The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

"Can you still move?"

Raye asked, crouching.

He was glancing at Zephyrus on his right side.

Zephyrus’ white feathers and fur were now tainted red with his own blood.

And the mana Raye was feeling within him—

’It’s weak.’

Raye frowned.

He glared at the two demons a few tens of meters away from him.

Keeping an eye on them.

And just then, opening his beak— 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

-I can still somewhat move...

Zephyrus weakly muttered that.

And hearing him—

"..."

Raye immediately realized that he was bluffing, keeping a strong facade.

But even after knowing that—

"That’s great."

Raye decided to believe his words.

And with his brows knitted together—

"Protect the others. I’ll handle the rest."

He said that, turning to the demons.

And with a weak, but confident nod—

-Okay... I’ll let you steal the spotlight this time...

Zephyrus replied to him.

Raye smiled at his cheeky response.

Then, at that very moment—

-Hah! Saying your goodbyes?

The weaker demon said that with a laugh.

"..."

Raye just ignored him.

-Don’t worry, I’ll make sure all of you get to the afterlife so nobody gets left behind!

The demon exclaimed.

This time—

Fwish—

Raye stood up. He still didn’t say anything though.

Not really caring about that...

The demon continued talking—

-Be glad! For I, Rowan Brogais—a candidate for the Demon King’s royal guard, will be—

"Shut up."

But Raye cut him off at the near end of his speech.

-...?!

The demon, Rowan, was shocked by this.

And then—

Fwip—

Raye pointed the tip of [Celestria] at him.

And with a deep frown on his face—

"A royal guard? The fuck are you on about? You weren’t even able to protect your dog last time and ran off alone. Stop bullshitting."

Raye said that!

"Remember when I cut off your left hand? I see that you managed to recover it somehow. Well, I’ll just cut it off again for you... And this time—I’ll be taking your head as well."

And then he declared that!

At his words—

-...

Rowan became silent.

His hands trembled slightly.

His wings twitched.

His expression—

Twisted with something dark.

-Heh...

The noble demon smiled slyly, his crimson eyes locking onto the silent Rowan.

On the other hand…

"..."

Raye waited.

His grip on [Nyx] and [Celestria] tightened.

His cold, blue eyes—unwavering.

The battlefield grew eerily still.

And after a few moments of nothing—

FWOOOOOSH—!!

A violent surge of demonic energy exploded into the air!

"?!?"

Raye’s body tensed.

His instincts screamed danger.

The overwhelming pressure—

It was thick, disgusting.

It was suffocating.

And the source of this twisted energy…

It was Rowan!

His body trembled with rage.

His bloodlust—uncontained.

His fangs clenched so tightly that they threatened to break.

And opening his mouth wide in anger—

-THIS TIME, I WILL REALLY KILL YOU AND MAKE YOU SHUT UP!!!

Rowan’s roared. His voice shook the very air!

And then—

BAM!

FWOOOOOSH—!!

He kicked off the ground!

His dark wings—

FWAP—!

He flapped it once, the impact sent him flying forward faster!

Rowan’s speed was monstrous!

SWOOSH—!!!

The air cracked!

Rowan shot straight like a bullet!

His claws—

Extended in front of him.

Glowing with an eerie, dark light.

His pupils—

Dilated, wild.

Burning with unfiltered hatred!

And Raye—

His breathing—steady.

His stance—solid.

His heart—calm.

’Tch... He’s really fast.’

Raye clicked his tongue inside his head.

Rowan was just as strong as before when he first saw him a few weeks ago!

FWAAAAAH~!!

Rowan’s demonic energy surged violently—

Making the air feel like lead.

But—

"..."

Raye didn’t falter.

And instead—

BAM!

He put his right foot forward, heavily planting it on the ground!

And looking at Rowan coming at him like a meteor—

"Urgh... GRAAAAA!!!"

SWOOOOSH—!!!

Raye forcefully swung [Nyx] horizontally to meet him head-on!

BOOOOOOM—!!!

A deafening shockwave tore through the battlefield as Raye’s sword collided with Rowan’s red claws!

CRACK—

The ground beneath them broke!

Sparks erupted from their weapons!

(Rowan’s weapon is his claws. Any instrument used to attack or defend can be considered as a weapon.)

-What...?!

Rowan was surprised when his attack was stopped by Raye!

He flinched and became frozen in place!

The Raye from a few weeks ago would have already broken his arm by now. Rowan’s attack would have gone through, and he would have been able to successfully kill Raye!

This situation made no sense to him!

-’What the hell happened to him in such a short amount of time?!’

Rowan questioned in his head, utterly confused.

And as if reading his thoughts—

"I got stronger—a lot stronger."

Raye said that!

His expression strained, his arms trembling.

’Keuk...! Fuck!’

He had barely blocked Rowan’s attack.

*****

...

BAM!

Raye immediately jumped back, creating distance between himself and Rowan.

Tap—

And after gently landing on the ground—

"Fuuuuu..."

He let out a long sigh, his breath steadying.

’I really shouldn’t meet his attacks head-on if possible.’

Raye thought to himself, his eyes shifting down to his trembling right arm. His fingers twitched slightly, the impact from blocking Rowan’s strike still lingering. A faint frown formed on his face.

But he had no time to dwell on it—

Fwish—

Raye turned his gaze back to Rowan.

And there—

-...

He saw Rowan staring at him.

His expression was different now—his usual arrogance was gone, replaced with something new.

Caution.

He wasn’t attacking immediately this time.

Raye could tell—Rowan was confused. He was trying to make sense of Raye’s sudden surge in strength.

And Raye?

Well—

He was grateful for this.

’Good. Stay wary.’

If Rowan hesitated even for a moment, that was time Raye could use. Even if just a little, he could replenish some of his mana and stamina.

But noticing this plan of his—

-He’s trying to recover, attack him now.

A cold, commanding voice cut through the moment!

It was the noble demon who was watching from the sidelines!

"...?!"

Raye’s eyes widened.

Annoyance flared inside him, he clenched his hands hard.

’Damn it.’

His plan to buy a few more seconds to recover had been ruined.

But at the same time—

He felt a small sense of relief.

The noble demon wasn’t interfering directly.

For now, that is.

Anyway, at the noble demon’s words—

-Huh?

Rowan blinked.

And then—

-Ah...

Realization struck him.

His eyes locked onto Raye—onto the faint, slow restoration of his mana.

And at that moment—

-I won’t let you!

BAM—!

Rowan kicked off the ground!

His speed exploded as he lunged forward, closing the gap in an instant!

"Ugh...!"

Raye groaned, irritation flashing through him.

Then without hesitation—

BAM!

FWOOOSH—!

He kicked off the ground as well, dashing forward to meet Rowan head-on in the middle!

One thought burned in his mind—

’I can’t let this fight reach the others behind me.’

He was protecting Zephyrus and the others from harm.

And remembering the condition the others were in—

"GRAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

Raye screamed, letting out his anger as he rushed at Rowan!

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CRACK—

The two met in the middle, stopping abruptly in front of each other.

The ground cracked beneath their feet from the sheer force of their landing.

And then—

FWOOOOSH—!

Rowan immediately thrust his right hand forward, his razor-sharp claws aiming straight for Raye’s face!

Fwish—

Raye twisted his head to the right, narrowly avoiding it!

And as a response—

SWISH—

He unleashed a rising diagonal slash with [Celestria]!

TINCK!!!

But it was blocked—!

Rowan’s right wing, engulfed in demonic energy, took the hit with ease!

SWOOOSH—

Rowan then threw a heavy hook with his left!

"..."

And seeing that—

Fwoosh—

Raye crouched down to dodge it!

A chilling breeze swept past the top of his head—

If that had hit, his skull would’ve exploded!

But ignoring that fact—

SWUSH—

Raye swung [Nyx] horizontally, aiming for Rowan’s left leg!

His attack was fast—!

-?!

Rowan couldn’t block it!

But then—

CLANG—!

A sharp metallic sound rang out the moment Raye’s sword struck Rowan’s skin!

"Urgh...?!"

Raye groaned in pain—

His hand was flung upward from the impact!

His grip nearly loosened—

And his wrist throbbed.

’What the hell...?!’

His eyes widened in shock.

Rowan’s skin—

It was as hard as steel!

Raye instantly realized it—

’Demonic reinforcement...!’

The bastard had enhanced his body with corrupted mana, turning his flesh into armor!

And as he was preoccupied with that thought—

FWOOOSH—

Rowan launched a front kick straight at Raye’s face!

"?!!"

Fwip-

Raye was surprised, but he immediately crossed his arms in front of him and coated them with mana.

And with it—

BAAAM—!

"GURGHH...?!"

Raye took the hit!

Even though he blocked it, his arms tingled in pain, it felt like they would shatter!

Fwooosh—

Raye was flung backwards.

Shhhhcc—

He skidded off the ground as he was on his knee.

And after stopping—

"..."

He immediately looked up at Rowan.

-Hah!

Rowan smirked, his eyes gleaming with mockery.

-What’s the problem? I thought you’d be cutting off my head this time? Will you be able to do that if you can’t even cut my skin?

He sneered, being all arrogant again.

"..."

Raye frowned, hearing him.

And seeing his frustrated expression—

-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Rowan started laughing manically again, he was really satisfied with what he was seeing.