Chapter 254
Chapter 254
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 254
Chapter Title: The Beach Butcher
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Family disgrace, techaAAAAH!!!"
There were just too many merfolk!
Merfolk had already taken over every alleyway corner and the main streets, hunting humans with their eyeless sockets gleaming wildly!
—Kwaaaah!
—Euaaaah!
Soldiers and adventurers fleeing for their lives were getting swarmed from all sides by merfolk wielding harpoons after trying to fight back, rolling on the ground pierced through.
Three against one.
The merfolk had remembered some ancient, forgotten proverb and were following it to the letter. They were the fish who drank water!
"Ugh! God help us!"
"You fucking fish bastards!"
"Hey! Hey! Behind you! Watch the rear, you idiotsAAAH!!"
Individually, the merfolk's combat prowess was definitely inferior to adventurers who'd made a living off the sword or professionally trained soldiers.
But with those tridents—the ultimate weapons—they formed armies and swarmed in packs. It was a hopeless situation.
And for some reason, the merfolk were fighting with desperate ferocity. This wasn't the attitude of mere invaders... They seemed to be throwing their lives away not for themselves, but for some 'other' entity!
It was the zeal of fanatics...!
The only thing that could defeat an army of fanatics who tossed away their lives like they were nothing was another army of the same!
—Splash!
"Fire Blast!"
—Pabababak!
We pulled off the dream combo: Cloudy blasting the path open, Winia blasting incoming merfolk with magic, and me guarding her while she chanted. That's how we were barely managing to escape.
Even so, the merfolk kept pouring in endlessly.
No matter how many we killed or paths we cleared, the numbers surging from the sea itself overwhelmed the humans. Being a port city was the problem. Not content with seizing the harbor, they landed anywhere connected to water!
"Fire Bolt!"
—Whiiik!
—Boom!
Winia focused solely on chanting even while running.
"Execution Swordsmanship!"
—Jrreeeek!
I skewered the merfolk that slipped through the gaps with my blade, protecting Winia. We couldn't interrupt her spells. Protecting the mage was the tank's duty.
No one touches my Winia!
The only one allowed to touch Winia is me!
—Splash!
We raced down the path Cloudy had cleared.
The merfolk charged ferociously like the final three hundred warriors of fallen ancient Sparta, but when Cloudy rocketed forward like a cannonball, shredding space itself, they turned into mincemeat, guts spilling everywhere.
"Lady Cloudy is the best, deujaAAAT!!!"
But even that wouldn't last forever.
No matter how mighty a warrior Cloudy was, stamina and mana had limits. Throw enough bodies at her, and even the skilled would fall.
No hero stands against a gang-up.
Even the countless gods who once ruled Earth fell to mob tactics!
"Too many!"
Cloudy shouted back over her shoulder.
"Fuuuuck!!!"
Even our Cloudy couldn't handle this horde!
It felt just like that time in the kobold dungeon when we nearly got wiped!
—Jrreek!
A merfolk used a comrade as a shield to block a Fire Bolt, then lunged with a coral blade. Even as my stamina bottomed out from running, I focused my senses and unleashed Execution Swordsmanship.
"Get lost, you freak!"
Execution Swordsmanship: the pinnacle technique honed in real combat and killing! No clumsy merfolk hack-and-slash could match it!
—Shiiik!
The razor-sharp thrust tore through the merfolk's wrist and forearm, skewering it like a kebab. I yanked the blade free without a glance and kept running.
The whole motion flowed seamlessly without pause. My skills had definitely improved. I could see enemy attack trajectories now, wield my sword like a limb.
"...Damn it!"
But my heart felt like it was about to burst.
In this peak focus state, I endured the pounding agony in my chest, just breathing in and out. Focus on breathing. One slip, and it'd all unravel!
The moment concentration broke, my breathing would go to hell, and I wouldn't be able to run anymore. I kept transcendent focus on the lunging merfolk, Cloudy's direction, and Winia's status.
—Run!
"Blackie! Ditch the backpack!"
Winia must've noticed my struggle and yelled sharply. Heh, worrying about me? Our Winia had gotten so cute.
—"Can't do that."
But I won't ditch it.
Won't ditch it.
Won't let go.
"What! Why!"
This bag holds my irreplaceable dreams and hopes...! No way I'm tossing it! Micro bikinis! Sling bikinis! Swimsuits in one-piece and tank top styles, sexy traditional outfits perfect for the port city's open vibe!
Not letting a single one go.
From within.
I draw up mana.
I grow stronger every time I surpass my limits! It's always been that way, and it will be from now on! "Uoooooh!!!" I replace agony with a roar! A狂狂 surge of manic power boils up! Incredible stamina wells forth!
Convert mana to stamina!
Right now, I've reached that realm—
—Achieved it.
"Blackie, if it's heavy, ditch it quick!"
"No way! It holds my dreams and hopes!"
So I answer.
Winia yelled again.
"You pervert obsessed with swimsuits! Aah! I'll wear whatever when we get back, just ditch it! I'll do anything you want, okay?!"
"Anything?"
"Yeah! Anything, so ditch it!"
That sealed it.
I spread the surging power through my body.
"Thanks, Winia."
My depleted muscles recovered rapidly. Couldn't control my breathing yet, but the power returned.
Then I can run more.
"Your words gave me strength."
"What?!"
"Power's overflowing!"
Irresistible impulse! I charged ahead with renewed vigor! Slaughtered lunging merfolk, chased Cloudy, escorted Winia!
Finally caught up to Cloudy.
"Can't push anymore!"
Cloudy said, having piled merfolk corpses into a mountain!
"We're fucked! Uwaaaaaah!!!"
"You just said power's overflowing, you idiot!!!"
Cloudy showcased inhuman power, piercing endless merfolk walls, but hit her limit! Despair set in! We were still far from escaping the city!
Merfolk swarmed, and the sparse people had vanished entirely.
"Fuck...! Fuck, let's just bolt!"
I grabbed both girls' hands and ran.
"B-Blackie, to the side!"
"Katt, that!"
I let go immediately. Surrounded! Flanks and rear! Merfolk shrieking from three sides!
Then, a building appeared ahead.
Fuck, a wall... no!
"Inside!"
"What! You know what's in there?!"
"No choice but that now!"
Best option!
Surrounded by hundreds of merfolk, building blocking like a wall—this was our only shot!
—Bang!
I kicked the door open!
Shoved Winia and Cloudy inside,
—Kwaang!
Followed and slammed it shut!
"Q-Quick! Block the door with anything!"
"Kyaaaaah! What do we do! What?!"
—Flash!
Cloudy hefted a huge desk and jammed it against the door. I grabbed nearby crates, water barrels... everything to barricade. —Bang! —Bang! Merfolk started pounding!
"Fuck! Find a hiding spo—Huh?"
Where's this?
"An aquarium?"
I looked around. Under still-lit lamps: yes, the aquarium interior. That bizarre place with the horrific monsters we'd seen before.
First, check for windows. Only tiny vents, no entry points... Back door! We bolted there in panic and barricaded it too.
"Fuck... now what!"
Back door looked sturdy enough.
Front too.
But how long could we hold...? Fuck. Anxiety was maddening.
"I don't know, fuck! We're done for! Blackie! I love you! Fucking love you! Loved you so much! Madly in love! More than anything! And sis, I don't hate you either! Touching was weird but I liked it!"
Then Winia snapped into hysterics, screaming.
Full panic mode.
"Hee hee."
Cloudy burst out laughing at the sight.
"Didn't know you thought of me that way, Winia?"
"Shut up! It's true! Hwaaaang! What nowwww! Fuck!"
"C-Calm down, Winia! We can survive! And I fucking love you too!"
"You shitty bastard Blackie! Shut up! Instead of talking, kiss me!"
"Uh, ugh!"
Winia yanked my collar and kissed me roughly. After a bit, she calmed, pulled away, and took deep breaths.
"Fuck... for real..."
"Calmed down?"
"What now even if I am? No answers here."
"Hoo... true... Cloudy."
Cloudy smiled with her eyes, but looked serious.
"...Pretty dire. Can break through twice more maybe. If they bust in... yeah. We'll try then. We can do it."
She added lowly, unsure it'd work.
"Goddamn it..."
Anxious, I paced the aquarium aimlessly.
The deep-sea fish looked even more grotesque, mocking me. You're next. You'll be eaten...! And we fish will overwhelm humans!
—Thud thud thud!
Merfolk battering the door!
"Shut up!"
So I smashed a tank!
"Don't... mock me!"
—Crash!
Water and gloomy fish spilled out. —Flop flop! —Gasp gasp! It writhed, mouth gaping. Serves you right, fucker. Without water, you merfolk are nothing.
Exiting the scene, I sensed presences.
"Someone els—"
A cylinder glass tube held a human-sized deep-sea monster. The one from before. It clung to the glass, staring at me.
"..."
I approached.
What?
This guy?
It was a bizarre yet awe-inspiring fish, perfectly adapted to the ocean like higher life evolved ideally. Miraculous form.
—Gasp.
It flared its gills at me.
"What... you mocking me too?"
"Blackie, what're you doing? Pray holding my hand instead of wasting time."
"Katt?"
The two approached.
They saw the sea floor overlord too.
"...What? This aura?"
"Yeah... definitely..."
Winia and Cloudy sensed something.
"What? What's up?"
"No, just a weird feeling..."
—Kugong!
Then!
Front door shattered, merfolk surged in! Fuck! Already?! Cloudy raised her twin blades in stance, Winia screamed into a chant!
Dozens incoming at a glance!
I braced for desperate last stand!
—Jrreeeeek!!!!
—Jrreeeeeek!!!
—Jrreek, jrreeeeek!!!!
"Come at me all at once, deujaAAAh!!! The Heavenly Demon Kim Katt will never falter... Huh? What're you lot doing?"
—Halt.
The roaring, berserk merfolk froze suddenly. Right in front of us. Cloudy, mid-leap, stopped; Winia canceled her chant in confusion.
...What?
"Wh-What the hell, you carp-headed fuckers?!"
The rampaging merfolk fell silent.
Then slowly opened mouths.
—Jrre...
—Jrre...
—Jrre...
Their gazes fixed on me.
"...Me?"
Why me?
"..."
No.
Not me.
It's behind me...
"Fish monster!"
Merfolk stares locked on the glass tube behind me!
—My mind spun like struck by lightning!
Fanatical merfolk targeting something... Imprisoned awe-inspiring fish... Odd aura Winia and Cloudy felt...
Decisively!
Merfolk kneeling before the tank's occupant!
—Jrre...
—Jrre...
—Jrre...
Weapons dropped, they knelt in worship!
Reverent as to their god or king!
"They're kneeling...? Sis?"
"I-I don't know... what the...?"
Puzzle solved!
"You lot... want this?"
Putting it together, I growled low like Kobson.
—Thud.
Slapped the glass. —Jrreeeeek!!! Merfolk freaked like eels on a hot grill!
—Jrreeeek!!
—Jrreeeeeek!!
Screamed like witnessing mother's stabbing! You fuckers! This was it!
"Stop!"
Mad Heavenly Demon Lion's Roar!
I bellowed with iron will!
—Jrret...!
Merfolk froze all motion!
"B-Blackie communicating with merfolk?!?!?!"
Winia yelped in shock.
"I am the Heavenly Demon Kim Katt."
Calming my madly pounding heart with self-hypnosis. Calm down, Kim Katt. You can live. Steady the mind.
As sages said, dragged to tiger's den, keep wits and you survive, fuckers.
"To the Heavenly Demon."
I am beyond heaven.
"Nothing is impossible."
—Crash!
Smashed the glass. Cloudy and Winia gawked like girls spotting a midnight cockroach; merfolk leaped like frogs seeing snakes, bellies up, shrieking.
—Kweeeeek!!!
—BwEEEek!!!
—GwEEEek!!!
"This is."
—Gush, deep-sea monster spilled with water.
Gasp gasp. It dazedly opened mouth, reached for me. I gazed down... Felt an unknowable will.
Slowly.
Gently, I picked it up.
Merfolk, mid-vomit from kneeling, shook heads, clasped hands in desperate plea. Tears streamed.
Crocodile tears.
I don't know what this fish is.
But it's important.
Probably why merfolk invaded: to retrieve it.
"Your idol, huh."
Spirit of despising the weak.
—Ignites.
Instantly pressed knife to the cradled monster's neck.
—Zzzip, blade drew red line on flesh.
Drip.
—Gulp!
Blood drop fell; some head-clutching merfolk fainted with gasps!
"You fucking bastards! If you don't wanna see the hostage croak, fuck off!"
I roared!
Hostage time, or we're done!
"Can't hear me, you fucking shitball dog bastardsAAAH—!!!!"
—KieeeEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!!
Pterodactyl roar, shoulders heaving; horrified merfolk parted a path!