World's Fastest Level up!

The Nameless Knight, Orc General, Tenraijuu, Yanagi, and High Ogre. Until now, I have fought against many powerful enemies and won against them. Some of them even had a level that was double that of mine. Even so, I have overcome those hardships by making full use of powerful weapons that only I can use such as Nameless, Greed, [Transfer Within Dungeon], and the experience of fighting against powerful enemies I have accumulated so far.

However, those might be just a miracle like walking on thin ice. The level difference between me and the monster in front of me was 2.5 times. The compatibility is also the worst. In addition, I also have to fight while protecting those without power. In this current situation, where all the worst conditions were met— I was helpless.

◇◆◇

With just being exposed by Ifrit's magical power, all the ordinary people fainted. With just that, I understood how abnormal this enemy is.

Thus, here, I made a big decision. I took a certain item from my [Item Box].

————–

【Hardening Pill】

・Increase the strength of the entity by 30% for 60 seconds.

・Cooldown time: 10 minutes.

—————

"Yagami-san, please distribute these to all adventurers."

"Hardening Pills? And even this many. We should’ve only been given one when capturing that dungeon previously. In that case, how did you get this many…."

Yagami-san suddenly stopped what he wanted to say, likely because he had an idea about the secret that I was hiding. In that case, this will be easy.

"And please use a barrier too, to not let those ordinary people get involved in the battle"

"….Can't be helped. Matsumoto, Misaka, just as you've heard. You guys should devote yourself to protecting those people."

"Alright"

"Okay!"

Nodding, the two wizards immediately scattered. I knew that they couldn't withstand Ifrit's attack even if they placed a barrier. However, if they didn't do that, everyone would die by just being exposed to the high-density magical power of Ifrit.

Then, I shifted my gaze to the other side.

"Hana, Yui and Rei join there too. This is not a battle that you three could join in"

"… Un, understood."

"Honestly, I still don't understand what's going on but…if Rin-senpai said it, I would believe it."

"……."

Hana and Yui nodded immediately and went into the barrier. Only Rei displayed a painful expression for a while, before chasing the two.

Although I do feel bad about that, as I’ve just heard about her feelings before, I still can't let her join this battle.

[Magic Sword] that could produce a sword with various abilities.

[Stock] that could copy any skill.

High aptitude for recovery and strengthening magic.

Those three indeed possess outstanding talents, but that doesn't mean they can face Ifrit at this point of time. Because, let alone Yagami-san's party, even my body trembled when exposed to its magical power. If I were alone, I would undoubtedly decide to withdraw now.

We have to defeat such a strong enemy right now.

And finally, Ifrit began to move. Two golden eyes that could be seen inside the burning flames directed its gazes toward me.

"You are going to target the highest level guy, huh? Well, thanks– Cladding Barrier"

—————–

Cladding Barrier Lv5: Consume MP to generate a wall of magic power that envelops the target. (The strength and duration dependent on the skill’s level)

Cooldown time: 60 seconds

—————–

After using [Cladding Barrier], I ran around the Ifrit, because if I could get away from here even a little, I would be able to fight without involving the others.

『GURUOOOOOOOOOOOO』

Seeing my actions, Ifrit swung its arm with a speed that doesn't match its giant body. As a result, with a sound that could even distort the atmosphere, a flame sledgehammer was closing towards me.

"—-tsu!"

But, by increasing my speed, I succeeded in avoiding it. In response, Ifrit swung its fist down on the ground 1 meter away from here, causing my field of vision to dye crimson in an instant.

"Wha?!"

A big explosion. At that moment, an overwhelming impact occurred, making even such words to be unsuitable to describe it. With just such a light blow, a huge crater was created on the ground and spread flames to the surrounding area. And that flame, which boasted an extreme amount of heat, instantly burned the flowers and evaporated the water in the pond. Even I, who was a distance away from there and used [Cladding Barrier], could feel the overwhelming amount of heat from the flames, causing my sweat to flow down.

This is bad. If I got hit even just with one blow, this small body of mine would undoubtedly get smashed without any resistance. No, it might be more correct to say that my body would be burned to the ash by the flame till nothing was left.

In that case, what should I do? How can I defeat this strong enemy? Think, Rin. Because the moment I stop thinking, we, who are inferior to it, will be defeated.

When my heart was about to break because of how hopeless this situation is, I suddenly noticed something. After the flame spread to the surrounding, I saw Ifrit's arm being exposed. Until now, I thought its whole body was made from flames, but it seems it does have flesh. And if it has a proper body, physical attacks will definitely work against it. This means, there is still a way left for us to defeat it.

"However, this information is still not enough. The problem is, how could I break through that flame barrier."

First of all, devouring all the flames that protected its body just like when I fought against the Salamander is impossible. I don't think it is possible with my remaining MP. No, I am sure it would be difficult even if my MP has recovered.

Then, should I launch an attack the moment the flame disappeared after it swung its arm? Well, attacking its arm surely won't inflict fatal damage but… that's all I can do for now.

『GRAAAAAA!』

"Now!"

At the moment when it swung its arm, I launched an attack, making the silver blade of Nameless cut through the hard skin of Ifrit. Its skin was quite hard but… not to the extent that my blade couldn't cut through. With this, I could inflict some damage to it, albeit not a fatal one.

"Amane! Above!"

"–Time Zero"

Noticing that the other arm was approaching me from above thanks to Yagami-san's shout, I retreated from the place by using Time Zero. A consecutive attack, huh. Looks like Ifrit is also annoyed by me who was moving around continuously. Due to the characteristics of Time Zero, evading its attacks is not a problem. There is no way I'm going down that easily.

After that, this kind of stalemate continued for a while. Ifrit kept swinging its two arms at me, while sometimes also shooting a ball of fire. Naturally, I evaded those attacks using Time Zero, and also launched counterattacks. It was actually quite easy to do because Yagami-san and his party also used their magic to attract Ifrit's attention from time to time. Despite that, since I couldn't let it change its target toward them, aggro management was relatively difficult.

While attacking and defending like that, I was paying attention to every movement of Ifrit, thinking about where the magic stone embedded in its body was. As long as it is a monster, it definitely has a magic stone. And I thought maybe it would be faster to destroy the magic stone directly than to steadily inflict damage.

But because the magic stone is always inside the monster's body and the monster would be dead when the magic stone is destroyed, this plan normally couldn’t be used. However, our current situation is different. Given my power and the fact that Ifrit has an over 10 meters long huge body, there is one method left.

Now, I'm in the middle of searching for when to use that method. However, at the next moment,

『GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!』

"—-This is!"

Ifrit suddenly roared towards the sky, causing a violent quake to spread in the atmosphere, crushing us with an intimidating feeling. That movement itself was already troublesome, but the real threat has just started.

A part of the flame that covered Ifrit gathered above it and turned into a big sphere, just like the sun. It appeared there, as if trying to drown the full moon that was originally floating in the sky, emitting its dazzling light over the entire boss room.

But, of course, that ‘sun' was not meant to bring us warm light. The ‘sun' split into dozens of balls and fell down like God's judgement.

"You must be kidding?!"

Each one of those balls had unbelievable magical power inside. And those fireballs of despair mercilessly launched toward us.

Ah, shit. I see. This monster hasn't gotten serious at all. I was sure it initially intended to kill us, who are inferior to it as a sideline, but because we were able to persist more than it had expected, it felt that it was bothersome and chose an attack method that could annihilate us at once.

Of the dozens of fireballs floating above us, nearly 80% of them aimed at me. And I had to ascertain the movement of each of them and desperately evade it. Although I was able to evade direct hits, the overwhelming amount of heat generated from those fireballs turned my surroundings into a sea of fire.

"Hiss, how about that side!"

I promptly turned my sight to the other side, and saw, although the first few balls could be stopped by the tanks, I could see many people lying on the ground, suffering great damage. And there is still one last biggest fireball left approaching them.

"DO YOU THINK I WILL LET YOU?!"

Continuously using Time Zero, I move towards them in an instant, then immediately summoned Greed and intercepted that fireball.

"—Devour it!"

*Gulp*

Nearly 30,000 of my MP was reduced just with that. Still, I barely succeed in devouring the fireball.

"Are you guys okay?!"

"A-aa. You saved us!"

With both knees on the ground, Yagami-san answered with a pained voice. Seeing this scene, I made up my mind.

"–I will, break my limit"

I encouraged myself, while recalling what I said in my fight against Tenraijuu. Judging that this was a crucial moment, I drank a Hardening Pill. After that, I approached just before Ifrit and quietly said.

"Time Zero"

At that instant, my field of vision dyed in black. It is proof that I have successfully transferred into the body of Ifrit. In the end, I still didn't know where it's magic stone was. But, I couldn't waste more time, and besides, I could still inflict great damage from the inside even if I couldn't destroy its magic stone–

"Cough"

–Suddenly, I coughed.

Why? Because smoke entered my trachea. Because I could feel an overwhelming amount of heat. Because there was a crack in [Cladding Barrier]. And because the inside of Ifrit was also filled with hellfire.

"—–!?!?!?"

While being confused by that, I activated Time Zero. It was an action that I took based on my instinct, and after transferring to the air, I finally realized–that if I was late even a bit when making that decision, I would have been dead.

I somehow adjusted my form in the air and landed on one knee. Then, I saw Ifrit directed its gaze at me. Although there were Hana and the others on its right side, it seemed to be only interested in me, as if saying that it won't forgive the folly who dared to invade its body.

"It's the same for me too."

I hit my own chest and destroyed the cracked barrier. Then, since more than 60 seconds had passed since the last activation, I activated it again. Thereupon, I was protected once again by a perfect transparent wall.

In the end, the most effective plan I had ended in vain. In that case, I only have one option left.

That is by running, with all my power.

Faster than anyone else.

While the [Cladding Barrier] protects my body.

And before the flame of Ifrit burns my body to ash, I have to pierce its body!

"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

I ran. Straight without any tactic. Heading for Ifrit at full speed.

『VUGOOOOOOOOOO!』

Looking at this, Ifrit shot a fireball at me. And at this time, I was already so fast that I couldn't change direction all of a sudden. But that's fine. Because—–!

Accelerate, transfer, and pierce. An attack that used everything I have– the invisible slash was ready to attack it.

Having slipped through the fireball, I ran in the air by continuous use of Time Zero and–

"EAT THISSSSSSSSSSS!"

–I swung the Nameless in my right hand with all my might, making the silver blade flash in the flames and deeply pierce Ifrit's chest. It was effective. Yes, I was convinced so.

"——-eh?"

That's why, I couldn't understand. Why could there be something that hit my left side, destroying my [Cladding Barrier] in an instant, and causing an attack containing an intense amount of heat to hit my whole body. Because of that, my small body was blown away vigorously.

*BANG*

I could feel something hitting my back, which was likely to be a wall. And while shedding blood, I fell to the ground. My HP that reflected at the edge of my field of vision was less than 10%.

With a hazy consciousness, I lifted my face and saw the figure of Ifrit who had just swung its right hand. Ah, I see. So, I was punched, huh. That's why I was blown away.

"Cough"

While vomiting blood from my mouth, I know that it is not over yet. Because if I take a closer look at Ifrit, I could see it holding its chest that was pierced, with its left hand. That's right, Ifrit definitely suffered great damage from that attack. One more blow. If I could strike it with the same blow just one more time, there is a good chance I could defeat it!

"Rin!"

"Onii-chan!"

"Rin-senpai!"

When I raised my injured body with my willpower and stepped forward, I heard Hana and the other two called my name. But, I can't stop. Because if I stopped now, who could face that monster?

"Ugh!"

Every step I took, severe pain assaulted me, making me almost fall down. And while I was like that, Ifrit had already finished its preparation for the next attack.

『GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!』

"….. Bastard"

Once again, Ifrit roared. A huge sun that was even bigger than before was floating above it. And that sun was about to fall on us.

If it was released, everyone here would undoubtedly die– No, to be exact, everyone except me, huh. If it was just me, I might be able to survive by escaping from the boss room using Time Zero right away. If I could add, I also have already thought of a way to defeat Ifrit. However, that's only if I was the only one here. That way is to buy some time by trying my best to evade its attack and then use the same attack after I could reactivate the [Cladding Barrier]. I am also confident that I won't be struck by a surprise attack this time. That would be a tough battle, but my chances to win should be high.

However, that's meaningless. Because, Hana and the others are here. And because the people that are important to me are here.

–Ah. How powerless I am.

What did I seek power for? If I can't even protect my loved ones here, it is meaningless!

I glared at the pair of golden eyes of Ifrit.

"Listen, Ifrit. All of it, aim at me!"

Subsequently, I started to run. Because if I was here, Hana and the others would get swallowed by the flames.

Currently, I am not using [Cladding Barrier]. In other words, there is nothing to protect this body of mine.

Even so, as long as there is still a blade I could swing!

Even if this body is burned by flames, I will kill it!

"—Wait!"

I don't even know whose voice it was, as I just went straight to Ifrit.

Most likely because my HP is less than 10%, the skill [Resilience] is activated, making my speed increase further. Breaking the limit– no, I will challenge something beyond that. And then–

Suddenly, I could hear a sound of something breaking.

"——Cursed"