Chapter 11: Fierce Assault

Boom!

Seizing the moment while Ellen was distracted with her question, the Dead End Butcher slammed down a fist.

Though its force couldn’t compare to the raw brutality of the giant axe, its speed was unmatched. Ellen didn’t notice in time. By the moment she reacted, the gust from the strike was already upon her, whipping her hair back before the blow even landed!

Clang!

She raised her blade to block. Sparks skidded from the ground as her small leather shoes scraped across the asphalt, sliding her far back.

The Dead End Butcher pressed its advantage without hesitation. Its legs coiled, then launched it skyward with explosive strength.

Its massive figure blotted out the sun, the heavy axe gathering a deep purple glow. Ether energy swelled like an inflating balloon—just waiting for the spark that would set it off!

“Tsk, what is he, a frog?”

Ellen clicked her tongue and darted away. The explosive power of the Thiren burst forth at full display.

Her [Roaming Hunt] speed far exceeded before, leaving only an icy-blue trail like mist as she weaved across the battlefield, slipping outside the range of the Butcher’s strike.

Boom!

The axe smashed into the ground with a deafening crash. Even Phaga, standing at a distance, felt the shock in his body.

For Ellen, the pain was far worse. The Shark Thiren’s superior hearing now turned into her weakness. The booming impact sent waves of agony through her eardrums and mind, leaving her face stunned, her thoughts scattering blank. She didn’t even notice the pebbles striking her body.

In mere seconds, dozens of tiny red welts dotted her skin, each stinging faintly.

But worse still, the Dead End Butcher spun its axe in a wide arc, then heaved it overhead. Momentum carried terrifying power as it came crashing down!

Clang!

Metal rang out. Ellen’s eyes widened in shock as a dark shadow burst into view.

Phaga intercepted the furious strike with nothing more than half a parasol, sliding backward with the recoil. At the same time, he hooked Ellen by the back of her collar and dragged her away.

“Hmph, and here I thought you couldn’t fight under the sun because of some skin allergy!”

Ellen squirmed uncomfortably, frowning. The two beauty marks at the corners of her eyes accentuated her irritated expression as she patted at her ears, still ringing faintly.

But a few seconds’ respite already left her feeling much better.

“I don’t have skin allergies!”

Phaga shot back automatically, tossing the parasol into her hands.

“Switch.”

At his words, Ellen flicked her wrist, tossing her sword upward. In midair, blade and parasol crossed paths before dropping neatly into each other’s grip.

“Hey, there’s only one bullet left and you’re giving this to me?”

The moment Ellen caught it, she opened the magazine. Her expression froze when she saw the single bullet inside.

“...Hah!”

For once, Phaga let out a laugh. With a flick, his long sword ignited in flames. White light reflected against his pale face, making it seem almost ghostly.

“If I slip up later, that one bullet will save me. Wouldn’t that make you a sharpshooter?”

“So relax. My life is in your hands.”

“Besides, my observations are done. From here on out—it’s all-out assault, Ellen!”

He turned his head forward.

Ellen blinked, momentarily dazed, confusion clouding the twin beauty marks beneath her eyes.

She remembered: when the Hollow first descended, Phaga had stayed behind without hesitation to rescue others. But the moment he learned there was a Proxy among their classmates, he had turned aggressive.

So now…

Her eyes widened with realization.

Phaga said nothing. He walked forward, step by step. His eyes, calm as water, slowly deepened with a crimson glow. Normal human vision faded from his sight, leaving only the flow of Ether and heat, clear as day.

His pace quickened—walk, brisk stride, jog, sprint, until his form blurred into near invisibility.

White fire streaked across the ground, sparks flying as his blade scraped the asphalt like a burning chain!

Clang!

Phaga struck first, intercepting the giant axe before it could fully descend.

Seize the initiative!

The Dead End Butcher stumbled, its right arm flung back violently, the axe slamming deep into the ground and sticking there.

Phaga’s blade slashed down, flames bursting forth.

A curtain of pale fire rose between him and the Dead End Butcher.

Through the wavering flames, their gazes locked—each eye brimming with the same ruthless will to crush the other.

“Roar!”

The searing agony of Wispfire forced the Dead End Butcher into a tortured howl as it hammered a massive fist down.

Phaga shifted lightly, springing onto its arm and leaping again, vanishing from its sight like a phantom.

The Butcher’s size, strength, and short-range bursts exceeded smaller Ethereal creatures. But its weaknesses remained—sluggishness, and long openings after each strike.

Phaga did not hesitate.

Slash!

Slash!

Two strikes carved deep, flames roaring to life.

Unlike Ellen, who despised fire and could only leave shallow wounds, Phaga’s cuts dug deep. Ether surged with Wispfire, clinging like maggots on bone, spreading like ink through water until it consumed everything.

In moments, the Dead End Butcher felt its body boiling. Its shell of Ether writhed in unbearable torment.

“ROAR!!”

It howled, clawing at itself in madness. Its axe clattered to the ground as it slammed fists wildly, Wispfire burning it into hysteria.

Then, spotting Phaga striking from behind, rage flared hotter than pain. Quietly, it reached down and reclaimed its weapon.

Why is it getting dark?

Phaga sensed shadows looming and tilted his head upward.

The Dead End Butcher’s massive head loomed overhead, armor-like body writhing, its fury plain.

Oh? What’s that to me?

With a smirk, Phaga stabbed its belly.

“ROAR!”

The Butcher howled and swung a fist down—

Bang!

A gunshot cracked. Sparks burst from its skull as it staggered, nearly collapsing to its knees.

“Hmph!”

That familiar scoff reached Phaga’s ears, followed by a rush of icy blue.

A powerful tail swept frost across the ground, leaving trails of ice that shattered in an instant. The Butcher’s back was torn into jagged pits.

No blood—just the scarred shell of an Ether Being.

“Roar!”

It spun, swinging its axe at Ellen.

She dodged easily, and Phaga exploited the opening, unleashing another flurry. Each strike burned with Wispfire, scorching through its form with a twisted beauty.

A sudden sonic boom snapped through the air. Phaga glanced down just as a massive hand swung toward him.

Ellen had already retreated—making him the prime target.

Phaga leaned back, the hurricane-force blow grazing past his nose by a hair. Even the etched lines on the Butcher’s fingers flashed before his eyes.

“...Hah!”

Phaga grinned sharply. His right foot grounded, left leg snapping upward in a spinning kick that met the Butcher’s palm head-on.

The collision sent him skidding back. He steadied himself, then launched forward once more, closing into melee.

His strikes flew at blinding speed, each blow landing before the Butcher could counter. He smothered every attempt at resistance, pushing harder and harder until the Butcher could only defend.

But both knew it couldn’t last.

Phaga’s vampiric body outclassed humans, but it couldn’t surpass the Butcher’s monstrous endurance. Driving the assault only drained him faster.

The Dead End Butcher buried its head, its core seared by Wispfire, teetering on madness. Yet within the torment, a grim cunning flickered.

Endure.

Endure until this human tires.

The moment fatigue shows, rip him apart.

No one can stop the Dead End Butcher.

“ROAR!!!!”

It caught the faint lag in Phaga’s strikes. Its core flared with light.

Now!

It stomped hard, raising its axe high. Purple Ether blazed, eclipsing the sunlight, shrouding the sky in shadow.

“Roar… Grr!”

But before the strike fell, frost spread across the ground, chilling the air with deadly cold.

Boom!

Ice shattered apart. A white flash burst through the mist. The Butcher’s eyes widened as a flaming blade pierced its skull.

A spark ignited—then Wispfire consumed it whole.

Phaga swept the frost aside with a wave, muttering under his breath.

“So cold… what an inhuman ability.”

He stepped out from the mist, catching sight of a figure standing proudly, hands on hips, tapping the ground with a leather shoe. Her head tilted, the two beauty marks beneath her eyes gleaming with playful arrogance

Ellen crossed her arms, her tapping stilled as her eyes drooped.

“Your fire blade is the one that’s inhuman!”