“Run, Fiona! The magic will be consumed by the Devourer!!”
Thanks to Chrono’s advice, it finally makes sense.
The great sword held by this swordsman is the Fang Sword “Devourer,” which belonged to the wolf beastman, Vulcan.
I, as a witch, am well aware of the troublesome nature of the Devourer ability that absorbs magical power.
However, at this point,
“—Fire Arrow”
I cannot stop this attack magic.
It would take longer to abandon it halfway than to just fire it, and even as the swordsman, now a mass of murderous intent, raises his great sword in front of me, my mind reaches this calm conclusion.
As the released Fire Arrow explodes, I circulate magical power through my legs to activate my martial arts.
“Rapid Dash!”
Exceeding normal human reflexes and movement speed, the moment I leap back, I see the swordsman, whose abilities have also been enhanced, slipping through the smoke, and his vicious fangs descending.
However, I’ve experienced being closed in at this distance many times before.
All I have to do is calmly evade; I already have the speed to narrowly avoid this sharp attack.
Kicking the cobblestones with my loafers, I backstep, and my hair, not secured by my hat, flows forward with the momentum.
The blade roaring towards me fails to catch my head, only slicing through the flowing aqua-colored tips of my hair.
I’ve completely avoided it,
Crash!!
That distinctive high-pitched sound of the Light Defense Magic breaking reached my ears the moment I landed a good three meters away.
“Huh…”
That’s strange; I merely took evasive action, and did not use any defense magic. Besides, I can’t even use a light attribute defense magic that makes such a shattering sound.
Then, what exactly was that sound?
“The ‘War Goddess’s Circular Shield,’ a ring imbued with the blessing of the goddess Altena that protects you from blades.”
I remember now; yes, I currently possess a magical tool that has the defensive effect of ‘protecting me from blades,’ which means it blocks physical attacks.
“You might think it sounds impressive just by the name, but its grade as a magical tool isn’t that high, so please don’t expect too much from its defensive capability.”
I understood that those words were true, as I have some discerning ability as a witch.
However, what is important to me is not the price, the grade, or the rarity; those things don’t matter.
This ring is a gift from you, Chrono, and holds immeasurable value to me.
“Ah, ah…”
But the low grade of the magical tool is an undeniable fact.
If the great sword has turned into a cursed weapon and I were to receive a blow from it, it’s only natural that the shield of the blessing would be broken.
And basically, magical tools that deploy defense magic shatter just like the defense when the defense is broken.
Unless it’s of a considerably high grade, one cannot deploy defense magic multiple times.
So, if the low-grade ‘War Goddess’s Circular Shield’ is broken, the ring itself would naturally break as well.
“Ah… No…”
The ring that should have been shining on my left ring finger is gone, vanished without a trace!!
Oh, what should I do, why, the ring, my ring, so precious, so very important, because it was a present from Chrono.
I was so happy, incredibly, incredibly happy.
It was given to me by Chrono, so there’s no way I wouldn’t feel joy.
I intended to treat it carefully, to treasure it, to keep it as a lifelong treasure, and it should have been shining on my left ring finger from today onward.
But why… how could this happen… my ring is gone, broken…
“…”
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Chrono.
The ring has broken.
“Arm Strengthening – ‘Strength Enhancement'”
Even though Chrono chose it carefully for me.
That’s right, you thought of me, you chose this ring because you thought it would suit me.
“Works through speed – ‘Speed Enhancement'”
You said it would ‘protect me from blades’ because you regretted having cut me.
I understand; now, I can feel your feelings, your consideration, that kind thought.
“Many strong elements will respond – ‘Attribute Enhancement'”
I’m sorry for losing and breaking a ring filled with such thoughts.
“I shall burn our enemies, crush, extinguish them, become the scorching iron hammer!”
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry–
“—Flame Hammer!”
So, the person who shattered my ring, I will kill with ‘this hand.’
Fiona lost her ring and her sanity.