I Was a Loner, but My Class Got Summoned to Another World…

As soon as his skill calmed down, Roland rushed forward to strike another demon general.

His sight was set on Kazurel, the one who had wounded him previously. He needed to take this powerhouse down before turning to the vampire and succubus generals.

His attack failed. The massive demon not only used his axe to repel the strike but also channeled a portion of his stored spirit mana to create a shield.

"Now you're hiding? Where did all the bravado go? Wasn't I just a weak human, and weren't heroes supposed to be nothing?" Roland taunted. He knew they would not fall for the same trick again. The three generals grew more cautious, and the demons under them no longer rushed forward recklessly to try to kill him.

The vampire was the first to break formation.

He began calling his legion forth. Roland realized he would not get another chance to face the generals until their minions were destroyed. Instead of charging in, he started preparing another Twilight Maelstrom. This time it would be far stronger, fueled by both of his swords.

As he began to cast it, the vampire's horde gathered around their master. They came in many forms: humanlike figures climbing over demons, swarms of bats scattering through the skies, and undead wolf-like beasts racing across the ground.

They rushed toward him as he set up his AOE skill, Twilight Maelstrom.

Since he needed more time, Roland conjured a shield around himself. It absorbed the blows of the vampires, but the general soon joined them, sending crashing waves of blood against the barrier until it trembled.

[Elios, I hope you can keep that shield up… just enough so I can use my skill!] Roland cried out. No reply came. He only heard the strained grunts of the Spirit of Light as he struggled to hold the barrier.

[Make it quick! I can't hold out these numbers forever… I have not gained all of the power of a monarch yet!]

Norelli, on the other hand, remained silent. It was as if he did not want to be seen or heard by the vampire, hiding himself completely from sight.

"Almost!" Roland shouted. Power raged in his hands. Just a few more seconds, that was all he needed.

[I can't hold out any longer, Roland… there are nearly two hundred creatures attacking us at once!]

Elios could not maintain the barrier any longer, but it had been enough.

[It's all right, Elios. I'm finished!]

Roland slashed both swords forward. Each blade carried a different element, and when he released them, the energy swirled together, rising into a tornado that roared across the battlefield.

He didn't have time to stand and watch though. His skill devastated a massive section of the enemy ranks, but more demons surged in from every side.

Roland conjured his shield again, then shaped wings upon his back.

With a powerful thrust, he launched himself off the ground just as the horde crashed forward, piling into a frenzy of bodies where he had stood only moments before.

From the air, Roland could see countless demons. There were far more than he had anticipated at first. The sight even made him hesitate for a moment, but he pressed on. He had to go back down and keep cutting them down.

His skill still raged below, tearing through the land and dragging demons into its spiraling force. It ground them apart and hurled their bodies away. He could tell that hundreds had already died as the maelstrom passed, but it still wasn't enough. Too many remained.

From above, Roland slashed at the horde. He unleashed his ranged skill, Balance Requiem, sending bursts of white flame and dark flame crashing into his enemies.

The flames did more than burn they spread like fire. Fueled by mana, they consumed whatever they touched. Most demons, however, did not die easily. The flames burned them but failed to kill outright. The vampires, though, were different.

They carried mana within their bodies, stored from the blood they consumed. That same fuel only fed the flames. Vampires ignited violently, and the fire spread to the demons beside them, turning the battlefield into a chain of explosions.

Roland allowed himself a grim smile. At least he was making progress. But it still wasn't enough.

The three generals soon recovered and surged toward him.

The vampire elder and the succubus both took to the skies, wings unfurling as they rose. Their presence made it difficult for Roland to remain airborne.

He wasn't used to aerial combat, and he knew it. Most of his techniques relied on footwork and the solid ground beneath him. In the air, his skills lost much of their strength.

Roland let himself fall toward the ground. He aimed for a clear section where he could carve out space for the next battle against the generals. After killing thousands of their soldiers, he knew they would no longer hold back.

As he descended, he slashed downward. Each strike carried the force of Eclipse Edge, cutting through the demons below with ease.

He landed hard, blades at the ready. Almost immediately, all three generals closed in, attacking from three sides.

Roland barely had time to react. He dodged what he could, focusing on the axe swings and blood strikes those felt the most dangerous. He slashed left and right, narrowly evading another heavy blow from Kazurel. With a swift kick, he shoved the demon's axe aside and forced the brute to stumble.

He pressed his advantage. His next target was Velistra, the succubus. Roland lunged, slashing at her, only for Serathis, the vampire, to intercept. That was fine. His blade, charged with light, sliced clean through the vampire's hand.

But Serathis didn't even flinch. His face betrayed no fear, no pain. Roland grimaced as the vampire slashed back at him with his remaining hand. He leapt away, only to watch Serathis dissolve into a cloud of bats. The severed hand shifted into black mist and reformed as if nothing had happened.

Roland cursed under his breath. He felt powerless for a moment. Charging his strongest skill was impossible, and finishing one general outright was even less likely now that they were working together.

[Elios, what do we do?] he asked, desperate for guidance from the spirit.

[Use the mana stones. All of them. One powerful light move, and half this battlefield will be wiped out. With luck, you'll damage the furnace crystals as well. As for the humans, I'll shield them with light magic.]

Roland didn't hesitate. Wings flared open as he leapt back, clutching at his remaining mana stones. Six still remained after the last fight. He charged them as fast as he could, their light pulsing with unstable energy.

Behind him, the vampire and succubus flew closer, cautious of whatever he was preparing. Kazurel lumbered forward as well, slower, forcing his way through the masses of demons.

Roland pushed farther back, just far enough to make sure his coming blast would reach the building which produced red mist.

Soon he had reached the building and finished charging his mana. It was the perfect moment to destroy everything around him.

[Elios, I am ready… but this blast will destroy both of my swords.]

Roland hesitated for a moment.

He knew it was necessary, but it also meant he would have to use the cursed black blade again if any of the generals survived.

[Go! You'll be slaughtered if you stay in the air any longer!]

Roland hurled both swords toward the building. At once, he drew the black demon blade, preparing to intercept the succubus and the vampire, who were only meters behind him.

They noticed his action and tried to stop themselves from advancing, but it was already too late. The explosion erupted. Both swords detonated, with the mana crystals serving as catalysts. A massive blast of light surged outward.

Nearby vampires shrieked in agony before vanishing into nothingness. Demons marked as enemies were less affected, but the light still seared their bodies. Many burst into flames, stumbling away in a desperate attempt to rid themselves of the holy fire.

Roland's hands burned as the cursed blade in his grip was assaulted by the purifying light.

Instead of releasing it, he poured his own dark mana into the weapon, forcing it to stabilize.

He launched himself toward the succubus, Velistra, who had been struck by the blast and was plummeting toward the ground. With one swift slash, he ended her life.

Roland then turned on the vampire, Serathis. The elder writhed under the light's purification. He resisted some of the energy, but it weakened him enough that he could no longer transform into a bat. Roland gave him no chance to recover. In two quick strikes, he severed his head and pierced his heart.

Only one remained, Kazurel. The hulking demon still clutched his axe, biting his lip so hard blood ran down his chin.

"Bastard! You killed them, but you won't get me the same way!" he roared.

Kazurel charged, his large axe raised.

Roland steadied himself, but already he could feel the cursed blade gnawing at his mind.

Channeling darkness mana made the weapon stronger, yet the corrupting influence clawed deeper into his thoughts, trying to take control.

Roland struggled for a moment before releasing a blast of dark energy at Kazurel, halting the demon's charge.

With a swift strike, he severed Kazurel's hands, then followed through with a clean slash that took his head.

The battle was over.

Yet Roland's grip on the cursed blade trembled. He knew if he kept holding it, madness would consume him.

It would drive him to slaughter not only the remaining demons but even the humans trapped inside the building.

Forcing himself to stop, Roland released the weapon. He quickly stored it away before its influence could take root again.

Breathing heavily, he raised his hand and touched the gem embedded in his palm. He called out to Stella through the link.

No answer came.

The connection was still there, faint but still there. He could sense she was alive.

Safe even.

Yet something gnawed at him, a feeling of dread he could not shake off.

Why wasn't she answering?