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The Hemomancy spell Slave Chain created a chain of interwoven blood that took hold of a target and dragged it close to the caster.

“Wh-what’s this thing…uwah?!”

The young War Beast was about to swing his blade down at Freya when the chains pulled him away, just as Crim lunged at him and swung her katana. The blade sliced through the War Beast’s throat, leaving a red line behind.

“Hah, thanks for turning away-?!”

The human PKer was already celebrating his victory. But Crim was still focused on the fight to a chilling degree, instantly grabbing the War Beast’s collar and throwing him around at her attacker.

“Woah?!”
“Wha-?!”

There were two confused voices. Both PKers became tangled with each other, falling into a intertwined mess…

“Here’s some payback, you cretins.”

Seeing Freya get attacked had pushed Crim past the edge. Even Crim was shocked by how emotionless her voice rang as she exclaimed, pushing her blade through the back of the War Beast she had thrown earlier.

“Gh-hah..?!”

His heart pierced, the War Beast’s HP finally fell to zero and he turned into Remain Light. The other man remained, his heart just barely evading the blade, and now stared at Crim.

Nearly at the same time…

“Tsk, just die already you pretty boy!!”
“Ghuh…you’re the one falling here! Thunderbolt!!”
“Agh…could you just cut it already with your stupid zappy bllsht?!”

Frey took another crossbow bolt to his shoulder, but he retaliated with lightning magic. Frey’s HP bar was not looking good, taking so many hits that not even Freya’s healing could keep up, but he continued patiently piling up attack after attack.

“It’s not like it’ll make any difference, pretty boy! A starting mage’s spells barely do any damage….”

Even if Frey’s Mana pool was higher than most beginners, he did not have any powerful spells yet, not to mention that he was too busy with the fight to have the time to chant much. That left him with no means to deal much damage.

The female elf PKer also understood that, so she calmly took out a healing potion from her bag and brought it to her lips to recover.

But…

“No…it ends now.”
“Huh? Ah…”

She looked up wondering what he meant and saw a blazing ball of fire falling where she stood. That was Stardust, the spell obtained with 50 Skill Points in Destruction Magic. Its main feature was a delayed attack that activated some time after it was cast.

“Oh well… That might hurt a lot, but only if it hits…”
“You’re going nowhere. Sonic Cage!!”
“Hie-”

Frey had stored the chant of that spell in his grimoire, letting him cast it instantly whenever he wanted. Sonic Cage was part of Spiritual Magic, and it immobilized the target while dealing some damage over time. As it rooted the female elf PKer in place, her beautiful features contorted.

“So tell me, can you stand through three simultaneous attacks?”
“H-help…nah, guess you’re not that type.”

Frey stared at the PKer through his cracked glasses. His eyes held no compassion, and she noticed that right away as well, leaving her hanging her head in resignation.

She had noticed that Frey’s eyes were looking at her in exactly the same way she looked at the beginner players she preyed upon as a PKer.

“Say…has anyone ever told you that you’re a meanie?”
“Yeah, all the time. Can’t say I agree though.”

That was the last exchange between the two before she was crushed by the bellowing fireball that shook the earth as it landed, leaving only a bunch of light particles from her.

“It seems your backline can’t support you anymore.”
“S-Screw it…you’re just a bunch of monsters…I’m out of here!”

The remaining human PKer said that while gripping his chest where Crim had stabbed him, turning around to run.

“What, you think you can run?”
“H-H-Huh?!”

The monotone voice of a young girl stopped him. Looking down, the man saw a blade emerging from his chest, and it had not missed its target this time, and he could only stare at it in a daze.

That blade belonged to the two handed sword Hinagiku had borrowed from Crim.

Wait what? Then where’s the dragonewt Hinagiku was fighting?!

Crim looked around in a hurry until she found him…or at least what Remained of him. There was a small bunch of light particles floating unnaturally a distance away. That clearly belonged to the dragonewt Hinagiku had faced earlier.

Did Hinagiku actually defeat him on her own..?!

She was still a beginner, so Crim felt like it would require a decent amount of luck for her to escape alive from an encounter with a PKer. However, not only had she achieved that, but she had also managed to bridge the gap in skills and stats and somehow turned the tide of the battle to emerge victorious?

Crim was shocked by that realization, but the truth was undeniable. Even now she stood there, readjusting her grip on the two handed sword that shone with blue flames.

“Mother always said…only those ready to be slain should attempt to do so!!”
“Th-This kid can’t…kill meeeeeeee?!”

The blade suddenly swung up, cutting from his heart up to his head, glinting with a slash effect. It was like an immaculate crescent moon glowing blue, drawn by a young girl.

The PKer’s body was soon engulfed in blue flames which emerged from within, and he expired while shouting loudly. He joined the rest of his PKer band as Remain Lights, and the grassy plateau fell into a sudden silence.

“We did it, Miss!”

The joyous voice of a young girl quickly broke the stillness. Her cold expression vanished in an instant, broken by a bright smile as she ran toward Crim.

“Y-yeah… What happened to the guy you were fighting?”
“Eheheh, I cut him to pieces!”

The girl energetically raised her hand in a peace sign. Isolated, that action looked rather endearing.

She has more potential than a diamond in the rough.

Hinagiku had gone from barely holding up against her opponent to decimating it during the course of the fight, her talent with the blade was evident from that rapid growth.

I want to mentor her, I know she’ll become strong.

That desire took root in Crim’s mind. Meanwhile Hinagiku had arrived right in front of Crim and looked up, her face looking entirely innocent. Crim shuddered a little by the stark contrast of her behavior earlier, but her heart was also racing with excitement for the future.