Chapter 123

Exploding with killing intent, consciousness accelerates even further.

The crimson-stained world grows even darker.

Steam condenses on the breath exhaled.

This is how it should have been from the start.

Worrying about getting hurt and holding back in battle? That’s not like me.

That’s why even against enemies I could defeat, I struggled.

It was a foolish judgment.

Gripping the sword hilt, I kicked the ground with all my might.

The ground shattered into pieces. My body lunged forward.

Like a fired arrow, it was a charge with no thought of retreat.

“Kiiit?!”

Startled by the sudden change in momentum, the Locust thrust its spear.

I twisted my shoulder to dodge the spear tip.

The black iron armor tore apart, scattering metal fragments.

I thrust my sword toward the approaching front leg.

The sword tip pierced the leg and drove straight through.

Its fluid splattered on my face.

The green liquid, filled with magic, tasted bitter and foul.

Like biting into a rotten fish.

The Locust’s foot, still extending, stabbed my right shoulder.

The shoulder guard, already half-broken by the spear, was completely pierced.

Blood gushed from my shoulder.

The armor had blocked it from reaching the bone, but flesh and muscle were deeply gouged.

But in return, one of its legs was now immobilized.

The other leg aimed to crush my head.

A leg half-crushed by the Ice Blade.

Guess it doesn’t have the ability to learn, huh?

The crimson Ice Blade seized the leg again.

My right hand, which had been holding Durandal, let go of the sword and grabbed the other leg piercing my shoulder.

I wasn’t planning to tear it apart like before.

A more effective method had come to mind.

The Locust raised its spear high in a reverse grip.

If I hesitated even a bit, my skull would be vertically pierced.

From the side, another Locust’s greatsword was closing in.

“Graaah!”

I roared and kicked the spear-wielding Locust in the abdomen.

Leaning back, I pulled both arms with all my strength.

With the satisfying sensation of tearing flesh, the unbalanced body rolled backward.

The greatsword sliced through the air.

The spear grazed my calf, leaving a burning heat.

“Kieeeek!”

The spear-wielding Locust screamed and retreated.

Thick fluid sprayed from where its legs had been ripped out.

Just as I thought.

The exoskeleton itself is tough, but the joints are still flesh.

It can withstand downward strikes, but it can’t handle being pulled apart!

I threw the leg in my left hand at the greatsword-wielding Locust and yanked Durandal out of the leg in my right hand.

My lungs gasped for air, but there was no time to breathe.

The greatsword-wielding Locust howled wildly, slamming its front legs down repeatedly.

It was like a hail of green ice.

I swung the longsword gripped in both hands with mad fury.

Sparks flew incessantly.

A body activated by Life Force, relying on Durandal’s strength to unleash sword strikes.

With each deflection, fragments of shattered exoskeleton scattered.

After deflecting about nine strikes, the greatsword finally broke through.

A vertical downward strike.

The Locust must have put all its strength into it, as the force behind the greatsword was fierce.

From the side, another Locust’s spear approached.

A moment ago, I would have retreated.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed my body’s strength to its limit.

My head felt like it was on fire.

I extended my right hand, holding the sword, toward the spear.

The blade, swung in a semicircle, gleamed with a vivid blue light.

At the same time, I thrust my left arm, claws extended, toward the greatsword.

A vortex, red to the point of black, coiled around my arm.

Our weapons clashed with full force.

The explosive sound shook the entire cavern.

As always, my weapons didn’t betray me.

Like splitting bamboo, Durandal’s blade vertically split the Locust’s spear.

The halved spear tip lodged into the armor’s skirt.

Blood spurted from the scraped thigh.

At the same time, the Ice Blade clashed with the greatsword.

From fingertips to shoulder, it felt like bones and joints were being twisted.

I widened my eyes, enduring the pain, and extended my arm without retreating.

The gauntlet, dyed with Life Force, pierced into the greatsword.

– Crash!

The greatsword’s blade shattered like glass, spitting out fragments.

Metal shards embedded into my body.

Most were blocked by the armor, but a few grazed my face.

My forehead and cheek were deeply cut, leaving a burning pain.

A fragment also lightly embedded near my collarbone.

Thanks to the armor’s fur lining, it wasn’t a deep wound.

Not yet.

Just like this. One more step forward…!

I gritted my teeth and advanced. The enemy was right in front of me.

My left hand, extended like a battering ram, pierced straight through its abdomen.

Black blood spurted like a fountain.

“Keeeek!”

The sensation of entrails tangled around my fingers was vivid.

I spread my fingers and wildly stirred its insides.

Until only shredded pieces remained inside.

“Kehk, kuh! Keruruk!”

The Locust trembled, letting out a grotesque scream.

Between its lips, it vomited blood mixed with chunks of flesh.

The curse of the Ice Blade, the cold of the underworld, seeped into its body, paralyzing it.

Even if left alone, it wouldn’t last long.

It’s gonna break.

Now, there’s only one left…!

Pulling out my left arm that had been digging into its guts, I grab the sword hilt with my trembling hand and charge at the guy next to me.

The monster, having lost both its spear and front legs, has no way to resist now.

Sure enough, the creature frantically swings its right hand at me.

Just a bare fist. What a clumsy attempt at resistance.

I take a deep breath. Finally, the oxygen fills my lungs, swelling my chest. The chest pain that felt like it was tearing me apart subsides.

Once again, the blue arc dances.

No need to worry about a counterattack, I swing my sword in a stable stance. A well-powered slash emits a threatening light.

I knock its right arm aside and sever its wrist. Then, I raise my sword and vertically split the following left punch.

Unlike the Ice Blade, its hand couldn’t withstand Durandal’s sharpness. The arm covered in exoskeleton splits in half.

“Keehik! Kreeeeek!”

The Locust screams in agony from both arms. Its body stiffens momentarily.

This is the end.

I swing Durandal at its exposed torso.

Four slashes.

I diagonally split its upper body. Sever its waist. Cut off its falling head. Finally, I vertically split the insect’s lower half, now devoid of its upper body.

A shower of blood, bodily fluids, human and insect entrails spills out.

Injuries even a monster can’t endure. It collapses weakly.

—

“Hoo…hoo…haaaa…!”

Gasping for breath, I calm my body, startled by the reckless movements.

Although one creature still breathes, it doesn’t seem necessary to fight anymore.

The Locust that was swinging a greatsword is now sitting weakly on the ground, trembling.

Its contents, turned into soup, drip from the hole in its abdomen and its slack jaw.

Its greatsword, now in halves, is stuck in the ground, as if it no longer has the strength to hold it.

Usually, monsters move even in such states, but it seems too difficult for it to fight again. The curse of the Ice Blade seems quite effective on monsters.

I remove the gauntlet drenched in bodily fluids. My heightened excitement subsides, and my body slumps.

The vision, entirely dyed red, gradually returns to its original color.

“Grrrr…”

The pain I couldn’t afford to notice during the battle now rushes in, making me grit my teeth. The cuts and tears burn, and my right shoulder feels like it’s on fire.

The condition of my left arm isn’t great. Bruised all over, every joint from fingertips to shoulder aches. Luckily, no bones seem broken or cracked, but alternating cold chills and hot pain make my arm tremble.

Damn it. The compatibility was too bad. Spitting out blood-mixed saliva, I bandage the wounds.

Locust Centaur. Clearly a monster designed to fight warriors.

If it were an archer or magician of my level, they would have easily taken them down.

Even if they had fifty limbs instead of eight, it wouldn’t matter if they couldn’t reach. With enough firepower to break their exoskeleton, a barrage of ranged attacks would suffice.

But for warriors with only two hands, creatures with multiple attack methods like these are extremely tricky opponents. The standard tactic for warriors against such foes is to fight with numerical superiority, protecting each other.

Far from having superiority, with their numbers, it was hard for me to win without sustaining injuries. It hurts like hell.

Still, it’s fortunate that I was their opponent. The other three would have struggled even to break their exoskeletons.

Thanks to the tightly wrapped bandages, the bleeding gradually subsides. But with both arms in this state, fighting satisfactorily will be tough.

Next time, I should just bring Rana along…

Sitting on the ground, I catch my breath. Although I’m worried about my companions, I need to rest for now. I’ve expended quite a bit of stamina and energy.

Once I regain some strength… I’ll have to head over there.

I lift my head and look at the structure in the distance. A wall encircling the entire cliff. What lies within the obscured interior, I won’t know unless I go.

Honestly, I really don’t want to go… It looks just like a boss room. If the Locusts aren’t the masters of this dungeon, then there must be something stronger over there…?

But I can’t not go. Unless I plan to stay here until I starve to death.

Really, nothing’s easy.