小嫂子的味道

"H-How are you alive?!" Leon gasped in astonishment as he gazed at Challes who was standing in front of him.

He was alive, even after taking a direct hit of Celestial Slash, he was alive. But he was not fine, and not in the best condition.

His clothes were almost burned off and only his pant was remaining, his skin had several burn marks, he was huffing badly, and…his glasses were broken now.

When Leon threw the celestial slash at him, he was able to get away. He was late and had to face the emitting heat but he escaped just before the actual attack hit him.

However, it came at a cost. He'd to use his magiken and not just that, he'd to pour all of his mana into it. It was only after that he was able to get away without losing his life.

Nonetheless, he was still going to lose his life eventually. Since he had used all of his mana he was pretty much as good as dead. His muscles had worn out and his bones were cracked; he was also having trouble breathing now.

In short, he'd survived but at what cost?

"It doesn't matter, I have to end you and I will do it! No matter how many turns it takes," Leon pledged as he once again readied his sword.

Then he lowered his sword for some reason and held it in his left hand, and raised the other toward Challes.

"Bolt Flash!" he said. This was not a skill but a custom magic spell he learned with the help of the system.

A purple magic circle opened before Leon's hand with multiple runes inscribed on it. Then a bolt of lightning was blasted off in Challes's direction with a thundering sound.

Challes deflected it with his sword but since it was electricity, it traveled through his metal sword and electrocuted him. He would've dodged the bolt with his speed but right now he was not in the condition to do so—even being alive was difficult for him.

"Give it up Mr. Challes, I don't want to make you suffer," what Leon was trying to say is he doesn't want to make him suffer so he should surrender and let Leon kill him and die an easy death.

Leon thought that he was being merciful but in reality, he was sounding as cruel as a demon lord.

Ellyn had also drawn her sword and was ready to attack at any moment, and Anya was also recovering. There was no chance for Challes to make a run for it.

Though, he did have one possible say. And it was not to save himself but to accomplish his original goal—to crush Anya's spirit completely.

He was on his knees after being electrocuted but he got up again and raised his sword against Leon. He had deactivated his magiken right after he escaped celestial slash so as to not use up the little amount of mana remaining in him.

"So there's no other way, I see," Leon said but he was mostly talking to himself. Maybe Challes would've replied but he didn't have the strength to.

Hence all he did was run toward Leon; he was not dashing since it would require mana but was sprinting instead of that.

At a few distances away from Leon he jumped in the air, raised his sword up, and came down while dropping his sword down, aimed straight at Leon's head.

He was using both his hands but still, Leon defended easily. He landed on the ground. Leon and Challes went up against each other and exchanged blows.

The sparring of blades went on for a while before even Challes's body was tired and he had to back off. This was when Leon was taking pity and going easy on him.

Howbeit, that was his mistake.

In the process of exchanging blows which went on for a while, Challes was successful in coming in the direction where the three rooms were. To simplify, he was the first person standing in front of the entrances of the rooms.

And that was what he wanted and had in mind when he started this fight again.

"Please, give it up," Leon pleaded but it was of no use.

Challes didn't have the power left to speak hence only a smirk appeared on his face as he dropped his sword to the ground.

"Y…Y-You...a-a-are the, the reason," Challes still was somehow able to say this much as he looked at Leon.

Before Leon could comprehend anything Challes's body glowed and emitted a brilliant aura that burned around his body like a flame. The ground below his feet cracked and the crumbles of concrete hovered in the air due to his aura—it was unclear what it was exactly.

But one thing which was clear is that he won't be able to last even a second after this as he was now using all his remaining mana he'd saved up for an emergency.

"A-Arcane…..of l-life!" said Challes.

Arcane of life; is a spell that converted the user's mana into physical energy. This was a magic spell and a complex and powerful one that was only used by powerful magicians.

Challes knew this spell because well, he was the professor at a magic academy and while his focus maybe had been on sword arts he did learn spells also.

Soon his muscles puffed up and he felt an overwhelming power flowing throughout his body. 'This is it,' he thought as he turned toward the three rooms.

Locking his aim on the left room he bent forward a little and then launched himself in that direction as he kicked off the ground with a sonic boom and left a crater behind almost 30 centimeters deep.

He dashed straight inside the room on the left side, breaking the door in the process.

"What the!" Leon cursed as he held his head, but he didn't have the time for this so he ran before Challes quickly.

When he reached the entrance of the room, he saw that inside it was Zero. He was tied up with a chair and behind him was Challes.