Sparks flicker from the Beast Emperor’s body as he looks down at Seiya doubled over.
“My attack power just surpassed one million, significantly exceeding that of Demon Lord Ultimaeus.”
Grandleon’s status reflects in my eyes as I use Scan.
BEAST EMPEROR GRANDLEON |
||||
Condition: Thunder Beast | ||||
LV: 99 (MAX) | ||||
HP: 955,989/1,200,044 |
MP: 0 | |||
ATK: 1,023,987 |
DEF: 998,596 |
SPD: 938,855 |
MAG: 58,754 |
GRW: 999 (MAX) |
Resistance: Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning, Ice, Earth, Holy, Dark, Poison, Paralysis, Sleep, Curse, Instant Death, Status Ailments |
||||
Special Abilities: Dark God’s Blessing (LV: MAX), Flight (LV: MAX) |
||||
Skills: Jet-Black Nail, Volt, Volt: Sky Strike |
||||
Personality: Wicked |
||||
Saying the situation is hopeless would be putting it lightly. Gaeabrande was nothing compared to this. No human could ever defeat such a monster.
Just then…
“Y-you’re…?”
By my side, Queen Carmilla points at me with a trembling hand. That’s when I notice…I am no longer a fish-person.
“Who are you?!”
Desperately fighting the feelings welling in my heart, I tell the queen only what she needs to know.
“I-I’m Ristarte. I’m a goddess who came to save this world. Due to unavoidable circumstances, I had to transform into a fish-person.”
“I see…”
The queen nods with a solemn expression.
“You’re the goddess of fish…yes?”
“…?! No!! A-anyway, I’ll fill you in on the details later!”
Just as I start to return my attention to the battle, it hits me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
W-wait… Why was the shape-shifting spell broken?!
Magic that uses power in nature—earth magic, for example—relies on the energy of the soil itself in addition to the caster’s magic. That’s why the earth serpents could move even without Seiya’s magic. However, shape-shifting works solely because of Seiya’s magic. Which means…
Seiya has taken an unbelievable amount of damage!
I stare at Seiya breathing heavily with a hand on his stomach. Just as I expected, blood is pouring out of his torn-open abdomen.
“Seiya…!”
I get ready to rush over to heal him, but…
“Stay back.”
Seiya tells me to stop as if he knows my intentions. Grandleon turns his gaze on me as well.
“Huh? Who’s that girl…? Oh… That must be the goddess from another dimension who came with the Hero.”
The Beast Emperor mutters as if he isn’t interested in the least.
“I’ll kill her later with the hag. You’re up first, though.”
Grandleon poises himself to use Volt against Seiya, but the Hero manages to get back to his feet to take a defensive stance.
“I despise humans. The Demon Lord created me after he turned this world into a land of ruin. So I bet I was killed by a human in a past life.”
Thereupon, another bolt of lightning shoots past Seiya, and I hear the sound of flesh tearing open. Smoke rises in the distance, and Grandleon stands perfectly still. Seiya must have been unable to completely dodge Volt. His left cheek splits open as if he was cut with a knife. The Beast Emperor licks Seiya’s blood off his claws before repositioning himself to use Volt. Another pale trail of lightning shoots forward. This time, I hear metal clinking. It looks like Seiya is able to block the attack, but it sends the platinum sword in his left hand flying into the air. Seiya unsteadily drags himself to where the platinum sword lands, but Grandleon is already standing tall before it. As Seiya defenselessly reaches for the blade, the Beast Emperor swings his claws as if he’s about to chop off Seiya’s arm…but he suddenly stops.
“…Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Bam. Grandleon buries his foot in Seiya’s stomach, kicking him into the air. When Seiya hits the ground, blood aggressively spews out of his stomach wound.
“I noticed the moment I saw you. Your left arm is engulfed in a strange aura.”
I gasp when I hear those words.
W-was he trying to use Counter Break, like he did against the emperor in Gaeabrande?! That means he must have cast it on his arm before using Berserk just in case he got backed into a corner! He was gambling his own arm to cut off one of Grandleon’s…!
“So that was the last ace up your sleeve, huh? It’s too bad.”
The monster saw right through the cautious Hero’s plan. Grandleon laughs robustly while restlessly kicking Seiya in the stomach.
“You ran out of luck when you ran into me. I’m going to kill you. Then I’m going to kill Ultimaeus! I will rule all humans and beastkin in the world!”
Tears well in my eyes as I watch Seiya get kicked and stomped on like a sandbag.
This extraordinary Hero…such a talented man…doesn’t even stand a chance! He would have easily won if he completed the ritual…! But because of me…! Because I…!
Grandleon delivers a kick that sends Seiya several meters into the air.
“Seiya…!”
I can’t watch any longer. I don’t care if he kills me. I decide to rush over to Seiya. After placing a hand on his stomach, I get ready to use my healing magic when…
“You don’t have to heal me.”
Seiya spits out the words in agony. Has he realized that healing him won’t change the outcome of the battle? No… He probably just doesn’t want my help, since this is my fault.
“I’m sorry…! I’m so, so sorry…!”
All I can do is apologize, but Seiya slowly tells me:
“Rista… You were right. If I’d wasted any more time on the ritual, someone dear to you would have died…”
I—I can’t believe Seiya is saying this! S-stop! Don’t talk like you’re about to die!
But Seiya uses his platinum sword as a cane and slowly pulls himself to his feet.
“This pain…saved me from losing my mind. I should be able to use it now.”
Although riddled with wounds, he has strength in his eyes. I can feel it in my bones when I hear his voice filled with determination.
He’s planning on using Berserk: Phase Three! Phase Three will quadruple his stats! They would even exceed Grandleon’s! It’s all or nothing if he wants to defeat Grandleon! But… But…!
“There are heights that humans were not meant to reach. If a human uses Phase Three, their mind will be forever lost to madness! The scars of the berserker will be carved into your very soul and will remain even after you return to your original world!”
The Goddess of Warfare insistently warned us not to use Phase Three. I’ve got a really bad feeling about this! I get the feeling this isn’t going to be something you can overcome with raw talent and mental strength! Grandleon quietly watches us in the distance until…
“Finished saying your good-byes? Don’t worry. I’ll kill her shortly after I kill you.”
Grandleon gives a muffled laugh.
“Wait… Should I kill her first?”
He suddenly faces me!
“Volt!”
A pale bolt of lightning streaks toward me. Sensing death on the horizon, I instinctively shut my eyes when I hear a loud clash. I slowly open my eyes…only to see an unexpected sight. Grandleon has fallen to one knee! Black blood drips from his mouth and chin.
“Human…!”
His face contorted with rage, Grandleon glares at the Hero. I look over at Seiya and can’t believe what I see, either. His aura earlier couldn’t even compare to how powerful it is now! Even his skin has turned red, and his fingers are turning crimson as well!
The Hero breathlessly observes:
“It looks like…it worked…”
“I-is that… Is that Phase Three?!”
But Seiya shakes his head.
“Even if I manage to defeat Grandleon…I still have to worry about the Dark Lord. This isn’t the time to be taking risks…”
“Th-then what happened to you?!”
“If the full potential of Berserk is an insurmountable wall…then there’s no need to get to the top. I just need to…climb the wall…halfway…”
Seiya slowly mutters:
“Berserk: Phase 2.5…”
Phase 2.5?! Phase Two triples your stats, which means Phase 2.5…multiplies your stats by 2.5?! Does that mean he is able to match Grandleon’s stats by adjusting the phase between Two and Three?!
“Well technically…it’s more like Phase 2.491…”
Th-that’s oddly specific, but okay…! Anyway…that’s amazing! He was able to adjust it to the decimal point?!
Grandleon spits a mixture of saliva and blood onto the ground.
“So that’s the real ace up your sleeve, huh? Nothing has changed, though. You’re going to die.”
With that, Grandleon charges Seiya using Volt. Engulfed in a dark-crimson aura, Seiya rushes toward the Beast Emperor in turn. The two collide! After a powerful blast, I see Grandleon blocking Seiya’s dual blades with his claws. Grandleon smirks but is gradually pushed back as if Seiya is overpowering him!
“What is this power…?! There’s no way a mere human could be this strong…!”
“I gave up being human for the moment.”
“I’ve had enough of your crap! Who the hell do you think I am?”
Enraged, Grandleon raises an arm high into the air before swinging his claws through the platinum sword in Seiya’s right hand, shattering it into pieces!
“Looks like your weapons can’t keep up with your strength.”
He was right. Platinum swords are strong, but they aren’t fit for duels against Demon Lord–class monsters. Plus, the sword has gradually worn down over the course of their fierce battle.
This can’t be happening! And after finally raising his stats to match Grandleon’s…!
I fall into a pit of despair…but the ground under Seiya suddenly swells! Out slithers an earth serpent carrying a sheathed sword in its mouth!
“…?! There are still earth serpents underground?!”
“Yeah, I made a spare earth serpent and a spare platinum sword.”
Seiya takes the platinum sword and unsheathes it, but…
“My left sword is pretty beat-up, too. I’ll switch it out just in case.”
As he softly steps on the ground, it suddenly bulges once more, revealing another earth serpent with another sheathed sword!
“A spare earth serpent for my spare, and a spare platinum sword for my spare.”
H-how many spares does he have?!
Indifferent to how astonished I am by his thorough preparation, Seiya gets into stance with his two new swords. Grandleon clenches his teeth.
“You’re a joke… What are you, a magician?”
Grandleon slowly moves his arms in a circle.
“I’m not gonna hold back any longer! I’m gonna infuse both arms with Volt and tear you apart with Jet-Black Nail!”
Seiya, on the other hand, slowly exhales before muttering:
“Berserk: Phase 2.6…!”
H-he’s getting even closer to Phase Three! Is he going to be okay?! There’s no way he can maintain that for long…!
But that’s when I notice it… Grandleon is clenching his teeth while struggling to breathe!
Oh! Grandleon can’t remain in Beast Hazard Mode for long, either! Th-that means regardless of who wins…this match is about to come to an end!
…The dark-crimson aura of chaos faces the pale aura of lightning. The Hero slowly points his swords at Grandleon.
“From this moment on, the continent of Rhadral will be free from your rule.”
“Don’t get too cocky, human…!” Grandleon roars. “Humans are toys! Humans are food! Rhadral belongs to the beastkin!”
“All of that ends today.”
“We’ll see about that!”
With the power of Volt, the Beast Emperor swipes his claws at Seiya. The Hero parries the first strike, but the following combo comes in at blinding speed. Nevertheless, Seiya blocks each strike with his dual swords while driving them away!
However…there’s a creak! Grandleon throws all his might into his attack, shattering the fresh platinum sword in Seiya’s right hand like glass! Grandleon smirks, but a trail of black blood runs down his cheek. Paying no attention to his broken blade, Seiya thrusts with his other sword, skewering Grandleon’s cheek! The king of the beasts growls deeply but resumes his relentless onslaught, determined not to let the now-defenseless Hero escape with his life. Seiya’s at a disadvantage, but the ground swells below him, revealing another earth serpent with a sheathed sword. Dodging Grandleon’s attack with his upper body, Seiya kicks the sheathed sword into the air. As the weapon spins overhead, the centrifugal force pulls the sword out of its sheath before Seiya grabs it with his free hand.
“A spare for the spare of the earlier spare.”
Seiya thereupon switches to the offensive. He can’t use any abilities while in Berserk Mode, but through sheer natural talent alone, he weaves together countless sword techniques from each and every direction. Scars begin to carve into Grandleon’s body as he fails to block every attack.
“You little…shit…!”
His sword breaks again mid-combo, but even then, another earth serpent instantly delivers a spare. Without even taking his eyes off his opponent, Seiya kicks the sword straight into his hand. This is the price for continuously attacking so his opponent won’t even get a chance to breathe. But all of a sudden, a third threat soars over Grandleon’s head to attack Seiya: the giant serpent tail! Normal people would have a hard time dealing with an attack from their blind spot, but Seiya deflects it with his blade as if he expected it.
W-wow! He’s overpowering Grandleon!
I then hear another metallic clang. This time, however, it isn’t a platinum sword. As I look at Grandleon, I notice that the claws on his left hand are broken!
“M-my claws…!”
Compared to Seiya’s seemingly endless supply of platinum swords, Grandleon’s claws are relatively worn. The Beast Emperor suddenly leaps back, creating some distance between them. Both his full-power Jet-Black Nail and his surprise attack thwarted, Grandleon bares his fangs with rage while glaring at Seiya.
“Powers greater than mine even after I surpassed the Dark Lord?! I won’t allow it! I won’t allow you to exist in this world!”
Spreading the black wings on his back, Grandleon takes to the sky. I rush over to Seiya.
“I-is he running away?!”
“…No.”
Grandleon comes to a sudden stop after gaining significant altitude. He then roars so loudly, we can hear him on the surface. The air around him trembles as the lightning flickering around his body increases.
“What in the world…?”
“He’s going to focus every drop of power he has left…to kill me.”
Seiya sheathes his swords as if he’s given up.
“S-Seiya?!”
“I can’t use any abilities or magic during Berserk Mode, so I prepared to make up for this shortcoming. The drawback is that it takes time to focus, but it should be perfect against an enemy’s most powerful technique.”
“But how are you going to attack with your swords sheathed?!”
“Slowly but surely, I’m remembering the Valkyrja techniques of destruction. The Seventh Valkyrja: Break Permission—through granting destructive energy to only material objects, I was able to give the soil an explosive charge.”
Seiya taps his foot on the ground three times. Before long, a serpent pops out with a sheath wrapped in cloth.
“This sword was specially crafted. When drawn, the friction will create sparks that ignite the explosive soil inside the sheath, thus creating more power along with the flames. The tremendous energy created will then be used to hit the target.”
By the time Seiya finishes his explanation, Grandleon is quietly staring down at us from the sky. The explosive lightning flickering around him is quietly absorbed into his body. He is then swallowed in a blinding ray of light instead.
“Die…! Volt: Sky Strike!”
With the overpowering aura coursing through every vein in his body, Grandleon rapidly descends in our direction like a shooting star followed by a pale ray of light. There’s no way we can block that…!
“Seiya! Use the move!”
“No, he needs to be closer.”
“B-but at this rate, we’ll…!”
“This is all I have left. If I miss, it’s over.”
Grandleon rapidly approaches at a blinding speed, but even then, Seiya doesn’t draw his sword.