Necromancer 17

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17. Battle with the Mid-Tier Demon 3

"Hi-hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!?"

Suzuki screamed.

"Tanaka! Noooooooooooo!"

"Next, you."

Blood Clawsaid briefly and started walking toward us.

"D-Don't come any closer!"

Suzuki fired flames.

But, unaffected by the skill attack, Blood Claw kept advancing.

It kicked off the ground and accelerated instantly.

So fast—!

The mid-level demon covered the ten meters between us in a blink,

"Bon appétit."

Chomp!

With its huge mouth, it swallowed Suzuki whole.

It all happened in an instant.

Crunch, squish, crackle, crackle…

The horrible sound of chewing echoed, and we could do nothing but watch.

Our six-person extermination team was suddenly down to four.

"I’ll eat them all… kill and eat them… eat them raw… eat them roasted… ukeh keh keh keh."

Blood Clawlaughed.

"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"

The three classmates beside me all screamed in terror.

They seemed paralyzed with fear, unable to move.

Blood Claw looked at each of us in turn.

"Who’s next to be eaten… hmm, let’s see."

Its mocking tone only deepened our fear.

My classmates seemed too terrified to move.

At this rate, we’re all going to be eaten and killed—

I swallowed hard.

Yeah.

This isn’t a game, nor is it a manga.

What we’re facing is a life-or-death extermination mission.

There’s a real possibility we could be killed in this 'real' 'battle'.

"Next, I'll fight you."

I told Blood Claw.

"Oh? You’re not scared of me, are you?"

Blood Claw glared at me.

"I’ll make you tremble in fear… then eat you."

"I’m not going to let you eat me—Come out, Mirage!"

Vwoom...!

In response to my voice, my shadow stretched, and from it appeared a white knight.

Clang!

Blood Claw extended its right arm, but Mirage blocked the claws with its shield.

Almost simultaneously, Mirage slashed, cutting off Blood Claw's right arm at the elbow.

"Gyaaahhhhhhh!"

Blood Clawscreamed.

It retreated warily from Mirage.

Alright, now’s the time—

"Everyone, run now! And help evacuate the townspeople!"

I shouted to my classmates.

"W-What about you?"

"I’m staying here."

I declared.

"I’ll hold it off. If we leave it, the townspeople will be attacked."

"That’s impossible! Tanaka and Suzuki were killed!"

"We’re heroes, right? It’s our job to protect people."

"Huh? What the hell are you saying? We don’t owe this world anything!"

"It’s not about obligation."

I told him.

"I’m doing it because I want to."