama will come back!!»
At the corner of the martial hall, angels had huddled together in a defensive formation, putting up a measure against surprise backstabbing. Murai's sacrifice had earned them enough time to make it happen.Meanwhile, after a crash, and receiving injuries from the combined attack of Ordo and Kyubel, Kurena had fallen into a brief stupor, though she also recovered promptly. The effect of «Limit Break» had already begun, restoring her broken bones and torn muscles.
With her hand gripping on Ascalon, she stood up with staggering steps, and stepped out of it, almost faltering and raising cracks on the floor.
«H-hey, Kurena. Do not force yourself, and stay inside the group.»
«Yeah. Reinforcement should be already on its way.»
«We just need to hang a bit more.»
The angels tried to stop Kurena as she continued to take her steps toward the demon's army, however Kurena ignored all of them. She stood in front of the Ordo, her hands tightly gripping the sacred sword as it pointed forward, and took a heavy breath.
«You believe you alone can handle us, eh? You're only offering yourself on the chopping board. Nothing you do can give you the time you're hoping for!!»
Ordo shouted, misunderstanding Kurena's intention when he saw her still like a stone.
Kurena's reason was far simpler than what he had thought; she wanted to be at the forefront, to be the shield for angels, who clearly had no chance of resisting the demon's army. She had been the vanguard in Allen's party for years, preventing any harm from reaching Keel or Cecile. This time was no different. The angels needed her support, for their defense was even worse than Sophia and Cecil.
Ordo, however, presumed Kurena was mainly trying to buy time for them when he saw she was no longer jumping at him recklessly. He immediately decided on their movement, and that was to bring that nuisance, Kurena, down immediately.
He raised his huge broadsword, and lunged at her in thrust. In a blink of an eye, Ordo's massive body shadowed after Kurenas. With his stats towering Kurena's, he went for head, aiming to split her head into two.
"Riveria Slash!"
Kurena didn't faze from her spot, regardless if the opponent's attack was merely a moment away from slicing her, and unleashed her skill, narrowing the time this particular moment Ordo would find it impossible to escape.
Ordo's slash cut through Kurena—her misty avatar, to be precise, scattering it away.
«What?!»
Ordo immediately noticed the lack of any feedback of slicing a tangible being, and let out a confused slip. Meanwhile, Kurena appeared behind Ordo, and performed a slash over Ordo's back, covered by an overcoat hanging.
—*Claaaang!*
"Haaaa! Rgh, the hell...?!"
However Ordo's endurance was far beyond Kurena's offensive strength, and despite having a sacred artifact, her Ascalon couldn't even cut through the overcoat.
«Heh. I didn't expect you to be so gutsy to turn your back on me.»
Kyubel chuckled as he mocked Kurena. She had also left herself open to the demon army in his endeavour to target Ordo.
Having already conjured the magic bullet, Kyubel prepared to fire it against Kurena's defenseless back, again. But, Kurena didn't flinch from her spot, and shouted, seemingly already anticipating his action.
"So what If my back is facing you!? Dimensional Rupture!!"
«Heh, wh—...woah!?»
Kyubel let out a befuddled gasp. They'd been 30 metres apart, but Kurena had crossed the gap within a blink of an eye before he had the chance to shoot the magic bullet. While the opponent was still caught in incomprehensibility of the situation, she brought down her sacred artifact to cut down Kyubel's arm, still in the midst of his preparation.
It was one of her sword skills, allowing her to not only move instantaneously, but also to dodge and make a counterattack.
[Kurena's Divine Technique and Skill List]
—Dragon Spirit: Cover oneself in dragon aura. Increase oneself, as well as dragon's stats.
—Dragon Like A Sword: Deliver a combo attack with a dragon. It's an extremely strong move.
—Super Charge: Deliver a combo attack with Arbiter God. With its swift speed, the target has a high chance to fail dodge. +100% Critical Rate.
—Flight of Fate - Divine Attribute. A passive skill. Dodge when attacked, and launch a counterattack.
—Blazing Brilliance Sword: Light Element. Struck the target from any designated angle.
—Extreme Flame: Light and Fire element attack. Slash at the target with a burning sword.
—Mighty Slayer: Light element attack. Hoist the sword up to charge the momentum, and deliver a slash.
—Shattering Impact: Light and Earth element attack. An upward trend attack. Fire a shockwave at the centre of the target.
—True Dragon Knight: A slash while riding a dragon. The might is greater than the «True Slash» skill.
—True Dragon King Sword: No element. Advanced version of Monarch's Sword. Allow to deliver an attack from any angle.
—Thunder Dragon Strike: Lightning element. Drops a lightning on target while performing upper slash. May Inflict Paralysis.
—Dimensional Rupture: Designate a target at distance, and teleport. Delivers a slash immediately after. +100% Critical Hit.
—Dragon's Fang Samsara: Swap position with dragon to deliver a strike. Also added bonus strength stats of the same value teleported dragon had.
—True Slash: Deliver an upper slash.
—Raging of the True Phoenix: Fire element. A ranged attack.
—True Recovery Strike: Deliver a slash. Grants recovery.
—True Monarch Sword: Deliver a slash. Unleashes shockwaves in forward motion.
—Riveria Slash: Grants Limited Vulnerability for the duration of attack.
—Critical Stab: +100% Critical Hit. Deliver an attack.
—Limit Break: +3000 stats with every level of Limit Break. Recover 1% health every second.
—Celeste Dawn: Increase the level of job when training any skill, ability or related aspect of Celeste Dawn.
—Heaven's Sword: Adds Celeste Dawn's ability stats.
—Soul of the Dragon Knight: Add the Dragon Emperor's ability stats.
—Heroic Soul: Add the Sword Emperor's ability stats.
—Divine Technique: For the one hour, allows the ability to use divine techniques.
—Swordsmanship: Promote growth of sword's skill.
—Concentration: Increases the flow of stamina, mana, and spiritual aura. Increase skill's might and accuracy. increases the successful odd of secret art, and mystic art.
[Kurena's Dragon Knight T & Celeste Dawn]
1. Kurena inherits two unique skills from her two jobs.
2. When riding, the job changes to Dragon Knight.
3. Allow to ride dragons, Arbiter God, summon beasts, and horses.
4. When riding, it enhances the skill level of Dragon Knight's skill.
She had gained Dragon Knight at the gate of trial, while Celeste Dawn at the Divine Realm. With the strength of two jobs, she faced the two demon executives.
"Rrrgh, cut, cut for me!!"
Kurena delivers a slash at Kyubel, her intention entirely set on giving Kyubel’s stump for the arm. However, her sacred artifact didn't budge even a bit into his skin, bringing her to halt in the mid-air.
«Hehe. The buff from Mara-kun and others are working fine, alright. Though you nearly got me there, you know? You really could have cut them off without their help, kekeke~.»
Kyubel, true to the appearance he beheld, laughed in a mocking tone at Kurena's attempt. The effect of buffs had given him greater resistance, thwarting Kurena's attempt. At the same time, he conjured mana bullets with the free hand.
But hidden behind his mannerism, tone, or conjuring mana bullet was Kyubel's signal to Ordo. Ordo kicked the ground, springing up, and dived at Kurena's back, aiming for an axel kick.
"Hmm—?!"
Kurena noticed Kyubel's tone and direction of the mana bullet had been strange, and realised this was a trap. Just before Ordo could deliver his attack, she held the longsword from blade and grip, using it as a shield to defend herself.
Albeit, the sole miscalculation in her attempt was Ordo's strength. Though she escaped a direct hit, the carrying momentum flung her back on the floor.
«Tsk, you're quite resilient. Just drop dead like that bastard angel earlier...!»
"*Cough*... I... I will not tolerate any insult against Murai-san!!"
With a livid expression, Kurena stood up from amidst the cloud of dust her crash had caused on the floor, pulverising it, the dust choking her. She hollered, retorting back at the demons for their insulting remark toward Murai.
The bones of her two arms had been broken due to the tanking Ordo's attack. Even with her skill, it might take more than a moment to deal.
«Hurry up, Kurena needs our support!!»
«Stop fighting alone!!»
«Anyone who can use ranged attack sticks to support them!! And extend your support to Kurena too!!»
Angels, too, promptly released Kurena had been fighting alone to protect them. She had stood as their shield, preventing any and all harms. They'd been scared shitless when they saw the horrifying death of their instructor, putting off the ember of their hope to fight them. But Kurena's desperate attempt had once again ignited the same flames.
"Thank you, everyone!!"
When the warmth of their actions washed over Kurena, she turned around to give her gratitude, her hands tightly gripping Ascalon. In the meantime, Kurena's recovery caught up with the moment, bringing her fractured hands to their prime condition. Angels also casted buffs on Kurena, bringing her status up.
«Ignore that brat. Everyone, target the angels!!»
«Yes, sir!!!»
As soon as Ordo's command was out, an accompanying army of demons raised their war cry, and formed their battle formation, swooping toward the group of angels like a deluge.
«Brace yourself!! The enemies are not something to trifle with. Fight against them with numbers!!»
«The reinforcement is definitely on the way!! Keep hanging until then!!»
The initial confrontation between the two sides had left nearly 10% of angels injured, but with the support pumping up their recovery magic, they'd at least 2000 angels jumping to fight.
Albeit, the angels efforts were mere drop in the bucket, their determination and battle spirit overshadowed by the demon's massacre.
Archdemons boasted a status 3, if not 5 times more than angels. With that drastic difference lining against them, even a single attack would shattered their head to bits. Their losses hadn't been noting to proud at.
«Gaahhh!»
«Noooo—rrrrgh!»
Kurena's attention had been completely over Kyubel and Ordo, making it impossible to help the angels out.
20 minutes in since Lupto's contact, and 15 minutes since the beginning of their battle, angels had already lost 30% of their numbers for good.
«Hmm, I think it's about time we do it, eh? It would indeed be a pain in arse if their reinforcement really does drop soon.»
«Heh, oh well. Let's bring an end to all this. They shall never see the salvation they believe, and they shall die in despair.»
Kyubel uttered casually, and raised his hand pointing at the ceiling. Above it, mana converged to take the shape of a giant mana bullet.
"You're not getting ahead!!"
«No, you're not getting ahead anymore, brat.»
"Argh!"
Kurena made an attempt to stop Kyubel, but Ordo's strike from flank plunged her into the wall, opening yet another hole. Kyubel poured an even greater mana volume while Ordo fend off any attack as his shield.
«Darkness Soul!! Now then, kiss everyone goodbye, little birds. —Heh, you really are one stubborn insect, aren't you?»
Though warded off, Kurena still stood as the shield of angels, intending to tank Kyubel's magic. Ordo snorted in derision. And a moment later, Kyubel shoots a swirling, jet black mass of mana, boasting a diameter of tens of metres, at Kurena—no, toward the angels, to swallow them with her.