Chapter 155: Ardius Fortress Siege Battle – A gruesome end
(TN: Warning! If you’re not good with gore stuff you can go down; I will summarize what happened in this chapter. This chapter is very gory.)
I felt no anger in my motionless body, only a sense of resignation, as I continued to glare at the approaching sole of the foot. Just as it seemed about to crush my head, his foot suddenly deviated from its trajectory, and it landed in front of me, barely grazing the tip of my nose.
At first, I thought he had merely done this to torment me, but the sight that unfolded before my compound eyes defied reason. What I saw... was a tree branch sprouting from Zahhi’s chest. RêAd lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only
The bark of that tree branch had the weight and texture of a centuries-old giant tree, and the leaves that adorned its branches were so dark that it sent shivers down my spine. Such a tree was piercing through Zahhi’s chest from within, slowly growing even now.
The sight was so shocking that even Master, the one people hailed as a seasoned hero, forgot to rise and simply stood there in disbelief. It seemed like an unreal spectacle, but the warm blood from Zahhi that had splattered onto my face confirmed that this was very much a reality.
[What... is this...!? Ughhh!?]
At first, Zahhi appeared bewildered, but as the ever-growing tree within him began to inflict searing pain, his face contorted in agony. He released the sword he was holding in his hand, tossed aside his shield, and with both hands free, he crushed the tree growing from his chest.
The trunk broke with a sharp snap, and Zahhi, despite breaking into a cold sweat, managed a fleeting smile. However, that composure didn’t last for long, as new branches began sprouting from the broken spot.
[Gaaaaaah.!? What’s....happening!?]
Finally unable to remain upright, Zahhi rolled to the ground, lying on his back. He began clawing at his chest, his nails digging into his flesh with such force that they tore through not just skin but flesh and blood as well. It was a gruesome sight.
His efforts seemed to bear fruit, though I couldn’t say for sure that it was worth it. The roots of the tree that had grown within Zahhi’s body started to become visible. They had firmly taken hold inside his body, intricately interwoven and drenched in blood, with bits of flesh clinging to them in places.
Zahhi exerted all his strength to uproot the tree that was growing from within him. With a series of snapping sounds, the roots began to tear slowly, and it seemed like he was on the verge of extracting it completely. Even though he was going through an unimaginable amount of pain, Zahhi wore a triumphant smile; he was convinced that he would be saved.
{Just a bit more...! Just a bit more, and it’ll come out!?]
“There’s no way I’ll miss this opportunity.”
At this moment, I hurled my black sword towards Zahhi’s neck. While Zahhi was focused on extracting the tree, I had been strengthening my healing power through my fighting spirit. As a result, I had enough strength left to throw the sword in my left hand.
The black sword deeply pierced Zahhi’s throat, going clean through. The ease with which it penetrated could be attributed not just to the sharpness and weight of the black sword but also to the fact that Zahhi had become negligent in his defense; after all, he was overly absorbed in dealing with the tree. I didn’t understand how things had come to this point, but I felt gratitude towards the tree that had presented me with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
It was as if the tree sensed my gratitude, for at that very moment, it seemed to surge in power. The roots that had been on the verge of being pulled out suddenly pulsed with more power; they grew thicker and entered Zahhi’s body while moving through his flesh.
[~~~~~~!?]
Zahi’s screams were accompanied by a horrifying sound that wasn’t the least bit pleasant to listen to. The roots delved deeper into his chest, extending from the broken point and growing longer with each passing moment. The leaves, meanwhile, grew denser and darker.
“I’ll lend you a hand, disciple. Humph!”
At that moment, Master, who had been approaching on foot, held the broken poleaxe in his left hand and brandished the sword in his right hand. Master was a master of the poleaxe, but at the same time, he was also a master of swordsmanship. He firmly believed that mastering the fundamentals of swordsmanship was essential before one could effectively wield other weapons.
Master’s sword swung down, seemingly aiming to sever Zahhi’s arm in a single stroke... but it didn’t quite happen that way. The flesh appeared to have been cut, but it seemed the bone remained intact. To make matters worse, Master’s sword seemed to have dulled in the process. Apparently, Zahhi’s bones were harder than metal.
“What?! My finely crafted weapon, made by a skilled blacksmith back in my homeland, can’t cut through this?! Truly a monstrosity! Gahahaha!”
“No, is this the time to be impressed?”
Master, having heightened his fighting spirit to heal his wound, laughed heartily while praising Zahhi. I understood what he meant, but I was still prioritizing restraining Zahhi with all my strength over offering complaints.
“Ahh, you’re right! Nuuh!”
“Great job.”
With a swift motion, master swung the broken poleaxe, now resembling a broken hand axe, and this time, Zahhi’s arm was severed and dropped to the ground with a thud. His precision in aligning the blade exactly with the cut made me tip my imaginary hat in admiration.
Losing one arm not only made it impossible for Zahhi to extract the tree roots but also allowed the roots to flood into the severed area, infiltrating his body. Zahhi still seemed to be alive and resisting, but his efforts were becoming increasingly futile.
Meanwhile, the tree had undergone rapid growth, reaching a size that could easily bear fruit. Underneath it, Zahhi convulsed while contorting his body. There was no part of his exposed skin that didn’t bear the marks of roots clinging to it. It was actually more surprising that he was still alive.
“Master.”
“Yes, and there’s the matter of the youngster’s wounds. Let’s finish this quickly!”
“Yes.”
As soon as I spoke, Master raised his poleaxe, and I pulled the black sword that had been embedded in Zahhi’s neck. Then, I brought it down on his face, where the roots had not yet reached.
My sword pierced through his eyeball, and master’s poleaxe shattered his forehead, spraying brain matter everywhere. The roots surged back into the wound with an unprecedented ferocity, invading the inside of his head.
[Guh... Guuuuuuuuuuuh...!!!]
A final, agonizing scream erupted from Zahhi’s mouth, now clogged with roots, and his convulsions finally ceased. Furthermore, his skin, which had been vibrant until now, rapidly dried up, leaving him looking like a dried fish.
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TN: So in essence, just as the mc was about to get killed, a tree surges from within Zahhi’s body (yes literally). The tree’s roots eats him alive and the mc and Alexander gave the killing blow.