The wind bellowed with the howls.
And all sounds vanished as the ogre swung its axe to leave a fissure upon its wake.
“GURUuRUuuuA!”
“GOoouuOO!”
I bellowed back with my <<Overpowering Howl>>, but it was drowned out by the enemy’s own cries. Wielding Iron Second, I fended off the second swing of that rock-like axe. My hands went numb from that, but I continued to attack the ogre.
Aided by <<Swordsmanship B+>>, my sword drew an arc in the air as it went for the ogre’s arm. In that same moment, I tried to use <<Eyes of the Blue Snake>>, but it failed.
Snapping my tongue, I cursed at the viciousness of the traps in this fortress.
“Annoying!”
And just when I thought my great sword would severe the ogre’s arm, it suddenly used those brutish muscles of it to forcefully push its arm until the base of my sword.
I managed to cut it off in the end, but I was sent flying in exchange. I slid on the ground and tumbled countless times before finally stopping. I desperately clung to keep awake and endure the pain.
The enemy isn’t some greenhorn who’d falter just from something like this!
As soon as I brought my head up, the ogre’s fist was there waiting for me. Enraged by the pain, that fist shot out toward me, aiming to kill me. I twisted my body in response, and received it with my blade.
The impact was horrifying. It was like getting hit by a truck, and I lost all feeling in my arms.
Blood gushed out of the ogre’s hands, but it raised its fist again without a hint of concern for itself.
–––Damn it! Are you numb of pain, Monster!!?
“Turn me into a blade!Enchant”
I tried to wrap my sword in flames, but it failed. I only wasted my breath.
–––Calm down! I haven’t lost yet!
I forced strength into my two numb arms. and gradually, I managed to get back feeling in this monstrous body of mine. Then I bolted off for the ogre’s chest.
Blood spurted, and the faint cries of the ogre fell upon my ears, but still, I ran for it. I clung on to that faint hope for victory only to be sent flying by the ogre’s knees.
<<Instinct>> activated, and my hands moved by itself to use my great sword as a shield. But the force was too great, and my sword was flicked away into a wall.
It’s not a pretty situation, but I’m still alive. Traces of blood could be seen on the floor where my body slid, but I yet breathe.
“Gu, ha…”
I tried to stand up, but the aftershock made me spew my guts.
Blood spurted out of my mouth, and my strength left me. Only my eyes could follow the ogre.
If that thing comes at me now, it won’t be pretty, but… The ogre isn’t looking any better itself. Both of its arms are hanging down, limp. It cries out to the heavens, but those arms won’t be coming back.
––––And my sword is…
With victory dangling right before me, I look for my sword. I see it half-buried into a wall.
I clench my fists.
–––If I don’t have a weapon, then I’ll just turn this body into one!
“GUuRUuUAUUAa!”
We’re both unarmed, the conditions have been met. <<A Ruler’s Wisdom I>> activates. And because of the damage I’ve received <<Dance at Death’s Border>> stage 2 activates.
My muscles bulge, my arms contract, and my killing intent rages.
The ogre must’ve felt it because it stopped cursing the heavens to look at me.
It opens its massive mouth, it bellows out a roar, and I feel my legs freeze under me. So, I bellow back in response.
“GURUuuRUuAaa!”
–––To hell with skills!
We kick ourselves off the ground. I raise my fists, and the ogre opens its mouth. The distance between us shrinks, and that wide-opened mouth of it is hellbent on chewing every bit of me. The ogre lowered its head, and our paths crossed.
–––I won’t be defeated!!
As our paths crossed, I brought down my fist, slamming it right into its head. The crunching sound of bones impacting and flesh tearing filled my ears. My bulging muscles threw up blood, and I grit my teeth in pain.
“RUuuoOOAAAa!”
But I didn’t falter. I slammed my fists down the ogre’s head, and I crushed that ugly thing like a watermelon.
And with that, life left the ogre, and it was no more.
An arm for a life. I suppose this right arm won’t be moving anytime soon.
That’s pretty bad, actually. Since there’s still the ogre lord after this.
“…But then, so what?”
I can’t stop here.
Even if the only thing pushing me is this blazing fire in my chest.
I have to win.
For their sake too –– for those who are desperately fighting yet.
◆◆◇
Regret fills me whenever I think about it. Did I really make the right choice? Was there really no other way?
No, there’s no point thinking about that anymore.
It might be because we somehow managed to defeat an ogre while following Kuzan that we let our guard up.
Yes, it was probably because of that that we fell into a trap.
When we exited the corridors, we found ourselves in a spacious room, and rocks fell on us from above. Most likely, a trap set by the ogres.
Kuzan was sure there wasn’t anything like that before, so I ordered my men to search the area. A decision that would cause us to split up.
For one of the stone pillars that reached up to a second story would fall down.
“It’s falling!!”
Everyone jumped at my warning, but then the whole place caved-in.
“Ku…”
Dodging comes first, I figured. And I called out to my men.
“Are you safe!? Gi Za!? Gi Go!?”
That mountain of rubble blocked my vision.
“Gi Gi! Gilmi! Rashka!”
I called their names one after another, buut the wall of rubble before me, that wall of despair, made sure I couldn’t cross.
“Kuzan! Aluhaliha! Narsa! Gi Ji!?”
I hit it again and again as I called out their names, but no one responded.
Gradually, resignation paint edmy heart, but at the sound of a lord’s voice, that feeling was blown away.
“King, go without us!”
It was Gi Za. The howls of an ogre could be heard as soon as he said those words.
My men are fighting on the other side of this wall.
They are fighting.
In a war I can’t reach… They’re fighting… for me.
I grit my teeth.
–––If only I could turn my fury into power! I wouldn’t spare a second thought to crush to this wall!
“I’m going ahead.”
I will defeat the Ogre Lord. The ogres are gathering even though they’re not the sort to form hordes.
If I defeat the Ogre Lord, then they might just turn against each other.
As I stifled the impatience and anger within me, I ran.
◆◇◆
“Hmm.”
Statues of demons lined up in a dark room. Some were shaped like men and some like snakes. They stood around a lone woman who was sat upon a throne like a king. A snow-white toga was wrapped around her, and in front of her was a magic mirror upon which the detested and beloved world of the living reflected. And in that world was a certain goblin.
“Ah, he’s going, he’s going. My beloved child.”
Her beautiful lips spoke those words almost in a sigh. A hint of love could be felt from them. Yes, that was most likely the love of a mother.
“But you should hurry.”
Her pair of golden eyes grew sharper at those words, and with a thought the image on the magic mirror changed to several search teams, no, hunting teams led by three peculiar humans. Each one of them possessed some strange power. They were none other than the vanguards of the gods, the Byunei.
A smile floated up her lips as she pushed her sky-blue hair back.
“…I can never get tired of you, Boy. Chaos and destruction follow you wherever you go. Even though the third daughter of destinyRyuu has yet to interfere.”
The snakes by her feet could feel her joy, and they looked up to her and tilted their heads.
“Your power has been sealed, your weapon taken. your people are on the other side of the wall with no way out; your body is covered in wounds, and up ahead is an ogre lord. But you know… I bet on you.”
There’s no way he could’ve heard those words, but when the magic mirror showed his figure…
It seemed to reach him. He who possesses the same noble and strong soul that she herself once possessed.
“Should you come here half-heartedly, your anguish, your agony, your sorrow… your everything shall become mine. Would the tears of your sorrow be sweet? Would its taste harmonize with your throes of despair? And what of your face twisted by the humiliation of failing to protect those you wished to protect?
A faint smile drew her lips as she caressed her flushed cheeks.
“Fu fu fu, I’m looking forward to it, Boy. Do become stronger. The stronger you become, to more amusing it’ll be.”
But, why is it?
“…That I’d rather watch you forever like this.”
The fallen goddess loved teasing him. She hoped he’d be able to overcome the trials set before him with that strong and noble soul of his. Though either way would suit her.
In the realm of the dead were no man was, only the statues and the snakes watched over her.
A pity, she thought. That they could only meet at the border life and death.
And the Goddess of the Underworld peeked through the magic mirror once again.
