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The man who had stabbed me was now fighting Finis. And I could do nothing but watch. That helplessness was unbearable. Not long ago, I probably would’ve thought I could defeat either one of them. But now I don’t think like that.

No, in fact, I couldn’t think at all.

The battle unfolding before my eyes was, to be blunt, on another level entirely. Even with my own eyes, I couldn’t follow it. Only in the fleeting moments when both of them paused could I just barely make out their forms.

I could clearly imagine what would happen if I stepped into that space. I’d be turned into ground meat in an instant.

I was supposed to be the strongest. No one in this world was supposed to be able to defeat me. And yet now… it was just like when I was back in Japan. Back then, I never felt this miserable. But if the me from Japan were to witness my current battles in this world, he, too, would likely be unable to do anything but watch. Just like me now.

That was how incomprehensible this battle felt.

Before I knew it, the two of them had stopped moving and begun talking.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d give up soon,” Finis said.
“I was just starting to think my attacks might finally connect, so I’d rather keep going. Actually, shouldn’t you be the one giving up? You should know exactly what my abilities are.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. You’re going wild because you know the world is at its final stretch.”
“I can agree with that statement.”

Were they talking about the world collapsing? The guy who stabbed me was probably the Demon Lord, as well as some kind of hero. Finis called him Zygos, but I didn’t know anything about that. So… was the world collapsing because he was summoned?

Or did the world give him power, and that was what’s causing it to collapse? Either way, none of that mattered right now. All I could do was pray they destroyed each other. If both of them disappear, then maybe, just maybe, I could be the strongest again.

“Right, about those abilities of yours. One of them is basically that you can’t be harmed by anything native to this world, right? Absolute resistance to this world, no?”
“I’m not sure about the absolute resistance part, but yeah, that’s the gist of it. That’s why your attacks won’t work, Missy Demigod. Your power seems entirely bound to the rules of this world.”
“You’re right. I’m restricted by this world’s rules. I’m only a Demigod, after all. That’s why I tried punching you. But wow, my body is pathetically weak without any stat boosts.”
“It’s not that bad. I mean, it’s not like a regular person could punch me and do damage.”
“Oh, and also, all of my skills bounce off of you. I couldn’t even use Appraisal. So I’m guessing you were only granted your skills.”
“That’s right. I don’t have that thing that you call a status window. All my physical abilities are just what I had before I came here.”

I couldn’t understand their conversation at all. But one thing was clear. This Zygos guy, the one who stabbed me, had almost the same power before he was even summoned as a Hero. How was that possible? That was insane, wasn’t it?

“And your other ability is that absurd greatsword of yours that can indiscriminately destroy or erase the elements and factors of this world, right?”
“Exactly. So if I land even one hit, it’s over.”

(What…?)

Something about Finis’ words just now stuck with me. It was something that I shouldn’t have noticed, and yet I had to notice.

“I suppose you could win. But… would I still exist afterward?”
“From what I can tell, probably. You’d just be a ridiculously tough, powerless little girl.”
“So either God preserves my toughness, or I retain the Demigod shell. My stats and skills are tied to this world, after all. I wonder if my remaining physical ability would be Toriyama’s, or perhaps just what this body has left.”
“Wait! Wait, wait, wait!”

I couldn’t help but interrupt. That conversation. I had to respond to it. Stats and skills were based on this world? That sword could destroy elements and factors of this world? And I had been stabbed by that sword…? T-Then would that mean…

Before either of them could say anything else, I shouted.

“What happened… to my strength? The strength that made me the strongest—what happened to it!?”
“It’s gone. Right now, Ichinari, you’re no more than an ordinary high schooler. Or maybe slightly above average. That’s it. You can’t use skills, and your stats won’t show up anymore.”

Finis answered, as casually as if commenting on the weather. I tried desperately to use the Hero skill, even knowing it was pointless. But let alone using it, I couldn’t feel anything at all. I tried casting spells, but nothing happened.

“Status! Status! Status!!! Open, damn it! Why won’t it open?!”

Why—why—why!? The status screen wouldn’t open. Not one of my glorious numbers appeared before me. Without them, I was the same as back in Japan.

Just some average, unimpressive person.

“Just so you know, your lifespan hasn’t changed. You’re still in a chicken race against the world’s collapse.”

Finis added. But none of it registered. Sure, I might have lost to her, but I hadn’t lost my strength because of it. I was still the strongest among all humans. I could take down any monster.

But now, that strength was gone. The one thing that defined me had vanished. Who was I, if I no longer had power? My strength was my identity. Without it, what was left of me?

I was just a rock on the side of the road.

Desperately, I looked toward Topersion, the one who had summoned me to this world. But the eyes that met mine had lost all interest. No, they looked at me with scorn. To her, I was even less than a pebble.

Hahaha… Hahahahaha……

“Hahahahahaha… HA-HA-HA-HA-HAH—!”