kscans

Chapter 229 - On the Border Between Worlds

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛—!!!"

At the moment of its roar, a tsunami of azure flames erupted from it in all directions. It was trying to incinerate us all at once!

"Blanc!"

My precognition warned me a split second early, and I yelled to my golem. At the same time, I lowered my center of gravity even further and met the surging flames with my blade.

[Concept Interference].

My longsword and the battle axe entangled the waves of azure fire, tearing them apart and flinging them upward. I wouldn't let them reach the rear guard.

Immediately after, Erina-san threw the Daisharinmaru. As the shuriken flew toward it with wind-powered acceleration, Cerberus dodged, leaving a blue afterimage in the air.

It’s fast. Is that armor of flame accelerating it?

The three-headed beast sprinted away from us front-liners with even greater speed than before, its paws shattering the floor. Then, it spun its flame-wreathed body around. It was the same move I’d seen earlier in the fight.

The serpent tail, no longer steel-colored but glowing crimson from the heat, swung in a devastating horizontal sweep.

In response, a great wall of blue ice appeared. An ice block, dozens of meters thick and generated in an instant, stood in the path of the living whip.

A moment later, a deafening roar echoed as the wall shattered. Chunks of ice the size of a human torso scattered, but the tail’s trajectory was altered, passing overhead.

Cerberus didn’t stop, spinning again. But instead of a second sweep, this time it leaped.

Using the flame for acceleration, it soared through the air at high speed, aiming to crush Mia-san. A monster the size of a large truck became a cannonball hurtling toward her.

"Like I’ll let you!"

I charged in from the side. Releasing wind from my Flügel and my feet, I slammed my blade into Cerberus’s flank.

Carrying the momentum, my [Concept Interference] ensnared its armor of flame as I swung my sword diagonally upward. The great beast’s fur was torn, its flesh ripped, and blood sprayed into the air.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛……!!!"

The three heads grunted as they landed where they’d been knocked. Despite the gash in its side, it showed no sign of faltering.

Fireballs erupted from each of its mouths. One head aimed at me, the others at my allies to keep them pinned.

From a state of slowed momentum after the collision, I rapidly accelerated to dodge the first shot. Then I flew in a curve, gaining altitude to leave the second and third shots behind.

I barrel-rolled to fly diagonally and evade the fourth shot, which had been aimed to predict my path. Then I changed my orientation, turning my head toward Cerberus.

And then, I accelerated again. As I tried to close the distance, the great beast started running. It moved its limbs to keep its distance, firing a barrage of fireballs.

I dodged the poorly aimed shots and drew closer, slowly but surely closing the gap. Fortunately, ahead of it was a wall. No matter how vast this space was, with its massive body and speed—

"?!"

A premonition from my [Spirit Eye] made me pull up and slow down. At the same time, I stamped my feet on the wind to stop myself.

Instantly, Cerberus leaped onto the wall, then kicked off. It lunged at me. Its tree-trunk-like forelegs were raised, its massive claws glinting.

An ultra-high-speed approach using its azure flames. At the last possible second, I interposed my blade and parried it diagonally downward.

The difference in mass sent my body flying upward. As I was about to lose my balance, the serpent tail followed up. I instinctively thrust my left hand out to the side and dodged with a blast of flame.

This is just… ridiculously overpowered…!

As my organs screamed from the G-forces, I kept my eyes locked on Cerberus. It used only its flaming aura to block the ice lances that were aiming for its landing spot, then sprinted, knocking aside Blanc, who had been in its path.

The silver knight scattered fragments as it somehow managed to right itself in mid-air, its body intact. But Cerberus, having made a sharp turn, was coming back for it.

Aiming for its back, I too dove. I released wind and flame from my sword tip and charged with the maximum acceleration I could control.

Using my Flügel as well, I caught up to Cerberus. I aimed for its neck with my momentum, but it slammed its tail into the floor to forcibly tilt its body and evade.

Immediately, the three heads, now angled upward, opened their jaws and took aim at me. I changed the direction of my sword, which I’d been using for acceleration, and retreated diagonally backward. As the azure heads passed before my eyes, a set of gaping, serpentine jaws pursued me.

I couldn't dodge in time. I instantly used my sword as a shield, and fangs clashed with steel, sending sparks flying.

After a shock so intense I thought my shoulder had dislocated, my vision shifted. I was launched nearly to the ceiling before I even realized I'd been hit.

Luckily, the acceleration was so great it left even the intense pain behind, so I avoided passing out. Just before hitting the ceiling, I twisted my body and flew along it.

Behind me, a blue light pierced the black ceiling and then swept sideways. Sensing it without looking back, I dodged by tilting my body.

I was pushed by the expanding, superheated air, and I let it carry me, sliding away. I lowered my altitude, circling in a wide but fast arc.

Cerberus had twisted its body again, unleashing another tail sweep at those on the ground. They deflected the first blow with a wall of ice, and the second was sent upward as Ukon and Sakon braced their shields at an angle.

But the impact knocked the shields from the two golems’ hands. I could see their left arm joints were broken.

Perhaps sensing an opportunity, just as it was about to unleash a third tail sweep, the Daisharinmaru—retrieved at some point—was thrown.

Cerberus leaped to evade the blade, using the recoil from swinging its tail. I attacked it as it did, but it countered with its claws.

The blade and claws collided, and a high-pitched sound and shockwave shook the chamber.

Gritting my teeth against the sound that threatened to rupture my own eardrums, I descended diagonally.

If I slowed down, I’d be killed. I slammed into the stone floor, still at full speed, and landed on both feet. I skidded sideways, black fragments scattering around me like sparks.

Cerberus had used its tail’s jaw to grip the floor and land instantly. It kicked up a massive cloud of dust, but left it behind as it charged me.

A charge that shattered the floor with every step. I desperately parried the attacks from its left and right heads as they came at me in arcs.

My arm felt like it was about to be torn off, and I couldn't find an opening to counter. Just then, my heel lifted slightly off the ground, and the central head swung down.

A headbutt, accelerated by its azure flames. I used my Flügel to retreat as an earthquake shook the entire labyrinth.

The resulting shockwave sent me staggering back further than I’d anticipated. I couldn't counterattack.

But its goal wasn’t to stop my assault. This was the ‘serpent’s range.’

With its central head buried in a massive crater, Cerberus immediately did a forward roll. Its entire massive body, along with its long serpent tail, came crashing down.

I couldn’t dodge it. But just as the supersonic slam was about to hit, the silver knight intercepted, smashing its battle axe into the tail from the side.

The axe-blow, delivered like a body check, shattered its handle but managed to divert the tail’s strike. Fragments of the stone floor flew like buckshot, cracking my helmet and breastplate.

But I could move. My helmet was sacrificed, but my head was only grazed, and my torso was just pierced by a few stone fragments.

With my vision now clear, I dashed past Blanc and charged the great beast. As the hound of hell pulled its head free and bared its fangs, I let out a battle cry and raised my sword.

"Oooooooooooooh—!"

Just as before, the right head came at me in an arc, and I met it with a slash that used my entire body, swinging downward. The fangs passed over my head, and my blade found the thick, flame-wreathed neck.

Instantly, my [Concept Interference] ensnared its flames, converting them into fuel for acceleration. I then expanded the slash with wind, bringing its bones within range.

And then, I swung through. My arms screamed in protest, and I crashed shoulder-first into the ground. My vision flickered from the sharp pain, but I forced myself to roll and face the enemy.

—■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛!!

A mournful howl. And then, a head larger than a man rolled across the floor with a heavy thud.

Finally, one down. As I raised my sword, the two remaining heads turned their gazes on me. In an instant, the great beast, cloaked in dense killing intent, leaped.

But its trajectory was far too linear.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛—!!??"

The massive shuriken, having flown in again, struck Cerberus’s right hind leg, catching its flames and spinning even faster. It became a whirlwind of blue, tearing the god-tree-like leg to shreds.

As it lost its balance, I charged in. I circled to its right and slashed its flank. Aided by the flames I’d absorbed with [Concept Interference], the slash reached its internal organs.

But my follow-up attack was cut short by my precognition. Just after I leaped back, its left foreleg slammed down, shattering the spot where I had just been.

Cerberus then roared again, releasing azure flames in all directions. I barely managed to endure by shielding myself with my Flügel, but my allies…!

Erina-san had fired a grappling hook into the wall and escaped upward. Blanc had done the same with a leap. But Mia-san—!

In that moment, eight towers… no. Eight spears made of black stone materialized, surrounding Cerberus. They flew at the great beast all at once.

Amidst the shock and tremors that made it difficult to even stand, I used wind to hover and glanced behind me.

There was a melting wall of ice, and behind it, Ukon and the others were holding their shields.

They had forcibly held their half-destroyed shields by freezing their broken left arms in place. Behind them stood an unharmed Mia-san.

"Kyouta-kun!"

"Hh!"

I didn’t reply to her sharp voice, but I responded.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛—!!"

Both heads vomited blood as they used their powerful legs and tail to swat away the stone spears impaling them.

It was bleeding from all over, its armor of azure flame gone. But I gathered the remnants of that flame onto my own blade.

The blade of wind and flame expanded explosively. Raising it high, I charged toward Cerberus.

"Ze, aaaaaaaah!!"

One flash. My all-out slash, meant to tear the great beast’s torso apart, was intercepted by one of its heads.

Its fangs, which could crush any living thing, were shattered by this unnatural mass of mana. The head, which had already been half-destroyed, was completely obliterated.

Leaving only the final, central head.

"—!!"

Using its second head as a sacrificial shield, the central head now had its maw aimed right at me.

The immense convergence of mana seemed to be drawing in space itself. In my vision, which felt like it was skipping frames, its jaw locked onto me. Click.

An attack of last resort, sacrificing flesh and bone to take me down with it.

Evasion was impossible. Defense was too late. This was a guaranteed kill. The full-power hellfire of the Underworld's Watchdog. The leaking heat alone was enough to melt the earth into lava, and the swirling vortex of mana would keep anyone else at bay.

But.

"Blanc!"

The golem’s iron fist, having dashed across the melting ground, slammed into the watchdog’s jaw.

An uppercut delivered while leaping at maximum output. The central head’s mouth was forced shut, delaying the blast by a fraction of a second.

But it didn't stop. Cerberus forced its jaws open and swung the azure heat ray down like a sword.

It was no longer a guaranteed kill. It was a gamble for the beast as well. And for that very reason, it was a threat.

I, too, kicked off Blanc’s shoulder and leaped.

Pushing my Flügel to its limit, I charged, raising my sword. The extreme acceleration made my vision flash red for a moment, but I didn’t care.

As long as this one strike held, it would be enough. With that resolve, I swung my arm.

Two swords clashed. A blade of fire that reached the ceiling and a blade of raging wind pushed against each other, swelling as they tried to consume one another.

I tried to ensnare my opponent’s flames with [Concept Interference], but it was heavy. This ability only ‘interfered’; to overcome it, I had to win a contest of strength.

The mingling fire and wind became a single pillar, howling between us.

Victory would be decided by the slimmest of margins.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOH—!"

"■゛■゛■゛■゛—!"

Flames erupted from the silver bracelet, hot enough to burn my own left arm. Then, my Flügel pushed against my back with enough force to crack my bones.

Furthermore, mana was drawn from the wooden ox, and finally.

"—!!"

I swung my sword.

The world went silent. I didn't know if my ears had given out, or if we had blown away the very air.

But with my own two eyes, I clearly saw the great beast’s body, split in two.

An instant later, a shockwave like an explosion slammed into my entire body, and I was sent flying like a leaf. As my vision spun, something wrapped around my waist.

I was pulled by it, and my body, which had been hurtling toward the far wall, stopped. I managed to release a blast of wind to land on the ground.

"Gah, gck…!"

The wire around my waist released, and I fell to one knee, using my sword as a crutch.

Beyond my rushing companions, I saw what was left of Cerberus’s head—about seventy percent of it.

There was nothing below the neck; even for a monster, there was no way it was alive.

But I… I met its furnace-like eyes and we stared at each other for a moment. Because I felt it was what I had to do.

Eventually, its eyes closed. With a peaceful expression, its face turned to white.

"Hh… haaah."

I realized I’d been holding my breath. The moment I let it out in a great rush, my sword snapped with a crack.

This time, I fell face-first onto the ground. I didn’t even have the strength left to break my fall.

"Kyo-chan!"

"Kyouta-kun!"

"Hey! Get up! Don’t die!"

"I’m… not… dying… definitely…"

I answered the voice coming from my earring and somehow managed to roll onto my back.

With a clatter of armor, a pair of scorched black legs approached. I took the offered, battered gauntlet and stood up.

"…Good work, Blanc."

The silver knight, who was letting me lean on its shoulder, responded to my words.

Slowly. But surely, it nodded.