Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Just a Little Longer
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Even if I resist the demonic energy explosion, I still get debuffed. I can't attack in the otherworld. The damage window is extremely limited, so even using the Hero's power, the clear time is tight. If I get too far from Crow, it's an instant kill. Thanks to that, I can't even move around to handle the mechanics while isolated.
If I'm too slow killing the chimeras, he goes berserk. If I fail the otherworld mechanics, he goes berserk. If the clear time runs out, he goes berserk.
So this is how inconvenient it is to not have allies.
But still.
*Flash!*
*CRACKLE!*
I finished off the last chimera with a storm-wielding slash.
[3rd Named]
[Level 53]
[Corps Commander Crow]
[HP 98,174,985 / 300,000,000 (30%)]
*CAAAAAW-ACK!*
*Thud.*
Crow's massive body landed in the center of the combat area.
His final flight was over.
Crow's gaze turned to me. My vision distorted.
I met his gaze confidently.
This place, reached after overcoming so much pain.
The final special phase.
A space of pure blue. A world isolated from the outside.
The final battle in the otherworld begins.
As my body fully entered the otherworld, Crow raised both hands to the sky.
*Creeaak—*
Tearing through space, his body also entered the otherworld.
"So you've stepped into the ring this time."
I smiled brightly.
The crow's beak twisted as if smiling.
*CLANG! Flash!*
Crow's claws clashed with my sword, and a flash of light shot from his mouth, cutting across the space. I calmly met his attacks and glanced behind me.
On the outskirts of the combat area, there it was.
[Crow's Phantom]
[HP 10,000,000 / 10,000,000 (100%)]
This was what Crow looked like in his human form, before he became this monstrous creature.
I had risked the instant-kill pattern that triggers when I move too far away to confirm its appearance. You can't see it unless you get close.
Crow's Phantom can only be seen in the otherworld. And it transfers power to the Crow in the outer world. When the power continuously injected into Crow reaches a critical point, he goes berserk.
In the special phases at 90% and 60% HP, three phantoms appeared in total, one at each spot where a chimera fell.
When three of Crow's Phantoms appear at once, it's actually easier. There's no need to approach them. I just have to maintain a close distance to Crow and unleash a sword wave to slice them all down. Afterward, I can return to the outer world and continue the fight with Crow. That's the entirety of one special phase.
But now, having entered the final special phase, I can only sense one phantom's presence, at the 12 o'clock position.
The meaning was clear.
In the final special phase.
The phantoms appear sequentially.
This time, I also have to worry about attacks from the Crow that entered the otherworld. The difficulty is on a completely different level from the 90% and 60% phases, where he only watched me from the outer world.
To cut off the power being injected into Crow, I have to deal with the phantom.
However, the cooldown for my sword wave is one minute.
*Swish!*
Ignoring Crow's claws as they narrowly grazed my face, I twisted my body and unleashed a sword wave toward the phantom's location.
*KWOOOOOSH!*
The phantom's presence vanished. At the same time, I could feel the flow of power into Crow being severed.
*Splat!*
I immediately spun around, using the momentum to slash the remaining sword wave into Crow's side, digging into his flesh and getting sprayed with the dark blood that gushed out.
If the second phantom appears after a minute, the sword wave's cooldown will be up. It would be easy if that were the case, but.
*Woooong.*
About thirty seconds after I started carving up Crow's body again, the phantom's presence reappeared.
This time, at the 7 o'clock position.
As expected, this isn't going to be easy.
The sword wave's cooldown wasn't up.
What should I do?
The answer lies in the gap between his patterns.
Crow's 4-hit claw uppercut pattern. It's a single set. The recovery delay is long. This means I can create distance before his 4-hit uppercut finishes.
I just have to get back before all four hits are done and the next pattern starts.
The uptime for that pattern is a total of 1.5 seconds.
The time given to me is also about 1.5 seconds.
With 1.5 seconds, I can use my enhanced physical abilities to deal with the phantom and return to Crow's side. If I'm even 0.1 seconds late, Crow will cast his instant-kill pattern that destroys a distant target from the inside.
*Screeeech!*
With the sound of scraping against the floor, Crow's claws swung up toward me. The start of the 4-hit pattern. *Tap, tap!* I immediately threw myself backward.
*Fwoosh!*
Accelerate. Faster. Time is tight.
Distance to the phantom, 14 meters, 13 meters, 12 meters.
The phantom's form came into view, and it entered the range of my Flash Strike.
The phantom had its hands stretched forward, injecting demonic energy into Crow.
I lowered my body while still running, positioning my sword at my hip.
*CRACKLE!*
The mana storm accompanying the Flash Strike tore the phantom's form to shreds. I immediately turned and headed back to Crow. 0.5 seconds so far. With the backward evasion and Flash Strike, I had managed to cover a distance of twenty meters in an instant.
Can I get back in one second? Even with my enhanced physical abilities, it's tight. I turn and approach Crow at maximum speed.
*Whoosh!*
Even after the final, fourth hit of Crow's claw uppercut sliced through the air, I was still running.
8 meters. 7 meters.
I could see his eyes turning. A cold sweat ran down my back. I placed my hand on the 'Bracelet of Hammer and Anvil', my last remaining cooldown reset. I have to save this until the very, very end. If I use it here, there's a high chance I won't be able to clear this attempt.
6 meters, 5 meters.
*Tap.*
Just before Crow's eyes could lock onto me again, I landed right beside him.
*Whoosh! Clang!*
A claw swung horizontally. I barely raised my sword to block it, a chill running down my spine. If my timing had been off by even a fraction of a second, the just guard would have failed. I wouldn't have survived the damage that would have pierced my block. I'm as fragile as a sunfish right now. My HP, fixed at 1% after resurrecting with the power of my belt, allowed no room for even the slightest mistake.
Still, I smiled.
It's a melee pattern. Not the instant-kill internal destruction pattern.
It was close, but I was able to handle the phantom and get back in time.
I've cleared the final hurdle.
Now, I just have to keep repeating the process of dealing with the phantoms, alternating between my sword wave and Flash Strike, until all of Crow's HP is gone.
*KABOOM!*
A powerful demonic energy explosion covered the entire combat area. It was enough to make my ears ring.
The same explosion that had occurred in the outer world began to go off in the otherworld as well.
Crow's final struggle was terrifying.
But I maintained my offense, lightly dodging by shifting my body bit by bit. A section the size of one slice of a large pizza cut into eight was the safe zone. The location of this safe zone kept changing, but there was no way my eyes couldn't track it. I wonder who ate that slice of pizza?
Crow's remaining HP: 5%.
I tried talking to him.
"So? This 'system' thing, it's pretty inconvenient, isn't it?"
If the Astria Continent were a proper world, Crow might have been a much tougher corps commander. He might have just blasted the entire area with magic that left no safe zones.
But, the Crow of today is just a game piece.
A black knight on a chessboard.
A knight, capable of attacking by jumping over other pieces, is a piece with the power to dominate the board.
But even a knight has its weaknesses.
It can't attack an enemy one square directly in front of it.
Just because a white pawn is messing around in front of it, it can't just ignore the rules and gobble it up.
*KABOOM!*
Even now, the demonic energy explosion kindly creates a safe zone.
Even for someone like me, with only meager power, a path to victory was open.
"If there are rules to the game, you have to follow them."
*Shk.*
I lowered my stance and used Flash Strike.
*CRACKLE!*
The powerful storm accompanying the Flash Strike tore Crow's body to shreds.
*CAAAAAH!!*
Crow let out a scream.
His body was already covered in wounds.
"Of course, I have no intention of following the rules myself."
A mere pawn, flying around like a queen. Annoying, isn't it? And I haven't even been properly promoted. But you ignored the rules a little too, with that 'Severe Punishment' thing. Let's call it even.
*Flash, flash!*
My sword wave gleamed. The crescent-shaped golden wave sliced through Crow's weakened wings.
*Ka, kakat!*
Crow's legs, which had seemed firmly rooted, began to back away.
There's no need to deal with the phantoms anymore.
I'll use every skill I have.
Right here, I'll end this game.
*Fwoosh!*
The bracelet began to glow.
At the same time, a streak of light shot up and split the air.
In the path of that flash was...
Crow's neck.
*Flash!*
***
The Tree of the Abyss had completely ceased its activity.
It had always been a dead-looking tree, but now it was nothing more than a husk.
I walked down the forest path, the mist now cleared. I could feel the energy of life.
It hurts. I'm tired. It's hard.
But I can bear it.
The World Tree was scattering its green leaves.
The path to the World Tree.
The elves' faces were bright.
In front of the World Tree.
A white-haired male elf was shedding tears.
He grasped my hand tightly and channeled the power of spirits into me.
Inside the World Tree.
The branches parted, as if to welcome me.
The very heart of the World Tree.
The spirits were still glowing.
But now it wasn't a pitiful light, but a warm light full of life.
I could hear their voices.
- Thank you.
- You saved the World Tree, and the elves.
And then, I stood before her.
A green orb, shining with the brightest light.
The orb gradually took the form of an elf.
White hair. Long ears. A beautiful face. A benevolent smile.
The Hero's companion, Igraine.
An old friend.
Igraine welcomed me with a radiant smile.
"Welcome, Rain."
"I'm back, Igraine."
I collapsed before her.
And buried my face in her green embrace.
It's a little different from when she was alive.
But still the same warm feeling.
*Stroke.*
Slender fingers brushed through my hair.
Just a little.
Just let me stay like this a little longer.