Chapter 42
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 42. Monster Subjugation
There is a common sense shared about the demonic beast called Frost Scorpion.
'Run away if you meet it.'
Its obsidian exoskeleton is difficult to even scratch with normal weapons, and the ice poison from its tail stinger freezes limbs just by grazing.
If there is anyone who wants to fight such a dangerous monster, that is not brave but crazy.
But most Northerners were crazy barbarians.
Plus, Brynjolf is a warrior who has survived on the Northern frontline for 40 years.
Just a crazy guy dies. But a surviving crazy guy becomes a legend.
"Ha!"
Brynjolf laughed.
"Hard guy!"
Kieeeeek-!
Frost Scorpion reacted.
Pincer and war axe collided head-on.
Clang!
Sparks flew.
And.
Crunch!
Broke simultaneously.
Kieeeek-!
Scorpion's left pincer was crushed from the joint scattering obsidian fragments, and Brynjolf's war axe blade split in two leaving only the handle.
Axe he spent 40 years with.
Had a name too. 'Dawn Fang'.
Brynjolf looked down at the broken handle.
And stuck the handle into the snowfield grinning.
"Good work, friend."
Northern warrior does not mourn a dead axe.
Picks up the next weapon.
Or──
Scorpion's second pincer flew from the side.
Remaining right pincer. Blow striking down alone replacing the broken left one.
Grab!
"If no axe, fight with bare hands!"
Brynjolf grabbed the obsidian pincer with both hands.
Scorpion applied force. Brynjolf applied force.
Pure contest of strength.
Snow underfoot cracked. Brynjolf's boots dug into the frozen ground.
Muscles swelled. Veins popped.
"If no axe, do with bare hands!"
Rumor that Frost Giant's blood is mixed.
"Uooooooo!"
Brynjolf roared.
Scorpion's body tilted.
Eight obsidian legs struggled in mid-air.
And──
Kuuung!
4-meter obsidian scorpion flipped entirely.
Belly part without exoskeleton was exposed to the sky.
Pale grey soft abdomen. Membranous tissue connected between obsidian carapace. That is the weakness.
"Freya! Now!"
"I know!"
Freya jumped up.
Twin swords spun round and round.
Axe Festival Semi-final.
Memory of humiliation falling by Black Knight's one finger flick.
Only one thing Freya polished since that day.
Continuous Whirlwind Slash.
Technique made to beat Black Knight was tearing Scorpion's belly.
Once. Twice. Three times. Four times──
When twelfth slash ended, Scorpion's convulsion stopped.
Freya jumped down from Scorpion's remains.
Scorpion's body fluid dripped drip drip from twin swords. Cyan color.
"Kid became a warrior before one knew. Would have been good if your father saw."
At that one word, Freya's movement stopped for a moment.
But just for a moment.
"Just show him when he returns."
Freya wiped blood and snorted.
"And still far off compared to Black Knight."
"Haha! Comparing to that pitch-black bastard is a bit harsh, isn't it?"
Freya pulled out twin swords immediately and ran towards the next Scorpion.
While Brynjolf-Freya combo handled Scorpions one by one, remaining three or four were engaged by warriors sharing burden.
Eight to ten warriors stuck to one.
Aim for legs. Hit joints. Cut off. Flip. Slit belly.
Instant replication of tactics Brynjolf and Freya showed.
Northerners' learning method is simple.
Watch strong guy doing. Follow. Works.
If not?
Strength is insufficient. Or numbers insufficient.
Then just stick more.
Barbaric but rational.
Whoosh-!
Ice feathers poured from the sky.
Thud thud thud-
Three warriors on the wall fell simultaneously.
Ice fragments dug into armor gaps tearing flesh.
Five Blizzard Eagle formation.
Every time giant shadow passed over the wall, warriors crouched instinctively.
Even Frost Bear is a predator that crouches.
No reason for humans not to crouch.
Leona looked up at the sky.
Problem was clear.
Doesn't reach.
Holy Sword is a sword. Sword is melee weapon. Melee weapon can be used only when close. To be close must touch. To touch must narrow distance.
And humans cannot fly.
Leona ground her teeth.
Usually Magic Tower mages handled sky threats, and Hero focused on ground combat.
But no Magic Tower here now.
Swaaek-!
Just in time one eagle lowered altitude.
Was aiming for warriors' group. Assault snatching prey.
Sky predator's unique carelessness underestimating ground beings.
Leona didn't miss that arrogance.
Holy Sword's light stretched from blade tip.
1 meter. 2 meters. 3 meters──
Extension of light. Expansion of aura transcending blade range.
If Black Knight can do it, she can do it too.
Blade of light stretching about 3 meters cut eagle's wing.
Squeak-!
Eagle crashed. Crashed into snowfield outside wall dyeing white snow dark red.
Warriors cheered.
But Leona had no leisure to cheer.
Looked up at sky.
Remaining four witnessed the scene just now.
Demonic beasts have learning ability too. Especially high-rank monsters possess cleverness beyond instinct.
Eagles raised altitude.
Started sprinkling feathers from safe height. Switched to strategy of bombing unilaterally from outside range without coming down directly.
Warriors raised shields, but damage accumulated little by little.
Warrior falling again. Blood flowing again.
Leona ground her teeth.
Doesn't reach. Doesn't reach. Doesn't reach.
Even stretching light only 3 meters. Eagle's altitude over 20 meters.
Then.
"Oppa!"
Eris's voice was heard.
Eris's eyes were bloodshot red. Proof of magic overuse. State of having exhausted considerable amount of magic power already while evacuating wounded with thorn vines, filling wall cracks, and installing barricades.
Yet Eris grinned.
"Oppa, not reaching eagle right?"
"……Yeah."
"Shall Eri make it reach?"
Eris put both hands on ground.
Thorn vines soared from ground.
Dozens of vines twisted together, starting to form a pillar.
5 meters.
8 meters.
10 meters.
Vine pillar stretching towards sky, exceeding wall height.
Sweat formed beads on Eris's forehead. Fingertips trembled shiver shiver.
But didn't stop.
12 meters.
15 meters.
Thorns sprouted from pillar surface, and those thorns created small footholds again.
Two people's eyes met.
"……Can I trust?"
Leona asked.
Eris puffed nose breath.
"Hmph, dare doubt Eri-nim? If collapses Oppa just do fall breakfall well."
Not very reliable, but no method.
Leona ran on vines.
One step. Two steps. Three steps.
Stepped on thorn footholds of vine pillar and jumped up.
Eris created new footholds in real time. Next foothold sprouted just before collapsing, and moment stepping on it next one soared again.
15 meters.
20 meters.
Leona leaped from the end of vine pillar.
Reached eagle's altitude.
Holy Sword stretching light flashed.
Bisected one eagle.
Fall.
Landing on Eris's vine. Vine bent but didn't break.
Jump again.
Second slash.
Eagle's wing cut off. Crash screaming.
Sky started clearing.
Remaining Blizzard Eagles were running away.
Demonic beasts have fear too. Especially higher rank monsters have sharper survival instinct.
Moment judged as unwinnable opponent, choose escape.
Problem is after that.
'Must not miss.'
Once Blizzard Eagle settles, takes radius dozens of kilometers as hunting territory.
If those two escape? Beasts realizing danger.
Every time supply unit moves ice feathers pour from overhead. Every time patrol goes out targeted by eagles from sky.
Must catch. Now. Here.
Leona looked up at sky standing on vine pillar.
Two receding shadows.
Heart thumped thump.
Must reach.
Faster. Higher. Farther.
Current body is insufficient.
Knows with head.
But Leona is Hero. Stopping saying 'Insufficient' is not Hero's way.
Holy Sword trembled.
Light started wrapping Hero's whole body beyond Holy Sword.
Riding hand holding handle, riding arm, wrapping shoulder──
Aura of radiance spread to whole body.
Sync of Holy Sword and Hero.
Goddess's light is too big and too hot to contain in human vessel.
Energy human body cannot endure.
But current Leona has blessing of hyper-regeneration.
Regenerating burning muscle fibers in real time.
Simultaneous progression of destruction and regeneration.
Price is pain.
"Kuh…"
Leona ground her teeth.
Black Knight might be watching from somewhere.
Don't want to show weak appearance to that guy.
Just that.
Light concentrated on legs.
Muscle fibers screamed.
Burned. Regenerated. Burned again.
But as price──
Power filled up.
Explosive muscle strength exceeding human limit.
Leona stepped on vine pillar end and leaped explosively.
Kuuung──!
Vine pillar shattered to pieces by impact of stepping.
Two fleeing eagles. Towards the closer one among them.
Holy Sword's light burned at maximum output.
"Haaaaaaaat!"
Flash.
Blade of light stretched out splitting third eagle's head.
Still one remaining in front.
Thud-
Leona's foot stepped on falling eagle's back.
Exploding aura of radiance.
Feeling of bone breaking. Eagle burst scattering feathers.
2nd leap.
Hero wrapped in light soared.
Last eagle looked back.
Ruler of sky felt fear at one human.
Holy Sword drew trajectory.
Swaack──
Last eagle pierced by light disintegrated.
Light faded. Holy Sword's light drained from body.
No strength remaining to control body anymore.
Wind hit ears. Snowfield approached fast.
Then.
Rustle──
Something soared from snowfield.
Pink thorn vines wove together creating giant net.
"Ughhhhh……!"
Eris was grinding teeth stretching both hands to sky.
Veins popped on forehead. One stream of blood flowed down from nose tip.
Squeezed out last drop of magic power from body on verge of magic depletion.
Bounce.
Vine net received falling Leona.
Net bent greatly.
Slowly. Slowly.
Vine decelerated Leona with elasticity and put down on snowfield.
Thump.
Leona landed on snowfield.
"Ughhh, dizzy…… Eri, used all magic."
Eris collapsed just like that. Lying spread-eagle, pink twintails spread on snowfield scattered like petals.
Leona looked down at Eris.
Snow crystals were settling on pink hair.
Bloodshot magenta eyes. Pale cheeks. Dried blood mark on nose tip.
Eris looked up.
"What. Why looking like that."
"……Not bad, Eri."
"Of course! Without me you would have been squashed on the floor!"
Spirit was still alive. Voice tone was somewhat higher than usual.
"……Thanks."
Eris opened eyes roundly.
"H, Hmph! If thankful pay with pudding!"
Eris raised index finger lying down.
"Three! Big ones! Lots of caramel sauce!"
Leona sighed.
"……Got it."
Witch demanding pudding as reward and Hero accepting it.
Scene never seen in original work.
Ice wall shook from below.
I, who was overturning monster formation at forefront, detected that vibration immediately.
Collapsing from top to bottom is natural.
Whether avalanche or falling rocks, gravity is very intuitive disaster.
But collapsing from bottom to top?
That is not natural phenomenon.
There is a monster species classified as 'Underground Disaster' in original novel.
Mongolian Death Worm of West Jungle. Sandworm of South Desert.
And in North, Glacier Worm.
Rumble rumble rumble──!
Ice wall base split. Ice fragments soared, translucent giant body revealed itself slowly through that gap.
Length 20 meters.
Three layers of ice crystal saw blades rotate on head.
Screeeech-
Sound is terrible. High frequency like amplifying scaling sound at dentist 100 times.
If leave that Glacier Worm alone wall collapses.
If wall collapses?
Thousands of monsters pour into Frostgard city.
Conclusion: Must deal with that guy first.
I turned the sled from front monster formation.
"Full speed forward."
Awooooooo-!
Eight huskies kicked ground simultaneously.
Running on snow and running on ice are different. Snow sinks feet. Ice slips feet.
Speed increased.
Sound of wind grinding helmet surface. Sound of ice fragments hitting armor breaking. Huskies' rough breathing sound.
In front Glacier Worm.
Guy gnawing wall detached mouth.
Head turned. Slowly. Towards me.
Only thing visible between three layers of saw blades is oral cavity inner wall.
No eyes no nose. Creature without vision or smell.
But worm was sensing me accurately.
It is vibration.
Glacier Worm is creature hunting underground. Under permafrost without light or sound, senses prey only with vibration and magic wave.
And now, me sprinting charging Aura of Abyss to maximum output would be biggest, thickest magic reaction source in this snowfield.
Prey tastier than wall is running over. Must be thinking so.
Kuuuuuuung──!
Worm's giant body came out of ice wall completely.
20-meter translucent body uncoiled as if pouring onto snowfield.
And lifted head.
Straight. Towards me.
Three layers of saw blades increased rotation speed.
Wiiiiiiiing──!!
'Coming head-on?'
Good. Desired.
"Let’s go."
Bark──!
Lights turned on in eight huskies' eyes.
Not metaphor. These guys are demonic dogs. If excited eyes really shine.
My loyal dog unit. Comrades who ran through deadline together.
If ordinary dog, would curl tail and run away feeling upper monster's energy.
But these guys are different.
Time running North with me raised these guys' boldness.
Trust preceding fear. Bond stronger than terror.
Isn't that the companion relationship human and dog built over ten thousand years.
Raised well as expected. My proud dogs.
Whine…
Seems saying I am scarier than worm…… Must be feeling right?
Wooooong-!
I charged Aura of Abyss into greatsword too.
Black energy swirled along blade. Greatsword becomes heavier as aura density thickens. Problem of density not weight.
Maximum output.
40 meters.
30 meters.
20 meters.
Worm's front.
Towards middle of mouth where saw blades rotate.
Kuuuaaang!!
Stuck greatsword.
Moment sword tip touched saw blade rotation part, aura released.
Crack!
Ice crystal saw blades shattered to pieces.
Diamond class hardness? So what?
Hardness has no meaning in front of Aura of Abyss. Aura erodes combination of matter itself. Whether hard or soft, collapses if touched.
Toothless worm screamed opening crumbled mouth.
Swaaack──!
Now next.
"Turn!"
Bark bark bark bark!!
Huskies turned direction simultaneously.
We started running side by side along Glacier Worm's body.
Aura stretched riding blade.
2 meters, 3 meters, 5 meters──
Black blade of Abyss stretched long over greatsword extension line.
Stuck that black aura blade into worm's flank.
Forward as is.
Bark bark bark bark!!
Huskies ran desperately.
Translucent body wall tore like paper.
Entrails poured between opened flesh, ice crystal fragments scattered like snowflakes.
From head to tail. 20 meters in straight line.
Running dog sled. Giant body being ground next to it. Fragments pouring between translucent flesh opening left and right.
Beautiful.
Ice crystal structure distributed inside worm's body was creating myriad prisms.
Rainbow blizzard.
Isn't it perfect background for RoFan?
Of course fact that raw material of this rainbow is worm entrails will be handled as footnote.
Swaaek──!
Dog sled passed worm's tail tip.
Ground body slides slowly to both sides.
Wooooong──!
Split worm sprawled side by side on snowfield under ice wall.
Shockwave shook snowfield.
Bark bark!
"Quite useful."
I stroked huskies' heads.