EP9. Minotaur
[EP9. Minotaur]
The Minotaur charging forward, shaking the very earth, exuded an overwhelming presence.
The ground cratered deeply with each step, and the walls of grass swayed unsteadily.
Its body was enormous, easily spanning over ten meters.
The muscles rippling across that massive frame moved with dynamic power.
Groooaaar!
The Minotaur threw its head back and unleashed a prolonged roar from its gaping maw.
The terrifying aura was enough to sap the will to fight from any prey in sight, making the surrounding air itself tremble.
Thud!
Thud!
But neither Jae-jun nor Tarasa showed any signs of tension.
Jae-jun glanced sidelong at Tarasa.
He wanted to see what her human form could do in combat.
Tarasa caught on to his intent and stepped forward.
Glacial Spear!
Like Jae-jun, she cast the spell without any incantation.
Kwaaang!
Mana surged from her fingertips, forming a massive ice spike on the ground that thrust toward the Minotaur.
Grooooaaar!
Crack!
But piercing the Minotaur's tough hide proved impossible.
The Minotaur barreled right through the Glacial Spear with its body.
'As expected.'
This was well within what Jae-jun and Tarasa had anticipated.
Tarasa ramped up the power dramatically and cast another spell.
Ice Meteor!
A white mass of energy began to gather slowly above Tarasa's head, rolling like a snowball.
Vrrrrooom!
The growing mass swelled until it was large enough to blot out the Minotaur.
[If even this doesn't work, all I can do in human form is harass it from afar.]
Jae-jun nodded.
Tarasa's hand swung toward the Minotaur.
The colossal ice meteor plummeted from the sky.
Grooooaaar!
[Get out of the way!]
Undaunted, the Minotaur charged straight at the meteor.
As it drew near, everything around froze solid—but the Minotaur remained unaffected.
'Attribute resistance, huh.'
Boom!
A deafening crash echoed as the Minotaur collided with the meteor.
Skreeee!
The Minotaur was hurled backward even faster than its charge.
Its legs slid back in an instant.
But that lasted only a moment. It grabbed the cascading Ice Meteor with both hands and halted its momentum.
The sheer strength cracked the meteor where it gripped it.
Groooaaar!
Flames blazed in the Minotaur's eyes.
Fwoosh!
The Ice Meteor spewed steam furiously, its size gradually shrinking.
And finally—
Crack!
Kraaack!
The Ice Meteor shattered in the Minotaur's grasp and vanished.
Amid the thick steam, the Minotaur's ragged breaths rang out.
"...It's ridiculously tough."
[Looks like the cons outweigh the pros here.]
Tarasa might stand a chance if she fully transformed into her true form and went all out.
But in human form? It seemed hopeless.
Tarasa shook her head and retreated.
Shoooo—!
At that moment, something was off about the Minotaur.
Its mouth gaped wide, mana gathering in vast quantities inside.
Flames poured endlessly from its eyes and mouth, compressing without end.
"Tarasa, fall back!"
Tarasa nodded and shifted to the rear.
Jae-jun rolled his shoulders and advanced.
'Fights aren't won by size alone.'
Before he knew it, the Incomplete Demon King's Sword was in Jae-jun's hand.
'Let's give it a shot!'
Jae-jun lightly raised his sword.
Raging Storm!
Demonic energy billowed from the raised sword.
The energy soon formed sword blades of flame and stormed toward the Minotaur.
Kwaaang!
Slash!
Splurt!
Even as its body was shredded by the flaming swords, the Minotaur relentlessly gathered mana.
The flames in its mouth glowed not red, but a brilliant solar white.
'Its attacks are as brutish as its looks.'
Jae-jun's Raging Storm relentlessly slashed and stabbed the Minotaur's body.
He targeted every inch, probing for vitals, but eyes and weak points alike were shielded by that rugged hide.
Beyond singed fur, there was no real damage.
Kwaaaa!
At last, the completed fireball of flame erupted forward from the Minotaur's mouth.
It incinerated the grass walls on either side as it flew.
The sheer mana radiating from it promised Jae-jun wouldn't survive a direct hit.
Fwoosh!
But—
'At that speed? No way it hits.'
Jae-jun casually stepped back, then activated Shadow Step.
Shadow Step!
His body flickered and reappeared behind the Minotaur.
Simultaneously, he unleashed Space Slash at its neck.
Space Slash!
Space Slash ignored all defenses.
In a way, it was the perfect counter to the Minotaur.
Ziiing!
The space at the nape of its neck distorted like a heat haze and split open.
Splurt!
Groooar!
The Minotaur startled at the sharp pain from the back of its head.
It was just a shallow scrape that peeled a bit of hide, but for the Minotaur, it was a novel sensation.
Whoosh!
The startled beast swung massive fists repeatedly at Jae-jun.
Shadow Step!
He Shadow Stepped behind it again—but the Minotaur's reflexes were sharper than expected.
As Jae-jun emerged from the shadows, it spun and thrust a fist.
'Damn!'
A veil of darkness enveloped Jae-jun's body.
Thud!
'Guh!'
The impact was tremendous.
A high-pitched ring echoed in his head for a moment.
Even dazed, Jae-jun Shadow Stepped again to create distance.
Another fist crashed exactly where he'd been.
Boom!
'No idea about anything else, but that strength is insane.'
It had merely grazed him with a glancing blow, yet his head spun and his mind blanked.
A second clean hit would've pulverized his bones.
'Wonder about its wound recovery.'
Jae-jun darted around nimbly to check the wound on the Minotaur's neck.
Unfortunately, its regeneration was top-tier.
The injury had already healed cleanly.
Whoosh!
Jae-jun dodged a massive fist and slipped underneath it.
Space Slash!
He slashed its flank and inner thigh repeatedly before circling back.
Groooaaar!
'Such a drama queen.'
It was just a light cut, yet the Minotaur flinched dramatically, body quaking.
Realizing its fists couldn't connect no matter how it swung, it opened its mouth again to gather flames.
'Hm?'
Something flashed through Jae-jun's mind.
Black Lightning!
Mana rippled to Jae-jun's fingertips and gathered.
Black lightning flashed into the Minotaur's open maw, leaving only a streak of light.
Crackle! Zzzap!
Electricity coursed through its mouth, unleashing a torrent of current.
Grooooaaar!
The Minotaur howled in agony, shaking its head.
Blood dripped from its mouth with each shake.
[...Found it.]
"Yeah."
"Didn't think it'd have a weakness like that."
Jae-jun grinned at the writhing Minotaur.
Drip drip!
'Now, how to target the inside of its mouth.'
He glanced back to see Tarasa thoroughly entertained.
[...I never knew watching someone else's fight could be this fun.]
Was she seriously making excuses right now?
'She's got some unexpected sides.'
Jae-jun chuckled and charged at the Minotaur.
Heavy fists flew at him in succession.
Jae-jun leaped high over them.
Pat pat pat!
As Jae-jun landed right in front of its face, the Minotaur instinctively gaped wide to swallow him.
A foul stench of blood and saliva wafted from its maw.
'Ugh.'
The reek stung his face.
Jae-jun wrapped his body in a veil of darkness.
He let out a faint sigh and activated Shadow Step.
Shadow Step!
His body flickered and vanished in an instant.
He didn't reappear behind the Minotaur or near Tarasa.
Right inside the Minotaur's mouth.
'Blech!'
A damp, repulsive odor enveloped him.
Before its jaws could snap shut, Jae-jun unleashed a barrage of Space Slashes at its tongue.
Space Slash!
His sword carved across the wriggling red tongue.
Spluuurt!
Blood flooded like a torrent, filling the mouth.
Groooaaar!
The Minotaur screamed and tried desperately to spit Jae-jun out.
'Got in somehow—ain't staying trapped!'
Jae-jun jammed his sword into the tongue and held fast.
At the same time, he unleashed Raging Storm once more.
Blade after blade of black demonic energy tore hundreds of wounds inside its mouth.
Demon King's Salvation!
Right there in its mouth, Jae-jun cast Demon King's Salvation.
The aurora that healed allies but worsened enemies' wounds filled the cavity.
Thud!
Thud!
The minor wounds tore open as if ripped by force.
He felt the Minotaur shuddering in pain.
'Sorry, but we're not done!'
Jae-jun dove into its gaping throat.
Deep in the esophagus, he sensed its heart pounding furiously midway down.
Space Slash!
Space Slash left a thin gash in the esophageal wall.
Then Demon King's Salvation aggravated it further.
Through the slight gap, he glimpsed a heart the size of his body throbbing.
Jae-jun swung at the heart.
Sky Piercing Sword!
Rumble!
The first strike pierced the heart's outer wall.
The follow-up barrage of the second strike obliterated not just the exterior, but the interior as well.
The Minotaur, which had been trembling moments before, froze abruptly and went still.
Thank you.