''U-uh…?!'' I suddenly felt chills run down my spine and I felt the attention of both Ciel and her very very evil master.


    They were both looking at me, and even though I was within the area of influence granted by [The Pope], I wasn''tpletely immune to the bloodlust I felt.


    "Jared Leonard… Singrity… it hase to my notice that you were one of the obstacles that dyed my return. As a result, I will be eliminating you now." The Nether finally let go of Ciel and he slowly began to descend.


    Right as Ciel was about to follow him, he stopped her. "Wait here. I''ll take care of this quickly." He said.


    Afterwards, he resumed his descent.


    I felt a menacing re from Ciel on me, for some reason. This re finally transformed into a very malevolent gaze—one that felt like she was waiting for me to get what wasing to me.


    I had no luxury to dwell on the meaning behind her expression, though. After all, the Nether had just said something I couldn''t ignore.


    "You''ll… eliminate me?"


    So, I was first in line before the destruction of the world? That didn''t seem veryforting.


    "Let''s fight him together, Lewis." Karlia made a fist and gave me her usual confident smile.


    I saw her lips quivering, so I could tell that she was feeling anything but confidence. How could I allow her to throw her life away like that?


    ''It''s possible that she''ll die for real if she faces him so haphazardly. I can''t allow that!'' Both for selfish reasons and also for the sake of the world, I didn''t want Karlia to die.


    "No. I''ll face him alone."


    "WHAT? You don''t stand any chance at a—"


    "Neither do all of us if we rush in at once. Don''t worry, I don''t n on dying or anything. I''ll do my best toe up with a strategy that we''ll use to defeat this guy." I smiled at the two women beside me.


    "But, Lewis, you—"


    "We know very little about this guy—especially since the Nether is in a perfect vessel. I have to find out more."


    "Then let me go! I''m stronger than you." Karlia yelled, not wishing to let me go.


    It broke my heart to see her nearly cry, but…


    "You wouldn''t be capable of the kind of analysis I''m opting for. You''re stronger, most likely smarter too. But… I''m still a better strategist."


    I simply had more experience in fighting, and Karlia was someone who was averse to violence unless absolutely necessary.


    "Besides… I don''t want you to get hurt." I touched her face with my hand, a smile on my face.


    Frankly, I wasn''t the least bit confident ofsting a second against my opponent. However, it is said that people can draw out limitless strength when it is for the sake of others.


    ''I hope that''s true…''


    "I can''t lose you agai—"


    "ENOUGH TALK!" Before Karlia couldplete her statement, the Nether released a burst of energy from his finger—one that turned into a massive surge of purplish-ck power.


    It charged straight at us, and I doubted the barrier would be able to handle it.


    ''That st has enough power to wipe out everyone here!'' My allies were already regaining consciousness, and I had so many people I cared about here.


    There was no way I could allow them to suffer.


    "Protect one another! I''ll be back soon!" With that, my entire body became doused in multicoloured light.


    >VWUUUUSSSSSHHHHH!!!<


    Utilizing Grand Fusion Mode, Elemental Chamber, and my Original Magic, I sped towards the Nether''s st.


    It felt so powerful that even in my current state, I knew I was probably going to die.


    ''No way! No way! I won''t die here!''


    "RAAAAAARRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH!!!"


    Pushing my body to its limit, I summoned the strength of every single familiar in my body. I condensed their power, fused it with the power of [Strength], and sent it charging at the imminent burst of destruction.


    "RAARRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Blood began pouring from my eyes, nose, ears, and even mouth. They evaporated as soon as they leaked outside, though, but I kept pushing.


    The st, despite all my efforts, was still overwhelming me. Despite giving my all, it still didn''t halt.


    There was not an ounce of Aether in the air—just Nether—making my Spellcraft obsolete.


    However…


    "CHAAAAARRRRGEEEEEEEEE!!!"


    I brought out all the attack Spell Cards in my possession—at least a few thousand of them—and fired all of them at the st.


    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<


    Finally, both forces became equal in power, and a massive st sent everything flying away.


    "Gah!" The recoil pushed me further away, but I struggled to find bnce after a short while.


    My entire body ached, and I felt almost numb all over.


    "Haa… haaa…" The earlier attack practically took everything I had, and it was merely a casual attack from the Nether.


    How exactly was I supposed to formte a strategy when I was already spent with that single strike?!


    "Haha! Seriously? You''re already tired from that? What a disappointment! You sure you''re a Singrity?" The Netherughed as it taunted me.


    ''What is he… talking about?'' I was one of the most powerful—if not the most powerful human alive. Well, other than Neron and the Martial de God, of course.


    There was a limit to how powerful we could be, but I had long surpassed that limit. Perhaps Singrities were meant to be even more powerful, but that was expecting a lot from a fifteen-year-old kid.


    "I have faced two Singrities before you, and they were far above your level. You use that Arcana as a crutch because you still haven''t mastered Aether, am I wrong? How can you even hope to stop me?" Heughed further.


    I couldn''t argue with him. He had a very good point.


    I always used crutches—whether Arcanas or Magic Items—when fighting my adversaries. There was a limit to my growth, after all. I was so young, yet I was fighting so many unbelievably strong opponents.


    And, as for how I stood no chance against him, he was probably right.


    I couldn''t see myself beating him, or even taking on another of his attacks. The reason I took that blow of his was that if I didn''t it would have killed everyone below.


    I couldn''t have that!


    But… What now? I had already lost before I had even started.


    ''Is that what you really think?'' I smiled internally.


    This was the same as when I fought Kahn back when I was in the Academy—though this scale was astronomically higher. Regardless, it didn''t change what I had to do.


    ''It''s as good a time as any to use my Trump Card…''


    It was something I had nned on using against the Cult Leader before the n failed. However, now was the perfect moment to rely on my best crutch.


    Preparing my body for the imminent series of mind-gruelling and painstaking efforts I was about to go through, I strengthened my resolve.


    ''Even if it costs me everything… even if I die… I''ll pave a way for everyone to defeat you!''


    *


    *


    *


    [A/N]


    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205


    Cheers!