Wolf King Robo (2)
When a being far larger than oneself appears before you, anyone would instinctively hesitate, regardless of whether it's friend or foe.
The smaller something is, the weaker it tends to be. The larger it is, the stronger.
This world was full of exceptions that shattered such common sense, but that didn't diminish the sheer intimidation of size.
Robo, having absorbed the power of the dragon vein and grown more than twice its original size, was terror incarnate.
Was this what Fenrir, the beast from Norse myth that swallowed Odin whole, looked like?
If I hadn't tempered not just my body but my mind through endless Battōjutsu training, I might have turned tail and run right then.
Robo lifted its head slowly, spewing an even greater surge of aura and demonic energy than before, its massively swollen body unaccustomed to the change—its movements dull, almost unworthy of a wolf.
As it raised its head and opened its eyes to glare at me, its gaze burned with a ferocity even more savage than earlier.
'It's so huge now... it probably can't move at the same speed as before, right?'
A stupid thought that didn't seem to come from my own head slipped out, making me chuckle despite myself.
Just because it's bigger means it's slower?
If size equaled slowness, then the speed Robo had shown earlier was something a beast over five meters long could achieve?
Its aura and demonic energy had swelled far beyond its body size. If anything, it was faster now, not slower.
I couldn't approach the enlarged Robo easily. My hand rested on the hilt, ready to respond at any moment.
Once Robo had fully adjusted, the intense aura swirling around it began concentrating in its legs.
I was already prepared to draw, but...
“……!!”
When I came to, I was soaring through the air. I hadn't taken a direct hit from whatever this attack was—no pain.
Lifting my head to assess, I saw Robo had shifted from west to east.
'A charge...?'
Just the wind pressure from charging straight ahead had launched me this high?
Realizing that, I looked down. The path Robo had taken was gouged like a giant finger had drawn a line.
'The speed itself is impressive. But...'
My guess: Robo couldn't fully control it.
It hadn't finished me in one go, and above all, it hadn't tapped the dragon vein's power—that was proof.
'It hasn't changed into that form often.'
The knight orders that could threaten it had retreated early, deeming swarm tactics useless against that shape.
Afterward, challengers were just grave robbers after relics. It could crush them without transforming. Even rare foes requiring the change weren't frequent.
I twisted midair and landed lightly. Now Robo watched me intently, as if adjusting its aim.
Honestly, with my current physical abilities, even reacting was impossible against that technique.
But while my body had limits, Battōjutsu did not.
A counter using Battōjutsu had just flashed in my mind.
Half a gamble, but my only option. I stepped forward with my left foot, hands positioned on hilt and scabbard, assuming the stance.
In that brief moment, a substantial amount of aura gathered in Robo's body—less than before, but still impressive.
It had sacrificed power and speed to ensure a hit this time.
'One wrong move, and I'm really dead...!!'
Forcing a grin amid the tension of possible death, I gently closed my eyes and drew.
A massive gust followed, and I felt something strike the hand gripping the hilt.
How do you parry an attack too fast to react to?
You can't block what you don't perceive.
So predict its onset from the signs and draw before it comes.
Opening my eyes would make me rely on vision unconsciously—a plan impossible with eyes open.
Before closing them, I'd read the aura and muscle twitches. This idiotic, suicidal strategy... shockingly succeeded.
Well, half-succeeded, technically.
“Gaaahhh!!”
An immense weight bore down on my sword hand, forcing a girlish scream.
Unable to withstand what felt like a skyscraper dropping, I sheathed the blade. Seizing Robo's momentary stagger, I slipped between its legs to evade the charge.
“Ngh...!!”
Free of the charge, I instinctively looked at my right hand, which had swung the sword.
Bones unbroken, no cracks—thank goodness. But repeating it? Obvious outcome.
'...Not a total loss.'
During the charge, I'd slashed Robo's nose—not deep, but enough.
It hurt or humiliated it badly; Robo grimaced fiercer, glaring savagely.
'Was uneasy at first, but maybe I can win like this...'
Then the ground shook. Dragon vein power surged into Robo again.
“You mad bastard?”
The second time, I clearly felt the dragon vein's flow toward it.
Absorbing it once more, Robo's body began changing again.
Not growing larger—good or bad, unclear. Instead, it shrank back toward its initial transformed size.
One difference: its wolf paws morphed into bear-like limbs.
Feeling a heaviness dwarfing Peter's hammer, cold sweat trickled down my cheek.
Chest and waist adjusted accordingly. Soon, Robo stood upright on two legs like a man.
'Werewolf...'
No human over five meters existed, but no better word fit the bipedal Robo.
Raising its head, it exhaled hot breath, lifted one arm high, and slammed it down.
“Ugh...!!”
The ground quaked; the impact uprooted trees.
Wind and dust reached me, but the real threat was...
Sharp sword aura.
Not from a blade but claws—so technically not sword aura, but plenty threatening. It surged through the ground toward me.
Dodging better than blocking. I leaped aside, but it homed in like a missile.
“?!”
Before I could react, a second aura shot my way, chasing tight on the first's heels.
'Magic...? No way...!!'
A wolf guarding a demon swordsman wouldn't cast spells.
Definitely aura, or dragon vein-related. My guess.
Pondering as the third followed, then fourth, fifth—dozens now.
Over ten, I realized.
'Sword aura traveling through the ground...?'
Normal sword aura rides wind; no reason to skim earth.
Why did Robo's?
'...Because it needs the ground?'
Reason for ground travel: one answer.
Dragon vein.
Pure energy pulsing through earth's veins like blood vessels.
If you can channel impact along it, why not fire power this way?
To fully awaken—not skim the surface—I closed my eyes.
To sense this earthly power, block out distractions.
Eyes shut, ears plugged, I dodged Robo's auras by skin sensation alone, focusing on the ground.
Vibrations from their passage reached my feet. Concentrating, I felt complex, vein-like flows tangled beneath.
This was the dragon vein—earth's purest energy.
How devastating if harnessed for Battōjutsu...
“Heeheehek!! Battōjutsu...!! Battōjutsuuuu...!!”
Imagining it, laughter bubbled uncontrollably.
To laugh in this situation... Have you lost your mind?
“What business?!”
[I'm here to give you one last chance. I can send you far away with my power...]
“Ptoo!! Fuck that!!”
I knew what came next and spat on the ground instead.
Flee at disadvantage? Not a warrior's way—least of all a Battōjutsu user's.
“To flee from battle is a warrior’s disgrace and lack of resolve—a coward unworthy of the warrior’s path!!!”
......You're completely mad.
With that, the spirit's voice vanished. No more interference with my Battōjutsu.
I leaped high, away from the auras, turned, and faced them head-on.
Dozens had become hundreds while I thought.
Throwing myself in? Shredded beyond recognition—no test needed.
Yet here I stood, no flight, defiant before power beyond my Battōjutsu.
I drew my katana and plunged it into the earth.
-Thud!!
The dragon vein's power flowed up the hilt.
Earlier, maybe not. But now, awakened to it, I could wield it.
'Regrettably, fresh to this power, I can't match Robo's mastery!!'
So fill the gap with Battōjutsu.
Maximizing dragon vein power, using earth as scabbard, I drew against the oncoming auras.
“Dragon Vein Battōjutsuuuuuuuu!!!!”
Dragon vein fused with earth's friction became an unprecedented torrent, clashing with Robo's auras.
Robo's superior control couldn't withstand Battōjutsu-enhanced dragon vein might.
My sword aura devoured them all, riding the earth straight for Robo.
“Grrrraaahh!!!”
Robo dodged aside like I had—foolish.
My aura chased via dragon vein, just as its had mine.
“……!!”
“Show it a hundred times, even a monkey learns!!”
Freshly awakened, but channeling into the vein? Simple.
Reverse of before: my aura overtook Robo via dragon vein, engulfing it like a gaping dragon maw.
A pitiful beast's wail echoed through the midnight forest.
Good work, Robo.
Your Wolf King power lives eternal in my katana.