CHAPTER 31: WILL AGAINST WILL

Hiroshi charged at Entity X with unrelenting force. The moment his blade struck its flesh, the flood returned—those cursed memories. Fear, hunger, betrayal, pain. They screamed in his skull like sirens. But this time, he didn’t flinch.

He gritted his teeth, powered through the mental assault, and swung again—his blade slicing clean through the entity’s arm.

Dark ichor splattered the ground.

But hissss—the limb regenerated, twisting back into shape as if time itself refused to let it die.

"Tch... stubborn," Hiroshi spat, his knuckles white around his hilt.

A ripple of energy surged behind him.

"Magic Art: Prison of Sin!" Kami’s voice echoed like divine retribution.

Mana exploded outward, weaving a glowing, cage-like structure around Entity X. The prison pulsed, then shrank—tightening like a vice, its edges jagged and burning.

Kami’s hands trembled as she poured more power in. Her eyes flickered. The memories were clawing into her mind too—cold nights alone, fists raised in anger, silence instead of comfort.

But she didn’t look away. She didn’t falter.

She focused on the magic. Only the magic.

The prison cracked as it constricted tighter.

Entity X let out a distorted, soul-wrenching screech.

The mana prison cracked—and then shattered.

A burst of dark mist and black fluid erupted from the explosion, raining down like corrupted rain. For a moment, everything was silent.

But the silence was a lie.

A fleshy squelch echoed as pieces of Entity X slithered back together, merging with unnatural speed. The grotesque form stood tall once again—its mouth curled into something like a grin, eyeless face locked onto Kami.

And then it lunged.

Kami staggered. Her mana was spent, her body trembling from the strain of the spell. Her lips parted to cast again, but nothing came out. Not even a breath.

The entity’s hand shot toward her—claws ready to tear through her flesh.

Clang!

Steel met shadow.

Ren.

He appeared like lightning, sword clashing against the creature’s arm, sparks flying on impact.

"Not this time..." he muttered, teeth clenched, eyes burning with resolve.

He pushed back with all his strength—but it wasn’t enough.

So he drew deeper, tapping into his own mana, pouring it into his limbs. His veins lit faintly with a dull blue glow, muscles tightening, energy flaring in raw pulses.

I’ll show them... I’ll show everyone my worth.

With a roar, Ren surged forward, blade flashing—knocking Entity X backward with sheer force. The creature stumbled, its body deforming from the impact before snapping back into shape.

Kami collapsed to her knees, eyes wide—not in fear, but in disbelief.

Ren stood between her and the entity, sword lowered, chest rising and falling with rapid breath.

Before the entity could regain its balance, Hiroshi was already in motion.

His mana flared—bright, wild, almost unstable—as he clashed head-on with the recovering creature. But this time, it wasn’t just his sword.

It was will against will.

The air between them crackled. Invisible pressure pushed out in waves. Red and black energy waves striking on the floor. Dust lifted. The ground trembled. The entity screeched, its form distorting as it collided with the raw force pouring from Hiroshi.

Seriously...What the hell is this? Haki clash? Is this a One Piece reference in Isekai world? Leon asked himself, jaw dropped as he scratched his head, wearing a weird, confused expression.

Leon stood leaned against the wall, his body still too damaged to jump in.

But then, something changed.

From the stump of his leg, dark energy began to twist—inky black tendrils pulsing outward like veins of living energy. It wrapped the air around the leg, forming a crude, temporary leg. Not real flesh, but energy only.

Leon blinked, slightly surprised at himself. "It worked...so easily? Who cares, now I can join battle."

Celestine and the others stood far from the battle like cowards. She smirked. "I’ll give it the final hit and take all the glory."

Ren was already in the fight. "What can he even do? He’ll just die along with Squad 12," she muttered, casting him a disgusted look.

Leon stepped forward, charging at the entity. He raised his hand into the air, and a sword formed in his grip. As Entity X focused on Hiroshi, Leon looked for an opening.

Ren watched him closely. "Wait... didn’t he lose a leg? And that sword, i remember it—it’s the same as the one made by my si—"

Before the thought could finish, Kami snapped him out of it. "Why are you spacing out? Let’s go!"

Ren nodded and joined the fight.

Alexia and Lucas stared, surprised by the strange dark energy forming Leon’s temporary leg. Hiroshi and Kami noticed it too—but now wasn’t the time to question it.

Leon saw the entity’s stomach as an opening. He stood still, focusing on his breath, gathering all his strength in his arms and legs.

"Swordsman Art... Hack & Slash!"

With a speed too quick for average eyes, Leon sliced through the entity’s stomach, finding its core.

"Hiroshi!" Leon signaled, but before they could react, the entity’s body engulfed him, pulling him inside its stomach.

"Leon!" They all shouted in unison. Kami began preparing another spell to cast on the entity, but Ren quickly intervened. "No, don’t! You’ll damage Leon too."

Kami hesitated, then stopped her casting.

Hiroshi, undeterred, slashed at the entity repeatedly. But each time, it regenerated before he could reach Leon.

Charlotte’s laugh echoed. "Kuakuakua! That smartass got trapped inside my masterpiece."

Fueled by anger, Hiroshi charged at Charlotte, but he only laughed louder. "Killing me won’t bring your friend back, kuakuakua!"

Hiroshi paused, his sword raised, then hesitated. His grip tightened, but he moved back, refocusing on the entity.

Inside the entity, Leon struggled to breathe, his body immobile, unable to move even an inch. He tried to call out for help but quickly stopped. I’m trapped again... still waiting for someone to pull me out of this mess. Still hoping for someone to save me.

A bitter sigh escaped his lips. How foolish of me.

Remember your goal, Leon... it is to protect my sister... and become the strongest. Stronger even than the supreme god himself. If I want that dream to come true, I can’t rely on shortcuts. No cheats. It’s all on me.

I have to fight for it..For this world... and for myself.

Because in this world, Even God needs Character development.