Haa haa

Ivan gave ragged breaths.

Haa Huff huff

His breathing was uneven, only matching the disheveled state he currently suffered.

He was running low on Mana, so he avoided wasting it on healing himself unnecessarily. If it wasnt fatal, he could bear it.

It had only been a couple of minutesten minutes topsthat he had started his battle with this beast, yet he was already in such a sorry state.

Unlike him, the massive Demon still seemed to be eager for a fight. It kept healing despite the injuries Ivan inflicted on it. The young man was never able to deal any decisive hit.

The moment I try to it uses that negative burst of his and pushes me away

That was why Ivan was stuck!

Shit

He had expended too much Mana, and he couldnt maintain Bond Magic for very long too.

At this point, the excitement of the young man had faded away and he was beginning to wonder about reinforcements.

However, he knew the problem with that.

Preparation!

It had been three years since the first Demonic attack.

Initially, there was tight security measure across the kingdom. Protocols were tight, and defense was airtight.

However, given the fact that nothing had occurred, people were bound to get complacent. The soldiers stationed at the border were probably lazing around. Even the Archmage in charge of the fort had gone for a Seminar.

No one saw this coming!

Damnit!

This was a remote area that faced the land of the Elves. Who would have thought that a Demonic assault would come from here first?

Are the other areas experiencing this too? Ivan couldnt help but ask himself.

If that was the case, then could that mean the war had begun?

,-m For someone who had been complaining about his uneventful life and craved excitement, the prospect of engaging in serious warfare made him shiver.

He didnt want this!

Focus, Ivan! He shook his head and focused on the hulking creature before him. It somehow seemed bigger than before, but that was probably Ivans imagination.

I have to buy time until theyre rea

IVAN! FALL BAAAACK!!! A familiar voice shouted at him.

He recognized it well.

Cephas!

Ivan, who would have stubbornly refused to heed the mans words, found relief that help had arrived.

He was just about to reach his limits, so this was perfect.

Haa! Understood!

With that, Ivan sharply turned away from the Demon and began heading in the direction of the fortwith the watchtower in his view.

GURRRURUUUUU

The Demon didnt seem to agree with Ivans tactical retreat.

Eat this, you monsterrr!!!

Ivan used the last bit of his Mana and Bond Magic to launch several spikes at the Demonat least to buy time. However

>BOOOOOMMMM!!BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!SHUUUUUUUU!!!KRRIRIIIKKKIIIIVWUUUUUMMMMMM!!!!