Ch 74: Fight back!!

As the battle raged on, Hina's voice rang out like a clarion call amidst the chaos. "Magic Bullets!" she shouted, her words carrying across the battlefield with a fierce determination. Streams of glowing projectiles burst forth from her outstretched hand, each bullet homing in on the demonic horde that threatened Gild's army.

The air crackled with energy as the magic bullets tore through the ranks of the demons, their monstrous forms disintegrating under the relentless assault. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, mingling with the acrid scent of ozone left in the wake of Hina's attack. The knights, once on the brink of despair, felt a surge of hope and relief wash over them as the tide of battle momentarily turned in their favor.

Gild, standing at the forefront, breathed a sigh of relief and shouted, "Hooh! Thanks, Hina!" He raised his sword in a salute, gratitude etched across his weary face. Hina, hovering above the battlefield, returned the salute with a determined nod, her eyes blazing with resolve.

On the other side of the battlefield, the hero's party launched their own assault, targeting the remaining three mini-boss demons. Kanade's Storm Breaker gun fired in rapid succession, bolts of lightning arcing through the air and striking the demonic behemoths with unerring accuracy. Flicker, her tempest staff crackling with elemental energy, unleashed torrents of fire and lightning, her spells weaving through the chaotic melee to strike down their foes.

But Hina's attention was fixed on Zass. With a fierce cry, she charged at him once more. "So we meet again," Zass sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. His eyes glowed with a malevolent red light, reflecting the dark power that coursed through his veins.

"This time, I will drive you back!" Hina declared, her voice unwavering. She summoned her body double, an identical copy of herself, armed with dual daggers infused with lightning. The air around the body double shimmered with energy, the daggers crackling with electricity. Meanwhile, Hina herself brandished Regulos Sword, its blade gleaming with a divine light.

As Hina and her double closed in on Zass, the battlefield seemed to still for a moment, the tension palpable. Then, with a burst of speed, Hina lunged at Zass. The sound of their clash was deafening, the force of their blows sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The scent of ozone and the metallic tang of blood mingled, creating a heady, intoxicating atmosphere.

Hina's body double moved with blinding speed, the twin daggers slicing through the air in a deadly dance. Each strike was met with Zass's own blade, sparks flying as metal met metal. The crackle of electricity from the daggers filled the air, the bright flashes momentarily blinding those nearby. Hina's main body swung Regulos Sword with precision and power, each strike aimed to drive Zass back.

But Zass was relentless, his movements a blur as he parried and countered with brutal efficiency. "Is this the power of the Exodus Wand?" he mocked, his voice a guttural growl. "What a loser you are."

As Hina charged at Zass, the battlefield around them was a symphony of chaos. The smell of blood and sweat permeated the air, mixing with the acrid scent of magic. The shouts of soldiers and the clash of weapons echoed, a testament to the fierce struggle. Hina's eyes burned with determination, her resolve unwavering despite the pain coursing through her body.

Her body double, armed with dual daggers crackling with lightning, flanked Zass. "Magic Bullets!" it cried, launching a barrage of energy projectiles. Each bullet hit Zass with explosive force, pushing him back. Hina seized the moment, her body a blur of motion as she closed in.

Zass staggered, momentarily disoriented. Hina delivered a series of rapid kicks, each one connecting with a satisfying thud. The force of her blows drove Zass to the ground, dust and debris flying into the air. The taste of blood filled his mouth as he wiped his face, a twisted grin spreading across his features. "Good, good for the princess," he growled, cracking his fists together with a sound like breaking bones.

Hina's heart pounded, her breaths ragged. The adrenaline heightened her senses, making every sound, smell, and sensation vivid. She could feel the heat radiating from the ground, the vibrations of the ongoing battles, and the weight of her responsibility. She couldn't back down now.

The knights' cheers reached her ears, their faith in her evident despite the dire situation. Zass's eyes gleamed with sadistic glee as he cracked his neck. "You've got some fight in you, princess," he sneered. "Let's see how long you can keep it up."

Ignoring the ache in her muscles and the bruises forming under her skin, Hina steadied her breathing. Her body double mirrored her movements, the two of them a coordinated force. The double launched another volley of magic bullets, each one crackling with energy. Zass dodged and blocked, his movements fluid and precise. But Hina was already in motion, closing the distance with a burst of speed.

She swung Regulos Sword with all her might, the blade humming with divine energy. Zass parried with his own blade, the clash of metal ringing through the air. Sparks flew from the point of contact, light reflecting off their determined faces.

Zass countered with a vicious swipe, but Hina ducked under it, her movements swift and agile. She spun on her heel, delivering a powerful kick to his midsection. Zass grunted, the air rushing out of his lungs. "You'll pay for that," he snarled, swinging his fist. Hina barely managed to block with Regulos Sword, the force of the blow sending a jolt of pain through her arm.

Her body double seized the opportunity, darting in from the side and slashing with the lightning-infused daggers. The blades cut through the air with a high-pitched whine, each strike aimed with deadly precision. Zass snarled, his eyes flashing with fury as he fought to fend off both Hina and her double.

The sounds of their battle blended with the chaos around them—the screams of the wounded, the roar of spells being cast, and the relentless clash of steel against steel. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and blood, the ground slick with mud and gore.

Zass roared, a primal sound that sent a shiver down Hina's spine. He lashed out with renewed ferocity, his blows raining down with terrifying speed and power. Hina blocked and dodged as best she could, her body moving on instinct.

Then, with a powerful thrust, Zass drove Hina back. She skidded across the ground, her breath coming in harsh gasps. The taste of copper filled her mouth, and she wiped a trickle of blood from her lip. Her vision blurred for a moment, but she blinked the sweat from her eyes, focusing on the demon before her.

Zass cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "Come on, princess," he taunted. "What's got into you today? Are you holding back? Or is this really all you've got?"

Hina's body double, a perfect mirror of her, sprang into action with incredible speed, dual daggers flashing like bolts of lightning. The double moved with feline agility, using the surrounding debris and walls as jumping platforms. Each leap was a blur, the daggers slicing through the air with a high-pitched whine, leaving trails of electric energy in their wake. The acrid smell of ozone mingled with the metallic tang of blood in the air, creating an oppressive atmosphere that weighed heavily on the senses.

Zass, standing his ground with a mocking grin, blocked every attack with ease. His single hand moved with uncanny precision, deflecting the dual daggers from every direction. The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out, each block producing a shower of sparks that lit up the darkened sky. "Nice toy you have, moving like a cat, I say," Zass taunted, his voice dripping with amusement and contempt.

The ground beneath them trembled with the intensity of the battle. The shouts and cries of soldiers fighting the demon horde in the background created a chaotic symphony, punctuated by the explosive sounds of spells and the heavy thud of bodies hitting the ground. The stench of fear and death permeated the air, making it hard to breathe.

Meanwhile, Hina was on her knees, struggling to catch her breath. Each inhale was a ragged gasp, the pain radiating through her body with every movement. She used her sword, Regulos, as a stand to support her weight, the divine blade glowing faintly in the dim light. The cool metal of the hilt pressed into her palm, grounding her as she tried to gather her strength. The ground beneath her was cold and hard, a stark contrast to the burning determination in her heart.

Hina's body double continued its relentless assault, blades flashing as they sought out every weak point in Zass's defenses. But Zass, with a sneer distorting his face into a grotesque mask of disdain, caught the double mid-air by the neck. "This is getting old, princess," he snarled, his grip tightening with a sickening crunch. The sound of snapping bone was followed by a gush of blood, painting the air with a metallic scent.

Hina felt the pain as if it were her own, a searing agony that shot through her neck and chest. She screamed, "Arhhhh!" the sound raw and filled with anguish, as blood spewed from her mouth. Each cough brought more blood, the coppery taste filling her senses. Her vision blurred, darkening at the edges, but she forced herself to remain upright, leaning heavily on Regulos for support.

Zass watched her struggle, amusement glinting in his malevolent eyes. "What's wrong?" he taunted, his voice echoing through the chaos like a cruel whisper. He casually tossed the limp body double into a nearby house, the impact sending a shockwave through the structure that caused it to collapse with a deafening roar. Dust and debris filled the air, the acrid smell of destruction mingling with the already pungent scents of blood and fear.

Zass began to walk slowly towards Hina, each step deliberate and menacing. The ground seemed to tremble beneath his feet, the very earth recoiling from his presence. His shadow loomed over her, a harbinger of doom, as the sounds of the ongoing battle faded into the background. The clash of swords, the cries of the wounded, and the distant thunder of spells became a muted, indistinct hum, overshadowed by the dread of his approach.

As Hina struggled to rise, Benimaru suddenly appeared, leaping through the air with his Excalibur sword fully enhanced. The sword glowed with an intense light, infused with the power of Flicker's Tempest Staff. Benimaru's first strike forced Zass to take a step back, a rare look of surprise flashing across the demon's face.

Benimaru did not relent, charging with a series of rapid, powerful blows. Each swing of Excalibur created shockwaves, the air humming with the force of the enchanted blade. Zass, though walking back slowly, blocked each attack with an almost lazy efficiency, his movements fluid and precise. Kanade, perched at a distance, fired her Storm Breaker, bolts of energy crackling through the air to support Benimaru.

"Will, will, will," Zass mocked, his voice eerily calm. "The hero is back again to save the princess. Hahahaha!" His laugh was a low, sinister rumble that sent chills down the spine.

"Stop yapping," Benimaru growled, sweat dripping from his brow as he pushed himself to his limits. "Now!" he shouted.

In perfect sync, Kanade and Flicker unleashed their ultimate attacks. Kanade's Storm Breaker fired a barrage of lightning-infused bullets while Flicker's Tempest Staff released a torrent of fiery energy. The two attacks converged on Zass, creating a brilliant explosion that lit up the sky.

Benimaru seized the moment, leaping high into the air. He brought Excalibur down with all his might, the blade descending like a meteor. The impact was cataclysmic, obliterating a portion of the village and leaving a gaping hole in the city wall. Dust and debris filled the air, the ground shaking from the force of the blow. The acrid smell of scorched earth and burning wood filled the air.

As the dust settled, Zass still stood, his form barely scathed. "You need to do more than that to stop me," he said, his voice filled with dark amusement. Before anyone could react, he vanished, reappearing instantly in front of Flicker. With a vicious punch to her stomach, he sent her flying, the sound of cracking ribs echoing in the chaos. Flicker's scream was cut short as she hit the ground, unconscious.

Kanade had no time to react before Zass's foot connected with her face in a brutal kick, her body flung like a ragdoll. She landed with a thud, her weapon skittering across the ground as she lay motionless.

"Ahahaha," Zass laughed, turning his attention back to Benimaru. "Oh, there is nothing to protect the princess now." He grabbed Benimaru by the head, lifting him off the ground with one hand. Benimaru struggled, swinging Excalibur desperately, but each strike against Zass's body produced only sparks, as if hitting solid metal.

The clanging sound of sword against flesh echoed through the battlefield, the harsh, metallic clash underscoring the hero's desperation. The smell of blood and sweat filled the air, mingling with the scent of burning wood and earth. Benimaru's vision blurred, the world spinning as he fought to break free from Zass's iron grip, each breath a painful struggle.