Case 239: Puppeted.

Case 239: Puppeted.

BOOM—!!

''Eeek...!''

I'm sorry, I'm sorry—chill out, brother!!

Barely dodging the sword that is aimed at my precious boobs, I grab myself firmly with telekinesis and fly erratically under the artificial moon of Atlas.

Unexpectedly, IV is a fucking monster.

Well, I mean, it is a monster, but he is also disgustingly strong. For instance, even when I blew away its whole body earlier, it somehow managed to come back unscathed and even bonked me in the head once, for that matter.

''Tch.''

Pointing the Desert Eagle at the 'maiden' once again, I quickly pull the trigger, blowing its head away cleanly with several shots. However, mere seconds later, the head comes back as if nothing had happened in the first place. Right after, a whole-ass fire dragon—a serious advanced magic—finds itself wanting to devour me.

''Shit.''

This is the problem.

It doesn't care that I destroy its body. It just keeps slamming dangerous attacks at my face. It's almost as if this is not its real body...

Oh. So that's what it is.

[It's a feint. Stay still.]

''Okey.''

Just like what Luna says, the dragon flies past my body without ever hurting me, while in the surrounding areas, sharp blood spikes bloom as if wanting to cover the sky.

There's the problem of Luna, though. She should know how to defeat IV, surely, so why isn't she saying anything?

[No pain, no growth. Please endure it. I will be here with you, always.]

''...''

I should be frustrated, but all I feel is warmth. Luna really is a good girl, hm.

Still, it is true I need more fighting experience. Even after a few years of constant monster-hunting in the trial world, battling entities stronger than me was not something I'd done often.

By that, I mean the monsters were all weaklings, and I dueled with Sariel sometimes.

Sariel is truly the best one for this kind of thing. She doesn't yield because of her pride, and she always does something fun with me after I lose.

Anyway, I need to figure out a way to kill this monster.

Assuming its operating mechanism is similar to that of a certain titan with a hammer, it will need to have something connecting that body with its real one.

[Two point zero eight, to be exact.]

Very useful information, lady diviner.

Befitting the appearance of a raid boss, dozens of purple barriers erect around the creature, representing multiple health bars—if this was a video game. Moreover, each of its hands begins to muster a different effect, clearly working together to kill me.

The sheer energy this dude is radiating rivals that of Sariel. I guess it is not a commander for nothing.

''Whew...''

As it is, I flick a single fifty BMG bullet in the air and let it fall cleanly into my palm. I tighten my grip slightly, encasing the bullet. It is big and long enough that my small hand can't possibly conceal it.

With this size, I think I can even masturbate with it.

...That's actually quite exciting. Let's try it later.

Nevertheless, I begin to probe around the boss, IV, carefully observing it while I dodge its attacks. Not only dark magic bullshit, it also throws weird shit at me.

DING—!!!

''Ugh...!''

Like this headache-inducing wavelength, for example. Sound barrier!

Then, I feel my left hand moving on its own, massaging my chest. I don't usually grab my boobs unless it's in the bedroom, and even then, that situation is rare, so I know it. Turns out, something ominous has been attached to my hand without me knowing it.

Dangerous.

Eat a bullet, idiot.

After enduring many sorts of sorcery, I gradually become more vigilant. To maintain a myriad of defensive spells on myself, quite a lot of mana is being consumed, but I can manage.

Just a little more.

I say to myself as I bounce off the spot, evading the invisible blade that cuts the air like pineapple.

A few minutes pass.

By the time drops of sweat are running down my face, trickling off my chin, I finally release my tight grip on the fifty BMG.

Nesting in my palm right now is a divine bullet.

Even with only this much power infused within, it should be effective.

Slapping the newly made shell into the magazine, I insert the big box into the big gun, then pull the bolt back, down before pushing it forward again.

Let's do this, my lovely Hecate.