Adrian's expression changed drastically. He tried to break free from the two Convicted Demons entangling him, but these terrifying Abyssal Creatures were far beyond any ordinary foe.
Strong, cunning, and shockingly powerful!
Even as a Knight of Two-star Military Rank, he was under immense pressure fighting two Convicted Demons at once.
His close friend, Elias, had already fallen. Adrian couldn't bear to watch Reinhardt die before his very eyes as well!
But the power of the Abyssal Fire would not be extinguished by his will alone, and the Convicted Demons entangling him had no intention of letting him go so easily.
Adrian's eyes were wide with fury as he let out a hysterical roar, but under the heavy pressure from his powerful enemies, he couldn't get a single moment's respite.
'To think that the young man who was laughing and joking with him on the ramparts just a minute ago will soon become a charred corpse… My heart is bleeding!'
Having campaigned with the Steel Knight Order for so many years, he knew better than anyone just how terrifying the Abyssal Fire spewed from a Convicted Demon's self-sacrifice was.
He had even once witnessed a colleague die a horrible death in the flames, while he could only stand by, helpless.
Forget a new Knight like Reinhardt; even a Two-star Military Rank Knight with a Guardian Barrier Attribute Knight Power would face certain death without a Special Ability granting extraordinary resistance!
Adrian wasn't the only one who noticed Reinhardt being engulfed by the terrifying Abyssal Fire. Captain Karamor of Squad Three saw it too.
'A shame about Reinhardt, but this is war. Death is everywhere. Accidents can happen at any time.'
As far as he was concerned, the young Knight who had just been made captain of Squad Two a few days ago was as good as dead.
Reinhardt might be dead, but someone had to fill the gap his death left in the line.
"Brok! Get over there and support Adrian! Fill the gap left by Reinhardt!"
Meanwhile,
The absolute heat was suffocating. Even in just two short seconds, Reinhardt's hair had begun to singe and curl.
His physical and Spiritual Energy were draining away at a frantic pace!
Under the searing heat of the Abyssal Fire, his Morphic Armor's living plating constantly withered and regenerated, fighting back against the terrifying power from the Abyss.
Although Reinhardt had been plenty cautious, he still lacked experience against the Abyss Legion. If the Convicted Demon hadn't already been thoroughly dead, its stream of Abyssal Fire continuing, the consequences would have been dire. Even for him, a regular at the Death God's table, the thought was enough to send a cold shiver down his spine.
Without the Magic resistance of the Morphic Armor, any other new Knight subjected to such a severe burning from the Abyssal Fire would probably be medium-well by now!
The dark red Abyssal Fire gradually died out.
Reinhardt's figure reappeared, wreathed in puffs of scorched white smoke.
The nearby soldiers and defending Knights, including Adrian and Karamor—everyone thought he was dead. That he had died silently, just like any other common soldier fighting on the wall.
Maybe someone would remember him.
Maybe not.
Night fell upon the land.
On the dim ramparts, the dark red flames burning in the eye sockets of the Convicted Demons were conspicuous and terrifying!
Just as Knight Brok received Captain Karamor's order and was about to move to fill Reinhardt's defensive gap, the figure everyone had thought dead—the one emitting a faint purple glow in the darkness—suddenly vanished from his spot.
He reappeared behind Adrian.
Moving at incredible speed, he was like a cannonball, brutally slamming into a Convicted Demon that was trying to launch a sneak attack on Adrian!
At the same time,
A voice he knew all too well sounded from behind him.
As calm and unruffled as ever.
"Watch your back."
Reinhardt mentally counted down the time. The dark red mark of Steel of the Heart grew brighter and brighter on the Convicted Demon he had just sent flying.
Propelled by a blast of compressed air, his body shot forward. Right fist clenched, he flew like a purple meteor and smashed viciously into the Convicted Demon's stomach!
CLANG—!
[Giant Devouring Current Layer Number: 108]
[Current Physical Enhancement Coefficient: 0.108]
Knights are extremely sensitive to changes in their Physique. After gaining Heart Steel Layers from the second Convicted Demon, Reinhardt could clearly feel the change in his body.
It was like the increase in muscle and Physique one would gain after three months of arduous training!
Moreover,
The inherent trait of Giant Devouring—increased destructive power—had become increasingly apparent now that the layers had stacked to 108.
Previously, when Reinhardt fought the Abyssal Hound, his Giant Devouring was only in the single digits. When he activated it, the strike was almost indistinguishable from a normal punch.
But now…
The absolute power from his speed, combined with the destructive amplification from Steel of the Heart: Giant Devouring, was something even the iron-tower-like body of a Convicted Demon could not withstand!
The terrifying force pierced through the Tier Two Demon's flesh and organs, passed through its spine, and erupted behind it as a shockwave!
Even Reinhardt's right arm, protected by the Morphic Armor, was jolted by the immense recoil, making his joints crackle and his muscles ache in protest!
This punch,
Broke two of the fingers on Reinhardt's right hand!
This punch,
Sent the Convicted Demon's ten-foot-tall iron body flying back to smash against the ramparts! The ground hummed from the impact!
This punch,
Left the nearby soldiers utterly dumbfounded!
And this same punch,
Left Adrian and Knight Brok, who was rushing over to help, staring in utter disbelief!
One had to understand, a Convicted Demon was a behemoth weighing over seven hundred pounds! How much strength would it take to send a creature comparable to a giant bear flying with one punch? Even with a Knight's Physique, could their arm and finger bones even bear such a force?
It wasn't just the defenders on the wall; Reinhardt's punch seemed almost godlike!
In an instant, dozens, even hundreds of pairs of eyes burning with Abyssal Fire turned in unison to stare at the dark purple figure half-kneeling on the ground.
Compared to the Convicted Demon's ten-foot-tall, tower-like body, Reinhardt's nearly six-foot frame made him look like a toddler.
But it was this very body,
that had unleashed such pure, absolute, unadulterated, raw power—so astonishing that it had drawn the attention of a hundred Convicted Demons!
Reinhardt clenched his jaw, the pain from his broken fingers so intense he nearly shattered his teeth. But he didn't relax for an instant. Snatching up a discarded longsword from the ground, he became a phantom, striking and retreating in a single motion!
The Convicted Demon that had been sent flying into the ramparts hadn't even hit the ground yet when the sharp longsword pierced through its chest and heart!
It all happened too fast.
Adrian was stunned for a moment, then shouted in joyous surprise, "Reinhardt! I thought you were…"
Brok, who had come to provide support, glanced at the young Knight bathed in a dark purple light. Their eyes met for a moment. He gave a slight nod, then turned and rushed back to support Captain Karamor.
This wasn't just silent understanding.
It was also absolute trust in the power this rookie Knight had just displayed!
He believed that as long as that young man was still here, the only way the Convicted Demons would break through this section of the wall was over his dead body!