CH 53

This time, there are particularly cruel descriptions involved.

(Ichiko POV for the whole chapter)

“There’s a big shot coming at usssss!”

A man alerts all of us by yelling at the top of his lungs.

As it surges forward, a two-meter-tall lizard with red thorns protruding from its back emerges, knocking many people off in its path. No, given its oppressive presence, you could even call it a dragon. And on top of it, there is a demon that looks like a red pepper with limbs growing out of it. Evidently, this demon seems to be a rider.

“Name identification! The lizard is called ‘Spicy Thorny Lizard’ and the one on top is ‘Capsicaman’[i]!”

“You bunch of slaves! All of you will be killed by this Gochu-capsicaman!”

Spicy Thorny Lizard and Capsicaman? It is likely that the Spicy Thorny Lizard is equivalent to the Cuélebre in “White Fog and Black Swamp Forest,” and the Capsicaman is probably a demon that can be conjured up at level 4 of the Demon King.

That would mean the combat will be challenging no matter how many level 1 humans are present.

“All of you retreat! We will be the ones to confront those creatures.”

With a booming yell, the humans around me distance themselves from the foes.

“…!”

And as the surrounding humans withdraw, Izumi swings her axe wide and bashes it into the face of the Spicy Thorny Lizard from the side with all her force.

However, the Spicy Thorny Lizard shows an expression that indicates it is ineffective, and jerks its neck in a broad sweep, sending Izumi hurling away.

“Tsk! How dare you hurt Izumi!”

After witnessing Izumi’s being blown away, Mugi-san unleashes a multitude of ≪Firebolt≫.

“You slaves are so impudent!”

“Gugyagyagya!”

Nonetheless, the Capsicaman on top of the Spicy Thorny Lizard produces a red shield to obstruct the ≪Firebolt≫, and once it ceases, the Spicy Thorny Lizard shoots the thorns on its back like a javelin.

“Not good!”

“Hah…! Ah!”

When I invoke ≪Long Edge≫ and swing the dagger that has become like a long sword, it blocks the thorns. Nevertheless, the blow it delivered proved to be grave. Moreover, the thorns apparently radiate a substantial amount of heat, and even though I merely repelled it, I feel as if my HP has been reduced.

“I’ll stall for time! ≪Mud Wall≫!”

One of the human beings around me utilizes ≪Mud Wall≫ to enclose Spicy Thorny Lizard with a wall of mud.

“As if this kind of thing can stop us!”

But then, perhaps due to the skill of the Capsicaman, an explosion bursts out causing the wall of mud to be scattered.

“Then let’s fire a volley! ≪Waterbolt≫!”

“≪Blast≫!” “≪Windbolt≫!” “≪Glacial Till≫!”

Yet, the moment the wall crumbles, all the humans in the vicinity simultaneously launch attacks with skills that can be deployed from long range.

Their impact is so ferocious that the area is awash with a deafening boom and a cloud of dust and smoke.

“Did they succeed?” Mugi-san mutters involuntarily.

But, Mugi-san. That’s a flag[ii]. As it stands…

“Don’t get carried away, you slaves!”

Both the Capsicaman and the Spicy Thorn Lizard are still alive and well, albeit somewhat damaged.

“Let’s go!”

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

When the Spicy Thorn Lizard lunges at them, several unfortunate people in the immediate area get run over and die while raising their death cry. And I need to act swiftly to put an end to those demons!

“Hmph!”

With my sword drawn, I move in front of the charging Spicy Thorn Lizard and use my sword to restrain it, prompting the Spicy Thorn Lizard to come to a standstill. Even Izumi follows my lead in suppressing it, and consequently, the Spicy Thorn Lizard’s onrushing ceases.

“What!”

The Capsicaman lets out a shocked yelp.

This is my opportunity. It is the perfect time to execute that thing I have been discreetly practicing for some time.

“Izumi! Mugi-san! Please hold them back! I’ll get ready!”

“(Nod.)”

“Alright!”

At the same time as I leap back, Izumi wields her axes in both hands in all directions while evading the Spicy Thorn Lizard’s assaults. Despite the fact that her blows only inflict minor damage to the Spicy Thorn Lizard, it is agitated by the absence of hits on Izumi.

Simultaneously, Mugi-san attacks with a combination of ≪Fox Fire≫ and ≪Firebolt≫ with the aim of suppressing the Capsicaman’s movements, leaving no time for the Capsicaman to counterattack while forcing him to constantly bring out his red shield to defend against the attack.

And meanwhile, I am concentrating the power within me on the edge of the blade, which I hold in my right hand while adding more strength with my left hand.

Frankly speaking, I am not certain that what I am about to do will be successful. After all, this is the first time I have performed this technique in a real fight, and I have hardly ever had any success with it in practice. Furthermore, this is not a technique that is based on a proper theory.

Even so, I have no alternative but to do it. The two of them are suppressing them now, but their MP and SP are not unlimited. If their attacks were to cease, many casualties would be inflicted again in the slightest gap.

“…’I am the one who leaps through the void, a kin of the Fog King. I seek the head of my adversary, the flower of life, the fountain of blood’.”

As my chanting ensues, my vision rapidly constricts due to my extreme immersion, until all I can see is the edge of the sword in my hand, and all sounds around me are rendered inaudible.

“‘Leap, O blade. Until I reach what I seek, cast this blade down upon my foe’.”

Within my grip, the blade begins to assume a black aura, gradually increasing in brilliance.

“Both of you, retreat! ‘Cut! Slice! Sever! Outer Skill Senkiri-kaishaku’[iii]!”

And with that, I brandish my sword broadly to the side.

However, the edge of that sword that was visible earlier is now no longer in view. This is because,

“What did you… gaaaaaaaa!”

“Gugi, gyaaaaaaaaah!”

Because that blade is continuously being driven into the Capsicaman and Spicy Thorn Lizard until their heads fall off.

Outer Skill Senkiri-kaishaku.

That is a skill that falls outside the boundaries set by the skill system which I conceived of when I witnessed Kurokiri’s outer skill, Kurokirinoko.

By combining ≪Short-range Teleportation≫ and ≪Decapitation≫, this technique is used to continuously severs an adversary’s head until it falls off, scattering the flower of life and triggering a fountain of blood.

“Hah… what a skill you possess. I’ve never heard of this before.”

“It is only natural that you have never heard of it since I devised it myself.”

“I see…”

Mugi-san’s face turns pale at the sight of the two demons that continue to be beheaded even though they have already been decapitated halfway to demise, and I lift their heads up while I elucidate the situation to her.

Then, when the heads of Capsicaman and Spicy Thorn Lizard have fallen off by my technique, the Senkiri-kaishaku is over, and at the same time I pass out due to SP exhaustion.

T/N:

[i] The name is derived from Capsicum pepper

[ii] Well, I guess people would understand what flag means these days from anime but in simple terms, the context here means it’s impossible for them to have such an easy victory

[iii] Senkiri means thousand slashes and Kaishaku means to assist someone committing hara-kiri by beheading him

[iv] The enemies could be more than a duo. Japanese language lacks plurals and I am simply assuming it is two enemies