Chapter 88 - Chapter 79: The Next Inch Is…
“Grrrruuu…”
Seriously…
`[Red Armor Bear]`
A mutated variant of the Armor Bear. It is also said that individuals rarely mutate when sensing a threat to their life.
The armored parts of its hide, originally dark gray, had turned reddish-black, shimmering the surrounding air as if radiating heat.
“Gaaah!”
“Crap!”
I dodged the charging Armor Bear… Red Armor Bear, and it crashed straight into a Papu Tree behind it, knocking it down.
Shou-kun, you should run!
I could hear Mion’s voice, but it was a bit too much…
The Red Armor Bear, now completely berserk, had turned back towards me and was unmistakably locked on.
The laceration status was still active, but it seemed to have forgotten about it in its rage.
The paralyzing knife was still stuck in its throat, but perhaps it hadn’t penetrated deep enough due to muscle or something…
“It’s impossible now. Lupi, if I go down, run…”
“Bow!”
Her vehement refusal was heartwarming, but also problematic.
According to Mion, Lupi respawns properly, but I didn’t want to see her defeated…
“Grrraaahh…”
The pressure from that thing swaying closer was immense.
This is it, the moment I look away, one of its arms will come for me…
“Gugaaah!”
Its right arm swept horizontally, and just as I tried to step back, a tree root caught my foot—
“Crap!”
CRING!
The iron plate on my chest screamed as it tried to fend off its claws, and at the same time, a powerful impact sent my body flying.
I was thrown back, slamming hard into a tree further behind me, losing 50% of my HP in one go.
“Damn it, the game balance is messed up!”
I reached into my pouch for a Hermit Bamboo Grass Potion and chugged it down, and my HP slowly began to recover.
It’s tough not having immediate effects at times like this…
“Woof… Bow!”
Lupi was desperately trying to keep its aggro to buy me recovery time, but with its heavy arms swinging wildly, she could only barely dodge…
“Lupi! Get back!”
“Woof!”
Responding to my call, Lupi took some distance, then charged towards me.
Now’s my chance!
“Light Spirit!”
At my call, a small orb of light from the `[Spirit Stone]` around my neck flew right in front of its eyes… then it burst into a blinding flash like a strobe light.
“Gyaaaah!”
It covered its face with both hands, having stared directly into the dazzling light even with its eyes squinted.
“Lupi, follow me!”
“Woof!”
If we put some distance between us now,
It looks like you might escape!
“No, I’m going to defeat it.”
Eh?
Mion was surprised, but I didn’t have time to explain.
This very moment should be my best chance…
“Lupi, howl!”
“Bow! Bow-bow!!”
Responding to that sound, the Red Armor Bear charged, still unable to see properly.
They say bears run at 40 km/h, and it’s true, this thing’s fast.
“Stone Wall!”
I created a waist-high [Stone Wall] in the path of the four-legged creature.
If it would just crash into it head-on…
DOGOSH!
No way…
“Of course it’d smash it! Lupi, let’s go!”
Despite hitting it head-first, it shook its head slightly and started moving again.
It could see us now, chasing us directly, and I had only one more move left.
“Lupi, west!”
I told Lupi, who was leading the way, which direction to go, and we ran relentlessly through the forest.
The sound of its accelerating footsteps grew louder, and it was a fine line whether we’d make it in time.
“Woof!”
“Alright!”
I stopped and turned around.
And then, right in front of me, once again, the same height—
“Stone Wall!”
“Gaaah!”
As if it had no intention of falling for the same trick, it tried to leap over the [Stone Wall] and attack me.
“Ugh!”
I scooped up Lupi and dodged by falling to the left!
…
SPLASH!
There was nothing behind us. Not even ground.
Beyond that was a 3-meter cliff, and of course, the sea stretched out below.
“Woof!”
“Lupi, wait for me for a bit.”
I took off my armor, pulled out a rope from my inventory, and handed it to Lupi.
Eh, Shou-kun, what are you doing?
“I’m going to finish it off.”
I remember Dad telling me that bears can swim normally. Bears on remote islands supposedly swam over from the mainland.
“The depth seems okay. One, two—!”
Diving headfirst was too scary, so I entered feet-first. Maintaining that momentum, I submerged and strained my eyes underwater.
I never thought my [Swimming] and [Diving Skill] that I got for seaweed would be useful here… but there it is!
The Red Armor Bear struggled in the deeper water due to its own weight.
It was desperately doggy-paddling—bear-paddling—to resurface, but I had no intention of letting it.
Hmm? Is that… Will it hit?
“Stone Projectile!”
The `[Stone Projectile]` I focused and fired at its throat.
When it pushed the embedded knife deeper… whether the paralysis took effect or its windpipe was crushed, its movements slowed, then stopped.
“Pwah!”
“Woof!”
Shou-kun! Are you alright!?
“Yeah, I’m fine. Lupi, hand me the rope.”
“Woof.”
I held the rope she tossed me and waited for a moment. The Red Armor Bear floated to the surface.
It would be too wasteful if it drifted away after I went through all that trouble to defeat it, so I really need to retrieve it…
`[Character Level has increased!]`
`[Character Level has increased!]`
`[Character Level has increased!]`
`[Elemental Magic Skill has leveled up!]`
`[Elemental Magic Skill has leveled up!]`
`[Dagger Skill has leveled up!]`
`[Spirit Magic Skill has leveled up!]`
`[Swimming Skill has leveled up!]`
`[Diving Skill has leveled up!]`
`[Area Boss defeated!]`
`[Safe Zone added!]`
`[Southern Island Area occupied!]`
`[Area Boss defeated solo!]`
`[Solo Area Boss Defeat: 10 SP acquired!]`
“Whoa…”
Shou-kun! Sea monsters might appear!
“Ah, crap!”
I wrapped the rope around the Red Armor Bear and swam, swam, swam towards the rock shelf visible a little to the south.
Getting taken down by a jellyfish-like monster here would be too lame an ending…
`[Swimming Skill has leveled up!]`
“Phew…”
“Woof, woof.”
I managed to pull it onto the rock shelf and sit down, and Lupi climbed down the cliff.
I see. So that’s how she comes and goes between here and there.
“Thanks, Lupi. I finally got my revenge.”
“Woof~”
It’s nice that she’s happily licking my face, but I wonder if it’s not salty?
Shou-kun, you’re too reckless…
“Ah, sorry. I felt like if I didn’t defeat it now, it would be too wary next time and impossible.”
Whether it was [Fireball], the paralyzing knife, or the Light Spirit’s flash, I thought it would be a one-shot deal when I did it. It was supposed to be a little later, though.
“So, did it get World Announced after all?”
Ah, I think so, but I’ll check the forums!