CH 47.1

After walking for more than half a day, I am indeed getting tired both physically and mentally.

The sun has long since set, and the night sky peeking through the leafy ceiling is overcast.

There are no stars or moon, and the light from Noa’s [Lightball] – a glowing ball of mycelium – is only slightly bright. Without the [Sensory Spores], it would have been impossible to walk this deep into the forest. I am weaving through the bushes and thickets, and Noa is following behind me, but both of us have not opened our mouths for about 30 minutes due to fatigue.

But—having finally caught the target location at the edge of my perceived range – my focus, which had relaxed slightly has once again tensed.

“Noa, wait here.” (Shuu)

“… yes, be careful.” (Noa)

Putting Tamiko on my shoulder, I advanced cautiously.

The trees are broken off unnaturally, and the ground is covered with decaying leaves. In the midst of the dense forest, it was as if the only place cut off from the sky was an unnaturally beautiful circular clearing.

The center of the air pocket, about 20 to 30 meters in diameter, is hollowed out like a stone mortar. It looks a lot like those little things you used to see under the eaves of houses when you were a child—an antlion nest. No doubt, this is the place.

“Tamiko, get back to Noa as soon as you check their level.” (Shuu)

“Squeak!” (Tamiko)

Tamiko nodded energetically. I have already given my cloak and jacket to Noa. I am ready for battle.

After confirming that no one is around, I produced a red mycelium ball at my fingertips. A burning ball, a.k.a [Fireball].

With a flick of my wrist, I released it. The red ball is sucked into the center of the mortar and explodes. The explosion scattered a loud boom and dazzling light.

Earth and sand are sucked into the center.

And then, “Boom!”, the impact is several times greater than the previous one. It reveals itself along with the rising cloud of dust.

“…I can do this…” (Shuu)

If I had to use a metaphor, I would say that it was a giant centipede with the jaws of a stag beetle and the pincers of a crayfish. The Demon Centipede, a powerful enemy in the Metro, was a large Metro Beast with a total length of more than 10 meters, but this one is clearly more than twice as long, and its head and girth are three or four times the size of the Demon Centipede. It’s a little bit monstrous.

“I’m sorry about waking you up, but I have to hunt you down. If you get any bigger than this, you’ll be quite dangerous.” (Shuu)

Hell Antlion

It is a powerful mid-boss-like enemy that normally lurks in the middle to deep layers of Metros. On rare occasions, its eggs hatch on the ground, causing a minor disaster in Aokigahara Forest.

It’s my target this time.

“Tamiko!” (Shuu)

“Around 45, squeak! But–” (Tamiko)

“Yeah, I know.” (Shuu)

If it’s only about the level, it’s the same as the Demon Centipede. But that is only the strength of the mycelium inside the body.

It’s a species thing, without a doubt, this guy is stronger than that number.

In front of this guy’s majestic stature that was menacingly lifting its pincers, my intuition, honed through five years of living a hellish life, was ringing alarm bells inside.

“Tamiko, move to Noa.” (Shuu)

“Abeshuu, careful, squeak!” (Tamiko)

Seeing Tamiko move away from his shoulder, Shuu produced [Battle Swords] in both hands.

“Gyiii!” (Hell Antlion)

An unpleasant roar is emitted from the pair of sharply pointed jaws as if they are pulling metal strings.

The pair of swords held in my hands are tinged with a bluish-white light, [Light Blade].

“–No hard feelings.” (Shuu)

The Hell Antlion left half of its body under the mortar and stretched out to attack Shuu.

Liquid radiates from between his jaws. I have a bad feeling about this and I jump back, and a cloud of smoke rises from the ground where the liquid has been sprayed. Is it a powerful acidic spit?

“Gyiii!” (Hell Antlion)

The Pincers struck, plunging into the ground. I just narrowly dodged it, wielded the [Katana]. As it pulled out its pincers my sword collided with it, “Gagyi!” and a dull sound reverberated.

Although there was some response, I could not cut it in half while dodging a counterattack. The pincers were quite hard.

“Ngh!” (Shuu)

The ground, scorched by acid, crumbled roughly, and the slope widened. The scissors of the follow-up attack extends to the spot where he was caught off-balance. I caught it from the front using my [Katana], and my feet collapsed further and my shoes were buried in the earth and sand. The sand is not as smooth as the sand in a desert prison, but the finely crushed earth is soft and hard to hold on to.

“Gah!” (Shuu)

I brushed aside the pincers with brute force, and with [Leaping], I escaped from the mortar in a single bound.

Throwing out my sword before my opponent’s follow-up attack, so I shot three [Fireball] and three [Thunderball] at the same time. A dizzying number of lights burst out from the fires and electric shocks.

“…did it work…?” (Shuu)

The first time I saw the “Hell” in its name, I thought it was a quick choice, but it crossed its pincers to guard its head. It just looked slightly burnt, and it still doesn’t seem to be cooked enough to be delicious.

Hell Antlion. It was tougher than I expected. Tougher than the Metro Beasts on the 50th floor of the Outsuka Metro.

“Gyiii!” (Hell Antlion)

While avoiding the attacks, which were becoming more and more vicious as they gained more and more hate, I pondered my situation.

I feel like I can beat it eventually if I keep at it with the long-range attacks as it is. Before my stamina runs out.

But—Ever since I saw the shape of the opponent, I wanted to use that method as my last resort. In order to leave as many materials in good condition as much as possible.

Nevertheless, the enemy does not easily respond to a slugfest.

Attacks with the pincers are hit-and-runs, taking advantage of their reach, and they don’t show enough openings to make me break them off. It is disgusting that it seemed to focus more on speed and reach than power.

Or it spits acid, softening the ground and plowing it with its pincers. In this way, they are intent on expanding the terrain to their advantage. He has a craftsman’s temperament that is worthy of his nickname, “the one who tunnels through the forest” as Kaike had said.

The narrower the footing, the more difficult it becomes to evade and block.

Then….

“Should I do it all at the same time?” (Shuu)

From the front, fair and square. I would slash it head-on against a difficult foe in a way that could be written into a heroic tale. I don’t know if it’s in my nature, but it seems like the quickest way to do it.

I stopped. My [Katana] on one hand is covered with more light.

Pincers extended from both sides. The pincers reach out from both sides, trying to pinch the noisy human and closing with a “bam!” and then, with a “snap”, it closes.

I parried it. When the pincers reach just a few more centimeters, the body of the man is shot forward like a bullet

I went [Leaping] towards it. The face of the Hell Antlion is covered with its large pincers.

A quick reaction as expected. Its eyes followed my movements.

It opens its jaws as if to say “welcome” and waits for me.

“Aaaah!” (Shuu)

Sharper than a pair of pincers, its sword-like mandibles close, just before it is about to cut me in two.

“Gyiii–” (Hell Antlion)

The Hell Antlion choked on its cry. Its jaws are blocked. They can no longer close—it’s blocked sideways by my [Great Shield].

At the same time that the [Great Shield] creaked and shattered, I reached the back of its head with a second [Leaping] using the stuck shield as my foothold.

“—No hard feelings.” (Shuu)

My sword clad in light pierces through the stiff outer shell. A muffled scream escapes and bodily fluids gush out.

“Gyiii!” (Hell Antlion)

Its gigantic body surged blowing me away. I stabbed it with my katana so I will not be blown away. The state of “I’m a good boy and I like sleeping” has been more attractive as of late.

“Please… just die!” (Shuu)

With my own weight, I lowers my sword and slashed the tip of its head. Gathering all the strength in my legs and I used [Leaping].

*Surge*! The sword slashed down in a straight line, and then it slipped out and plummeted down the slope. Somehow, I managed to twist my body and land on my feet. It is soft but sturdy.

The countless legs of the giant centipede clawed at the air. The centipede’s head, cracked in half, slowly collapsed to the ground on its back. It hits a tree outside the mortar, making the ground shake.

The birds and insects were literally knocked awake, and suddenly become noisy. When the noise subsides, silence finally returns to the forest.