Akumo watched.
Cr-crack—!
As the entity swung its blade, a line was carved into the very fabric of the floor.
Rumble—!!!!!!!!!!!!
That line, looking as if it had cleaved the floor itself, was evidence that the Dungeon had sustained catastrophic damage.
—!!!!!!
—!!!!!!
—!!!!!!
In response, the black-stained murderers manifested.
Thump—!!
"Save me!!!!!!!!"
"[Pioneer]!!!! Please!!!!"
Thump—!!
"[Rabbit Foot].... Get up....!!!"
"Kyaaaaak!!!!!!"
Thump—!!!!!
The slaughterer slowly dragged its body toward the beings before it.
"W-What.... I didn't hear anything about this...!!!"
Step—
"...!!"
"What are you so surprised about?"
At that sight, Jura felt something was fundamentally wrong.
The appearance of the black Juggernaut and Akuo's unfathomable power—all of it was threatening his very survival.
"Y-You..!!! Just what did you d—"
Stab—!!
".....Eh?"
"Did you really think it would be possible?"
Grip—!
"Did you think everything would be 'all okay' with a pathetic leash like this?"
Akumo sneered at the adventurer Jura's hideous ambition. Just as he was about to sever the man's neck—
"[Critical Shade]."
Shadows saturated with lethal intent blanketed everything in the vicinity.
"Bell!"
"Y-You are!?"
Meanwhile, Marie appeared before Ryu, who was treating Bell, and shouted urgently.
"Me, mermaid...! Drink blood...!!"
"!!"
'A mermaid's lifeblood...!!'
"Hurry!!!"
Marie placed something beside Bell, her eyes welling with tears, indirectly revealing the shocking sight she had witnessed.
Thud—!
"This is...!"
'Mr. Cranel's arm...'
Startled by Bell's severed right arm, Ryu quickly poured a potion over Bell and then collected Marie's blood in an empty bottle.
Slide—!
"Mr. Cranel.... No, Bell...."
'Please wake up...!!'
Pour—!
"Bell....! Wake up!!"
Ryu held the severed limb against the stump and poured Marie's blood over the wound. She prayed desperately for Bell to wake, while Marie, beside her, also wished for his safety with all her heart.
Sssssss—!!!
'It's reattaching...!'
The blood was effective. Bell's arm began to knit back together, though his consciousness remained submerged.
However, that alone was hopeful news. Just as Ryu turned her head to help Akumo—
Boom—!!!
"Mr. Akumo....?"
A flash of brilliant white light blanketed the floor, a single strike that seemed to cleave through everything.
"Akuo....?"
The blinding white light overwhelmed Ryu with its sheer pressure. Simultaneously, Marie was struck with shock; the aura felt from behind that light was hauntingly familiar.
Skreeeeee—!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then came the sound of a nightmare.
""!!""
'No way....!'
Thump—!!!
"No...."
What met her eyes was the ultimate nightmare.
"Why...!! Those monsters...."
'And alongside that Goliath....'
The black Juggernaut seemed intent on driving a stake of despair into her wavering heart. Just as her thoughts ground to a halt—
"[Critical Shade]."
Shadows filled with killing intent enveloped them all in a darkness even deeper than the nightmare.
Cr-cr-crash—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Mr. Akumo....!!"
"[Pioneer]....!!"
Dozens of black slashes tore through the limbs of the black Juggernauts, manifesting the lethal intent within the strikes into reality.
"WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Before anyone could even process the scene, Akumo's thunderous roar echoed through the cavern.
Grip—!!!
"Nothing is over yet!!!"
"So....!!"
Do not fall into despair, but do not be intoxicated by hope either.
"DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Just remember that one thing.
"Marie!! I know it's asking a lot... but please, more blood...!!"
"!!"
Nod—!
"I understand...!!"
Ryu and Marie immediately realized their roles at his shout.
They had to move now to save Bell, Akumo, and everyone else.
"Y-You bastards!!!!!!!!! We're breaking through that non-black monster!!!!!"
"""!!"""
Bors and his men also had their fear shattered by Akumo's roar. Or rather, a desperate cry that surpassed fear had taken root in their minds.
Clang—!!!!
"I will join you!!"
"[Gale]!! Just hold out for a moment!!"
Whoosh—
"!! You must not chant!!"
"What...!?"
Ryu stopped Bors's group from using magic and quickly explained the Juggernaut's characteristics.
"As you saw in the fight with Mr. Cranel, that thing is fast and lethal!"
"And.... it reflects magic."
""""!!""""
"That's impossible...."
The only one who could face it head-on was Ryu. Just as they were about to be consumed by the horror of having to fight such a thing in close quarters without magic—
"YEAH!!!! THAT'S THE SPIRIT!!!!"
"....!!"
Slash—!!!!!!
Clang—!!! Clang—!!!
Crash—!!!!!!!!!!!!
In that instant, they saw it.
'Believe...!! Believe in them..!!'
Clang—!!
Clang—!!
Clearing his mind with faith in his comrades, Akumo focused on the Akuo before him. His eyes still held his ideals, and he had no intention of abandoning them.
Thwack—!!!!!!!
"Dammit!!"
Slice—!!!
"ORAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"
Sunder—!!!!!!
He stood his ground, risking his life without hesitation against the black Juggernaut and the powerhouse known as Akuo.
Splatter—!!
"Guh...!!"
'Bell... please, wake up...!!'
Whoosh—!!!
"Please...!! Please!!"
Ryu watched as Marie sliced her own arm with a knife, willing to give up her own limb if it meant healing Bell.
".....I will draw its attention."
"What....?"
"Please run."
That sight made Ryu reach a decision.
'I will not be a burden to them any longer....!'
"[Gale].... You...."
Step—
"I'm begging you. Go."
Bors's group could see it.
Her blue eyes were shining with a sincere desire to save them, to truly be of help to someone.
Dash—!!!!
"Haaap!!!!!!"
Before they could even answer, Ryu swung her sword at the charging Juggernaut and began her own adventure.
Clang—!!!
'As expected, it's fast...!'
—!!!!!!
Clash—!!!!
"I can't give up!!"
Boom—!!!!!!!!!!!
Ryu resisted the nightmare before her, praying that her life would be of even the slightest help to Akumo and Bell until the others could escape.
Crash—!!!
"Guh!?"
'Facing it alone is...!'
Grit—!
'Get a grip!!'
Whoosh—!!!
Slash—!!!
Whenever her heart wavered, Ryu thought of Akumo and Bell's faces to steady herself. Even as her hands lost strength from parrying the Juggernaut's claws and its tail sliced her flesh, she held on until the end.
"Marie....?"
"Bell!"
And then, another hero finally awoke.
"What on earth is...."
Bell assessed the situation as soon as he rose. He saw the monsters that had severed his arm and Akumo facing off against Akuo.
"Ms. Ryu...!"
He saw Ryu fighting the Juggernaut that had taken his arm.
"Mr. Cranel...."
Rise—!
".....I will take this one!"
Dash—!!!
Holding his muffler in his left hand and the Hestia Knife firmly in his right, he charged toward the Juggernaut.
Clang—!!
Clang—!!!!
"Using the muffler as a shield...!!"
Even though his left hand, wrapped in the muffler, throbbed with pain, Bell steeled his will and continued to use it as a shield to block the Juggernaut's attacks.
"This is it."
—!!!!!
With those words, the Juggernaut and Bell lunged at each other once more.
Clang—!!!
Clang—!!!!
'If I have the muffler Welf and Ms. Cassandra entrusted to me....!'
Schwing—!
'And if I have this knife given to me by my Goddess!'
"I can fight! I can stand against it!!"
Repeating that fact in his mind, Bell traded blows with the creature, searching for a weakness or an opening.
Boom—!!!
'Using crystals like shells!'
Surprised by Bell's return from the brink, the Juggernaut shattered crystals with its tail and fired them like bullets to keep him at bay.
—...
'It has intelligence.... If I let it go here, it will target other adventurers, it will target Lili and the others...!!'
"I'll take you down here!!!"
Dash—!!!
Bell continued to thrust and swing the Hestia Knife, attempting to deal damage to the Juggernaut.
Clash—!!!
"[Rejoice, O flesh; applaud, O flesh!]"
"Even if you use two blades, it's all for naught if you don't use a major spell!?"
"[Flash]!"
"Haha! Is that your choice!!!"
Thud—!!!!
Clang—!!!
On the other side, Akumo fought to protect everyone against the lethal intent of Akuo, his figure mirroring Bell's perfectly.
'How can you both be so.....'
"So strong...."
Ryu, drained of strength and wounded, could only place her faith in them.
"[Dance, O blood; dance, O weapon; for the scattering blood shall be the light.]"
Rumble—!!!
"!!"
Finally, a chant flowed from the hero's lips.
Whoosh—!!
Simultaneously, mana gathered in the hero's hand.
"You can't, Mr. Cranel! It will be reflected!"
"[Fire Bolt]!!!!!!"
Flare—!!!!
—!!!!!!
Whirrr—!!!!!!!!!!!
Despite Ryu's warning, Bell cast his magic. At this rate, he would be hit by the reflected counterattack just like before.
But his eyes were filled with certainty.
Flare—!!!!
"Haaap!!!!!!!!!!"
Bell raised the Hestia Knife and caught the reflected firestorm head-on. For the strongest strike he could muster, he poured everything he had into it.
Ding—!
Ding—!
Ding—!
"That sound is...!"
As the tolling bell signaling the hero's strike rang out, Ryu and Marie's eyes widened. They saw it.
Rumble—!!!!
Bell Cranel's original.
The hero's ultimate one-hit-kill attack condensed, forming a blade of flame aimed at the Juggernaut's neck.
—.....!!
Whoosh—!!
"Not so fast!!!!"
Snap—!!!
Sensing a threat for the first time in the battle, the Juggernaut tried to retreat, but Bell's muffler was wrapped around its leg, pinning it in place.
"[Argo · Vesta]!!!!!!!"
Finally, the hero's strike landed squarely on the Juggernaut.
K-boom—!!!!!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile, the fierce battle between Akumo and Akuo continued.
Cl-cl-clang—!!!!!!!!!!
'Even [Waltz of Death]...!'
Most of his [Waltz of Death] was blocked by Akuo, but Akumo's firm resolve and his growth since their last battle were not in vain.
Slice—!
".....Strong."
'You're clearly placing restrictions on yourself....'
"Why are you so strong?"
'This is....'
"Too much fun!!"
Akuo was delighted.
Even in this cornered situation, Akumo had chosen his path and was proving it with his life.
"But...."
Drip—! Drip—!
"Haha.... It's too late to come to your senses."
".....It doesn't matter."
Blood flowed from the numerous wounds sustained earlier. It seemed unlikely Akumo could show anything more, and Akuo decided it was time to end this fight.
'It's a shame, but I'll take the win this time and just knock him ou—'
K-boom—!!!!!!!!!!!!
""!!""
Then came the massive hero's strike.
The holy flame caught their eyes, and the thunderous sound reached their ears.
"Bell....!"
'So that is your.... Pioneer.'
Wipe—!
"Thank you...!!"
"!!"
'His eyes are back....?'
The hero's strike reignited Akumo's hope and will. He smiled once more.
"Alright, I'll really give it my all too!"
Whoosh—!!!
"Where did he—"
'He's faster than that...!!'
Akumo immediately rushed toward Bell.
—Kyaaaaak!!!!!!!!!!
Despite the hero's strike, the Juggernaut had only lost one leg and was still standing, but that was no longer his concern.
Step—!!
"Bell."
"Brother!?"
Pat, pat—!!
"When did you grow so much....!!"
As if forgetting they were in the middle of a battle, Akumo stroked Bell's head and quickly located the fallen Ryu and Marie hiding behind a rock.
He noted Bell's condition—the arm that wouldn't lift, the legs drained of strength.
Spin—!!
"Brother!! That...!!"
Rattle—!!!
—Kyaaaaak!!!!!!
Even as Jura's leash flew toward the Juggernaut, Akumo simply stroked Bell's head as if to say it was alright.
"I did it!!! I didn't expect it, but you actually made this monster kneel!!!"
"Jura...!!"
"But with this, this thing is mine!!!!"
Snap—!!!
"Now, go! My very own monster!!"
Whether he couldn't see Akumo or simply refused to, Jura, bleeding from his abdomen but driven mad by achieving his goal, ignored the pain and commanded the Juggernaut.
"Kill that brat and Ryu Lion!!"
Whirrr—!!
"Hahahahat!!!!! Finish the—"
Only then did Jura notice.
'They're.... not looking at me....?'
Neither Bell, Ryu, nor Akumo was looking at him.
"[O my experiences, O my adventures, bloom according to my will]"
Whoosh—!!
"[Body · Soul · Mind]"
'Thank you for waiting.'
Akumo was looking at Akuo on the other side.
His gaze was pleading, as if asking for a favor.
"You....!"
Grin—!!
That gaze wasn't an excuse asking for understanding, nor was it the expression of one who only thought of sacrifice upon sensing defeat.
Schwing—!!
"Get ready."
'I don't care if the Dungeon breaks or not...!!!'
Rumble—!!!!!!!!!
"""!!"""
Akuo drew his white sword and leveled it at Akumo.
The black Juggernauts, Bell, Ryu, and even Jura held their breath, overwhelmed by the pressure emanating from the two.
"[O radiant flame that envelops me, I shall not hide you behind the name of a knight; become the radiant flame that burns all, no longer the wings of another.]"
Flare—!
[Gram], held by Akumo, was dyed blue.
Deeply blue, yet the heat felt by skin and eye was incomparable to anything before—the [Radiant Flame] that would incinerate all had bloomed.
""Divine Weapon" [Sword of Ares]"
The white blade held by Akuo revealed its true form.
Flash—!!!!!!!!!!!
"Arcanum...!?"
"Impossible...."
Ryu and Bell were aghast. The white blade in Akuo's hand overlapped with a scene they had witnessed before.
'It's exactly like back in Elsos.....'
""Divine Weapon"....!"
They knew.
The possibility of a human body defeating such a thing was infinitesimally small.
Step—
"Brother!" "Mr. Akumo!"
".....Shh."
""!!""
They could feel it in his eyes. No, they were certain.
"[Ignis Deluge]"
It was a look that told them to believe in his victory. Or rather, a look of certainty that even if he fell, he would not let them die.
Flash—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A massive light blinded them, but Bell and Ryu... no, every being present felt it.
Cr-crack—!!!!!
—Kyaaaaak!!!!!!!!
Crash—!!!!!!!
Flare—!!!!!!!!!!!
Even the armor of the black Juggernauts couldn't repel the [Radiant Flame]. All three Juggernauts were annihilated as the massive torrent of [Radiant Flame] surged toward Akuo.
"!!"
Spring—!
"Just what is this...!!"
Even Ouranos, high above on the surface.
Rumble—!!!
"What is this...!?"
"An explosion!!"
"No.... This is!!"
Even Fels and the Xenos investigating [Knossos].
Rumble—!!!!!!
"This aura...."
'Mr. Akumo...?'
"Did Turk's group do this!?"
"No.... This is....!"
Welf, who prided himself on having observed [Gram] more deeply than anyone besides Akumo, could feel it.
".....The King."
'It's definitely the aura I felt in the prophetic dream....'
Conversely, Cassandra could clearly feel the presence of the one from her dream, not in the massive heat, but in the aura of the white light.
—'The white light shall sever.'
Her prophecy was fulfilled.
"[Sever]"
Slice—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Akumo's right arm was severed, and he collapsed.
Thud—
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