An Unexpected Encounter! (2)
Red eyes gleamed sharply through the dust cloud. Black mist mingled with the dirt, making the ominous presence beyond it seem even more threatening. No, it wasn't just the obscured view that made it feel so intimidating. Even with the visibility blocked, the black energy mixed in the dust revealed the creature's massive bulk.
As the dust slowly cleared, revealing the giant demon beast's body, a moment came.
"...Hic...!"
Cecilia and a few soldiers let out fearful whimpers.
"...Fuck."
I couldn't help but curse under my breath. It wasn't on the level of the previous Jormungand's insane size, but this was still a colossal boar the size of a semi-truck. ...Or could I even call it a boar?
Human hands and feet mixed with beast legs—six limbs in total. And below its snout, a grotesque, rotting visage. Black energy rose from its huge body, dripping black liquid from its maw. If there was a designer behind this thing, I'd love to see their face; it oozed malicious creativity.
I could tell without even checking now. No doubt...
...What? What the hell is this.
The Hero Eater's status window, which only showed the name and title before, now had something added? Hai...? 8? What the fuck.
"...Everyone! Demon beast encirclement formation! Cecilia! Get to the back!"
Leo shouted, snapping the dazed soldiers back to reality as they hurriedly grabbed their weapons.
...Hmm. Yeah. Not the time to leisurely check status windows.
He was the first to snap out of it and give orders. Heroic, as expected?
I'm in my cloth-draped horse form right now, no weapons, so... I need to drop Cecilia off in Radia, grab my armor and horse bit...
"Kuuuiiiiiiik!!!!"
"...! Sema oppa! Dodge!"
"Fuck!!"
The moment I turned toward Radia, that black bulk shot past me at terrifying speed. If I'd stuck out even a bit more, my legs and head would've been caught. Insane. How does something that huge move that fast...?
A few soldiers must've been flung away... Shit. These guys can't hold it back.
"...It's coming again!"
It flew toward Radia's walls, then came back at us. Not running—more like flying. Speed rivaling my max. With those freakish legs...!
"Kwaaaak!"
"Aaaak!!"
Soldiers readying weapons were pathetically bounced away screaming. They were level 10-30 at best, right? Heavy armor or not, no way they tank a charge like that.
No good. Gotta get into Radia, gear up, and come back...!
"Ah...! Sema oppa! That demon beast is looking this way!"
As I ran for Radia, the Hero Eater seemed to leap straight at me. Shit—then, a sword's hum from behind.
"Kuh...! Go! Hurry and get Cecilia...!"
"Leo oppa!"
Leo, enveloped in blue energy, strained against the beast with a grimace. Nice, Leo! But even hero fighting spirit is getting pushed back!? Fuck. Size difference is a bitch...!
Gotta bail quick...!
"Ah! Sema oppa! I wanna fight too...!"
"Out here with just a thin sword and no armor? No way!"
"B-but...! Ah! Leo oppa!"
Cecilia's scream made me turn—blue energy flung behind the beast. Crazy, two seconds in and bounced!? A supposed top soldier at late-30s level, and that's it!?
Tch... Fucking heroes and their loose screws...!
My bad for thinking they'd hold till the walls!
"Oppa! It's getting closer!"
Ugh, faster than me!? With that bulk!? Fuck...!
Might not make the walls. If it charges now...!
No choice. Gotta block it somehow...!
"Cecilia! Can you run!?"
"Y-yeah!?"
"Use fighting spirit on my waist and jump now! I'll hold it—you grab soldiers and adventurers inside!"
"B-but oppa alone...!"
"It's fine! I'll hold it—go get 'em! Hurry!"
"O-okay!!"
I yelled urgently; she nodded, dropping her stubbornness. Thanks to the mounted combat assist skill? Amid the full-speed jostle, she stepped on my waist and launched.
A solid thud on my waist—then Cecilia soared toward the gate, red energy flaring.
Confirming her safe, I twisted mid-air, shifting to demon form. My body blurred in smoke... Just in time—arm formed, grabbing its rotten fangs before it reached.
"...Kuh! Y-you bastard...!!"
My running speed plus its charge—I skidded uncontrollably. Body slammed the nearby wall; something like a magic circle shimmered and shattered.
Losing the ward, massive impact—Radia's wall crumbled down.
"Kwaaaak...! Fuck, my back...!!!"
Wall stopped me barely, but not great. Crumbling debris buried me, yet the Hero Eater looked fine. My waist screamed in agony—legs buckling.
Fucked. Holding on, but one shake and I'm gone...!
Then it could breach the city? No fucking way! This is basically my city now! Daring to step into my paradise!?
"F-fuck...!! Demon King Punch, you pig bastard!!"
Demon King Punch! Demon King Punch! Taste the punch of the horse among kings, the Demon King! You twisted hell-pig!
Think you can strut on bulk alone!? I ain't losing in strength, bitch! Hold you here, high-level adventurers'll lop your head! Out for a stroll and delay doom—perfect!
Your pain on my back? Pay it back 100, 1000 times! I'll burst that ugly head!
"Demon King Punch! Demon King Punch! Die, you piece of... Guh!?"
What!? That impact on my face...!?
N-no way. This fucker...!?
One of those freak legs—like a human arm—swung like a fist!?
"Guh! Puhhing! Y-you...!?"
What the!? Those two limbs looked tacked-on, but punching with 'em!? Mimicking me!? Even my punches—insane freak...!
F...fuck...!
And it's not just size—it's got four legs pushing, I've got two bracing—losing ground!
N-no. Getting pushed...! Into the city...!
-Kwaaaaaang!
-Puk, peruk! Puk!!
As I thought I'd be shoved in, a massive ice chunk exploded into Kalidon's flank.
...That combo. They're here...!
My bitches...!
"Master! You okay!?"
"You failed creation, daring to touch Master...!!!"
Lizbet firing magic alongside, leaping down from the wall like flying. Ice and fireballs that seemed to repaint the sky hurtled gorgeously at Kalidon.
"I'll hold it—finish it, you two!!"
"Liz! Seres unni! I'll bless you—hit with big attacks now!"
I yelled; Klea from behind shimmered hands, blessing Lizbet and Seres.
Blessed, they conjured huge magic circles behind, chanting—red and blue mages.
From their staves, fire and ice swirled like massive beams.
"Flame Blaster!!!"
"Glacies Fena!!!"
A fiery ice storm to burn and freeze everything. Their magics intertwined, amplifying each other, pouring onto Kalidon's waist.
Jormungand was bullshit-proof, but this one? A few hits showed it's not. That power? No chance for this hell-boar.
Taste my bitches' cool-hot magic!
"Kkuk, kuuiiiiiik!!!"
Tch, tanking it!? This!?
Underestimated? Thought it'd drop instant—it's tougher!
Yeah. Bringer of ruin—gotta be sturdy!
Still, my bitches' stats pumped by my horse semen, plus Klea's buffs! I'll hold—see if you last till death...
"Kkuruk, kuuiiiiiik!!!"
"Kuh!! Stay put...! Kwaak!!!"
Kalidon's head and twisted arms shoved me. Bracing full force—then a fallen rock hit my head.
Unexpected jolt—grip loosened on its fangs.
It seized the chance, shoved me off, kicked ground, fled the wall.
Lizbet and Seres' magic chased—but something rippled ahead... Kalidon portaled out.
"Ah, that...! ...Master!"
"Are you alright!? Ahh, while we were away...!"
"Wait just a moment, Master! We'll come down and heal you soon!"
I clicked tongue at vanished Kalidon; my yinshuu rushed over. Adventurers finally emerging, running to the crumbled wall.
Ha... If they'd come sooner. With them, we could've caught it...
"Se-Sema oppa!!!"
Cecilia, calling and running through adventurers.
...Well, whatever. Can't be helped. At least Cecilia and my bitches are safe—good enough.
"Oppa! You okay!? Not hurt!?"
"Puhuhu. Fine. Back hurts a bit, but nothing major."
She burrowed through my yinshuu draping cloth over me, checking my body, hugging tight. No shame despite adventurers' stares.
My yinshuu seemed pleased at Cecilia's demeanor.
"...Hehe. Now, Cecilia. Master needs treatment—don't hinder, up you go."
"Ah, um, ma'am... Y-yes. Got it..."
"Worried for Master... Our Cecilia's such a good girl?"
"Uh, yeah? Haha... Lately, gotten closer to Sema oppa..."
"...Kukuku. Yeah. With Master... As expected of my daughter. Cecilia."
Seres and Cecilia, meeting after ages. Lewdly dressed Seres praising her—heartwarming mother-daughter scene.
Leo staggering over from afar with soldiers, watching. The duo spared him not a glance, eyes only on me.