Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Search and Subjugation Request (5)
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Fzzzt—
The air crackled with tension as Piona entered her battle stance.
Her killing intent prickled sharply against the massive body of the tentacle monster.
'As expected of an adventurer.'
It was on a whole different level from the pressure I'd felt facing that ordinary man during my first kill.
But there was no need to fear.
I'd raped Elrine and spent the last five days devouring animals or having sex with her to level up.
It seemed the experience from sex with women was massive only on the first time; afterward, even with more sessions, I didn't get enough for explosive growth, but it provided steady gains.
With the levels I'd gained came boosted stats and skills. Whether by raw stats or racial advantages, I held the edge over them.
Piona's blade-sharp aura didn't faze me in the slightest.
"Amy, cover me with support! I'll hold off the attacks!"
"Ngh, got it!"
Piona called out to Amy, who nodded and dashed behind her to a safe spot.
Watching their movements, I concluded they'd been partners long enough to sync perfectly.
They'd called themselves C-Class adventurers, right?
By stats alone, they weren't quite full-fledged C-Class yet. True C-Class should have higher numbers.
Probably freshly promoted. Still, the natural flow in their actions proved they were veterans.
'Not that I've seen veteran adventurers in action before.'
Was this tentacle monster instinct? The moment I saw their moves, I instinctively knew their level.
Solid technique. But no need to worry. This fight heavily favored me.
Normal monsters can't understand human speech, so adventurers often shout tactics openly while facing them. A mechanic from the previous game.
But I'm no ordinary monster.
I could understand them, so their strategies were laid bare. Know thyself, know thy enemy—invincible in battle.
Time to test the waters.
I thrust a Thorn Tentacle straight at Piona.
"Piona! Go on the attack!"
"Got it! Don't go all out if it's obvious!"
Clang—!
Piona crossed her daggers to deflect my Thorn Tentacle, flowing smoothly with the recoil into a charge at me.
Her rush was sleek.
Impressive mid-20s Agility. Beyond human limits.
"Die, you monster!"
Piona stabbed her daggers toward my torso.
Predictable.
I fluidly shifted my body, rendering her strike harmless. No need to drag my bulk around—just flatten or contort out of the way.
"Tch...!"
A tentacle monster's body regenerates easily with no pain, so I could just tank hits.
It even suited this body's monstrous fighting style.
But regeneration burned through nutrients I'd stockpiled in my core.
No point wasting shield HP, so I'd dodge what I could.
"You're wide open!"
From her thrust stance, Piona pivoted, spun like a tornado, and barreled in.
I pulled my body back fluidly while blocking with a Blunt Tentacle.
Kang—!
"Guh!?"
Piona's Strength was 24. Mine was 26. Plus, my Blunt Tentacle got a 1.2x modifier, pushing it past 30 effectively.
She groaned from the impact and staggered back.
I immediately lashed a Thorn Tentacle at her torso; she barely reversed her grip and deflected it.
"Ngh...!"
Even without a direct thorn hit, the shock rippled through her.
Wriggles...
I retracted my tentacles, twitching my Blunt and Thorn ones contentedly as I eyed Piona.
She bit her lip, flustered by my unexpected prowess.
"...No choice. Gotta trust Amy."
Amy?
Before I could question it, Piona shouted.
"Amy! How long!?"
A reply came from behind.
"About a minute! Mana's all gathered! Just need to chant! Stall A LITTLE LONGER!"
"Got it!"
A smile spread across Piona's face at Amy's words.
"Here I come!"
Tat-tat-tat—!
She leaped at my torso again, smile intact.
But I saw it.
Her swing looked like an attempt to slash wounds, but it was a feint.
Different from before. No killing intent.
She'd fake a deep charge, then backstep to pull aggro, keeping my tentacles busy defending or chasing.
"O flames! Heed my call—!"
Whoosh—!
Sure enough, as Piona charged, Amy began chanting from behind.
Mana poured from her body, rippling the air like heat haze. Piona amped her aura, diving deep into my reach.
Splash—!
I unleashed Thorn Tentacles in barrages at Piona while positioning Blunt Tentacles to guard.
"Too slow!"
Cling, clang, cling—!
Piona smirked sharply, thrilled as I played along.
Everything going to plan—that smug look.
"Amy! Time!?"
"30 seconds!?"
"Got it!"
Piona deflected thorns and edged deeper, probing lightly before pulling back, confidence swelling.
But I wouldn't let her.
The instant she turned to retreat...
Thwack—!
"Ngh—!?"
I swung my Blunt Tentacle hard.
'Perfect.'
She crossed arms to block but flew airborne from the force.
Now.
Splash—!
I unleashed four hidden Basic Tentacles, targeting Amy mid-chant.
"Wha!? Amy!!"
"Huh? H-how...!?"
Piona's eyes bulged, realizing I targeted the airborne, defenseless Amy—not her.
Amy looked equally shocked, never expecting a sudden switch.
I savored their faces and pressed the attack.
Splash—!
"Kyaa, kyaak!"
"Amy...!! No, stop!!"
Two Basic Tentacles coiled her arms first. The other two snared her legs.
Piona paled.
"Amy!!"
She hit the ground and charged to free her, but no chance.
Her blades clashed futilely against my tentacles.
Clang, clatter-clang—!
"Damn...!"
Moving multiple tentacles at once felt tricky at first, but it was effortless.
This body had innate combat genius. Paths and motions visualized perfectly, executed smoothly.
I restrained Amy while pressuring Piona, leveraging Thorn Tentacle's Agility bonus.
Creating openings with speed, mixing Blunt strikes—she got pushed back relentlessly.
"Ugh! Amy! W-what do we...!"
Piona bit her lip hard.
"Amy! Damn it! Can you break free!?"
"N-no! Nghh! These tentacles are insanely strong... Can't budge."
"Of course... What about magic?"
"Have to restart the chant, I'll try— Mmph! Mmmph!"
"A-Amy!?"
"Mmph— mmf...!"
The word "chant" triggered me—I extended the tentacle on her arms into her mouth.
Chants: prerequisites for magic activation. Not all spells needed them, and high-level mages could skip, but not Amy.
Or maybe low-level spells sans chant, but nothing potent enough for me.
Either way, irrelevant. Sealing her throat was victory enough.
"Mmmph! Mmph-mmph..."
"Amy...!"
Tears welled in Amy's eyes.
Casual during chant, now bound. Worst humiliation for a mage. But not her fault—just bad matchup.
"Mmf—! Mmph, mmph..."
Amy struggled to speak. Detection Tentacle sensed desperation; tears streaming as she eyed the distance.
Probably begging Piona to flee.
Piona understood somehow, shaking her head with resolute eyes.
"No, Amy! Don't say it. I'll save you. Definitely."
"Mmph! Mmmph...!"
Amy thrashed her head, tears flowing.
What melodrama with a monster looming. Touching friendship, nose-tingling stuff.
But Piona had no options. Just resolve, no path.
Amy out, Piona couldn't solo me.
She knew it—bold words, but confused lip-biting betrayed her.
"Haaah—!"
Sudden berserk charge.
She lashed wildly with daggers. I blocked leisurely, countering occasionally.
Clang, clatter—clang—!
And now, the venom kicked in.
'Paralysis poison.'
Thorn Tentacle toxin could immobilize whales. Trained superhumans like Piona resisted some, but limits.
It scaled with my level—resistance futile.
"Ugh!"
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
"Amy! I'm f-fine...! Ugh, why... why's this...?"
Piona charged relentlessly, but slowed drastically over time.
Eventually, staggering, unable to advance.
The initial graze let venom course her veins, now paralyzing fully.
"Ugh...! Dizzy... B-body won't move."
She stumbled, blurting to Amy in confusion.
Done.
Piona fought it desperately but collapsed.
"Mmph!"
"S-sorry, Amy... Ugh, my fault for pushing the fight."
"Mmf...! Mmmf..."
Couldn't make out words, but their bond was ironclad.
I slithered toward Piona, listening.
She lay struggling to glare ahead. Frustrated eyes on me.
"Damn... Never heard of a monster like this in Luis Village woods...!"
She muttered at me.
"G-gotta warn the guild quick... Or massive casualties ahead..."
I aimed a Thorn Tentacle at her forehead, poised to kill.
No fear in her eyes—just regret.
Regret at failing here. Unwavering gaze met my thorn.
Impressive mental fortitude. C-Class were veterans, after all.
Long adventurer life meant death was accepted.
Even wounds or pain wouldn't faze her.
But...
Could she hold if it wasn't death or pain?
Learning her spirit thrilled me.
I wanted to shatter that haughty face.
See her writhe in ecstasy.
Damn goddess's tentacle instincts surged.
I withdrew the Thorn, freed one Basic from Amy, and coiled Piona's torso.
"...!? What...?"
Surprised and puzzled by the bind instead of death.
She'd learn soon.
Grinning inwardly, I carried them toward the cave entrance.