Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Sighing briefly, Ian threw the torch he was holding to the ground and tightened the straps of his chest armor that had loosened while walking.

Schwing.

The Sword of Judgment was drawn, reflecting the dimming light of the torch.

"Why are you drawing your sword all of a sudden, Ian?" Thesaya whispered from beyond the door, unable to contain herself.

Ian responded without lowering his voice.

"There's a sealed giant. It's awakening."

"What...?" Thesaya's eyes widened.

Ian added, "You all stay back. It seems not to be something to deal with a tired and injured body."

"Alright, if that's what you want—"

"You're just as exhausted and injured, Ian," Charlotte interjected as she stepped out from behind the door.

Her orange eyes flashed between the faint shadows.

"I will fight with you too."

It was not surprising. As Ian shrugged, Thesaya frowned at her.

"Ian says it's okay, kitty... I'm extremely hungry right now. Using any more strength might make me lose my mind."

"Then step back, pointy ears."

"How can I step back when you're fighting, you mad beast..." Thesaya also stepped out, muttering.

Beyond the darkness Ian was staring into, she sighed as she noticed a faintly spreading blue glow.

"Is it... frozen?"

"Yeah. That ice seems like a seal."

As if to prove Ian's words, a crackling sound spread. In that brief moment, Ian, who had already cast a Wind Blade and the Whirling Barrier, turned to Charlotte with eyes filled with ashy magic power.

"I know your way, but this one is unusual. Think you could die from a single hit."

While readjusting her gear, Charlotte nodded.

"Will keep that in mind."

"You should be saying that to me, Ian. Once she starts fighting, she doesn't remember."

"Then you be careful too," Ian responded indifferently and began preparing his spell.

Crack, crackle—

Blue sparks began to spread along the Sword of Judgment.

In the distance, the silhouette of the giant Legion Commander intermittently appeared. A figure taller than the other giants, covered in several centimeters thick ice, with cracks increasingly spreading. Beyond that, a fluctuating bluish glow wavered.

It's just like the game, fuck...

Memories naturally crossed his mind. When he first set foot in this underground relic, it was halfway through the story in the North.

After resolving several quests in Travelga and gaining enough trust from Lucas, one of the Northern commanders, he learned of the entrance to an unidentified relic deep in the mountains. Due to various reasons including lack of manpower, they hadn't dared to explore it.

Of course, at that time, still just a game character, it was Ian Hope who explored it. Not only did he explore, but he also defeated the elite monsters roaming the mountains and the Legion Commander sleeping in the relic, returning with achievements.

But neither then nor after had he heard of such a secret passage hidden in the underground relic.

It's not too far from the underground palace, but... to think there's such a passage in the mountain's depths.

The quest leading to the underground palace, [Frozen Abyss] seemed definitely like a conditional quest. But even without meeting the conditions, there seemed to be a hidden way to enter the palace. A shortcut, even. A direct route to the boss room. Just as he had emerged in the Legion Commander's room, this path would have led directly to the Queen's audience chamber.

Of course, there was likely a malicious intent to ensure that a player who did not know of this would face a game over at least once.

Without the Queen being sealed by a demon, it would have been harder than what I faced.

The Queen's royal guards, with her support, would have been incredibly difficult opponents. The player might even have had to fight the Queen herself. That would be beyond malicious, entering the realm of malevolent. But then, this game was not short on such elements.

Of course, Ian had faced a somewhat easier battle. However, this situation couldn't be pleasant. After all, this wasn't a game anymore, and there was no opportunity to try again after a game over.

At least it's a boss fight I've experienced before... should I be relieved?

Zip, zap, Zap—

Is he using that already?

Even as Ian thought this, he was casting the Frost Shield. Of course, the wave passed over him faster than the ice shield could fully cover him.

Crack—

Ian shivered from the shoulder down, enveloped in the ice shield, Sounds of ice breaking emanated from his body. Thanks to his high Resistance, his body didn't freeze, but frost formed over his armor and equipment. The ground swept by the wave also froze over. It was a cold wave, no, a magical explosion akin to a surf of coldness.

As expected, once wasn't enough.

Ian chafed his limbs to break the ice formed on the surface, eager to recover from the status effect and prepare for the next attack.

Then, at that moment, a dark figure rapidly closed in from behind.

Whoosh!

Vaulting over the rising Ian's head and kicking off the edge of the Frost Shield was Charlotte, wielding a giant battle ax in both hands. Realizing that Ian's relentless assault had ended and that the Legion Commander had even begun to counterattack, she had finally charged in.

"Roar—!"

Without a moment's hesitation, she roared and charged at the Legion Commander, significantly taller than herself. The Legion Commander's glowing eyes, as he rose, turned toward Charlotte rushing toward him.

Swoosh!

The ax, scattering a sonic boom, flew at him. The Legion Commander raised an arm to block it.

Crack!

The thick forearm guard crumpled in the middle. The Legion Commander was pushed back, stumbling against the massive stone chair he had been seated on. As the commander's arm, tilting backward, served as a landing spot, Charlotte, clinging onto it, raised her ax again.

Crack! Crack!

She roared and brought down the ax. Despite being her first use, her movements were as familiar as those of a barbarian warrior who had swung axes all his life. Muscles on her hands gripping the handle and her black-haired forearms bulged as if they were about to burst.

Crack! Crunch!

The thick armor covering the Legion Commander's arm was not just dented but torn apart under the relentless ax blows. The commander’s gray skin was exposed beneath.

Crack!

The ax fell upon it, once again. The Legion Commander did not bleed. Marks from the ax blows remained on the skin, revealing nothing but dark stone-like flesh and muscles beneath. Yet, it didn't seem like he could not feel the pain.

"Uh— Oooooo—!"

Roaring while leaning against the chair, the Legion Commander swung his other arm powerfully. A gray grasp, harder than steel, smacked Charlotte away like a cannonball. Charlotte, who launched diagonally, shattered a column with her body before flying beyond it.

Thump!

Before crashing into the wall, she was caught by a gleaming silver mass. Silver hair, seeming to dissipate the shock, spun through the air and finally landed vertically beside the column.

Kicking off the column to leap back into action, Thesaya shouted, "You mad beast! Get out of the way before you get hit back!"

She held Charlotte, larger in size, in a tight embrace from behind. It almost seemed as if a silver hawk had swooped down to catch Charlotte. Charlotte, not resisting and hanging on, spat out blood from her mouth. Several broken teeth were mixed with the blood, staining one side of her face red as a previously healed wound reopened.

"I didn't see that one coming."

"Don't you remember what Ian said? One wrong hit and you could die. And if you die, I die too."

"I know. And just now, I was trying to buy time."

"Time?"

"Yes. For Ian's next attack—"

Rumble—

The atmosphere vibrated, cutting off Charlotte's words. Thesaya twisted in mid-air to look toward the Legion Commander. The Sword of Judgment, surrounded by dazzling lightning, came into her view. Ian, holding the hilt in reverse grip, was charging right into the face of the Legion Commander, who was trying to draw his double swords from his waist.

Crack!

The Sword of Judgment plunged deeply into one of the exposed eye sockets. The opposite glow flickered momentarily.

Boom.

As the blue lightning burst from within, the Legion Commander's head snapped back. For a moment, all the orifices in his head flashed with blue light.

Crackle—

Chain Lightning began to spread from within the Legion Commander's head. The commander’s massive body shook as if in convulsion. Looking down at the dimming glow of the creature, Ian narrowed his eyes.

Did I finish it...?