Chapter 99 : A Man vs Myth (Part 1)
Large explosion was heard at two locations, and it marked the start of the battle.
The first location started with Rei when he aimed his arrow upwards and the arrow fell towards Jormungand.
Jormungand who's still watching the arrow falling towards it is unaware of what's about to happen.
"Bang." Rei spoke and then...
*BOOM*
His arrow exploded mid way before it reached the Serpent
*SWOOSH*
*SWOOSH*
*SWOOSH*
And the small pieces of the arrow filled with condensed aura, rained upon the Serpent's body, and Jormungand widened its eyes.
*TAK* *TAK* *TAK*
The pieces struck its scale one by one, creating a strong force despite coming from such small pieces of an arrow.
*SHHAAAAAA!!!*
Jormungand for the first time in its life, began to scream...
In pain.
Its body started to wiggle around when pain kicked in. Its scale melted a bit, and turned black from the effect of something.
After that, the Serpent opened its mouth then screeched at the man who caused this.
"Is this your first time meeting someone who could use [Corrosion]?" Rei commented.
The answer was there, the black sword that was sheathed on his waist was the cause of its pain.
'[Corrosive Land], a skill that applies [Corrosive] effect on an ally's weapon, which means someone I considered an ally can use [Corrosive] buff effect.'
'That's also including the different weapon I used now, since I considered it as an ally weapon.' Rei thought.
'And the skill I used just now...[Archer Artillery Arts: Cracker].'
[Notice!]
[You have learned skill "Archery Artillery Arts: Cracker"]
=======================================
[Archer Artillery Arts: Cracker]
Active Skill
MP Cost: 0
Cooldown: 45 sec.
A skill by condensing an aura on the user arrow through a strong focus on every single parts of the arrow and released it by separating the arrows part into pieces and rained down the enemy.
=======================================
The notice showed up right when he thought about it.
'A skill that I picked up from that book, by condensing your aura on the different parts of the arrow, explodes it and then disperses it into tiny pieces that rain down on enemies.'
'A skill that can lower enemy's defense and is an AOE type which can affect a lot of people.'
"Since your body is this big...I don't have to worry about missing." Rei commented as the Serpent screeched at him again.
*SSSSHHAAAAAA!!!*
Rei smirked, "Heh~ look how angry you are~" Then he immediately hung his bow around his body then unsheated his black sword.
'Although that attack was effective, it didn't deal a lot of damage.' Rei observed.
The scales that were damaged by his arrow were small, it didn't cause any serious damage on its body but it did cause it to feel pain.
'Well I already expect that...that is why, let's test it out with close combat.' Rei thought while getting into his stance.
Jormungand glared at him then started to stretch its body towards him in a quick moment.
*SWOOSH*
The Serpent's head immediately appeared right in front of him as if it was jumping.
*SSSSHHHHAAA!*
Jormungand opened its mouth that was enough to swallow a whole tree.
'So fast!–' Rei immediately jumped upwards to dodge and let the Serpent bit off the branch that he used to stand on.
'Such destructive power–' Rei swung his sword down at the Serpent's head.
*TING*
His sword met its horn and clashed against it
' Sturdy defense–'
*TSSSKKK* *TING*
Then his sword was pushed away by it
*SSSSHHHAAAA*
After that, Jormugand opened its mouth to bite him again.
Rei's right hand that was holding his black sword was thrown aside and the monster knew it was the right time to strike him.
'And quite smart–' Rei thought calmly when he was about to get eaten by the Serpent.
Then he stretched his left arm and aimed at the Serpent's mouth, 'But not smart enough–'
After that a black fire appeared on his left hand as he was about to use his new skill, but...
Right before he activated his skill, the serpent saw it.
'Huh–' Rei widened his eyes when Jormugand immediately stopped its movement, and closed its mouth before it reached his body.
'What–?'
*SWOOSH*
When the serpent pulled its head back, there was something approaching him from his side.
'Kiritsuka! Watch out!' Ray warned him immediately.
Rei noticed it, on his right side, there's a tree blocking his sight but now it was crushed down by the serpent that was swinging its tail at him.
'At my blind spot–?!' Rei quickly turned his body while pulling out his black shield using his left hand from his [Inventory] and prepared to block it.
*THUNG*
*SWOOSH*
The tail was blocked by his shield, but he was thrown away...
*BOOM*
And crashed at the nearby tree behind him, then landed on one of the branches.
'Ugh–!!' Rei felt pain from his left arm after receiving the impact, enough to cause his whole left arm to tremble.
'What was that?!–' Rei was shocked by the sudden maneuver from the Serpent.
'Did that monster just...do a [feint]?' Ray commented with a hint of shock.
'A feint?! for real?!' Rei was shocked as well.
The Serpent stared at Rei and moved its tail.
Rei shook his head, 'Seriously...I take that back, this monster is smarter than I thought.'
'And for some reason...it is proficient on fighting.' Ray commented.
"So this is [Named Monster], it's much smarter than [Unique] that we faced long ago." Rei spoke while getting into his stance, with his shield up in front of his body then his sword at the back.
"Shall we do this again." Rei spoke as his eyes glinted a bit.
*SSSSHAAAAA*
Jormugand screeched once again then crawled towards him.
*BOOM*
This time it crashed its head towards the tree where he stood on, broke it down to destroy his foothold.
Rei quickly jumped from where he stood, but immediately met with the Serpent's head that moved up with its mouth open.
*SSSSSHHHAAAA*
"Tsk–"
Rei reacted by swinging his sword downwards at the Serpent's mouth.
But the Serpent reacted to his speed and immediately closed its mouth, then rammed him with its horn.
*TING*
His sword clashed with it once again, but after that...
*SWOOSH*
Rei flipped his body around, passing the Serpent's head from above then slid down to its long body.
After that he spun his body to swing his sword, trying to slash the serpent's body.
*TSSKKK*
When the blade struck its scale, it created a spark but then the spot where his sword touched darkened.
*SSSSHHAAAA!!*
The Serpent screamed in pain once more, despite the attack being nothing but a graze, this might still be the first time this monster felt such a thing.
'It's working–'
'Focus on your surroundings!' Ray warned him, as it was early for him to celebrate it.
*SWOOSH*
The Serpent's tail was swung to his left side.
*THUNG*
Rei lifted his shield and blocked its tail again.
[Notice!]
[Skill "Fiery Feast" have been activated]
*CHOMP*
Then a fire shaped like an ogre's head came out from his shield and bit onto the tail.
*THUNG*
But the Ogre's head couldn't crush its tail and was stuck just like that, but he's still able to hold his ground against the monster.
Then it gave him an idea.
"Huff–!"
*SWOOSH*
Using the Ogre's head to grab on its tail, he swung his body away and threw himself to the ground, landing on it safely.
The Serpent's head turned around to glare at Rei once again.
*SSSSHHH*
Rei sighed, 'This is harder than I thought, facing him head on is utterly useless.'
'Well I think it's because it knows that its own weaknesses and would not allow us to strike there.' Ray replied.
'Well no wonder, it keeps shutting its mouth whenever I try to attack it' Rei answered.
But suddenly...something happened...
*PSSSHHHHHH*
Rei widened his eyes when something came out from the Serpent's surroundings.
A black mist.
'What is that?–' Rei asked.
'Kiritsuka! Use your necklace now!–'
'[Aegis Shield]!'
*ZWONG*
When the black mist started approaching Rei, he immediately created a barrier around his body.
The black mist struck his barrier and began to surround him and blocked his vision, but despite that he was focusing on something.
'Huh?!–' Rei saw the bushes and the trees around him started to wither away.
'That was close.' Ray sighed in relief.
'Houston...this is...'
'Yeah, this is [Miasma], you could say a substance that could only be found from a [Demon Realm].'
'[Demon Realm].'
'Yeah, this black mist is something that could rob your life force and will kill you if you inhale it, although it have the opposite effect for the Demon race.' Ray explained.
'And luckily this necklace could protect you from the miasma.'
'I guess I should be thankful of Iris for choosing this.' Rei thought.
'Save that for later, we still have a problem to take care of.'
'Yeah.' Rei replied and right now he couldn't see anything, because his surroundings were covered by this mist.
"Now then...where are you now." Rei spoke as his sight have been blocked by this black mist around him, until....
*RUMBLE*
Rei picked up a noise on his right side.
*RUMBLE*
Then another noise was heard on the other side.
*RUMBLE*
*RUMBLE*
Now he could hear the noises coming from everywhere around him.
Rei looked side to side, just to check what it was.
"Where is it."
*RUMBLE* *RUMBLE*
.
.
.
.
.
Suddenly the noises began to stop...
.
.
.
.
.
Finally...
*SWOOSH*
When Rei turned around it was too late...
*BAM*
*CRACK*
Jormungand showed up at his back, and quickly rammed his barrier using its horn, creating a hole in his round barrier.
Then his whole body and the barrier itself was picked up by its horn then pushed him back.
"Ughh!–" Rei turned around when the horn was about to strike him, and he used his shield to block its rush.
*TSSKKK*
His shield created a spark as it clashed against the horn. Rei was pushed back by this monster while still having the barrier around him.
"Guhhh!!–" He held on to his shield, even the fire ogre shaped head came out to hold its horn.
This time, it's a matter of his sturdiness and endurance.
Rei was still pushed back by this monster ramming its horn on his shield and barrier.
*BOOM*
And it's pushing him through the trees that lined up behind him.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
And at the same time, his HP began to lower bit by bit from trying to hold onto this attack.
'Dammit!–this guy won't stop!!–'
'Then if it won't stop!–then stop it!–' Ray shouted.
"It's–easy for you to say!!" Rei shouted back then gripped on his sword that was slowly being enveloped by fire.
The Serpent's eyes widened when seeing his sword began to light up.
*SWOOSH*
The monster changed its direction by lifting Rei's body up and letting its horn off from his cracked barrier.
*SHATTERS*
That shattered as the serpent threw him up to the sky.
'Kiritsuka!!' Ray shouted.
Suddenly the Serpent opened its mouth and...
*PSSSHHHHHH*
It breathed out a black mist from its mouth towards him.
"Tsk–!!"
Rei gritted his teeth, then gripped his sword tightly.
"Dammit–!!" Then took a stance in mid-air, by lifting his sword upward.
'[Imitation Fire Sword] + [Vertical Slash]!'
*SLASH*
Rei swung his sword downwards vertically...
*SWOOSH*
...and cut through the black mist, paving his way through that.
*SSSHHHHAAAA*
Right after he cut through the mist, he was greeted by a large mouth that was wide open and about to swallow him whole.
"Ugh–"
Rei focused his aura on his feet.
'[Shukuchi]!'
*SHUUSTH*
Rei immediately disappeared from the monster's sight and it ended up swallowing nothing. Rei reappeared on the left side of the serpent's head.
"Huff–"
Without a warning or making unnecessary noise that would catch the monster's attention...
*SWOOSH*
*SLASH*
...Rei swung his sword, slashing at the Serpent's left eye.
*SPURT*
and blood burst out of it
*SSSHHHAAAAA*
As the serpent screeched, Rei didn't expect the thing that's going to happen to him.
'Watch out!!–'
Rei widened his eyes
*SWOOSH*
*BAM*
Right after Rei injured him, the Serpent swung its head towards him and hit him, throwing him down to the ground...
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM
and crashed through three trees at once.
The dust that came from the ground was blocking the sight of but after a few seconds, the dust cleared and Rei was found holding onto his shield.
*COUGH*
He managed to block that unexpected attack, yet he still sustained damage by how he's coughing out blood through his helmet.
"Dammit..."
In just a few minutes after his first attack, his HP was already halved.
=======================================
[HP: 8324/19150]
[MP: 850/1845]
[FATIGUE: 70] *orange*
=======================================
*BOOM* *BOOM*
Meanwhile, when Rei checked his status, he could see that Jormungand wiggled its body around, writhing in pain from its injured left eye.
*SSSSHAAAAA*
Rei immediately disappeared from his spot and hid his presence behind a tree.
'This is frustrating...my HP was halved, but i could only injure its left eye.' Rei panted as his fatigue finally kicked in when he relaxed.
'But at least you managed to injure it three times.' Ray replied.
*GULP* *GULP*
In the meantime, Rei took his chance to drink two Health Potions and two Mana Potions that he prepared.
Rei sighed after using them, feeling his HP and MP recovered in no time.
=======================================
[HP: 13748/19150]
[MP: 1250/1845]
[FATIGUE: 20] *green*
=======================================
*SHHAAAAAA*
After that, Rei could hear the Serpent screeching again, and turning its head around to search for him.
'That thing is definitely angry at you.' Ray commented at the serpent's behavior.
'Well...who wouldn't.' Rei replied.
Rei sheathed his sword then grabbed his bow that was hung over his shoulder and an arrow. After that, he leaned his back at the tree, while holding onto his bow and arrow to take a shot.
Rei sighed then peeked his head out, as he began to take aim right beside the tree before the Serpent noticed him.
*TRUTTT*
Rei pulled the string, 'Now then...while it is distracted–'
*RING* *RING*
At the worst possible timing...
The communication orb that he had inside his [Inventory] began to ring.
*RING* *RING*
'This guy–!'
*TUT*
Eindride's voice came out from the orb, "Hello? Is this working? Oi! Crimson! I'm done with the thing you asked!"
And...now Rei remained silent while still holding his bow.
"Hey! Can you hear me?! Say something!"
As Eindride talking through that orb...
Rei is now making eye contact with the Serpent that had been looking for him.
.
.
.
.
.
The man and the monster stared at each other blankly.
.
.
.
.
"U-ummm..." Rei began to get drenched with cold sweat from his face.
.
.
.
.
"Hi?"
*SHHAAAAAA!!!*
******
Right in the middle of the West side of the Great Tree Forest.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
Multiple explosions could be heard from the trees falling down one by one.
"Dammit! Dammit!!"
a man with full plate black armor was running through the forest, running as fast as he could from a giant serpent that was chasing him from behind, crushing down all the trees in its wake.
*SHHAAAAAA*
"Stop chasing me!!" Rei shouted at an angry Jormungand rather uselessly.
"Oi! What happened! Why are you shouting!"
And the cause of this chase was none other than this guy, the Royal Guard–Eindride who exposed his location when he was about to take the initiative.
"It's your fucking fault!! Why must you talk when I'm trying to shoot him!!" Rei cussed him.
"Fu–?! Such vulgar words! Don't you think you need to explain how to use this thing in the first place!" Eindride argued.
"Like hell we have time for that!!" Rei argued back at him.
"So do I!" Eindride replied in anger.
"Dammit! I am coming to you! Have you prepared what I asked?!" Rei shouted.
"Of course I did! And make sure you distract that monster while bringing it to me!"
After that, Rei gritted his teeth.
"Ughh!!–It's easy for you to say!" Rei commented as soon as he noticed that the serpent's mouth was just right behind him, and it's wide opened as if it's ready to eat him.
*SHHAAAAAA*
"Tsk–!!"
*CHOMP*
The Serpent closed its mouth.
*SWOOSH*
Luckily Rei immediately jumped right above its head then swung his sword down to stab it.
*STAB*
But his sword was stabbing the ground instead since the Serpent swiftly moved its head slightly to dodge his attack.
Rei widened his eyes and...
*SWOOSH*
...saw its tail was swung towards his right side.
"Huff–!!"
Rei lifted up his shield
*BAM*
and it crashed against the tail again
.
.
.
but...for the first time since their battle started...
.
.
.
Rei managed to withstand the attack from the serpent's tail.
He gritted his teeth as his body barely able to withstand the shock from the attack on his shield.
"Ughh–hah! What do you think of that!" Rei mocked the Serpent.
After that...
*PSSSHHHHHH*
A black mist suddenly came out from the serpent's body.
*SWOOSH*
Rei immediately jumped backwards to distance himself from the mist and the monster.
'[Aegis Shield].'
Then he activated his necklace skill to protect himself from the mist.
*RUMBLE* *RUMBLE*
The serpent began to encircle its body and stayed at its spot while staring at Rei for a moment.
Rei gulped, 'This isn't going anywhere...if I keep this up, I will be the one who falls first.' Rei panted as his body tensed up and the fatigue point from his status board changed into orange again.
'It seems I need to change my strategy...I must tire this monster before I lure him [there].' Rei suddenly sheathed his sword.
He's still holding his shield in his hand, when he grabbed his bow from his shoulder.
The serpent observed him again, as if trying to think of another strategy as it lowered its head and prepared itself from something.
Meanwhile, Rei grabbed an arrow from the bag strapped on his back.
"Now...let's play tag with me~" Rei said while enveloping his body in his red aura.
*SHHAAAAAA*
Jormungand took his action as a provocation and it screeched at him.
*RUMBLE*
Then swiftly crawled at him.
Rei smirked and turned himself around, '[Sprint] and [Beast Will]!'
*SWOOSH*
Rei re-casted his buff skill again, increasing his speed to run and jump through the branches of the trees scattered around the forest.
"Huff–!!"
*SHHAAAAAA!!*
The serpent screeched it crawled at him, and both of them returned to yet another chase similar to the previous one but right now, Rei focused on jumping through the branches.
*BOOM*
*RUMBLE*
Jormungand was right behind him, crushing all the trees in its sight and rapidly closing the gap between them.
Yet, Rei didn't stop and when he landed on the branch on the tree...
*CRACK* *BOOM*
The serpent slammed its head against it and the tree fell, causing him to lose his foothold.
*SHHAAAAAA!!*
And of course the Serpent took this chance to open its mouth.
But Rei flipped his body in the air...
*TRUTTT*
Pulling the string from his bow, aiming his arrow at the Serpent, then focusing his aura to it while locking eyes with the serpent.
Jormungand noticed that and immediately closed its mouth and was about to move its head to the side.
Rei smirked, 'Heh~ Caught you.'
*TUNG*
*SWOOSH*
He released his arrow and it flew towards the serpent's head.
But when the serpent dodged it, his arrow continued to fly in the air.
"You think I was aiming for your head?" Rei spoke when their eyes met.
"[Corrosive Land] + [Archer Artillery Arts : Cracker]."
*BOOM*
His arrow exploded mid way, spreading its pieces to all directions.
*SWOOSH*
*SWOOSH*
*SWOOSH*
The arrow rained down on the Serpent's body, and also himself.
*TAK* *TAK* *TAK*
The pieces began to strike on every part of its body, including a bit of its head. Meanwhile, Rei who's still using [Aegis Shield] and blocked himself with his own shield was safe from the pieces and managed to land on another branch.
*SHHHHHAAA*
The Serpent screeched in pain as its body blackened due the [Corrosion] effect from his arrow.
*TSSSSSS*
The body began to smoke a bit due to the effect, it didn't deal severe damage but...
*SHHAAAAAA!!*
It's enough to annoy the serpent even more.
Then Rei didn't just stand there and watch it suffer, instead he took another arrow and pulled his bow string again.
*TRUTTT*
And condensing his aura on his arrow
*TUNG*
Then took another shot at the serpent again.
'[Archer Artillery Arts : Artillery Strike].'
*SWOOSH*
His arrow moved in a high speed, using his strength that had been buffed, this strike should be enough to damage it.
*BOOM*
Since this time, the serpent was quite distracted from the pain it received, his arrow landed a direct hit on its head.
*SHHAAAAAA*
The serpent received another pain, but despite [Artillery Strike] being the skill that was known for its destructive power
.
.
.
.
It wasn't enough to damage Jormungand.
Rei could see that from where he stood, he was testing whether this skill is effective against it or not.
'It seems like it's only causing pain instead of real damage that could be left behind...and I know now that the head is much harder compared to its body.' Rei thought while observing it.
'Does it know that its head will be aimed the most, so that's why it adapted like that?' Ray spoke.
'[Unique Named Boss Monster], to have a deadly miasma that can come out from every part of its body, a horn and body harder than diamond, and an intelligence that matches us humans, or even more.'
'Such a terrifying monster.' Rei commented.
Rei couldn't help but accept that this monster he is facing now was probably the hardest one and the most complex in terms of defeating it.
"But that is if I was alone."
When Rei spoke that, the smoke coming from the explosion on the serpent head began to dissipate as it stared at him.
"How about we continue our game of tag now?"
Then suddenly, under his feet...his shadow began to move.
"Can you catch up with me?"
*SWOOSH*
Rei turned around then began to jump to another direction behind him
'[Shadow Movement].'
and merged himself with his shadow as he jumped and ran through the forest.
*SHHAAAAAA*
The serpent got even more irritated when he did that. He already caused pain on its body and even injured its eyes so it made sense that it's blinded by its own anger.
*RUMBLE* *RUMBLE*
The serpent crawled faster, enough to match Rei's current speed.
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
Again, many trees fell down in its wake
*SWOOSH* *SWOOSH*
Rei didn't stop his movement as he ventured through the trees.
Then suddenly, he grabbed an orb out of his [Inventory].
"I will be on my way now!" Rei spoke.
"Then hurry up! This nearly bore me to death." Eindride answered through the orb.
"Then prepare to initiate! We are going to use all the things we got!" Rei mentioned and cut the communication off then put the orb back to his [Inventory].
*BOOM* *BOOM*
Rei could hear the sound of the trees falling from behind him, he couldn't speed up any faster or else his fatigue points would get higher and higher.
But in the meantime, Rei turned his body around by spinning his body and pulled the string on his bow with an arrow on it.
*TUNG* *TUNG*
Rei shot two arrows at the approaching Serpent.
*SSSHHHHAAAA*
The Serpent continued to rush at him despite the arrows that were struck at its head, but since he didn't put his aura on these arrows, it didn't cause any damage to the serpent.
But instead, it angers it even more.
*SHHAAAAAA!!*
Now the serpent's attention was solely focused on Rei.
Just as he planned...
*SWOOSH*
Rei continued to jump straight through the tree branches.
*TUNG* *TUNG*
And shot several arrows at Jormungand.
*SHHAAAAAA!!*
Rei didn't stop and his pace suddenly slowed down as he turned off [Shadow Movement].
*POOF*
The shadow that enveloped his body, instantly dissipated.
At that moment...
Jormugand took that as Rei running out of time of his skill.
*SHHAAAAAA!*
So the serpent stretched out its upper body and opened its mouth and was about to swallow him.
Rei didn't even look behind as if his back was wide open by purpose.
Until...
"Caught you."
A voice was heard and suddenly....
"Restraint my enemy before me....[Vine Bind]."
*CREAK* *CREAK*
Suddenly the tree vines underneath the serpent began to crawl up, wrapping the serpent's body.
But that's not all...
"[Vine Bind]. [Vine Bind]. [Vine Bind]."
*CREAK* *CREAK* *CREAK*
The large vines increased in number, again and again, grabbing around the serpent's body until its body couldn't be seen and was trapped inside of those vines.
Rei slowly landed beside someone who was using that skill.
It was Eindride, who's putting both of his hands on the ground.
"You prepared well." Rei praised.
Eindride was irritated with the way he spoke to him, "Well thanks to someone who suddenly asked me whether I have a skill that could bind someone or not."
"Well I was just asking, but didn't know you actually have one." Rei shrugged
"Heh, you are lucky that I managed to pile up all my magic and release them one by one, it's hard for me to keep chanting the same words many times."
"Or else you might die just now."
"But thanks to you, I escaped death." Rei thanked him. "Well, barely."
Eindride widened his eyes, then clicked his tongue "Tsk, save that for later...cause we still have bigger problems."
As Eindride spoke, the large vines that trapped Jormungand in it....
*CREAK* *CREAK*
Began to wither down one by one.
Eindride quickly casted his magic again, "[Vine Bind]!" then another vines wrapped around it again.
"I am barely holding in now! I have used this kind of move and it's useless!" Eindride shouted while casting another magic.
"Even if you managed to bind it, you need a strong move to be able to kill it!"
Rei stared at the trapped serpent, "Don't worry, I still have cards up my sleeve."
Eindride glanced at him, "You better do...cause last time I attacked this monster, the only thing broken was my sword, and I only prepared a bit of magic because I am short of time."
"Well I cannot say I am 100% sure...but I still managed to injure its left eye and lowered its defense." Rei explained while letting his bow go.
"What?! You managed to injur that thing?!"
"Well yeah...although only the left eye, while the rest is just a small graze."
Eindride couldn't believe what he's hearing
'Unbelievable....even my team and myself couldn't even graze it! But...when I saw that thing coming over, I could barely see that the thing was injured.'
'Crimson...just what are you?'
As he asked that question in his head, Rei unsheathed his black sword as white aura suddenly enveloped him.
*SWOOSH*
He released some sort of pressure from this power, and then he sighed, "Hah...I think this is enough."
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.
.
.
"Huff–!!"
*SWOOSH*
After that, he released a large red aura which also enveloped his body, and his aura spiked up all of sudden.
Eindride's mouth was wide opened when he saw it
'H-he still has this much strength?!–'
Despite the visible traces from the fight, the cracked parts of his armor, even his shield was covered in scratch marks from being rammed on by something.
And a scent of blood coming from his mouth, the way he breathed made him sound tired.
But he's still capable of releasing this kind of power.
'[Shield Arts : Reflection].'
=======================================
[Shield Arts: Reflection]
Active Skill
MP Cost: 0
Cooldown: 360 sec.
A skill that allows the user to pile up all the damage that was caused by the enemy attack. It changed the shockwave from the attack into energy, then reflected them all.
=======================================
'This skill... it allows me to turn all the damage received into energy, whether it's magic or physical type of attack.'
'This is the reason why I keep holding onto my [Shield] and...blocked all the attack just for this time.'
'Now...' Rei got into his stance by putting his shield at his front while his sword at his back.
'I shall release them all!'
*SWOOSH* *CRACK*
His pressure grew even stronger, as the ground where he stood began to crack.
"[Vine Bind]!" Eindride used his last magic to wrap the serpent with yet another vines.
"That's the last one!"
"Don't worry..."
.
.
.
*CREAK* *BOOM*
The last vines on the serpent's body began to wither away.
*SHHHHHAAA*
And greeted them with a loud screech as it opened its mouth.
*PSSSHHHHHH*
The serpent breathed out its miasma through its mouth and hurled it to them.
*SWOOSH*
Rei jumped towards the breath without using his [Aegis Shield] while being enveloped in a massive aura that was condensed into his sword.
'[Imitation Fire Sword].'
As his sword began to lit up...
'[Earth Wave].'
...while the ground underneath him was sucked to the sword, swirling it together with the fire.
*WOOSH*
His sword was enveloped with the raging two elements that merged into one.
'[Vertical Slash]!'
*SWOOSH*
He swung his sword from below to upwards, cutting through the miasma just like he did before.
Followed by a large wave of earth from the sword, blocking the serpent's eyes from him.
As the earth began to fall back to the ground, Rei was nowhere to be seen.
Eindride looked at the scene and gaped when Rei just paved his way from the miasma that was breathed towards him.
Until he noticed him
"Hah...no way."
The serpent was unaware since the man disappeared from its sight.
'[Shadow Movement] + [Shukuchi].'
Rei suddenly showed up right above the serpent's head, with his shadow dissipated from his body.
'This is the end!'
Rei lifted his sword, then landed on the serpent's head.
Jormugand just noticed his presence now, but it was too late...
"Haaaa!!"
Rei swung his sword down, performing a stab on its forehead.
*STAB* *SPURT*
As he did that, Rei released all the energy he had been piling up that made his sword easy to penetrate its hard scale while the blood coming from the serpent started to spurt out like rain.
*BOOM*
*SHHAAAAAA*
The impact created a large shockwave against the serpent's head, and he released the condensed fire from his sword through its head.
Melting down its brain through it while screeching in pain.
*SWOOSH*
The fire burned down its blood as if it was vaporizing it with the heat coming from his sword.
Until finally...
The serpent's eyes started to change into lifeless white, and then...
*BOOM*
It fell down. For good.
Eindride couldn't believe what he saw. He's strong, of course, strong enough to fight against Rei.
But the difference between them, it's...
...at how they handle their enemies.
Rei who fought with stronger people, and survived through sheer strength.
And Eindride who fought with the intruder and weak monsters that would breach the Kingdom.
Eindride noticed that as he watched Rei standing right above the serpent's head and jumped down from it.
Rei sighed, "Phew...that was a good hunt~"
Eindride walked towards him as he didn't even get a turn to fight it and only stalled for time. He bit his lower lips, feeling ashamed that he wasn't any help at all.
And let this person before him, defeating this monster alone.
Eindride looked at him as Rei met his gaze.
"What is it?"
"You really...actually defeated it."
"Well didn't I tell you I could do it?"
Rei huffed like a child, despite looking like a teen with a helmet and armor.
Eindride closed his eyes and nodded, "I'm sorry..." then bowed his head.
"Huh?? H-hey! You're creeping me out!"
"I am sorry that I was not any help for you despite my Queen asking me to"
"I-it's okay, and besides, stop this...it feels weird!"
'Huh?' Rei blinked, feeling like something was off, 'Houston.'
'Yes?'
'Is it just me...or there wasn't any notice that I have [leveled up].' Rei spoke.
Ray widened his eyes as he too realized it.
'That...is indeed true...that monster has a red name, and there should be a [notice] that you level up, at least once.' Ray replied.
He turned around to look at the serpent's body.
It definitely died from that last attack, but what's happening now?
'Kiritsuka!' Ray called his name then Rei noticed something again.
As the whole place, no–the whole world turned gray and it was only him who had color.
"Eindride!" Rei turned to call him, only to find him standing there and not moving an inch with his head bowed.
There's no sound...no wind...as the world froze on its own.
"What just happened..." Rei muttered.
*BZZZTT* *BZZZTT*
Static noises filled the air and the sky began to move but its movement looked as if it was glitched.
*BZZZTT* *BZZZTT*
The noises grew stronger...and Rei couldn't help but grab his head and felt pain from it.
"Ugh?!"
Until...
*ZWONG*
A hologram board appeared right in front of him...
=======================================
■■Hello■■
=======================================
To be continue...