'Evil Spirit Summoning'

Chapter 39 'Evil Spirit Summoning'

"Clang----!"

The crisp sound signaled the beginning of the fierce battle, rippling outward like an echo.

It was the sound produced when the axe-sword, heavy as a rock and jagged as a sawtooth, descended like a thunderbolt amid the air's buzzing and slammed heavily into the enormous shield.

"Ugh...!"

Mash held up her shield, feeling the terrifying impact transmitted through it. She let out another muffled groan—she had no idea how many times it had been now—as the impact forced her feet to scrape backward, plowing open the ground and leaving deep footprints.

"Roar roar roar roar roar roar roar roar roar roar roar roar----!"

The Servant whose class was Berserker merely let out his monotonous howls. Red light radiated from his eyes as he swung the axe-sword toward Mash again and again like a raging storm.

For a moment, the fierce wind raised by the axe-sword was like an operating meat grinder. Howling as it transformed into a violent storm, it repeatedly crashed down upon the shield Mash held up.

"Clang clang clang clang clang----!"

The bell-like noise rang out without end. Sparks erupted wherever the axe-sword and shield collided, while the impact transformed into tangible waves of force that churned the air and shredded the surrounding ground.

Berserker launched a practically lethal assault against Mash without the slightest mercy.

Mash struggled to hold on. Gritting her teeth, she roused her trembling heart and arms, as if declaring to her enemy that she absolutely would not retreat again, and took all of Berserker's storm-like attacks head-on.

Mash had done the same thing when she held Berserker back and let Luo Zhen and Olga Marie escape.

As a result, under Berserker's outrageously overwhelming strength, Mash could only retreat step by step. She could not maintain her defensive stance for long and was eventually sent flying by Berserker.

But now...

"Haahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Mash let out a clear, delicate cry.

The heavy attacks that she had been unable to withstand more than a few times not long ago were now all blocked by Mash. During one opening, she even knocked the axe-sword away with her shield.

"Bam----!"

Amid the muffled impact, Mash held her shield and, at the same time as she knocked the axe-sword away, slammed her entire body heavily into Berserker. Her shield struck Berserker's chest like an iron hammer.

Mash had not only blocked all of the attacks—she had even counterattacked.

Compared to her utterly helpless appearance earlier, she was like a completely different person.

That was only natural.

Earlier, Mash had been fighting alone, so there was no way she could have been Berserker's opponent.

But this time, Mash was not alone.

"Now!"

Luo Zhen, standing behind her, immediately brightened when he saw this situation.

At that very moment, if anyone had been able to see the Magic Circuits within Luo Zhen's body, they would certainly have discovered that the Magic Circuits, resembling a sophisticated circuit diagram, were now operating at incredible speed, causing magical energy to surge through them like electric current.

Thanks to this, a vast amount of magical energy flowed through the channel formed by the contract, pouring from Luo Zhen's body into Mash's.

Not only that, Luo Zhen had decisively used his second Command Seal at the very beginning of the battle.

"----I command you with the Command Seal, Mash Kyrielight, defeat the powerful enemy before you----"

That was the command Luo Zhen gave Mash.

Under this command, the second Command Seal burned on the back of Luo Zhen's hand, transforming into surging magical energy that likewise poured into Mash's body.

Receiving the dual support of Luo Zhen and the Command Seal's magical energy, Mash's strength rose explosively. That was why she had not only blocked Berserker's attacks just now, but had also seized the opportunity to counterattack.

"Roar!"

Berserker let out a roar that sounded both furious and berserk.

He had every reason to be furious.

With Berserker's strength, even if Mash received magical support from both Luo Zhen and the Command Seal, her lack of combat experience should still have made it impossible for her to become his opponent.

Even after losing his reason, Berserker's combat techniques from life remained deeply engraved in his body, tempered through countless battles.

Given that, Mash's straightforward charge, devoid of any flourish or technique, should never have been able to hit Berserker.

Yet Berserker's movements had seemed somewhat disordered from the beginning.

In the midst of that terrifying, storm-like assault, there would inevitably be a moment when Berserker's movements suddenly went against his will and paused imperceptibly.

That unexpectedly agile body would likewise suddenly jerk as if twitching, freezing in place for an instant.

Under this inexplicable influence, Berserker's attacks remained violent and terrifying, but an opening would inevitably appear after every so often.

That opening became Mash's hope of turning the tide.

And so...

"Attack from the left in three seconds!"

"Yes, Master!"

Under Luo Zhen's loud instructions, Mash replied just as loudly and followed his command to the letter.

Three seconds later, Berserker's axe-sword paused again, and his body twitched once more. Following Luo Zhen's command, Mash seized the opportunity yet again, stood her shield upright, and rammed straight into him.

"Bam----!"

Amid another muffled impact, the heavy blow from the shield finally forced Berserker to retreat.

"Roar----!"

As if unable to tolerate being forced backward, Berserker descended into a frenzy.

Nearby, Olga Marie had finally struggled to her feet and was completely stunned as she watched the scene unfold with her own eyes.

Meanwhile, under Olga Marie's gaze, Luo Zhen continued issuing instructions without pause and sent out vast amounts of magical energy to support Mash, allowing her to fight the monster he had previously deemed impossible to overcome by force.

As the battle grew increasingly fierce, Olga Marie's heart trembled.

Olga Marie knew that Luo Zhen alone was responsible for bringing about this battle situation.

"He... How did he manage that?"

Even with a vast supply of magical energy, even with the Command Seal's enhancement, defeating that Berserker remained an extremely distant prospect.

Yet Luo Zhen had somehow interfered with Berserker's movements, causing him to reveal openings again and again. He then coordinated with those openings, giving Mash the most precise instructions and preventing the battle from becoming one-sided.

"Th-then..."

Could they win?

Olga Marie could not help but feel a glimmer of hope.

Unfortunately, Olga Marie failed to notice something.

Luo Zhen's face was gradually paling.

"Magical energy..."

Luo Zhen felt the magical energy rapidly draining from his body as he struggled to support his swaying form.

To defeat the powerful enemy before him, Luo Zhen had not only sent out vast amounts of magical energy to strengthen Mash, but had also summoned the Familiar he had kept as a trump card.

For now, Luo Zhen could only grit his teeth.

"Evil Spirit Summoning!"

A phantom-like owl that only Luo Zhen could see appeared under his summons. It flapped its wings, flew forward, and sank into Berserker's body.

At that very moment, the Spirit Core within Berserker's body began to tremble.