A Wonderful Aspect of Autumn: Action (39)

Seeing me force myself to my feet through sheer grit, the eyes covering Divald's body crinkled with delight. He seemed genuinely pleased that I had shown some backbone. Even so, he had no intention of going easy on me. He drew his arm far back and brought it down at the same speed as ever.

"Hraaah!"

"Jigoro!?"

As I raised both arms and braced myself, Jigoro's vines wrapped around Divald's attacking arm. Divald's movement halted for an instant, but his monstrous strength tore the vines completely apart.

Jigoro's action had served its purpose. The instant he bought me was enough for me to step back and evade a blow that would probably have killed me.

"That's as far as I can go! The rest is up to you, brother!"

"Heh... hehehe! Yeah, I'll do everything I can!"

Jigoro helped me once, then returned to his battle with Nigle. Perhaps helping me in the middle of a fight with a Heroic Spirit had been reckless, because Nigle's left arm and the weapons held by his four right arms had shredded him.

Even so, the regenerative power inherited from Nenashi's avatar and Jigoro's nimble movements had barely kept him from being defeated. Because of me, he had taken damage he should never have suffered.

I felt sorry, but after having someone who called me brother go that far for me, simply allowing myself to be beaten helplessly would have been pathetic. I would cling on no matter what and survive...