Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Screams from Underground (5)
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Ronan, who had vanished, appeared between the two. Thud. The man's left arm fell to the floor. Soon after, a burning pain overwhelmed him.
"Kr, kraaaak!"
His scream echoed through the grand cavern. Clutching his arm, the man collapsed. Red blood bubbled up from the cross-section where bone was visible.
Most mages would be incapacitated by pain alone, but Ronan had no intention of giving him a chance. Slash! Three immediate sword strikes sliced through both ankles and his tongue.
"Huuuugh!"
"Edwon!"
"You're coming with us, miss."
The man called Edwon toppled over. Ronan swung Ramancha straight at the woman. Something ticked against the blade—perhaps a mana shield.
By the feel, it was a high-level shield, but unfortunately, her opponent was Ronan. Slash! A red line appeared on her thigh, and blood spurted out.
"Ugh! The, the shield?!"
"Tch, too shallow."
Ronan clicked his tongue. He hadn't felt bone sever. The woman pulled back, her leg unmoving as if yanked from behind. She shouted sharply.
"Serisma!"
"What's that spell?"
In that instant, Ronan's body floated into the air. It felt entirely different from Asel's telekinesis. A massive force wrapped around his whole body, and Ronan gritted his teeth.
"Nngh!"
"Swallow him whole!"
The woman yelled. A massive serpent's form slowly emerged. Beyond the coils wrapping tightly around Ronan, the cavern's scenery was visible.
A spirit...!
The woman poured a potion from somewhere onto her wound. The snake spirit called Serisma thrust forward its flat, broad head. Its enormous maw gaped wide above and below.
-Shaaaah...
"Damn, is it trendy for women these days to keep pet snakes?"
He felt his crushed ribs pressing on his lungs. Bound entirely, he couldn't swing his sword properly. Ronan gripped Ramancha, buried in the coils.
The moment the snake's tongue nearly touched his cheek. Ronan yanked his arm free with all his might and stabbed Ramancha into the serpent's eye. Stab! The translucent blade sank deep into the snake spirit's eye.
-Shaaaak!
The coils around Ronan sprang loose like a snapped spring. Leaping over the snake, Ronan charged at the woman. She was mumbling something quickly, but Ramancha was already upon her.
"Th-this!"
This time, he wouldn't miss. As the crescent moon drawn by Ramancha aimed to pierce her ankle. A familiar baritone rang out from behind.
"Explosion."
A chill ran down his spine. Glancing down, Ronan saw a massive magic circle blinking at his feet. In a flash, dozens of possibilities flashed through his mind.
Too late to dodge. Can't block. Slicing is risky too.
It didn't take long to decide. Ronan slashed only the mana shield and lunged straight at the woman.
Boom!! The explosion engulfed them both. A massive pillar of fire erupted in the cavern's center, lighting up the surroundings like daylight.
Rumble...
Soon, the flash faded. As the smoke cleared, the three figures came into view.
Ronan's judgment had been correct. A deep, wide crater scarred where he had stood, but his body bore not a single wound. Seeing Edwon's state, Ronan let out a hollow laugh.
"Thought you'd turned into a retard."
"Let her go."
Edwon glared at Ronan and growled. His pronunciation was fluent despite the threat. His severed left arm and tongue had reattached.
Though whether "reattached" was the right word was questionable. More accurately, they had regrown. Ronan furrowed his brow.
"Damn, you'll think of this every meal for three days. You even human?"
Edwon's newly grown left arm wasn't human. Dozens of writhing tentacles intertwined, barely mimicking a human hand.
His tongue and ankles were the same. The tendrils squirming in place of tendons were revolting.
The tentacles peeking from his pursed lips gave the impression he had a live octopus in his mouth.
The woman was breathing raggedly. Looking at the monstrous Edwon, she opened her mouth.
"E-Edwon..."
"Shut up, miss. My sword doesn't recognize faces."
Ramancha's blade hovered a paper's width from her throat. Each breath she took made her pale neck graze the edge, drawing thin cuts.
Edwon spoke.
"I'll accept your demands. I'll tell you everything I know. So let her go."
Drops of blood trickled out, absorbed directly into Ramancha's blade. Ronan laughed incredulously.
"After blasting that spell, you act all lovey-dovey."
"She had a mana shield strong enough to withstand my magic. Didn't expect you'd use it."
"Urgent situations sharpen the mind."
Ronan chuckled. At the moment Explosion triggered, he had sliced only the mana shield and covered the woman.
As expected, the instantly reformed shield blocked the blast. Suddenly serious, Ronan murmured.
"But... why's your speech like that? Can't read the room?"
Ramancha arced. Red lines appeared on both her ankles. Tendons snapped, blood spurting.
"KyaAAAH!"
"Syrilla!"
The woman called Syrilla collapsed like a folding chair. Her hood fell back, revealing her hidden face. Glossy golden hair and distinctly elongated ears caught the eye.
Ronan stomped on Syrilla's back as she fell and growled.
"Not human after all. Knew it since the sulfur smell bit."
"Kuhk!"
She looked like an elf or half-elf. Her doll-like beauty stood out due to her race, but that was irrelevant. Ronan pressed his blade to Syrilla's throat and continued.
"Decide. Come quietly? Or get all limbs hacked off and dragged like a maggot? Won't ask twice."
"Damn...!"
Edwon clenched his fist. Crunch. Teeth shattered in his mouth. Trembling, he finally bowed his head.
"...I'll come."
"Smart choice. Can't have you dying from a sloppy hack. Now then..."
Suddenly, Ronan stopped. An indescribable unease hit him. Edwon's eye crinkled slightly.
Smiling?
A gust blew from the right. Sensing danger, Ronan turned. A massive fist covered in golden crystal loomed before him.
"Shit...!"
Ronan laid Ramancha sideways in defense. Boom! The giant's blow landed, exploding dirt.
The crystal giant that sent Ronan flying scooped up the crumpled Syrilla with its other hand.
"Grraaah..."
The giant placed her on its shoulder. Syrilla, hood back on, spoke.
"Hah... huff... Thanks for buying time, Edwon."
"How'd he notice? I cast perception block and silence."
"Like that Zephyr guy... relies on instinct... huff, monster...!"
Syrilla gasped. What she'd been casting since before the explosion was a spell to control the crystal giant.
Blood still flowed from her ankle. Unlike Edwon, her body didn't auto-repair. Edwon said incredulously.
"Yeah, I was in real danger too. That psycho swings without hesitation."
"Killing him now... ugh, was a relief..."
Never imagined a brat would threaten their lives. Edwon nodded.
"If he'd grown just a bit more like you said... I'd have been done."
But battle experience decided it. Never dreamed he'd reuse a trick like Explosion. Looking up at the crystal giant, Edwon whistled.
"Impressive though. Kingly size. Why not use it from the start?"
"It's just a husk now... you know it lasts only minutes."
"Right, yeah."
Rummaging in her bosom, she pulled out a sealed scroll.
"First... huff, heading back. Handle cleanup."
"Yeah. Get healed first thing at the church."
Syrilla untied the scroll. A geometric magic circle writhed on black paper. A dark blue glow formed behind her.
Edwon moved to confirm Ronan's death. Thick dust obscured vision. The uncontrolled crystal giant still had its right arm plunged in the ground.
Probably mush now. Edwon clicked his tongue.
"What a waste..."
-Flash!
Suddenly, a circular void formed in the dust, and a shadow burst out.
"Huh?"
In a split second, eyes met Ronan's. Edwon gaped. An imperceptible slash severed his limbs.
Slash! All four limbs detached simultaneously. Overwhelming pain snapped Edwon's consciousness. Seeing it, Syrilla screamed.
"H-how?!"
"Told you I'd take you."
Ronan's state was wretched. Dirt caked his blood-soaked body. Blood from his forehead pooled at his chin.
"Wait."
Aim blade at Syrilla once, then Ronan charged. Each stab at the crystal giant's arm closed the gap terrifyingly fast.
"N-no!"
As Syrilla desperately lunged for the portal. Ronan hurled Ramancha. The straight-flying sword hit her knee.
"KyaAAAH!"
Ramancha pierced through, embedding in the giant. Syrilla thrashed wildly, severing her own leg. Seeing it, Ronan spat on the ground.
"Damn. Tough bitch."
"Th-this can't... impossible...!"
Crawling desperately, Syrilla reached the portal. Tear-streaked, she turned to Ronan and murmured.
"I won't... ever forget today. Wherever you are, I'll find you... and kill you."
"Stop her!"
Syrilla's arm began vanishing into the portal. Just out of reach.
Nothing left to throw. Obsession. Rage. Despair. The emotions stormed in Ronan's mind.
As Syrilla's head entered the portal, the world went black.
Ronan and Syrilla's bodies froze simultaneously.
"Wh...?"
Syrilla couldn't comprehend. The fading portal blinked before her. She had to jump in now, but her body was stone-still.
Whoooosh...
Seconds later, the portal vanished. Yet Syrilla couldn't even scream in despair. A familiar voice came from behind Ronan.
"You alright, Ronan."
"Truly... perfect timing."
Familiar voice. Familiar paralysis. Still shitty even on repeat.
Better than first time, though. Shuddering, Ronan turned and grinned.
A serpent vastly larger than Serisma glared at Syrilla. The former Sword Saint's aura, Mansa.
Naviroje's voice emanated from the slightly parted maw.
"Heard the gist. You did great."
"Whoa... Instructor knows compliments?"
"I give them when due. But... you're wounded, Ronan."
Naviroje murmured lowly, eyeing Ronan's battered form. Mansa's scales rippled like waves.
"When you have my classes to attend."
"Ah... aaaaah..."
Syrilla paled. In the paralyzed world, she watched the massive serpent approach. Reaching her, Naviroje grabbed her hair and said.
"You touched my student?"
The serpent's maw closed. Syrilla's consciousness snapped. Finally withdrawing Mansa, Naviroje picked her up.
Ronan slid off the giant and collapsed. Accumulated fatigue hit late.
"Aigoo... tough."
Ronan looked up. Bioluminescent moss lit the cavern like star clusters. No more screams from underground.
"Instructor Naviroje!"
Soon, soldiers with torches followed. Naviroje tossed Syrilla beside the limbless Edwon and ordered.
"Bind these two."