CH 99.2

(It is on the same level as Jaguar in terms of physical ability.) (Shuu)

My level has also risen by one since I fought the jaguar golem, and I am also equipped with an Aquamarine, which strengthens explosive power. I can keep up with the speed game, but I am not able to fight in the strength and endurance games.

Overall physical is still better than mine. Alas, it is the powerlessness of the human race.

But that is because we are human, and that is where our cleverness comes in. We can get the upper hand through experience and strategy.

The mid-range big sword and the short-range kick; in melee combat, you can’t hold your own. A combination of guesswork and precision, anomalous and unable to find the rhythm.

The saving grace is that even Weak Met has no chance to break in. They cannot enter the storm zone of that huge sword, and probably do not have a hypha ball or other long-range means of attack. I will surely try to close the gap between the two now and then.

(Even if its power and speed are comparable to those of the jaguar golem.) (Shuu)

(Then how about its toughness?) (Shuu)

Its thighs are stained with blood from being stabbed with my knife hand and its chest from being hit by [White Bullet]. It is not as strong a defense as the steel-like armor of that jaguar golem.

Until I get the rhythm of my opponent, I should concentrate on evasion, and attack it from a distance. Is that better?

While I was breathing and watching the area, behind me, facing the stone statue, my hypha arm has finished the accumulation of my [Fireball].

Then, my hypha arm swings to throw it.

—At the same time, Boss Met spreads its bat wings wide.

The wings strike the air before the red ball is released.

A gust of wind, like a wall of wind, slams against my body, pushing me back against the stone statue.

“—!” (Shuu)

I can’t speak. As waterdrops like heavy rain hit my face and all over my body. I had no choice but to cover my face with my arms.

“…hey!” (Tamiko)

I could faintly hear Tamiko’s voice. The moment the wind and rain passed through, I was covered by a huge shadow approaching.

I quickly flung the [Fireball] in the grip of my hypha arms—left and right above my head.

It hits the bodies of the two Weak Mets that leaped at me, and I blast them with a loud “BOOM!” as the fireball explodes loudly.

At the same time, I jump back. The huge sword that passed through me crushed the stone statues as if they were Jenga blocks.

“No chance!” (Shuu)

[Sensory Spores] fed back the position and outline of the object they are stuck on to my brain. The [Sensory Spores] around me might have been washed away by the wind and rain earlier, but I was able to notice the approach because they were still functioning spores on Boss Met and Weak Mets.

(But still, is it a combo of gusty wind and water bullets?) (Shuu)

While quickly readying myself, I gritted my teeth.

Was that a Fungal Skill, too, or was it a unique ability of a mutated individual?

There was no damage to my body, but the wind was so heavy that I was unable to move for a moment. I could taste the fear of when I travelled during a typhoon.

At that time—during the Weak Mets first surprise attack, the two that jumped at me suddenly accelerated in the air and collided with each other. That must be the effect of flapping the Boss Met’s wings earlier. Blowing away the backs of subordinates in the name of boosting itself. Is the black company system still alive in the metro?

It’s a simple ability, but it’s a restraint, a balance disruptor, a blinder, and a projectile blocker. It’s a four-in-one offensive and defensive technique. It is extremely troublesome.

With this, the plan of it burning it to death with [Fireball] from afar disappeared. If it repelled the [Fireball], I will be the one burnt to a crisp. Disturbance with a smoke ball won’t work either, as the smoke will be blown away in an instant.

If I move far, it will swing its huge sword, and if I close the distance between us, it will use its feet. When I move very far away, it will flap its wings to close the distance between us and then approach again. It is a simple but unpleasant, super pushy stance that forces one’s own advantage.

I himself admitted that my compatibility with such a straightforward opponent wasn’t bad, but if I was attacked aggressively by something with such a high level, it wouldn’t be easy.

(I don’t know what to do.) (Shuu)

I quickly thought about the options available to me.

Do I use [Leaping] to escape with Tamiko and Utsuki in my arms? No, from what I have seen so far, those big thighs are not just for decoration. The goat-monkey boss is known for its acrobatic movements, and its mobility is quite impressive. If it chased us to the upper floor, it would make the situation worse.

I cannot retreat now. I cannot show my back.

Then, I had no choice but to fight. For the safety of the three of us, I must finish them off here for sure.

(But how do I win?) (Shuu)

(Should I use accumulated [White Bullet]?) (Shuu)

The charged up [White Bullet] boasts the greatest firepower in my hand, but it has yet to solve the problem of range, or rather, the problem of accuracy. It is difficult to aim from a distance, and even over a shield, it can penetrate and aim through it, but it is even harder to hit. The reason for this is both the clumsiness of the “hit to trigger” mechanic and my own poor aim.

In addition, it still takes about 4.5 seconds to charge. Through trial and error so far, I have been able to shorten the time by about a second (if I’m in good shape), but will I be able to find an opening in this formidable foe to do so repeatedly?

“…Brrrr…” (Boss Met)

Boss Met turned toward me, spewing steam.

The two Weak Mets also come close to me, flanking me from the left and right. The two that were hit by [Fireball] were giving off a burning smell from their burned sides. The remaining one seems to be wary of making the same mistake as its companions, though it was fortunate that I was able to defeat them in the heat of the moment. For me, it was a bit depressing, but…

Boom! And hypha balls explode at the feet of the two Weak Mets. Those are [Fireballs].

“Idiot-suki! You are a terrible shot even for a [Illusionist]!” (Tamiko)

“I am in a hurry because you’re talking to me like you’re my superior officer, you Fat Squirrel!” (Sou)

The two girls are above, looking cute and adorable. The hypha balls from earlier seems to be Utsuki’s [Fireball].

Weak Mets glared and threatened with “Meee!” “Meee!”. Utsuki teary-eyed. “Look, I’ve made them angry! They are staring at me with those goat eyes!” Utsuki’s teary eyes and her words are not quite right.

After glancing at their Boss Met for a moment, the two Weak Mets jump up, kicking at the stone statues. They leap up to the roof where Tamiko and the others are.

“Tamiko!” (Shuu)

“Leave it to me, squeak!” (Tamiko)

The Weak Met’s back disappears, and a battle begins on the roof with the two with their heads pulled back.

I hesitated for a moment. Should I go and help? Were the Weak Met selected because they are also weaker? For a Level 30, their movement and intelligence are a bit different from the Baphomets I’ve killed along the way. Utsuki is clearly in the rearguard position, so I wonder if the two of them can deal with it alone.

But if I chase them, they can attack me easily,

“Veeee…” (Boss Met)

It always comes with me. Like a sheep-headed King Bo*-omb. It could be dangerous for both of us.

“…Leave it to me, huh?” (Shuu)

She’s always been a fine capable squirrel.

She is not a decoration, a mascot, or an emergency ration (her weight has been increasing lately). She a hunter and my partner.

“Veeeeeeeeeeee!” (Boss Met)

A gust of wind hits me with a roar. A pebble-sized chunks of water hits me in the face. It hurts so much that my ears feel as if they are going to be torn off.

Still, I kept my eyes closed and did not shield my face.

The wind breaks, and Boss Met was swinging his huge sword, kicks the ground—his left corner bursts off.

“Veeee!?” (Boss Met)

With a muffled scream, it touches its head, its horns shaved off at the base. The scalp and skull are all gouged out, and blackened blood is trickling out.

“…I’m sorry. I’m going to use all my hands.” (Shuu)

I returned to my stabbing posture and casually wiped my drenched face with the palm of my hand.

—Charged up [White Bullet]. I created it with my right hypha arm and counter-attacked it in line with the Boss Met’s charge.

With the feedback from [Sensory Spores], I was able to grasp the timing and approximate location even with my eyes closed. I was going to smash its head in and finish it off with a single attack, but as I expected, it missed, so my earlier line was one hundred percent a wash.

But, well, it was to be expected.

The [Katana] that had been charged with the left hypha arm, a giant cleaver as big as Boss Met’s sword, was passed into my own hand.

Leave it to me, said Tamiko.

Even though she usually shows a sadistic superior character, she is a coward at heart and is more afraid of losing her friends – her family – than anyone else.

It is not unusual for her to recommend not fighting or running away in the face of a strong enemy.

Now she is putting her body on the line with powerful words. She is waving her front teeth frantically to protect my back, saying “Leave it to me.” She swore that she will be stronger and she’s putting it into her tiny furry body.

I tightly grasped the hilt of my [Katana] with both hands.

“Okay, let’s do it. A Head-to-head battle.” (Shuu)

A bluish-white light shines through my hands, covering the rugged blade of the sword. The heat that was in my chest was burning.

A moment of silence, and then…

The human and the huge goat-headed beast facing each other kick the ground at the same time.