95
My Villains Chapter 95
24. Boss Phase (5)
I had completely forgotten. About that monster called the Underground Lord.
No, rather than forgetting... I couldn't even imagine that monster would burst out to the surface.
In the game, the 'Altar' encounter was like that. After playing hide and seek, the ending was just the stupid Underground Lord scratching around in its burrow.
But the real Underground Lord wasn't such a docile creature. It had managed to break through the collapsed tunnel and escape.
So the crisis I'm in now is the price of failing to distinguish between game and reality.
Kuwaooo-!
My body instinctively freezes at the roar that could be either rage or joy. I desperately moved my feet while shouting.
"Everyone, run!"
With that shout, the paralysis lifted, and I rolled forward to grab Ellen in my arms while kicking off the railing.
Bang!
Almost simultaneously, the Underground Lord pounced on the lighthouse. The lighthouse, reinforced with thick timber and brick, was demolished as if it exploded.
Falling from the lighthouse, I slid down the market stall's awning. As soon as my feet touched the ground, I ran without looking back.
"Phoe, *gasp* Phoenix, that thing-"
"Cast the spell!"
"Spirit of Dance!"
Finally breaking free from panic, Ellen began to chant the spell.
Grrrr!
It feels like the Underground Lord's breath is on my nape.
With all my body hair standing on end, I drew up my blood energy. My blood heated up and circulated fiercely.
With a sensation like the ground was folding, I darted between the market stalls and the fortification. However, given the huge difference in our sizes, getting caught was just a matter of time.
"Devartar ventum-!"
At that moment, Ellen completed her spell. The summoned Spirit of Dance immediately poured magic into its feather decorations.
"Where, where should we run?"
"Go to the Prince!"
"What?"
Ellen's eyes widened. Before she could protest, I quickly spoke.
"Tell him to *gasp* fire the artillery! The eyes, aim for the eyes."
"Me, alone? We,"
"I'll *ugh* lure it away, hurry and go!"
"But, but I..."
"Go! Signal when you're ready!"
"Kyaah!"
Using my running momentum, I threw Ellen into the sky. The Spirit of Dance immediately wrapped around her body, and she quickly soared upward.
Glancing at her blue eyes, I rolled across the ground. Broken flagstones grazed my cheek.
The Underground Lord's mere appearance had scattered the army.
Most soldiers forgot they were in battle with the enemy and fled in all directions. The one fortunate thing amid this disaster was that both pirates and merfolk fled in terror too.
That's how terrifying the Underground Lord's presence was. To give you an idea, even the Prince's proud knights were talking about retreating.
"Are you alright, my lord!"
"Urgh, I'm fine."
Prince Ulkar, who had barely escaped the lighthouse, spat out dust while staggering. Knight Liam supported the prince while speaking.
"We must flee. That monster is not something we can face!"
"Do you know what that monster is?"
To the Prince's question, the old knight Ariad answered.
"Even without knowing its identity, the danger remains the same. If it's something that can dispatch a sea giant in an instant, my lord, retreating is the right choice."
The Prince straightened his posture and his eyes flashed.
"Right? Who decides that?"
"...I apologize, my lord. I overstepped."
"I made my decision to capture Osred and save this city."
By then, Ankir, Langbolt, Master Rimond, and the cavalry had gathered around. Of the army that had numbered a thousand, only about fifteen remained.
Prince Ulkar looked around at them and declared, "I will not change my words out of fear of some mere monster. Nor will I run away. The fate given to me is not so light a thing."
Shing.
The Prince drew two swords. One was a longsword with a wavelike blade, the other a dagger transparent as ice.
Commander Harald's most loyal infantry had also arrived nearby by now. As if welcoming them, Prince Ulkar showed a beautiful smile.
"What will you all do?"
Langbolt, who had been fiddling with his mustache, smiled and answered.
"Regrettably, we are already men caught up in the grand fate called Ulkar."
Ankir added while shaking blood from his two-handed sword, "Langbolt speaks true, my lord. Please spare us the humble questions and lead us."
Liam pulled out a handkerchief from inside his breastplate and wiped the blood from his gauntlet.
Though he said nothing, this familiar action showed his resolve.
In that moving moment as determination solidified...
Whoosh.
"There! Look over there!"
Sergeant Gilbert shouted while pointing at the sky. At the tip of his finger was a small figure riding the wind. Golden hair cutting through the air...
The Prince, knights, and soldiers quietly opened their mouths.
"...Golden wings."
"A symbol of victory."
Under the brilliant sun, a beautiful maiden descended to the ground.
Like a divine messenger appearing before predestined victory, a scene worthy of anyone's admiration-
"Prince Ulkar, where are you!"
-Was shattered by that urgent and irritable shout.
Snap.
"Gah!"
The Underground Lord's claws deeply slashed my calf. I tried to get up while rolling on the ground, but my leg wouldn't listen and I fell back down.
"Gasp, wheeze, ugh."
I crawled on the ground like a dog. Just as I hid my body under the retaining wall, there was a loud bang and rocks poured down from above.
Damn, shit, curse it, dammit!
I swallowed anger with each inhale and spat curses with each exhale while desperately struggling.
Grrrr.
When I look back at the spine-chilling growl, split pupils were staring right at me.
"Ughhhh!"
The only reason I've managed to stay alive until now was because that monster's hunger had lessened.
If it had been hungry, this thrilling chase would have ended long ago.
In other words, I was now just being toyed with as the Underground Lord's plaything.
"Huff, huff, hoo."
Though the situation was maddening, I couldn't exactly charge straight into that monster's maw.
I continued my escape using every method possible, and thanks to that, it seemed the monster's interest would last a bit longer.
Splash!
I jumped into the sea and swam desperately. Shedding my tattered armor turned out to be a smart move.
With my lightened body, I swam nimbly and hid under the floating corpses of groupers.
Grrrr!
While the Underground Lord was snorting, I quickly drew Hrunting and stabbed it into a grouper's corpse.
Slosh, slosh.
My blood energy, drawn to its limit, rapidly sucked in blood.
The Underground Lord lifted one leg and started stabbing at the water's surface with its claws. By the time I had sucked the blood from two groupers, its claws were striking quite close.
Bubble bubble!
I screamed silently while moving my limbs. Leaping up like a dolphin onto the dock, I heard an excited growl behind me.
Once again, the chase.
This chase full of artificial thrills soon met an unexpected change.
Utequais suddenly jumped out from atop the collapsed retaining wall.
"Darran, recmosa-!"
A thunderous shout.
Surrounded by steam bursting from his ring, he leaped targeting the Underground Lord's head. And, bang!
Maul of Slonhe struck the snake-like head.
Grrrng!
The Underground Lord staggered slightly but immediately stamped down on Utequais with its leg.
At that moment, the constellation carved on his broad back flashed darkly. But even the night sky's blessing tattoo couldn't block the Underground Lord's powerful strike.
Crack.
With a sound like stone splitting, the tattoo's power scattered. The sharp claws struck Utequais right after.
"Gahk!"
Thanks to blocking with Dolme, he wasn't cut in half, but Utequais bounced like a ball and was buried in a pile of rocks.
"Damn, *gasp* crap."
When Utequais showed no movement, the Underground Lord immediately turned its head toward me.
Shit, why is this bastard only after me.......
Facing those pupils as big as my torso, the fighting spirit I'd forcibly summoned vanished like dust.
Just as I was about to turn and run, Utequais, buried in the pile of rocks, shouted again.
"Guuuaaah!"
What emerged roaring like a beast was a berserker with eyes completely blackened.
"...Berserk?"
Utequais seemed to have completely lost his rationality, drool dripping from his mouth.
The Underground Lord was such an overwhelming opponent that talking about weight classes was meaningless. But looking at those blackened eyes, he seemed beyond such calculations.
"Damn it."
I could have used Utequais as bait and run...
But the Underground Lord was targeting me. Probably following the scent of blood offered at the altar.
If I ran now, that thing would follow me to the end. In that case, better to coordinate an attack with Utequais.
Woong.
I kicked the ground while drawing the Blood Blade. While I was weaving between its blade-like legs, the Underground Lord was striking Utequais with its claws.
The berserker, who had given himself over to rage, swung Dolme against the incoming claws. It seemed like a ridiculous attempt, but, Kang!
Kieeek!
Insane, the claw broke? Is that even possible?
Ah. If you combine the buff from the Ring of Slaughter with the strength bonus from going berserk... His strength must have jumped to the mid-30s.
Maybe Utequais could be hope-
Bang
-that thought lasted only a moment as the enraged Underground Lord's tail strike sent his large frame soaring into the sky. Watching him fly like a baseball, I gritted my teeth.
"Huup!"
Having reached under the Underground Lord's belly somehow, I kicked off the ground and thrust Hrunting upward.
Squelch!
Though the blade sank in more than halfway, compared to the monster's massive body, it was little more than a thick needle.
While not life-threatening, it was enough to cause pain.
Kiiek!
The startled monster shrieked sharply and thrashed its body wildly.
I let go of the sword handle and quickly threw myself down, managing to avoid its thrashing by lying flat on the ground.
Kiii, kieeek!
Meanwhile, Hrunting dug even deeper into it.
It was incredibly satisfying to see it unable to pull out the long needle stuck in its belly, only able to scream.
Krung, krrrr!
From its angry growling, it seemed playtime was over. Now it would probably tear me to shreds and toss me into its maw.
Maybe because my blood was heated up? Strangely, I wasn't scared. Just...
"Huff, huff."
Just try to swallow me. Even if I have to burst all my blood, I'll tear your throat apart - I was only steeling my resolve.
Kuwao-
Bang!
The angry cry was weakly cut off. A well-timed fireball had struck its flank.
While I was mentally shouting 'Nice, Ellen!', the Underground Lord growled with rage.
As dark red scales burned and fell off, it turned toward where the fireball had been shot from.
What greeted the Underground Lord were artillery pieces ready to fire.
"Fire!"
At Prince Ulkar's command, four giant arrows were shot at once.
Due to the Underground Lord's movement, two arrows barely missed, but two hit.
One deeply pierced its chest, and the other...
Kieeek!
Destroyed one of its eyes!
Having lost an eye, the Underground Lord scraped the ground while twisting its body wildly as if trying to express the terrible pain.
I had to crawl to avoid getting caught in its thrashing. By the time I managed to climb up the collapsed retaining wall, the Underground Lord had collected itself.
Krrrr.
For better or worse, I was no longer its target. The Underground Lord was glaring at the human who had shouted just before the artillery fired.
Far away, on the retaining wall lined with artillery pieces.
Even while receiving the monster's murderous gaze, the prince was laughing.
"Yes, here lies the fate that will devour you! Come at me, monster!"
Kieek!
Seeing the prince provoking with arms spread wide, the Underground Lord lost its reason and charged.
Though it had lost an eye, had a broken claw, a burning flank, and large needles stuck in its chest and belly, its charge was still threatening.
"Ugh!"
I instinctively threw myself and grabbed onto the passing tail.
While the Underground Lord passed the dock and crawled up the embankment, I climbed up its massive body by inserting my fingertips between its scales.
"Waves, surge forth!"
Along with a half-hoarse voice, a water spirit in the form of a boy blocked the Underground Lord's path. Then it swung its fist, which had swollen to the size of a house.
Splash!
As the massive body hesitated with a wet sound, the knights guarding the embankment all rushed in at once.
"Hyaah!"
A fierce battle cry. I saw a large knight swinging his long two-handed sword like a switch. It was Lord Ankir.
Lord Liam in his gleaming armor was also visible. He had rolled on the ground after being hit by claws, but got back up like a roly-poly toy and charged again.
"Hey, Phoenix!"
With a shout, a blue figure landed beside me. Looking again, the man clinging to the scales was a knight wearing a blue cloak.
"Lord Langbolt?"
"Haha, were you having fun by yourself?"
Having said that, Lord Langbolt demonstrated movements as quick as a cat climbing up curtains.
"What are you doing! You must avenge your previous defeat!"
...Has his brain been pickled in adrenaline? He really seems like a madman.
Whoosh, Bang!
Another fireball exploded.
This time it must have hit the chest area, as flames flowed along both sides of the Underground Lord's body.
As the overflowing flames began to die down, I quickly moved along the flank to the front.
I can see Hrunting stuck in the middle of its belly. I jumped like a frog and stretched out my hand to grab Hrunting's handle. I was planning to swing the sword while hanging from its belly, but swoosh!
"Huh, what the hell?"
Hrunting came out smoothly, cutting through the rotting flesh and scales!
Crash!
"Ugh,"
After rolling pathetically on the ground, I could see the blue sky.
Just then, a shadow passed by. Only after blinking several times could I recognize that the shadow was Prince Ulkar.
Stab!
The blade engraved with wave patterns dug deep into the monster's mouth.
Screech,
The Underground Lord, seemingly realizing its life was in danger, desperately shook its head.
"Die - quietly!"
Lord Langbolt, who had somehow climbed up to its neck, slashed at the neck muscles with his sword. The angry head movements quickly lost their force.
Kuwaoo-
The massive body fell sideways. Soldiers near the old fort burst into cheers.
It was premature celebration.
Grrrr.
The Underground Lord sprawled on the embankment and began struggling with its three pairs of legs. It was a desperate struggle to escape to the sea.
I pulled out the Blood Blade and shouted roughly.
"We can't let it escape!"
"Damn it, stop it!"
It remembered my blood scent. Must be the effect of activating the 'Altar'. We need to eliminate any future threats somehow.
The knights wouldn't know the detailed situation. But it was obvious that nothing good would come from letting that monster escape.
I and three knights immediately rushed in, but no matter how sharp our swords were, it was nearly impossible to stop such a massive monster.
"You, disgusting bastard!"
I launched myself and deeply stabbed my blade into its tail. Though I persistently drained blood through Hrunting, it kept crawling toward the sea without even looking back.
"Ugh."
Then suddenly, it flicked its tail and threw me off like shaking away an annoying bug.
Even though other knights were hacking at its sides, the Underground Lord just knocked them away with its legs and showed no signs of stopping.
That's when it happened.
"Everyone, step back!"
The prince's voice. Prince Ulkar had somehow already nocked an arrow and was drawing his bow.
Crack!
Blue sparks flew from the arrow on the bowstring. I gaped at the sight.L
"A magic arrow?"
"Hurry!"
At the firm shout, the knights scattered back, and the prince released the bowstring.
The arrow, transformed into lightning, flew dozens of meters and struck the Underground Lord's neck. It pierced exactly where Lord Langbolt had torn open the wound.
...Wait, he hit that? Are you Robin Hood or something?
Screeeeee-
The Underground Lord, suddenly electrocuted, writhed uncontrollably. Just like a centipede hit with pesticide, it was bending its waist and legs in bizarre directions.
Grrr-
Even after taking such a beating, it wouldn't die. It really is an incredibly tough creature.
As the electric shock subsided, its hate-filled single eye turned toward Prince Ulkar again. With its gaze fixed like that, it writhed its body and attempted a final charge.
"My lord, please dodge!"
"Stop it!"
Though most of its long body was paralyzed and its legs couldn't move, dozens of meters was practically point-blank range for the Underground Lord.
Facing that fierce charge, Prince Ulkar glanced behind him.
After quickly surveying his personal guards, the prince,
"...Huff."
Drew two swords and steadied his breathing. It seemed he had no intention of running away.
Watching this, I quickly kicked off the ground. Having been knocked back by the Underground Lord's tail, I was the closest to the prince.
But before I could thrust my sword, the Underground Lord's charge reached the prince.
Kuwaoo! As it opened its maw wide, Prince Ulkar threw himself diagonally and slashed with his longsword.
Stab!
The longsword was driven into its empty eye socket, but the prince had to pay a price.
"Urgh!"
His left arm holding the dagger was half-bitten by the creature.
Crunch, Crackle!
The sound of armor and flesh being chewed together.
Moreover, the prince's arm was being sucked in by the saw-like teeth. At this rate, his entire upper body would be swallowed in an instant.
"My lord!"
"No-!"
Knights were running towards us, crying out in horror. By then, I was already airborne.
"Hyaah!"
Leaping like a long jumper, I thrust Hrunting with all my weight behind it.
Swoosh.
The gleaming red blade sank deep into the Underground Lord's nape. Deep enough for the crossguard to touch its scales.
Gurgle, gurgle!
...Seriously, still?
The Underground Lord, blood streaming from its mouth, stubbornly ground its jaw as if determined to at least take Prince Ulkar with it.
"No, kill it!"
"Finish it!"
The knights shouted as if spitting blood.
"Damn it."
Panicked, I put my weight on the handle and frantically slashed at the Underground Lord's neck. Still, its jaws wouldn't stop. It had life force beyond imagination.
While it was a situation where anyone would panic, Prince Ulkar remained calm. After making a quick decision, the prince,
"Grrrr!"
Gritting his teeth, he jerked his back in one motion. He tore off his own left arm that was caught in the Underground Lord's mouth!
Then, using that momentum, he drove the longsword in his right hand even deeper into the eye socket. So deep that his shoulder disappeared from view.
Screech.
With its brain destroyed, the Underground Lord died after a brief convulsion.
When the monster fell silent, everything became quiet for a moment.
"...It's over."
The prince, after landing on the ground, walked a few steps before collapsing.
Then, as if on cue, shouts erupted from all directions.
"My lord, my lord!"
"Get a priest, bring Gospatrick-!"
Around the time Lord Ankir was about to carry the prince on his back, raindrops began to fall one by one from the sky.
I landed on the ground, covered in blood. Then, as if I were a spectator at a play, I blankly watched the prince being carried away. Then I turned to look at the sea where ripples were spreading from the raindrops.
The pirates and merfolk had already fled. The 'Priest of the Abyss,' who should have played the role of Chapter 2's boss in the game, was nowhere to be seen.
The priest who should have died had escaped, and the Robber Baron who should have escaped had died. The man destined to become the King of Slaughter had saved the city at the cost of an arm.
Plop, plop plop plop!
The rain grew heavier.
How would this affect the future scenario? How would the future I knew change?
While pondering this, a small figure came staggering through the air.
"Phoenix!"
Was it because her magic was depleted? Ellen's face had gone beyond pale to ashen.
"You, blood, ack!"
As she was descending from the embankment, she suddenly fell like a kite with its string cut.
"Ah,"
I snapped to attention and quickly launched myself. Almost falling over, I caught Ellen, and she grabbed my face.
"You, blood, blood."
"Blood?"
Following her wildly shaking eyes, I saw my quilted clothes were completely soaked in blood.
"What, what do we do, we don't have any potions, quickly to the church."
Ellen, who had been hiding behind the embankment, hadn't seen the end of the battle. It was natural for her to misunderstand seeing my condition.
A smile escaped my lips.
"Idiot, this isn't the time to-"
"This isn't my blood."
"...Huh?"
The blood washed away in the pouring rain.
Through the torn and burst armor, firm flesh was revealed. Not even a scratch remained on the smooth skin that had regenerated completely.
"Were you worried?"
At the playful question, the blue eyes looking up at me grew wet.
Maybe from raindrops splashing, Ellen squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in my chest.
"Of course, you fool..."
I buried my face in her golden hair that gleamed in the rain. The silk-like sensation and subtle lime fragrance.
That vivid sense of reality made me quietly, and once again, shiver.