Wolf King Robo (1)
The spirit departed, leaving me to stare down the eerie black path it had carved out.
The path split into two easy-to-walk lanes at first, paved with charred trees that had collapsed into ash.
But as I pressed forward, the scorching grew milder—blackened char fading to mere soot—until ordinary green trees dotted the way.
No one's here…
Strangely, I hadn't sensed a single sign of life around me for a while now.
Not even small birds or the tiniest insects—as if every living thing in the area had detected that one presence ahead and hidden itself away.
Of course, the fire I'd set played a part, but this was clearly instinctual caution toward whatever lay waiting.
The original story had descriptions just like this: when a powerful demon beast appeared, nearby animals would flee.
I didn't doubt for a second I'd win, but facing what was probably the strongest opponent of my life had my nerves on edge anyway.
Robo's combat power was at least on par with Peter van Fortress, no matter how conservatively I estimated. Two hundred years ago, the Royal Knights had deemed even their full order—minus the captain—insufficient to handle it.
A demon beast equivalent to an entire Royal Knights order.
Just imagining what kind of monster it was, what abilities it might unleash—it thrilled me so much my hands trembled uncontrollably.
The thought of the unknown powerhouse waiting ahead quickened my steps naturally.
"……!"
My relentless advance halted abruptly at one point.
Even from a considerable distance, a ferocious killing intent had set every hair on my body on end, surging toward me.
Unlike human warriors who hid their malice while sharpening blades behind your back, Robo broadcast its intent openly—almost purely, in a way.
It's growing on me more by the second!
I wanted to yank out its fangs like a dentist and forge them into a sword, pronto.
Before I knew it, my slow steps had turned into a blind sprint toward Robo.
The closer I got, the sharper its blade-like killing intent stabbed into me.
"Hah…!"
At the end of my reckless charge—like a kid rushing to meet their idol—loomed a colossal demon beast unlike any I'd seen.
For scale, a regular wolf wasn't even comparable; it matched an elephant, maybe a whale.
Silver fur gleaming brighter under the chilling full moon belonged to the beast called Robo.
Robo glared at me with eyes brimming with murderous fury, as if ready to rip out my throat.
Even at this visible distance, its intense aura and demonic energy pressed down from afar.
That's some serious aura…!
Demon beasts naturally exuded demonic energy, but wielding aura like a human was exceedingly rare.
Whether awakened before its transformation or not, the aura cloaking its body alongside the demonic energy was refined, brimming with skill.
It made sense. For the past two hundred years since its master Pier's death, Robo had guarded the corpse while honing its aura relentlessly.
This wasn't just any demon beast—it was a Sword Master in beast form. That was the right way to think of it.
"Hoo…."
Catching my breath, I didn't charge blindly this time. Hand on my hilt, I approached Robo slowly.
In turn, Robo bared its fangs at my advance but held still, simply watching me.
The closer I drew, the more viciously its face twisted.
"Grrrrrr!!! "
Unable to tolerate my further approach, Robo finally snapped its jaws wide—and aura began gathering at the center of its maw.
Demon beasts often gained new powers post-transformation.
I braced to dodge, expecting flames or frost breath—then it launched.
"Awooooo~!!"
A howl.
The first sound that came to mind for wolves. Meant for communication normally, but Robo clearly had no such intent.
-BOOM!!
The instant the howl rang out, explosions erupted everywhere—like bombs pre-planted inside everything around us.
The original story had a similar attack, so identifying it didn't take long.
This was sound—vibration infused with aura, detonating it from within targets.
Seeing the shockwave plow forward, exploding all in its path, I understood why the knights had retreated.
No matter their coordination, the knights weren't Sword Masters.
Even in numbers, they'd shatter under that assault—pointless deaths.
…Not the time for that line of thought.
While I mulled irrelevant details, the shockwave closed in.
But fear? None. I already knew how to counter it.
-Shing!
My sword flashed from its sheath in a white arc, shredding the air like a wall.
To neutralize aura in sound? Simple: match it with the same method.
My shockwave surged forward like Robo's, clashing head-on.
The auras collided with a deafening roar, scattering in all directions.
Zzt zzt.
Faint upward-scattered aura grazed my skin, tingling like static electricity over my body.
Robo felt it too—fur slightly bristled—as it charged me.
I didn't charge back. Hand on hilt, I waited.
No room to waste stamina needlessly. Preserve it fully—let the beast come to me….
-Whoosh!!
Robo halted mid-charge, then leaped skyward.
I'd half-expected it from the stories, but the suddenness left me staring blankly.
It jumped insanely high. High enough to punch through clouds and hit the moon, my dumb brain joked.
Yes. Out of sight, beyond my vision.
Fuck…!!
I grasped its intent about three seconds after the leap.
From the heavens, it tore clouds asunder—countless slashes rained toward me.
Like "raining arrows," but slashes—uncannily precise, as if it saw me from afar.
I deflected some, dodged others by a hair's breadth.
Hid amid trees out of sight, but they tracked like guided missiles.
Not just vision—scent and aura pinpointed my position perfectly.
First time I'm jealous of a dog's nose…
Thinking that, I emerged into open ground, ready for its descent.
No wings; no matter the height, it'd land eventually.
Dodging slashes while waiting, Robo soon reappeared through the clouds.
"Battōjutsu!!"
I unleashed a full-power Vacuum Slash at the plummeting beast.
Sensing it, Robo twisted nimbly—but no agility changed its massive bulk.
"Grooo!!"
Not as devastating as its own, but vacuum blades shredded its body.
Blood sprayed in a rainbow-like arc, whipped by wind across the sky.
Robo groaned miserably, plummeting limply unlike its vigorous leap.
I closed in for the follow-up—then froze at the sight before me.
What the hell…!
Wounds that would've killed a man or lesser beast regenerated before my eyes.
Visible-speed healing felt more like a movie from Earth than reality.
In a blink, all mended; it began rising. I was stunned.
Dragging this out is dangerous…!
Determined to end it now, I channeled aura into my legs.
It exploded, propelling me like a bullet toward Robo.
-Shing!!
Iaijutsu: One Flash—steel scraping sheath, faster and fiercer than standard.
Aimed at its throat—but….
-ZZZzt!!
The neck didn't sever. Like my slash on Peter once, the ground split instead.
"……Leyline?"
The mutter slipped out involuntarily.
I'd expected aura, but not leyline manipulation.
Sheathing swiftly, I leaped back as the recovered Robo prepared its assault.
But it didn't charge—instead, just glared.
Why isn't it attacking…!
The answer hit quick.
Leyline wasn't just shunting impacts into the earth.
Its terror lay in claiming the earth's flowing power as its own.
Focusing senses on Robo and the ground beneath, I felt pure energy surging into it.
Its body ballooned like a inflating balloon.
Body alone, I'd rejoice at more targets—but aura and demonic energy swelled too.
"…Ah."
Now several times original size, cloaked in dizzying demonic energy and aura, I thought:
…This is kinda fucked, huh?