Following Chapter 170 (3)

A slight pain brushed my shoulder, but this much was on the level of a tickle. I familiarly ignored it and took my next step.

There wasn't exactly anything to use as a foothold, but that didn't mean there was no way.

My military boot stepped on the underside of the upper vine, and I launched my body downward again.

A black current generated around my body, and I caught up to Biryuho once again. Biryuho also aimed at me and opened its mouth.

CLASH.

Once again, our bodies intersected, engraving wounds onto each other's bodies.

Biryuho's skin was torn apart like a busted drum, and on my waist was a claw mark deep enough that my intestines were barely visible.

「Poison 14%」

Meanwhile, the poison gauge, though not climbing steeply, was steadily accumulating.

I adjusted my grip on my sword amidst the floral scent vibrating from all directions. They say a flower's scent is strongest right before it withers, and I wondered if that saying was true.

CRUMBLE.

However, it was not yet time to rest. I ran, unfailingly dodging the rotting footholds.

There was no need to worry about the wound on my waist. My bandages and clothes would soon restore themselves, serving as a substitute for first aid. That was enough.

["ROAAAR!"]

Biryuho, having healed its wounds with a single roar, swiftly chased after me. CRACK. The black cracks had already swallowed most of its upper body. Its murky red eyes seemed to be gradually engulfed in madness.

However, whether it was gaining power at the cost of its reason, the number of soaring vines increased. Their speed was also fast enough that it was gradually becoming hard to take them lightly.

There was a limit to how much I could squeeze out my survival instincts; my head was going to split open while looking for a way out.

THUD.

Eventually, after exchanging blows a few more times, I made a choice.

Deciding that I could no longer secure a path with the thin stems, I stepped on a pillar so thick that three adult men clinging to it wouldn't be able to wrap their arms around it.

["C-Caught, you...!"]

CRUMBLE!

"...!"

But at that moment, as if it had been waiting, the wisteria collapsed. The sight of it scattering like ash—no, like thousands of butterflies—was nothing but pretty.

However, the stems gathering through it were by no means beautiful. It wasn't like it was trying to turn me into a Pop-up Pirate toy; wouldn't it be troublesome for me if they poured in without a single gap?

I kept my lips sealed tightly and swung my sword while doing somersaults from various angles. I felt as if I had become a spinning top, but that was my best option.

Having chopped apart every branch trying to pounce on me, my body plummeted down, down, and finally reached the innermost part of the vine cluster. It was the ground I had so desperately wished for.

Even if all four sides were blocked by tree roots.

SPLAT!

Was it even the aftermath of the ground being overturned? It was mud with pooled water.

The impact upon landing was somewhat lessened, but just thinking about fighting here made me feel conflicted.

THUD!

Biryuho followed me and landed on the ground. SWISH. By my rough guess, it was fifty meters in the air. As if to completely block this pit, the vines gathered and formed a ceiling.

The cluster of vines, without even a single gap, didn't let a sliver of light inside. The world went pitch black.

I could make out very little, but the visibility was so poor that fighting with my eyes closed would be more comfortable than trying to grasp my surroundings with it.

["T-Tremble, in fear...!"]

Amidst that, a shallow presence circled near me. Somehow, its speech felt slurred.

["D-Die...!"]

Let's see. That guy definitely gobbled up the Great Demon. Given the growing black hole and its strange speech right now...

Hmm, no matter how I look at it, it seems like demonic energy corruption.

Bringing up such idle thoughts, I felt the increasingly dense scent of flowers.

「Poison 20%」

Should I be glad that my madness gauge isn't going up unlike that guy over there? Or should I say it's not fortunate at all because the poison is rising?

After a bit of deliberation, I made a decision.

["ROAAAR!"]

CLANG!

'Ranking shitty things was pointless anyway.'

I parried the plunging claws and stepped back. SWOOSH! Sure enough, a follow-up attack came in and cleaved the spot where I had just been.

Counterattack? I decided to wait and see a little longer. It was because no matter how sharp my senses were, my night vision couldn't be better than a beast's.

My eyes needed to adjust to the darkness a little more. Or, I needed to become able to pinpoint Biryuho with just sounds and a few other clues.

Anyway, right now, moving forward step by step was the best option rather than acting hastily.

CLANG!

However, just a little, just a very little bit... my opponent was truly annoying.

Right, if it's a primeval beast that gobbled up a Great Demon, it should confidently attack me head-on. Not play around with tricks like darkness, footholds, and poison.

「Poison 32%」

["Kee-hee-hee!"]

Ah! Both the poison gauge and that laughing sound were seriously annoying!!

I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly, pondering if Biryuho was always that kind of character. SCREEEECH. The sword that had endured even when I fought the Great Demon was slowly screaming.

It seemed it was a bit of a mistake that I hadn't replaced it due to my wallet's situation. Money wasn't more important than my life, after all.

CLANG!

But what could I do when I had no money? The expense paid for repairing the bridge was simply too massive.

Even so, I couldn't ruin my pride by begging the Archmage or the others for money.

I hurriedly checked the durability and blocked another attack. Judging by my experience, with this level of durability, it would break before long.

SLASH!

"...!"

["D-Die...!"]

Well, it felt like I was going to die from excessive bleeding before the sword broke.

I became conscious of the number of lacerations engraved all over my body.

There were no scars as deep as the one engraved on my side, but the numbers were the problem. I was fine now, but I didn't know if I would be fine later. Considering my past records, there was a possibility I was in the safe zone, though.

RUMBLE...

It seemed like it was preparing for a massive strike under the cover of darkness.

A flow of air could be felt in a space where the wind shouldn't be blowing, and in sync with it, a tremendous energy began to gather.

Whether I had eyes to see or not, I'd be an idiot to miss this.

"There you are!"

I had condensed magic power into my sword in advance in preparation for this moment. SCREECH. With the sound of grinding metal, I unleashed three slashes.

As there was no need to pay attention to anything else, the sword energy I honed to the limit by focusing my entire mind was incomparably narrow and precise.

SLASH!

"...!"

The sensation of having cut something filled my fingertips. It wasn't the usual heavy feedback, but a vague sensation, light as if it would scatter, like slicing through cotton candy.

["Kua-ha-hat!"]

'It's a trap!'

As soon as I realized that fact, I tried to take my next action. However, Biryuho's eyes were already right in front of me. Its two eyes shone brightly due to the tapetum lucidum unique to beasts.

SWOOSH!

"...!"

Consecutively, Biryuho's body 'passed through' me, and right from behind, a cold and damp sensation struck my entire body. SPLASH! The cool and refreshing sound unique to crashing waves completely filled the inside of the cave.

BLUB, BLUB.

Air bubbles were vomited from my mouth before I could even properly prepare my breath.

If I hadn't reflexively stabbed my sword into the ground, I would have been swept away by the water current pounding against my limbs by now.

On another note, why was this damn tiger bastard suddenly using water-attribute skills? Was a water type added because the thing it gobbled up was a sky whale? What is this, Mega Evolution?

CRUNCH!

Meanwhile, its ability to make grass grow remained exactly the same. The poison gauge had now passed the halfway mark and was steeply rising.

I had thought this ever since it ate the demon raw, but I wondered if this bastard had any conscience at all.

I barely swallowed a curse as I felt the presence of a tree stem that almost pierced my shoulder.

Along with that, I also went through the thought process of whether getting swept away by the current would be less damaging than the harm inflicted by that thing, or if staying put would be less damaging. A misjudgment would immediately connect directly to a crisis.

CRASH!

However, the chance to deliberate wasn't very long.

I felt a branch that grew at high speed graze the other side of my nape. My ankle was already snared by a stem.

'I'd rather throw my body into the water.' I swiftly made my decision, pulled out my sword, and moved my legs. CRACK. My body was immediately swept away by the flow.

However, as if it had been aiming for that moment, a presence could be felt immediately from the other side. I forcibly moved my arm.

SLASH!

It seemed what I cut this time was also something like a clone. The feedback in my hands was weak.

BLUB, BLUB.

I kicked my feet, observing the presences felt from all directions.

Keeping it in check was one thing, and coping with it was another, but fundamentally, I was human. I would die if I didn't breathe.

["D-Die!"]

However, the moment my hand touched the ceiling, I realized. This place had become completely filled with water, leaving no space to breathe.

'This is a bit dangerous.'

A chill ran down my spine.

"Haaah!"

CRAAAAASH!

The moment my instincts fiercely sounded the alarm, a massive shock shook the world along with a radiant golden light.

The ceiling broke and light poured in, and the water drew concentric circles from the center as the water level reversed.

Luckily, I was at the edge, so my body floated up along with the rising water level. Attempting to hold onto the broken parts and hang on so I wouldn't fall again was a bonus.

"Demon Knight!"

However, there was no particular need to do that. A pale blue chain flew over and entangled my hand.

Goosebumps erupted and all my senses went on edge, but that didn't stop my mind from inquiring.

I grabbed the chain that tightly wrapped around my forearm even more firmly.

RATTLE!

My body, pulled along with the chain, soared high up there like a fish caught on a fishing line.

"Hmph!"

Soon, I saw the Archmage reciting an incantation and the Berserker with a sullen expression. I didn't know how they all knew to come, but it was good timing.

"Two sparring matches, no, three times!"

But I didn't see one person here. That must mean the person who had crashed through the wooden ceiling was indeed the Inquisitor.

I had that thought as I shook off the chain bound to my forearm.

"Protect him!"

With that, the Archmage formed a small-scale protective barrier. It was a barrier protecting only me.

FLAAAAASH!

The moment I was about to question that point, a massive golden wave completely filled my vision.

It was the power to purify all impurities in the world and destroy evil.

'Damn it.'

Even though the barrier condensed with magic power was definitely blocking the brunt of the divine power, I fell to my knees involuntarily. HURK. Blood vomited from my mouth.

"Are you alright?"

I didn't think I was in such an ambiguous state that you'd have to ask to know.

To lighten the situation even a little, I made a retort I didn't even mean. The blood vessels in my eyes must have burst too, as my vision was slightly red.

"You have many wounds."

"Too weak. From now on, the Berserker fights."

No, it wasn't that I was weak...

I inwardly denied it but soon gave up. A true master would fight just fine even in the darkness. Perhaps this really was just a lack of skill.

"As I said earlier, try it if you can."

However, for my concept, it was a matter I could never admit. To begin with, Biryuho didn't seem like it would be fine after taking a direct hit from that divine power.

Furthermore, that power was still flowing out from the center. The aftermath alone was enough to return the plants from a purple hue to a healthy green color, so would Biryuho, who had swallowed a demon, really still be alive?

At the end of such deliberation, I wiped the flowing tears of blood and nosebleed with an aloof attitude.

My HP was now barely clinging to the absolute bottom. If the Archmage hadn't cast the magic barrier, I might have died instantly.

"Tsk."

Ah, come to think of it, White Wind told me not to enter a near-death state.

I reflexively touched the area around my right shoulder. Thanks to the gauntlet and several layers of clothes, it was somewhat hard to feel the existence of the seal.

But seeing as there was no rattling feeling inside my clothes, it didn't seem to have broken yet.

"You think the Berserker can't do it?! I can do it!"

Ah, yeah. Do it if you can. Who said anything?

As long as the divine power continued to spread out anyway, I couldn't even step outside this barrier. Even though the poison gauge wasn't rising anymore, the rate at which it was dropping was too slow.

"Now, now, calm down."

Before the battle of pride between me and the Berserker could drag on any longer, the Archmage soothed the Berserker. It was then that the undulating waves of divine power stopped.

The demonic energy was purified, and the world that had regained its flawlessly clear color filled my vision.

Some parts were purified by being burned away instead of clearing up, creating gaps for the water to drain out. SWISHHH. The water leaked out between the roots, revealing the inside of the pit.

The Inquisitor, bearing radiant light, was just standing up in the middle of the pit.

Biryuho was nowhere to be seen, as if even its corpse had been burned away.

"What, did you already take care of the tiger?"

Ah, that sentence...!

RUMMBBBLE.

The moment the Berserker mumbled like that, the ground began to shake. And then, the ground right in front of the Inquisitor soared as if exploding with a BANG! What popped out from the center was Biryuho, its entire body burning.

["How, how."]

CRACK, CRACK.

The cracks on its chest grew even larger.

["How...!"]

Even larger. And larger.

["Ah!"]

Large enough to completely swallow that body whole.

["... Did you think I would end like this, Wrath?"]

Behind the tiger's back, a semi-transparent whale fin, resembling a silken ribbon, fluttered up.