all started with the clash between Nozomu and Mars, but the only reason they were able to understand each other again was that they both felt the same way inside.

However, when Nozomu tried to force Lisa to come to him, she pulled away. And there was still no sign that she was willing to face him.

"So this is fine. For now ..."

Nozomu looked once more at the door through which Lisa had disappeared, then turned on his heel and walked away.

He had been able to tell her something about himself even though it was only a little bit. With that slight sense of fulfillment, he was ready for what's to come.

“............”

Irisdina stared at Nozomu's back.

"Nozomu ..."

She muttered his name, and before she knew it, her hands were clasped hard on her chest.

================================

It was already past midnight, and everyone in the city was asleep. The Gloaurum Institute was located next to the Solminati Academy. In one corner of the building, an experiment was about to begin.

A huge and complicated magic formation was drawn on the floor of the room, and six magic stones were placed in the training area. Researchers in white coats were busily coming and going in the laboratory.

At a distance from the white-coated researchers, there was a group of people wearing outfits that were also unsuitable for this place.

They were of various races, including humans and demihuman, but they were dressed in fine clothes.

They were mainly influential people of the city living in the northern section of Arcazam, and they also served as ambassadors sent to the city from various countries.

They were from a wide variety of races, and some of them were not originally from this city, but have come all the way from their own countries. That was enough to tell others how important this experiment was.

Their eyes were glued to the researchers busily working in front of them and the huge magic formation in front of them.

They had probably never seen magic of this magnitude before. Some of them looked curiously and unreservedly. But the majority of them had an indescribable nervousness in their eyes.

In front of them stood a giant man, watching the movements of the researchers and the leading figures of the city with a keen eye.

The man was carrying a gigantic sword that exceeded his height. A warrior clad in silvery armor. Perhaps inspired by the tension exuding from his body, some of the influential people who had just been giving the researchers an impassive look awkwardly hid behind the other influential people.

A young man in a white coat approached him. It was Torgrain, the leader of this experiment.

"Jihad-dono, the preparations are complete. We can begin the experiment at any time."

"All right. We will now begin the experiment. The purpose of the experiment, as I told you beforehand, is to interfere with the remains of the Abyss Grief that appeared in the forest on the outskirts of this city."

At that time, a huge iron box was brought into the laboratory. All the eyes in the room were drawn to the huge box.

Steel chains were wrapped around it, and a magic formation was drawn on one side of the box to seal it.

It still glowed with a faint magical light, indicating that the seal was still intact.

The purpose of this experiment, as Jihad had mentioned earlier, was to find out the true identity of the Abyss Grief that Nozomu and the others had defeated.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the experiment is ready. We will now conduct the experiment..."

Jihad's firm voice echoed in the laboratory.

They have already gathered a certain amount of data from the corpse and magical stones. According to this data, they know that this black demon beast was made up of the bodies of several extremely condensed demon beasts.

This was because not only the bones of four-legged monsters like the Wild Dog were found in the corpse, but also the bones of many bipedal monsters like goblins.

The mess of overlapping muscles was too alien to be a living creature, and it still emitted a black miasma as if it had been contaminated.

Jihad's words were answered by an old man who had the calmest atmosphere of all the influential people gathered.

He had golden hair and a beard mixed with white. His cheeks were deeply etched with the time he had spent in the past, but his eyes held deep reasoning and a strong will.

His costume was more expensive than those of other influential people. He wore the emblem of this Arcazam City, which was a cross between a quill, a sword, and a wand.

His name is Haibao Fōka, and he is the chairman of the parliament that governs Arcazam, a man who is highly respected by all nations.

"I'm looking forward to working with you, Jihad-dono, Torgrain-dono, and everyone."

Dignified words echoed in the laboratory. A word from the chancellor and the tension riose quickly.

Jihad nodded, and Torgrain gave instructions to the gathered researchers. After confirming that a total of six researchers were standing in front of the magic stones placed around them, Torgrain slowly drew a formation in the air.

The next moment, the sealing magic formation on the iron box disappeared, followed by the shattering of the chains that were wrapped around the box. The sound of the chains falling on the floor echoed, and the iron box slowly opened.

At the same time, a tense atmosphere filled the laboratory. Everyone in the lab gasped at the unpleasant sensation as if they were being stroked on the neck with ice.

As Jihad and the others looked on, the remains of a demon beast were finally exposed under the magic lights.

A black, jet-black demon beast. The head was completely blown off and the remains were so disintegrated that it was impossible to guess its original form.

The demon beast should have been long dead by now. However, the remains were emitting a miasma that sent chills down their spine.

Ten years ago, a huge invasion of demon beasts had destroyed three countries in the blink of an eye. An unidentified demon beast that had been spotted at that time. This experiment could possibly lead to the investigation of the cause of that tragedy.

With this thought in mind, Torgrain, who was overseeing the experiment, slowly opened his mouth.

"The experiment will now begin..."

The researchers who had regained their senses held their hands over the magic stones in front of them.

Six magic formations were constructed around the magic formation, and six colors of light (red, blue, green, yellow, white, and black) began to leak from the magic stones.

When the light flooded out of the magic stones, Torgrain activated the magic formation that was drawn all over the floor. The six colors of magical power that had been floating around the area began to gather around the remains of Abyss Grief like a whirlpool.

The vortex of magic power gradually accelerated. Eventually, a squeaky sound like ringing in the ears began to echo.

The purpose of this experiment was to irradiate the magic power of the six attributes at the same time in order to analyze what kind of source material the black demon beast was made up of.

At the same time, the changes in the magic power used for the resonance were also analyzed in order to find out what kind of effect that demon beast would have on the surroundings.

The vortex of magic power that was growing stronger was already creating a resonance that could be called noise.

The instruments used for observation were also functioning accurately. Torgrain carefully manipulated the magic vortex using the magic formation in the center of the room while keeping his eyes glued to the instruments.

At last, the resonance of the magic power reached its peak.

The next moment, however, a jet-black light exploded from the center of the magic power that was shining in six different colors.

"Uwa!"

The researchers were surprised by the sudden occurrence. Due to that, the magic that was being used for the experiment became loose.

In the blink of an eye, the vortex of magic power turned black. At that moment, six arms shot out from the depths of the vortex.

"Kyaa!"

"Gahah~!"

The tentacles that flew out bounced off the researchers around them, grabbed the six magic stones that had been placed, and carried them away in the blink of an eye into the vortex of magic power.

"Haibao-dono, Torgrain-dono! Evacuate with the others!"

With Jihad's voice, the soldiers move. Quickly, the soldiers surrounded the vortex of magic power that had turned black.

The researchers who were safe escaped from the laboratory along with other influential people, and the remaining soldiers carried the fallen researchers out.

The remaining soldiers carried the fallen researchers away in their arms. Jihad slowly readied his partner on his back as he watched them evacuate.

The swirling magic power burst out in front of him, and the figure of a demon beast appeared.

"Gurururu ..."

A black demon beast let out a roar that echoed in the stomach. A jet-black miasma drifted in the air, and countless red eyes, stained with hatred, peeked out from all over its body.

"Gagyaaaa!!"

Abyss Grief stood powerfully on its four legs. Its face, reminiscent of a wolf's, was split open vertically, and its countless rows of teeth, sharp as knives, were bared along with a roar. Its two-pronged, blade-like tail was lifted high in the air, glaring at the prey in front of it.

"U, uua ..."

"A, aau ..."

Its majesty was truly that of a demon beast. In the face of such murderous intent and predatory desire that was pounding down on them, the soldiers were completely stiff.

There was no way that this beast would miss such frightened and immobilized foods.

The black demon beast pounced on the soldier who was the closest.

The sound of the stone floor crushed echoed, and in the next instant, the soldier's vision was filled with the inside of the monster's mouth.

In a few moments, the demon beast's jaws would be closed and the soldier's head would be ripped off and fall into the demon beast's guts.

But just as the demon beast's teeth were about to bite into the soldier's neck, the demon beast's body was flung sideways as it spun around.

"A...."

The soldier who let out a dumbfounded voice saw Jihad standing there with a gigantic sword as big as his own torso drawn. The demon beast that was blown away was slammed directly into the wall and screamed in agony.

"Everyone back off. I'll deal with this demon beast myself."

Jihad's voice echoed through the war-turned-laboratory, loosening the stiffness of the soldiers.

He can't let this demon beast out. There was only one way in and out of the laboratory.

The soldiers formed a line in front of the doorway, using their own bodies as the last barrier to prevent the demon beast from escaping.

Jihad stepped forward to directly confront the demon beast. Jihad held his huge sword on his waist while threatening the Abyss Grief to stay low.

The two glared at each other. A moment of silence passes between the two.

Abyss Grief was the first to move. The four powerful legs of the Abyss Grief were moving like a gale, closing in on Jihad.

Its open jaws came close to tearing Jihad's body apart, but before the jaws could catch Jihad's body, Jihad had swung the huge sword he was holding sideways.

*Clang!*

The clashing sound of the two echoed, and the two interlocked against each other tightly.

The black demon beast's legs were strengthened and about to crush Jihad, but Jihad, while raising his entire body's energy, confronted the attack head on.

Jihad's giant sword also firmly blocked the black demon beast's fangs, which could easily bite through the iron armor.

Giant Sword [Jaw Drop]

A huge longsword that exceeds the height of Jihad's body, which has become a nickname for Jihad.

It is a sword made from a large amount of a rare metal called [Tangrad] which is extremely hard, and it has been Jihad's partner in the tough battles since before the great invasion 10 years ago.

If a sword were only hard, it would break easily, but this is a gem of a sword that uses technology from the East and incorporates metals with different properties to solve this problem.

However, this metal is extremely heavy, which is why the giant sword is completely unusable for anyone other than jihad.

After all, even if one were to make a normal sword out of this metal, it would weigh more than twice as much as one made of steel. Such a huge sword that exceeds the height of one's body is not something that an ordinary person can use.

However, Jihad, who is one of the most outstanding users in the continent and has an extraordinary body and temperament, is more than capable of using this giant sword.

"Fuh~ ..."

Jihad exhaled a short breath and put more strength into his entire body. The muscles in his arms, which were like logs, swelled up, and the blood vessels emerged.

The balance of their opposing forces collapsed, and Jihad slightly pushed back the black demon beast.

"Gugyaau!?"

Perhaps it was surprising that it was being pushed back by only one person, Abyss Grief hurriedly tried to regain its strength.

"Fuh~!"

At that moment, Jihad took a half step back, relaxed the power he had put into his arms, and half turned away.

With its opponent suddenly relaxed, the Abyss Grief had no target to hit with its power.

As a four-legged beast, it would not stumble backward, but its paws were strengthening to keep its body from leaning more than expected, and as a result, it stopped moving.

"Hmph!"

There was no way Jihad would let that opportunity slip away. Using his leg as a starting point, he turned his body around and slammed his giant sword into the side of his opponent.

The giant blade dug into Abyss Grief's flesh, cutting through its temporarily regenerated muscles and crushing its bones.

The demon beast was blown away again in the same posture. It managed to get back up after being knocked to the floor several times, but Jihad had closed the gap between them.

"Gaaaaaaa!!"

The two tails swung down towards Jihad.

Jihad's previous blow had destroyed one of the black demon beast's forelegs and although it would regenerate quickly, it probably didn't want to be approached by Jihad until it had regenerated.

That's why the black demon beast's tail attack towards Jihad didn't end with one or two strikes, but three or four. Over and over again.

"There! Mmm!"

However, Jihad was able to cope with its tail attack that could even cut off a large tree.

Delicately and sometimes boldly. The way he moved his giant sword without stagnation to deflect the trajectory of the tail showed that he was not a warrior of power alone.

The two sides exchanged blows for a while, but Jihad decided that taking too much time was not a good idea and made his move.

"Fuh~!!"

With all his energy, he swung his giant sword upward and sent the tail, that swung sideways, bounced upward. However, another tail immediately came at him from the opposite direction.? Jihad immediately raised his whole body's Qi and strengthened every muscle in his body at once.

"Haaaaa!!"

While swinging the giant sword upward, he twisted his body, and the rotational movement was transmitted to the giant sword through his arm.

The next moment, the giant sword that had been swung straight upward was swung down at once as if twisting its blade back.

There was a roaring sound, and fragments of the shattered stone floor flew through the air along with the tail of the demon beast that had been cut in two.

The agonizing voice of the demon beast echoed in the laboratory along with the fluttering black blood.

"Gih~.... guaaaa !!"

However, while holding down the pain of losing its tail, the demon beast tried to swing its other remaining tail at Jihad.

However, it was also cut in two by Jihad's giant sword, which was raised in return.

As it watched its own tail fall to the floor, the demon beast kept roaring with grudges.

There was a clear difference in their abilities. The only way was to escape, but the only way out was behind the difficult enemy standing in front of it.

The tail that was cut off has begun to regrow immediately, but it didn't think the enemy in front of it will allow that to happen.

Perhaps it realized that it was no longer possible to defeat this opponent, or perhaps it was desperate to at least get a shot at it. The black demon beast still opened its jaw and plunged straight into Jihad.

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!"

A roar that seemed to squeeze all of its life out of it. Even while receiving a roar that made one's entire body tremble, Jihad gazed at the demon beast in front of him with calm eyes.

He built up his Qi all at once and sent it into his entire body.

The huge amount of Qi that came out of Jihad's body spread not only throughout his body but also to the tip of his giant Jaw Drop.

The Abyss Grief leaped up and tried to crush Jihad with its huge body.

But before the fangs of the beast could catch Jihad's body, his giant sword was swung out with a screaming sound.

The giant sword struck deep into the Abyss Grief's body and cut down on one of the jaws that had spread out to the left and right, cutting the black demon beast in two.

The body of the demon beast had split apart. It was instant death.

Jihad let out a small breath of air while swinging his giant sword.

But at that moment, the beast's crimson eyes glittered.

"Gaauuu!"

"Wha!"

The next moment, half of the demon beast that had been split apart was leaping toward the exit of the laboratory. Jihad immediately swung his giant sword to stop it, but the other half of the demon beast's body leaped at him.

"Tch!"

Jihad clicked his tongue. He used his Jaw Drop as a shield to block the half of the beast, but it stopped him in his tracks.

In the meantime, the other half of the Abyss Grief was pushing forward towards the exit.

The soldiers were surprised by the black demon beast that came out of the ground. At that moment, however, a soldier jumped out in front of the monster.

"Stop it! Don't let it pass through here!"

His voice rang out to his colleagues who were waiting at the exit.

Due to his voice, the other soldiers started to move at once.

They held up their shields in unison and formed a huge wall to block the path of the demon beast.

"Gaaaaaaaaaa !!"

A roar was heard. It was as if told them to get out of the way. The demon beast rushed forward and crashed into the wall of soldiers.

The soldiers were pushed back by the force of the rush. The fangs of the demon beast pierced through the shield and the body of the soldier who had just jumped out in front of the demon beast.

"Guh~!!"

The soldier groaned as the foreign object invaded his body, biting into his arms and torso while making a squealing sound.

However, he desperately pushed down the scream that he was about to shout and tried to push back the demon beast with his colleagues.

"Gi, gigigyau...!"

The demon beast was surprised to find that the soldiers were able to block its body, even if it was only half of its body. It immediately tried to jump away, but with half of its body missing, it was unable to put enough strength into it.

In addition, the soldiers who had come around thrust their swords into the monster's body.

The sword struck at the wound that had been opened in the fight with Jihad, and cut the inside of the demon beast.

"Gi~, gyaau!!"

"Now! Push it back!"

For a moment, the pressure on the shield weakened.

The soldiers who had been holding the demon beast's body all put their strength into their legs at the same time and repelled the demon beast that was trying to escape.

The Abyss Grief staggered backward. However, the Abyss Grief did not give up and was about to charge again. But a huge shadow covered the demon beast.

The beast's blood-red eyes caught the giant sword raised behind it. It had a power of destruction far more vicious than the decapitation blade.

The person handling the giant sword could see half of the demon beast's body smashed at his feet. The moment it looked into Jihad's eyes, the demon beast's body froze.

The glint in Jihad's eyes was a rage that was accompanied by murderous intent. The sight of his wounded subordinate reminded him of the tragedy of ten years ago.

"Be crushed..."

It was a clear death sentence. Without giving the demon beast a chance to move, the Jaw Drop literally crushed half of the Abyss Grief's body on the stone floor.

"Are you okay!?"

When Jihad confirmed that the black demon beast he had crushed had stopped moving, he immediately rushed over to his men.

The soldier who was bitten by the beast was sitting on the floor, and his colleagues were desperately trying to stop the bleeding.

"Y-yes ... somehow"

Blood was trickling from the wound, staining the soldier's armor bright red, but the injured soldier was clearly conscious.

Hearing the soldier's firm answer, Jihad patted his chest.

Aside from being in the forest, this was one of the leading research institutes on the continent, and the medical facilities were well-equipped.

In fact, a doctor carrying a bag of medical tools came in from the entrance of the laboratory. If he was immediately treated by an excellent doctor, his life would not be in danger.

Jihad left the injured men to the doctor's care and ordered the remaining men to report the situation to Torgrain and the others, while he turned his attention to the Abyss Grief he had just defeated.

The body of the black demon beast had begun to disintegrate, exposing the same crumpled body it had when it came here.

However, he no longer felt the same chill that he had when it had been brought here.

"Jihad-dono!"

Torgrain heard his men's report and rushed over.

Is it......really over?

In the end, the only thing left was the lump of flesh from the demon beast, and it didn't move a muscle. However, if one were to look at what happened here today, it was true that this was not the end of it.

As he looked down at the corpse of the Abyss Grief, Jihad's mind kept repeating the unanswerable question.