When I Cleared the Death Game World, I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Even if They Talk About Doom Flags, I'm Actually Immortal. - Chapter 36

“Looks like the tables have turned, huh?!”

Whoosh!

The monstrous swordsman lunged forward, slicing through the air with his massive frame.

In an instant, he was upon Ren, swinging his grotesquely swollen arm with reckless abandon.

It was a simple attack, but with his bloated muscles, his arm was heavier and harder than a hammer.

“Tch—!”

Clang!

Ren barely managed to block with her sword.

She avoided a direct hit, but the sheer force of impact was unavoidable.

Pain shot through her arms as they screamed in protest, and before she could recover, the impact sent her hurtling through the air.

Boom!

She crashed into the side of an old house.

The shockwave rippled through her body, knocking the breath from her lungs.

A dull, crushing pressure pinned her against the wooden structure, leaving her gasping for air.

A heartbeat later, her brain caught up with the pain, and her entire body screamed in agony.

“Gah—!! Ugh…!!”

“Oh dear, humans really are fragile. I barely even swung, and you went flying!”

The swordsman rolled his shoulders with a smug grin.

“Demonic power is truly incredible. Makes me feel like an idiot for ever relying on a sword.”

“You’re getting cocky… but that’s not even your power. It’s just some borrowed curse from a demon.”

“So what? Who cares if it’s borrowed? As long as I get to crush the people I hate and feel good doing it, I don’t give a damn what kind of power it is.”

“Let me give you some advice. Anyone who takes power from a demon is doomed to self-destruction.”

Despite the searing pain, Ren pushed herself to her feet, wobbling slightly.

“My father was the same. He became obsessed with demons, joined some shady cult, lost all his money and friends… and in the end, he dragged my mother down with him. You’ll end up just like him.”

“Hah! Sounds like your old man was just an idiot. The world is full of fools. But me? I know how to control this power.”

“Hate to break it to you, but you’re not as smart as you think you are.”

“Then why don’t we put that to the test?!”

Boom!

The swordsman charged again, rearing back for another punch.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

He swung wildly, fists hammering down in rapid succession.

Ren narrowly dodged each blow, but every missed strike smashed into the surrounding houses, sending debris flying as the village crumbled around them.

“Well? What’s your brilliant plan now, genius?”

“You’re not just dumb, you’re a total ass…”

“Take this!”

“Urgh—!”

A fist slammed into her stomach.

The impact knocked the wind out of her, and before she could recover, the swordsman grabbed her tightly in both hands.

“Gotcha. You’re softer than I expected, Ren.”

“Let go… you disgusting freak…!”

“Even after all this, you’re still resisting? Let’s see if this changes your mind.”

“Guh… aaagh…!!”

His grip tightened, squeezing her like a child crushing a toy.

Bones groaned under the pressure.

Her lungs burned as the air was forced out of her body.

“Ren, just be mine. If you surrender, I’ll treat you well. No more pain. And your little sister? I’ll let her go.”

“Like hell… I would…!”

“Tsk, why so stubborn? I don’t want to hurt you. I just love you, that’s all. Can’t you understand that?”

“Of all people… you’re the last person I’d ever want…!”

“Sigh… fine. I’ll just find another woman. You’re not worth it.”

His grip tightened further.

She could feel it—he was going to crush her.

(I’m sorry, Lior… at least let me save Luna—)

BOOOOOM!

Just as Ren’s consciousness teetered on the edge, a deafening explosion shattered the sky.

A bolt of black lightning shot up from the forest, tearing through the air with an earth-shaking roar.

“W-What the hell?!”

“…! Now’s my chance!”

The swordsman’s grip loosened for a split second.

That was all she needed.

Ren slipped free from his grasp, twisting away.

“Damn it! Don’t run—!”

She darted behind the remnants of a house, using the shadows for cover.

Peeking out, she looked toward the source of the lightning.

That was right where Lior was fighting.

(Lior is fighting too. For me and for Luna… So I can’t give up now.)

A boy younger than her was still fighting with everything he had.

As his older sister figure, she had no right to be the first to surrender.

Ren clenched her sword tightly.

(But if I fight head-on, I’ll lose. My magic is useless in these wild winds. I need a strategy… maybe something like what Lior does—an ambush.)

Lior’s swordplay was unconventional.

Rather than direct combat, he excelled in striking from an enemy’s blind spot—like an assassin.

If she could imitate that, she might be able to land a decisive blow.

(But even if I attack from his blind spot, my strikes will be weaker… and his regeneration is insane. No matter how many times I cut him, it won’t be enough.)

An ambush is most effective on the first strike.

After that, the enemy becomes cautious, and its effectiveness diminishes.

If she was going to do this, it had to be a single, game-changing attack.

(I need to aim for a critical weak point… The neck? The eyes? The head? No… none of those will be fatal. There has to be another weak spot…)

Then, suddenly, it hit her.

A strange pattern in his behavior.

(Why is he doing that? If he had enough magic, he wouldn’t need to… Wait… could it be—?)

One by one, the pieces fell into place.

The inexplicable moments, the odd movements—everything now had a logical answer.

And if her hunch was right, exploiting it could turn the tide of battle.

(This fight… I can win.)