Machart, Subjugation (1)

“Ha, haha… So the so-called knight has finally shown his true colors.”

Machart forced out a laugh with a hollow expression at Ethan’s resolute attitude.

After maintaining a composed smile directed at me and Ethan, he immediately changed his demeanor, extending his black claws to resume his attack.

“Fine, if dying together here is what you want…! Then I’ll grant your wish!”

Having seemingly given up on persuading Ethan to leave, Machart immediately activated his unique ability to launch an attack. Naturally, Ethan and I couldn’t just stand there and take it, so we drew our swords and began the battle.

“Grasp of Darkness! Tear those damn bastards to shreds!”

-Whoosh!

-Whooosh!!

At Machart’s command, five or six black claws emerged from the surrounding shadows. It was the same technique he had used when we were trapped in his mental world before.

However, back then, we couldn’t counter it because we were in complete darkness where we couldn’t see an inch ahead. Machart’s shadow claws were a technique that literally created grips from darkness, so they were more effective in areas shrouded in deeper shadows.

Although the surroundings were somewhat blurry, it wasn’t pitch-black enough for Machart to summon his shadow claws easily, so in this situation, we had enough time to react to the approaching claws from a distance.

“Ethan! I’ll take Position 3! I’ll handle the ones coming from the front and below!”

“Got it, Lillith! Leave the rest to me!”

Given the nature of attacks emerging from darkness, most came from behind. And since they appeared more abruptly, quick reflexes were crucial in that position.

That said, I wasn’t deliberately assigning Ethan the more dangerous spot. It was just that, as a swordsman, his reflexes were far sharper than mine, so I trusted him with that role.

Conversely, since my center of gravity was slightly lower, I was better at handling enemies crawling up from the ground. That’s why we used Position 3 to prepare for Machart’s attacks.

We had often used this formation during our Practical Monster Hunting classes when facing hordes of monsters together.

-Slash!

-Whoosh!

As Ethan and I took our battle stances, the shadow claws were sliced apart one by one by his sword and my dagger. We focused on defending against the incoming attacks, each holding our assigned positions.

Ethan was indeed the best partner to have at my back in this world. Not just because of strength or weakness, but because of the synergy we’d built over time.

-Stab! Crack!

My enchanted dagger pierced Machart’s black claw, and the light radiating from the point of impact illuminated and dissipated the dark appendage.

This was the effect of one of Lillith’s secondary support spells, “Eternal Flame.” Originally, it was just a spell used to light up dark paths or caves, but against enemies with “dark attributes,” it could sometimes function like an offensive spell.

Learning this spell had nearly drained my remaining skill points, but it was necessary. After all, I needed to survive here first to level up or learn other skills later.

After a few minutes of combat, we grew accustomed to cutting down Machart’s shadow claws. At some point, Ethan and I were slicing through them faster than Machart could create them.

Even a Sword Expert could handle Machart one-on-one at this level. And with Lillith, the mana tank, supporting us, the battle naturally tilted in our favor.

No matter how advantageous this space was for Machart’s unique magic, five or six shadow claws weren’t enough to subdue Ethan and me. Even if those black claws looked like something a late-game boss would use (which they were), objectively speaking, each claw’s power wasn’t that impressive in the original story.

They were specialized in restraining targets and draining mana to weaken them. The only reason they were troublesome was due to the 『Luminor Academy』 system, where you had to control four party members at once if auto-control was off. But if each person did their job properly, there was no way to lose.

-Whoosh!

“Grrr, you damn bastards…!!”

Machart’s expression twisted with urgency as he struggled to maintain his composed facade. He was starting to realize that if he didn’t finish us off quickly, he’d be the one in danger.

Time was no longer on Machart’s side. His mana couldn’t sustain this space for long while fighting us, and soon, he’d exhaust himself, ending the battle in our victory.

By that point, Gyeotmwa Josyegigot would likely have arrived too. Even if he was held up by Antonio, a hero’s basic physical abilities should make short work of someone like Antonio.

Initially, Machart summoned five or six claws at once, but as his attack density waned, he could only summon half that number. That’s when Ethan and I began sharing our next strategy to finish him off.

“Ethan, I think he’s reaching his limit.”

“Got it. I’ll hold him off while you take a breather-“

“No, I mean he’s the one reaching his limit. The frequency of his attacks has dropped, and he can only summon half as many now.”

“Ah.”

Ethan nodded in understanding, and we immediately moved to execute the next phase of our plan to finish Machart.

“We’ll switch to Position 5. The same stance we used when hunting the Horn Hound pack in the Black Forest.”

“Understood, Lillith.”

“And remember what we discussed before starting today’s operation-we can’t just kill him outright.”

“…I’ll try.”

His answer was ambiguous-whether he meant he’d try not to kill Machart or that he’d try to suppress his urge to kill him outright.

Even if this operation was designed to kill Machart, doing so outright would bring repercussions we couldn’t handle. We had to expose him as a demon in front of everyone first.

After running through the final steps in my head, I signaled Ethan. He dashed toward Machart with his swords, initiating our “Position 5” formation.

-Tap tap tap!

“…!!”

Ethan charged straight at Machart to take him down. Seeing Ethan rushing at him like a moth to flame, Machart’s eyes widened momentarily.

But then, with a faint smirk, Machart continued his assault. Countless black claws reached up from below to grab Ethan as he closed in.

“Did you think getting closer would give you the advantage?! I expected more from someone who wields a sword, but you’re just a brute who only knows how to swing!”

Machart’s unique ability grew stronger near his body. Like all demonic magic, dark magic was most potent close to the caster.

His shadow claws, which weakened those they grasped, were especially dependent on proximity. Shadows naturally grew darker the closer they were to their owner.

But that didn’t make Machart any more advantageous against Ethan.

No matter how much stronger he was in close combat, Ethan was still superior.

-Whoosh! Slash! Whoosh!

Ethan cut through the black claws emerging beneath him with Sword Expert precision. Machart’s hastily summoned minions were reduced to shadowy fragments after just a few strikes.

The slight boost in power from closing the distance wasn’t enough to subdue Ethan. That was the strength of a Sword Expert in 『Luminor Academy』.

30 meters, 20 meters, 10 meters. As Ethan closed in, Machart’s attacks grew fiercer, but Ethan deflected or sliced through most of them.

‘…Ethan can handle him alone for now.’

I had to judge carefully when to intervene.

Jumping in at the wrong time could put Ethan in danger, and I only had three chances to act, so I had to use them wisely.

“Now, dieee…!!”

-Craaack!

‘Now’s the time…!’

As Machart desperately summoned a massive claw that seemed to burst from the ground toward Ethan, I immediately hurled one of my daggers at it.

“Ethan! I’ll take care of that one!”

“…Got it!”

The Blackwood-patterned dagger flew toward the giant claw with “Dagger Throw,” embedding itself in the shadowy appendage. The “Eternal Flame” stored in the dagger activated, dispersing the claw into shadowy fragments.

Then, as Ethan closed the gap to point-blank range…

“D-don’t come any closer…!! You monster…!!”

With his last ounce of strength, Machart summoned three final claws from the ground-one from the front and one from each side-to ensnare Ethan.

Anticipating this, I threw my remaining two daggers and shouted to Ethan.

“Just cut through the middle one, Ethan!!!”

-Nod.

Ethan nodded slightly, acknowledging my words.

I couldn’t see his face clearly from behind, but I was certain he understood.

The two daggers I threw took down the left and right claws, while Ethan cleanly sliced through the center one as instructed.

-Whoosh.

With all obstacles gone, Ethan and Machart clashed in a final exchange.

…And when the battle ended, only Ethan remained standing.