Now!

Hyah!

Argh...

It's working, Aneil! If we can keep this up...

Wait... Something's wrong.

Huh?

Hehehe... You finally noticed.

The presence of the force that was pursuing your group is fading.

It can't be!

Exactly...!

I gave orders for my troops to act while you were busy with me...

...orders that sent them right back to pursuing the allies you were trying to protect!

No... It can't be!

I was careless. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings...

...while I was focused on battling this disciple!

......

It's still too soon to give up!

Nevsky, go after them! You can still make it in time!

But...it will take both of us to hold back this disciple.

No. I can handle this one...by myself!

You think you can defeat me alone?

Haha...you must be joking.

Or has the despair made you lose your mind?

I'm not joking, and I haven't lost my mind.

I'm...dead serious!

Argh... You've put up a barrier?!

Exactly. And now you can't so much as step one foot outside of it!

Hmph, a barrier like this won't stop me!

......

It deflected my attack?!

I made this barrier! Weak slaps like your attacks won't break it!

But wait...making a barrier this strong calls for an equivalent price to be paid.

Surely you didn't?!

Yes. You guessed right.

To make this barrier...I expended some of my life force.

Aneil, you're...

Nevsky, please go after the God Army.

Head for Reed and the others. Get there, and don't let the God Army catch up with the civilians!

But...

Don't let me have done this...in vain!

Understood.

The advice you gave me helped to make me stronger.

Thank you for everything.

You are already a much stronger man than I have ever been.

You have been for a long time...

......

......

Grh...

Either way, you humans cannot escape extinction. It is your destiny.

Defying the will of the gods and struggling in vain...

...there's no limit to your boundless idiocy.

Our destiny isn't written yet.

Even I grew stronger, thanks to my faith in my comrades...

Thank you...everyone...

Hmph... More nonsense.

The barrier has faded, but it seems I took too long and missed my chance to cull the humans.

No matter. There are still countless opportunities to attack them.

Argh!

It's not over yet! I'm not going to let his efforts be in vain!

Hyah!

This should take care of all of the God Army forces we drew off...

Gragh!

I can't...go on anymore...

But I have no regrets.

He grew so much. He surpassed me.

Thank...you...