Chapter 98
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Zombie Parade
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It was a monster born from the nightmare of some vicious elementary school kid. Rotting, bloated flesh stitched together with scraps of leather like some bully's botched attempt at taxidermy. And above all, its massive body! Idolizing giant size was a kid's privilege! The Flesh Golem burst from such a child's nightmare, roaring ferociously!
—Juoooooh!!
"Gaaaaah!! Get up right now, you bastards!!"
I used to have dreams like that when I was a kid, chased by monsters made of writhing flesh. That's why I knew exactly how terrifying they were. Barely pulling myself together from the edge of total panic, I shook awake my companions.
"What is it, Barbarian? You're making a huge racket—Gah!!"
Kobson jolted upright, scared out of his wits, smashing through the roof as he leaped to his feet. Elise and Claudy were already awake. The three of them bolted out and cleared the area in no time.
"It's an undead! Get ready!"
"What the hell is that thing?"
The Flesh Golem toddled toward us like a baby taking its first steps, arms outstretched in search of its mother's milk. But it wasn't some cute infant craving a feed—it was a monster desperate for our deaths.
—Juuuuh!!
The beast slammed down its fist, obliterating the precious spot where we'd just been sleeping. Splinters of branches and chunks of rock flew everywhere, kicking up clouds of dirt.
Watching it smash someone else's hard work to pieces like that gave me a clear idea of the destructive personality of whatever kid dreamed this thing up. A monster that wouldn't even understand words!
"B-B-Barbarian! Barbaaaaarian!"
"Calm dooooown!!"
We'd already escaped its attack range, drawing our weapons and putting some distance between us. Kobson, sword in hand, panicked and screamed my name. But my name wasn't Barbarian.
—Juuuooh!!
"What the—! What the hell is that thing?!"
"It's a wicked creation, a Flesh Golem! Extremely powerful—be careful!"
The Flesh Golem scanned left and right amid the dust cloud. Looking for us? It lumbered forward again once the dust settled.
—Thud. Thud. Thud.
Each footfall carried immense weight. Illuminated by the campfire's flames, its body was grotesquely horrific—like a super-obese newborn that had been cursed to gestate in its mother's womb for 48 months, bloated to three meters tall.
A glimpse into the twisted sexual fantasies of its creator.
The kind of scum who make things like that always base their "designs" on their own perverse ideals.
Social cancers that all deserve to die.
"E-Elise. Th-that symbol on its chest!"
But there was a familiar marking etched on its chest.
"I see it!"
It was the exact same symbol carved on the kobolds' idols and the skeleton mage's skull. The necromancer's mark! This had to be his handiwork. The adventurer zombie triplets we'd found earlier must have fallen to these things!
"That Flesh Golem is a heretic's abomination!"
"A heretic's abomination!"
Elise bellowed in outrage.
"Smite it! Let divine judgment rain down on this wicked creation!"
She raised her mace high.
Hold on, Elise. Your enthusiasm is great, but can we really take that thing down with our current lineup?
It was smaller than an ogre, sure, but facing something that overwhelmingly huge with just four people? No guarantees.
We didn't even have a mage. Claudy was strong, but handling a boss mob was another story entirely.
"May the Radiant Light illuminate the darkness!"
A ring of light formed above Elise's head as she chanted the prayer with savage fervor.
It was Holy Light, the divine spell I'd seen once before. Sacred radiance poured out, illuminating the surroundings.
—Juhk!
The Flesh Golem seemed to writhe in agony from the light.
"Look! At its steps! So slow!"
Elise's face twisted into a ferocious scowl as she spat the words like fire. Her unbelievable zeal made it clear she was dead certain we could take down this monster.
"Y-Yeah, definitely slow!"
Kobson shouted, as if defending himself. He was right—the Flesh Golem shambling toward us was painfully sluggish. It had the power to snap trees like twigs, but its movements were excruciatingly ponderous by contrast.
"...I sense a presence. Stay sharp."
Claudy, dual-wielding her curved swords, assumed a stance and spoke.
"There's a summoner! There has to be one controlling this abomination! Be on guard—it might use magic!"
—Juuuuh!
We spread out into a loose formation: Kobson and I on the flanks, Elise and Claudy in the center. Honestly, I had no idea if my sword could even cut that thing, but we followed Elise's lead and took our positions.
"Ugh...!"
"Guh...!"
Kobson and I were trembling like leaves in the wind.
Staring at that thing shuffling toward us slowly stripped away any fighting spirit—we just wanted to drop everything and run. My Weakness Exploitation passive kicked in. Of course, I was the weak one here. I'd take 200% extra damage against stronger foes.
One hit would feel like three. Meaning a single blow would end me.
That was when it happened.
—Fwoosh!
A purple fireball erupted from the darkness behind the Flesh Golem. The sight sparked a flash of memory—that damn curse magic I'd eaten hard in the dungeon before, twisting my guts!
The unholy flames that had carved into my soul!
"Shit!"
I dove on instinct, dodging the curse magic. The purple fireball streaked past me into the shadows. Elise yelled, "The summoner's attacking!" I rolled to my feet. Claudy grabbed my shoulder as I stood. Our eyes met for a split second.
—Flash!
Claudy shot into the darkness like a bullet.
Meaning she'd handle the summoner.
No, damn it, how are we supposed to take this without you?!
"Leave the summoner to her! Saintess! Kobson! Focus on the abomination! It's a tough foe, but the three of us can bring it down!"
"Bullshit!"
"It's not bullshit! I'll buff you! We can do this!"
At that moment, holy power ignited our swords—mine and Kobson's.
—Tssszzt!
Claudy had dashed off, and Elise was in full battle frenzy. Buffs be damned—abandon them and run? The thought crossed my mind for a second, but—
"I'll hold the front! You two flank and target its legs! It's slow, so you can do it! Trust me!"
—I shelved it.
How could I abandon my girlfriend and comrades to flee?
I didn't give a damn about anyone else in this world, but Claudy and the others were exceptions.
With that, Elise charged like lightning. The Flesh Golem swung its arm. She front-flipped past it, diving into its guard and smashing her mace into its gut.
—Thwack!
"Victory!"
Its belly fat rippled and burst. Black blood sprayed. Incredible impact. The enraged monster thrust its fist forward.
"Offered to the God of Order!"
But she dodged again.
Kicking off the ground, Elise evaded the punch and hammered down on the Golem's forearm like a blacksmith. A display of sheer might. Using her small frame and agility, she hammered the giant Golem relentlessly.
"D-David and Goliath!"
It was straight out of myth.
I was witnessing the valiant Hero-King David slaying the general of ancient Bleset with a slingshot. Divine revelation wiped Buddhism from my heart, filling it with something Christian.
"Screw it! Kobson! Charge!"
"Ugh... Fine!"
Elise's solo rampage continued. The sluggish Flesh Golem couldn't land a hit on a honed human weapon like a Radiant Cross Society nun. Roaring divine fury, she tore chunks from the monster's flesh.
Kobson and I kicked off and raced past its sides, reaching the rear. Our blades blazed with holy light. I steeled myself.
Wasn't I the guy who'd cleaved a ghost with my fully released blade?
Steel your heart, Kim Katt!
For the King of Israel, David!
"Die, you rotten fuck!"
Turning my fear-induced frenzy into adrenaline, I unleashed a full-power slash into the back of its knee.
—Sizzzzz!
The holy-flamed blade seared through flesh and blood, embedding deep. One wasn't enough. I swung wildly, hacking away—slicing, stabbing, burning. Kobson did the same.
A frenzy attack only possible against such a lumbering foe.
—Juuuuh!
"Hey! Elise! It's aggroing!"
The monster roared again. Even I'd scream if dwarves were stabbing my legs. It twisted around, arm reaching for us.
"Teaaaaah!!"
"Tsuruyaaaaah!!"
In utter horror, Kobson and I unleashed unearthly shrieks and bolted like we were fleeing to the world's end. Planning a quick detour to meet Jack Sparrow. As the blade flames faded, so did our paranoid courage—shattered.
At least I didn't piss myself.
"Light Bolt!"
Light Bolt
—Boom!
An explosion rang out. Lost in my panic-run, I wheeled around and charged back to the battlefield. Elise was fighting alone. As the tank holding the front, she needed us slicing legs.
Otherwise, the raid would wipe.
"Elise! One more buff!"
"Got it!"
The Flesh Golem's head was ablaze from the Light Bolt. It flailed wildly. No telling if it felt pain or not. Either way, this was our chance.
—Fwoooosh!
Our blades reignited.
"Irresistible impulse, dejaaaaaah!!"
I bellowed a do-or-die kiai and swung with everything I had. The holy-infused blade dug into its twisted calf. Cripple the legs, and its weight would do the rest. That was the win condition.
"Now!"
Elise and I planted ourselves, pile-driving the right calf in a frenzy of strikes.
"Die! Die! Die!"
"Purify! Purify! Purify!"
Flesh chipped away. Mace blows tore off chunks, and we methodically sliced through the encasing leather.
"Kobson, you prick! Where are you?!"
We needed every hand, but Kobson was MIA.
Trading glances with Elise, we kept piling on damage until the Golem wound up for a swing—then bolted. Thud! Its fist cratered where we'd stood.
"Fuck!"
My heart pounded like it would burst. One mistake, and we'd explode into paste. No room for error.
"No more spells left!"
"Damn it!"
At Elise's signal, we fell back.
—Ku-thud!
The Flesh Golem stumbled, its shredded right leg buckling. A bit more, and it'd topple. Struggling to support its weight on the damaged limb, it staggered badly whenever it tried to move.
Spotting the opening, the hidden Kobson leaped out.
"Take my sword!"
—Slash!
He appeared behind the Golem, carving its calf before dashing to us. I'd planned to chew him out, but he'd landed a clean hit—let it slide.
—Juuh!
"Shiiiit!!"
The Golem twisted nimbly, reaching for Kobson's head. He unleashed a primal scream that could shatter the sky, sprinting for his life.
"Kobson!"
"Kobson!"
Horror burst from my throat too.
The instant the Golem's massive hand closed on Kobson's skull—
—Juhk?
The twisting beast lurched—
And
Thud!
Its calf collapsed, sending the Golem crashing down.
"It—it fell!"
The damaged leg couldn't bear the weight. Overcommitting to grab Kobson sealed it. Face-planting forward, it thrashed grotesquely.
"Now's our chance!"
No way we'd miss it. We swarmed its lower body, carving into the rotten flesh pile. Stay away from the arms to avoid attacks—agreement reached. Start with the legs, work slow.
Elise became violence incarnate, hammering madly with her mace. Kobson and I, inspired by her mythic fury, thrust our blades alongside. It was holy slaughter. Winning made it feel downright reverent.
After severing both legs, we caught our breath.