Meanwhile, the battle was going badly. Alysa was struggling.
Alysa thought, This magic is a gift. With each shot holding at least 50,000 N of force, and with my lively mana, I can use it, but it's too demanding on my mana reserves. A normal person would have finished their tanks after 5 shots max.
As the Alpha Quetzalcoatl let out another beam attack, this time she couldn't dodge in time. It hit her legs. Her right leg was burned.
Alysa thought, Great. If I hadn't used gravity magic to save myself, my leg would have been ash. I just need to do this for another 10 minutes. By then, Eosian would be safe. And right now, warriors from the party must be deploying, so if he can escape, they will find him. He will be safe.
As the Alpha Quetzalcoatl let out a roar, releasing the normal Quetzalcoatls. Now it had understood the tactic, and now it was going for Eosian.
She used "Gravity Magic: Absolute Zero Gravity Breeze!" as she fired a shot that scattered, killing multiple Quetzalcoatls. But some remained. They charged towards Eosian.
Alysa flew behind him, back to back, and said, "Gravity Breeze: Scatter Shot!" Yet they were just too many. A normal Quetzalcoatl used its beam attack, injuring Eosian's leg. He was now down.
Alysa was in front of him, panting heavily. The Alpha was ready to end it all by striking them with a claw. Alysa extended her arms in a T-pose, trying to protect him with her body, closing her eyes. At that instant, she realized they would die.
She prayed, God, if you really do exist, take my life if you must, but please save him. Save my younger brother. Please, I beg of you. I beg every god or devil or angel—if any of you exist out there—please just save him. I will pay any price.
As she awaited the final strike, it never came. She opened her eyes only to see Liebe in front of her, having taken the full impact of the blow with a slash wound across his chest.
Liebe looked back and smirked. He said, "Anyone ask for a hero?"
Alysa said, "You guys are here?"
Liebe said, "Who the fuck are you guys? I fight alone. Because when I fight, it's a hunt. Now then—"
As dark marks began to appear on his skin like tattoos. Liebe remembered Lilith's words: Blood Lust—a power known as a curse to dark magic that's been passed down in the Faust bloodline. Its awakening always invites death. That's why no dark magic user grew strong with clean hands. But it can be controlled by simply training one part at a time. First nails, then fingers, then forelimbs, then limbs, then the whole body.
"Now, Dark Magic: Endless Black Stream!" As he used Blood Lust on his upper body—head, chest, stomach, arms. Six black wings appeared on his back as he charged through fast, looking like a ray of darkness, flashing the body of the Alpha in half.
Alysa watched, amazed.
Eosian thought, Two years ago, he was a predator. But now, he is the apex predator.