Still clashing inside the Colosseum, on one of the occasions, Marie was able to hit that "thing" and left a big dent on the upper half of his body.

"Keu-heuk!"

" Humph.. to think that even after years of relinquishing your title, you will still possess this kind of strength...."

That thing was pretty short of breath.

" As expected of Marie.. this body, it wouldn't suffice at all.."

The fight looked pretty even from the side, but if one were to look closely, Marie seemed to have a clear upper hand on this.

It's just for some reason. She just couldn't erase the bad feeling that kept rosing in her heart.

" Humph, I'm not going to let you take a breath!!"

Disregarding the bad feeling in her heart, Marie finally managed to finish her chants. A ball of condensed wind larger than a volleyball flew in the midst of the dark Colosseum, obliterating everything on its path.

KABOOM—!!

Here, the power of Marie is on full display.

Even Aurum, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but gaped his mouth.

Clang! Clang!! Pow-!!

Still, even though it was injured harshly, that thing still managed to shake the explosion from the wind magic and went at Marie for close combat.

His blurry vision could only pick up on the sight of the tattered thing fighting against the full force of Marie.

'When would I be able to do something like this..?'

He couldn't take his eyes off Marie on the tattered figure even for one bit. And even though the more he saw them battling, the more he felt his weaknesses, there's no way he would miss such a battle.

Yet unnoticed to Marie and Aurum, darkness was slowly creeping behind them.

At the same time...

BOOM!!!

Marie's cane slapped that thing in the back of his head!!

It shrieked in pain, but after a while, that thing suddenly broke into laughter.

" Kyakakakakaka.. Marie.. I don't know whether you are naive or what.."

Marie's expression froze. Normally, she would just ignore that things provocation. Yet for some reason, there was this uneasy feeling that kept bothering her, and it made her hesitate.

She was about to open her mouth, but at this time, she could subtly hear a screaming voice.

And the voice came from below her!

'That voice definitely belonged to Aurum!!'

She turned her head in the direction of the voice, only to see Aurum was surrounded by a blob of dark things.

He was trying his best to fight them, but if this were to continue, he wouldn't really last long.

' That can't be.. I'm sure I have left my clone with-'

" Ahh?? What is it? Are you confused about how this can happen?"

That thing appeared right behind Marie, an evil smile spread on its face.

Marie trembled..

If Aurum continued to be surrounded by the dark blob-like thing, then he'd not get out of here alive. In that case, she must...

" Marie, Marie.. about to lose your dear friends once again, I see. Now I know why they call you the witch of calamity. Each and every one of your friends, you never fail to bring a calamity to them."historical

Her maddened eyes spotted that thing that was currently eerily smiling.

Yet, there's not a thing she could do!

She was too busy fighting him and wasn't paying any attention to her rear.

' If this was to continue..'

No, she must save Aurum.

Marie no longer concerned herself with anything and rushed at Aurum. But unknown to her, that thing was looking at this action of her with a smile full of amusement.

. . . . . . .

Aurum ran with all his might. In front, the black blob, and from behind too.

Even though he was stuck in a seemingly dangerous situation, Aurum still managed to keep his calm.

"Attack him, Giant Tusked Boar!!"

As if he'd been waiting for that call, The Giant Tusked boar jumped out from his shadow immediately and easily squashed a few black blobs on his way.

However, he underestimated the toughness of the black blob a bit too much.

"No!"

Aurum's eyes opened wider.

Even when squashed, the black blob was still tenacious, and now it tried to strike back.

However, even before he could say anything, a glowing sword pierced deeply into the black blob.

Stab!!

The blade ran straight through from the middle and cut the black blob into two before burning it with the shining light.

"Marie!!"

Aurum quickly took several steps back.

Once again, Marie appeared before him, saving him from danger.

Yet there was no happiness inside Aurum. Because at this time, that thing also followed Marie.

Tak.. Tak..

The sound of metal clanking reverberated throughout the area as that thing got closer and closer.

" My my.. you are still the same. Have you learned your lesson? Protecting them would only bring you down. Now.. I will show you the real gap between us."

As he said that, a bloody dogfight erupted between the two.

That thing didn't even try to dodge Marie's attacks. The armor gets even more tattered, but his speed never declines one bit.

Rather, it gets even faster with every blows traded.

Pow!

That thing's head was forced slightly to the side.

But, even before Marie could launch more attacks, she felt a degree of danger from her surrounding as the dark blob also came and attacked her.

POW!

Marie dodged, but she still got her leg caught in the way of the attack.

Yet at this time, she could not even let a shriek of pain.

Because from the edge of her eyes, she saw that thing was actually going for Aurum.

"Die!!"

In front of Aurum, that thing raised his sword high, and there was nothing that Aurum could do.

She ignored the pain that was gnawing her body and rushed at his direction.

Aurum closed his eyes, ready to receive his death. Yet, even after some time, he could not feel the pain. And rather, he could feel a warm hand being placed on his cheek.

Stab!!

Here, Aurum could feel blood shots in his eyes.

The moment he opened his eyes, only the scene of Marie being pierced on his heart was displayed in front of him.

The blade ran straight through her chest and emerged from her back.

"You... Marie...!"

" It's okay.. I'm glad that you are safe. I don't want to once again.."

But before she could even finish her words, light began to grow surrounding her and Marie's body slowly dissintegrated into the particles of light.