Chapter 221: The End – Avatar Dam (2)
Chapter 221: The End – Avatar Dam (2)
The moment I destroyed the Charred Corpse, I let my guard down for a second.
Some might say I was being careless, but that wasn't it.
I simply had an intuition that my body couldn't withstand any more after pouring such a massive amount of power into that strike. Moreover, the chilling sensation had vanished the instant the Charred Corpse shattered.
So, rather than saying I let my guard down, it would be more accurate to say I momentarily released the excessive tension in my body.
The others seemed to feel the same. Though they maintained their combat stances, the intense concentration from moments ago had dissipated.
Iron Man’s sword trembled minutely.
Several of Grix’s eyes blinked, as if trying to moisten their dry surfaces.
However, Al’shel was different.
Tilting his head as if something was wrong, he slowly waved his hand. The flow of mana swirled around him.
“…There’s no movement… and I can’t feel any Otherworldly Power. What on earth is…?”
Only Al’shel’s voice, thick with obvious bewilderment, echoed through the corridor.
Keeping my eyes fixed on the spot where the Charred Corpse had collapsed, I spoke without breaking my stance.
“Well, four powerhouses of this caliber gathered together. Remember Nanjido? You said that thing was an Avatar, too. I took that one down by myself, so the four of us should be able to handle this—”
They say the mouth is The Root of all misfortune.
That seems especially true for mine.
Whether it was the Gray Eater, the Librarian, or the Nanjido incident—whenever I thought things were going well and opened my mouth, trouble followed.
【Appe…tizer….】
Along with that skin-crawling voice, golden flames erupted all around us.
“Oh, for God’s sake. It’s really not dead.”
“It looks like it’s launching an attack! Defenses first—!”
“It’s fine! Everyone is within my line of sight. I’ll cast protection magic!”
“Silence!”
Like the veterans they were, everyone immediately flipped their internal switches back to emergency mode and resumed their combat stances, despite the brief lapse.
However, our actions were in vain.
The flames didn't erupt from the Charred Corpse or the surrounding environment.
They ignited directly from our bodies and weapons.
It took about three seconds after reacting to the voice for us to realize it. Because the fire possessed neither pain nor warmth, our realization was delayed.
I only noticed it when I saw golden fire erupting from Al’shel’s hands and Grix’s eyes in the corner of my vision.
I immediately looked down at my hands gripping The Hammer; they, too, were burning with a golden light.
I couldn't see behind me where Iron Man stood, but if my intuition was correct, his right hand was likely ablaze.
“Automatic counter-attack on the parts that struck! No logical basis!”
I barked the words out instinctively, as if reciting a manual on Otherworld Erosion.
There was no need to say it aloud, but I faithfully followed the rules of engagement etched into my body. Simultaneously, countermeasures began to branch out rapidly in my mind.
My ability to analyze the phenomenon and find a solution was unnervingly fast. It really seems like my brain only functions well during emergencies.
“Iron Man!”
“How many times must I tell you! My name is Pelsratthias!”
I can’t pronounce that crap! How many ‘th’ sounds are even in there?
“I don’t care about that, just cut your arm off!”
Despite the lack of explanation, Pels… Iron Man was clearly a man who had survived his share of bloodbaths. Without a word of complaint, he shifted his sword to his left hand, severed his own right hand, and then held his sword high.
It was as if he understood exactly what I would ask for next.
I pulled back my hammer and reached out with both hands.
Simultaneously, a lightning-fast strike descended.
A searing pain, as if branded by hot iron, followed by the hollow sensation of my arms becoming lighter.
The masses that had been severed from my extremities seemed to burn in the golden fire for a moment, but before they could even hit the ground, they vanished from the world without leaving even ash behind.
With that, Iron Man lost his right hand.
And I lost both of mine.
I couldn't see them, but Al’shel, whose hands were on fire, and Grix, whose eyes were burning, must have done the same.
Normally, a situation like this would leave everyone combat-ineffective and result in our defeat.
But it was fine.
All four of us standing here possessed means of regeneration.
I wasn't sure if humanoid beings naturally sought out ways to regenerate once they reached a certain level because their physical durability had limits, or if it was just a coincidence that everyone here had that ability.
Whether by coincidence or fate, the four of us had not fallen yet.
Iron Man detached parts of his body to fashion a new hand.
I gathered halos to reconstruct my hands and gripped my hammer once more.
Having finished our rapid reorganization, we turned our gaze back to where The Enemy had been.
But Dam was no longer there.
All that remained were the remnants of the Charred Corpse, now scattering as ash.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Grix and Al’shel quickly regenerating, but they were also looking around frantically, unsure of where to attack.
“Al’shel!”
“Yes!”
“Where is The Enemy?!”
It was fine to be panicked together, but this enemy could render us helpless if our reaction was even a second or two late. We had to find it as quickly as possible.
That was the thought behind my shout, but…
“…I don’t know!”
For the first time, a voice filled with grief escaped Al’shel’s lips. The man who had talked as if he could do anything was now stammering.
I didn't blame him.
In a battle that defied common sense like this, such things were common.
“Give me an approximation!”
In that case, rather than getting lost in thought trying to grasp the situation, it was better to act on instinct.
And my instinct was telling me to crush The Enemy before its full power was revealed.
Unlike Otherworld Erosion, which had clear pros and cons, the power that entity possessed wouldn't be limited to just this automatic interception.
Rather than doing nothing and handing the initiative and choice to The Enemy, it was better to act and make a wrong choice, as that at least provided a wider range of options.
Al’shel likely knew this intellectually as well.
However, because he was intelligent, his reaction was naturally delayed.
That was why this was my role.
To shout, to demand action, to divert his focus from his thoughts and force him to concentrate on The Enemy before him.
Within that judgment, before even a blink of an eye could pass, Al’shel returned an answer.
“…It’s everywhere!”
“What?”
“I can feel The Enemy’s presence in every inch of the space around us! I can’t pinpoint a physical form!”
Dammit. Is the essence of the fire itself the Main Body?
Then we’re basically sitting inside the thing’s stomach.
We had to leave this place immediately. Regardless of what my instincts said, if we couldn't find a way to defeat The Enemy, staying was meaningless.
The standard procedure would be to retreat, leave observers, and find a way to exorcise it through precise investigation.
However, that wasn't an option for us either.
The moment we left this spot, the Demon Train’s Core—which Dam had been greedily eyeing since its invocation—would be exposed to The Enemy.
In other words, this battle did not permit retreat.
All that remained for us was to find a way to kill The Enemy from within its belly.
“Find it! By any means necessary!”
I roared, and immediately Al’shel and Grix began searching for The Enemy.
Iron Man and I gathered every ounce of strength in our bodies.
We prepared ourselves to annihilate The Enemy the moment it was identified, even if it meant our entire bodies would burn.
About four seconds passed.
“I found a way!”
Grix shouted faster than Al’shel.
“Quick! Just the gist!”
“It can’t affect others while it’s dispersed like this! It will have to manifest a physical form again soon to exert its influence!”
Hearing those words, my brain began to spin furiously.
In other words, Dam’s true self would reappear when it tried to absorb The Core.
The conclusion was to wait for that moment.
However, that was the worst possible move.
Who in their right mind would use their own heart as bait? There was no telling how much damage would occur the moment even a piece of the Demon Train’s Core was bitten off.
Then, what was the other way?
A way to force The Enemy to reveal its true body.
It seemed to move based on appetite, so showing it something to eat might work.
But the entity had reacted as if we didn't even exist in this space. I didn't know what Dam’s criteria for 'food' were, but at the very least, we couldn't lure it with anything less than The Core.
Then, there was only one way left. When The Enemy turned its attention to someone in order to eliminate them.
At that moment, a thought pierced through my mind.
“Grix! Then is this entire surrounding area currently The Enemy’s Main Body?!”
“Yes! But even if you attack, your power won't reach—”
“That’s enough!”
I didn't know the mechanics, but it was certain The Enemy was here. It was just that, due to some phenomenon, we couldn't touch it.
Right. I’ve faced something like this once before.
That nameless Existence of The End.
The one with the body of the night sky, belonging to the classification of Modifiers.
Isn't this similar to that?
Just as we couldn't attack the night sky no matter what we did, this being was likely in a similar state.
So, I’m counting on you.
I poured all my mana into The Hammer.
With the resolve that I truly didn't care if I died.
In response, The Hammer’s engine began to roar like a madman.
Just like back then, an uncontrolled transformation began to occur.
Metallic armor crawled up my right arm.
Countless pieces of Scrap Metal sprouted from the central handle, forming a single cone.
A massive cavalry lance, integrated with my right arm.
However, it wasn't a simple weapon.
With the sound of numerous engines and intense heat, it sucked in my mana.
It was created for the sole purpose of firing a single stake.
A Pile Bunker… was it called?
A device that concentrated all its force into a protruding iron stake to minimize collateral damage and maximize penetration. As if The Hammer knew I had to protect The Core, it provided a weapon that could maximize destructive power without moving.
I took my stance and pulled my right arm back.
It sucked in so much mana that I felt like I would black out at any moment, but The Hammer’s engine hummed, demanding even more, as if it wasn't enough.
“The moment The Enemy appears, pour everything you’ve got into it!”
I screamed to meet that demand for mana.
It sounded like I was talking to my comrades, but I was talking to myself. To hold onto my collapsing body and bolster my morale.
Vrooooooooooom.
No answer came from the others.
The only thing I could hear was the extremely loud roar of the engine.
How much time had passed?
Surely, not even five seconds.
Yet, the charging time felt like an eternity.
Just before my body gave out.
Vroom… Click.
The moment the metallic sound rang out.
“Aaaaaaaaah!”
I thrust my right arm forward, piercing the spot where I thought The Enemy would be.
Then.
BOOM.
Along with agonizing pain, a massive explosion erupted from my right arm.
Mana was unleashed.
The metal pillar lunged through the air.
And then, it pierced everything.
Everything that existed before me.
【Power?】
In the air, a golden flame with a gaping hole in its chest appeared.
Everything behind it was destroyed, leaving a long, hollow trail.
I probably pierced all the way through the Demon Train’s skin and reached the Otherworld. Even I thought the power was insane.
Thud.
Along with the sound of the massive metal hitting the ground, the price for that immense power immediately returned to me.
The recoil from the single shot of the Pile Bunker Lance had torn my arm away.
It had drained every drop of mana, leaving me without even the strength to regenerate.
Still, I had achieved my goal.
The Enemy’s Main Body had been caught.
I wanted to scream, ‘Attack, you bastards!’ but I didn't have the strength.
I simply watched the attacks pouring toward Dam, whose chest was pierced.
My comrades, though they couldn't even maintain their postures, were unleashing countless attacks as if they had poured all their strength into them just like I had.
The barrage of attacks from my allies was about to strike The Enemy.
Dam simply waved a hand through The Hole in its chest, looking as if it didn't understand what was happening.
A perfect chance for victory.
With that much power, we should be able to bring down that flame.
The damage from the automatic counter-attack… if we dealt with it immediately, it shouldn't be a major problem.
Believing that, I was about to close my eyes and collapse when…
Whoosh.
Flames erupted.
Three golden fires.
From where Al’shel stood.
From where Grix stood.
From where Iron Man stood.
Before the attacks even landed.
Even though they weren't the parts used for the attack.
They just… ignited.
【Ene…my….】
Only then did Dam look around at the three of them for the first time.
As if it had felt something for the first time.
But soon, as if it had lost interest, it turned its gaze back toward The Core.
With The Hole still gaping in its chest, it walked past me as I knelt on the ground.
I wanted to grab it by the ankles, even if they were made of fire.
But there wasn't a scrap of mana left inside me.
Only a hollow interior, incapable of even Amplification, remained.
Hahaha.
So this is what a true 'End' looks like.
The thing that appeared in Nanjido was an unstable one.
An Avatar manifested in filth, not even a proper Pillar.
To them, we were as good as non-existent.
I felt that bone-deep through this battle.
That thing was an existence one should never fight.
But I couldn't just collapse like this.
Crunch.
I bit into my severed arm lying nearby and forced it down my throat.
Surely, there would be at least a tiny bit of mana left in here.
Believing that, I swallowed the flesh.
A faint… a truly faint amount of mana returned.
This is enough.
And then, I used Amplification.
Boom.
An explosion that couldn't actually be heard.
Enduring the explosion that occurred inside me, I forced my knees up from the ground.
With a body I didn't know how much longer would last.
And toward The Enemy that was ignoring us.
I threw a punch.
Did it perceive that as hostility?
Golden fire bloomed across its entire body, dyeing my vision golden.
But I didn't stop.
I simply leapt up and swung at its head.
It was a punch thrown with the resolve of a suicide mission.
But no reaction came back.
My fist merely split the flames.
The Enemy didn't even spare me a glance.
And so, we were defeated.
The power gained from Amplification was exhausted with that single punch.
I fell to my knees once more.
Just before losing consciousness, I gritted my teeth and looked at Dam.
Somewhere, something glinted.
Perhaps it was my torn-off arm, shining.