CH 124

There’s a need to put in as many attacks as possible in the early stages when the counter of embers was low.

I wielded Serpences to the limits of my body. Hellkaion was a boss with fearsome strength and unmatched speed for its size.

If you parry the Boss’ teeth or claws in full frontal defense, arm bones may be crushed.

The boss’s attacks must be unconditionally deflected.

It was a short confrontation time in which the sword blade and claws scratch each other as if brushing against one another. In the meantime, I concentrated on my skills.

“Divine Punishment.”

A bolt of lightning pierced through the dark clouds and struck Hellkaion’s back.

Kwagwagwang!

The spark in the air was like gunpowder, causing an explosion-like ignition over a large area.

<Kwuaaaa!>

He was a boss resistant to lightning and fire. However, divine power definitely dealt a blow.

Just in time, a useful skill I possessed was activated.

[<System> The chance of inflicting a fatal wound on an enemy increases due to the passive skill ‘Reversal of Predation’.]

From now on, Hellkaion will be my prey.

Charleureuk!

The long, whip sword, Serpens, pierced Hellkaion’s left forepaw.

As soon as I avoid his rolling paw that came down trying to crush me, his long, thick tail hit horizontally. As I stepped back, the next thing to attack me was a wide-open muzzle.

Bang!

Hellkaion’s interlocking fangs created sparks like flint. I had already jumped high and his head stuck to the ground in his failed attempt to bite me.

I landed on the back of his snout and ran from the bridge of his nose to the middle of his head stabbing Serpences in the center of his forehead.

<Kwaaaaaagh!>

The aura pierced his hide, shattered the skull, and landed on his brain.

Even non-intelligent monsters have weak brains. At a valid blow, Hellkaion lifted his head and thrashed violently.

I held on to the stuck sword and hung about as much as I could. I trusted my sense of balance and focused on casting skills.

“Judgment Notice. Absolute Execution.”

After building support skill that makes the target defenseless and lowers its resistance.

“Vanquish of Evil”

Pajik!

An irreparable crack formed on the forehead where the sword was inserted. I successfully made a weakness.

But the price was formidable.

<Never mind. Now get off quickly!>

“Yes!”

<Don’t answer nicely! Sparks are inhaled!>

Hellkaion’s fur was a hotbed of sparks. In return for super-close combat, weakening debuffs quickly accumulated on my body for a short period of time.

[<Status> ‘Hell Embers (7 Counters)’]

I slid on the bridge of his snout and jumped backward.

Indeed, it was a top-notch glass body debuff created by an SS-class boss. The moment I landed, I felt an electric current running through my ankles.

<Ellet!>

“……!”

Before I even had time to straighten my posture, Hellkaion’s paws struck me.

“Ugh!”

The tip of his fur brushed my shoulder lightly. However, along with the pain as if I had been attacked by a direct hit, the feeling of burning flesh overtook me.

Damn, it hurts so much.

In order not to share the Boss’s aggro, I had previously warned Thesilid not to use ‘Guardian of the Beloved’.

Injury and pain were entirely mine.

<Are you okay?>

I was in tears.

Unfortunately, there was no time to answer.

I dodged a tail that flew straight away. The moment a long hissing sound rang out from close by, my right cheek was deeply cut and blood splattered.

Now, it seems that my body became so fragile that I can be injured even if the wind that accompanies the Boss’s attack brushes against me.

[<Status> ‘Hell Embers (8 Counters)’]

It’s worth holding up to single digits. I injected the aura into the Serpens.

Charararara!

The elongated sword ran amok like a predatory snake and focused its attack on Hellkaion’s face.

At the same time, I busily stepped forward to avoid Hellkaion’s feet, muzzle, and tail.

Injury even if rubbed, serious injury if touched. Risking life, I poured out attacks with minimal evasive action.

Like Hellkaion’s fur, which was being hacked, wounds increased on my body. The white paladin uniform was stained red everywhere.

[<Status> ‘Hell Embers (9 Counters)’]

<You have to heal once, you.>

Healing has a long casting time. It wasn’t easy to create the timing to use heal in the avant-garde with an SS-level boss.

<Koooooooo!>

I saw Hellkaion take a long breath. Sensing he would shout, I immediately kicked the ground.

Kwagwagwang!

I managed to dodge it by digging deep into the blind spot in the range of attacks. But.

[<Status> ‘Hell Embers (10 Counters)’]

The debuff broke through double digits. Now even the hot air was unbearable.

The feeling of heat penetrating through a body full of cuts and burns feels like turning into charcoal from the inside out.

[‘The World-building God’ worries about you.]

[‘The Scales that Judges the Soul’ worries about you.]

<Ellet.>

“I know.”

I really have to heel.

It was then.

<Awuuuuuuuuh!>

In front of my eyes, Hellkaion, who roared long, lifted his front paws and stood as if walking on two legs.

‘He’s going to strike down!’

My body was in a state where blood would burst even if the wind brushed against me. If I get hit by a shock wave big enough to cause an earthquake, my intestines, and muscles will be devastated. 

“……”

But I lowered my sword and waited quietly. I looked up at the boss and held my breath.

“Your Eminence?”

“Saint?”

The voices of the bewildered knights were heard.

“……Eli?”

And someone’s voice was especially clear in my ears.

Whoosh!

A harsh air-waving sound fell to the top of my head. Two giant forepaws attacked at a relentless speed.

Goooooo!

The moment the earth shook.

“Ellet Rodellaine!”

A cry that had lost its composure ripped through the dust clouds and reached my ears.

For a moment, a solemn silence hung over the battlefield. But it didn’t last long.

<Kreureung?>

Hellkaion, tamping the ground with his front paws, made a dumb noise. He finally noticed that the touch of the soles of his feet was strange.

The dust cloud that obscured the view had settled.

“I didn’t ask for your paw. Take them off.”

<Kwauaaaa!>

Hellkaion roared and tried to beat me relentlessly with his paws. However, it was blocked by a solid silver barrier, and it was all in vain.

In the meantime, a healing light enveloped my body. Having calmed down, I slowly turned my head.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“……”

Thesilid, who was about to run away, froze in the same position before he could start running.

He was breathless but suspiciously motionless. His gaze fixed on me across the far distance did not know how to fall. He must be really surprised.

[‘The World-building God’ dislikes extreme directing.]

[‘The Eyes that watch over the chaos of all things’ carefully opens its tightly closed eyes.]

I looked straight ahead again. Now it’s a chance to pick the timing to safely release Mercury’s Barrier.

<Kwuaaaa!>

The boss roared and slammed the barrier like he was digging the ground with his front paws. As if he was going to die of anger, he brought his bloodshot eyes close to my face.

Seeing the eyes of an SS-class boss full of bloodthirst right in front of your nose is chilling. But I laughed.

This makes things easier.

I raised my left hand and put it on the barrier, exactly where Hellkaion’s eyeballs were located.

“Pure Light.”

A bright light exploded from the skill.

<Kuuuuuaaagh!>

A powerful ultimate skill directly hit Hellkaion’s retina. It was a waste to use it as a flash grenade, but the effect was great.

Coo-goo-gung! 

Hellkaion took a step back and fell to the side. It was the moment when his left front paw, which had been targeted in the beginning and had an exposed bone, was easily visible.

I lifted Mercury’s barrier and inhaled to fill my lungs.

The amount of damage I made was enough and as if showing off, I healed the injuries on my body at once, making Hellkaion extremely angry.

Currently, the Boss’s threat against me was explosive.

I shouted with a big exhalation.

“Everyone, attack!” 

It seems the dealers have been waiting for this moment. Magic, divine power, and aura immediately poured into Hellkaion.

It was the beginning of relentless and massive fire support.

I fulfilled my duties as a tanker again, being careful not to get hit by the skills of my allies and moving the boss’ wide-area attack to the side where there was no one.

[<Status> ‘Hell Embers (12 Counters)’]

Unlike before, I focused on defense, but the state of my glass body only accelerated. However, there was only pain and no wounds. 

<It looks like Thesilid used ‘Guardian of the Beloved’ earlier.>

By earlier, I’m sure she’s referring to the time when Hellkaion raised its front paws in a bipedal stance and tried to crush me.

It was then.

Chaeeng!

Someone parried Hellkaion’s front paw slash attack with a sword in front of me.

My eyes widened at the tall, straight back and silver hair that was disheveled by the wind.

“Terry?”

Why are you coming next to the tanker without dealing damage? 

“What if I come this way? You’ll be under attack.”

“……Eli.”

The voice was so low that it seemed to sink below the floor. The face that looked back at me was expressionless as if it was barely suppressing various emotions.

<Kwuaaaaa!>

Hellkaion’s opposite paw swept across the floor. We backed off at the same time and our landing location was as close as promised.

He opened his mouth. With a slightly choked voice.

“I’m glad you’re okay. For a moment, you…… I thought you were going to die.”

“You thought I was going to die?”

Chaeeng!

This time, I asked back while diverging the boss attack.

“You mean you used ‘Guardian of the Beloved’ while thinking I could die?”

“……”

His active skill was extremely self-sacrificing.

As a partner, he has to take all of my wounds and bear them alone.

So what happens if I get an instant-death injury?

Instead, it will result in his death or both deaths.

Did you use it knowingly?

I peered at him, interrogating him with silence. He finally lifted his heavy lips, however, what came out was not the explanation or excuse I was expecting.

“Then don’t get hurt.”