Loren went in to attack Stoos again, not giving up even though they couldnât find a way to defeat her.
Dia, who had moved close to Lapis as she was following up Loren, asked Lapis, watching Stoos fight back barehandedly.
âTime?â
âYes. I something I want to talk to Loren about.â
If Dia herself went in to help, Stoos would use her True Name to stop her.
So Dia concluded that to do something, she had to form a plan with Loren or Lapis.
Although Lapis thought it was a reasonable conclusion as well, she couldnât think that there could be anything to help them defeat Stoos, but she also thought that since Dia had gone through the trouble of asking her for help, there was a chance that her and Loren could open up some path to victory.
âI canât do so for long though.â
âA little bit is fine. It wonât take long at all.â
When Dia said so with confidence, it was enough to make Lapis think that there was a way to get them through.
Lapis clapped her fists together.
Luckily, they were in in the ruins in the middle of a large plain, so even if she used her abilities, no one was there to see her.
She knew she couldnât defeat an Elder, since her body wasnât complete and in good shape, but she was confident that she could at least buy some time.
âMake it short please. I donât want to die.â
âI know.â
Seeing Dia nod, Lapis used the self enhancement spell she taught Loren on every part of her body.
Feeling the strength surge within her, Lapis shouted to Loren, who was still battling Stoos.
âLoren! Switch!â
âLapis!?â
Although surprised that Lapis had shouted out to him, Loren followed what she said and jumped backwards, creating a large distance between him and Stoos.
When she tried to chase after him, Lapis, who was fully enhanced, stopped Stoos in her tracks with her fist clenched, and punched Stoos one fist after another, so fast that it was a blur.
âReally, what in the world are you!?â
Lapisâ fists didnât reach Stoos.
But the impacts still stopped her, so she faced Lapis with a look of surprise.
âIâm a model priestess of the Knowledge god, an adventurer! And Lorenâs partner!â
âThereâs definitely something wrong with those titles!â
Ignoring Stoosâ wailing, Lapis continued to throw punch after punch.
As Loren watched her, thinking that no one who saw this would think that Lapis was a priestess, but dismissing the thought since it was Lapis he was looking at, Dia, who had asked her to buy some time, came close to him.
âLoren, letâs talk.â
âIs it about something that could get us out of this situation?â
âYes. But let me see your great sword first.â
Loren handed her the sword that he hadnât let go even once this whole fight.
Dia took the giant weapon that even a normally strong man would have trouble picking up, scanned its blade, and after a moment, handed it back to Loren.
âListen carefully. I have an idea. ItâsâŠâ
Loren leaned forward as Dia waved for him to get closer.
She started whispering in his ear in a voice that he could barely make out.
After Dia finished and moved away from Lorenâs ear, Lorenâs eyes widened at what he had just heard and couldnât help staring at her.
âThatâll work?â
âIt should. Iâm not completely certain, but Stoos would back off.â
âIf you want me to do it I willâŠbut are you sure?â
âI donât mind. Do it please.â
Loren could sense a strong determination in her reply, so he stopped questioning.
âAlright. If itâs fine with you, I wonât say no.â
âPlease. Weâve got one chance.â
After replying, Diaâs gaze went from Loren to Lapis, who was fighting.
Although she could fight Stoos, it was obvious she was at a disadvantage.
After all, all her attacks couldnât get through Stoosâ defense, while Stoosâ attacks were draining her health bit by bit.
But she wasnât being pushed around in any sense and seeing that she was able to go somewhat toe to toe with an Elder, it was apparent that her abilities werenât normal.
âItâs late to ask, but you arenât human, are you?â
âThereâs no reason for me to answer that.â
âThe other one was a human swordsmanâŠbut what is something like you doing here?â
âBeing an adventurer. Also, a priestess of the Knowledge god.â
âWhat even is a priestess of the Knowledge godâŠâ
Lapis smiled at Stoosâ response, but the two of them stopped when they heard Diaâs voice behind them.
âLapis! Weâre done! Switch!â
Without even nodding at Diaâs words, Lapis mustered all her strength into one final blow.
The blow, which contained a enormous amount of mana as well as her strength, still wasnât enough to get to Stoos, but it managed to push her back, and Lapis immediately jumped away from the spot.
As if threading a needle, Dia ran past Lapis, her skirt flapping in the wind.
Seeing her run straight at her, Stoos laughed.
âDonât you know itâs no use? I know your True NameâŠâ
âShut up.â
Seeing Dia and her clenched fist, Stoos was about to say her True name, but her eyes narrowed as she saw Loren with his great sword raised a few steps behind her.
When Stoos laughed at another useless attempt, Dia shouted, still in an attacking stance.
âDo it Loren!â
âGot it!â
At Diaâs signal, Loren imagined all the strength he had pouring into his sword and swung it.
Of course, from his position he couldnât his Stoos, let alone Dia.
But during the attack, he let go of his great sword.
ââŠâŠ!â
Although she didnât know what they were up to, Stoos felt that she still needed to stop Dia, so she said her True Name, but in front of her, Diaâs head was cut off her body, and she came at her faster than before.
When Loren had let go of the sword mid-swing, it flew forward, spinning towards Dia from behind, but she didnât block it, causing it to cut through her neck.
At the same time, her face went blank as her true name started to control her consciousness.
But her headless body wasnât influenced and continued to charge, and as Stoos froze in surprise, Diaâs raised fist knocked through her defense and plunged into her chest.
The powers of the Elders collided with one another, cancelling each other out for an instant, but within that moment, Lorenâs great sword, which was still flying after cutting off Diaâs head, dug itself into Stoosâ neck, with Diaâs headless body in her arms.
âUghâŠAh!?â
With her powers and Diaâs powers cancelling each other, there was nothing to stop the blade.
Still, she tried to muster all the power she could and defend herself, but it was already too late, and the steel blade cut through her neck like it was nothing, and her head flew into the air.
âYouâre kiddingâŠâ
Even though she was just a head, she somehow managed to talk, and she looked at her headless body, with a hole in its chest.
Lapis walked over and gently picked up Diaâs head, which was lying on the ground near them.
âCutting your head off right before you heard your True Name, so your body isnât affectedâŠand using it to attack? Youâre insane.â
âMight be. But it was a good idea, no?â
Diaâs head, which was picked up and was in Lapisâ arms, said in an amused voice.
She too, was somehow able to speak without her body, and even Lapis had no idea how that was possible.
âB-but itâs just that my head was cut off.â
âI think so too. Thatâs exactly why Iâll do this.â
When Dia turned her gaze towards her body, which was hugging Stoosâ body, it erupted in raging flames.
As it consumed Stoosâ headless body as well, both turned to ashes.
âHey!?â
âNow you literally canât even move a finger. Do you still want to do this in that state?â
As Dia smiled at her, Stoos couldnât reply immediately.
Since they were Elders, they wouldnât die just because they were heads.
But if their bodies were turned to ashes, it greatly limited what they could do, so she couldnât do anything, much less fight, even if she used Diaâs True Name to stop her again.
âI wonât stop you if you want to continue. But I donât know what will happen to you.â
âT-thatâsâŠâ
âWhat would happen if we bury her? Would her body regenerate?â
Lapis said something horrible with a bright smile on her face, but no one stopped her.
Loren had lost consciousness and the two Elders were just heads, so there was in fact, no one to stop her.
âIt would, but it would take quite a bit of time.â
âY-you think youâll get away with this!? Your True NameâŠâ
Stoos started saying with frustration, but Dia let it slide as if it was nothing.
âNo reason to worry about that either. I lost most of my body as well. I can change my True Name when I reconstitute it. Thatâs the end of it.â
âYou can change your True Name?â
âWe usually donât. But since I lost so much of my body, Iâll have to make some changes when reconstituting anyway, so itâs a good opportunity to.â
Dia looked down at Stoosâ head on the floor from Lapisâ arms, asking her what she was going to do.
Stoos tried to think of some way to get out of the situation, but couldnât find one, and after a while, she muttered with her voice shaking.