In reality, probably somewhere between five and ten minutes had passed since the fight began. I knew this because the effects of Hinata-san’s second Bless were still active.
However, in terms of perceived time, it felt like we’d been trading blows for hours.
I was locked in a violent, high-speed exchange with the Goblin, a situation where a single moment’s lapse in focus would be fatal. I couldn’t count how many times I’d wished for it to just end. Yet, the Goblin’s HP showed no signs of hitting zero.
Eventually, even I had to admit something was off.
—Wait. Isn't there something seriously wrong with this guy?
Why isn't its HP running out? How many times has it used Mighty Blade now? Could its skill be a different buff entirely? One that doesn’t have an HP cost?
No, that’s impossible.
There’s no way it could cancel out my Mighty Blade with a skill that costs zero HP or MP. What kind of broken skill would that even be? The game balance would be utterly insane.
I’m packing a damage multiplier of over 130x, you know?
Do you get it? 130x means 130x!
There’s no way some minor buff could stand a chance against that.
If that’s the case, does this thing have a way to recover HP?
I was certain it wasn't using Healing Magic. If I were up against an opponent that could weave spells while fighting at these speeds, I’d have been dead long ago. Besides, I’d already confirmed that the visual effects unique to Healing Magic hadn't appeared once.
Then it had to be another skill. Not magic. What on earth was it?
I felt my perfect strategy—forcing it to burn through its HP until it collapsed—crumbling before my eyes.
N-No way...!
As I attacked fiercely, a chilling sensation washed over me; it felt as if I were the one being backed into a corner. And then, shortly after...
“————”
“Whoa!?”
The Goblin’s movements accelerated.
I don’t mean that metaphorically. It literally got faster.
To my senses, it felt like its speed had suddenly doubled.
I had been the one on the offensive until then, but in a flash, I was forced completely onto the defensive again.
“Gugh—!?”
The Goblin’s volume of attacks increased. Each blow was heavier than the last. The timing required to parry its Mighty Blade (Wannabe) strikes became incredibly tight.
There was no mistake now.
This thing hadn't just boosted its Agility; its Strength had gone up considerably too. And since its attacks hadn't become any less precise, its Dexterity was likely enhanced as well.
The Fighting Spirit aura around the Goblin remained the same, but it was a certainty that it had boosted its stats with some kind of skill.
What is this, a boss that hits a phase-two berserk mode when its HP gets low?
“Dammit...!”
I desperately fought back with my sword.
My raw attack power was still superior. The Goblin’s buff seemed to be a stat enhancement rather than an increase in its damage multipliers.
And I was still, just barely, able to keep up. The fact that I’d grown somewhat accustomed to the Goblin’s patterns after fighting this long was paying off.
Even if its stats increased, things like its combat rhythm and sword habits didn't change.
But—at this rate, things were looking bad.
I had a sense of déjà vu.
This guy... isn't it a lot like me?
I don’t mean it has a "goblin face" like mine. I mean its fighting style, its skills...
A skill that enhances stats, including Dexterity, in the heat of battle—I have one of those.
—Blood Vengeance.
If that was what it was using, we were in the worst-case scenario.
If it had been buffed this much in the first stage, I might not be able to handle it if a second-stage boost kicked in. Its skill level was definitely higher than mine.
Even worse, it might not have activated because it was in a pinch. If this thing had a means of HP recovery, it could adjust its own HP to maintain the 50% or 20% thresholds required for Blood Vengeance indefinitely.
In other words, this buffed state could potentially last forever.
What even is that? It’s enough to make me feel faint.
Please let it be some other skill, not Blood Vengeance...!
However, my innocent prayer did not reach the heavens.
“—Tch!?”
Immediately after, the Goblin’s sword flashed at a speed I could barely track.
I only managed to meet it with my own blade through sheer instinct.
But my posture was off. No matter how much my attack power was superior, the power of a half-baked strike delivered from a broken stance was significantly diminished.
I was overpowered.
My arm, still gripping the sword, was knocked back, and my stance crumbled.
If it follows up now, I’m dead!!
The lethal crisis made it feel as though time were stretching out. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Unfortunately, even if my consciousness accelerated, my body couldn't keep up.
Regardless, I focused everything on the Goblin’s next move.
But in the next instant, it did something completely unexpected.
It leaped backward.
(—Huh?)
The Goblin put distance between us.
Now? Why?
My confusion immediately turned into pure dread.
(Crap—!!)
The Goblin landed and shifted its gaze away from me. It swung its sword to its right. It was releasing a Flying Blade. Naturally, I wasn't the target.
The one in its path was—
“————”
Hinata-san, who was unable to react to the sudden shift.
I wouldn't make it in time to shield her. Intercepting the projectile from the side with my own Flying Blade was also a gamble; the flight speed of the Goblin’s Flying Blade was faster than mine. I probably wouldn't catch it.
However—the distance the Goblin had jumped back was only about five meters.
It was just barely within my reach.
“Don't underestimate me!!”
I swung my sword.
From the tip of my blade, a massive aura blade extended. Its point caught the Flying Blade released by the Goblin at the last possible second and shattered it.
This was another trick I’d unlocked by raising my Sword Aura skill level. This was the true nature of the technique I’d used to cleave through the goblins in the Floor 7 monster room.
Instead of pouring a massive amount of HP into firing a Great Flying Blade, I enlarged the aura itself, turning it into an impossibly long sword to perform a wide-range slash.
There were four major benefits to this.
First, I could attack while changing my reach mid-swing. By infusing it with 20 HP to extend the blade, it became a sword up to five meters long.
Second, within that range, I could strike an enemy faster than I could fire a Flying Blade. It stands to reason that the physical slash is faster than waiting for a projectile to travel.
Third, since this wasn't a projectile, the Sword Aura damage multiplier could still be applied to the hit.
“————”
It must have been certain it would hit. Though its expression didn't change, I could tell the Goblin had frozen for a split second, hesitating.
Should it follow up on Hinata-san, or try to kill me first?
The fact that I hadn't shown the Goblin this attack until now had paid off. Faced with a method of attack it was seeing for the first time, it had instinctively wavered.
“A crisis is just a chance in disguise!”
Just like the old man—no, just like the guys from Puyo Puyo say!!
I didn't miss the tiny opening.
Without moving from the spot, I swept my sword horizontally.
The fourth benefit of this Great Blade attack...
Since I wasn't firing the infused aura, it was actually reusable!!
Without even needing to manifest the blade again, I simply swept it across. The Goblin, having backed away, was still completely within my range. I could reach it from right here.
And even if it tried to intercept me like before, I would create a massive opening. Because this strike was infused with Mighty Blade!!
While an aura blade has no weight, the increased length meant the speed at the tip was far faster than if I’d simply slammed a regular longsword down.
The faster an attack is, the more destructive power it gains!
Even if the Goblin tried to use Mighty Blade to offset it, the difference in power would be even greater than before. There was a high probability the Goblin would be blown away entirely!
And so, the Goblin’s choice was—
“————”
To dodge.
Perhaps it instinctively felt it couldn't match the blow. It made a split-second decision. However, its method of evasion—was a total failure.
It jumped. Straight up.
“Hah!! You idiot!!”
A victory had suddenly fallen into my lap, and I couldn't help but shout with a grin.
You can't dodge in mid-air!
I swung my sword up toward the Goblin, which had foolishly leaped into the sky.
The fifth benefit of using the aura Great Blade!! (!?)
I could also fire the already-formed Great Blade as a projectile after the fact!
“Drop dead!!”
While still maintaining the Mighty Blade that hadn't been consumed because the enemy dodged, I fired a Great Flying Blade.
It flew in a straight line toward the airborne Goblin. All it could do was be quietly cleaved in two, or try to offset it with its own Mighty Blade. In the case of the latter, aside from the difference in power, it would likely be sent flying like a billiard ball since it had no footing.
I wouldn't miss the opening that followed.
Before the Goblin could recover, I would surely deliver the finishing blow!
Victory was certain. If this were a game of Shogi, the AI’s win rate estimation would be at 99%! Turning this around would be impossible for anyone who isn't a prodigy like Sota Fujii!
“————”
“—Wha!?”
I’ll give you the conclusion first.
I felt as though a wild Sota Fujii had appeared.
The bastard dodged my Flying Blade. How? By jumping.
It had jumped in mid-air. A second time.
If I looked closely, I could see a faint blue aura, similar to my Sword Aura, forming a small plate beneath its feet to serve as a foothold. It was some kind of mid-air jump skill.
This guy was still hiding tricks!!
However, it shouldn't be able to move in the air like that indefinitely. Despite my shock, I didn't stop my momentum.
Flying Blade! Flying Blade! Flying Blade!!
I fired a series of Flying Blades, aiming at the Goblin in the air. Although they weren't infused with Mighty Blade, it wouldn't change the fact that I’d have the advantage if even one of them connected.
But, incredibly, it dodged all of them.
It jumped. Creating aura footholds in the empty air, it jumped again and again.
Hey, you can jump more than once!?
My eyes wide, I desperately fired more projectiles, trying to knock the Goblin back down to the floor. However, because it had already gained some distance, the Flying Blades were easily evaded. It was now outside the reach of my Great Blade, and there was nothing more I could do.
Meanwhile, while dodging my attacks, the Goblin was steadily approaching—heading toward Hinata-san.
Persistent bastard!!
While providing cover with Flying Blades, I also began to run—but at this rate, I wouldn't make it. The Goblin would reach Hinata-san first. Hinata-san was already moving to distance herself, but the difference in Agility was simply too great. She couldn't escape!
The Goblin caught Hinata-san in its line of sight and adjusted its posture in the air.
It was going for a Flying Blade. Like I’ll let you, you moron! I fired a Flying Blade first to interfere with its aim.
Immediately after, instead of jumping like before, it took a step back in the air to dodge. It had moved backward in mid-air by creating two footholds.
It can do that too!?
This was the first time an idiot has ever made such a fool of me.
My interference wouldn't make it in time. I shouted in my rage.
“Don't you dare run!!”
Taunt—but once again, it was resisted.
It didn't even spare me a glance.
Then it raised its sword—and swung it down.
An aura blade shot out from that sword line and flew.
—Toward me.
At the very last second, it had turned toward me. It wasn't that it had a sudden change of heart, nor was its targeting of Hinata-san a bluff. I was the one who had made it turn. As proof, the Goblin’s face, which had been expressionless until now, was twisted with intense rage.
—Asceticism.
I’d made it just in time. Or rather, I was glad it worked. I guess it makes sense, since it provides Maximum Aggro. Since it had been resisting Taunt like it was nothing, I’d started to fear this wouldn't work either.
Asceticism is officially a god-tier skill!!
Praising the skill in my heart, I slammed a Flying Blade into the incoming one to cancel it out.
The Goblin kicked off its mid-air footholds and plummeted, landing swiftly. Without stopping for even a second, it began to run, approaching at high speed.
That figure, thinking only of killing me.
“The only ones who get stronger through rage are Saiyans!!”
My stats were lowered due to Asceticism, but deactivating it now would be a bad move. If the Goblin had lost its mind, it would be easier to fight if I kept its aggro locked on me!
I swung my sword.
Mighty Flying Blade.
Instead of dodging the projectile, the Goblin swung its sword while running to offset it. It struck my Mighty Flying Blade with a strike infused with its own Mighty Blade.
But my power was superior to begin with, and there was no way it could put enough power into a swing while charging.
A childish tactical error that the Goblin would never have made if it were sane.
The Goblin offset the Flying Blade, but it couldn't fully cancel out the impact. Its stance was shattered.
And that spot was already within my reach.
—It’s over.
With a faint sense of apology, as if I’d used a cheat code at the very end, I swung my sword wide.
Mighty Great Blade.
The massive sword composed of aura was slammed into the off-balance Goblin—
“————”
BA-ZUN!!!
The blade bifurcated its torso, cutting it clean in two.
The upper half of its body spun violently through the air, spraying fresh blood, before falling to the floor with a wet thud.
The Goblin’s body turned into countless particles of light and vanished. In its place remained a Magic Stone, a worn-out Steel Sword, and a single Skill Orb.
“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” “HE WONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!” “THEY’RE BOTH SAFE, HELL YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!!” “What was with that Goblin!? It was freaking strong!?” “But as expected of the Leveling Junkie Bro! I’m so relieved he won!!!”
Only then did the comments from the viewers, which I’d shut out of my consciousness, reach my ears.
Finally, I let the strength drain from my body.