𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭
While advancing towards Asgard with Stella and others, after driving away a horde of monsters, I was overcome by an inexplicably bad feeling.
A premonition that continuing like this would lead to irreversible consequences.
The reason for this was recalling the words Dragburn had uttered before our battle with him.
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『. . . . . .As I thought. That coward. He’s meddling unnecessarily.』
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Those were the lines Dragburn had said in front of the corpses of his high-ranking dragons.
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『I feel sick because of someone’s malice. This situation is also against my will.
I was going to confront all of your forces head-on, fair and square.
I never thought I’d encounter a hero who brought such limited forces.』
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Back then, we had to scatter our forces to deal with the four high-ranking dragons that were attacking from all sides of the Elf Village.
As a result, Stella and I ended up facing Dragburn with only a small group of Elf allies, and struggled considerably in the early stages of the fight.
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However, as his lines suggest, that situation was truly against Dragburn’s own will.
He’s the type to declare that his only joy in life is a battle against strong foes, a true battle junkie.
He was smiling joyously even during the fight, so it’s hard to think those words were a lie.
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So then, the strategy to have the high-ranking dragons attack the Elf Village and divide us must have been devised by someone else.
That must be the 『coward』 Dragburn was referring to.
I didn’t have the luxury of contemplating it deeply back then because the battle with Dragburn was too intense, but thinking about it now, several possibilities come to mind.
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First, the true identity of that person is someone who has the power to freely control Dragburn’s high-ranking dragons.
That narrows it down considerably.
The power to control high-ranking dragons that are far stronger than ordinary demons.
Moreover, actions that could even earn the displeasure of Dragburn, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
It’s almost certainly the work of someone with capabilities close to those of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Moreover, someone with a special ability to control monsters, rather than just subjugating them.
That race would meet these conditions.
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And there was another fight where a similar tactic of controlling others and dividing us was used.
During the time in Rest.
Just like the high-ranking dragons, the soldiers, Rest and that town were also turned into pawns for the demons.
Furthermore, the tactic of dividing us was the same.
Of course, it could be a coincidence.
Dividing the enemy is one of the basic tactics, after all.
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Even so, my intuition tells me.
The same scent comes from the background of both battles.
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Although I’ve rationalized various things, in the end, all of it is built upon this intuition.
And my intuition tends to be quite accurate.
Especially when it’s a bad feeling.
It’s a bad premonition, honed by repeatedly experiencing life-threatening situations.
It’s well worth believing.
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So, if this intuition is correct, and the enemy behind both battles is the same, what’s their next move?
It’s obvious.
Their basic strategy is to divide us and pick us off one by one.
The one targeted would be the isolated individual—━━Imina-san.
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Of course, if they were to ignore us and target Imina-san, Asgard, who remains, would have to face all of us from the Hero’s Party alone.
However, they didn’t hesitate to do things that could anger Dragburn, who should have been an ally.
They will most likely use Asgard as bait, just as usual.
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So, what is the best move we can make against that?
That’s also decided.
The only thing lacking is my determination.
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I stood still, alone amidst my comrades who were moving forward.
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“Allan?”
“Stella. Can I leave Asgard to you for a moment?”
“”””?!””””
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At my words, all of my comrades were at a loss for words.
Well, I figured that would happen.
What I’ve just said could very well twist my own beliefs.
The belief that I should fight to protect Stella.
Up until now, I’ve never said that I would willingly leave Stella’s side to fight.
Because even if I fight and win away from her, there’s no meaning if Stella gets killed in the meantime.
But now I understand that was my weakness.
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“I have a feeling something will happen at Imina-san’s end. Among us, I should be the one to go for reinforcements.”
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Maybe, among our party, the one with the least effective means to deal with that behemoth is me.
Golems don’t stop even if you blow off their heads or limbs.
You have to deal a level of damage that would cause its large body to crumble.
Furthermore, that giant mountain golem is probably being controlled by Asgard from somewhere nearby.
So, any minor damage will likely be repaired immediately.
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My skills aren’t enough to finish it off.
While my Calamity Return might keep reflecting magic metal projectiles, Asgard isn’t stupid enough to keep giving me such a clear losing move.
Besides, with that super-sized opponent, it’s impossible to restrict its movements in close combat like I did with Dragburn.
I can probably serve as a shield, but that’s about it.
Simply put, it’s a bad matchup.
Just like it was with the Dragon Zombie before.
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Therefore, the one who can afford to be absent in the battle against Asgard is me.
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“I promise, I’ll be back as soon as possible. Can you hold out until then?”
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Ah, I can see the anxiety and worry on her face.
In response to my pitiful self-awareness, Stella says,
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“Hmph! Who do you think you’re talking to?”
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She wore her usual triumphant smile.
As if saying she had no worries, her smile was that of a reliable hero.
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“We’ll finish this and be back before you know it. I trust you, so you should trust me too!”
“. . . . . .Heh, understood.”
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Watching Stella confidently declare this without a hint of hesitation, I couldn’t help but smile.
It seems she had her resolve set a long time ago.
To trust me and leave it to me.
Looking back, even during Rest, she had unhesitatingly left it to me and took the best action she could.
Trust is also a form of strength.
True partners trust each other.
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Seeing that, my resolve was set.
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“I’ll leave it to you here. So leave it to me there.”
“Roger!”
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We extend our arms and bump fists.
I felt as if our hearts connected through our fists.
Even when apart, our hearts are as one.
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“Alright, I’m off. I’m leaving Stella to you guys!”
“Yes!”
“Of course!”
“Ah, how you’ve grown, Al-boy. To think the boy who said he would only fight for Stella has become so admirable. . . . . .”
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Ignoring Auntie Elle’s characteristic long-windedness, I started sprinting, heading back towards the village.
All for the sake of our happy ending.
To take what I believe is the best course of action.
Even if we fight apart, our hearts are always next to each other.
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And so, here I am.
Standing in front of this damn bastard that makes my blood boil.
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“Pleasure to meet you. I am one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s Army, the 『Water』 Four Heavenly Kings, and the True Progenitor Vampire, Vampneel. Nice to meet you.
It looks like we could have a long association as comrades.”
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Sneering sarcastically like that, huh? What a piece of work this demon, Vampneel, is.
Just seeing him, just hearing his voice irritates me.
He’s Rest’s enemy.
The man who trampled all over him.
However, he’s not an opponent to carelessly challenge in a fit of rage.
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After all, when you say he’s a Progenitor Vampire, you’re talking about a legendary demon even mightier than dragons.
A living calamity that has wreaked catastrophic havoc on humanity countless times in the past.
It should give you an idea of the threat level when I say that even the former Demon King, who ran rampant ninety years ago, was also a vampire.
My bad feeling turns out to be spot-on.
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“Imina-san, can you still go on?”
“Of course! . . . . . .I’d like to say that, but I got ambushed, and it’s pretty tough.
I’ll do my best with all my might, but I won’t become a significant force.”
“Understood. In that case, Imina-san, please deal with the monsters first.”
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While aiming the tip of my sword at Vampneel, I say,
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“Until you’re dealt with––I’ll be your opponent.”
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And with that, I charge at Vampneel.
Using the power of the Storm Leg Armor on my legs to accelerate, I close the distance all at once.
My goal is to buy time until Imina-san can take care of the other monsters.
But of course, if there’s an opening, I intend to defeat him myself.
I have no plans to go on the defensive!
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“Fine. Let me first teach you the hierarchy and the depths of despair. 『Rain of Fresh Blood』!”
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From Vampneel’s sleeve, a dark blue liquid—vampire blood—gushes out, splitting into countless small droplets in the air.
These droplets fly towards me all at once, like a sideways rain, attacking me.
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This is an attack that I’m not good at.
I can’t disperse each individual small water bullet with Slashing Sweep, and they are so small that I can’t offset them by colliding them with Distortion Chain.
He is probably observing my fighting style through Rest.
It’s safe to say that he is doing unpleasant things to me accurately like this.
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But he won’t take me down so easily with this superficial wisdom!
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“Second Strike Deformation––『Distortion: Garment』!”
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As I charge, I rotate swiftly, letting the rain of droplets hit my back, which is covered by Sword Saint Shizuka’s coat.
I catch the rain with the broad surface of my back and deflect it by spinning.
I can’t imagine he hasn’t prepared for such a simple counter!
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“Hmm.”
“『Dark Moon』!”
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And, aiming for the eyeball, I aim to destroy the brain.
Considering that Rest, who had turned into a vampire, was regenerating its head, it’s unlikely that just piercing the brain will kill it.
However, Rest, who had lost its head, was temporarily immobilized for a while.
Even if I can’t kill it, it should at least serve as a deterrent.
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Those predictions turned out to be way off the mark.
My sword pierced Vampneel’s face.
Yet there’s no resistance at all.
The left eye of Vampneel that I pierced had turned into a dark blue mist, completely deflecting the attack.
Mistification!
According to Auntie Elle’s information, it was rare for vampires to use this, but it seems like this one does.
Troublesome. . . . . .!
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“Too bad.”
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Grinning, Vampneel begins his counterattack.
He attempts to skewer me with his razor-sharp claws.
But I saw that coming.
The moment I realized I felt no resistance, I’d already adjusted the trajectory of my blade.
I’ll have plenty of time to guard.
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With the momentum of my thrust, I quickly repositioned my blade horizontally, catching Vampneel’s claws on the flat of the sword.
Using that momentum, I deflected the claw strike and spun to the right, unleashing a counter that converted the force of his attack into my own.
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“First Strike━━『Flowing Blade』!”
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My most well-practiced basic killing technique sliced into Vampneel’s right flank, tearing through his torso and advancing toward his heart, the vampire’s weak point.
This time his body didn’t turn into mist.
Is it because he can’t turn into mist while I’m attacking, or was it that my counter was too fast for him to react?
Either way, there’s a real sensation in my hand of cutting through flesh with my blade this time.
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Thus, my blade sliced through where Vampneel’s heart should be in his left chest.
A large gash is cut from his flank to his left chest, and fresh blood sprays.
However. . . . . .
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“Heh, that was close.”
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Vampneel was still very much alive.
Though he said it was close, his expression was full of composure.
I should have killed him by cutting his heart.
But there should be no vampire that can survive after having its heart destroyed.
Did he turn just his heart into mist?
No, that can’t be. I would have felt it.
That means he didn’t have time to turn into mist.
Yet, he’s still not dead.
What’s the trick here?!
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“Now it’s my turn. 『Explosive Blood Wave』!”
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At that moment, the large amount of blood that had splattered when I cut him explodes.
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“Tch!”
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I won’t be able to do a Slashing Sweep while swinging my sword.
So!
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“First Strike Deformation━━『Rapid Current・Dance』!”
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Just like Distortion・Garment, I took the explosion of blood on my back, but instead of distorting the attack, I used the force to leap backward off the ground. This allowed me to glide like a falling leaf, mitigating the damage and deliberately being blown away to create distance.
This is an advanced technique of Flowing Blade, where I convert the enemy’s attack energy not into a counter but into movement speed, known as 『Rapid Current』.
By gaining that distance, I reassumed my stance and focused on Vampneel once again.
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“So you blocked that too. Indeed, fighting you in close quarters isn’t wise.”
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Vampneel, shrugging his shoulders, showed no sign of damage from my previous attack.
He must have regenerated with his vampire abilities.
Even his clothes were intact. He might be using them as part of his body by soaking them in blood.
Unless I figure out the trick behind not being able to kill him even after slicing his heart, it seems like I won’t have a chance of winning.
Still, he is one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Strong.
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“Well, shall we proceed to the second round?”
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Vampneel’s back wriggles, and from there, bat-like wings sprout.
With no sign of a clue for a strategy, the battle was shifting to an even more unfavorable situation for me.
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