Chapter 150
Chapter 150
The Calm Before the Storm (2)
“Truly disgusting.”
“Haha.”
The Imperial Princess held back the nausea that threatened to rise at any moment. Unable to refuse the invitation of the Administrator of the Floating Island, she had been forced to sit there for three hours with that endlessly talkative old man.
It would have been one thing if the stories had been interesting, but she felt like she had heard, "Back in my day~," at least three hundred times.
Sheila, who had suffered alongside her, could only let out a hollow laugh.
“I should go get some sleep.”
Sheila quietly watched the Imperial Princess as she stretched. There had once been a time when she only slept one or two hours a day because she feared sleeping itself and the nightmares that always followed.
But ever since Davide had visited her, the Imperial Princess had been living a far more peaceful life. She was now able to sleep at least six hours, and as a result, her personality had become much gentler.
“It seems Davide's treatment was effective.”
“Hmm? Well, you could say that. Though it's because of the god Davide believes in.”
“Lord Anaye?”
The Imperial Princess merely gave a vague nod in response to Sheila's question.
However, Sheila did not stop there.
“……”
Feeling the sparkling gaze fixed upon her face, the Imperial Princess let out a small sigh.
“After I connected with Davide's Mental World, whenever I fall asleep, I appear inside his Mental World.”
“Huh.”
The Imperial Princess calmly recounted something that was difficult to believe.
Sheila found herself intrigued by the higher-dimensional concept of a Mental World.
And she was also curious about Davide's Mental World itself.
“Can I go there too?”
“……No. Only I can. Anyway, the god Davide believes in was there.”
“Lord Anaye? You said he was an apostle, but to think his god is inside his Mental World.”
“I suppose that's why he was chosen by the Holy Scripture.”
The Imperial Princess had been about to mention the Black Shark, but quietly closed her mouth instead.
There was no need to say any more than that.
“I suddenly want something cold and sweet.”
Craving a cold drink, the Imperial Princess headed toward the shopping district.
Then she sensed a familiar presence and abruptly turned her head.
“Your Imperial Highness?”
Seeing the Imperial Princess suddenly stop, Sheila called out, wondering what had happened.
But the Imperial Princess's gaze remained fixed on the distant forest.
“What in... Huh?”
Following her gaze, the Vice-Captain spotted a gigantic bolt of lightning erupting from deep within the forest.
It was a tremendous flash that briefly illuminated the world.
The terrifying storm of lightning rising into the sky above it was something she recognized immediately.
“That's Lightning Spike of Anaye.”
“That finishing move?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness. It's the strongest technique Davide possesses.”
“It seems something has happened.”
Watching the Imperial Princess prepare to run, Sheila smiled warmly.
Judging by her reaction, Davide seemed to occupy more of her thoughts than she realized.
Following behind the Imperial Princess as she sprinted toward the forest, Sheila gathered her magic.
***
“Well, well.”
As expected, Lightning Spike of Anaye never disappointed.
The Lightning Spike of Anaye I swung swallowed nearly half of the monster horde.
I had deliberately aimed well to the left so the crystal wouldn't be damaged.
Half of them vanished without leaving even a trace.
About ten percent were twitching on the ground after being electrocuted by the lingering lightning.
I had expected to wipe out the vast majority, but the faster ones had dodged beforehand, so the damage ended up being less than I'd anticipated.
-Kyaaah!
“Cover me.”
Worden, who had been firing orbs at the electrocuted monsters, quickly changed direction.
A monster charging straight toward me was engulfed in lava and sent tumbling across the ground.
I immediately threw my sword.
My target was the field boss.
The blood magic sword shot toward the creature, which was surprisingly agile for its massive size.
The beast stared at the incoming sword with an expressionless face before swinging one enormous foreleg.
“Stupid bastard.”
It had dodged Lightning Spike of Anaye because it looked dangerous.
But the sword didn't appear particularly threatening.
Seeing the field boss choose to block it instead of dodge, I curled my lips into a mocking smile.
“Fweee~”
-Tak.
The instant I whistled, I snapped my fingers.
Just before the sword collided with the field boss's terrifying foreleg, it emitted a brilliant light before exploding.
The Thunder Horn Mark I had used to lower its health let out a piercing shriek as it unleashed a violent torrent of lightning.
“Look at how tough you are.”
Although it couldn't compare to Lightning Spike of Anaye, it was still a powerful explosion. Each one was formidable on its own, and I had stacked several of them together.
I had expected it to inflict at least serious injuries, if not finish it in one blow, but all it got was a few scorched patches. I grinned confidently and tensed my thighs.
-Krrrraaah!
The furious roar rang out, and I leaped high into the air.
Meanwhile, countless orbs fired by Worden rained down upon the monster horde.
Lightning and fire, lightning and ice.
Explosion after explosion erupted. The monsters were utterly helpless against the overwhelming barrage of firepower.
“Hup.”
I awakened the Fragment of Mercury sleeping within the Astral Gauntlet. Accompanied by a strange mechanical hum, an immense chill settled into the gauntlet.
Using the force of my descent, I drove the gauntlet downward.
The freezing energy released from the gauntlet slammed into the ground and spread out in every direction.
“Cult Leader!”
“Yeah. There it is.”
The surroundings turned pure white.
Everything within several meters was blanketed in white.
Not only the elite monsters guarding the field boss, but even the field boss itself had become encased in white frost.
I answered Worden's call absentmindedly.
“I guess it's easy since it's an event boss.”
I formed another sword with Blood Magic.
Its performance as a weapon left much to be desired, but nothing paired with the Thunder Horn Mark better than this.
I plunged the crimson sword forged from my own blood straight into the frozen field boss's abdomen.
As blood burst out, the frozen field boss suddenly moved.
“Oh, damn!”
I immediately released the sword and thrust out both hands.
It had merely opened its jaws, yet their size was incredible.
I grabbed its upper jaw with my left hand and its lower jaw with my right.
Its charge was so powerful that it pushed me back nearly a meter.
Despite taking continuous damage from my Lightning Armor, its momentum showed no signs of weakening.
“Urgh!”
To make matters worse, using the chilling power had frozen my own body as well, reducing my physical capabilities.
My lower body remained firmly planted, but the strength in my waist wasn't enough, and my upper body gradually began to give way.
“Oh!”
Just then, Worden arrived at the perfect moment.
Having apparently put away his slingshot, he slammed his thick fist straight into the field boss's abdomen.
The field boss was launched far into the distance but recovered with a graceful landing and regained its stance.
“You used up all your orbs?”
“Huh? Yes.”
A ranged damage dealer joining close combat.
Normally, I'd never recommend it, but seeing that sturdy, massive physique, it actually seemed like a good idea.
The two of us steadied ourselves and faced the field boss.
The tiger, far larger than the two of us combined, stared at us with sunken eyes.
“I'll create an opening. Make sure you finish it.”
“Huh? Yes.”
After saying that, I loosened up my body.
The muscles stiffened by the freezing power still hadn't fully recovered.
Trusting Worden to finish things, I dashed forward first.
I closed in with sharp, unpredictable movements no different from those of a wild beast.
The field boss patiently waited for its chance before charging and swinging a massive foreleg.
Normally, I would have blocked or deflected it, but this time I twisted my body to the side.
-Slash!
Watching the foreleg barely graze past me, I activated the Fragment of Mercury sleeping within the Astral Gauntlet once more.
The freezing energy spread outward in all directions, freezing the field boss again.
I immediately created another sword and swung it with all my might.
My body was stiff from the freezing power, so the strike wasn't at full strength, but my opponent was frozen solid and completely unable to move.
“Hahaha!”
The instant my sword carved across the field boss's chest, Worden charged in.
The field boss took the giant fist squarely to the face and was smashed into the ground.
Worden immediately climbed on top of it and relentlessly rained down punches.
Each blow that landed on the field boss shook the ground violently.
“Hey, hey! Take it easy!”
The field boss didn't stay still either.
Despite being flipped onto its back and at a disadvantage, it lashed out with its forelegs and snapped its jaws, struggling desperately.
Even as his entire body was raked by claws, Worden never stopped punching.
If anything, every punch accelerated the next until he began driving the field boss into the ground.
“Hey, hey! It's over! It's over!”
Just before an evenly matched fight turned into outright animal abuse, I stopped Worden.
Fortunately, as soon as I approached, Worden calmly pulled back his fists.
I slowly walked over to the crater before frowning.
The field boss's head had been reduced to a bloody pulp.
Its ribs and other bones appeared to have been shattered as well, leaving its body grotesquely twisted.
“……That's brutal.”
What on earth had Bereninche done with this innocent kid for him to turn out like this?
I immediately dismissed the thought that crossed my mind.
I didn't even dare imagine it. It would only make her seem even scarier.
Looking over the field boss, I saw that its bones were intact. Those could probably be used as materials too, but it had died before it ever got the chance.
“Hey. Get lost.”
Once the field boss was dead, no further attacks came.
I simply shouted at the few remaining monsters that stood there staring at us.
Startled, they turned and fled into the forest, bringing the battle to an end.
“The hide should still be usable, right?”
“The hide? It's tough. It didn't tear.”
I asked Worden as he drank one of the potions he had brewed himself.
Worden quietly examined the field boss before nodding.
As the son of a hunter, Worden's judgment was trustworthy.
It was a shame about the belly hide, but the rest was still in good condition.
I had considered selling it, but maybe it would be worth making at least one piece of armor.
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
As we sat on the edge of the crater to rest for a moment, we suddenly sensed someone approaching and were caught off guard.
The sound of branches snapping made me instinctively form a sword with Blood Magic, while Worden immediately assumed a combat stance.
Then I saw the two women emerging from the forest and tilted my head in confusion.
“I greet Your Imperial Highness.”
“I greet Your Imperial Highness.”
“At ease.”
My knees bent on reflex.
I casually tossed away my sword and dropped to one knee.
Worden likewise made full use of his extraordinary reflexes and knelt immediately.
The Imperial Princess accepted our greetings with her usual cool demeanor, and only then did we stand again.
“I saw the lightning from afar and came to investigate. Were you hunting?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
She seemed to be referring to when I had used Lightning Spike of Anaye.
We had continued fighting for more than fifteen minutes afterward.
I had no idea where she had been, but to arrive here in such a short time...
“Hello, Davide.”
“Yes, Vice-Commander. I trust you've been well.”
I greeted the Vice-Commander with even greater courtesy.
As always, she wore a gentle smile.
“You found something interesting, didn't you?”
“Huh? Ah. Yes.”
The Vice-Commander pointed toward something as she spoke.
Turning my gaze, I saw the massive gemstone bound in chains.
“We discovered it before the battle began. The monsters were guarding it.”
“This? Hmm.”
Without the slightest hesitation, the Imperial Princess walked toward the gemstone.
The Vice-Commander followed behind her at a leisurely pace, and Worden and I hurried after them.
“What peculiar magic.”
Seeing the Imperial Princess reaching out toward the gemstone, my eyes widened.
Unlike everyone else, I knew exactly what it was from the game, and I couldn't help growing anxious.
The gemstone was the source of that strange magic which had transformed ordinary beasts into monsters.
The corrupted magic leaking from it had caused horns to grow from the beasts' heads.
The reason I had avoided attacking it as much as possible was because I was worried that if it cracked, even more magic would leak out and strengthen the surrounding monsters.
“Your Imperial Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“It's an unfamiliar object. I fear it may harm Your Imperial Highness's sacred person.”
“……You're worried about me?”
I committed the discourtesy of blocking the Imperial Princess's hand.
I was genuinely worried that the strange magic might affect her somehow.
If, by some chance, something happened to the Imperial Princess, the story afterward would go from difficult straight into hell mode.
There was no way I was going to suffer through that alone.
The Imperial Princess spoke in a low voice.
She sounded slightly displeased, yet there was also a hint of uncertainty.
“Hmm. That's a fair point.”
Surprisingly, the Imperial Princess withdrew her hand without resistance.
She wasn't particularly stubborn, but she possessed immense pride and rarely listened to others.
“However, Davide.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
“My instincts are telling me that this gemstone should be destroyed. What do you think?”
I nodded.
It was one thing for me to know the gemstone's true nature because I had played the game, but the Imperial Princess's intuition was truly frightening.
Once I gave my approval, the Imperial Princess drew the cross spear she had used to sever the creation forged by the Desert God in the Giant's Tomb.
Then she swung it with all her might.
With a picture-perfect upward slash, the seemingly indestructible gemstone was cleanly split into two.
“Well then—... Waaaaah!”
Before the Imperial Princess could even finish speaking, the ground beneath us gave way.
A moment ago, we had been standing on solid earth.
Then, without warning, a deep pit opened beneath our feet.
All of us plunged straight down into it.