Chapter 94
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Knucker
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Knucker.
A spirit beast resembling a dragon, but with fins instead of wings.
It was a formidable foe, brimming with a virulent poison.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been quite a difficult opponent.
Pernyan would never have been able to face it alone; even with all his artifacts, escaping would have been his limit.
But with Wooden, the ego golem Pernyan had poured his heart and soul into creating, the situation was reversed.
Wooden was the one who had briefly cornered the demon Andromalius and even slain the demonic beast it had raised.
No matter how strong the Knucker was, it couldn't compare to Andromalius.
Therefore, Pernyan wasn't worried about defeat.
He had only one concern.
That the Knucker's deadly poison would damage the precious ores and Itarium.
“Wooden! Don't let it open its mouth, no matter what!”
He could tolerate the cavern collapsing from the giants' battle. He could just reinforce it with magic.
He could even stomach the Adamant, Orichalcum, or Mithril being shattered.
They were just ores, after all. As long as their essence wasn't damaged, he could just gather the pieces and smelt them.
But the Knucker's poison was different. If the minerals themselves were corrupted, not just broken into pieces, there was nothing he could do.
It meant that things more precious than gold would turn to worthless dross.
*I can't trust Wooden.*
It listened well, but once a fight started, it was obvious it wouldn't think about the consequences.
Pernyan hurriedly began to chant. He raised his staff, drank a potion, and equipped every artifact that enhanced his mana.
*Ruuuumble—*
His mana drained rapidly. Dozens of spells, perhaps even hundreds.
Thick layers of rock began to encase the walls where the legendary ores were embedded.
*I can't lose a single one, not even one…!*
A sliver the size of a fingernail was worth as much as a gold ingot.
He wouldn't lose a single speck.
If it breaks, I'll restore it. If it breaks again, I'll restore it again.
*I'd rather collapse from mana exhaustion! I won't stand to see that happen, not over my dead body!*
Pernyan steeled his resolve, though for a different reason.
***
- *Kkoong.*
Overwhelmed with a sense of liberation, Wooden beamed with joy.
It belatedly realized it didn't have a proper mouth to smile with, but that only made it roar with laughter.
- *Kkoong-kkoong-kkoong-kkoong!*
“Wooden! Don't let it open its mouth!”
*Okay. Don't know why. But okay.*
Wooden nodded.
“Be careful!”
The Knucker didn't miss that momentary opening. Its massive body shot forward like an arrow.
*CRRRRAAASH!*
The golem's body flew through the air. With a deafening roar, it crashed into the wall its master had erected.
The wall crumbled like sand. Perhaps because of that, even with their senses synchronized, Pernyan only felt a dull ache, not pain.
- *Kkoong!*
“Whether it hurts or not isn't the point! Look in front of you!”
*Right, fighting. Front, front.*
Wooden righted itself and faced forward.
It was the same headbutt as before, but it had no intention of being hit by the same attack twice.
It quickly rolled across the floor.
*CRRRRAAASH!*
Another of the master's walls crumbled.
A piece of purple ore broke free from the wall and rolled onto the floor.
From the side, its master's scream could be heard. "My ore!"
- *Kkoong!*
*Worry, Master. I revenge!*
Wooden gripped its sword. The colossal greatsword carved a long line in the floor as it cleaved through the air.
*Shhhlick—*
Wooden's custom greatsword, forged from a single piece of alloy, was sharp enough to slice through Andromalius's demonic beast in a single blow.
Naturally, the Knucker's scales stood no chance.
*Kieeeeeeek!*
The Knucker's dark red blood splattered in all directions.
*Hssssss.* Even its blood contained a potent poison, causing acrid smoke to rise.
“Dammit! Be careful not to let the blood touch the ore!”
- *Kkoong?*
*Blood, ore, no good?*
*Sword cuts, makes wound.*
*Wound makes blood.*
*So... don't make wound?*
*But can't fight like that?*
*CRASH!*
Just then, the Knucker thrashed in agony from its sliced flesh. Its tail slammed against the wall. The master shouted again.
“What are you doing! Finish it quickly! Quickly!”
- *Kko-kkoong!*
*Blood, ore, no good, quickly.*
*Aha.* Combining the new words, Wooden understood.
It wasn't "don't make a wound."
It was "get rid of it as fast as possible so not much blood splatters!"
It was a little disappointing not to be able to enjoy the fight to its fullest, but it had to obey its master. That was the contract.
- *Kkooooo.*
*Quickly. Where?*
*Weak spot. Where?*
Wooden considered its own case.
*Arm breaks, not die.*
*Leg gone, not die.*
*Head smashed, same.*
There was only one thing left.
- *Kkoong.*
*Heart.*
The place where its soul resided.
The place where all its mana gathered.
That was Wooden's weak spot. Because it was a weak spot, it was the most heavily fortified, but any living being would surely be the same.
Wooden's eyes glowed. The spirit's sensitivity and the golem's built-in functions pinpointed the flow where the opponent's mana was most concentrated.
It gathered its mana and shot forward. The sword flew in a straight line like a beam of light.
*Kagagak—*
The Knucker twisted its long body. The tip of the sword, aimed at its heart, scraped against its scales.
Unlike the first time, it didn't even leave a scratch.
*Slippery. Not... cut well.*
At some point, the Knucker's scales had become coated in a thick fluid. It too seemed to be mixed with poison, as faint smoke rose from Wooden's sword.
—!
——!
It tried a few more times, but the Knucker was no pushover.
The creature, belying its size, dodged or deflected Wooden's sword with swift movements and bit at the golem's body.
*CRUNCH—*
*Kieeeek!*
Though it couldn't overcome the golem's hardness and ended up retreating with a shriek.
- *Kkoo-kkoo!*
*Scratch! Made scratch! Strong!*
“When you're fighting, please look forward, Wooden!”
In that instant, a heavy impact struck Wooden. It was the Knucker. The two giants became entangled and rolled across the floor.
*Kieeeeeee!*
The Knucker, now on top, roared.
- *Kkooo!*
The foul smell made Wooden frown. It had just realized—it had no nose, but it could smell!
- *Goog?*
A massive flow of mana could be felt from the Knucker's mouth. Sensing a deep foreboding, Wooden increased its mana output, but it was a step too late.
—————!
An acid breath, brimming with poison, washed over Wooden.
*Hiiiiisssss—*
Its vision blurred. Hundreds of magic circles inscribed on the golem's outer shell activated simultaneously.
*Crackle, crackle.* Sparks flew continuously. The Knucker was flustered to see that even its breath was ineffective, but in that time, Wooden had safely increased its output.
*Krrrr-r-r-runch—*
Wooden's fingers crushed the Knucker's scales. The creature shrieked and recoiled.
This time, Wooden didn't miss its chance. It picked up its dropped sword and charged.
A faint aura shimmered over the massive greatsword.
This was the limit of the aura it could create without its master's help, but it was enough. It wasn't solid, but it was immense.
————!
The Knucker secreted its fluid and twisted its body as before, but the aura ignored the physical laws and pierced through. Dark red blood gushed like a fountain.
*Kwoooooooar!*
And that blood covered Wooden's body. The Knucker's blood wasn't as virulent as its breath, but it was sticky.
It clung like mud, slowing Wooden's movements.
*BAM! BAM! BAM—*
And in an instant, it was struck dozens of times.
But it wasn't just taking the hits. It had lost its sword, but the sword wasn't its only weapon.
A massive body. Two sturdy fists.
Wooden balled its fists and smashed them into the Knucker's head.
*BAM! BAM!*
Wooden lacked the skill and experience to dodge every attack and land only its own.
It simply trusted in its golem body and pushed forward stubbornly.
Take a hit, give a hit.
Take two hits, give two hits.
Getting hit hurt, but the heavy impact of its fists felt good.
As the battle continued, Wooden felt more and more that it had truly gained a body.
It was fun. It wished this fight would never end. And in truth, it was likely it wouldn't end easily.
Even though its fluid was drying up and its scales were being crushed, even though its face was becoming a mess, that's how it would be.
*Probably?*
- *Kkooing!*
*Oops, mistake.*
Having let out a cheer without realizing it, Wooden quickly covered its mouth—which it didn't have. Fortunately, its master didn't seem to have heard.
“Are you laughing? I told you to finish it quickly, not to play around throwing punches.”
He had.
- *Kkoo-eeing.*
Wooden's spirits sank. Then, it quickly found the cause.
- *Kkooooo…!*
*You. Because of. Scolded.*
Wooden raged. Its rage became movement.
It picked up the sword.
It increased its output and charged. No, it shot forward. Its core vibrated fiercely.
Faster.
Stronger.
All its mana gathered in one place. At the tip of its sword, the hazy aura formed into a somewhat solid blade.
In the blink of an eye, Wooden was right in front of the Knucker.
Unable to react at all, the Knucker's eyes widened.
“Wait…! Not the heart, the neck…!”
The master's shout was heard, but it was a step too late.
Wooden's sword aimed precisely for its opponent's heart.
It pierced through the half-shredded scales, shattering flesh and bone, and skewered the heart and the mana core simultaneously.
*Krrk…!*
The Knucker coughed up blood.
- *Kkoo! Kkoo…?*
*Got it! Got it…?*
At the same time, the Knucker's upper body began to swell. All the mana in its body rushed to its core, vibrating unstably.
*No way.*
Sensing something, Wooden muttered anxiously.
Immediately after.
—————!
An explosion occurred.
A storm of mana swept through the area, and the swirling poison clung to everything, corroding it all.
The explosion didn't kill Wooden.
Because Wooden's body, created with the full resources of the Fallenberg family, was incredibly durable.
It didn't kill Pernyan either.
Because Pernyan, sensing the self-destruction, had hastily stood behind Wooden and manifested a defensive magic circle.
But.
“…Ah.”
It couldn't protect the ore.
Pernyan fell to his knees.
***
The poison covered the entire wall.
The poison, unleashed by a monster called a spirit beast at the cost of its own life, was something that even legendary metals couldn't fully withstand.
It was the same even though Pernyan had covered them with rock.
The ores on the wall were half-corroded or melted, and Pernyan's heart melted along with them.
“Hah…. Hah…!”
*How much was all that worth?*
*How many gold ingots could I get for that?*
It wasn't just the ore.
Though it was full of poison, the Knucker was still a spirit beast.
Naturally, its mana core was also rare and expensive.
The same went for its thick scales, sharp teeth, claws, and bones.
All of it was gone in an instant.
- *Kkoong?*
“Be quiet. And don't lower your hands.”
Wooden, which had halfway lowered its hands, stretched them out again.
“…Fortunately, the Itarium is fine.”
This was thanks to Pernyan making the protection of the Itarium his top priority, even over the other ores.
*I'll process it appropriately and give it to Aint and the others.*
It would be a lie to say it wasn't a waste, but one had to be bold when making an investment.
If Aint, Ruina, or the other figures from the prophecy book could become even a little stronger and stop the demons, it would be a profitable trade.
*The ores….*
The ones exposed on the surface were all corroded and unusable.
To think that even the hard Adamant was damaged. It was truly the self-destruction of a so-called spirit beast.
A sigh escaped him. The cavern was so vast that the walls were expansive, and the amount of ore filling them was not small.
*Still, I have to try to use them somehow. If I take them to the family, they might have a way.*
Even if it's just separating the uncorroded parts.
Eventually, Pernyan began to mine with magic.
Unfortunately, the minerals didn't run deep into the wall.
But in Pernyan's view, there was enough to make the bell.
He could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“By the way, what is this place? Even for the first emperor, how did he manage to collect all this?”
After storing all the ore in his subspace, Pernyan pulled out the Itarium last.
“Hm?”
And he discovered a small box hidden beneath the Itarium.
“…What's this?”
The surface of the box had an embossed Saint Bird crest.
*Kalinos Armian.*
Along with the name of the last king of the Armian Kingdom.