Chapter-7

The inferno raged on, but amidst the chaos, a single figure emerged from the smoke and ash, a beacon of defiance against the fiery backdrop. Sir Eldric, his once gleaming armor now blackened and blistered, stood tall. His face, usually etched with righteous fury, now held a cold, steely resolve. This creature, this Roland, was no ordinary adversary. The terrifying power he wielded was beyond anything Eldric had ever encountered. 

"A monster," Eldric muttered through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse from the smoke and the unfolding carnage. "No, he's something far worse. A Demon Lord, perhaps, a creature of pure destruction!" 

With a newfound urgency, Eldric raised the Sword of the Sky. The holy blade pulsed with a faint light, a beacon of hope amidst the fiery devastation. He wouldn't let this creature, this harbinger of chaos, run rampant any longer. He would face the firestorm head-on, and even if it meant his own demise, he would buy time for the remaining human soldiers to escape.

Roland, despite the horrifying spectacle he had unleashed, remained remarkably calm. Years of isekai adventuring had exposed him to all sorts of bizarre creatures and devastating attacks. He recognized the glint of determination in Sir Eldric's eyes – the desperate stand of a brave warrior against seemingly insurmountable odds. It was a scene he had witnessed countless times before, in countless different worlds. 

The paladin charged, a whirlwind of steel and righteous fury. His sword, imbued with holy energy, cleaved through the smoke-filled air, aiming for Roland's neck. It was a powerful attack, fueled by years of training and a lifetime of devotion. 

But Roland was ready. His years of isekai experience had honed his combat skills to a razor's edge. With a practiced ease, he sidestepped the blow, the flaming blade of Ryujin Jakka blurring as he parried the paladin's attack. The sound of clashing steel echoed through the battlefield, a jarring counterpoint to the crackling inferno. 

"Whoa there, slow down, grandpa," Roland quipped, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice despite the tense situation. "Didn't your mama teach you it's rude to attack someone without introducing yourself first?" 

Eldric, surprised by the creature's agility and the flippant remark, stumbled back a step. He had expected a monstrous roar, a display of raw power, not a wisecrack. Disbelief warred with growing anger within him. Was this creature toying with him, mocking his last stand? The very idea was infuriating. Here he was, facing down a being who had unleashed an inferno upon the battlefield, and the creature was treating it like a playground spat? Yet, a sliver of doubt crept into Eldric's mind. The monster's casual demeanor, the way it parried his attack with such ease – it all suggested a power far beyond anything he had ever faced. Was this truly a demon lord, toying with him before delivering the final blow? Or was there something more to this bizarre creature?

"There will be no introductions, monster!" Eldric roared back, his voice laced with fury. "You have unleashed an inferno upon this battlefield! You are a blight upon this land, and I will be the one to cleanse it!" 

Roland sighed, a sound that resonated with a hint of weariness. "Look, grandpa," he said, using the term in a demonic tongue this time, a subtle reminder of his monstrous form, "I appreciate the hero complex, but trust me, I'm not the bad guy here. I just got a little… overzealous." 

He lowered Ryujin Jakka slightly, the flames flickering harmlessly a few inches from the ground. "Besides," he continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "wouldn't a good old-fashioned fight be way more entertaining than all this shouting?" 

This unexpected turn of events left Eldric speechless. Was this creature proposing a duel? In the midst of a battlefield still smoldering from the inferno he had unleashed? 

Sir Eldric's face contorted in a mask of righteous fury. Here stood this monstrous creature, reeking of brimstone and chaos, spouting nonsense about introductions and entertainment. The battlefield, a charred wasteland, was a testament to Roland's destructive power. No, Eldric wouldn't be swayed by this demon's flippant demeanor. He wouldn't let this mockery stand.

With a deep breath, Eldric closed his eyes and focused. The divine power, a gift bestowed upon him by the goddess herself, thrummed within him like a dormant volcano. He channeled it, urging it to erupt in a surge of holy energy. A faint crackling aura shimmered around him, a visible manifestation of his divine protection. This aura wasn't just a shield; it was a weapon, a potent countermeasure against any demonic taint. Any creature of darkness who dared to touch him would be met with a searing jolt of divine retribution.

Eldric opened his eyes, their normally warm brown depths now blazing with an otherworldly light. The holy energy thrumming within him crackled with a renewed intensity, a tangible manifestation of his unwavering faith. He raised his voice, no longer a mere shout but a booming war cry infused with divine power. "Do not mistake my patience for weakness, demon!" he roared, the very air vibrating with the force of his words. "The power of the goddess flows through me, and her light will be your undoing! You have unleashed your infernal power upon this land, but know this: the righteous fury of the heavens will not tolerate your destructive ways! Prepare yourself, creature, for you will face the full might of a divinely-empowered paladin!"

Roland blinked, a confused frown marring his monstrous features. "Power of Goddess? And her light? Seriously, with all due respect, grandpa, you sound like you just walked out of a bad fantasy novel." He paused, a spark of recognition lighting up his eyes. "Wait a minute, is this like that time I got isekai'd into that world where everyone yelled about their 'ki' and became glowing super warriors? Super Paladin?"

Eldric, completely bewildered by the creature's nonsensical ramblings and strange reference, ignored him. He charged forward, his sword imbued with holy light, aiming for a decisive blow. The divine energy crackled around him, a testament to his power and his unwavering determination.

Roland chuckled, a hint of amusement dancing in his crimson eyes. "Alright, alright, grandpa gets a power-up," he conceded, the amusement morphing into a playful challenge. "Seems the old adage about judging a book by its cover applies even to isekai protagonists, huh? Very well then, bring on the divine fury, super paladin! Let's see if your goddess's blessing can withstand a monster who's danced with gods of his own."

With a surprising burst of speed, Eldric launched himself at Roland, the holy blade of the Sword of Sky gleaming with renewed fervor. The air crackled with divine energy as he swung the blade in a wide arc, aiming to cleave the monstrous creature in two.