Let's Do That Thing Again!

The thing? You idiot, it's obvious what "that thing" means. It's fusion!

Void Spawn Giant Serpent. They are monsters that dwell in another hell of Jotunheim, the deep shadow seas of Niflheim. They're said to have been born from Jormungandr's scales. Purple void energy seeps thickly between their scales. It would be poison to humans. To be honest, the giants of Jotunheim probably don't like them much. Even though they're categorized as monsters, they're still fellow 'Jotun' at the end of the day. They share the same roots but fight because their goals differ. Jotun who oppose the gods, yet they joined hands with those who follow the gods' will to stop their own kind's atrocities. It's a contradiction, but Tirgar saw light even within that contradiction.

The giant's roar created waves. Their running footsteps caused earthquakes. Their footprints resembled craters, and their trail looked like it would require redrawing the map. If there was anything fortunate about it, it was that the serpent's nest was land that needed to be destroyed anyway, so it didn't matter.

Giants and Vikings. An odd combination. In the middle of them, I unleashed the Holy Sword's light with all my might. It wasn't just for show. Sure, I'm secretly full of self-praise, but what can you do? I think I look cool, so that's that. The stronger the light, the more my power definitely increases. It can crush the serpent's hard scales and wound the flesh between them. That's what this radiance and this Holy Sword are for.

The Vikings running beside me looked a lot like Ragner. That damn barbarian bastard. I never want to see his face again, but at least he was the one who caused me the least harm. I'd get pissed when he caused trouble, but in the end I was the one who received the rewards, so he was helpful. The only thing that never changed was that he'd flip out and swing his axe like a madman if a woman he had his eyes on stuck to me.

If Lunaris and Fina hadn't been there, the two of us might have made a pretty good duo. But that's something that could never happen, and time has already passed. The past can't be undone, and in my heart, he's forever a fucking idiot and a son of a bitch. A face I never want to see again.

The way he helped me was by giving me stress. And in a way that put all of us in danger. Why? Because nobody fucking helped me. If Ragner caused trouble, I was the one cleaning up the mess. When monsters charged in, I was the one attacking while Lunaris ran away in fear. Fina only cast shields on Lunaris. Do you think that's a normal party? No, there's no concept of tank, DPS, or healer at all. If this were a game, they'd be the kind of bastards who'd get reported and have their usernames pinned in some gallery.

Just looking at that smug face of his makes me want to puke. Phlegm's rising in my throat. How long has it been since I quit smoking? This sensation feels truly nostalgic. Without thinking, I habitually spat it out.

"Khaaa, ptooey."

"Taesik. My foot is not a spittoon!"

...Ah. Tirgar was right in front of me.

"Sorry. I was thinking about some son of a bitch for a second."

"Today you're cleaning my foot with your own hands!"

"Ugh! I said I'm sorry!"

After that brief comedy skit, red eyes rose up. It was a Void Spawn Giant Serpent, its scales steeped in Jormungandr's void. The aftermath of the thing was so great that our vigorous battle cries as we charged sounded lonely. The wave-like sound crushing against our ears and the size surrounding the nest truly made for a spectacular sight. Looking up from below, its enormity felt even more overwhelming. The problem was that it wasn't just one—it was over ten of them.

"Catch the humans! Don't let them get swept away by the waves!"

"Everyone, stick to the Jotun!"

The amount of seawater rushing into the nest was more than I expected. I drew a circle in the air and chanted runes. Words offered to Odin. Originally it would be proper to pray under the tree closest to the gods, but I didn't have time for that now. Even I was seeing these things for the first time. I'd killed countless monsters in Helheim, but ones this big were a first. That didn't mean they were stronger than a legion commander or stronger than me, but as always, the 'what if' existed.

Light flickered, the nest floor shook with an earthquake, and a massive wall surged upward. Wide enough for everyone to stand on. Of course, it sucked up a ton of my mana. Fortunately, there were Vikings by my side. The sorcerers stuck to me and supplied mana. They were useful in many ways.

Fina, who was probably flirting with Lunaris somewhere, came to mind vividly. Tsk. Must be possessed by a demon. Some useless face is blocking my view. I slapped my cheeks and shook my head. When I came to my senses, the ground I'd created was high enough to meet the baby serpents' eyes. A good position to fight from. Since I'd connected it to land, the crashing waves wouldn't be a problem.

"Shields up!"

"Above your heads!"

"Advance!"

"Uwoh! Uwoh! Uwoh! Uwoh! Uwoh!"

The warriors in formation charged forward, blocking the void monsters' toxic breath. Tankers more useful than Ragner. I'm moved. While they held the line, I ran with Tirgar.

Thud. Thud. Thud!

Of course, I was on Tirgar's shoulder. The view was pretty great. So this is what they see? The wide-open panorama felt refreshing.

"Pissed off?"

"Looks pissed."

As expected of friends. Even our words match. Oh? Here it comes. Tirgar's axe struck the serpent's scales right then.

Clang!

It sounded like a hammer striking heated iron in a forge. Combined with the shockwave, it felt like my eardrums would burst. His massive body tilted. So it reflects the force that hits it back as is, huh? But! What if I overwhelm it with even greater force?

It was a hypothesis, but worth testing. Better than getting beaten without doing anything. Besides, even if it reflected the power I put out, I had the ability to block it. That's what you call a capable man. Tall, slim, muscular, former corporate slave. You'd die from how cool I am. So why the hell am I still a virgin?

Harboring that question, I ran. No, I seriously ran like crazy. I ran with all my pent-up frustration. I don't even know why. I just felt like it. Life is fucking bullshit.

You have to cut the target in one swift strike. That was the only way to reduce the recoil and avoid staggering like Tirgar. Should I do 'that' for the first time in a while?

"Tirgar! Let's do that thing again!"

"That thing?"

"You idiot. It's obvious what that thing is."

The masterpiece I created that emphasized speed more than anyone whenever we fought together. A drill that keeps carving away at hard rock. The drill's spiral repeats and repeats until it eventually pierces the target. It's the same now. I believe nothing can't be pierced when a rotating spiral meets speed. It was true before, and it's true now.

To my friend I hadn't seen in a long time, I entrusted my body. So I could cut through that serpent's scales and sever its neck.

"It's fusion!"

Do you guys know about 'Gurren Lagann'? Even though our blood isn't mixed, it's a great 'work' filled with brotherly love where we cherished each other more than anyone. Do you know it...? Right here, right now, I will recreate it!

Tirgar and I are friends. The closest and most trustworthy friend anyone could have in this other world. We are connected by friendship. Who do you think we are!

"Ready?"

"What kind of question is that? I'm always ready, Tirgar."

"Heh heh. My body's itching all over!"

"Puhuhu. That snake-headed bastard's gonna be stunned senseless."

"Kukuku..."

It might be a slightly stupid method. After all, it's a human recreating a drill that pierces hard scales. I think everyone would've guessed by now. That's right. The way to become a drill is...

"Throw me!"

"Bite down hard, Taesik!"

It's spinning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a person and throwing them. It's stupid. It's stupid and reckless. But isn't that kind of 'recklessness' and 'childishness' exactly what sets a man's heart on fire? That's how Gurren Lagann moved men's hearts and struck their souls. And right now, I'm recreating that pure moment I longed for more than anyone!

"Go, Taesik!"

"Yeah!"

"This is our power! Listen up! 'My drill is the drill that will pierce the heavens!!'"

I can't hold back on this one.

"...Giga Drill Break!!"

Whew... I've always wanted to shout that line. Isn't it every man's romance? At least anyone who's seen that 'masterpiece' that stirs a man's heart even once will sympathize. Childish, you say? Isn't that very childishness simple and what truly moves a man's soul?

I declare it here and now. I have become the spiral. Ah, fuck. I'm getting motion sickness. It's dizzying.

You must know how strong a giant's power is. They're the kind that can pulverize the earth with a single leap. Originally, those categorized as Jotun should naturally be classified as monsters, but because there was an even greater entity called Hel, they were able to communicate with us humans unlike in the past and strengthen our bonds. The warrior captain of such a Jotun tribe threw me. Not in a straight line, but in the form of a continuously rotating spiral.

Enduring the dizziness, I chanted runes.

The speed increased even more, and I could feel the air pressure crushing against my ears. The appearance was ridiculous, but it was a technique more powerful than anything and proven in strength. Did you think we'd only done this once or twice? Back then it was just imagination that stimulated my otaku heart, but now we're what you call a 'veteran combo.'

[Shiiiiiiiik—!]

The thing's maw opened wide. I thought I might get swallowed like this, but actually, that was better. The inside of its mouth was soft flesh. That meant it would be easier to pierce through. However.

"...Huh?"

From inside its maw, void energy was compressing and compressing, preparing to fire toward me. If things continued like this, it'd be a direct hit? But that worry only lasted a moment. I didn't need to worry about that.

The great giant warriors leaped high and smashed the serpent's maw with hammers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠carved from Jotunheim's rocks.

"Not a chance!"

"Heh heh, you snake-headed bastard. You'll make a fine dinner tonight."

Thud!

Enduring the reflected force with raw strength, they instead applied more power to force its mouth shut. The thing couldn't even let out a scream as it closed its own jaws. The void energy that couldn't escape into the world ended up trapped inside. Nice assist. This is what a true supporter looks like. You watching, Fina?

Crunch!

It pierced through flesh, through the tongue, through the uvula, through the scales. Considering the thing's size, it was a tiny attack, but the important part was that the weapon I used was the Holy Sword. The sword the gods bestowed upon humanity to stop Hel. A weapon solely for killing the creatures of the Demon Realm, of Helheim.

A pleasant sound rang out. Tirgar raised his thumb, and I also barely managed to raise my thumb while standing on the rock-like head of the serpent I'd stepped on. It worked.

"Uahahahahahaha! Taesik, how was it?"

"It's dizzying, but not bad."

"What a brutish method!"

"I think so too. Puhuhuhu!"

At first it didn't pierce and I was flustered, but from the moment it cracked, it started carving smoothly. At this rate, catching them all would just be a matter of time. With one down, the remaining nine all turned to look at me at once.

What I learned just now was that their weak point was the uvula. Since something felt like it broke there, that must be where the magic stone is. A smile crept across my lips. My body was covered in the thing's black blood, but even that darkness was repelled by Odin's light surrounding me. Everyone was cooperating with me, so how nice was that? Things were going so smoothly. Thinking this way made me realize just how worthless those three had been.

"...It's a bit noisy."

"And painful too."

"Good thing the Viking bastards ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are maintaining their formation well."

I could use the same method from before to kill them, but I didn't like that. It was dizzying, and doing it for too long would probably make me lose my senses. Above all, it was brain-dead. People say you're only allowed to do it up to the first verse, right?

"Honestly it's good that they're holding out, but if this situation continues, these guys will run out of strength."

"That's true. Humans aren't like you Jotun. We're weak beings."

"That's why I think it's natural to serve the gods. Even if I don't like it."

It's fine. I'm non-religious anyway. As long as Odin doesn't catch me, I can keep receiving buffs. While accepting Tirgar's grumbling, I aimed the Holy Sword at them once more. The nine had turned their eyes away from the warriors and toward me. Were they enraged by their brother's death? They howled with excitement. Waves surged and wind blew in. Dark clouds gathered in an instant, and void energy began devouring the surroundings. It was dark. They say humans consider darkness their greatest fear.

"Haha."

That's what a hero is for. I am a hero who sacrifices his body for humans who fall into darkness, wander, and feel afraid. So laughter just keeps coming out. Even though I've aged, I'm still told I act like a kid. That's the kind of hero I am. At least in stories, the hero was always the protagonist. To someone, I might be the protagonist too.

Fwoosh...!

Flames of radiance began flickering along the blade. Flowing like waves across the sword's body, they made the light even denser. So dense that the blade itself became invisible, looking like a mass of pure energy. Enough with the games.

I'd figured ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out their weak point and that their scales could be pierced. What more could I ask for? They said there's a festival tonight too. I have to return without a single casualty.

"Is that all that's left?"

"That?"

"Let's finish this quickly. We should enjoy ourselves hot and heavy tonight too."

I smiled at Tirgar and patted his bald head on my shoulder. His bare head was hard. Was it sweat? It felt slick. At the same time, I accelerated my thoughts. They couldn't react to speed. The bigger the body, the greater the penalty that came with it. The world may not be equal, but the food chain is. There is no perfect living being. In a world where even the gods make mistakes, there's no way these things could be perfect. Against such imperfect beings, competing with speed was the correct answer. Since even the one from before couldn't react properly. Really, the only method was that.

Speed. Sharpness. Keenness. From now on, I would become lightning.

Faster than anyone, sharper than anyone, keener than anyone.

Someone once said, 'I believe in you. Believe in the you that I believe in.' Holding that line in my heart, I took a deep breath. Gripping the Holy Sword at my waist, I lowered my stance and pulled my foot back.

"Hoo...."

Breath of lightning. First form.

"Thunderclap Flash."

The moment I drew the blade, I imitated yet another 'master' once more. Imitation is the mother of creation. I truly respect them, you know? By the way, I said I'd take it seriously. I never said I wouldn't. Surprisingly, right now I was being serious.