Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Noble Duty (5)
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Slash!
Martin swung the holy sword Kaizen, and a golden aura blade traced a long arc as it fell toward the manticore.
The time from closing in on the opponent to launching the attack took less than a single second.
It was lightning-fast, to be sure, but the manticore was no ordinary foe.
Boom!
It instinctively kicked off the ground and successfully dodged Martin's attack.
For its massive bulk, it was incredibly agile.
And that wasn't the end of it.
While floating in midair, it exposed its back.
Shooo!
In that instant, hundreds of spines shot toward Martin.
But Martin remained composed.
Hadn't he confirmed it through the footage?
How it fought.
Of course, it was only indirect experience, but there was a world of difference between having seen its combat style once and not at all.
Especially for him.
Boom!
As Martin twitched his left index finger, enhanced gravity slammed every spine into the ground.
In the blink of an eye, he activated spatial movement again and appeared at the manticore's left flank.
He swung the holy sword Kaizen without hesitation.
Slash!
The blade of light sliced through the manticore's hide and flesh, blood pouring from the cross-section.
“Kraaaang!”
The manticore howled as it widened the distance from Martin once more.
At the same time, black light erupted from its entire body, and the wounds healed at rapid speed in response.
Thud.
Instead of pressing the attack, Martin softly landed on the ground.
‘Tough body, and it can regenerate, too.’
It was an ability he hadn't seen in the footage.
The adventurers back then hadn't landed solid hits, so they couldn't confirm it.
Or perhaps it had gained regeneration after climbing this far.
Either way, the situation had grown more troublesome.
Shoo!
Even as he kept his eyes on the manticore, Martin swung his sword repeatedly.
Golden blades poured forth in tandem, shredding the corpse of the dead lyntburum to pieces.
To prevent the manticore from absorbing the dragonkin’s power.
Sizzle!
Meanwhile, the lyntburum’s blood melted the ground, but Martin didn’t take his eyes off the manticore.
‘These things really don’t give you time to unleash a space slash.’
Even now, at 8th circle, using a space slash took some time.
Much faster than before, but still enough for the manticore to swallow him whole.
Vmmm.
The space to Martin’s left and right warped.
Cien and Adel emerged from it.
“How does it compare to the basilisk king?”
“It’s definitely weaker than that one…… but still a pain to deal with.”
“You did well coming down right away. If we’d gone up to the surface, it would’ve boosted its power without issue. We couldn’t even gauge that level.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to worry about how to take it down than fret over what didn’t happen, Adel?”
“I’m not as simple-minded as you, so no, Cien.”
Just as Martin focused solely on the manticore, the two women stared it down as well.
They traded barbs casually in the meantime.
But he let it slide.
It had been like this since entering the dungeon.
He was long past used to it.
“Adventurers, listen up. Cien and I will take the front. You follow Adel’s orders and support us from the rear. Do not approach it under any circumstances! If it comes at you, scatter immediately. And those spines are laced with deadly poison—don’t block them, evade at all costs.”
After issuing orders to the adventurers, Martin looked at Cien.
“You go first. You can bounce the spines with space repulsion and land a solid hit.”
“I don’t mind, but if that’s the goal, wouldn’t Adel be better? Nothing catches them off guard like phantomization.”
“You’re right. That’s why I’m saving it as a trump card, until we wear down its power enough to make regeneration tough.”
“So that’s why you’re keeping me off the front line, young master.”
“Exactly. Command the adventurers for now. Attack if you see an opening. But hold off on phantomization until the last moment.”
“Got it.”
Adel nodded at once.
Martin then turned to Cien.
“Let’s start.”
“Leave it to me.”
Vmmm.
Cien immediately activated spatial movement.
She vanished and reappeared at the manticore’s right flank, gripping her zweihander with one hand and swinging it down with all her might.
The simple yet precise strike was terrifying in its own right.
Shoo!
The manticore fired spines as if it had been waiting, but she didn’t stand still.
“Not happening!”
As she swung the sword with her right hand, she thrust out her left.
A shockwave infused with her unique ability, space repulsion, shot forth, deflecting every spine.
And that wasn’t all.
The shockwave slammed into the manticore’s body, followed by the blade slicing its flank.
“Tch!”
Even though the attack landed successfully, Cien clicked her tongue.
She had ignored its defenses with space slash to land the blow—that part was good.
The problem was the wound healing almost instantly.
‘If only I could use an aura blade…….’
She needed a technique to concentrate her power more.
And among those gathered here, only Martin could do it.
“All units, commence attack! Target the spot where it just got wounded!”
Adel’s command rang in the adventurers’ ears.
They unleashed aura strikes or spells in unison.
Those with unique abilities activated them too, pouring everything into their assaults.
Not to be outdone, the manticore twisted its head and opened its massive maw.
“Kyaooo!”
The enormous roar became a powerful shockwave, blowing away every attack aimed at it.
And that wasn’t all.
It unleashed another barrage of spines, threatening every adventurer.
‘I have to block that!’
Instinctively deciding, Cien swung her zweihander horizontally.
Infusing it with maximum space repulsion.
Kwaaaang!
“Tch!”
As the black and silver shockwaves collided, Cien clicked her tongue.
She had poured out all her mana, boosted by reaching 6th circle, yet she was still pushed back hard.
Still, she had to hold.
One mistake, and the spines would ravage the adventurers.
“Well done, Cien.”
Vmmm.
While the manticore’s attention fixed on Cien, Martin teleported beneath its jaw.
The moment he appeared in position, he slashed upward with the holy sword Kaizen with all his strength.
Slash!
A golden arc surged up and struck the manticore’s jaw.
Tough hide and solid muscle tore apart, blood gushing like a fountain.
Next, Martin swept his left hand down from above.
Enhanced gravity pressed down on the manticore’s massive body.
Its weight cratered the floor slightly.
“Kyaooo!”
With the wounded area slammed into the ground, the pain intensified.
Unable to endure, the manticore screamed, but even amid it, it glared at Martin.
Despite its madness, it had realized.
Among those here, only Martin was a true threat.
Flash!
Black light erupted from the manticore’s entire body.
All wounds healed even faster, and it kicked off the ground with all its might.
Then swung its large, sharp claws furiously.
Kwaaaang!
A long furrow gouged the ground.
Martin had effortlessly dodged via spatial movement.
He appeared above the manticore’s head and swung down, the golden arc striking true.
The blade of light dug deep into the flesh, nearly severing the head from the body.
Vmmm.
But black light flared again, regenerating the wound.
Seeing it, Martin furrowed his brow.
‘Even that doesn’t finish it? This is getting annoying.’
He was certain.
This fight would drag into the marathon he hated most.
At least his improved physical abilities meant he could last a while.
Him, with infinite mana from the dragon’s curse, versus the manticore, bloated with absorbed monster, human, and dragonkin power.
Whoever tired first would lose.
That would decide it.
* * *
Two hours had passed since the battle with the manticore began.
The adventurers had emptied every potion they had, plus those Martin’s group distributed before the fight, giving their all.
But potions were finite.
Now, after two hours, none had any left.
In the end, they fell back.
To avoid hindering Martin’s group.
“You okay, Martin?”
“Whew. It’s tough right now. Honestly, I’d have been in real danger without you two.”
A bitter smile crossed Martin’s lips.
Like after the basilisk king, his limbs trembled.
He’d chained mana-intensive techniques, leaving his mana circuits aching.
His all-around growth had limited the damage; against the basilisk king, this would’ve been fatal.
“We just did what we had to.”
“Exactly.”
Adel and Cien smiled as they replied.
Their attacks couldn’t deal major damage alone.
But space slashes ensured the harm stuck, forcing regeneration.
That too guzzled mana, and over time, its power visibly waned.
“Adel, if you would.”
“Got it.”
Sensing the moment for phantomization, Adel replied immediately.
Cien stepped up to support her.
“Aiming for the head.”
“Roger.”
Vmmm.
No sooner had the words ended than both vanished.
They reappeared almost simultaneously above the manticore’s head.
Having been hit there multiple times, it immediately looked up and fired spines.
“Haat!”
Cien swung her zweihander horizontally, unleashing an aura shockwave laced with space repulsion.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
The spines targeting Cien and Adel bounced away.
In that interval, Adel teleported again, successfully mounting the manticore’s head.
It fired more spines, but they passed harmlessly through her.
“Kraaaang!”
Panicking, the manticore thrashed its head wildly.
But she didn’t budge, forcing it to try fleeing elsewhere.
“As if.”
Kwaaaang!
Martin’s gravity enhancement pinned it down again.
It crumpled, but Adel was unaffected.
Freed by phantomization, she raised her rapier and stabbed down with all her strength.
Slice.
The blade pierced the head more naturally than a space slash, thanks to phantomization.
Then she reverted to normal.
“Kyaoooo!”
Pierced straight through the brain, the manticore wailed in agony.
Adel gripped the hilt tight to hold on.
She twisted the rapier once more, amplifying its screams.
Black light rose, but that was it.
Unlike before, regeneration slowed dramatically.
‘Got it.’
Mission accomplished, she teleported away to gain distance.
Then she looked at Martin.
‘Rings?’
Three unfamiliar rings had formed around him.
Still manipulating gravity, Martin teleported high up.
Boom!
He spun in midair and kicked off space itself, becoming a golden streak.
‘I’ll end this for good.’
He could fight longer, but dragging it out wasn’t wise.
Kwaang!
The first ring burst, accelerating him further.
Soon the second detonated, granting swiftness.
It was the moment double acceleration from Arellia Swordsmanship Chapter 3, Realm of Gravity, activated.
“Kyaooo!”
The manticore resisted with spines.
Right then, the third ring burst.
It became a mighty shockwave, repelling every spine.
Almost simultaneously, Martin arrived before it.
It swung its foreleg instinctively, but it meant nothing.
Slash!
The right foreleg severed clean, thudding to the ground.
Blood poured from the stump.
Yet Martin’s momentum didn’t stop, reaching the head at last.
The extended blade pierced its right eye precisely.
“Kyaack!”
It rampaged madly, but Martin ignored it.
Kicking off midair, he swung relentlessly, golden arcs endlessly carving head and neck.
Kwaduduk!
The final blow rent its neck.
The head finally fell, and the massive body collapsed.
“……It’s really dead.”
Landing at last, Martin slumped to the ground.
Not a shred of strength remained in his body.
Still, he smiled.
‘We won.’
The fact filled him with joy.
But then.
Sizzle!
The manticore’s corpse dissolved into black smoke and vanished.
In its place lay only a black magic stone, strikingly similar to the one from the basilisk king.
‘The core?’
Even as a monster lord, its essence was that of a common monster.
So why had a monster wave core appeared?
Frowning at the inexplicable event, Martin narrowed his eyes.