kscans

Chapter 609 - The Dragon and the Rabbit

I leapt out as if to say, Who do you think you’re looking at? and gave it a solid slap across the face—but regrettably, that was the extent of my advantage over the otherworldly monster.

Looking at the status bar at the edge of my vision, it seemed Sora and the others were making a safe escape. Some time had passed since their departure.

My role as a decoy was more than fulfilled. Honestly, I wanted to get out of here right away, but due to certain circumstances, that was no longer an option for this pitiful player…

“—NOOOOoooooOOOAAAAaaaaAAAAAHHH!!!”

In this underground cavern, one on one. I was forced to face the colossal beast, continuously parrying the endless rain of spears from its dragon-like head with the crimson blades in my hands.

The spears were actually metallic, golden tentacles. They could extend and retract at will, and they were harder than ordinary steel. I could barely react to their speed, but their sheer, ridiculous volume was chipping away at my mental state, concentration, and everything else.

And what’s more, they regenerated instantly no matter how many I cut down. Hahaha, of course they do. ‘Dragons’ and the like usually have high regeneration abilities—but a dragon that uses a hundred-tentacle-fist move feels like a bit of a misinterpretation of the fantasy trope, don’t you think?!

I was being pushed back, completely on the defensive, with not even the slightest opening to counterattack. The fact that it stopped its other movements during this onslaught was merciful in a way, but since it was just a guaranteed chip-damage phase, it was nothing but a loss for me. One hundred percent a garbage move.

Besides, if I could just move my legs freely, I wouldn’t have to deal with this stationary nonsense—

“Tch…!”

The moment the ‘spears’ and its ‘gaze’ broke off, I reacted instantly to the change in phase and activated [Rocket]. With a single large stride, I leaped to the wall, and at the same time, I summoned my [Twaibolt Mirari] and ducked behind them in a defensive posture—in the next instant.

‘—!!!’

With a distorted roar like scraping metal, a torrent of heat rays filled the chamber.

I had no idea what principle was at work, but the拡散 laser fired in all directions from its mouth was truly innumerable, far surpassing the number of its tentacles. This wasn't something you could dodge, so my only options were a combination of defense and prayer.

Fortunately, since they were split, the pressure from each individual beam was tolerable. Thanks to my naturally high MID providing magic resistance, and the incredible durability of VIT: 300 gifted to me by my partner, I could withstand it from behind my shield—but even then, I had to be careful.

As soon as I confirmed the heat rays had stopped, I sent my shield away and ignited [Rocket] again.

“Ugh… that was… too close! This isn’t good for my heart…!”

What sent my avatar reeling with a deafening roar and shockwave as I narrowly escaped the wall was… none other than the massive body of the Tyrantinus flying through the air.

It wasn’t as agile as the [Dusty Worm] from before, but it was the type of giant monster that could move, making it truly difficult to handle.

Well, again, if I could just run without a care in the world, I could deal with it…—And here it is, the worst move ever. Doesn’t it have a cooldown?!

The ‘Staring Great Eye’ debuff icon lit up at the bottom of my status bar.

Its countless eyes, which had raised its neck to look at me, emitted a sinister light, and my avatar’s legs were pinned, my steps forcibly stolen from me.

It wasn’t as bad as the ‘Fear’ from that mysterious entity earlier, but it was still a powerful and unreasonable forced incapacitation… In short, this was why I couldn’t run.

Try running at my usual speed now. The moment my legs get locked, I’d be grated against the ground by my own momentum. Game over, no questions asked.

The fact that it had almost no pre-motion other than looking at me was diabolical, but what was truly awful was how casually it spammed this move. I purely, utterly hate this thing now.

Spamming unreasonable crowd control is the hallmark of a badly designed boss, you damn idiot mole!

And so, this was likely the reason its own movements stopped. In exchange for stopping its opponent’s legs, it had to stop its own… Well, that sense of fair play is all well and good—but that means its next move is always the same.

“GUUUooooOAAAAaaaaAAAAAHHH!!!”

And so began the lively one-thousand tentacle-knock drill. Hahaha, this is getting nowhere, you bastard.

Fine, if it’s come to this, then so be it! Since a retreat is looking hopeless anyway, I might as well commit to a thoroughly reckless resistance!

I glanced at what used to be the exit. The only escape route had conveniently collapsed within the first minute of the fight due to one of its body slams, and it was still completely sealed. It wasn’t blocked by some ‘mysterious power,’ but they hadn’t told me it would be blocked physically and with brute force.

…Seriously, is this what you’d expect from a monster that defies common sense, an Over-Raid Boss?

Very well, then my only option is all-out war.

“[Alv Call]—[Helia].”

I summoned my star sword and declared the key phrase. In an instant, the ‘White’ sword in my right hand was overflowing with ‘Red,’ which swallowed my arm and formed a shining crystal armament.

An automatically controlled scythe of death. I left the interception of the spears entirely to my partner… and then…

With my free hand, I pulled down my hood.

I’ve seen its attacks so many times I’m sick of it, so the accumulation is at full count. I’m recording this battle, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever release it to the public…

I can just imagine that guy’s smug face if we watch it amongst ourselves. And if I’m going to use this, I have to at least look cool doing it—

“Here I come, you damn mole… I’ll pay you back not just one arrow, but ten!”

And so, the moment the debuff icon pinning my legs disappeared.

“[Stasis Rabbit].”

The ‘head’ of the hat with ears—two pale blue eyes—flashed, cold and silent.

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It took nearly 250 chapters for this ability to be activated since its first mention? Seriously?