Tropo

And so, after they caused a great disturbance and finally blasted a breach in the city wall, a Demons finally appeared inside the city.

"Tropo."

The moment Fern recognized who it was, his mood immediately sank.

Why this one of them?

Logically, the commotion they created should have been far from enough to provoke Tropo, their top combatant, into battle.

Beforehand, I anticipated that the most likely encounter I and Stark would have with us was Leibach and Verona. Tropo should have been responsible for protecting Aura's safety, unless—

They even have more powerful Demons?!

Tropo did not leap down from the city wall; instead, he walked step by step towards them through the breach that had been blasted open.

As the distance between the two sides gradually decreased, the surrounding Mana began to show abnormalities.

Fern's scouting True Magic was the first to lose its effect.

Immediately afterwards, the True Magic circle that was floating beside him but had not yet been launched flickered a few times before disappearing one after another.

Übel also tried swinging his short staff.

Nothing happened.

The slash didn't even leave her body; it was forcibly erased by some force as soon as it took shape.

"What an annoying True Magic."

Übel's smile faded slightly.

Tropo's Magic-Nullifying True Magic has covered this area, meaning that all True Magic that affects the outside world will be restricted. For True Magic, this place is almost like a suffocating body of water.

It's no wonder it's given the title "Seven Sages of Destruction"; the sense of oppression is indeed extremely strong.

"Retreat."

Fern made a quick decision: their mission was simply to lure the powerful Demons away from Aura. Now that Tropo had appeared, their objective had been successfully achieved, and there was no need for them to stay and fight any longer.

Moreover, they had gathered important intelligence that they needed to convey to Lady Frieren and Lord Lorenzo immediately.

But Tropo's figure vanished in the next moment.

Fern only had time to see the ground crack beneath its feet before the slender figure appeared in front of them, blocking the path into the depths of the forest.

Even after losing most of its former strength, its speed still far surpasses that of any ordinary warrior.

"Lure me out of the city with such an obvious attack and then retreat immediately."

Tropo looked at the two of them and continued speaking.

"It seems your real target is Aura."

The plan was foiled.

Übel gripped his staff and asked Fern.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Just a moment ago she was insisting that I call her Lady Übel, but now she's calling me "Lady" all of a sudden.

"Find a way to break through the past."

Fern held her staff horizontally in front of her, her mind racing.

Neither True Magic nor defensive True Magic can be used, but the Mana within me hasn't disappeared; there must be some other way.

Etc.

The Anti-Magic Field restricts True Magic that acts on the outside world, but it cannot stop the flow of Mana within the human body.

In other words, the "enhancement" that Lord Lorenzo gave me is still usable.

"Übel-- "

Fern handed her his wand and spoke to her in a calm yet slightly frightening tone.

"Run as soon as you get the chance."

What do you mean?

Übel had just received the staff and hadn't even grasped the meaning of those words when Fern suddenly charged towards Tropo.

Wow, that was fast.

She only had time to see a few faint lights appear below Fern's neck, flashing along his arms and legs before disappearing in an instant. Then, he shot off like an arrow, rapidly closing the distance between them.

It's not the speed a True Magic who has lost their True Magic should have.

Mana circulates at high speed within the body's Magic Circuits, simultaneously strengthening muscles, bones, nerves, and senses.

Anti-Magic Field can nullify True Magic applied to the outside world, but it cannot stop the flow of Mana within the human body.

This was the only weakness she could exploit. She didn't even dare to hope that she could kill or even injure Tropo, after all, she had only practiced close combat for a few months.

Tropo seemed surprised that a True Magic who had lost his True Magic would not only not run away but would instead rush towards him, so he instinctively swung his fist.

Fern lowered her body to avoid the oncoming fist, then stepped into Tropo's arms and concentrated all her enhanced power into her right elbow, slamming it into his chest.

Tropo was elbowed and slid half a step backward.

"Flamme's trick?"

Tropo looked down at Fern, a hint of interest appearing in his eyes.

"She taught you this True Magic?"

Fern did not answer, after all, she had no obligation to answer.

However, its words also indirectly prove one thing.

Lady Flamme once used "Enhancement" and even used it in the battle against Tropo. It seems that the relationship between Lord Lorenzo and Lady Flamme is indeed more complicated than they initially thought.

But now is clearly not the time to think about these things.

Seeing that Fern did not reply, Tropo slightly turned his body. His martial arts, honed over hundreds of years, were fluid and his outstretched hand arrived in front of Fern, even faster than before.

She managed to raise her arms to block.

The immense force traveled up his arm and through his entire body, causing Fern to lose his balance and crash into several tree branches before finally falling back to the ground.

Honestly, even with the bones strengthened in advance, my arms still felt like they were about to break.

They seem to be opponents on completely different levels.

"Fern!"

Übel, clutching her staff, instinctively wanted to rush over.

"You have to leave! If we all stay here, we'll all die. At least one of us has to go!"

Tropo took a step forward, and Fern met him without backing down.

Their fists clashed repeatedly in a short distance. Although Fern was completely at a disadvantage, he used his enhanced speed to keep Tropo on its toes and prevent it from turning around and chasing Übel.

Living body enhancement requires extremely precise control, and even with the help of "Volumen Hydrargyrum" to assist in calculations, she couldn't last long.

Just hold on a little longer--

His body's functions were gradually weakening, his Mana was becoming disordered, and the unbearable pain was disappearing. Tropo's figure split into two and then overlapped again.

The sound of breathing seemed to come from a great distance, and even the sensation of stepping on fallen leaves became indistinct.

It seems this is where it ends.

However, Übel's footsteps could no longer be heard, so he must have left.

That's enough.

No matter how wounded or how much blood is shed, there is nothing to be afraid of. If the wound is sustained for the sake of comrades, then it can be something to be proud of.

Fern once again stood up shakily, facing this powerful and terrifying enemy.

She was born with a very objective view of her fate. Everyone dies someday, whether it's due to the end of their lifespan, illness, or failing to evade an enemy's attack in a battle.

Soaked in sweat and blood, what emotions could arise in a body devoid of heat other than melancholy?

What else can I do besides bow my head like a flower weighed down by heavy raindrops?

In the end, I still broke my promise. I had made a promise to go and search for the True Magic of resurrection with Lord Lorenzo and Frieren.

However, Lord Heiter once said that the Goddess would simply laugh off any unintentional breach of promise.

So, it should be fine.

Let's end it here.

Let's fall here.

But just as Fern was about to fall, something pulled her back.