LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 128
Even if I resist the magic explosion, the debuff still comes in. In the hidden world, I can’t attack. The damage time is extremely limited, so even using the Hero’s Power, the clear time is tight. If I get too far from Crow, I’ll die instantly. Thanks to that, I can’t even move around to perform the gimmick in isolation.
Even if the chimera processing is slow, it goes berserk. If I can’t perform the gimmick in the hidden world, it goes berserk. Even after the clear time passes, it goes berserk.
So this is how uncomfortable not having allies is.
But hey.
Flash!
Bang bang bang!
With a storm accompanying my One Flash, I took down the last chimera.
[Named Enemy Level 3]
[Level 53]
[Commander Crow]
[HP 98,174,985 / 300,000,000 (30%)]
Kaa-aaaah!
Crash.
Crow’s massive body landed in the center of the combat area.
His last flight had ended.
Crow’s gaze turned to me. His sight twisted.
I met his gaze boldly.
Having overcome countless sufferings, I reached this place.
Final special phase.
A completely blue space. A world isolated from the outside.
The last fight in the hidden world begins.
As my body fully entered the hidden world, Crow’s hands reached out into the void.
Creeeeak—
Tearing through space, his body also entered the hidden world.
“This time, you’ve stepped into the ring.”
I smiled brightly.
Crow’s beak twisted as if grinning.
Crash! Flash!
Crow’s claws clashed with my sword, and the flare spewing from his mouth crossed the space. Calmly facing his attack, I glanced backwards.
On the outskirts of the combat area, it’s over there.
[Crow’s Illusion]
[HP 10,000,000 / 10,000,000 (100%)]
Before Crow became this hideous form, it was the appearance he had in human shape.
I noticed it only when I got farther from him, accepting the instant death pattern. If I don’t get close, I can’t see it.
Crow’s illusion can only be seen in the hidden world. And it transfers power to the Crow in the outside world. If the power continuously injected into Crow reaches a critical point, he goes berserk.
During the 90% and 60% special phases, one illusion appeared for each fallen chimera, totaling three.
When all three of Crow’s illusions appear at once, it’s actually easier. No need to approach and attack. I just need to maintain a close distance to Crow while unleashing my sword energy to slice them all up. After that, I can return to the outside world and continue my battle with Crow. This is all part of one special phase.
However, now that we’ve entered the final special phase, the only presence of an illusion I can sense is one at 12 o’clock.
It’s clear what this means.
During the final special phase.
Illusions appear sequentially.
Now I have to pay attention to Crow’s attacks that have also entered the hidden world. Unlike the 90% and 60% special phases where he merely observed me from the outside world, the difficulty level is on a whole different dimension.
To cut off the power being injected into Crow, I must deal with the illusion.
But, the cooldown for my sword energy is one minute.
Spot!
Ignoring Crow’s claws that barely grazed my face, I twisted my body and unleashed the sword energy towards the position of the illusion.
Bwaaaam!
The presence of the illusion vanished. I could feel the power being injected into Crow cut off at the same time.
Woosh!
I quickly spun around, using the recoil to spray the remaining sword energy into Crow’s waist, ripping into his flesh and showering myself in the dark blood pouring out.
If the second illusion appears a minute later, the cooldown for my sword energy will reset. If that happens, it would be easy, but…
Fwooom.
After about 30 seconds of feeding my sword to Crow again, the presence of the illusion emerged once more.
This time, at 7 o’clock.
Looks like it won’t be easy.
The cooldown for my sword energy hasn’t returned yet.
What to do?
The answer lies in the gaps between patterns.
Crow’s four-swipe claw pattern. This is one bundle. Afterward, there’s a long delay. Which means I can create distance before he finishes his four-swipe claw.
I must get back before the next pattern comes out after the fourth.
The uptime for this pattern is a total of 1.5 seconds.
The time given to me is also about 1.5 seconds.
In 1.5 seconds, I can handle the illusion with my enhanced physical abilities and return to Crow’s side. If I’m even 0.1 seconds late, Crow will unleash an instant-death pattern that destroys the internals of a long-distance target.
Crack-crack-crack!
Amidst the sound of scratching the ground, Crow’s claws came up at me. The start of the four-swipe pattern. I quickly launched myself backwards.
Pah!
Accelerate. Faster. Time is tight.
Distance to the illusion: 14 meters, 13 meters, 12 meters.
I began to see the illusion, and it entered the range of One Flash.
The illusion stretched out its arms forward, injecting magic into Crow.
Lowering my body in a running stance, I positioned my sword at my waist.
Bang bang bang bang!
The mana storm accompanying my One Flash tore the illusion apart. Immediately, I spun my body to approach Crow. All of this in 0.5 seconds. Successfully reduced the distance by 20 meters in an instant with backward evasion and One Flash.
Can I return within a second? Even with enhanced physical abilities, it’s tight. I twist my body and approach Crow as fast as possible.
Woosh!
Crow’s final four-swipe claw pattern cuts through the air; the last of the four ends, but I’m still running.
8 meters. 7 meters.
I could see his eyes turning wild. Cold sweat ran down my back. I placed my hand on the halting function of the bracelet: “Hammer and Anvil.” This is something I must save for the final moment. If I use it here, the chance of not being able to clear this time grows significantly.
6 meters. 5 meters.
Pounce.
Just before Crow’s eyes locked onto me again, I stepped right beside him.
Woosh! Clang!
The horizontally slashing claws swung towards me, and I barely lifted my sword to block, feeling a chill. If my timing were even slightly off, it would have been a just guard failure. The damage breaking through my guard would have meant death. Right now, I’m a flounder, resurrected with 1% HP after dying, granted by the power of the belt, which doesn’t allow me even a small mistake.
But I smiled.
It’s a melee pattern. It’s not an instant-death interior destruction pattern.
It was close, but I could adequately deal with the illusion and return.
I’ve passed the final hurdle.
Now, I just need to keep alternating between sword energy and One Flash until Crow runs out of HP.
Bang bang bang!
A mighty magic explosion engulfed the entire combat area. My ears rang.
That which had burst in the outer world, began to erupt in the hidden world as well.
Crow’s last struggle was fearsome.
But dodging lightly while shifting my body, I maintained the offense. One slice of a large pizza cut into eight pieces forms a safe zone. The position of this safe zone continues to change, but there’s no way I can’t grasp it with my eyes now. Who’s eaten that slice of pizza?
Crow’s remaining HP: 5%.
I decided to speak to him.
“How’s it going? Isn’t this whole ‘system’ thing inconvenient?”
If the continent of Astria were truly a proper world now, Crow might have been a much more complicated commander. He might have blown away everything around with magic, without a hint of a safe zone.
But now, Crow is merely a chess piece.
A black knight on the chessboard.
A knight that can move across the board can dominate it with its abilities.
But even a knight has its weaknesses.
It can’t attack an enemy right in front of it, just one square away.
Even if a white pawn wiggles in front of him, it can’t just break the rules and eat it.
Bang bang bang!
Even now, the magic explosion kindly creates a safe zone.
Even with my feeble powers, the path to clear is open.
“If there are rules to the game, then you should follow them.”
Crack.
I lowered my stance and used One Flash.
Bang bang bang bang!
The powerful storm accompanying my One Flash tore Crow apart.
Kaaarrrk!!
Crow let out a howl.
His body was already riddled with wounds.
“Of course, I have no intention of following the rules, right?”
A pawn flitting around like a queen. Unpleasant, isn’t it? You haven’t even been properly promoted. But you disregarded the rules a little too. Let’s call it even.
Flash, flash!
The sword energy gleamed. The crescent-shaped golden sword energy slashed through Crow’s weakened wing.
Ka, Kakat!
Crow’s legs, which had seemed firmly rooted, began to pull back.
Now, there’s no need to handle the illusion.
With everything I have.
Here, I end the game.
Bang!
The bracelet shone brightly.
Simultaneously, a beam of light shot up, tearing through the air.
What lay in the trajectory of that flash was…
Crow’s neck.
Flash!
*
The Abyssal Tree has completely ceased its activity.
It seemed dead from the start, but now it’s just a shell.
I walked down the fog-laden forest path. I felt the breath of life.
It hurts. I’m tired. I’m struggling.
But I can endure it.
The World Tree scattered its green leaves.
The path leading to the World Tree.
The elves’ faces shone bright.
In front of the World Tree.
An old male elf wept.
He clasped my hand tightly, pouring the power of the spirits into me.
Into the World Tree.
The stems parted as if welcoming me, creating a path.
The very heart of the World Tree.
The spirits still radiate light.
But now, it’s not a pitiful light, but a warm light filled with life.
I could hear their voices.
– Thank you.
– You saved the World Tree and the elves.
And then, I stood before her.
A sphere emitting the brightest green light.
That sphere gradually took on the form of an elf.
White-haired. Long ears. Beautiful face. Benevolent smile.
The Hero’s companion, Igrim.
An old friend.
Igrim welcomed me with a radiant smile.
“Welcome back, Rain.”
“I’ve returned, Igrim.”
I crumbled before her.
Then, I buried my face in her green embrace.
Though it was a little different from before.
The warmth still felt the same.
Swish.
A slender finger brushed through my hair.
Just a bit.
Just a little longer, let’s stay like this.