Chapter 98: Slayer of Monsters

Chapter 98: Slayer of Monsters

I drink half of a healing potion before raising my hand to aim. It helps, you know?

Now, the boss has pretty much understood that I can hurt it and jumped back, spitting acid on my shields. Thankfully, even though one of them fizzles out of existence, Ive got into the habit of making three overlapping shields.

Why?

Because I dont want to die, obviously.

The giant dark hound stalks in circles around me.

I drop my focus skill for a second, and I look at Vilith. With the skill on, my mind cant be distracted. I can banter in my head, but I cannot be distracted.

The woman is fighting so savagely that the dark dogs around her are afraid of approaching her. She screams with gory discipline every time she rains a blow and grunts every time she parries. Her hair is matted by blood and looks like a solid chunk of red tar.

Isnt she a brunette?

So, thats blood.

Now, in this world, they classify beasts based not only on their strength but also on their intelligence. When the stupid boss sees me looking at Vilith, a savage glint blazes through its eyes.

Son of a

Vilith! Move! Come here! I scream the words in rapid succession while my brain starts tracing a matrix in mid-air.

Converting the flames takes me a couple of seconds.

[Restructuring Conditions Met: Advanced Light Lance Flame Lance!]

This time, the spell misses, and many little bastards start swarming me.

Goddammit.

Now, its time for them to come home like the Prodigal Son.

And anger pumps in my vein, giving renewed strength to the Mana, making it mightier than ever. Its a sensation beyond what can be described with words. Its like my limbs are aflame and can set on fire the very air I caress with my fingers.

The boss, albeit slowly, is getting closer and closer to Vilith. I dont like the woman. For my taste, she tries too hard, but you can bet on my future grave that I wont let such an arrogant prick die before I can lord over them the fact that I saved their life.

I weave the anti-matrixes over the spells, adding polarity on top of more polarity. A strange resonance is created something that I would love to study if I wasnt at imminent risk of losing my life.

Many people might look at me one day and think that this was one of the most asinine things Ive ever done in my life. Why risk everything like this? Why help people who are little more than strangers?

Why?

Why all of this, Joey?

Its not even because of Mr. Miyagi or anything like that.

Its just that sometimes you have to be the [Hero] of your own story.

Ten [Flame Lances] shoot at insane speed even in this slowed-down world. They are about two fists larger than usual, double their normal size. Plus, their fire is not the typical red, but something close to vermillion. It must have been my anger doing that.

They pierce the boss simultaneously, and all the lights in my head go out. Im only aware that they went through the monster like a hot knife through butter and then impacted the walls of the mine with a world-ending bang.

I can feel a massive vibration go through the cave while my body falls to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut loose.

The world goes back to normal speed as the boss falls dead on the ground. The dogs start running around in a panicked frenzy, and the entire cave sheds a few rocks from its ceilings starting to collapse in its entirety.

One last thought before I die.

I hope they put something cool on my tombstone.

Joey Luciani, slayer of monsters and pu

I finally faint.