I Was Reincarnated with OP Invincibility, so I’ll Beat ’em Up My Way as an Action-Adventurer

124. Live On

“Ga Belle Du Vana Dire”

With Meriel’s incantation, black light erupted.

The light transformed into energy in the shape of a jet-black dragon, undulating above her.

A massive black dragon, writhing to intimidate Zarea.

“A grand spell that transforms my life force into destructive power. A strike that is, in essence, my very life.”

“A life-risking blow… quite literally.”

The smile vanished from Zarea’s face.

“My scythe’s killing capability, versus my magic power—shall we see who wins in sheer force? If you think you can slice through—”

“It’s pointless!”

Zarea laughed.

In an instant,

“Ahh…!?”

Lilith felt a tremor like an earthquake and lost her balance.

Beside her, Alice stumbled similarly.

The ground beneath them had disappeared.

Below stretched a bottomless abyss.

“Lilith! Alice!”

Meriel’s scream echoed.

“Did you think I’d honestly clash head-on with such massive energy? It’s easier to create an opening and kill, don’t you think? Hahaha.”

Zarea grinned maliciously.

“I slashed, and slashed, and slashed, over and over at the ground beneath your feet with my scythe. You’ll be smashed flat if you fall.”

“Damn it!”

Meriel reached out frantically.

A shining rope of magic appeared, catching Lilith and Alice, stopping their fall.

“Thank you, Meriel…”

“You saved us…”

Pulled back to a secure foothold near Meriel, Lilith and Alice expressed their gratitude.

Then, they caught their breath.

At the sight of Meriel’s smile.

“How strange it is… That even the simplest moments of daily life seem so radiant… Perhaps…”

A wistful, fleeting expression.

As if she had given up on everything.

As if she had accepted her fate.

“Because they are simple, I suppose.”

“Meriel…”

“It was only when I thought I might lose it all, that I finally realized. Meeting you both meant more to me than I had known… I realized it… just a little too late.”

Blue blood scattered.

Zarea’s scythe—

deeply cut through Meriel’s chest.

“Meriel!”

“Meriel!”

Lilith and Alice screamed in unison.

Yes, Meriel had known.

If she saved Lilith and Alice, she would create an opening for herself to be struck down.

Knowing that—she saved them.

She saved them.

Before their eyes, the girl in the black dress crumbled to the ground.

“I… can protect… no longer…”

The weakened words came from the fallen warlord girl.

Lilith and Alice rushed to her.

“But—”

Meriel raised a trembling hand.

Lilith, with Alice, held it.

“…Please… live on…”

In their clasped hands, a warm sensation.

Something seemed to flow into their bodies—

“I… give this… to you… use it…”

“Huh…!?”

“Survive… please…”

Her voice faded, and Meriel’s hand dropped limply to the ground.

“What… is this?”

Zarea looked at them suspiciously.

At Lilith and Alice.

And above them.

—A thousand staffs floating above their heads.

“This is—”

Lilith felt an intense, surging heat within her body.

A vast, overwhelming magical power.

“This… it’s Meriel’s…!”

Lilith murmured in awe.

“Incredible… This is tens, hundreds… maybe even thousands of times our power…”

Alice was also astonished.

Their eyes returned to the fallen warlord girl.

Meriel lay there, motionless.

Her chest faintly rose and fell; she still drew breath.

Relief washed over them, but their faces soon grew serious.

The structure of a demon’s body was a mystery, but it was clear her injuries were dire.

“Nee-san, can you heal Meriel?”

“Heal…?”

“With our combined magic now, it’s possible, right?”

“I’ll try… but—”

“It’s fine. He won’t get past me.”

Lilith spoke resolutely to her worried sister, who glanced at Zarea.

“I’ll hold him back. I will protect Meriel—no matter what.”

“Protect her? You? You think you can stop me, a demon general?”

Zarea sneered.

“Unless you wield divine power, a mere human—ridiculous, hahahaha.”

Lilith said nothing.

She stared at Zarea and the countless scythes circling him.

Those scythes could slice through magical power.

Offensive spells were scattered; defensive ones cut to pieces.

Even Meriel, possessing overwhelming magic power, had struggled against Zarea.

What chance did a rank B sorceress like her have?

A loyal servant of the Demon King.

One of the legendary Six Demon Generals.

Just facing him was suffocating under immense pressure.

(Haruto… faced opponents like this…)

She exhaled, calming her frenzied heart.

Steadying her wildly beating heart.

(But right now, it’s just my sister and me.)

Haruto couldn’t be relied upon.

Only she and Alice remained—to fight.

To survive.

To protect a friend.