Chapter 511
Looking for a Breakthrough
When I stepped on the Gluttony Octo’s head, I could feel the firmness and resilience of a thick rubber tire. Luckily, I ran at full speed on the surface of the flesh, which was surprisingly easy to tread on.
“Damn—! This is really tough—Blast!”
As if jumping on rope, I evaded the gigantic tentacle that flew by, before exploding my blast blade on the octopus’ head.
“Air Slash!”
At the sa ti, Sariel unleashed wind martial arts. When I turned around to check, I saw a huge octopus with sharp tentacles resembling spears. Imdiately, it rained down attacks on . The onslaught was impossible for to avoid with a single leap—
—is this what it ans when it’s raining spears?
“Watch out—!”
The only reason why I managed to avoid it was because Sariel had slashed off one of its tentacles. Thanks to that, I escaped with my life.
…Even so, the way that huge octopus perfectly aid its tentacles was as if it could predict my next movent.
Considering that it had already happened thrice, it was no coincidence.
That was right.
After we landed on Gluttony Octo’s head, an army of octopuses sward us, leading to a short battle.
“They’re 13 ters ahead. I’ll subdue the big one on my left.” Said Sariel.
…Which one are you talking about?
In the next mont, a small explosion, followed by a reddish-black flash burst in rapid succession about 10 ters away.
Did she throw several of the Ignited Daggers I gave her?
Judging from Sariel’s position, she must’ve thrown it without looking, and precisely, at that. Not even the word ‘dexterity’ could describe her skill at this point.
Amidst my admiration, I confronted the group of tentacles that approached head-on.
“Uoooorgh!”
I couldn’t tell how many were there by just looking.
In the next mont, the composite tentacles were entwined together, surrounding from the front, behind, left, and right just like a woven rope.
—Or rather, it had turned into a ball to confine .
Just before the cage of tentacles was shut completely, I swung the Zweihander on my right hand, before scorching it with the Flamberge on my left to make my escape.
As a matter of course, it was impossible to deal with the barrage of tentacles with just two consecutive hits.
But not to worry, because Sariel had drawn her rapier, and perford Sword Arts as a ans of close-range defense. Looking at how she could sever a tentacle with just a wind blade, while I struggled to cut even one despite holding two swords, she had clearly surpassed my dual-wielding style.
Once again, I found myself in a near-death situation, one that I couldn’t survive without Sariel’s help.
…No, seriously, I wonder if this guy can see the future.
Despite having demonstrated boundless reliability, Sariel was still unable to beco a decisive blow that’d deliver us from the overwhelming scenario.
“Am I na?ve to think that…? Besides, this isn’t the ti to be looking for a weak point.”
There were simply too many enemies.
Both my left and my right were full of slimy, lustrous, green enemies. They looked more like a forest of animated, man-eating plants than a swarm of octopuses.
Rather than searching for weaknesses, I should focus on running away. At first, I planned to go to the center of the Gluttony Octo’s head, but instead of getting closer to it, I was pushed further away.
…At this rate, I was likely to end up skydiving from the Gluttony Octo’s head in the near future.
“I’m having trouble finding parts that seem to be weak points as well—”
Amidst my run, I saw that the top of the Gluttony Octo’s head was covered in a terrifyingly thick layer of at, making it difficult to find any weak spots. Not only that, the layer of at also explained why the giant octopus’ underlings could ruthlessly stab their tentacles everywhere. After all, even if they were to stab two or three ters deep, the main body wouldn’t be damaged whatsoever.
…I doubted the magic and weapons we had on hand would be able to penetrate such thickness.
Not only that, considering how huge it was, everywhere would have the sa layer of thickness.
“—No, I found it.”
“For real!?”
Rather than being happy about Sariel’s most recent discovery, I was utterly shocked.
“I could faintly hear an intake sound from behind. It’s probably a respiratory organ like gills.”
Gills were organs that took in oxygen from the water. It was a standard equipnt that all sea creatures had.
However, Gluttony Octo—who had beco both an aerial and a land creature, shouldn’t have one.
If such was the case, was it a unique respiratory organ developed from Ella, or just a remnant? Either way, if that was the case, there’d be another hole that led to its body apart from its mouth.
…I see, that can certainly be considered a weak spot.
If I could get past the at wall, which boasted a thickness comparable to the Great Wall of Galahad, and hit it directly, things should work out sohow.
“Alright! Let’s put it to good use!”
I had to make an imdiate decision.
Regardless of what awaited , it was no use sitting to sit around here.
To escape from there, I ran towards the outer part. However, due to the overflowing octopuses blocking my vision, I almost lost my sense of direction several tis. Nevertheless, thanks to Sariel’s exquisite support, I could sohow run straight through it.
“I can see the edges, is it okay to just jump?”
“I can feel the air flow. Without a doubt, there exists a cavity right below here.”
Since I didn’t have her perception skill, the ground just looked like a cliff.
The blue sky expanded in front of , accompanied by a wall of white clouds.
As I dashed towards the void, did I look like soone who was eager to et his demise?
Although, considering the fact that I carried Sariel on my back, I was a crazy suicidal.
Even so, I had no hesitation. While I didn’t trust Sariel, I believed in her abilities.
“Uuuuoooorgggggh! Bind Arts!”
While dealing with the tentacles chasing after from behind with the help of Sariel and Sword Arts, I jumped down with all my might, extending black chain from both arms as a lifeline.
The tips of the Bind Arts that I created were shaped like sharp claws with barbed edges. As in, the way Hitsugi always would. I grabbed it and positioned it in a way so that it’d pierce the aty ground. After that, while stretching the jingling chain, I let myself free fall as it was.
Now, if nothing happened, we’d just be dangling in the air for no reason, but—
“—Ooh! There it is!”
After going down the cliff, which was roughly 20 ters tall, I saw a gill-like part that opened on the back side. However, the size was that of a cave. Approximately, it was 10 ters wide and about 3 ters high.
“Okay, it looks like we’ll be able to break through—let’s go!”
I conjured more Bind Arts and aid them at the entrance of the Ella. As long as I concentrated, I could safely hang in the air without Hitsugi’s support.
Looking at the white ground far below my feet, I moved forward by swinging the chain like a trapeze and successfully rolled into Ella.
“…No one is pursuing us.”
“Could it be that they were unable to follow us?”
Standing at the entrance to Ella, where a lukewarm wind was blowing, I looked behind . Not a single green tentacle could be seen. Even though there were so many of them, why didn’t any of them try to chase us?
“Anyway, now that they’re out of our way, this is our chance. Let’s head inside quickly—Light Torch.”
In order to illuminate the pitch-black path, I created a fireball that resembled a light torch with a pseudo-fla attribute, before throwing it inside. Ever since I boarded Last Rose’s main body, it had been a while since I played such a role. After all, Lily and Fiona were usually there for .
Even though I rarely used it, the black fla sufficed as a source of lighting inside the Ella. Then, a sharp gleam flashed across my vision.
Soundlessly, it flew towards the gap in my armor, aiming for my throat. Despite the unparalleled accuracy, I managed to slash it away with my Zweihander.
“You’re the one who stabbed Reki.”
In the space illuminated by the black fla, a single, thin tentacle was outstretched, splashed with bright blue blood. The owner of the rope-like, extended tentacles could be seen wriggling on the ground, making an unpleasant, high-pitched, squeak just within the range of the illumination.
Rather than an octopus, its triangular head reminded of a squid. Not only that, it also had six tentacles in total. I also noticed that two of its tentacles were three tis longer than the rest, and that the color of its body was bright cyan. With the absence of fog, I doubted I’d miss it even if it were to blend in with a flock of octopuses.
Could it be, it was a different species than the Gluttony Octo? After all, considering how huge the host body was, it wouldn’t be strange for other monsters to inhabit it like a symbiotic relationship.
The length of the squid’s tentacle alone was about ten ters. With such a long range, if soone was targeted in a thick fog, it’d be hard to avoid. At that ti, even if we ran straight ahead, Reki’s demise would still be inevitable. If not for the face-to-face conversation we had, I wouldn’t even notice that she was missing, or the culprit, for that matter.
However, if I was aware from the get-go, I could still be vigilant and try to intercept it.
“Don’t think the sa trick will work twice, you damn squid.”
My anger welled up.
Before the assassin squid could attempt another surprise attack, I threw a grenade to finish it off.
…This guy probably isn’t the one who stabbed Reki, it’s just the sa species.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t contain my anger and spat curses.
“So of them are still prowling around here. Be careful of surprise attacks.”
“I know—or rather, it already begins.”
From the other side of the darkness, two squids ferociously appeared. They probably thought that it was useless to hide any longer.
One crawled on the ceiling, while the other on the ground. While the one on the ground was more than twice as big, the number and shape of the tentacles were the sa as the previous.
Then, is it just an individual difference?
Albeit of the sa species, the two squids were different in size. However, both used their two, long, tentacles to attack, while the remaining four short tentacles were used to glide. The two long tentacles would then leap towards the prey, akin to that of a snake.
Unlike the octopuses, they were quite nimble.
…Is this a swift type?
Regardless, if it was just this, I could still keep up with them.
First, I calmly killed the first one with a splitting blast blade. Then, I aid at the one on the ceiling, before unleashing my blast blade. In the next mont, the squid was sewn to the wall, before being enveloped in red and black explosion. As it let out its death howl, the squid beca another fireball that lit up the cave.
The other, huge, one crawling on the ground could easily be cut down with a sword.
But then, it tried to overtake with its long reach, but it didn’t matter because I already anticipated it.
Just like before, I slashed at the spear-tipped tentacles with my Zweihander. Even if there were two of them, thanks to the length of my blade, I dealt with it just fine.
After completely neutralizing the opponent’s attack, I used my second sword to intercept the squid that was charging towards —
“—Hold on.”
I heard Sariel’s voice. No, before that, I had canceled my interception.
Due to the sudden cancellation of the attack and the need to avoid the attack, I rolled sideways.
While the action itself was a tad unreasonable, I did manage to escape peril. At that mont, as I rolled to my side while being coated in mucus, I saw a glimpse of navy-blue fabric at the edge of my vision.
“Hey, Sariel, no way…”
Despite losing two of its tentacles, the squid still turned around vigorously, and without crying in agony. The way it never lost its fighting spirit was the sa as the other octopuses, who didn’t know fear—
—But sothing was amiss.
I didn’t notice it at first.
Or rather, I couldn’t because it was hidden. If I had paid any attention to it, I could’ve easily checked it.
“There’s no doubt about it. This is the one that caught Reki.”
Under the squid’s large body, the limbs of a person in a dark blue monk’s robe peeped slightly.
Her slender, white fingertips were motionless.
Even if her face was still obscured by the squid’s body and wriggling tentacles, I knew it was her.
“Damn you—”
I reflexively tried to obliterate it, but when I extended my hand, no explosion occurred.
“…Hey, there’s no way Reki’s still alive, right?”
“That’s right.”
Despite knowing how useless it was, I still asked Sariel.
I certainly saw it—
—the mont Reki’s chest was pierced by the tentacle, I already knew it was fatal.
Besides, even if she was captured alive, it’d been nearly a week since then. At a glance, her body still looked intact. But no matter how I looked at her, I didn’t think she was alive. Moreover, it was also possible that the other half of her body—which I couldn’t see, had already gone.
In other words, it was just a corpse.
…And yet, I was unable to attack that very corpse.
I could’ve easily blown the guy into splinters using either my grenade or the Blast Blade. Alternatively, I could also use my Zweihander to chop its head in half.
If I just wanted to defeat it, there were a number of ways. However, if I added the condition of not damaging Reki’s remains, the hurdle was high.
Damn… even though she’s already dead, why did it beco such a hostage situation?
“Do you hesitate to defeat that thing?”
“Shut up, I’m thinking.”
I didn’t want Sariel to think that I was a softie.
I didn’t want her to know—even though I knew it was useless.
I wanted to believe that it was only natural that I’d like to retrieve her body. However, under the current circumstance, I could also see why it wasn’t a priority.
I stood here shouldering thousands of lives.
Therefore, the body of a single dead human shouldn’t be in the equation.
Therefore, I shouldn’t be wasting my ti in a dilemma.
Give it up.
Admit it—
—Reki is already dead.
You let her die.
“Sword Arts, Crack Blast—”
“Gieeeeeeeeeee!!”
As I summoned a sword from the shadows, the squid roared. Was it trying to intimidate ? As the squid raised its head and spread its tentacles, I could see it—
—Ah, as expected, there’s no doubt about it.
…I could see Reki’s pale face.
Her eyes were closed, as if she was asleep.
As if ti had stopped, I froze with my sword in my hand.
I couldn’t do anything—
“—Let do it.”
Then, Sariel appeared in front of .
Before I knew it, my back beca lighter. Sohow, she managed to remove her straps without falling.
Sariel assud a sitting position.
On her left hand, a blade made of holy silver mithril could be seen—
“—Sariel, hold on!”
In vain, I reached out to her.
The mont Sariel lightly swung her rapier, her entire body leaped like a shot arrow. She was flying in the sky—no, it must’ve been because of the wind emanating from the rapier.
Transforming into a white whirlwind, Sariel pointed the sharp point of her rapier straight ahead, before leaping towards the squid with Reki’s remains.
“—Let take care of Reki’s body. Air Overblast—!”
The mid-range offensive spell, Air Overblast, was activated as she plunged her blade into the squid, conjuring a storm. In the narrow, cave-like space, the trendous gust of the wind struck with the impact as if I was being blown away.
I could endure it by standing still, but Sariel, who was at the epicenter of the storm, was thrown off by the wind pressure surging out of the pierced squid.
Ah—
—By the ti I realized it, Sariel, Reki, and the squid were blown out of Ella’s cave.
…To self-destruct using her own technique.
No, Sariel deliberately did it.
She forcibly eliminated my weakness—which was Reki, from before .
“You idiot…”
…The reason why my fist trembled, was it because of anger?
Anger towards Sariel for doing sothing so selfish.
Anger towards the squid for holding Reki’s corpse hostage.
…The reason was neither.
I was just angry because I let Sariel do sothing foolish.
Even though Sariel had lost her emotions, limbs, and protection, she still took care of .
She pitied .
My pride as a man—was there even a shred of it left?
“Damn, dammit—! Just you wait, I’m going to bring down this huge enemy right away!”
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