In that split-second.

I had no idea what happened, but… the crimson ray must have been fired as expected.

Then, my Golden Dawn reacted and sent a shot.

The world was drowned in crimson light for a moment, until it suddenly vanished, turning everything dark. The result?

'Darkness…' I look around me in stupefaction. 'I can barely see anything.'

Without wasting time, I chug down a Potion that improves my vision while constantly turning on my Aego Sight, or should I say Existential Resonance.

Even without doing these, the brilliant lights emanating from the Crimson Direwolf Emperor's fur already make it visible. The one person I am most concerned about is Ciel, and thankfully, I haven't lost her yet.

She remains on the back of the Crimson Direwolf Emperor.

'I suppose she's confident in her victory…'

I wouldn't fault such confidence, considering what I have experienced in the past minute.

But—

'I managed to counter your beast's attack!' My eye twinkles with delight as I focus on my opponent while constantly creating as much distance as I can with Obsidian Steed.

'Even though it outmatches me in speed, if I can predict its line of attack and point my blade in that direction, I can protect myself.'

My thoughts rapidly fire as I wait for the cooldown period to expire.

Normally, the wait time after using Frontflow to swap out the Second Layer with the Minute Layer is relatively short.

However, when facing a beast that is sixty times faster than my base form, a few seconds suddenly become excruciatingly long to sit through.

'Just look at that…'

With Aego Sight activated, I can see just how dense the existence of this Cadre 6 Magivore is.

It far surpasses mine.

Not just mine, it even surpasses Ciel's.

Even if I had the Flute of Salvation and it wasn't bonded with Ciel, I wouldn't be able to control this thing in a million years. My existence would get used up trying, and I would likely be corrupted by its will before I realized what was happening.

That is just how grand what I am looking at is.

This is a creature that is far more extraordinary and powerful than a Leviathan.

At least, a Witness.

'Could Disciples have stronger existences? Just how monstrous would they be, then?' I gulp, feeling fear creep into my loudly thumping heart.

No, I have to be calm.

This isn't an impossible situation.

I have a chance.

While trying to regain my composure, the Crimson Direwolf Emperor becomes a blur once again, and I instinctively know it is approaching me.

But from what direction?

Does it even matter? I have to protect myself from all angles.

Since Frontflow is still on cooldown and Obsidian Steed is not nearly as fast as this horrid beast, I can only rely on the Divine Relic in my grasp.

"Golden Dawn!" I scream aloud, not caring how pathetic I sound. "Help me!"

VWUUUUSH!!!

What happens at the next moment is a blur, but all I recollect is a bright light surrounding me and firing off like a pulse everywhere.

By the time I realize what has happened, I see myself being shrouded by golden brilliance.

It's like a membrane of light suddenly clings to my body, filling me with great strength. The world around me seems to distort from the density of the energy, and although I haven't grown much stronger or faster, I feel a kind of protection I didn't have before.

That is when it dawns on me.

'This Armament… is both an offensive and defensive type?!'

How is this possible?

Armaments are usually categorized into two main types: Offensive and Defensive.

In rare cases, we have the Auxiliary type.

These types serve purposes besides offense and defense and are rather specialized. But it is trite that an Armament only has one function and doesn't branch off into another type.

So…

'How can something this strong have both offensive and defensive qualities?'

I gasp silently.

Is this what it means to possess a Divine Relic?

The world's light becomes restored, and I cast my gaze on the faraway Cadre 6 Magivore. I especially focus on Ciel, whose expression appears foul.

'Is she using her Conception at the moment?' I can't help but wonder to myself. 'If that's the case, what's making her look so worried? Do I really have the advantage?'

No.

I can't allow myself to think that.

Ciel could be tricking me yet again, so there's no need to consider it.

Besides, it's only natural for her to get so anxious.

If I were me of the past, the same one that fought all those lesser Direwolves and faced the three Cadre 5 Magivores, I would already be dead. It makes sense for her to be puzzled by my ability to survive this long.

Especially since I wasn't wielding Golden Dawn back then.

Looking at things from her perspective, it might appear as though I was the one who tricked her.

But that is far from the truth.

'Let's not correct her, though…' My heart races as I feel a thrill within me.

Frontflow is back on!

Once I activate my Conception, I decide to finally give my counterattack and charge towards the Cadre 6 Magivore. The beast must have sensed my murderous intent, as it immediately opens all three of its mouths and releases thick purple mist.

'Poison!' I instantly turn alert at this sight, choosing to retreat the next second.

Although my Midnight Garb is highly resistant to poison, it is only a B Grade Armament. I highly doubt that it will save me from the poisonous breath of a Cadre 6 Magivore. The gap is too wide, and I simply cannot take the risk.

'In that case—!'

Determination fuels my spirit as I ascend high into the deep purple sky and point my blade at the heart of the mist, where I can see the Magivore standing.

"Let's see how you handle this!" Golden Dawn's tip glistens with thick light, its essence coalescing into a gold droplet of sheer power.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

A golden blast—much smaller than the crimson ray in size, but very similar in intensity—charges forth from my blade and rapidly descends. It closes the blink of an eye, even with the use of Frontflow, and pours down on the Crimson Direwolf Emperor.

In my base form, it would have been beyond perception.

But now…

'… I can see it clearly.' With a widened eye, I marvel at this glorious feat of destruction, watching as it pierces a head of the Crimson Direwolf Emperor and creates a powerful echo of destruction beneath me.

"HOWWWWWLLLL!!!"

A terrifyingly loud, painful howl echoes from the ground, forcing me to cover my ears.

The pain is so immense that the Crimson Direwolf Emperor ceases its release of poison and writhes in agony. I can imagine that a creature of its magnitude, being in the safe confines of this Sanctuary, never experienced pain of any kind.

Having such a foreign, unpleasant sensation suddenly assail it must be very brutal.

But this is good.

This confirms that, just like the lesser Direwolves, this Cadre 6 Magivore has very little endurance and tolerance for pain. It has a very low threshold for receiving punishment, and its survival instincts should also be practically nonexistent.

If that's the case, my chances of victory have increased by yet another level.

'It must also be quite inexperienced fighting, as all it does is dish out one big move at a time. That makes its line of attack very predictable. Even when I am not in Frontflow, as long as I can predict its line of attack, I can actually prepare a counter.' As I analyze all of these elements, I quickly realize that Frontflow is rapidly running out, and I have to make another quick move before it runs out.

But there are still leftover traces of poison in the air.

That means I can't get close.

'I can only resort to the golden ray again, but now that it has been affected, who's to say it will be caught off-guard again?'

Before I can make a decision, two brilliant crimson glows shine from within the poisonous veil beneath, and an overwhelmingly concentrated blasts rush at me. The injured head must be recovering, so the two unoccupied ones decided to keep me busy.

It appears I can't look down on this beast too much.

But—

'You can't look down on me, too!'

FSHUUUUU!

The moment I point my blade at the rapidly approaching crimson light, something miraculous begins to happen. I didn't see it before, because I wasn't in Frontflow. But now, thanks to the elevated speed of my senses, I am finally able to take it in.

The crimson ray starts to get sucked into the golden blade, decreasing the searing heat that has now filled the air and also diminishing the lights everywhere. Even the dim skies turn much darker once the absorption begins, almost like the blade is also sucking in its light.

No, not almost like!

It is actually absorbing all of the lights.

'Now I understand!' My eye bulges the moment it dawns on me. 'Golden Dawn's primary function is to absorb light and heat, transforming it into energy for my use. The energy is split into two parts: a defensive golden light that surrounds me, and a concentrated golden blast of my own, which I can shoot at my target.'

Not just that, but Golden Dawn also appears to grow stronger and sharper the more energy it absorbs. I'll have to test this out for sure, but doesn't this mean I can directly cut through the tough hide of the Crimson Direwolf Emperor if I'm able to close the distance between us?

This is amazing!

My chances of victory have gone up again.

Golden Dawn's energy absorption offers a direct counter to the enemy's Crimson Ray, and although I'm uncertain if the golden light can defend against poison, it will certainly block physical attacks. As for the golden ray I possess, it serves as a long-range attack while my blade's edge can operate as a short-range alternative.

If I use Frontflow in conjunction with my Potions, there's a high chance I can actually close the wide gap that exists between this Cadre 6 Sovereign and me.

I can win!

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