Chapter 47
Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Doll Dungeon (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cecilia threw herself into the whirlwind of flashing lights without hesitation.
- Whoooong!
She swung her sword, paying no mind to the monster's bursting scream.
Radiant Strike cleaved through the monster.
The very moment the monster's counterattack swung in, Haribal stepped forward to block her path, as if he had been waiting for it.
In that instant, Cecilia flowed backward like water, preparing for the next attack.
The two didn't even glance at each other. They were already moving as one.
Suddenly, a memory from long ago flashed by.
At seven years old, stepping into the Ren family mansion for the first time, endlessly practicing the dances of high society to learn noble etiquette.
Yes, the way she and Haribal moved now was just like that.
A dangerous yet brilliant dance, entrusting everything to a trusted partner and syncing to the rhythm of the battlefield.
*Why is this?*
This was undoubtedly a life-or-death crisis, yet the corners of Cecilia's mouth curved into a smile without her realizing it.
Because the girl who had always chased desperately after his back was now standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
Haribal, who had blocked the monster's attack, turned his head to look at Cecilia.
"......Ah."
Red eyes gleaming brilliantly even in the darkness.
The moment that gaze fixed solely on her, Cecilia felt her heart sink.
And she resolved herself.
*I don't want to let him be taken away.*
This man.
*I don't want to let go.*
Of all these moments together.
*By anyone.*
Cecilia's blue eyes burned a shade cooler and fiercer than before.
⁎⁎⁎
- Roooaaar!!
After several turns exchanged, Alain's scream rang out, and his silver body began to dye red.
Phase 2. The rage had begun.
Entering Phase 2 meant Alain's health had dropped below half.
In the meantime, what I had done was simple.
While Cecilia held his attention, I relentlessly carved Corner Slashes into his body without pause.
I had instructed Cecilia to deliberately avoid the weak points I had marked when attacking.
I planned to control his health through her attacks and finish him off in one go the moment he entered Phase 2.
I immediately checked the number of engraved weak points.
Six.
*One more turn needed.*
Gale Path's Seven Swallow Strikes plus Break would make eight.
In other words, I needed to use Corner Slash two more times.
My turn.
Slash!
As planned, I carved the seventh weak point into his shoulder.
But just before engraving the final eighth, I hesitated for a moment.
The instant I did this, his turn would come.
If he used Titan Fall as is, we'd be defenseless.
*Is there a way to block that?*
That was when it happened.
"Haribal! Over here!"
Turning at Cecilia's shout, I saw debris from the battle and melted wax dolls tangled together, forming an impromptu barricade.
It wasn't made naturally.
Cecilia had created it in the split-second gap between turns.
She had solved the very problem I was agonizing over, without even being asked, and so cleanly.
No reason to hesitate anymore.
I drove the final Corner Slash into his heart and immediately threw myself toward the barricade Cecilia had made.
Alain's turn.
Whoooosh—!
Alain ignored Cecilia completely, swinging his hammer indiscriminately at me alone.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Urk...!"
The earthquakes from each hammer clash with my sword were impossible to adapt to.
Alain, empowered in Phase 2 with boosted attack power and speed, charged to smash me apart.
Vomit rose from the bone-rattling pain of the vibrations, but it was fine.
*Not Titan Fall, thank goodness. I can endure this!*
Craaaash!!
His final hammer swing sent me flying helplessly into the barricade she had built.
[Weak!]
*What the fuck?*
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Weak point here?
What bullshit.
Before I could even process reality, Alain kicked off the ground and launched his body like a rocket.
At the same time, a massive shadow filled my vision.
Alain's ultimate in rage mode: Titan Fall.
I prayed desperately in my mind.
*Please, just hold!*
I hated the idea of retreating after whittling this damn boss down to half health.
With my resolve set inwardly, I held my sword vertically, bracing to receive the death sentence.
KABOOOM!!
Finally, the giant's blow crashed down on my head.
Cecilia's barricade tore apart like paper, and every bone in my body screamed.
As my vision began to stain red, a message appeared.
[Just Guard!]
*Fuck off!*
A curse burst out amid the brain-shaking impact.
I wanted to slash away that goddamn message floating in front of me with my sword.
Just Guard? Success?
If this reduced pain was this level, what the hell would it be like taking it barehanded?
Fuck, does this even make sense?!
"Hariibaal!!"
Cecilia's scream faded into the roar.
In its place, only thunder-like tinnitus rang.
Soon, strength drained from my entire body, leaving me limp.
I couldn't twitch a finger, as if I'd become a mollusk.
Amid that, my vision narrowed gradually, a sensation of the world sinking into darkness washing over me.
*Ah, this again.*
The familiar sensation I'd experienced countless times.
Death knocking right at the door.
In the midst of it, I felt a small hand grasp mine.
A swordsman's hand, calluses distinctly felt—not soft at all.
At the edge of my shrinking vision, a silver-haired, blue-eyed woman appeared, tears dripping down.
Right. Come to think of it, she had never witnessed my death before.
Right after, warm grains of light flowed from her hand into my flesh.
At last, the sensation of death receded, and faint strength began returning to my limbs.
Lumen.
But Lumen wasn't an invincible miracle potion.
It healed wounds, but didn't restore 100% to perfect condition.
This much wasn't nearly enough to move my body.
Just then, a bitter liquid flowed down my throat.
Opening my eyes, I saw Cecilia's face full of worry. She was carefully pouring one of our potions into my mouth.
Above her head, the turn-indicating gem shone the same color as her eyes.
The gem faded away slowly, as if confirming I had come to.
And a blue gem appeared above my head.
Seeing that meant I was alive.
It meant I could still take my turn.
Yes. I had survived.
Through sheer luck, a miracle, I was still alive.
*Lucky totem... huh.*
I chuckled wryly and glanced at Cecilia, who still gripped my hand.
Confirming vitality stirring in my body, I desperately forced myself up.
Alain stared at me in bewilderment at the movement unbelievable for a body that had been dying moments ago.
I didn't avoid his gaze either.
Eight weak points I had carved into his body gleamed clearly.
Along with the defense reduction icon floating helpfully above his head.
*Yeah, fuck. How could I even think of retreating this board?*
I was alive, weak points intact, defense debuff still there.
My turn had returned. My whole body ached like hell.
Yeah. It sucked, but this was the best world line I could reach right now.
I raised the Jester's Sword and aimed it at Alain.
My legs still trembled with aftershocks, but Cecilia didn't stop me.
She just nodded with a firm expression.
That was enough.
I dropped the sword tip to the ground and gathered all my strength into my calves.
Muscles tensed taut, a bowstring-like strain flowed through me with an arrow nocked.
"Chronodive."
Time's blessing burrowed into my flesh, the blade taking on ashen flashes.
At the same time, I charged at Alain at full speed.
Gale Path.
Seven ashen flashes connected in a single trajectory, slicing through Alain's body in one breath.
[Weak!]
[Weak!]
[Weak!]
[Weak!]
[Weak!]
[Weak!]
[Weak!]
KABOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM!!
- Whoooong...!!
The seven engraved weak points detonated simultaneously, and for the first time since battle began, Alain's massive frame staggered with a pained scream.
BOOM!
With a dull thud, the giant hammer in his hand fell to the ground.
But he quickly regained his senses. Instinctively, he crouched, pulling both arms to guard his chest.
The final engraved weak point.
To protect his heart.
"Sorry, but that's invalid."
My turn wasn't over yet.
Additional turn.
I gathered all remaining strength and raised my sword overhead.
Ashen flashes wrapped the blade, emitting its final light.
And brought it down.
"Haribal Break."
CRAAAAACK!!
[Weak!]
Break left a diagonal sword mark from his shoulder blade straight across to his side, precisely bisecting the heart.
Molten wax like liquid metal dripped from the wound, heated by the sword strike.
Alain's final blood.
Crunch. Crunch.
- U... Whooo...!!
THUD!
The silver knight, who seemed he would never fall, finally dropped to one knee.
He didn't gasp for breath, but if he had a mouth, he surely would have been vomiting blood with ragged pants.
Blink. Blink.
The gem above my head blinked precariously as if about to extinguish, while Alain's flickered faintly as if trying to appear.
But I had no intention of giving him any leeway here.
"Cecilia. If you would."
Slash!
Before my voice even faded, Cecilia, who had already closed in beside me, slashed Alain once more.
The wound her sword left overlapped eerily with the mark from my Break.
Alain looked around with creaking sounds, as if unable to accept his defeat.
Then, staring up at the empty sky.
- RoooaaaAAAAR...!!
He let out a roar like a scream of anguish.
And from the slits in his helm, hot wax streamed down like tears.
*......A cutscene not in the original.*
From where his heart had been, a brilliant gem pierced through the shattered flesh and revealed itself.
[Flying Edge]
At the same time, with a click, the firmly shut dungeon exit door swung open.