There was darkness in the passage, and a faint light of fire was cast from the stone hall behind him, and if there was a little light, it only made the darkness in front of him even deeper.

Borenna's eyes widened, wondering if something was wrong with the magic ring he used for night vision, or if the light that still shrouded him was affecting his vision. He could see the enemy that had stopped them, a vague face that was still faintly distinguishable...... It's just unbelievable.

"That's ......," he said with difficulty.

"Ante Bofford. Ed replied.

“...... He's really not dead?!"

"Nope. Ed leaned over and lowered Iss off his shoulder, "He's a ......"

A cold hand suddenly grabbed his throat. The force almost broke his neck, and he fell to his knees.

Isis woke up. He turned over and stood up straight, his right hand still tightly locked around Ed's neck, and in the darkness, a pair of golden eyes showed the indifference and cruelty of a beast...... and heavy anger.

The blood on his forehead hadn't dried yet—Ed had to strike harder against a dragon. And at this moment, those sinuous bloodstains made Is's pale face look extremely hideous.

“...... Hey!" Borena shouted, swinging his sword at his arm. However, Iss did not let go of his hand as he wished, and without even looking at him, with a wave of his left hand, a piercing cold air crashed into his chest.

Borena narrowly avoided the blow. The chill swept past his left arm, instantly rendering his entire arm unconscious.

The moment he struck, Is's right hand loosened slightly, allowing Ed to finally squeeze out a little sound.

"No......," he said, his voice broken and hoarse. A name was on the tip of his tongue, and he might only have this chance...... But he swallowed it back.

His friend has only one name.

"Yi ...... ......," he shouted. He couldn't break the fingers that were clenching his neck, and could only weakly grasp the other party's wrist, forced to tilt his head, and the tears welling up from suffocation blurred his vision even more.

He couldn't see Is's expression clearly.

"Why, do you want a change of master?" ”

Ante's malevolent voice burrowed into his buzzing ears.

The cold, iron-like fingers on his neck tightened again. Ed's eyes darkened, barely realizing that his body had flown out until he slammed into Borena, and the two of them fell into a heap in a mess.

Iss rushed to Ante.

He was as fast as a bolt of lightning, and his slender body pulled out a silvery-white light in the darkness. The fine scales completely covered the human skin, and the sharp teeth protruded from the lips - even though he had to retain his human form in this narrow passage, he no longer looked like a human at all.

Isis never gets so thorough, even if it's more conducive to combat. It's a monster that's too vicious and ugly for humans...... But at the moment, he didn't care at all.

The opponent's movements are much more flexible than ordinary undead. His claws slashed Ante's neck, but they couldn't cut off his head. Thick blood slowly oozed out, and the undead's hissing roar sounded as shrill and ridiculous as a broken bellows.

Isis sideways avoided the greatsword slashing at his waist, as light as a shadow clinging to the blade, and pressed his left hand on Ante's shoulder, freezing the opponent's next move.

Ante recovered quickly. His blood no longer flowed, and his body was resistant to almost all magic. There was a rare hint of surprise in those slightly bulging eyes, and he finally realized that the "little dragon cub of the Chrissus family" in front of him did not seem to be the impulsive and impatient young man he had in his impression, only instinctive and inexperienced and unskilled.

Isis jumped behind him with his shoulders in his arms, his sword-like claws pulling long wounds in his neck once more. A few bolts of lightning fell on the undead's body, and even if it didn't hurt him at all, it made him roar uncontrollably - this little cub dared to use him as a meat shield!

“...... Is it my delusion?"

In a hair-tingling-sounding roar, Borena rubbed his left arm and wondered, "That dragon seems to be a lot more powerful?"

Ed was silent, with mixed feelings.

He slammed his hands and pushed the enemy behind him who had finally chased him out of the stone hall. The oncoming arrow fell to the ground crookedly, and the nearest enemy was pushed backwards by the wall of wind, but his eyes were always locked on Copas Fenton.

The priest hadn't made a move at all. Even if Isis is "a lot stronger", it is still difficult to predict whether they will be able to escape this catastrophe...... Not to mention that Isis itself is even more unpredictable.

“...... I'm sorry. He said.

"What?" Borena was at a loss.

"I shouldn't have been involved in you......" Ed muttered, his already healed throat still inexplicably aching.

“...... Apparently I brought it on myself, okay?" Borena shook her head helplessly, "Why do you love to apologize so much." Besides—"

He has been able to live until now, and he has already earned it.

"Focus, young man. He said, "You're a ...... Priest. In any case, solve the battle at hand first. ”

Ed nodded silently, his fingers slipping into his beltpack. He had already scattered all the black seeds, but he didn't just have the packet of seeds in his pocket.

Fingertips removed from a small, round ball and felt for another material—it wasn't time yet.

"Tanas. ”

He whispered the incantation, his fingers darling through the air. A rune flickered slightly, leapfrogging the wall of wind that had just disappeared, flashing violently in the place where the enemies were most concentrated, and disappearing in an instant.

The invisible force exploded in the confined space, stunning most of the enemies, leaving them staggering and crashing into each other in confusion. Borena took the opportunity to rush out, stabbing out his sword to ensure that they no longer had the ability to attack.

He was far more ruthless than Ed, but it also made Ed suddenly realize his weakness...... It's not that he doesn't have the ability to kill, but he still can't help but hesitate at such times.

He added a spell, and more enemies fell to the ground, but the rest did not hesitate or back down.

In addition to Copas, there are two young spellcasters standing behind the warriors. They weren't swept away by the spell, but they didn't save their companions - their goal was always Is.

Ed glanced back hurriedly. Even when flanked, Iss seems to be at ease. For a moment they met eye contact, and the cold, unfamiliar look pierced Ed's heart like a sharp blade.

- Concentrate.

Ed forced himself to turn his head and wave his hand at the enemies surrounding Borena.

In the fleeting light brought by the Flame Strike Technique, he did not miss a cold smile on Copas's lips.

.