"Fairy Machine Gun!"
Ibarglin spread her arms wide, and golden magic bullets poured down on Ethel like raindrops.
Some fell on him, others on the ground around him.
The roaring explosions continued without end, shattering the floor, gray smoke mixed with golden scales surrounding Ethel.
Ibarglin didn't even glance to see the effect of the attack; she immediately detonated those golden scales.
"Fairy Bomb!"
A thunderous explosion roared out, with golden light casting from the ruined building, illuminating the town's sky.
Ibarglin's wings continued to flutter, keeping her suspended slightly higher in mid-air.
She extended her hands forward, palms aimed at the explosion point, where golden light gathered between her hands forming a magic ball, growing larger.
"Fairy—Cannon!"
A nearly two-meter wide golden ray shot straight into the center of the golden explosion.
The sound of the explosion seemed delayed by half a second, shaking the ground violently, nearly knocking Elfman and Jubia down again from the shockwave.
Jubia asked in a somewhat dazed voice, "Miss Ibarglin, is she really that terrifying?"
Elfman replied absently, "A man to be reckoned with!"
"Huh?" Jubia tilted her head.
Kana, who had rushed over a step late, patted Jubia's shoulder, "Amazing you could ask such a question."
Jubia claimed she didn't understand what Kana meant.
After completing a whole set of attacks, Ibarglin seemed to have calmed down, and lightly landed beside Elfman: "You..."
Seeing Kana's amused gaze, she urgently adjusted her expression, pulling out a small fan and pointed at Elfman:
"So injured to such a degree, that's just ridiculous! You should have brought a first aid kit, right? Quickly take it out."
She could only maintain the complaining act for half a sentence, as her tone involuntarily softened in the latter half.
"It's alright, the injuries aren't deep," Elfman assured, "As a man, I will stop the bleeding soon."
Then, Kana suddenly became serious: "Be careful, it's not over!"
"What?"
The thick smoke was suddenly dispersed by some force, and Ethel reappeared in their sight.
Despite the wounds on his head and body, with his clothes tattered beyond repair, he was definitely still standing, exuding an even stronger presence than before.
"Ethereal Demon Race form, Slash Mode!"
Ethel's body turned a darker hue, his head and face blackened, horns sprouting from his forehead, his face resembling a demon.
The most obvious change was his four arms, all turning into black double-edged broadswords from the elbows down!
"Water Typhoon!"
"Fairy Machine Gun!"
"Lightning of Destiny!"
The water tornado, light bullets, and cards filled with lightning flew towards Ethel.
"Useless! My magic is the demon blade that can cut through anything!"
Ethel swung his sword-like arms, sending out slashes that dispersed the water tornado, easily cleaving through light bullets, and completely neutralizing the lightning!
"Die! Five Blades of Heaven—Crescent!"
Ethel leaped into the air, swinging four longswords downward, and the crescent-shaped slashes reached the four of them in a blink.
Though knowing dodge seemed impossible, the four were captivated by the deadly beauty of those slashes.
"Smash..."
Kana was about to use her smashing magic as a counter when Elfman suddenly let out a roar, his body propelled sideways by a massive force.
"Full Body Reception—Rock Spirit Dragon!"
Elfman's body swelled abruptly, transforming into a giant beast entirely made of rock. Without needing to spread its wings, his three companions were pushed aside.
Now Ethel's slashes were aimed solely at Elfman.
"Elfman!"
"Roar!!!"
The sturdy legs smashed the ground, heavy wings stirring up a fierce gale.
This seemingly cumbersome rock beast lifted off with astonishing speed, crashing directly toward Ethel, bearing the sharp slashes.
"Impossible! My demon blade..."
Ethel pushed the four swords forward to fend off the attack.
Yet, in his disbelief, the rocky head full of protrusions crushed his four longswords, slamming heavily into him!
"Cough... Ugh!" Ethel spit out a mouthful of blood, his body uncontrollably sent flying into the air.
Elfman's body shrank, naturally descending.
Ibarglin ran a few steps, half-jumping, half-flying into the air, catching Elfman before gently landing.
Elfman was somewhat exhausted, seeing Ibarglin's worried expression, he reassured, "No, no problem, I've... been through rigorous training..."
"Idiot!"
Ibarglin cursed briefly, about to say more when a dull thud sounded from not far away.
Ethel clearly had crashed to the ground.
Kana and Jubia hurried over to check.
"Still conscious?" Kana observed him cautiously, asking, "How's Mr. Hog, why kill those civilians?"
"Hahaha... cough cough..." Ethel showed no fear of them, "That old man just wouldn't quietly let me kill him, what's wrong with taking out a few people while finishing him off?"
"Bastard..."
Judging by his tone, Mr. Hog probably had met his end, and the shattered houses were likely collateral damage from Ethel's slashes during his fight or escape.
The houses with lit lights probably meant the occupants were checking on the commotion outside, and the result...
Nobody could turn off those lights anymore.
"Hahahaha... humans' anger is amusing! Go ahead, kill me! The Netherworld is immortal!"
Kana firmly punched Ethel's vile face a few times, knocking several of his fangs loose.
Though angry, she kept her composure: "Ibarglin, it's your turn."
Ibarglin removed her glasses, staring into Ethel's eyes.
Ethel's body slowly transformed into a stone statue.
"Feels some 'resistance'," Ibarglin muttered, displeased, putting her glasses back on, "Wish I could smash it."
"No... brother-in-law said..."
"Fine, fine," Ibarglin grumbled, "Brother-in-law said killing him leads to resurrection, bringing him back is the only sure way to eliminate, right?"
Kana sighed, "You guys rest here, Jubia and I will search for Mr. Hog."
They had to not only find Hog but see if there were any civilians that could be saved.
Light injuries needed comforting, severe ones needed Ibarglin's petrification to stop bleeding, pending treatment.
After being busy for quite a while, Kana finally took out the communication magic crystal from her backpack to contact the Guild.
"Sorry, President, we were a step late. Though we defeated a demon, Mr. Hog has already..."
"I see..." Makarov said sadly, "How are you? Any injuries?"
"We're mostly fine, but many townsfolk need healing, regular doctors won't suffice."
"I understand, I'll send Rhode and Wendy over."