Chapter 416: The End of the Infinite Sword

An idea flashes through my mind. Right, I just need an umbrella for the [Death God Rain]. It’s a bet, but if I don't do this, then the options are just to flee or to die to the death curse.

Partner, use [Fake Life]! Revive the eating trolls!

『B-but even if we send them out now, they’ll be too weak…』

I know that. But monsters that gain life through [Fake Life] are constantly [Cursed], and so are immune to the effect of curses.

“Gaaah!”

Black light envelops the three trolls. Having turned black from the rain, they convulse, and suddenly stand up and glare at me.

“GooO, OOOoOO… OooO”

In low voices, they moan as though cursing the world. Amidst the cursed rain, the trolls stand calmly.

They glare at me with dangerous eyes, standing still. An abyss zombie once revolted against me. [Fake Life] doesn’t completely overpower the will of the dead.

But it doesn’t have completely no effect either. The abyss zombie also obeyed me for a while

Partner, do it please. While they’re affected by our magic, Ruler’s Demon Eye should work.

Her eyes open wide, and a flash of red shines out. As I stoop down, the trolls cover my body and transform into steel. It’s a bit misshapen, but I've now got a curse-resistant steel armour.

Sorry about this, oni. For the sake of my objective, I decided I would use it freely, regardless of how it makes a mockery of the dead. Once this is over, I’ll release you, so please bear with it.

【Title skill [Path of Evil] has risen from level 9 to MAX.】

【Title skill [Mean King] has risen from level 9 to MAX.】

I don’t care what you say. God’s Voice, I don’t know how far your intentions go. But I’m going to do things as I see fit. Do whatever you want to try and provoke and intervene with me. I’ll also do as I please.

Pulling down the cold steel armour, I run towards Rogueheil. It’s made of solid steel, so even if I run, it won’t slip off. Some rain drips through the gaps, but it’s at a level I can endure.

『G-go away! Go away! Go awayyyy!』

Rogueheil screams.

『Die, you will die here! Die! Die! Die! Just how stubborn are you!? I sprung the trap meant for the Saint, made full use of my magic power to shower you with acid, and even used my final trump card, and yet why are you still coming!? Don’t bullshit me… Don’t bullshit me! You will die! Die, die already!』

The miasma climbing from Rogueheil atop the gigant slime thickens, causing the dark clouds to increase in density. The downpour of cursed rain becomes even more furious.

That’s my line, rotten old man! You don’t know when to give up!

But, as useful as the steel troll armour is, as long as it’s there, we also can’t use [Holy]. Because they’re so close, it’d purify the trolls' curse and kill them. It might not affect them while they’re metalicised, but if I try and fail, I’d lose them.

The rain grows more and more intense. As I step closer, the gigant slime raises two huge tentacles high and swings them down towards me.

I calmly jump to the side to evade them. Sorry, but there's no way an attack that slow will hit me.

『Die, die, hurry up and keel over, hurry up and die! Die!』

As Rogueheil desperately brings more rain down, I steadily approach the gigant slime, coming to arrive right in front of it. It wouldn’t be correct to say I had much leeway, but nor was it too much of a struggle. As I get closer, I escape from the rain. So that he’s not affected himself, the rain isn't pouring down in the area directly around him.

No longer needed, the trolls undo their metallisation and fall to the floor.

『D-die… Die…』

This is the end of your flailing, Rogueheil. You can’t cancel that skill until you’re at death's door. Even right in front of me, you can’t move while clinging to the gigant slime.

『Gigant! Crush him!』

Another two tentacles extend from the gigant slime into the air.

『If you think it’s just slow, you’re gravely mistaken! You fool, this is what happens when you get so close to the gigant…! I can also do this! Do you think I can’t use skills? Fool, am I not using [Telepathy] at the moment!?』

I feel a sudden chill from Rogueheil. What is this intense will that feels like it's grinding me away… Is this also Telepathy…?

The next instant, an intense nausea wells up inside me. I understand right away. Rogueheil is transmitting the thoughts of the souls trapped inside the gigant slime to me.

They reach me. The regret, terror, sorrow, bitterness. And most of all, the limitless agony.

『Hyo, hyohohohoho! You’re wide open…』

Partner, use Fake Life!

『…Ah!』

Black light touches the inside of the gigant slime and spreads out.

【Normal skill [Fake Life] has risen from level 4 to 5.】

The gigant slime’s movement stops as it convulses.

『M-move, move gigant slime! Wh-what have you… GuOoOoh!』

A huge arm extending from the gigant slime grips Rogueheil and picks him up.

『Wh-why!? Why, gigant slime!? Why…!?』

Inside the gigant slime’s body, the countless corpses have returned to life. As you forced me to hear, the gigant slime is full of those with grudges against you, Rogueheil. Those undigested grudges that permeate its body now moving the gigant slime’s body. It won’t be long before the gigant slime’s own will reasserts itself, but it’ll be plenty of time for you to die.

『Y-you…! In a place like this…! I am, I am, Demon Lord-sama’s greatest subordinate… I am one who will one day rule over this entire world…!』

The arm extending from the gigant slime slams Rogueheil against the floor.

『Gooh! I-Irushia, Irushiaaaaa! D-die, you will die!』

On the verge of death, Rogueheil raises his body and points a finger at me. Black light bursts in front of my nose. It’s the [Death] skill. Of course, it has no effect.

I push down with all my weight onto my foreleg, squashing him beneath me. His human outline collapses with the sound of an explosion.

【5184 experience points have been acquired.】

【Due to the Title Skill [Walking Egg: Lv -], an additional 5184 experience points have been acquired.】

【The level of [Ouroboros] has risen from 105 to 107.】

…I finally defeated him. He might be the highest subordinate, but to think just one of the Demon Lord's subordinates would give me this much trouble. This was far too exhausting.

【Title skill [Hero] has risen from level 7 to 8.】

【Normal skill [Holy Sphere] has been acquired.】

A sphere-type magic skill? I’ve seen them lots, but it’s the first one I’ve gotten.

As I raise my leg, I see that Rogueheil has become just a pool of liquid. I turn away to the still-convulsing gigant slime.

It's not doing anything more than trembling in pain… Partner, please do it.

As I face her, she cries out “Gaa” and sends out a black light. The [Death] spreads out into its body. After dispersing inside it like a mist, the gigant slime twitches and I hear the sound of something snapping. It spreads out into a pool of liquid, spilling out the corpses inside.

【4864 experience points have been acquired.】

【Due to the Title Skill [Walking Egg: Lv -], an additional 4864 experience points have been acquired.】

【The level of [Ouroboros] has risen from 107 to 109.】

I look at my partner again. She nods, and a gentle light envelops the remains of the gigant slime. It’s the [Holy] skill. We’re purifying the ghosts with what little power we have.

The trolls similarly shake upon receiving the [Holy], collapsing on the spot. I turn back to the gigant slime's remains.

Sorry for using you as I did… But as a result, I was able to defeat the enemy. Thank you.

Inside my head, I hear a crackling noise.

『Th-thank…you…』

Suddenly, the noise breaks off.

【As the rank difference is too large, experience points could not be acquired.】

I close my eyes and bow my head.

【Normal skill [Telepathy] has been acquired.】

T-[Telepathy]…? It’s a skill most high ranking monsters I've seen have. It might not be strange for me to get it, but the dialogue with the ghosts might have been the final trigger. At least, I prefer to imagine that that was the cause, rather than Rogueheil’s desperate screams.

Once again, I bow down to the corpses.