Chapter 402
Chapter 402
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 402
Chapter Title: 2-25. Counterattack (12)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Okay. Let's catch our breath. Good job, everyone.”
“Haaah... we survived.”
Rtansee collapsed to the ground.
A breeze blowing in from beyond the clouds stole away our sweat.
We sat atop the ruins of the cradle.
No more giants emerged from the hexagonal pillar, now stripped of all its souls.
The dimensional gate leading to the next point shimmered right in front of us.
“How many more to go? Two?”
“Who knows... but one thing's for sure—we're very close to the source now.”
Abel groaned.
He looked like he'd been doused in blue paint.
And he wasn't the only one. We all did.
While destroying eleven cities, we'd massacred countless baldheads.
Wonder what the surface looks like now.
It must be pretty, like splattered paint on paper.
The king still hadn't shown himself.
For him to stay silent while his minions dropped like flies meant his ass must be glued to his throne.
Every time we killed a giant, razed a city, and passed through a gate, we drew closer to the source.
“Feels just like before. Same vibe as when we got close last time.”
“Yeah, I get what you mean.”
I agreed.
The air density was completely different.
The sparkling mana we felt in the normal world was nothing compared to this place.
With every breath, particles that fueled the giants' power seeped into my body.
Rtansee spoke up.
“The giants seem fewer now. Have they given up? Or maybe they have no more troops left...”
“Fat chance. If they've thinned out this much, they've just changed tactics. Probably huddled up somewhere, waiting for us. They've got plans ready for this—they wouldn't be dreaming otherwise.”
“Ugh... yeah, you're right.”
Rtansee hung her head.
She conjured a small campfire at the center of our group with magic.
Its warm heat thawed our chilled bodies.
I turned my gaze to the two hulks rubbing their hands by the fire.
“How about you two? Holding up okay?”
“Yeah. Getting better as we go.”
“Damn... what the hell's in your blood?”
Fantasion nodded.
Orse seemed in good shape too, judging by his usual ticcing.
Of course he was.
After all the blood I'd donated.
“Glad the buffs are kicking in. No side effects if your hairline's holding steady.”
“But we don't need more. Power not earned yourself always bites back eventually. Stop bleeding for us.”
Fantasion's eyes lingered on my forearm.
A grimy bandage was wrapped around where I'd drawn blood.
The fights with the baldheads had dragged on longer and fiercer than expected. I'd diluted my blood into potions (watered-down, really) and handed one to each companion.
It worked on Abel, so I figured why not. Somehow, all three showed marked improvements.
Even Rtansee, who'd been sipping small amounts before.
Maybe the higher concentration?
“Wasn't planning to give more anyway. Think my blood's some supplement?”
“I don't mind. More the better—as long as we deliver results worth it. If you gave us a full vial of pure...”
I slammed my fist into Abel's solar plexus as he muttered nonsense.
He pitched forward.
Not a bad idea, honestly, but with my parallel-world uncle back at peak strength, who knew what dumb shit he'd pull.
“...”
Silence soon fell.
We closed our eyes or stared into space, savoring this rare respite like rain in a drought.
Whether it was part of some evil scheme or to lure us into complacency, if they gave us time to rest, we'd take it.
Suddenly, Rtansee, gazing at the fire, spoke.
“...Once we kill the Giant King and destroy the source, will peace come?”
“Probably. After we catch and crush that Akasha bastard too.”
“Sorry.”
“Out of nowhere?”
“Just... so many regrets.”
Her voice was thick.
She turned from the fire to me.
“Ronan. Honestly, I'm a little happy right now.”
“No wonder you looked radiant. You like getting hit too?”
“I-I know it sounds weird. But just being alive and breathing... how can I not be glad? Humans can find joy in such simple things, so why did past-me do all that for glory and eternal life...?”
She seemed to regret her atrocities as Nebula Klazie.
Fantasion beside her bit his lip bitterly.
I silently reached out to her.
“Rtansee.”
“Ronan...”
She smiled awkwardly, probably thinking I'd pat her head.
Close enough.
My palm to her crown clenched into a fist.
Crack!!
I snapped my wrist and clocked her on the crown.
She'd closed her eyes and now screamed, tumbling over.
“Aaaack!”
“Took you long enough to figure it out. Villains gonna villain. At least guilt hit quick.”
“M-My head! It's splitting!”
“Quit whining. You're too far gone for regrets now. No point wasting energy on useless remorse—focus on what needs doing.”
Regret was worthless here.
I straightened my collar and stood.
Rtansee glared at me while rolling on the ground.
Good. That venom was what we needed now.
“Everyone but Orse is a bastard anyway. And once you're a dog, all you can do is cover your own shit with dirt. Save the sappy happiness crap for after the cleanup.”
“Well said.”
Fantasion smirked.
One by one, the group rose, following his lead.
The short break had restored us nicely.
I splashed my face and stepped toward the pillar of light.
“Alright. Time to end this.”
We crossed five more dimensional gates before reaching our destination.
Passing through the giants' gates felt different from spatial teleportation magic.
Up to the point where vision went white, it was similar.
But stepping into the pillar brought an indescribable sensation wrapping the body.
Like plummeting into an endless abyss, or soaring to the lofty heavens.
Indecipherable whispers echoed endlessly in the ears.
Surprisingly, no nausea.
Then, suddenly, vision cleared.
I stared ahead and whistled.
“...Finally here.”
Every element of the landscape screamed this was journey's end.
Far off, a cluster of light presumed to be the source roiled.
The mass of pure white radiance pulsed like a living heart, spewing glittering mana.
“That's the source beyond there?”
“Yeah. Definitely.”
Abel nodded.
Destroying it was our squad's final goal.
Didn't look easy, distance or otherwise.
The second sign was the sky swirling overhead.
Unlike before, clouds spiraled in a howling vortex, evoking a top-down view of a typhoon.
Lightning flashes revealed massive shadows appearing and vanishing.
Gave eerie vibes, like something would burst out any second.
Finally, Rtansee emerged from the gate with a soft sigh.
“...Ah.”
“No scream? Thought you'd pass out.”
“...If my head hurt a bit less, maybe.”
She bit her lower lip.
Tears welled in her big eyes.
The third sign was in the sky too.
As the group assembled.
『Did you think you'd live to return after such deeds?』
A majestic voice boomed.
Hard to pinpoint the speaker.
I swept back my bangs and chuckled dryly.
“Quite the crowd.”
『Arrogant mortals.』
So dazzling it hurt the eyes.
Wingbeats so loud eardrums might burst.
I slowly scanned around.
Sides, above, below.
Winged baldheads everywhere eyes could see.
Innumerable shiny scalps reflected our faces.
No joke—seemed every giant in the stars had gathered.
All but one.
I locked eyes with a random baldhead and spoke.
“Where's your king?”
『Insolence. He deems you unworthy.』
“Unworthy... even now, you spout that crap.”
I laughed reflexively.
Pale-faced Rtansee stared at giggling me like I was insane.
Abel, Fantasion, and Orse looked tense too.
I swept back my bangs again.
“Hey, isn't this fun?”
『Fun?』
“Yeah. You've always been the tramplers. Bored? Ruin another star. Rip souls so even the dead can't rest... that's how you've thrived. Born so strong, never felt crisis. Kinda get why Abel snapped.”
『What are you saying?』
“This situation's hilarious. Roles reversed. How's it feel getting plucked by the vermin you despised?”
Wanted to sound grim, but my face wouldn't cooperate.
Instant rebuttal.
『A mere anomaly. You pose no threat.』
“Oh yeah?”
『Pity your flailing to prolong frail lives... enough. Meet your end as fate decrees.』
Sounded almost pitying.
As the faceless baldhead finished.
All encircling giants extended arms in unison.
White particles converged from all sides, gathering in their hands.
Some spears, some lightning.
Weapons to dismantle us forming in real time.
Abel whispered.
“Hey. Really going with that plan?”
“Obviously. Got any better ideas? Predictions spot on.”
“You're nuts.”
Abel shook his head in disbelief.
Even now, he didn't like my plan.
But dice were cast—no choice.
Giants chanted in unison.
『Meet your end.』
『Meet your end.』
『Meet your end.』
So many mouths, like the world itself spoke.
Our turn to start.
Glancing back, Orse growled beast-like, awaiting the moment.
I dropped my grin and flipped them off.
“Fuck off and die. Warning you now—if you can't stop us, you're done.”
『Pitiful. Still believing in miracles...』
As a giant continued.
I leaped, and Orse's body exploded outward.
Kwaaaa!
Instantly a black dragon, he spewed fire skyward.
“I-I don't know anymore!”
The sky turned red.
Giants writhed in flames.
The rest of us sprang into action.
Rtansee's telekinesis erupted, shaking the battlefield.
“Muuuugh!”
Fantasion hurled his axe.
The massive double-headed axe, grown with his body, arced wide, cleaving giants.
My blood-doped strike halved four-winged giants effortlessly.
Dozens fell or went limp instantly.
『Futile.』
But no disruption in enemy ranks.
Too many giants.
Retribution began, making our efforts vain.
『Starlight shall devour you.』
“Keep attacking!”
Giants flung their weapons.
A rain of spears and lightning poured.
Rtansee's barrier blocked some, but outnumbered.
A spear slipped through, about to hit her mid-incantation.
Slash!
The bisected spear scattered and vanished midair.
Follow-up projectiles met the same.
Not one lightning or light weapon touched us—all shattered.
Abel, vanishing and reappearing, panted harshly.
“Huff... damn bastards...! Hah, if this fails, you're dead!”
Interception and defense were his job.
He zipped at insane speeds, blocking the onslaught.
Twenty-one projectiles fated for Orse and Fantasion—he slashed them in a second. Gritting teeth.
“Shit, still too far!”
I didn't reply.
He was right—a bit distant.
But closing fast.
“Good. Good. Hold just a bit longer.”
『Wait. You...』
The giant I'd used as footing flinched.
I slashed instead of answering.
The headless body plummeted.
While the group drew eyes, I wove through their formation toward the source.
Suddenly, a six-winged baldhead uttered dismay.
『The last one... where?』
“Idiot. Finally noticed.”
Dumbass just caught on.
I ignored and pressed on.
Each leap narrowed the gap to the source.
“Pick up the pace?”
『Ugh...!』
My thigh swelled.
Kwaang!
The giant's shoulder I'd stomped caved in.
Wind roared past my ears.
He whipped around too late—I was already ahead.
Like this.
Moving so fast, they barely noticed.
Possible because they packed tight.
『Guhk...!』
『What.』
Bothersome ones got cleaved on site.
Blue blood sprayed.
The source was now within three hundred paces.
The pulsing light cluster loomed closer.
Not exaggerating to say they couldn't stop me now, even knowing.
Urgent cries erupted behind.
『Trickery! Stop him—!!』
All baldhead eyes turned to me.
Attacks meant for the group poured my way.
But downing me wasn't easy.
In this chaotic battlefield, weaving between far larger foes—no one could halt my advance.
Explosions bloomed, thunder crashed.
Misaimed giants plummeted one after another.
The end came quick.
Serak!
Behind the one I beheaded, the source revealed itself.
“Here.”
『No!』
Screams burst.
I swung regardless.
A crescent along Gelro arced to bisect the source.
Suddenly, every hair stood on end.
Sensing killing intent, I looked skyward.
Kwaaaaaaaa!
A greatsword larger than most buildings tore through clouds downward.
By a hair.
My blocked sword aura detonated on the backswing.
“Finally graced us.”
Didn't destroy the source, but no regrets.
As expected.
With a heart like that, he'd come himself.
Only one handled such brute force.
I looked to the sky, smirking.
“Guess you didn't wanna die ugly. Even as king.”