Chapter 68: The Underground Giant (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: The Underground Giant (2)
Before long, we reached a sprawling plaza constructed entirely from the giant’s massive bones. In the original game, this was the designated area to form a party and grind for EXP before confronting Elphelt the Evanescent.
Lisetta furrowed her brows at the sight before us.
Vibrant pink and red elephants swayed in a grotesque, joyful dance. These were demons—their ears were shredded, their faces were twisted into eerie grins, and they hummed discordant tunes through their trunks.
A slender "drummer" elephant pounded on drums made of raw flesh with its elongated trunk, keeping a rhythmic beat.
A "guitarist" elephant plucked at magical instruments carved from bone with rapid, tapping motions.
A "singer" elephant wailed in an unknown tongue, weaving a melodic yet haunting song.
A chorus of elephants stood in a line, their voices clashing in a cacophony of dissonance.
The elephant demons were so utterly lost in their peculiar music that they continued to dance in circles, until…
[Buoooo───?]
The Fall—the elephant demons—noticed our approach and froze. Their large, round, black eyes turned toward us in perfect unison.
♪…
The music died instantly, leaving nothing but a heavy silence.
[Dance, buooh?]
The lead elephant stepped forward, offering me a mocking proposition.
After a brief pause, the rest of the herd erupted into hysterical laughter, their torn mouths splitting wide open.
[Bukyakyakyakyakyakyak!! Bukyakyakyakak─────!!]
[Buoooh────! Baaaastarddd, Bakyayayayakak──!]
[Bukyakyakyakya──! Buhak! Bukyakyakyakyakyakyakya────!!]
[Boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo────!!!]
The elephants clutched their bellies and rolled on the floor, laughing uncontrollably. They stomped their thick feet in a merry applause, revealing toothless, black maws as they cackled.
Perhaps I can make use of Eden here.
“Eden, put Ian down.”
At my command, Eden let out a soft “Kyuu” and gently lowered the unconscious Ian to the ground.
This was the Music Square. In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, it was the one place where you could safely go all out. The bones forming the floor were designed to absorb impact, preventing the vibrations from disturbing the giant’s main body.
[…Kyuu?!]
The moment [Hunter] activated, a dense surge of rock mana flooded toward Eden.
Eden’s eyes widened in shock.
His body began to swell, growing larger by the second. Flat boulders materialized out of thin air, layering themselves over his frame like heavy armor.
His piercing eyes glowed with power as he transformed into a solid, four-meter-tall humanoid golem.
*
[Eden]
Lv: 130
Race: Magic Beast
Element: Rock
Danger: X
Psychology: [Amazed by his overflowing power.]
*
“Take them down.”
[Kyuuuaaahh───!]
With a deafening roar, Eden lunged forward. He moved with incredible speed for his size, leaving a vacuum of wind in his wake. His massive stone fist slammed into one of the Fall.
Pow──!
A sound like a cannon blast echoed through the square. The elephant’s body was sent hurtling through the air, only stopping when it collided with a massive bone fragment.
It hit the ground, lifeless.
Startled, the remaining Fall hastily deployed blood magic circles, unleashing a barrage of crimson spells.
However, the magic couldn't even leave a scratch on Eden’s reinforced body.
[Kyuuoooooh───!]
Eden leaped into the air. A swarm of yellowish rocks manifested around him, clinging to his fists like magnets.
He brought his colossal fists down on the center of the plaza.
Kwaaaaaaaah───!!!
The bone floor shattered. Every single member of the Fall was crushed instantly.
It wasn't a fight; it was an extermination—a display of overwhelming, raw power.
‘Impressive.’
My heart swelled with pride. It was hard to believe this was the same little golem I knew.
“Argh… Kaya… I have to save Kaya…”
Just then, Ian groaned. He slowly pushed himself up, clutching his head as he regained consciousness.
I quickly reached for my camouflage disguise to hide my face.
Whooooosh— Clang!
“Ugh!”
At that exact moment, a stray chunk of bone, kicked up by Eden’s devastating attack, flew through the air in a perfect arc and struck Ian squarely in the forehead.
Ian let out a pained yelp and keeled over, falling flat on his back. He was out cold again, with a fresh trickle of blood running down his brow.
What a ridiculous turn of events… at least I didn't need to worry about the disguise anymore.
[Bugyak….]
The crushed remains of the Fall let out one final groan before crumbling into ashen dust and vanishing.
Silence returned to the square.
Eden landed with a heavy thud. The rocks covering his body dissipated into a fine brown powder, and his frame shrank back down to two meters.
[Kyuu, Kyuu─!]
*
[Eden]
Psychology: [Surprised by how strong he briefly became.]
*
So, Level 130 was his current limit.
If he keeps leveling up, he’ll eventually rival the highest-tier familiars.
[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 69!]
[You have gained 2 stat points!]
I leveled up. Nice.
“Come on, Eden. Pick Ian up again.”
[Kyuu!]
Eden rushed over and scooped Ian back into a princess carry. I signaled for Lisetta to follow.
“…”
Come to think of it, when did Lisetta get so quiet?
*
[Lisetta Lionheart]
Psychology: [Feeling inferior, doubtful, and fearful in your presence.]
*
…Well, the reason was obvious. I decided to ignore her for now.
As we passed through a wide, rib-like archway, we entered a cavernous, dome-shaped chamber that took our breath away.
We had reached the abdomen of the Underground Giant.
“Where are we…!?”
Lisetta gasped in shock, but I quickly clamped my hand over her mouth.
“Quiet.”
“…”
She nodded frantically, and I released her. We pressed on.
The mana here scattered a bright crimson light, serving as our only illumination. The walls bubbled with a substance like living blood, and the ceiling emitted a sickly red glow against the dark hue of the ribs.
Below us, a sheer cliff dropped off into total darkness.
A path made of flesh-like pillars led straight to the center of the room. At the end of the path stood the torso of a giant red elephant, its head resembling a massive, exposed brain.
It was the main body of Elphelt the Evanescent.
‘Wait, what’s going on?’
For some reason, the creature hung limp. Its head was bowed, lifeless as a corpse. In the game, it should have been performing a bizarre dance to greet us.
…And then, it happened.
Crack—
In the center of the giant elephant’s brain-like head, a figure sat up.
Her long, flowing hair and white school shirt were drenched in the demon’s blood, stained a deep, visceral scarlet. The liquid trailed down her pale skin. After a moment of hesitation, she swallowed and wiped the blood from her lips.
Her usually vibrant emerald eyes had turned a chilling, lifeless red. They were vacant, devoid of even a glimmer of humanity.
Then, as soon as she caught sight of us, her cheeks flushed. A mysterious, haunting smile crept onto her lips.
“Isn’t that… the second seat…?” Lisetta’s voice trembled with alarm.
Perched atop the head of the gigantic elephant demon, a light green-haired girl peered down at us. It was Kaya Astrea—the boss who had awakened as both a blood wizard and a demon.
*
[Kaya the Ravenous]
Lv: 160
Race: (Demon)
Elements: Wind, Ice, Plant, Blood
Danger: Extreme
Psychology: [Hopes you can stop her insatiable desire for slaughter.]
*
‘Why is Kaya appearing already?’
Even more shocking was her level. She was ten levels higher than she should have been in the original scenario.
I was taken aback for a split second, but I quickly regained my composure.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, Act 4, Chapter 3, "The Underground Giant," Kaya the Ravenous was a hidden boss who appeared only after the player defeated Elphelt. She was supposed to emerge from a whirlpool of blood as an incomplete blood wizard.
In that version, Elphelt would discard its own body and intelligence to become a parasite, using Kaya as a host.
However, the current Kaya seemed to have successfully awakened early. Elphelt had already abandoned its physical form and attached itself to her. Though I couldn't see it from here, I knew there was a red, earring-like object dangling from her right earlobe. That was Elphelt.
Kaya would be unable to suppress her murderous instincts now. She had no choice but to submit to the demon's will.
I’m sure that smile is Elphelt’s delight at finally having human prey to devour.
‘She’s still a long way from becoming a full-fledged demon, though…’
If I lost here, I’d hit the Bad Ending: 「Gluttony」. According to the lore, it would take half a day for her transformation to become permanent. There was still time to save her.
Kaya was likely ten levels higher because her awakening as a blood wizard was "complete" this time. Using blood mana had side effects, but they weren't fatal; they’d just become a permanent part of her character once this was over. In the game, those side effects were actually considered part of her "charm."
But why did she awaken so quickly?
‘…It must be because she resonated with plant mana earlier than expected.’
In the original story, Elphelt knew plant mana harmonized perfectly with blood mana. That was why he targeted her. But back then, Kaya couldn't use plant magic, so the awakening was flawed. This Kaya was already fully attuned to the element.
The two manas must have fused instantly. It was a variable I hadn't anticipated.
Regardless, it didn't change my plan. I was still stronger.
If I dealt a "fatal" blow to Kaya, Elphelt would be forced to protect her to ensure his own survival. He would then try to flee in a weakened state. That was when I would kill him, allowing Kaya to revert to her human form.
[…]
「Wind Generation (Wind Element, ★1)」 + 「Flower of Evil (Blood Element, ★6)」
= 「Carnage (Wind + Blood)」
Whoosh─!
A gust of reddish-green wind erupted, lifting Kaya the Ravenous into the air. The fierce gale swept the excess blood off her body like a high-pressure blast, though her uniform remained stained.
Amidst the gale dominating the chamber, Kaya gazed down at me.
I could see the crimson floral tattoo snaking down from her right cheek to her neck. It was the [Flower of Evil], the mark that appeared whenever she channeled blood mana.
Her lips twisted into an unreadable expression—half-smiling, half-crying. But the icy red glint in her eyes was locked onto me with lethal intent.
「Ice Barrier (Ice Element, ★6)」
I cast [Ice Barrier] around Lisetta, Ian, and Eden to protect them from the fallout of my own magic.
“Are you really going to fight her?” Lisetta asked.
I nodded.
[The demon has been recognized as an enemy.]
[The unique trait [Hunter] is activated!]
[Level and stats are temporarily and greatly enhanced!]
[The skill tree temporarily becomes +10!]
As I steeled myself, [Hunter] surged through my veins. I channeled rock mana to Eden one last time.
“Eden, protect Lisetta and Ian.”
[Kyuu!]
Eden nodded firmly. He would shield them from the shockwaves of the coming battle.
Kaya the Ravenous was constantly shrouded in mana, allowing her to glide through the air like a breeze. I remembered how much Ian struggled in the game because he couldn't fly and had to waste mana just to stay mobile.
I, however, had no such limitation.
Besides, if I stayed on this narrow bridge with the others, we’d all be sitting ducks.
I coiled my muscles and leaped toward the ceiling like a released spring.
Whoosh─!
Breaking through the wall of reddish-green wind, I soared to a height that rivaled the tallest skyscrapers.
“Are you even human?!” Lisetta screamed from below.
I ignored her.
"Come forth, Hilde."
I thrust my left arm forward, activating an 8-star familiar summoning circle.
A pale blue array manifested on my wrist. In response, the air condensed into pure white jade mana, expanding into the colossal form of a white dragon.
───────── [Kaaaaaah────!]
*
[Frost Dragon Hilde]
Lv: 180
Race: Magic Beast
Element: Ice
Danger: X
Psychology: [Delighted to fight alongside you.]
*
The 8-star magic beast, Frost Dragon Hilde, let out a world-shaking roar.
I landed firmly on the white dragon’s back, looking down at the battlefield.