Balam, standing nearby, watched the two and couldn't help but fall into thought.
"They suppressed the Red Dragon? They're just first-year students, truly formidable... But we can't let our guard down." Just as Balam was still marveling, the Red Dragon seized the opportunity and fired a blast of red flame at the two. They narrowly dodged it, but the unfortunate thing was that at that angle, even if it missed them, it would hit Iruma and the others behind them.
"Oh no!" Balam reacted, shielding them.
"Iruma-sama!"
A cloud of thick smoke dissipated.
Balam had blocked the attack with his hand, but it wasn't without injury; blood was continuously flowing from his hand.
Fortunately, Balam reacted quickly enough, otherwise, it would have been dangerous.
"Phew... That was close, thankfully Balam-sensei blocked it." Asmodeus let out a sigh of relief, but his attention was entirely on Iruma now, completely oblivious to the Red Dragon, which had already prepared its next attack and aimed it at him.
Asmodeus suddenly saw Iruma opposite him seemingly saying something?
"Behind me?"
Asmodeus turned his head and his pupils contracted; it was too late to dodge. A flash of light passed.
Iruma suddenly recalled what Kalego-sensei had told him during his home visit: "You're too used to being in danger."
"I always thought that no matter what danger I encountered, there would always be a way to solve it... But I forgot, I'm not alone now... Danger will also come to my family, my friends... Such an obvious thing..." Iruma knelt powerlessly on the ground.
"Damn it, damn it! Damn it!!" The black aura around Iruma became increasingly solid, seemingly on the verge of erupting. Suddenly, a voice interrupted.
"Iruma, look, Asmodeus is fine!" Balam pointed over and said to Iruma.
"Eh?"
Over there, Asmodeus was shielded by Sabnock, whose back was scorched black, and his wings were tattered. A smell of burnt meat wafted over.
Sabnock released the metal he had been biting in his mouth and let out a heavy breath.
"Pfft, phew, the makeshift shield couldn't completely block it..."
"You... you... why did you save me? You could have used me as bait to attack it... To actually... take such serious injuries... Why?" Asmodeus looked at Sabnock.
Sabnock's lips curved upward (Great Love Immortal Venerable BGM).
"Hmph, in this situation, wouldn't it be super cool if I could save you from such a crisis?"
Asmodeus:...I was just starting to get a little emotional, thinking I'd hear something about feelings or bonds, but it was for this reason?
Suddenly, Asmodeus hugged Sabnock and rolled to the side. In the next moment, the Red Dragon's attack landed exactly where they had been. The two quickly found a safe place to hide.
"It can still breathe fire..."
"This lizard has so many tricks. Can you still move?"
"Of course, I still have magic power left, no problem!"
"Then... let's run."
"Eh? What are you saying? We've come this far..." Asmodeus suddenly saw Sabnock's back was scorched black.
"You retreat first, I alone am completely not..."
"What is your ambition, you guy? Is this your ambition?"
"Am... ambition?"
"If defeating it is your ambition, then I won't stop you, but if you do that, you might die. I've learned; he taught me the resolve to face death and my own immaturity." Sabnock recalled Iruma shielding him during their previous encounter in the Golden Scissor Valley.
"Because I truly want to become the Demon King, that's why I changed my attitude and acted. I'm confident in saying I've grown, but what about you? Asmodeus Alice, despite your formidable strength, your attention is always drawn by Iruma, showing no growth at all. Is this your ambition? Is this victory? No, it's not!? Aren't you trying to become Iruma's spear? Don't mistake your ambition! Idiot!"
Asmodeus was left speechless by Sabnock's words, his face flushed with shame and anger... "Although I really want to refute you, you're right this time... I really am like an idiot! Flame Waterfall Shield!"
A wall of flame appeared between the two and the Red Dragon.
"Good! Then let's run!"
The two ran to the side.
"Where's your water horse? Aren't you summoning it?"
"I'm out of magic power. Why don't you fly with your wings?"
"I'm out of stamina."
"Hahaha, this time we're really exhausted!"
Asmodeus looked at Sabnock's back.
"Um... that... your back... Thank you... for saving me, thank you."
Sabnock looked at Asmodeus beside him.
"You're only saying that because you're caught up in the moment, aren't you?"
"Shut up! If I wasn't caught up in the moment, I wouldn't be able to say it! Running away itself is humiliating enough!"
"What are you talking about? We're super! Cool right now!"
Suddenly, the light in the Red Dragon's mouth grew increasingly dazzling, indicating it was about to fire a beam.
"Oh no, if it sweeps over..."
Suddenly, a figure blocked the light in front of the two.
"You two did very well. You survived."
Balam said, taking off his mask.
"Then it's my turn next."
The two arrived at the safe zone, and as soon as they reached the spot, they saw Iruma, who had entered his evil cycle, watching them.
"Iruma-sama, I've disappointed you..." Asmodeus said, slightly ashamed.
Asmodeus was about to continue speaking when Iruma hugged him.
"Just surviving is enough... I'm sorry for my rude request that put you in danger." Even Iruma, who had entered his evil cycle, couldn't help but shed tears when he saw their disheveled state.
"Now you clearly understand your problem, don't you?" At this moment, Shesi, Opera, and Ameri walked over and said.
"Brother!" Iruma ran over in surprise and threw himself into Shesi's embrace.
"You're okay, that's... so good."
Shesi gently ruffled Iruma's hair, which made Ameri, standing nearby, incredibly envious.
"Sabnock, come here for a moment." Shesi looked at Sabnock and said.
"Me?" Sabnock didn't understand but still walked over.
Shesi pulled a revolver from his ring and pointed it at Sabnock.
"Eh?" Although no one knew what it was, they all felt that the object in Shesi's hand was very dangerous.
With a bang, a bullet hit Sabnock, immediately sending him flying.
Iruma, in Shesi's arms, first froze at the sound of the gunshot, then looked up to see the muzzle of his brother's revolver smoking.
"Sabnock!" Asmodeus saw Sabnock fall to the ground, looked at him in shock, then turned his gaze angrily towards Shesi.
"You! Shesi, what are you doing!"
Even Iruma looked at his brother in shock, as if he was seeing Shesi anew.
Things happened too quickly for anyone to react. Subsequently, their gazes towards Shesi changed, and Iruma also broke free from Shesi's embrace and ran to the side.
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