Would You Kindly Slay the Demon Lord? (Konosuba X Male Reader)

Episode 25

The twilight battlefield lay before Y/N, painted with the memory of countless resets and countless deaths. He stood firm, fire simmering at his fingertips, electricity crackling just beneath the surface of his skin. This was it. He'd made a promise.

Ahead, the Dullahan's presence was as dark and menacing as ever. The knight's hollow gaze seemed to linger longer this time, as though Y/N's earlier words.

His promise of this final duel had lingered even beyond death.

Dullahan: *voice low* I don't know what happened to you the last time, but this ends here, and now. I'm done messing around with you.

Y/N felt a grim smirk tug at his lips, the weight of countless failures driving him forward.

Y/N: *coldly* Indeed it will.

The Dullahan lunged, sword flashing, and Y/N barely dodged. He'd anticipated this, having seen the Dullahan's pattern too many times. As the knight's blade sliced through the air beside him, Y/N retaliated with a swift strike of Electro Bolt II, lightning snapping from his palm and striking the Dullahan's chest. The energy crackled, armor sparking as the knight staggered back.

But the Dullahan was ready this time, his hand shooting up to counter with his own dark energy. The black tendrils of his magic surged forward, blocking the electricity mid-air, deflecting it harmlessly away. The Dullahan gave a twisted grin as he stepped forward, pressing Y/N back, step by step.

Dullahan: You think you're the only one learning from these resets? 

Y/N gritted his teeth, shifting back as he watched for the Dullahan's tell. 

A slight twitch in his stance that always preceded a wide, sweeping strike. But as Y/N readied to dodge, the Dullahan halted mid-swing, pivoting sharply and thrusting his sword at Y/N's gut.

Y/N barely had time to leap back, feeling the blade's tip graze his side. The Dullahan knew his moves, had anticipated the dodge.

Y/N: So he's adapting too. Fine.

Y/N countered, using Incinerate, as fire roared from his hand, twisting into a spear-like jet of flames aimed straight for the Dullahan's head. But the knight sidestepped, using his shield to deflect the flames. The fire scattered, licking around his armor without leaving a mark.

They two slowly circled each other, both knowing the rhythm of the fight, waiting for the other to make the slightest misstep.

The Dullahan lunged again, sword raised high, aiming for Y/N's head in a powerful overhead strike. Y/N ducked low, feeling the rush of wind as the blade passed over him, and sent another Electro Bolt II straight into the Dullahan's exposed side. Sparks danced across the armor, and the Dullahan snarled in pain, staggering, but only for a moment. He retaliated instantly, thrusting his sword straight toward Y/N's chest.

Y/N shifted to the side just in time, but the Dullahan was relentless, following with another rapid series of thrusts, each one coming closer. Y/N's breath was shallow, his movements reflexive as he evaded, barely managing to stay a step ahead. They had each other's attacks memorized, yet each move was met with a new counter, a fresh tactic.

The Dullahan took a wide swing, and Y/N's instincts told him to jump back—but he resisted, instead surging forward. He felt the heat of the blade pass inches from his side, narrowly avoiding it, and slammed his hand onto the Dullahan's chest. A surge of Incinerate burst from his palm, flames cascading over the knight's armor in a roar of fire.

The Dullahan grunts, the flames finally finding their mark, blackening his armor. But even now, he was unfazed. With a roar, he swung at Y/N in a brutal arc, forcing Y/N to break away.