Chapter 89 "Shushu! Tell me the plan!"
Leo swiftly dodged the Basilisk's incoming head and shouted at the top of his lungs. As I circled behind it, I began explaining.
"Shushu! Tell me the plan!"
"The Basilisk doesn't have any obvious weak spots on its body! But it does have a weakness!"
Slash.
My sword drew a crescent moon in the air as my black aura sliced into the Basilisk's torso. Black blood gushed out from the wound like a fountain.
Kyaak!
The Basilisk's massive body twisted in agony. The deep gash looked fatal enough.
'But...'
I grimaced as the wound began regenerating before my eyes.
The Basilisk's scales weren't as thick as Harabana's hide. However, its regenerative abilities outstripped any other magic beast.
'Burning it to death would be the cleanest way, but that's too risky. If it thrashes around and sets the surrounding trees on fire, the whole forest could go up in flames.'
I could extinguish a forest fire with mana, but it was far more mana-efficient to stab it with my aura.
I slashed my black aura at the Basilisk's neck and yelled,
"The Basilisk has weak stamina!"
Stamina. That was the opening to take down this monster.
"Stamina? It's jumping around like it's full of energy!"
Boom!
Leo barely dodged the Basilisk's attack and shot back incredulously. The head aimed at him cratered the ground, leaving a hole as deep as he was tall. Seeing the pit where he'd stood moments ago, Leo's face paled with a shiver.
"Yeah, stamina! Tire it out, and it'll be easy pickings! Once the Basilisk fatigues, its regeneration slows dramatically!"
"Huh... Got it for now! So how do we wear this thing down? Just keep dodging like this?"
Krunch!
Trees crashed around us as the Basilisk whipped its tail violently. It doggedly targeted only Leo. He dodged its assaults, creating openings for me to land fatal blows.
'This setup could definitely finish it. But...'
I eyed Leo with hardened eyes.
Thanks to him playing bait, hitting the Basilisk was a breeze. But Leo was taking a beating from its relentless focus, injuries piling up.
'At this rate, Leo's going to get seriously hurt.'
Plus, with him so close, I couldn't unleash any area attacks. If I could get him out of the way briefly, that'd be ideal, but the Basilisk stuck to him like glue. Even my all-encompassing black gale would catch him in the crossfire.
'It would've been best if I'd stayed alone... But we only had two teleport stones. Serenon had to go, so one of Rainer or Leo had to stay. In that case, using Leo to take it down is the better play.'
Even knowing it was the optimal choice, guilt gnawed at me. I steadied my shaking heart, refocused my mana, and concentrated.
'Stick to the original plan. Then Leo won't get hurt bad.'
I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath.
"Listen up, Leo! From now on, we're wearing down the Basilisk!"
My mana circuits spun like wildfire. The blade hummed shrilly, empowered by a Sword Master's vast mana. The red magic stone embedded in the sword circulated mana even more vigorously, flashing blood-red as it detonated my black aura.
Suuup.
I drew in a massive breath. The foul stench of the magic beast clashed with the forest's fresh scent, assaulting my nose.
Gripping my sword tight, I hurled a narrow but densely packed aura blast at the Basilisk's face.
Kyaaaaak!
It let out a scream louder than any before. Black blood sprayed like a geyser, pooling on the ground, while tears of blood burst from its red eyes.
Blinded head-on, the Basilisk thrashed wildly.
"Run full speed that way! Now!"
I pointed northwest and yelled. Leo's confused expression hardened as he bit his lip and bolted in the direction I indicated without question. He trusted me enough to follow blindly.
Leo ran. Mana surged around him, accelerating his speed.
Keyaaaak!
Moments after he cleared the clearing, the Basilisk—its eye wound already healing—roared in fury and pursued with astonishing speed for its bulk.
Thud.
And I leaped onto the Basilisk's body.
'Ugh, the repulsive dark magic aura and stench tormented me. The poison seeping from its massive serpentine form weighed down my body. The soles of my shoes began melting against its scales. They were made of Klaki leather, so they held shape—for now. Ordinary shoes would've dissolved already.'
Its exhalations, gray scales, drool, blood—all laced with deadly venom. The Basilisk was a walking poison factory.
'That's why I called for the holy knights and priests.'
From the moment of death, a Basilisk's corpse expels all its toxins into the air. A dark magic-corrupted beast's body corrodes away in an hour, but that hour could poison the entire forest.
'Those with holy power have strong resistance to poison. Holy power is one of the fastest ways to neutralize magic beast venom—second only to fairy healing.'
Fairy healing was quickest and surest, but we couldn't summon them now. The temple's forces would have to handle it.
Feeling my mana circuits race to detoxify the spreading poison, I held my breath. Balancing atop the speeding Basilisk demanded focus.
It had to know I was riding it, yet it chased Leo like a dog after a chicken.
'Leo...'
Between the Basilisk's coils, I glimpsed Leo desperately dodging and fleeing. His body was ragged, like worn-out leather.
It hurt me more than him. I bit my lip.
'Time to help.'
I raised my black aura-coated sword.
Stab.
And plunged it deep into the massive serpent's body with all my strength.
Kiyaaaak!
The Basilisk froze momentarily. Through the hilt, I felt its convulsions—like a fish impaled on a harpoon.
"...Shushu?"
Sensing my aura, Leo—who'd been running for his life—turned toward me. His darkened light-green eyes sparkled like they'd caught the sun. He grinned happily at me, but I was too frantic about the Basilisk turning on him to smile back.
"What are you doing?! Run before it moves again! Don't look back!"
"...What?"
Leo's face hardened in an instant. His light-green eyes clouded with turmoil. His vacant stare and suddenly ashen complexion screamed panic.
'What's wrong with him?'
His overreaction threw me off too. I furrowed my brow. He tried to move his feet, wriggling desperately, but his body wouldn't obey.
I couldn't tear my eyes from his bizarre state, even as anxiety gnawed at me—the Basilisk could spring back any second. This wasn't mere sulking from a scolding.
'That's... fear. The face of someone confronting their worst nightmare.'
'Nanny...'
Leo wore the expression of trauma triggered.
'Ah.'
My head throbbed. I'd hit some nerve, but what? It eluded me.
As the impaled Basilisk began writhing again, I yelled desperately,
"Leo, hurry! Go!"
No time for coddling. My scream snapped him out of it somewhat, and he started running again—but I could tell his trembling body had slowed.
'Damn it, what did I trigger?'
Something told me we couldn't keep going like this, but the reason wouldn't surface. Frustrated, I grimaced and wildly swung my sword to slow the Basilisk.
Kiaak!
Its endless screams filled the forest.
'Disgusting.'
I wiped the splattered black blood from my cheek and spat on its body in revulsion. The white shirt I'd borrowed from Rainer was so splattered it looked black.
Even after repeated stabs, it regenerated swiftly—impressive bordering on grotesque. I recalled my first encounter as the mercenary Mir: clueless on how to kill it, I'd fought for nearly three days straight. My face twisted at the memory.
'Still, its speed and regen are definitely slowing.'
Even the King of Snakes couldn't shrug off a Sword Master's onslaught unscathed. Sighing at the worm-like death throes,
'But the problem is Leo's tiring too.'
His pace had dropped sharply. And since my "run without looking back," his pallor hadn't improved.
'Time to end this.'
We were nearing the destination. There, I'd finish the Basilisk in one go.
I leaped off its body, sprinted to catch up, and reached Leo's side.
"Leo!"
"Sh-Shu—"
His light-green eyes turned to me, stuttering uncharacteristically. His dilated pupils betrayed his dire mental state.
'What did I do?'
The only suspect was telling him to run, but what about it triggered him? I had a vague sense but no clear memory—infuriating.
'Prioritize killing the Basilisk.'
No time for else. Steeling myself, I extended my hand.
"Leo, grab on!"
To pull his slowing self along. He stared at my hand with shaky eyes, then gripped it firmly.
Beyond the black-bloodstained fingers, his warm touch came through. Skin contact assuring we weren't alone against this calamity. Our exchanged gaze brimmed with trust and affection.
I clasped his large hand crushing mine and, without looking back, hurled my sword at the approaching Basilisk.
Keyeeeek!
The unerring throw hit true—I knew from the sound. Surging black blood drenched us.
I hastily wiped the blood from my eyes and dragged Leo away at full speed, leaving the slowing Basilisk behind.
"Shushu!"
"What?!"
As distance grew, Leo called out. Dodging trees frantically, I snapped back, and he asked suspiciously,
"Why'd you have me run this way?"
Bright light pierced ahead. The sun, hidden by trees, illuminated beyond.
Rainer and I had rested in a deep forest cave after Harabana yesterday and scouted the terrain coming here.
I turned to Leo with a grin.
"Because this end's a cliff!"
And there it unfolded—a sheer, bottomless drop.
"......What?"
Leo's face drained to blue.