The battle between Yuuri and the demon was finally about to reach its climax.

Up until now, all of the demon's attacks had been completely thwarted by Yuuri, who had been continuously countering them.

As a last resort, they tried to summon a horde of monsters, but even that was instantly defeated by Yuuri's swordsmanship.

It's truly a situation where everything seems lost.

―Nevertheless, the demon remained calm for some reason.

"...Huh, is this it?"

Confirming that all the monsters had been exterminated, Yuuri took a light breath and lowered his sword.

He directed his gaze at the demon in front of him.

And then he realized.

Even though the one move that could turn the tide was thwarted, the demon showed no signs of confusion.

No, on the contrary―

"Hehe, hehehe...!"

For some reason, the demon began to laugh as if it couldn't contain itself.

Upon seeing that, Yuuri slightly furrows his brow.

"What's wrong? Did you go crazy because the last plan was foiled?"

"Don't be ridiculous, there's no way that's true. I just couldn't help but laugh at how pathetic you looked, feeling relieved just because you killed a monster."

"What?"

Not understanding the demon's intentions, Yuuri involuntarily tilted his head.

Is it a masochist for being happy about the complete annihilation of the rescue team?

(If that's the case, it's too terrifying...!)

Just imagining a being with the life force of the most terrifying G cockroach and a personality that revels in adversity sends shivers down his spine.

The demon deepened his smile even more, seeing Yuuri like that.

"...So you've finally realized what it means to tremble in fear, have you?"

"Oh, I couldn't help but shudder."

"Hehe, yes, that's right. Don't think for a second that killing a mere monster could thwart my plans!"

―With that scream, the gray aura surrounding the demon swells up with a bang!

The first to react to it were Alicia and the others behind.

"Wha... why is there an increase in magical power at this timing!? There shouldn't be any monsters here that you can absorb!"

To the bewildered Alicia facing an unexpected situation, the demon responds with a smug expression.

"Hmm, that's right. As a token of gratitude, I'll teach you as well. My magical power has increased now, thanks to you."

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"I already explained this to you earlier, didn't I? Not only have I gained intelligence, but I've also acquired deep knowledge about magic and swordsmanship. When I was in the [Giant Body], I had no means of absorbing anything other than by extending my tentacles and devouring monsters myself... but that's no longer the case."

As it spoke, the demon tapped the ground with one foot.

"Underneath here, there is a magical vein. By channeling command magic into it, I have beckoned the nearby monsters to come here."

"Y-yes. But thanks to Yuuri-san, it ended up being in vain—"

"No, this is where the real deal begins. As I just mentioned, by using the magical veins, the transfer of magical power can be easily accomplished. And the monsters that have lost their cores and vanished leave behind residual magical power at the spot. Do you understand up to this point?"

"─Ah!"

A single answer rises to the surface in Alicia's mind.

From the way the demon speaks, there's no doubt about it.

"...Could it be that you absorbed the magical power left behind by the monsters Yuuri-san defeated through the ley lines!?"

"Indeed."

At Alicia's words, the demon nodded.

"Seriously..."

"...Surprised."

"It's beyond the realm of common sense."

Ceres, Monica, and Tio could only murmur in response to the unfathomable power of the demon.

Because it was the first experience even for them, who possessed exceptional strength, skill, and intelligence, and had traversed countless battlefields.

―However.

"Hey, can you skip the preamble?"

In this place, there is only one person who is completely unafraid of the demon's words.

There was a person whose speech was so difficult that they could hardly understand it.

"Anyway, it's just that you've gotten a bit stronger, right? If that's all, it's no problem. Let's settle this quickly."

"...Yuuri-san."

Even in such a desperate situation, seeing him act with such composure, Alicia's eyes widened in astonishment.

Yuuri's straightened back even seemed to shine in her eyes.

Regarding Yuuri's attitude, the demon felt an unparalleled rage.

"You... How far are you going to mock me? You will regret that behavior in hell!!!!!!!"

"..."

The amount of magic energy absorbed from the magical vein accelerates, and the gray aura swells as if to engulf Yuuri's fighting spirit.

That said, if that's all there is, it's not much of a threat.

Because they are just letting out an excessive amount of magical power into the outside world.

However, the demon was different.

To defeat the strongest swordsman standing before them, they will suppress all their magical power within themselves.

And a few seconds later.

There existed a demon, both in name and reality, composed of magical power equivalent to that of hundreds of S-rank monsters.

If the output from that body is indeed capable of such power, then the claim of killing a god would no longer be mere nonsense.

The demon spoke to Yuuri after having understood that it had reached an unprecedented height and surrendered to the omnipotence and exhilaration that dominated its body.

"Behold, foolish one who stands before me! With the current strength of my existence, your sword strikes will not reach me!"

"...Maybe so."

At the demon's remark, Yuuri nodded slightly.

The words of the demon are true.

In just these few seconds, the demon evolved with astonishing speed.

Perhaps that level of skill has already reached the realm of intermediate monsters.

Even with Yuuri's numerous sword techniques, it would be difficult to break through that magical armor.

Then, should he give up?

(No, no. This is no joke.)

This is an unexpected opportunity for growth.

Running away here was against Yuuri's principles.

Whether the demon knew of Yuuri's renewed resolve or not, it threw aside the long sword of Alicia it had been holding and raised both hands above its head.

Immediately after, a massive sword constructed from gray magic appeared there.

"Are you going to change your sword?"

"That longsword is too weak. To fully harness my power, it would be quicker to create one from scratch."

"...I see."

On the other hand, Yuuri raised his sword high without hesitation.

They probably thought of it as his last desperate attempt.

The demon turned its certainty of victory into a smile and swung down its great sword.

"Devour ―[The Ash Weaving God's Sword, Geo Grace]."

And what is unleashed is a flash of ash imbued with overwhelming magical power.

It undoubtedly had the destructive power to engulf and annihilate Yuuri and the others behind them.

Before that flash, Yuuri thinks.

Right now, there is no sword technique he can use that can overcome this magical power.

Defeat is inevitable. That is an unchangeable fact─

─Not at all, it hasn't been decided.

(That's right, I remember.)

In the fleeting moment as the flash approaches, Yuuri delves into his memories.

He was certain. He had already wielded a sword that surpassed this power.

He was able to reach that answer right away.

It was 1000 years after Yuuri began training in the [Time-Space Interval] —The most powerful strike.

At that time, Yuuri spent an endless amount of time trying to achieve that single strike.

In a state of extreme conditions where it became impossible to tell whether it was days, months, or years, the supreme blade was wielded.

He recreates that right now, in this very moment.

""""Yuuri-(san)!""""

The call that seemed to push him forward further strengthens Yuuri's conviction.

There was no anxiety.

Since arriving in the other world, Yuuri has had various experiences and sustenance during that short period.

The skill of the swordsman is no longer comparable to what it was ten days ago.

That's precisely why.

Yuuri stepped forward without hesitation.

And then, he unleashes a single strike that surpasses the speed of sound and even exceeds the speed of light.

"―[The Primordial Strike: The Blade of Beginning]."

There was no resistance.

The moment Yuuri's blade touched the flash of light, it seemed as if the light was completely severed from existence itself, scattering and vanishing.

"(No way! My strongest attack being effortlessly broken through like that—)"

The slash continues to advance straight without stopping.

And then, he came into contact with the demon boasting an overwhelming presence.

―At that moment, the demon realized its own death.

"(―No, this won't even allow for resistance! An absolute strike by the transcendent being that annihilates all things along with their fundamental concepts! I was mistaken... The god I should surpass [Sword God] was right in front of me from the very beginning―)"

No further thoughts of the demon were woven.

The demon was engulfed by the blade of divine speed and was severed along with the magical power that constituted its being, resulting in the complete annihilation of its existence.

As a result, after the slash passed through, what remained at the scene was a distortion in space-time, a gate connecting to another dimension.

Yuuri's slash certainly tore through dimensions just like back then.

And finally.

Yuuri himself was unaware of the great feat he had accomplished as he merely confirmed that the demon had disappeared and turned to Alicia and the others.

And then―

"It's over."

―And so he told them.

Chapter 34: The Primordial Strike