CH 85

“…Momo?”



In a daze, I stare at where Momo was standing just a moment ago. There, I see a puddle of darkness with ripples on its surface.



“Eh…ah, eh…?”



What happened?



I don’t know.



I fail to comprehend.



My brain refuses to accept it – Momo has been consumed by the darkness.



“….Ah.”



It takes me a few seconds to understand something so simple.



“Momo…”



My heart gets dyed in black. I collapse powerlessly on the spot.



“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!” The dark wolf raises a howl. For some reason, I can feel a thread of joy in its voice.



“….”



Standing up like a ghost, I glare at the dark wolf. I don’t know when this has occurred, but my body is no longer trembling. Nevertheless, my heart is trembling as if it is about to be ripped apart. The desire to flee leaves my completely.



“RETURN… MOMO… TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” When I scream so, something snaps within me. Emotions explode and my mind goes blank. The concept of fear fades away, replaced by a surge of strength from within my body. Grasping onto my weapon, I charge at the dark wolf. I move at an unbelievable pace. Yet the dark wolf stands erect in its place, merely shifting one of its front legs. It’s as if it’s trying to convey the message that it is pointless. In since with its movement, the darkness expands. A huge jaw has been formed. While dripping darkness here and there, the jaw heads towards me. But so what?



“Nuisance.”



I jump, simultaneously taking out a sc.r.a.pped car on top of the jaw. I also take out a sc.r.a.pped car in the air. Stepping on it powerfully, I accelerate. The car, influenced by my kick, slams into the dark jaw.



“!?”



“Get crushed.”



After crushing the jaw and using the car as a kicking board, I position myself directly below the dark wolf. The creature still refuses to budge from its spot. It only breathes in and out.



“As if I’ll get tricked twice!” I had been negligent before, but it’s different now. Although my mind is burning and boiling, my thoughts are calm, carefully observing the situation and predicting the dark wolf’s movements. I throw the ordinary knife which I take out. If the wolf’s cry is the same as Momo’s and the high orc’s, it should have the same limitations. There is a trick to conquer this skill. If the user takes another action while the skill is active, “Cry” gets cancelled. The dark wolf uses the darkness to thwart the knife away. As I have predicted, the effects of “Cry” are cancelled.



“UOOOOOOOOON!”



I grab onto the orc’s knife (superior) and close in on the dark wolf. Without any tactics or c.r.a.ps like that, I slash incessantly while relying purely on my skills and status. However, the attacks do not reach the dark wolf. The darkness’s automatic defense mechanism nullifies the attacks. But so what! I continue my a.s.sault.



The levels of skills increase. I’m grateful for that. The sharpness of my attacks rises. Cutting through the darkness, my attacks reach the dark wolf.



“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!”



Along with its howl, thorns of darkness thrust up from below my feet. They penetrate the flesh of feet and rips through my arms, spilling blood. But so what? Manipulating the shadows, I pull out the thorns. My body is numb from pain. Without minding my injuries, I continue to attack.



“Return her!”



and show a response. From all around me, spikes, jaws, and hands of darkness fly towards me.



“Momo…”



Creating temporary walls and footholds around me, I relentlessly strike at the wolf. I know already that I won’t be able to withstand the attacks for more than a second. But so what? If I kill this creature before that, everything will be resolved.



“RETURN HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!” I wonder what kind of expression I have. My eyes meet with the dark wolf’s eyes.



“…!”



At that moment, the dark wolf, which has not moved since the beginning, decides to act. It jumps backward, distancing itself from me.



“Don’t… run… off…”



Return Momo to me. I glare at the monster with blood dripping down from my body.



“………”



It does not shy away from my glare. However, for the first time, its eyes contain something other than hostility. It contains… yes, interest. Ripples appear beneath it, and Momo, who had been captured by the darkness, emerges.



“Momo!”



Momo doesn’t move. However, she is not dead. It appears like she has lost consciousness.



“What are you trying to do?” Hostage… no, a Dogstage?



“Uon.”



The dark wolf barks softly. It’s trying to ask something.



“What do you want to say?” The dark wolf raises Momo high up in the air and barks once again.



“Uuon!”



It must be because of the times I’ve spent communicating with Momo and Aka. I can somewhat understand what it is trying to convey. The Dark wolf probably asked: -What is she to you?



“My buddy.”



I reply without pause. That expression sounds just right. If someone asks about Ichinose-san or Aka, the answer would be “companion”. But if it’s Momo, then the answer is definitely “Buddy”. Before the world turned into this mess, to me who had neither family nor friend, Momo was the one and only precious… “An important… buddy and a partner of mine.” “…”



As if it has understood my words, the dark wolf’s eyes become round. After looking at me for a while, the dark wolf slowly puts Momo on top of the darkness. The darkness doesn’t swallow her like before. The dark wolf merely lays her on there and stands still. For some reason, the dark wolf doesn’t seem to desire Momo’s death. Rather, it looks like a guardian looking over its treasure. The dark wolf turns to look at me as if to provoke me.



“Gau…”



I feel like it is trying to say, “If she’s so important, try to get her back.” “O-of course I will.” To be honest, I have very little chance of winning. I know this clearly from experience. This dark wolf possesses power which far surpa.s.ses its original. Even so— what about it? For me, the option of abandoning Momo does not exist. I still think my life is the most important. Despite this being true, there are still some things which I cannot give up on. If I run away from here, I will definitely regret it.



“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!” The dark wolf howls and dashes at me.



How quick! The distance is reduced at the blink of an eye. The darkness around it shifts into two giant claws.



“Gau!”



The claws head towards me with a roar. I place my knife in front of me to block them.



“ARHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” —Heavy. I can sense the tremendous impact. I can’t block it!



“Furu Furu!”



At this instant, Aka, who has become weak after turning smaller, encases me with its body. By spreading the impact, it reduces the momentum. Using this chance, I make my escape. Nevertheless, there are two claws in total. From the side, the remaining claw approaches. A series of gunshots reverberate throughout the air, and the tip of the claws are scattered, altering the course of the claw. I understand what is going on without even looking. It’s support from Ichinose-san. Although I receive some scratches on my arm, I successfully evade the second claw.



(You can rely on me for support.) (Thank you, Ichinose-san!) I do not look at her. There is no such leeway. Even without looking, even without speaking, our thoughts are conveyed. Concentrate. Do not miss a single movement. If I don’t, only death awaits.



“AHHHHHHHHHH!”



Facing another attack from the claws, I forcefully deflect it by using the edge of my knife. The impact shakes the ground and crumbles the school building as well.



“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…” While growling, the dark wolf sends off a flurry of claws. For the dark wolf, this attack is nothing deadly. It is but a normal skill that can be used indefinitely. I am forced to recognize the discrepancy in strength even if I don’t want to know it.



“Furu Furu…”



Aka shakes, as if in pain. Even Aka’s shock absorbance isn’t perfect. There must be a limit to it. If this continues, Aka will also… “Kuuuu…”



I grind my teeth. I can’t afford to waste time anymore. If things don’t change… I’ll be done in. Yet the dark wolf doesn’t slack off on its attacks. On the contrary, it produces two more giant claws. It has doubled. The destructive power has doubled.



“d.a.m.n…it…”



Four claws approach. Can I not reach it? With my, with our strength, can we not beat this monster? Can I not rescue Momo? Escape. Escape. Escape. For a moment, such thoughts pa.s.s my mind. But… even so… “AS IF I’LL JUST GIVE UP HERE!” Don’t f*ck with me! As if I’ll run away! Think! A way to survive! Look forward! Think of a way to advance! Don’t be afraid! Don’t submit! Keep searching for possibilities! For once, just for once, I desire strength. The strength to take back my buddy. The strength to overcome this predicament. Suddenly, a sound resonates within my head.



I can hear the sound of heaven. At the same time, strength surges throughout my body. What… is this? My five senses are enhanced, and I can predict the trajectory of the attacks. I can dodge them. With my agility raised, I dodge like the wind.



“Gau?!”



It must have never predicted this. For the first time, I see hesitation on the dark wolf’s face. But it’s no different for me. What does this mean? Just now…? Where did this sudden surge of strength come from? I open my status window. Scrolling down to the column with unique skills, I am surprised.



Unique Skills



Precocious



Profession Enhancement Previously, there had been words on the screen which were incomprehensible. Now, they are replaced with a new skill.



“Why…?”



Until now, the mysterious unique skill “■■■■” had never made sense to me. Why is it that I can use it now? No, thinking back, I remember the voice of heaven claiming that the previous owner has died. And before that, the voice has said something about requesting for a skill. I was too busy to care at the time, but is this what it meant? Were the words blurred out because somebody else possessed the skill? So that means that a single unique skill can’t be used by multiple people. If two people meet the prerequisite for the same skill, the person who met it first would obtain the skill while the other person would preserve the possibility in the form of a skill called ■■■■. And when the pervious holder of the skill perishes, the next person in line obtains it. If this is true, then everything makes sense. But why now…? Who was the previous ow… — I can strengthen those skills you know?



Suddenly, I recall what the monster tamer had said. Perhaps… she was the previous owner? “Profession Enhancement”. Most likely, this skill can amplify the effects from an occupation, just like its name implies. More specifically, it could strengthen the skills that accompany the occupation. Under such conditions, it isn’t weird for the monster tamer to subdue the numerous monsters. So she was like me, a person who had unique skills. This skill was most likely the source of her power. I see… I see now… “Ha…Ha ha…”



I unintentionally let out a laugh. To think I’ll get my hands on this kind of skill at such a desperate situation. I also notice something else. I look at my HP and MP.



HP: 33/180



MP: 3/35



I have some MP left. Wondering why, I stare at my level before coming to an epiphany. It’s the amount of extra MP I acquired after leveling up. This can be used. “Ninjutsu” could be activated, albeit only once. Also, this could be “Enhanced”. My thought process accelerates once again. A means to survive and rescue Momo. Hot. My body feels like its burning.



“Haaaa… Haaaa…”



Injuries throughout. Having one chance at “Ninjutsu”. An enemy that surpa.s.ses the high orc. Ahh… what a s.h.i.tty situation I’m in.



But— so what?



I have decided on a plan. I will succeed. A glimmer of hope. I can only try to pull in towards me.



“Wait for me, Momo.”



I’m definitely saving you.