Pythia suddenly snapped her head toward Ryke.
"Don't fire yet, you moron!"
Ryke's finger immediately froze over the trigger.
"What—?"
Before he could finish—
**BOOOOOOM!**
A massive axe made entirely of flames descended from above.
The Specter immediately raised both arms.
**CLAAAAANG!**
The flaming axe crashed against its claws.
A violent shockwave exploded outward.
**WHOOM!**
Ryke was forced to stagger backward.
"Hey!"
He quickly steadied himself.
"Pythia, what was that about—?"
But Pythia wasn't listening.
She had already turned toward the nearby mages.
Her vines shot forward.
**SHRAAAK!**
Several black vines tore through the air.
A mage immediately raised his hand.
"Lightning Arrows!"
**KRAK! KRAK! KRAK!**
Several arrows formed from condensed lightning.
They shot toward Pythia.
Pythia's eyes widened.
"—!"
The lightning arrows tore through her black vines.
**SHRAK! SHRAK! SHRAK!**
The dark tendrils were severed one after another.
Pythia immediately cancelled her spell.
The remaining vines dissolved.
She jumped backward as another volley of lightning arrows tore through the space where she had been standing.
**BOOM!**
Pythia landed several meters away.
She looked down at her injured arm.
*Damn it.*
*Without the Specter protecting me, I can't continue attacking recklessly.*
She glanced toward the battlefield.
*I need to create some distance.*
Mana surged beneath her feet.
**WHOOSH!**
Pythia shot backward, putting even more distance between herself and the mages.
---
Meanwhile—
the flaming axe remained pressed against the Specter's claws.
Fire engulfed its body.
**FWOOSH!**
The Specter's dark form was swallowed by flames.
Orrick's eyes narrowed.
"Got you."
He pushed the axe downward.
"Let's see how long an undead can withstand this."
The Specter's body suddenly flickered.
Its outline became faint.
Then—
transparent.
Orrick's eyes widened slightly.
"...What?"
The flaming axe passed directly through it.
**SHHHH!**
The Specter's body had become almost completely intangible.
Pythia glanced toward it.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Now."
Ryke stared.
"Now?"
Then he understood.
His gaze immediately shifted toward Orrick.
*That's what she was waiting for.*
Orrick's attack had passed through the Specter.
The beastman was left completely exposed.
Ryke immediately raised his rifle.
His hands tightened around it.
*This is my chance.*
He planted his feet.
Aiming directly at Orrick—
Ryke pulled the trigger.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The enhanced bullet erupted from the rifle.
The recoil violently slammed into his shoulder.
"GH—!"
Ryke's body was pushed backward.
His injured leg nearly buckled.
But he managed to keep his balance.
*Damn!*
The rifle trembled in his hands.
*That recoil is insane!*
But—
he didn't stop.
His finger immediately pulled the trigger again.
**BOOOOOOM!**
A second enhanced bullet tore through the air.
Ryke was pushed backward again.
His boots dragged across the floor.
"Ugh!"
He gritted his teeth.
*Two shots...*
His eyes remained fixed on Orrick.
*Please hit him.*
The first bullet was already closing the distance.
Orrick's eyes suddenly shifted.
He sensed the attack.
His expression changed.
"...Again?"
He twisted his body.
**SHRAAAAAK!**
The first bullet tore through the space beside him.
The second came immediately after.
**BOOOOOOM!**
Orrick raised his flaming arm.
The bullet slammed into it.
**BAAAAAANG!**
Fire exploded outward.
Orrick was forced several steps backward.
Ryke stared.
"...Got him."
Smoke and flames surrounded Orrick.
Ryke's breathing became heavier.
His shoulder throbbed from the recoil.
His grip tightened around the rifle.
"Please..."
He stared into the smoke.
"Stay down."
The smoke slowly began to clear.
A figure stood inside it.
Orrick.
His coat was torn.
His arm was bleeding.
But—
he was still standing.
Ryke's face slowly fell.
"...You've got to be fucking kidding me."
Orrick raised his head.
His eyes locked onto Ryke.
His expression was no longer amused.
"You..."
The flames around his body surged violently.
"...are becoming annoying."
Ryke swallowed.
His hand tightened around the rifle.
*Oh, that's bad.*
Orrick crouched.
Mana erupted from his legs.
**BOOOOOOM!**
He launched himself toward Ryke.
Ryke's pupils contracted.
"Shit!"
He raised the rifle.
But before Orrick could reach him—
the Specter suddenly appeared between them.
Its translucent body became solid again.
Its claws crossed in front of its chest.
**BOOOOOOM!**
Orrick's flaming fist slammed into the Specter.
The impact sent both of them crashing backward.
Ryke stared.
Then—
he slowly smiled.
"...Right."
He adjusted his grip on the rifle.
*That's why Pythia told me to wait.*
He looked toward Pythia in the distance.
She was already preparing another spell.
Ryke exhaled.
"Okay."
His eyes returned to Orrick.
"I think I finally understand."
He raised the rifle again.
"This thing doesn't need to beat him."
His finger rested against the trigger.
"I just need to shoot when the opening appears."
Pythia glanced toward him.
For the first time—
she didn't call him useless.
She simply said—
"Then don't waste your next shot."
The rifle trembled in Ryke's hands.
His shoulder was already screaming from the recoil.
He gritted his teeth.
"Again..."
His finger tightened around the trigger.
**BANG!**
The shot exploded from the barrel.
The recoil slammed into his shoulder.
Ryke's entire body jerked backward.
"AH—!"
He nearly dropped the rifle.
"My shoulder is going to fucking dislocate..."
Smoke drifted from the barrel.
Across from him—
Orrick staggered.
A bloody wound had torn across his side.
Yet—
he remained standing.
Ryke stared.
"...You're still standing?"
Orrick slowly raised his head.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His breathing had become heavier.
But his eyes remained sharp.
"It seems..."
He tightened his grip around the fire axe.
"...instead of stinging..."
His gaze locked onto Ryke.
"...you've started biting."
Flames surged around the axe.
"I'll have to cut off your head."
Ryke swallowed.
"Yeah..."
He slowly raised his pistol.
"I hear you."
He forced a nervous grin.
"Let's see—"
Before he could finish—
**WHOOSH!**
The Specter suddenly moved.
Its dark body blurred.
Then—
it disappeared completely.
Pythia's shadow rippled beneath her feet.
The Specter sank into it.
Ryke's eyes widened.
"...What?"
He stared at Pythia.
"What the hell was that?"
Pythia didn't even look at him.
"I can't allow it to be destroyed."
She raised her injured arm.
The Specter had vanished completely into her shadow.
"It's too valuable."
Ryke's expression twisted.
"What the hell?"
He pointed toward her.
"You want me to die instead of that thing?"
Pythia remained silent.
Ryke's jaw clenched.
"And what about the mission?"
Pythia finally glanced toward him.
"Some sacrifices are necessary."
Ryke stared at her.
"...What?"
His face slowly twisted with disbelief.
"So I'm the sacrifice?"
Pythia didn't answer.
A magic circle suddenly appeared beside her.
**BOOOOM!**
A lightning spell slammed toward her.
Pythia raised her hand.
**WHOOOM!**
A dark barrier appeared.
The lightning collided with it.
**CRAAACK!**
The barrier trembled.
Pythia's expression remained cold.
Ryke stared at her.
Then—
he clenched his teeth.
"Damn it..."
He looked around the battlefield.
Everyone was fighting.
Nobody was coming to help him.
He tightened his grip around the rifle.
"I really hate all of you."
He aimed at Orrick.
**BANG!**
The bullet flew forward.
Orrick moved.
The shot passed beside his head.
**BANG!**
Ryke fired again.
The rifle kicked violently.
Orrick twisted his body.
The bullet grazed his coat.
Ryke's eyes widened.
"What?"
The rifle suddenly made a strange metallic sound.
**CLICK.**
Ryke froze.
He looked down.
"...What?"
He pulled the trigger again.
**CLICK.**
Nothing.
He stared at the weapon.
Then—
a thin crack appeared along the barrel.
His expression slowly changed.
"...Don't tell me."
The rifle trembled in his hands.
The metal had reached its limit.
Ryke stared at it in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Orrick slowly stepped forward.
His flames intensified.
"It seems..."
He raised his axe.
"...your luck has finally run out."
Ryke immediately dropped the rifle.
**CLANG!**
"Dammit!"
His hand disappeared beneath his cloak.
His fingers wrapped around his pistol.
He pulled it free.
At the same time—
Orrick vanished.
**BOOM!**
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
Ryke's pupils shrank.
*Too fast—!*
Orrick appeared directly in front of him.
His fire axe was already raised overhead.
Flames roared around the blade.
Ryke froze.
The massive weapon began descending.
*I'm dead.*
His fingers tightened around the pistol.
*There's no way I can block that.*
His body instinctively prepared to move.
*I don't have any other choice.*
He was about to spring backward—
when suddenly—
**SHRAAAAAK!**
Blood sprayed through the air.
Ryke's eyes widened.
The fire axe stopped.
Orrick's body remained frozen.
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then—
his head slowly slid from his shoulders.
**THUD.**
It hit the ground.
The flames surrounding his body flickered.
Then disappeared.
Orrick's body collapsed.
**BOOM.**
Ryke stood completely still.
His pistol remained raised.
His eyes were wide.
"...What?"
Blood continued falling from the severed neck.
Ryke slowly looked up.
Someone stood behind Orrick.
A silver-haired figure.
Crimson eyes.
A cold expression.
Blood coated one hand.
Ryke's pupils trembled.
"...You?"
Lyriana didn't even look at him.
Her gaze remained fixed on Orrick's corpse.
Then—
she slowly turned toward Ryke.
Ryke's throat tightened.
"...You."