Ep.5 - The Twins on the Tower (3)
Ep.5 - The Twins on the Tower (3)
I couldn't follow the battle's progress with my eyes,
but I could feel its ferocity through every jolt and tumble as I was held in Riko's arms.
"Front, get clear!"
Riko read the enemy's attack positions and shouted continuous warnings. Each one was followed within seconds by chaos erupting on all sides, and something even splashed against my skin—a visceral reminder of how devastating the incoming strikes were.
"Hit properly, damn it! When we fought earlier you were ridiculously strong, so why the hell can't you fight better than a brat now!?"
Naturally, Riko's abuse didn't stop in the midst of battle. She seemed to be shouting at Kaede.
"I-I'm doing my best! I was definitely stronger before...!"
"Roll back, you dumbass!"
Exactly two seconds later, another tremendous vibration erupted in all directions. I'd never experienced an earthquake, but I suspected this fearsome tremor couldn't be compared to even a magnitude 8 quake.
"Hey! Try giving us some support with prayers or something!"
"I've been lending my strength from the start. However, because the leader-nim isn't fighting properly, the effect is rather meager."
"Isn't there a prayer to get rid of scary things...?"
Riko cut herself off mid-sentence and rolled her body again. Right beside us, a thunderous sound exploded, threatening to tear my eardrums. An unpleasant ringing lingered long in both ears.
"...!!"
"!!!..."
Judging by the echoing sounds, they were shouting something to each other.
As the ringing showed no sign of quieting, I gently opened my eyes to gauge the situation and looked up at Riko.
She was shouting fiercely toward the front, so passionately that spit flew from her mouth.
Following her gaze, I saw Helen flying through the air holding hands with Eva, protecting her,
and beyond them, something indescribable—like a centipede—was swinging swords, blunt weapons, and more in all directions.
'Ugh...'
I was glad I'd looked away quickly. The thing, shaped like a centipede made of humans, was far too nauseating to watch calmly.
But I couldn't just keep looking away and leaning on them forever.
'Is there something, anything I can do to help...'
I opened my eyes again and spoke.
"Status window...!"
———————————————
[Status Window]
Name - ___(Delin)
Gender - Male
Age - 20
Special Effects - Chakjeong(x37), Fatigue, Fear, Panic, Forgotten God's Blessing
Save Point - Outskirts of Dikenen Forest, near campfire (7 hours 58 minutes ago)
[Quests] [Companions] [Skills]
———————————————
There was one tab I hadn't checked before.
Without hesitation, I pressed it and prayed. Please, let there be some way I can lend my strength.
----------------------------
[Companions]
Riko
Neva
Eva(X)
Chichi
Kaede
Helen
----------------------------
Six women were listed under the Companions option.
What stood out were Eva, marked with an X, and Kaede, who seemed to be shining brightly...
It didn't take long to figure out what the shining name meant.
'Soul Bond!'
The phrase I had seen several times immediately came to mind.
My hand moved at once. As if it were only natural, I pressed Kaede's name, and soon the status window displayed a peculiar message.
[Congratulations! You've gained a comrade deeply connected in body and mind, your very own—God? Hidden skill 'Soul Bond' has been added!]
Yes!
So she really did get stronger through the Soul Bond. I knew it!
[Comrades bound by Soul Bond grow stronger! Please enhance your comrade!]
'Enhance?'
The word 'Enhance' caught my eye again. Isn't that exactly the function I need right now!
Especially if I can lend strength to Kaede, who is diligently driving attacks into the monster at the front, then this fight could surely be resolved easily.
...But examining the status window had to be put on hold.
Ignoring the three desperately attacking it, the monster began pouring attacks toward those of us at the rear.
"Kkeut...!"
Even though I was being held, the shockwaves and force were transmitted fully.
As if missiles were raining down, tremendous sounds swept over us one after another.
But I was far more mesmerized by Riko's movements—dodging every single strike while holding me—than by the merciless attacks.
Her movements were even quicker and more graceful than anything seen in cartoons or movies.
Without batting an eye, she carefully observed the enemy's attacks and dodged them perfectly.
Words like amazing can't fully capture it. It was incredible. Awe-inspiring.
"...!!!"
While the ringing still persisted, Kaede came in front of us and parried the monster's sword.
No, not just the sword. She parried nearly eight weapons all by herself.
She couldn't ask Neva and Chichi for help. They were already dodging attacks from three or four arms each while carving away flesh.
Kaede knew. She had to hold on so the knight and the witch could attack the monster from both sides.
"Hryaaaah!"
The monster's weapons, writhing like maggots, began to be split apart by Kaede's greatsword techniques.
Though she looked so small and shabby compared to the enemy, her sword met everything head-on. Every time their weapons clashed, a terrifyingly sharp roar resounded, but Kaede attacked even more fiercely, overwhelming the opponent.
She was adapting to the fight. She was adapting to the fear that had coiled around her body.
The will to protect was beginning to drive out the fear.
Her greatsword was imbued with Dragon-valor, unleashing even sharper strikes.
The size difference between her back and the monster beyond was enormous, but Kaede willingly took all those blows, buying time for me and Riko to escape...
Kka-gagagagak-
A terrible sound, impossible to describe, echoed. A rumble louder than thunder erupted from Kaede's side.
She had failed to parry just one attack.
As if every bone in her body were breaking, Kaede was sent flying.
"Kaede!"
Neva caught the flying Kaede in her arms, dispersing the impact she would have suffered alone. The two flew a long way like that. The path they traveled was filled with bright red blood.
Helen headed toward the two swordswomen to heal them, while Riko ran as if fleeing without looking back, likely trying to put as much distance between us and the monster as possible.
But its pursuing speed was too fast. Its body was as large as an apartment building, yet its wriggling, crawling speed was abnormally quick.
Dozens of attacks rained down simultaneously again. Dodging them properly seemed impossible, but Riko, clutching me, found gaps in the onslaught and inevitably dodged them all.
"Look this way, not over there...!"
Taking advantage of the monster's diverted gaze, Chichi screamed from midair. Before anyone knew it, a massive magic circle large enough to cover the monster's entire body had been drawn in the sky.
"Philmark! Dodge on your own!"
The magic circle flashed.
At the same time, dozens—no, hundreds of spears began raining down from the sky simultaneously.
"Kkieeeek!"
Her magic was truly incredible. The high-ranking spell she had prepared over the course of a minute pierced even a being beyond humanity splendidly.
But that didn't mean it could kill the monster. With holes riddled through its body, it instead began struggling even more fiercely, thrashing about madly.
"I-Impossible...!"
Even in a state where death wouldn't be surprising, it immediately swung an arm at Chichi.
Since the size difference was as great as that between a gnat and a human, the monster's attack was enough to incapacitate Chichi.
Fortunately, the layers of mana barriers she had stacked up allowed her to avoid death, but that wasn't what mattered now.
"...Fuck."
The monster's full attention was now focused on me and Riko.
That was more important than anything.
Riko moved her body at a speed where keeping my eyes open was difficult.
Everything spun around, the wind howled fiercely,
and her nimble movements—going left then sharply turning right—allowed us to dodge the monster's attacks,
but they also prevented my hand from operating the status window.
"Ughh..."
With my fingers feeling like they'd snap from air resistance alone, my eyes strained to operate the status window positioned to the left of Riko's head.
I couldn't read it properly. In fact, I couldn't even open my eyes.
I just groped for the vaguely visible word [Soul Bond] and moved my hand.
As I persisted, a status window full of text appeared,
but operating it properly within Riko's arms was near impossible.
So I just poked at it haphazardly, as if leaving it to chance.
It would be more accurate to say I was pretending to press rather than actually pressing.
Anyway, I just jabbed at the status window randomly like that.