Episode 55: VS the Vermillion Goliath

A roar swallowed the world.

The sheer volume of mana emitted by the sound told me everything I needed to know: this guy was bad news.

My gut told me it wasn't quite Behemoth-class, but it radiated a presence that came damn close. The worst part was that the scream alone made my body feel like lead.

A debuffer, I thought. Even in the other world, those were a pain in the ass.

To have that kind of utility at that size... it wasn't just a matter of strength; it was an annoyance. To make matters worse, I couldn't call my [Summoned Beasts] to their full potential, leaving me with nothing but a sword and an old man named Yamato.

"Goliath, huh? I’ve dealt with them twice in different [Dungeons] before," Yamato said, his eyes narrowing. "But this is a different beast entirely. I don't know if the ones I met were the standard, but normally, they’ve got black skin."

"Did they use magic?" I asked.

"Nah. If they were that fancy, I wouldn’t have been able to solo them."

"...Then it’s an Enhanced Species. What’s the estimated rank?"

That was the sticking point. An Enhanced Species was said to jump at least one full rank. The lower the base rank, the better our chances, but I wasn't holding my breath.

"Rank? The one I fought was A+. Barely made the cut, though."

"Then it’s a guaranteed [S-Rank]," I muttered. Figures. My kill list is nothing but [S-Rank] and above lately. I’d love to complain, but who would listen?

"Ha! You actually planning to kill it, kid?"

"Well, if we leave it, it'll ruin the lives of everyone in this region. Besides..." I looked at him. "I don't see how we can lose with you here."

"You’re overestimating a man with more years behind him than in front, kid. Still..." Yamato smirked. "Being recognized by a [Hero] like you doesn't feel half bad. Fine then. Let’s have ourselves an adventure."

He spoke with an incredible lightness, as if he were merely suggesting a stroll through the park.

Perhaps it was contagious, because I found a smile tugging at my own lips. My mana began to seethe. Mana is, in a sense, the manifestation of the will to accomplish a goal. Magic has a prescribed form, sure, but its true efficacy is dictated by the weight of the wish poured into it.

For some reason, I felt like I could actually synchronize with this man.

Like Perseus, he had the temperament of a true [Hero]. I wondered if I could actually rely on someone this strong—if I could let myself be carried just a little, even if I didn't release my full power.

Scary things are still scary. But I remembered Perseus’s words: Try believing in people. It was a terrifying prospect to trust someone I’d only just met, but Yamato felt like a solid place to start.

"—Hey, Yamato-san. How does it feel to be a [Hero]?"

"Hm? I’m not used to the title, but it comes with a lot of weight. The resolve to protect, the will to lead the way... the responsibility to fight as a predecessor. Plus," he grinned, "winning is fun. But adventuring? That’s the real kicker."

I see. I took his words to heart.

The people called [Heroes] really were something else. I decided then that I would fight, too. I’d do the reckless things only I could do.

"[Weapon Summon]—Dainsleif."

The demonic sword manifested in my hand like a cluster of black thorns. It thrummed with my mana, its presence expanding as it shrieked for blood and flesh. It wanted me to feed it the enemy’s life.

"You’re a dangerous one, kid, handling a grade of weapon like that. I guess I’d better match you. [Hitoshura Gugen — Magatsukami]!"

The [Hero] activated his skill.

A crest appeared on his forehead, similar to Tsubaki’s, but his was darker and clad in a far more refined mana. It elevated his very existence by several magnitudes.

"Let’s go! Oh, we’re doing this! Now, let's see! Hey, Goliath! Is a thing like you really going to be enough? Let us show you what pride looks like!"

He was the image of a [Hitoshura]—a war demon.

He laughed loudly, his body strengthened to the point of being a demonic entity himself. He lived up to the name.

With that overwhelming preparation complete, the battle began.

We struck first. Riding atop Luna, who boasted incredible speed, I galloped forward. I used [Dainsleif] as a catalyst to generate a swarm of frozen blades.

"[Mujin Hyoken]! And I’m throwing in all of Luna’s support buffs for good measure! Don't you dare die yet!"

Countless ice swords drove themselves into the giant’s torso. They froze and shattered the creature's skin in a rapid, gouging cycle. But a boss of this caliber wasn't going to go down that easily.

Its body was being shredded, but it finally registered our presence and swung a massive arm in a counterattack.

It was a simple horizontal sweep, but given its size, it was a lethal blow. The forest was leveled and the earth was gouged out. We should have been forced to dodge.

"Don't look down on me, you oversized bag of meat. Slay."

With a single breath and a single word, Yamato appeared in front of me. He cleaved the Goliath’s arm clean off, sending it flying. From what I could tell, his skill only enhanced his physical body and his existence. It was remarkably similar to the [Origin Burst] secret arts of [Mythologia]—an absurd level of power for this modern age. I felt a flicker of genuine respect for a man who had reached this peak in this world.

The Goliath writhed in agony.

However, it was still a boss. The moment I looked for an opening to follow up, its arm began to regenerate.

"Kuhahaha! Now that's what I'm talking about!" Yamato roared.

"This is going to be a pain," I muttered.

The [Hitoshura] continued to laugh. It was a situation no sane person would enjoy, yet I felt my own mouth curling into a smirk. I glanced at Sol and Lycoris; for some reason, they looked like they were having the time of their lives. I didn't quite get it, but seeing everyone so high-spirited made me feel a bit better.

"...Hey, Reima! What’s the move? This giant seems to have a healing factor."

"I have a plan. You interested?"

"Don't play coy. Spill it."

"I’m going to use the maximum output this weapon can manage to freeze him solid. I need you to buy me time."

"Kihah! Perfect! Don't let that big talk go to waste, kid!"

"I never do. Let's go."

"Man, you really know how to work an old man to the bone!"

The spell I was about to use was the one Luna had tried to replicate during the fight with Laura.

This time, I would fire it with its true power and mana output. Unlike the time with [Laevateinn], I was using mana that had been properly adjusted and regulated. I didn't know exactly what would happen, but given that regeneration speed, it was our only shot.

Yamato slashed a path forward. I followed in his wake, Luna and I sprinting up the trunk of the massive central tree. It was withered, but it still held its shape.

"Reima! I'm giving it everything! Here’s my finishing move!"

Yamato took a stance. He sheathed his blade, gathered his strength, and then drew in a flash.

The mana-cladded strike sliced away fifty percent of the Vermillion Goliath’s torso, exposing its mana stone. The heart-center was as large as a house; if he had been just a bit deeper, he would have killed the thing then and there.

"Incredible. Alright... my turn."

I took a breath, pouring my mana into the incantation.

"The mouth of the abyss lies to the northeast, a paradise of mist and ice where darkness spreads. Born in the [Garden of the Ice Prison] is the [Demonic Legacy] that sips fresh blood. Now, come, release—shall we freeze the world?"

About forty percent of my total mana flooded into the sword.

The entire world—the [Dungeon] itself—began to creak as a numbing cold dominated the air.

It was a spell that compressed a world of ice capable of freezing the planet itself—one of the [God-Slaying Magic] arts that fully released [Dainsleif] to drag the world into a frozen hell.

"[Niflheim]... [Dainsleif]."

In an instant, the world froze over. The [Dungeon] itself was transformed into the [Ice Hell] of [Niflheim].