From Rock Bottom To Hero

I dash ahead, my Windcloak activated. Faris follows closely behind. The dust stirred up by the blast slowly clears and the Archdemon becomes visible.

Slowly, he rises. The hit had an effect. No doubt about it. Dark magic begins to gather around his body. He stretches out his arms, and before I can react, a shockwave of darkness nearly knocks me off my feet.

Barely, I manage to stand firm.

"So you're Sota." The demon's voice is menacing. "So it's true. You are a threat. I don't even want to imagine what you'll become when you grow stronger." He lets out a harsh laugh. "But you won't. I'll destroy you right here and now."

Faris appears beside me. "Ready?"

I nod. "Of course. Wait... When did you get here?!"

The demon winds up. I leap to the side while Faris teleports behind him. The demon's fist slams into the ground, tearing it open. Chunks of rock go flying.

I charge in to counterattack, but he swings again.

I duck under his arm, jump up and slam a fist, empowered by earth magic, into his ribs. He staggers, but barely. Nothing like our first hit.

He lets out a roar and tries to stomp me, but Faris intervenes. He swaps my position with a nearby boulder. I seize the opportunity, leap at the demon's knee, land a solid hit and use a wind burst to launch myself over him.

Then comes his backhand.

Damn! I underestimated him.

The blow sends me flying into a tree. Pain shoots through my body.

"Sota!" Faris yells, panicked.

The demon raises his hand toward me. Dark mana gathers. I force myself to stand. I can't give up now.

Faris teleports to me, grabs my shoulder and in the next instant, we vanish. A dark beam tears through the spot where I just stood.

I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if that had hit me...

I get to my feet.

My strikes are too weak. I need more speed.

An idea crosses my mind.

What if I concentrate the Windcloak into a single point?

I activate my Windcloak, but this time only on my legs.

More mana!

Even more!

I sprint with a speed I've never achieved before. The demon draws near and I leap.

Too high! Then I'll do it differently.

My fist slams into his chin with full force. The Archdemon is launched into the air and I follow. Drawing my dagger, I spin in mid-air and use a wind burst to accelerate downward, straight at the demon.

The dagger pierces his chest and sends him crashing to the ground. A crater erupts beneath him.

I pull back to a safe distance.

Was that it?

Then it begins.

Dark mana bursts from his body. He screams as his silhouette shrinks. His body absorbs the mana again and his skin starts to gleam. Horns burst from his skull as he turns his gaze toward me.

"I've had enough." His voice is ice cold.

In the next instant, he vanishes.

Before I can react, he's already in front of me. His punch hits me. I'm thrown through the air, tumbling and land gasping for breath.

"What the hell?!" Faris shouts.

Blood drips from my chin. I force myself back up.

He's about to strike again.

I activate my Perception Magic. I see him charging at me.

To the Right!

I dodge. His punch flies past me and I counter. The Archdemon roars as he's thrown back.

What?! Such a weak hit had such an effect?

So that's how it is. This new form is fast, but unstable. His defense has dropped significantly.

A dark beam rushes toward me.

Damn! I lost focus!

The beam... disappeared?

No...

"Faris!" I yell desperately.

He swapped places with me. The beam hits him.

Faris drops to the ground.

"Is he...?!"

"I'm okay." Faris wheezes. "Finish this."

He's alive.

But the Archdemon doesn't give me any time. Another beam flies at me, but I'm ready now. I dodge. Another. And another.

He's trying to keep me at a distance?

I draw my dagger and slice the air with wind magic. A blade of wind flies toward him. The demon dodges, repositions and keeps firing.

Then I see him, Faris, back on his feet, sneaking up behind the demon.

I get it instantly.

I stir up a massive dust cloud with wind magic, blinding the demon. In the next instant, Faris swaps my position with his. I'm behind the Archdemon and unleash everything I have. Just as he notices me, my punch hits him.

Direct hit. The demon is launched through several trees.

"Did we do it?" I ask.

Faris laughs. "I think so."

A beam suddenly shoots from the forest, straight at Faris.

I don't hesitate. I focus my Windcloak into my legs again and sprint to Faris at maximum speed. Just in time, I pull him aside.

The beam hits me.

The pain is unbearable, as if my body is being torn apart and it doesn't stop.

He's pouring everything into this one attack, until his mana runs dry.

I can't endure this. I need to break through!

I channel all my remaining mana into my legs.

It's not enough. But there's more. I know it.

Then I feel it.

That power... I recognize it. Just like back in the forest, with Shiro.

An unknown force floods me and the mana in my legs surges.

Now!

With a wind burst stronger than ever, I blast through the beam, straight at the Archdemon. The pain is excruciating, but I push through.

I channel the mana into my fist.

It feels... different than usual.

That unknown power flows through me again.

I break through the beam. The demon looks at me, stunned, as my punch connects with his skull.

A massive shockwave erupts and the Archdemon's head shatters. His body is hurled across the forest, several kilometers.

I land, trembling. My body is drenched in blood, my clothes in tatters. I collapse to my knees.

Faris stumbles toward me. "Sota!"

"Is he...?" I ask.

He nods. "You defeated him. No doubt."

My vision fades, my strength drains, but I smile.

We did it.