“Wh-What on earth is happening…?”
With the release of a violent storm accompanied by a scream, we were violently thrown against the wall. As I staggered to my feet, I saw that all of my companions were on the ground and unable to rise due to some status ailment.
“I… I can’t move…!”
“Mmm…”
Everyone’s marker was overloaded with status ailment indicators. Every stat of every member was diminished, and they were also afflicted with multiple status ailments like poison and paralysis. Was this the result of that scream?
I hurried to dispel the curses with a Dispel spell, but as soon as they were cured, the status ailments returned. Is this meant to permanently keep them in such a state? This is ridiculous!
The only ones not affected by the status ailments were Hanna and myself, likely because we were both undead. However, Hanna’s legs were burnt, making it difficult for her to fight properly. Does that leave me as the only one able to fight?
But the battle is far from over. This meant I must confront it alone. Facing Claude who boasted combat skills on par with Genjuro and Jigoro, by myself… Isn’t that recklessly foolish?
[Aaah…]
However, Claude, who had been stabbed in the forehead by Genjuro, had completely changed from his former warrior-like appearance. He only let out growls and his right hand that held the sword hung limply at his side, much like a zombie from a zombie movie.
Catherine, who was carried on his back, looked at Claude with concern, which meant that Genjuro’s strike had taken its toll. There was hardly any health left in him. Could this be an opportunity to drain his health completely?
[Aaagh!]
“Whoa!”
Just as I was about to launch a magical attack from afar, Claude lunged at me with a hoarse scream. He seemed to lack intelligence since his movements were linear and predictable. This was very different from the Claude we had known before.
However, it was unclear whether it was appropriate to refer to it as his “body”, but there was no change in Claude’s inherent abilities. In other words, the disparity between our combat abilities in close quarters was immense.
Naturally, I was at a significant disadvantage. As much as it saddens me to admit, facing the reality that a mage is no match for a knight in direct combat was inevitable.
“Aaaaaah! Stop it with the fast and reckless attacks!”
Claude muttered nonsensical words and swung his broken sword wildly. I tried to deflect his blows with my scythe, but his unpredictable attacks made it difficult. I moved desperately to evade his powerful and erratic blows.
With each blow, my arms grew numb and my health was steadily drained. A direct hit could mean death, so I fought with everything I had while waiting for a momentary lapse, or a chance to breathe…?!
“This woman?! Tail wall, arghhh?!”
But I was so focused on Claude’s movements that I failed to notice Catherine casting a spell. Until that moment, she hadn’t shown any sign of attacking, so the possibility wasn’t even on my radar.
Then, taking advantage of the moment I was distracted, Claude’s sword came crashing down. I had just managed to use a martial technique to bundle my tail into a wall for protection, but it shattered easily under his blow, and my sternum and several ribs were crushed.
“Cough… but I’ve survived…! [Dragon Force] activate! Star Magic Circle, standby! Here I go!”
But I had narrowly escaped death. It was thanks to the hastily erected barrier and the armor made by Iris that I survived. Having met the activation conditions, I was able to use the [Dragon Force], my last trump card, which I hadn’t used in a long time.
My stats skyrocketed, and strength surged throughout my body. However, I had a feeling that I still wouldn’t be able to compete with Claude in close combat. It was an intuition born from considerable combat experience, and I felt I should trust it.
“Ooooooh!”
[Gaahhhhh!]
Claude and I fiercely clashed our scythe and sword. Thanks to what Genjuro taught me, I had some basic skills, but at best, I was just a novice with a bit of extra knowledge. My crude fighting style couldn’t hope to win against someone with superior stats. After all, I wasn’t a real-life cheat like them.
I knew instinctively that I couldn’t win a head-on fight. With my skills, overturning the disadvantage was impossible. So why did I fight on nonetheless?
“This is it!”
[Gaagh?!]
It was all part of a strategy. I wasn’t just mindlessly swinging my scythe. I made it seem like a clash of brute force while waiting for the moment he would make a large overhead swing from above.
Jigoro taught me the spirit of attack, but Genjuro taught me how to counterattack. “It is a subtle skill, but mastering even one can catch an opponent off guard,” he said, drilling a move that would entangle an overhead swing into my mind until I could execute it flawlessly.
If my weapon had been a sword, it would have been unlikely that I could have mastered such a skillful maneuver in such a short time. But my weapon of choice was a large scythe. It was possible to hook the incoming blow at the base of the scythe blade.
“Hungaaa!”
I scooped up the descending blow from above, entangled it, and smashed the blade to the ground with all my strength. With my strength enhanced by the [Dragon Force] skill, the blade penetrated to its base. All that was left was to deliver the final blow!
[Noooooooooooo!!!]
“You would use that again, huh?! Deactivate standby! Black Thread!”
Catherine screamed again, but this time I was prepared for it. It was only natural, considering I was fighting alone because of her. As she screamed, I wrapped the pre-activated Black Thread around Claude and myself anchoring us in place.
The tremendous wind pressure battered my entire body. If I had a physical body, the pressure would have torn me apart with my own threads. At the same time, I could feel my companions being tossed around again in the background, but that was unavoidable. I was doing my best just to keep fighting!
[No…]
“I won’t allow a third time! Dragon Breath!”
Being subjected to her scream for the third time was more than I could bear. I resorted to my last trump card, the most powerful attack in my arsenal, the Dragon Breath. Since the distance between us was close, the Dragon Breath which seemed to be the embodiment of vengeful spirits hit Claude and Catherine directly, leaving them no chance to dodge.
The devastation wrought by the Dragon Breath didn’t end there. It pierced through the castle walls, ravaged the streets, and even shattered a part of the black wall. The power I unleashed was terrifying, even to myself.
After unleashing the Dragon Breath, all that remained were fragments of Claude’s skull, a broken sword, and an unfamiliar black orb about the size of an apple.
――――――――――
You have won the battle.
You have defeated the Legendary Boss, the Undead Master and Servant.
You will receive a reward and 10SP.
This marks the first subjugation party for this Legendary Boss
All participants will receive special rewards and 20 SP.
Race level increased. Gained 1 SP.
The race level has reached its growth limit. Evolution is possible.
Job level increased. Gained 1 SP.
The job level has reached its growth limit. Job change is possible.
The level of [Tail Strike] skill has increased.
Newly learned the martial technique “Tail Chase” of [Tail Strike].
The level of [Staff Mastery] skill has increased.
The level of [Scythe Mastery] skill has increased.
Newly learned the martial technique “Flying Slash Dance” of [Scythe Mastery].
The level of [Black Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Spirit Channeling] skill has increased.
Newly learned “Summon violent spirits” spell.
The race level of your familiar has increased.
The job level of your familiar has increased.
――――――――――
“Did I… win? Ha, hahaha…”
When the announcement of the end of the battle reached my ears, I collapsed on the spot as if my strings had been cut. Released from a state of extreme tension, a wave of exhaustion washed over me.
Given that avatars shouldn’t experience any movement impairments beyond injuries and status ailments, the feeling of all strength leaving my body was purely psychological. Thus, I mustered my willpower to stand. It was crucial to swiftly tend to my companions and remove any status ailments they suffered.
“Way to go, brother! You did it!”
“It seems the status ailments lifted the moment the boss was defeated. Well done.”
However, it appeared that my concern was unnecessary. As I staggered to my feet, Jigoro patted me heartily on the shoulder. While I appreciated the praise, I wished he’d be gentler given my near-death state. Had we experienced this exchange before, or was it just my imagination?
“You really took the spotlight, didn’t you?”
“Seriously, the final defense and attack were spectacular~~.”
“Yeah, it makes me want to get properly trained by Genjuro-san too.”
Just like Iris said, I was indeed privileged to deliver the final blow, thus securing the most rewarding moment of the battle. The teasing of my companions emphasized the fact that the battle was over and helped me feel a strong sense of accomplishment. I could feel the fatigue fading away.
And just like Eiji and Seventh Armor pointed out, it was Genjuro’s teachings that paved the way for my victory. The defensive skills we were taught, even for those of us in the rear guard, proved invaluable once again. The Spartan training was hard, but I feel I must continue it because it has helped me so many times.
“Both the sword and the halberd are broken, but it seems they’ve remained as items. What’s this ball, though?”
“Who knows? [Appraisal]… hoho, interesting… Hey, boss! Take a look at this.”
“Hmm, this is…”
I decided to appraise the mysterious ball Shiitake had handed over. The [Appraisal] revealed the following information:
――――――――――
- Jewel of the Undead King – Quality: Superior, Rarity: L (Legendary)
One of the symbols of authority owned by the Undead King.
A very powerful grudge is contained within it, and it is impossible to purify.
Should one aspire to be an Undead King, they must demonstrate worthy power.
Only then will the jewel respond.
――――――――――
A jewel, or in other words, an orb. In the West, the symbols of royalty were the crown, scepter, and orb. The imperial seal, the ‘Gyokuji’, was it something from the East then? Or was there an equivalent in the West as well? My memory is a bit hazy, but such artifacts are indeed considered symbols of royalty.
Ah, that reminds me, I had acquired a scepter some time ago; it was a drop from the Ratman King if I recall correctly. With just a crown, I’d practically feel like a king!
“The inscription mentions a strong grudge, so maybe Isam should hold onto it.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to have it knowing that it’s a cursed item… but since I’m not affected by curses, it might be the right call.”
“Hey, over here! There’s a hidden passage! It must lead to the treasure room!”
The treasure room. We exchanged glances at Ruby’s enticing words before rushing toward her.
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