I was a Nerfed Hero in Another World

"Fenrir, I will cover your claws with dark magic. I believe you're the only one who could stop this dog from going berserk," I confessed, while preparing the spell. "I need a minute to prepare this spell. Until then, Merleen, protect all of us with your light!"

As I laid out my instructions, Merleen cast some protective light spell on our bodies, especially on me. If I needed to use my black magic on Fenrir's claws, I needed to wait around a minute to cast it. We gamers called that "channelling" our spells, focusing both my mental and physical state to activate my abilities.

If I got distracted from my channelling spell, I would lose the ability, rendering my magic useless. But if I successfully channelled the skill, the magic circle would activate itself.

Fenrir did as she could while standing in front of me. When the demonic dog came for me, Fenrir smacked the hound down and bashed its head. The little girl cried after seeing her dog getting pummeled by Fenrir. Fortunately, thanks to Merleen's words, the girl snuggled around her arms and closed her eyes.

Although we did not plan to kill the dog, we still had to knock it down before it could injure anyone. Fenrir did the best she could stand up against the demonic canine, thanks to the protection she received from Merleen.

After a few seconds, my system finally alerted me, telling me I completed the channelling time. With no moment to spare, I covered Fenrir's claws with the dark magic. That black magic enhanced her attack by five times than her own power. Fenrir's attacks would pierce through that demonic beast, even though that dog had the obsidian magic. Since we also had one in our arsenal, Fenrir could comfortably face off against our enemy.

The two hounds clashed against each other until one of them would drop on the ground. The demonic hound used its teeth while Fenrir used her claws against her enemy.

Within a moment, the dog looked like he was on the winning side. But before the demonic beast could land the final blow, Fenrir twisted her body and launched himself in the air. After somersaulting once, Fenrir zoomed straight at the demonic dog and kicked its body. The kick definitely dealt damage to the hound, rendering him immobile for now.

The demonic aura considered the host unconscious after the fight. Since the fight had concluded, the demonic nymph left the host and opted to explode everything in its surroundings. That demonic entity refused to quit, even though it clearly lost the fight.

As soon as the demonic creature attempted that explosion, my dark matter covered the dog's skin, protecting it from any danger. I also paired my magic with the remnants of Merleen's light prowess.

Since players thought we cannot combine light and dark energies, none of them bothered destroying the rule. However, I had a lot of free time and tested everything out! I had nothing to do but to play this game in my previous life. As luck would have it, those dull days finally bore fruit in this life!

However, the spell came at a price. The combined spells of light and darkness would protect any spell thrown at that host. It was the most overpowered spell living inside Magique.

And if I attempted to forge two opposite spells, that magic ability would drain both my health points and mana. Since it was a spell that even I cannot handle, the magic circle would cause some repercussions to the user.

But now was not the time to think about the consequences of my action. This dog was a member of the girl's family. I did not want them to lose such a loving pet in their family tree. Although I was not a great person, I wanted these two siblings to cherish their life together with the dog.

If there was one thing in the world that I loved, it was seeing others smile. It was the only reason I wanted to play the hero in this world.

I could become a normal adventurer who would have a normal life with a girl. Since I have a system, I could slowly grind myself towards the top and become a popular knight inside a kingdom.

But I didn't. It was these small sacrifices that kept me alive and kicking. I wanted to put others first instead of myself since that was the job of a hero….

Although, the quote remained inside my head.

"You save others, but who saves you?"

I thought little about that line for now. My eyes focused themselves on the dog's image before me, wishing to save it at the cost of mine.

My system even warned me I wouldn't reach the mana needed to cast the spell. However, I paid the signs no mind and continued pouring my arcane into the light and dark barrier.

But the time finally came when my body wished to refuse my instructions. I fell on my knees and fought the urge to close my eyes while conjuring the fusion spell.

If I did not do something about this, my body would end up destroyed after this fight. We might not even save the dog or anyone present in the vicinity. If that nymph successfully blew up the dog's body, that explosion would take all our lives, including the neighbouring village.

We would not even fail to rescue the dog, but we would drag all the innocent bystanders living in their villages.

Fenrir and Merleen could not do a thing to help me, since those two did not have any time to reach my side. If Merleen wished to transfer her mana into me, she needed to touch me and directly pour her arcane inside my body. But if that happened, it would be too late to save everyone.

However, before we turned into dust, my body regained the mana it needed. My system even notified me that something coming from the outside restored my arcane to full. It kept fighting the light and darkness combining spells, relieving me from draining my mana into zero.

It almost felt like my body had a mind of its own. I did not have the energy to control my hands, but my upper limbs raised themselves, anyway. Within a moment, the magic circles continued building the unfinished gold and black barrier with the help of this mysterious force guiding my body.

That attempt was enough to save everyone from despair as I completed my barrier surrounding the dog.

After a few seconds, I finally got the ending that I wanted! The explosion happened, but the blast hurt no one but me. I saved the dog thanks to my protection and saved the little boy as well. The demonic nymph was the one who got itself turned into a thousand shards, which got blown away by the whistling wind.

It should have been a peaceful scene if it were not for my body falling on the ground.

After using the last ounce of strength inside my body, my body gave up and kissed the floor. Fortunately, Merleen used her speed of light and raced towards my fore. She caught my descending body and placed my weakened head on the waiting surface of her thighs.

It was the best pillow I had ever rested my head-on, and it still remained the best until now. Even before I could say anything, Merleen took out the potion I saved and forcefully poured it in my mouth. My body forcefully drank the bottle's contents, which made me gasp for air.

But after a few moments, my exhausted body found its lost energy. It pushed me back up from the ground, but I refused to stand. I returned towards Merleen's waiting arms and acted as I went into a coma.

However, Fenrir had enough and kicked my butt, which made me jolted awake. I wanted to retort, but we still had important things to take care of.

I shook my head and returned to my usual state. Since we already won the battle, I waltz towards the little girl who was now asleep together with her brother. Meliodas placed the two kids beside each other since the two were blood relatives.

After witnessing that chaotic fight, those two children slept afterwards and regained their energy. Merleen, Fenrir, Meliodas, and I couldn't do the same, since there were still beasts and other dangerous things lurking around the road.

But despite these risks, all of us sat on the ground, resting our bodies for the time being. Fortunately, I made enough potion for everyone, which would heal both their health points and mana into full. Although my potion could not restore limbs, it was enough to replenish our drained mana and health points.

While lying around, I turned my head to Meliodas and flashed him a smile. "Thanks for helping me back there. If you didn't play your harp and transfer your mana, we would have died from the explosion."