Chapter 54 ...Amazing
Deep in the forest, the giant ape is moving by jumping from branch to branch.
I'm impressed by its agility despite its massive body.
I'm chasing after it, guiding its direction while occasionally attacking, but...this isn't going to be easy.
First of all.
In this dense forest where the trees are packed tightly together and the terrain is bad, I can't use [Rapid Flash], which lets me move a large distance with one step. It's not a problem if I jump up into the air like I did at first, but if I try to move horizontally, there's a high risk of colliding with the standing trees.
That's why the battle technique I'm using for movement is different from [Rapid Flash].
My unique battle technique――[Counter Bounce]
By deploying aura on the soles of my feet, I create a repulsive force on the ground, which I use as propulsion. This technique, which Fiona often uses, is similar to [Speed Step], and it consumes less aura than [Rapid Flash], but it's slower. However, in a narrow space like this, [Counter Bounce] is easier to handle than [Rapid Flash].
Still, even with [Counter Bounce], it's tough to chase after the giant ape, which is fleeing without looking back. I can't get close enough to strike it with my sword no matter how hard I try.
So, I'm basically using long-range battle techniques, but every time I attack, the distance between us opens up even more. If my attack hits it, or if it moves to counterattack, the distance will close again, but in this forest environment, even a careless attack will be blocked by the trees.
That's why I need to be careful with my attacks to guide its direction.
I'm running through the forest, pouring aura into my right hand's Black Radiance, and waiting for the moment when my line of sight is clear to swing my sword.
My unique sword technique [Blast Blade], [Flying Blade]――combined technique [Blast Flying Blade] variation [Blast Bullet]
As I swing my sword, a fist-sized aura bullet flies out from the tip, as if thrown.
It burst through the narrow space between the trees in an instant, and exploded right in front of the giant ape that was trying to change its path. The tree that got hit by the [Blast Bullet] had its trunk blown away, and its upper half came crashing down with a deafening sound.
Although it didn't get a direct hit, the giant ape was blown away by the shockwave from the explosion.
But it seemed to have taken almost no damage, and without even falling to the ground, it grabbed onto a tree branch and quickly resumed its movement.
I also quickly gave chase, but the distance between us didn't shrink.
However, there was no problem. I was somehow successfully guiding the giant ape's path at this point in time... or so I thought...
"Damn it, something's eating away...!!"
It was when I fired off another [Blast Bullet].
As I raised my hand to deflect the incoming aura bullet, the giant ape released magical energy from its palm. The released magical energy quickly transformed into a gust of wind like a shockwave.
Wind Magic――[Gust]
A simple magic that only blows wind. However, the [Blast Bullet] that was hit by the shockwave in mid-air ended up exploding far short of reaching the giant ape.
I had understood the characteristic of the [Blast Bullet] that it would explode upon impact, and had responded accordingly.
Moreover, with a simple magic like [Gust], it could be activated almost without stopping. It took less time for the giant ape to defend with [Gust] than for me to fire off the [Blast Bullet].
But originally, the giant ape couldn't use magic. It only fought using its physically enhanced abilities and skills reinforced by its aura.
In this floor, monsters that could use magic were like the Lizardman Mage, a subspecies of Lizardmen. Lizardman Mages varied individually, but they were skilled in water magic and Wind Magic.
I already knew how it had become able to use magic that it originally couldn't. So the current problem was whether it had acquired more skills that could be used in addition to magic.
...Well, it was reasonable to assume that it had acquired more.
"The [Blast Bullet] is no good... then!!"
As I chased after the giant ape, which had opened up a small distance between us, I swung my sword once again.
My unique sword technique, combined technique [Blast Flying Blade]――variation [Flying Blade - Falcon]
The sword's trajectory, etched in the void, becomes an aura that takes the shape of a blade and soars.
The speed of the blade as it flies between the trees is slower compared to [Flying Bullet]. However, its trajectory isn't straight, but rather wavers like a bird flying through the forest, dodging between the trees.
While chasing after the giant ape's unpredictable movements, the aura's blade closes in on its distance.
That being said, even with just the regular [Flying Blade], I can make the trajectory waver. The only problem is that the speed of the slash becomes much slower, so I usually don't do it.
So, the true power of this sword technique doesn't lie in the pursuit of the slash.
"GRROOOAARR!!"
The aura's blade, which was chasing after it, must have gotten frustrated.
The giant ape let out a menacing cry, turned around, and pointed its palm at the blade, releasing another Wind Magic [Gust].
――Just before that.
Kkkrak, kkkrak! A series of dry, cracking sounds echoed.
The aura's blade, which had only been making gentle trajectory changes until then, suddenly showed a sharp, angular change. At the same time, its flying speed rapidly increased.
The trajectory changed twice.
It shot upwards at an incredible speed, avoiding the released gust of wind, and then made a sharp, angular change again, flying downwards. After that, it passed through the giant ape's shoulder and flank, right after it had released its magic.
The characteristic of [Flying Blade - Falcon] is that it can arbitrarily change its trajectory and accelerate by exploding a part of the aura that makes up the blade.
"GRRROOOAARR!!"
The giant ape let out a scream, and fresh blood splattered everywhere.
However, that was only for an instant. The severed torso instantly reconnected, and the giant ape resumed its escape.
But after I released the first [Flying Blade - Falcon], I continued to swing my sword repeatedly.
Five times.
Kkkrak, kkkrak! The series of cracking sounds resonated.
I had them surrounded without the giant ape noticing, and the blades that had been circling around it suddenly changed their trajectory and charged towards the giant ape.
One after another, the aura blades slashed at the giant ape.
Although any wounds would heal quickly, the brief delay was enough to stop its movements. During that time, I closed in on it.
"――――!?"
――It was anxious.
Despite being slashed, the giant ape showed a surprisingly human-like expression.
It must have judged that it would be caught if it stayed, because it stopped attacking and jumped down from the tree the next instant.
"Ah?"
But jumping down didn't increase its mobility. If anything, the giant ape could move faster by staying in the trees.
I raised an eyebrow, wondering what it was planning, but only for a moment.
It used the momentum of its fall to slam its hands onto the ground.
"――――!?"
Right before it hit the ground, I saw its arms being wrapped in aura. It was probably some kind of skill, and the ground it hit exploded with a loud roar, sending sand and dirt flying everywhere. For a few moments, its figure disappeared behind the sandstorm.
"......"
I stood still, focusing my [magical energy sense] and staying vigilant.
When the sandstorm cleared, the giant ape was nowhere to be seen. In fact, I couldn't find it anywhere, no matter how hard I looked or listened. My [magical energy sense] didn't pick up anything either.
"...Chameleon Basilisk?"
I quickly understood what had happened.
It was a monster that lived in the "Jungle floor", known for its ability to disguise itself and hide. There was no other monster that could do that besides the Chameleon Basilisk.
The giant ape probably absorbed that ability.
And if that's the case, it shouldn't have moved too far away. The Chameleon Basilisk's disguise and hiding abilities couldn't fool the senses, and a giant ape like that would definitely make noise if it moved violently.
But...
"I'll find out if it ambush me..."
It seems that it's extremely cautious. It doesn't seem like it's planning to hide and ambush me.
In other words, it's trying to escape slowly. In that case, it's not easy to find it. Maybe if we have scouting-type Jobs, we might be able to figure out its location.
"There's no need to worry about it."
Right now, the only ones hiding in this floor are me and Io. Plus, Io is in a place that's quite far from here.
So, there's no need to worry about the damage around me.
I poured magical energy into Black Radiance and, with a single spin, swung my sword in a horizontal slash.
My unique sword technique [Giant Blade]――variation [Giant Circle Array].
The long, giant aura blade extending from my sword sliced through the surrounding trees, centered on me.
The blade swung in a circle with a radius of about 20 meters (≈ 65.6 feet), making a loud, cracking sound as the branches broke, and the trees in the dense forest fell down all at once.
In the midst of that, I found a space where blood was splattering everywhere.
"~~~~~~~~~~!!"
The giant ape, whose disguise had been lifted, suddenly appeared, giving me a hateful glare while running towards me.
I chased after it, running through the fallen trees, and swung my sword again, firing off aura blades. I guided the giant ape, which was trying to escape, by attacking its back repeatedly.
* * *
"It's coming..."
In the 25th floor of the [God's Remains Labyrinth], in a part of the dense forest floor.
Io Suleiman, who had been holding his breath while maintaining the pre-activation magic formula, whispered.
The sounds of battle echoing throughout the floor. The explosive, loud noise was getting closer, and the trees in the surrounding forest were crashing into each other and falling down.
Io already knew that those intense sounds were approaching.
It wouldn't be long before the source of the noise arrived at this spot.
Io quietly opened his eyes and raised his magical energy. In his opened field of vision, he could see the water surface rippling slightly due to the gentle breeze.
There were several swampy areas scattered throughout the dense forest floor.
Although they were small, they were about 100 meters (≈328 feet) in diameter, and the water was abundant.
Io was standing by the edge of one of those swamps.
He thrust the tip of the sacred tree staff, which he was holding with both hands, into the water surface of the swamp.
"......"
――He's here.
A massive explosion rocked the air.
On the opposite bank of the swamp, the trees growing along the shore were blown to smithereens, and a gigantic ape-like monster came flying in like a Blast Bullet. The Great Ape, a Unique Individual. It bounced across the water's surface like a skipping stone, rolling towards the center of the swamp.
At that moment.
Io activated one of the 2 magic spells he had prepared.
It was a magic that controlled and manipulated a massive amount of water, something impossible with ordinary water magic.
Ocean magic――[Great Whirlpool Prison]
The swamp's water surface began to swell.
As if the swamp water itself had become a living entity.
The Great Ape, blown in by the explosion, was engulfed by the swelling water, and a massive amount of water formed a sphere that floated in the air. The absurdly large water sphere, about 30 meters in diameter (≈ 98.4 feet).
The Great Ape trapped inside was desperately flailing its arms and legs, but it couldn't escape the water sphere. It was like a leaf being tossed about by a storm, trapped by the powerful whirlpool inside the water sphere, and its massive body was spinning around at high speed.
Unless Io released the magic, the Great Ape wouldn't be able to escape the water sphere on its own.
However, maintaining a magic of this scale by himself was no easy feat, even for Io, known as the "Sage".
But if he could restrain it for just one minute, that would be more than enough.
"......"
Io maintained the magic, gazing at the opposite bank of the swamp.
And then, Aaron Gale emerged from the depths of the dark forest.
He had switched swords on his way here, and now held a unique sword unlike his usual black wooden sword, one that seemed to be carved from a crystal.
The pale green, semi-transparent sword.
Io had already heard that it was a sword carved from the 'Wind Elemental Treant's core wood'.
――Jadeite.
That was the name of this new sword, it seemed.
The Jadeite in Aaron's hand already had a refined aura, shining brightly.
"――――."
Aaron, on the opposite bank, confirmed the Great Ape trapped in the massive water sphere in mid-air, and swung his sword.
The massive aura bursting out of the swung sword varied into numerous blades in an instant. The aura, which normally had a pale blue color, was now shining with a faint green light, influenced by the wind attribute. The numerous blades of aura slid through the air as if they were orbiting, surrounding the area like a satellite orbiting a massive water sphere.
But that wasn't the end.
Aaron continued to swing his sword even after finishing the initial swing. One flash, 2 flashes, 3 flashes, 4 flashes――the slashes overlapped, and he finally stopped swinging his sword around ten slashes.
As he realized, the number of aura blades increased proportionally to the number of times Aaron swung his sword.
The faint green blades orbiting the massive water sphere surrounded it from top to bottom, left to right, and all 8 directions, forming a spherical cage.
The "Unique Individual" monster they were fighting this time could regenerate from even a single piece of flesh, even if its body was destroyed to the point of being torn to shreds.
So, blowing its body to pieces and scattering them wouldn't work.
And even if they tried to burn it to ashes with powerful Fire Magic, it would be difficult to do so with magic, as its body contained a large amount of water. So, they couldn't burn its internal organs in time, even if we carbonized its surface.
The monster's regenerative power was so unreasonable that they were at a loss for how to kill it.
So, Io and Aaron thought of a way to completely kill this monster.
"......"
After confirming Aaron's preparations, Io dropped a column of water from the massive water sphere into the swamp.
As the tip of the water column touched the swamp's surface, the massive water sphere above began to shrink rapidly. It was simple. Io was just returning the water that made up the sphere back to the swamp through the water column.
Although they needed to keep the massive water sphere to restrain the monster, if they didn't reduce the amount of water, Aaron's upcoming attack would be greatly weakened by the thick water wall. That's why they needed to reduce the water quantity beforehand.
However, if the massive water sphere's water quantity decreased, it would also mean that its restraining power over the monster would weaken.
The monster, trapped inside the shrinking water sphere, began to struggle violently, trying to escape from its water prison.
But, before the binding force completely disappears, the aura blades attack all at once, just a little faster.
The spherical cage formed by the blades shrinks, as if being compressed. Countless blades assault the giant ape inside, rotating at high speed within the compressed space.
It's an absurd number of slashes, too many to count.
No matter how high its regenerative abilities are, there's a limit to the damage that can be repaired in an instant. The giant ape's body loses its shape in the blink of an eye, turning into a massive cloud of blood mist.
And, as if not letting a single drop of blood escape, the swirling blades create a whirlwind, trapping it within the cage of wind. A bizarre, crimson-black sphere composed of blood mist takes shape above the swamp.
Although Io has seen this scene several times already, he's still in awe.
"Is that really a skill?..."
Even with the power of a special sword, he has never seen or heard of a skill that can do something like that.
"...It's incredible!"
His words are tinged with fear and admiration.
He thought large-scale attacks were the privilege of magicians, but it seems he needs to rethink his understanding.
Still, it's his duty to finish off the giant ape. He can't stay stunned forever.
Io prepares to activate another magic, aiming it at the giant ape, now transformed into a sphere of blood mist.
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