Three Rondan Knights vs. At Least Sixty Cult Instructors
"Crush them!"
A roar that could tear eardrums erupted, and the heretics surged toward us like a tidal wave. Trying to overwhelm us with sheer numbers like cowards. Just looking at that suffocating mass of troops made me feel crushed under the pressure.
"…Hoo."
I took a calm, deep breath and reviewed the situation. The patrol squad had spotted the intrusion traces in an instant, and the initial response team had swarmed in just as fast. From the quality of the armor issued to each individual to their disciplined stance— they were on a whole different level from mere bandit rabble. They'd probably received some professional training. This alone told me how long these heretics had been preparing.
Whether by numbers or armament, the setup felt disadvantageous. Hell, there was a good chance we'd get smashed here and that'd be the end. But even in this desperate situation.
My blood was boiling. It was a totally different thrill from facing the candle in the blizzard. I could feel an emotion— whether it was Leydan Tantun's or my own— coursing through my veins. I couldn't quite pin down what it was….
But when it's time, it's time.
Even I didn't relish murder or violence. I'd avoid it if I could. But I had zero regrets about that "back then" mistake. And now, I had the body and mind to back it up.
"Uwaaaah!"
Surprisingly, Mu Yeon kicked things off on our side. As one enemy lunged forward, she hefted her massive toy axe and leaped high in a flash, vaulting over what I'd call— for convenience— their generals and landing amid the rank-and-file soldiers. A heavy thud echoed, and the troops belatedly charging at her blocked my view. But soon, the toy axe rose high into the sky.
"Urk!"
"Grahk!"
"F-Fall back from that axe bitch right now!"
She spun in place at unbelievable speed, sweeping through that massive force in seconds. No soldier could properly respond to Mu Yeon; they were getting wrecked without a chance to fight back. Watching closely, I figured out why. Sure, just spinning like a top would've left her open to hits, but even at that blistering speed, she was making minute controls to keep them at bay.
I'd felt it when she broke through the entrance at the Gardener's Garden, and even briefly syncing with the Dragon Slayer— Mu Yeon's power was no ordinary knight's. If she mastered the Meditatio White Mask mentioned before, she could surpass her current self by leaps and bounds.
"What're you spacing out for? We've got our own jobs to do."
White Mask spoke one-sidedly, then leaped up and thrust her sword at one general. Twing! A springy boing filled the underground space, and the general who blocked it looked strained before flinging her back. Using that momentum, White Mask did a graceful somersault in midair, landed elegantly, and pointed her sword at him again. The general glared, a hint of fluster in his eyes.
"You and that other bitch too. How the hell do girls like you pack that kind of power?"
"Who knows."
White Mask sneered at the general's words, her voice dripping with mockery.
"Maybe you're just weak if you can't even beat a 'girl' like me."
"…Kuhahaha! Beat? By the likes of you? Me, Hormen of the mustache brothers?"
The general— Hormen— laughed heartily at White Mask's taunt, but his eyes burned with killing intent as he stared her down.
"Making stuck-up bitches like you cry your eyes out has always been my hobby."
"Looking forward to it. Guys who talk big like that usually end up bawling first."
"You don't back down, huh. On the battlefield, you prove it with skill alone!"
With that, Hormen squeezed his muscles to the limit, veins bulging like they might burst in his neck.
"…Poisoned by fragments of an Outer God."
White Mask muttered low at the sight, then charged. Poisoned by Outer God fragments, huh. Cult-style, probably calling it a "gift from the god" while pumping themselves full of steroids. Made me think of the body-boosting candy Mu Yeon shared. They'd probably chugged tons of that stuff. But me, Leydan Tantun? The guy who scarfed down the raw, unrefined original. I'd been dealing with Greater Outer Gods lately, so it was hard to gauge how strong I'd gotten. Perfect chance to test my combat power.
"…You're the last one left."
The other mustache brother approached me. I'd figured he'd gang up on Hormen for a 2v1 coward play.
"A real man fights fair and square. That's why you didn't help that girl and waited for me, right?"
Hey, if you're gonna hype me up like that, I'll take it…. Nah, I'd just been standing there dumbfounded since Mu Yeon and White Mask jumped in first. Since I stayed silent, the general clicked his tongue and raised his greatsword.
"Not much for talk, eh? Fine. They say the silent ones are the true masters."
Like Hormen, this guy's muscles were twitching unnaturally— probably dosed on Outer God fragments too.
"I'll handle you personally, with this body of Caliban!"
Believers in Outer Gods, so they tossed out their real names without shame, like Hormen. Gonna regret that later. Sure, the ones I'd met were pure, but who knows with muddied ones. From community dives, some Outer Gods use followers' names as anchors to twist them into monster shapes. Gave me chills reading about visuals straight out of a deep-sea docu.
Not important now. I lowered my stance, ready. From Mu Yeon's example, capture if possible seemed best. But taking down an armed, bare-chested foe alive? Kinda overestimating me, no? Well, as I said last time— if the boss says jump, you jump.
"Stand and fight, young one!"
With that, Caliban kicked off the ground and closed in instantly. He raised his greatsword— bigger than he was tall— overhead and slammed it down mercilessly. Bam! Regular weapon? I punched the flat, and a sharp metallic clang rang out. Figured it was toy-like from the unrealistic build.
So this insanely heavy greatsword? Swinging it barehanded. "…Monster."
"Says the guy blocking it with his fist. I'll take that as a compliment anyway."
Caliban replied to my mutter, lifting the greatsword again. Thought it'd be sluggish from the weight.
Whoosh! But raising it and slashing my side was lighter and faster than a rapier. Nearly got sliced, but my reflexes let me leap straight up to dodge.
"Nice moves!"
Watching the guy grin like the fight was pure entertainment got my blood pumping too. A true battle maniac? Then it's only polite to indulge him. Suddenly, I recalled a fighting game villain from my hospital-bed marathons.
'Show me your full power! You're the only one who can surpass me— I want to clash for real!'
"Heh."
That line sure chased away the blues. Making me nostalgic. Heart's racing now.
Bam! Clang! First exchange: I vaulted at Caliban, parrying his swung greatsword. Second: After landing and dodging his follow-up slice, I closed in and punched; he blocked with the blade.
Skreeee! Friction sparked from fist on steel. Skin scraped off my knuckles in agony, but excess adrenaline made it nothing. Hell, it fueled me.
"Kahaha! Finally, a foe who knows proper etiquette!"
He parried and backed off to evade my follow-ups.
"On my name as Caliban, I salute you. You're stronger than any human I've faced!"
…Stings a bit, but whatever. Let him believe it. Felt like this would be the last blow. Caliban was breathing raggedly, a bit winded, and my legs were starting to burn. Gotta work on leg strength training later. Can't have endurance this weak.
"Hraaah!"
I charged as Caliban roared and rushed me.
Swoosh! Thwack! We crossed paths, then froze.
In that split second.
"Y-You."
"…."
"Not to rub it in now that it's over… but who knew a guy like you craved real power too."
Caliban's voice was strained. Thought it was nonsense at first, till I saw the thorns sprouting from my knuckles like sharp branches.
"Urgh…."
Caliban stiffened and collapsed, immobile. Only one who'd pull this….
The Gardener retracted the thorns from my hand as she spoke. After using the Party Flute a few times, could Outer Gods lend me bits of their authority directly now? But I shot her a vibe full of dissatisfaction.
「…? Wait, why? You basically already won. I just didn't want you getting hurt if something went wrong…」
Dumb Outer God with no sense of romance. Sure, I'd probably won, but jumping into a man-to-man fight? No way! Hmph!
「Wha— wait…」
The Gardener's voice cut off. I was ignoring her on purpose.
"Hoo…."
A rare heart-pounding brawl, ruined. Why the tears?
"…Good fight, Caliban. Sorry for the rudeness."
Murmuring quietly, it almost looked like a smile crept onto his frozen face. Imagination?
"Pupil."
"Master."
After paying respects to Caliban, I saw the downed troops and Hormen around us.
"Well done, Master."
"What? Just gave him the tears he wanted, like he asked."
As expected. I still had two full-powered allies. Ones strong enough to match Greater Outer Gods now.
"Mr. Tantun, are you alright?"
"Yeah, more or less."
Mu Yeon hopped over after bonking the last soldier's head with the flat of her toy axe.
…Wait, did that grunt's eyes just spin like a cartoon? Not dead, right? Y-Yeah. Had to be a capture.
…Who knows how many times I'd thought not to piss off Mu Yeon.
"Let's head in now. With this many, something big must've been going down inside."
"Yes, Master."
"Yes."
Mu Yeon, me, and White Mask claimed our overwhelming victory and stepped into the mysterious room.