Chapter 12: Defeating Helmut

She slammed her scythe into his neck again.

However, even taking this much risk, I couldn't see a future where we could deplete Helmuth's health. He's more than a strong enemy; he's a crappy boss.

"Liora, we'll use it. Your MP will be temporarily depleted. Can you endure it?"

"Y-yes, God!"

"Very well. Skill activation—[Reduce Enemy Resistance] applied."

The skill [Reduce Enemy Resistance] lowers the target's resistance to status ailments. If that were all, it would be a cheat skill, but in proportion, it depletes the MP. This skill consumes 70% of MP to activate.

If it hits, it reduces the enemy's status ailment resistance by 5%. However, if the enemy has "Immunity," the skill has no effect. Also, if the enemy has 100% resistance, it only reduces it by less than 1%.

"It wasn't nullified. Helmuth probably has 100% resistance. Now, there's less than a 1% chance for the status ailment to take effect."

This is bad.

Even with [Life Steal Blade] active, the damage she dealt was so minimal that the absorption wasn't enough.

Helmuth's powerful attacks caused damage even if they only grazed her or from the shockwave alone. A direct hit was out of the question.

Each strike was a close call to death. Despite the high-performance AI, Liora continued to dance with her scythe without hesitation, even with the fear of death, she didn't hesitate. That's how much she trusted me (God).

'If so, I should respond in kind.'

▽ Player Tanaka

"PHO" had just launched, and Tanaka was one of the top players. Spending most of the day in the game, she was among the higher ranks. From her experience as a top player in many other games, her support abilities were exceptional.

Tanaka widened her eyes and stared in amazement at the scene before her.

"W-what's going on!? That girl is insanely strong."

"She's not strong, graceful spirit Tanaka. She's risking her life."

"What's the difference? I'm not a fighter, so I don't get it."

"She's betting her life on the line as if it's natural. That's not a sane way to fight."

Helmuth's large yet skillful strike could make anyone tremble with fear.

The girl faced the fierce scythe without expression, repeatedly slashing as if programmed. Constantly moving, her attacks always aimed at the neck.

The girl showed no fear of being attacked. Against fatal strikes, she calmly charged forward.

Sometimes she trusted the spirit without defense, sometimes she narrowly evaded... Even if she missed an evasion and her belly was slashed open—she attacked without expression.

Indeed, Tanaka's contractor—Hilda's words were right.

She wasn't strong.

She was—just insane.

Liora unusually delivered a large strike. With a scythe wound up at her waist, she swung it upwards. Helmuth tried to protect his neck with his weapon, but Liora suddenly rotated the scythe in her hand. She slashed at his legs.

'It doesn't work! Wait—'

Liora continued to attack silently. It seemed Helmuth was not proficient with a scythe, unlike Liora. In his previous fight with the player, he used a greatsword.

Helmuth usually used the same weapon as his enemy, but it seemed he wasn't familiar with scythes.

His movements were more akin to greatsword techniques, so he couldn't match Liora, who had only used scythes.

An unexpected third phase of the strategy.

As for me, the results were lacking. Despite using [Gift of Venom] numerous times, it was always resisted. Retreating wasn't an option.

MP was also needed for [Darkness Creation]. It had to be used for evasion or shielding Liora from Helmut. We spirits use the contractor's MP to cast magic since I only have a small amount of MP.

Resources are limited.

I needed to reserve MP for Liora's [Regen] and [Flash] as well.

Liora was steadily getting worn down. I had already attempted [Gift of Venom] over ten times. But it showed no sign of success.

"Liora... I seem to be unlucky."

"G-God... If you're God, you can control FATE!!!"

Ugh. Her blind faith was painful. Liora's pure eyes didn't doubt success for a moment.

"Fine—take this! [Gift of Venom]!"

For the first time in years, I shouted as I cast [Gift of Venom], praying to God. In response to my desperate cry, a purplish aura appeared on Helmuth's body.

"Yes, Liora!"

"As expected of GOD! HEyaaHHH!!!"

'Poison!?'

At the moment Helmuth was shaken, Liora's scythe sliced through his neck. In a counterattack, a strike severed Liora's right arm halfway.

"Shit, Liora!?"

"Wua---" Without shouting Liora bit her lips, as she looked at me blood trickled from her mouth, "I-i am not weak, god."

▽POV Of Liora▽

The girl picked her scythe up with one hand. Drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, Liora glared at her enemy.

A divine enemy. She could not let him live. With the blessings of [Auto HP Recovery] and [Auto MP Recovery] given by God, Liora could somehow maintain her stance in the battle. Despite constantly exerting herself, she didn't run out of stamina thanks to God's protection. The slight recovery from [Life Steal Blade] also supplemented her stamina.

God had inflicted poison on the enemy. Against an enemy likely to have poison immunity, God's power prevailed.

(God is amazing.)

God chose Liora. Though everyone in her village hated and ostracized her, someone with no power… God chose her. Treating the child of monsters as if she were a normal girl. Remembering the kind voice of God filled Liora's heart with gratitude and emotion. It made her happy. So,

"That's why!"

She would never betray God. If God said to defeat, if God said to win,—Liora wouldn't lose. Her eyes swirling with fanaticism, she unleashed a ten-hit combo with her scythe like a dance.

As her scythe skills and farming skills increased, she began to understand how to wield this weapon. It wasn't a weapon for cutting, stabbing, or striking.

It was just a weapon for reaping. Synchronizing her body's rotational movements, she also rotated the scythe. Turning centrifugal force into her ally, she increased its power. Increased, and increased.

'What are you, damn you!'

"I am—God's Apostle! LIORA!!!"

Weakened by the poison, Helmuth's stance wavered slightly. Liora, unlike him, had one hell of stamina. Therefore, she could "fully utilize skills" with all her might. Skills alone made her strong.

Because the auxiliary effects of skills could be obtained. However, most people used auxiliary effects only as "auxiliaries."

Liora was—a genius. Being recognized by God, her talent for fully harnessing the power of the skills given by God had awakened.

"Win, Liora! You can do it!!"

"God has decreed. The one to win—is me."

Helmuth's eyes widened. Liora trusted in God and jumped.

She stepped on the [Darkness Creation] foothold that appeared in the air and rose above the huge armored being...that was the final strike.

"SLASSSHA-------"

It was a long battle. Before she knew it, the battlefield was enveloped in night, illuminated by the moon.

In the middle of the battlefield, the quiet night air felt pleasant. With the moon as a backdrop—a strike that manifested death was unleashed.

One of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King. Helmuth's head, the Eternal Wanderer, flew through the air. Laughing while spitting blood, Helmuth said.

"—Impressive. To think you just slained me. I misjudged you. You are not a warrior! The heart that fully entrusts itself to God—you are a Hero, no more of a fanatic.'

"…"

'An opponent worthy of the Demon King's army that opposes God! We will wait in the last city, Liora!'