Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 167: Ending The Battle [2]

"Aaargh!" Adrian cried out in pain as he stumbled back.

Seizing the opportunity, Tony pulled one of his legs in and swept Adrian off the ground while rolling over and pinning him down, coming on top.

But in his intense focus on the protagonist, Tony had forgotten about us.

Emma saw her chance and quickly Shot an arrow created by mana toward Tony's head.

Sensing an upcoming arrow Tony had no choice but to leave Adrian, If doesn't want to die by an arrow.

Meanwhile, I assumed a swordsman stance.

Adrian had also risen to his feet.

With Tony momentarily distracted by Emma's incoming arrow, Adrian and I seized the opportunity to regroup and prepare for the final confrontation. The hall echoed with the tension of the impending clash.

Adrian, determined and fueled by the desire to end this battle, stood his ground, his sword gleaming with azure energy. I, too, readied myself.

Tony, recovering from the brief distraction, glared at us with demonic intensity. His claws dripped with the blood of the battle, and a feral rage burned in his eyes.

As Emma's arrow neared, Tony shifted his focus back to us, evading the projectile with a swift movement. The arrow grazed his cheek, leaving a trail of dark blood in its wake.

Adrian lunged forward, engaging Tony in a series of rapid strikes. The clash of their weapons reverberated through the hall, each movement calculated to exploit any weakness in Tony's defences.

I, too, joined the fray, coordinating my attacks with Adrian to create openings in Tony's demonic form. The battle reached its zenith, the three of us were locked in a dance of steel and mana.

Tony, however, proved relentless. His demonic resilience allowed him to withstand our onslaught, and the tide of the battle hung in the balance. Every strike and every movement was a testament to the culmination of our training and determination.

In a decisive moment, Adrian executed a powerful combo, forcing Tony to stagger backwards. I seized the opportunity, unleashing a potent magical attack aimed at weakening his demonic essence.

The hall erupted with arcane energy as our coordinated assault reached its peak. Tony, now pushed to the brink, unleashed a surge of dark power. The clash between light and darkness intensified, creating a spectacle that held the fate of the battle.

As the dust settled, Tony stood battered but defiant. The determination in his demonic eyes burned brightly, signalling that the battle was far from over.

"Just Die, Will you?" Saying that Tony rushed at us with amazing speed. I and Adrian ready ourselves as Tony near us but at the last moment when he was just a few meters away from us, he disappeared.

'Where did he-' Before I completed my thought I suddenly thought of Emma who was a few meters behind us.

I turned my head back and saw Tony seize her by the neck and hold her up in the air.

He was going to Kill her!

But he can't do that. Why? Because,

"Let her go! You bastard."

Because of Adrian.

Saying that Adrian also disappeared in front of me.

Shing—!!!

Thud—!!

Splurt—!!!

"Arghhhaaaaa!"

Suddenly, Adrian appeared beside Tony and swiftly unsheathed his sword.

At the speed of light, he sliced off the hand that he had been using to grab Emma.

Tony cried out in pain as his severed limb fell to the ground with a thud.

But he didn't buckle down in pain or stop fighting, no. He knew if he were to stop here, he would most certainly die.

So he began to swing his remaining claw at Adrian.

Cling, Cling, Cling—!!

The sound of metal clashing against metal continued to echo as Adrian deflected each of Tony's attacks.

While Tony and Adrian were in the deadly clash with each other I turned my head toward Emma who had just gotten back on her feet after being strangled by Tony.

"Emma give me the remaining Light Magic enchanted arrow." I had given Emma three Light Magic enchanted arrows when we were fighting against that blond woman and Emma used two Light Magic enchanted arrows during that fight.

Without saying anything to me Emma threw the last Light Magic enchanted arrow at me. She knows what I'm trying to do.

Light magic works like poison against demons and fallen humans. With my S-rank Artifact and Light Magic enchanted arrow I could kill him now.

Why didn't I do this earlier? Well first there was a camera and Tony was very fast for me to hit him with a Light Magic enchanted arrow, but Tony was on his last leg.

Tony had lost one of his hands, dark blood was leaking from his body and his movement was also slow but disliked that he was still holding against Adrien.

'What type of demon did he make contact with?' I couldn't help by think so.

Well anyway, it doesn't matter now.

Taking out my Nightshadow bow from the smart bracelet I placed a Light Magic enchanted arrow on its stings and aimed at Tony.

Tony who had been fighting with Adrian jumped back in the air to doge on Adrian's sword strike and that was his one and last mistake.

I poured every drop of Mana in my body into the Nightshdaow bow and let off the string that I was holding.

-Ting!

-Swoosh!

The Light Magic enchanted arrow, fueled by the combined power of the Nightshadow bow and my mana, streaked through the air with blinding speed, aimed directly at Tony.

As the arrow closed in on him, Tony, locked in combat with Adrian, sensed the imminent threat. With his remaining claw, he attempted to deflect the arrow, but the celestial energy in the enchanted projectile resisted any interference.

-BOOM!

The arrow pierced through Tony's demonic defences, replaceing its mark. A radiant explosion of light engulfed him, the celestial energy acting as a purifying force against the darkness within.

"Aghhhhhhhhha!"

Tony's agonized scream echoed through the hall as the Light Magic worked its way through his demonic form. Dark energy dissipated, replaced by the radiant glow of the celestial power.

Adrian, having distanced himself from the blast, watched with a mix of relief and exhaustion. The battle had taken its toll on all of us, but the threat seemed to be finally vanquished.

As the celestial light faded, Tony's demonic form disintegrated, leaving behind only ashes. The hall fell into an eerie silence, the remnants of our intense struggle evident in the battered surroundings.

I lowered the Nightshadow bow, the Light Magic arrow having served its purpose. The victory, however, came at a cost – the toll of a fierce battle, injuries sustained, and the emotional weight of facing a fallen comrade.

Adrian approached, his azure sword now sheathed, and we shared a nod of acknowledgement. Emma, still recovering from the encounter with Tony, joined us, a mixture of relief and concern in her eyes.

It was over.

I dropped to my knees as I felt adrenaline leaving my system. My head felt light, and my heart violently pounded against my chest.

I knew we had won, but still, it was a close call.

This incident once again served as a stark reminder that I needed to get much stronger than I am currently.

Acquiring relics, getting my potential to Limitless, and crafting battle plans won't cut it. I needed real strength.

Haaa.

Around us, the wounded cadets cried out in pain and agony while the unconscious ones lay out cold, but their voices faded into the background as I closed my eyes.

I had survived the second arc of the story, and I felt like I deserved a well-earned rest.

My mind began to drift off as I settled into a comfortable position. The ground was cold and hard, but it didn't matter.

All I wanted to do now was take a short nap. All my tasks at hand were cleared, and I survived, ready to enter the third arc of the story.

[End Of Volume -->1].