A Painful Victory

“*...This is tough.*”

Phew, a rough sigh scattered into the air. That was my first thought after severing one of Baal’s arms.

My breath was ragged, and my head felt dizzy. Aches constantly flared up from the cuts all over my body. Every time sweat seeped into a wound, I couldn't help but wince from the stinging pain.

Indeed, Demons are never easy opponents. Even when Blood Force Art and Sword Qi were used to their fullest, creating an opening was exhausting.

In fact, cutting off one of his arms was close to a stroke of luck. It wasn't even an attack I put much power into, yet upon direct impact, his arm flew into the air. It was the power of the “Avenger” title. He was a Demon, after all. Even without exerting much force, a basic level of attack power was guaranteed.

It was also the biggest reason I had resolved to face him.

“Waaah!” A mighty cheer erupted from afar. We hadn't even fully won yet, but with one arm gone, it already felt like a festival. While it was quite a burden to witness, it was also a little thrilling.

To see so many people genuinely cheering for me alone was something I couldn't have imagined in the past, but receiving it now made the corners of my lips twitch upwards.

But the battle wasn't over yet.

Thud-thud-thud-...