Elf?! That was the word Marax used to describe the strange creature in our midst. I had no idea what it meant, but if Marax called it that, then it had to be something significant.

  With a thunderous roar, Marax slammed both arms into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ruins, launching shattered debris into the air before it crashed back down. His rage was palpable, his monstrous frame vibrating with barely contained fury. Then, without hesitation, he stomped forward, each step sending tremors through the broken terrain as he charged at the so-called Elf.

  "Up we go."

  The Elf scooped me up effortlessly, lifting me off the floor as if I weighed nothing. Then, with a single leap, we were airborne.

  I barely had time to react before I realized something horrifying. This Elf wasn't retreating. She was charging straight at Marax!

  Was she insane?! Who in their right mind would willingly rush toward a rampaging Greater Demon? More importantly, who said I wanted to be a part of this?! The last thing I desired was to be anywhere near Marax when he was like this!

  My protests were ignored. Holding me in one arm, the Elf met Marax midair, her free hand poised to strike.

  The moment before impact stretched into eternity. I could see every detail, the raw fury twisting Marax's features, the tensed muscles beneath his grotesque skin, the veins bulging with power. Yet the Elf remained eerily composed as if this clash was nothing more than an inevitable routine.

  Then she struck.

  Her leg snapped forward in a powerful dropkick, aiming directly for Marax's raised guard. He crossed his massive arms above his head in defence, bracing for impact.

  Boom!

  The sheer force of her kick sent a shockwave outward. Though Marax managed to block it, the recoil drove him to one knee. His arms trembled under the strain, his feet digging into the cracked stone beneath him as he fought to stay upright.

  The Elf flipped back, landing gracefully a few feet away, her expression unchanged.

  "Sturdy," she mused, her tone carrying a note of approval. "As expected of a Greater Demon."

  Her nonchalance unsettled me. Who was she? How did she possess such overwhelming strength?

  I activated [Comprehension] once again, this time with unwavering focus. But just like before, I was met with nothing. No level, no evolution rating, no information at all. It was as if she was beyond my understanding.

  Marax, the same demon my entire clan struggled against, had been forced to his knees and she barely seemed fazed.

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  I clenched my fists. What level of power did she possess?

  "Regeneration and a sturdy body..." the Elf murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "This should be doable."

  With that, she gently lowered me back to the ground.

  "Stay here, little one. I'll be back for you soon enough."

  Then she turned her attention back to Marax.

  At this point, the demon was seething. His entire body convulsed with fury, his skin rippling as his form began to change. Veins bulged, muscles expanded, and his already monstrous figure grew even larger. His transformation was primal, his rage moulding him into something more terrifying than before.

  And yet…

  The Elf didn't flinch.

  Calmly, she raised one arm, extending it toward Marax. Her other arm pulled back as if she were drawing something unseen.

  Then, she let go.

  A sudden force exploded outward, invisible yet undeniable. I didn't see what she launched, but my instincts screamed that something deadly had just been unleashed.

  A heartbeat later, Marax staggered back, a gaping hole now in his chest.

  For the first time, he was stunned.

  His massive frame swayed as he looked down at the gaping wound with wide, disbelieving eyes. The battlefield, once filled with his roars, fell eerily silent.

  Even I was at a loss for words. What the hell had just happened? How did she do that?

  Marax's body trembled, his demonic instincts kicking in. Dangerous? That was the warning blaring through his senses.

  He had vastly underestimated his opponent.

  And yet, as impossible as it seemed, he was still alive.

  The hole in his chest was already beginning to mend, flesh knitting itself back together. His regeneration was incredible, a true asset in battle.

  But here? Against her? It meant nothing.

  If there was an insurmountable gap between two warriors, no amount of resilience could close it.

  Marax realized this now.

  And so did I.

  I may not have been able to read her status, but I didn't need [Comprehension] to know what she possessed.

  Power. The kind I craved. The kind that demanded recognition.

  This Elf, she had it.

  She studied Marax, then tilted her head slightly. "You survived that?"

  Her voice was calm, but I could feel it, the unshakable confidence.

  Marax's breathing grew heavier. He needed to run. Now.

  And yet, before he could move, the Elf did something terrifying.

  Once again, she raised her arms.

  Her left arm extended forward, while her right arm pulled back just like before.

  My stomach dropped.

  Oh, shit.

  Marax must have realized it too, because his eyes widened in pure, unfiltered panic.

  If he didn't escape immediately, he was done for.

  But before I could even process what was happening, a far worse realization hit me.

  I was still here. What was I still doing here when I had plenty of opportunities to escape this madness?!

  It was an easy question to answer. I wanted to know! Witness the power I covet in action. See how it drowns the Greater Demon into an eternal pit of despair.

  The moment she released her right arm, an invisible force erupted. The sheer pressure from the attack alone was enough to pulverize the ground beneath us, shattering debris into dust. The very air trembled.

  And then, an explosion.

  The world went white, swallowed by the devastating force of her attack. A storm of raw destruction.

  I shielded my face as the shockwave tore through the surroundings. When my vision finally cleared, all that remained was a crater, the landscape obliterated.

  Marax was gone.

  "He escaped," the Elf whispered, her tone carrying no disappointment, only mild amusement.

  Then, she turned to me.

  Her piercing gaze locked onto mine, and for the first time since this encounter began, I felt true fear.

  A small smile played on her lips.

  "Well then… I suppose that just leaves you and me."

  My breath hitched.

  Oh, no.

  Save me... Anybody!