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Chapter 110: Majestic

「Shit… I was baited in…」

『Gururu……』

I made a mistake… After breaking the barrier, I was only thinking about attacking to deal even a little more damage.

In the previous battle, this electric discharge was a move that turned the tide in one fell swoop, but it was activated with no motion and couldn’t even tell that it was being activated. The damage was reduced because we were both lightning attributes, but even so, about 40% of my total HP was reduced at once.

I took out two recovery potions from my magic bag and drank them both. Even with this, my HP was still a little less than 40%.

The next time I get hit by an electric discharge like that, I’ll be on the brink of death.

But this feeling of tension, it’s been a long time… I can’t get enough!

When my life is in danger, I can feel my heart beating louder. As I listen to the sound of my mysteriously rising heart beat, my concentration increases in proportion to it.

「Hahaha! This is so fun!」

Oh no… There is a large grin on my face.

……Hmm? Why is it an “oh no”?

The reason I chose a one-on-one with the Arch Chimera was because I can use my full power against it. That’s what I said to the others and that’s what I thought to myself as well.

However, once I tried fighting it alone, I came to understand that as much as I want to fight safely, I also want to have fights where my life is on the line.

Two conflicting emotions. I was so upset that I even laughed at myself.

I don’t want to put my comrades in danger… This is an undeniable fact. However, I also consider my own life as a coin to gamble. It’s a dangerous and meaningless thought, even if I say so myself.

After becoming a monster, I felt uncomfortable with my two conflicting feelings.

That time when I entered the Foret Noir Dungeon for the first time, when I stopped the stampede, when I went to stop Drake from going out of control, when Bride turned into a demon, when the Ibrudia Empire declared war… I would never have thought of sticking my head into such dangers of my own choice back when I was still a human. I wanted to become stronger, but the truth was, I had given up on that desire somewhere deep in my heart.

But everything was different after I became a monster. I voluntarily stuck my head into danger and even got excited about putting my life on the line.

I was thrilled when I heard that the demons were incredibly strong.

I craved to become “The Strongest” in the truest sense of the word
.

…Let’s accept it. This is who I am too

The feeling of not wanting to lose something important. The cowardly and cautious human thinking is also mine.

If I think it’s a battle I can’t lose, I’ll even risk my life to grab victory. This wild beast-like monster thinking is also mine.

I see now…

Ah, I feel refreshed.

I feel like I can see the path through the haze now…

If it’s now… I should be able to use it.

The drawbacks? Not the right time?

To hell with that shit!

Leave yourself to the rising tension!

I’ll think about the strategy while fighting!

「[Festival Music], [Thunder Drum], [Max Thunderclap].」

Triple buffing… It’s the first time I’ve tried it, but the effects are definitely overlapping.

My heart was beating more forcefully. The noise was getting almost too loud.

But the intense but constant rhythm of the drumming was comfortable.

My mind was clearer than ever. Everything around me felt slow.

Looking at the Arch Chimera, I could feel the tension reaching its climax.

「Let’s go! This is everything I’ve got!」

『Garuruoo!!』

I returned Shiranuemaru into my magic bag. I kicked the ground with all my strength after setting up the attack-type magic barrier.

The Arch Chimera also kicked the ground at the same time and rushed forward, but its movement felt slower than ever before.

I was always thinking of avoiding the attacks until now, but now it’s different. I pushed my right fist to the cheek of the lion head that came rushing in.

I felt a rubber-like feel, but I pushed my arm in regardless.

Suddenly, the giant Arch Chimera was blown away as its body gouged the ground below. Even though the magic barrier was still up, it must have taken damage.

Without a moment’s delay, I used [Sky Dash] to close in on the Arch Chimera, and without slowing my momentum I threw a knee kick into its side.

I could see the Arch Chimera’s body bending into a sideways V shape, and the magic barrier burst open.

「You are up first, snake head!」

I took out Shiranuemaru from my magic bag once again and let the mana flow in while still in the scabbard.

Due to the effect of [Festival Music], I could see that the mana flowing into the weapon more smoothly than usual, probably due to the fact that my INT had doubled.

I held Shiranuemaru on my left hip, cupping the mouth of the scabbard in my left hand. Lightly gripping the hilt with my right hand, I drew my sword towards the tail of the Arch Chimera without losing any momentum.

The blade, pulled out of its scabbard, reflected the moonlight while harboring lightning in its blade.

I didn’t feel any resistance… It was as if I had simply cut air.

However, when I turned around, I saw blood gushing out from the Arch Chimera’s body, and a dumbfounded serpent head wriggling in midair.

The Arch Chimera still hadn’t figured out what happened.

「Pay attention.」

With [Sky Dash], I immediately moved to the side of the Goat head and, while rotating my body, I swept my blade towards the goat’s neck.

This time, my right hand felt the sensation of the blade cutting through flesh and bones.

Half of the goat’s neck had been cut, but its eyes were still alive.

If I remember correctly, during the previous battle, Kinu had analyzed that the Goat head was in charge of defense and putting up a barrier. It would be troublesome if it recovered from that. The Goat’s head should be completely chopped off in this instance.

I decided on my next action within a split second.

I took one more step in the air and twisted my body so as not to lose the rotational force, and once again swept the tip of my sword towards the goat’s neck that had been cut in half.

Immediately after confirming that the goat head had completely separated from its body, I sensed a strong electric current bursting out of the main body of the Arch Chimera. So I immediately stored Shiranuemaru into the magic bag. While taking a defensive posture with both hands, I jumped backwards.

『Gururuu……』

「Way to go… I seriously got chills. You’re strong after all. You’re by far the best opponent I’ve ever fought.」

Although I immediately guarded, my barrier disappeared and my HP was reduced to 20%.

The Arch Chimera had about 30% HP remaining, but it has used up almost all of its MP with two electrical discharges, and it doesn’t seem to be putting up its barrier again.

「Both of us are riddled with wounds. It’s a pity, but let’s decide the match soon.」

The Arch Chimera did not answer.

However, I could tell by looking at its eyes that my intentions were conveyed.

The distance between us was 10m. Same distance as when the fight began.

However, the meaning was completely different.

The outcome will be decided next.

In that case, my only option is to go with maximum firepower. In the first place, I am here for revenge… There’s no way I can do a half-assed attack.

The Arch Chimera showed no signs of moving. Even though it was bleeding profusely from all over its body, it didn’t lose its dignified appearance.

That’s exactly the character of a king. It seemed as if it was saying, “Come at me with all you’ve got.”

「I’m borrowing your chest for a while.」

I captured the Arch Chimera with the [Lightning Bound Cage] reproduced with lightning magic, and instantly formed a gigantic [Lightning Ball], which I threw at the Arch Chimera’s chest and at the same time jumped up into the sky with [Sky Dash].

While suspended in mid-air, I put almost all of my remaining mana into my right fist, and the black purple aura around my body converged with crackling electric discharge sounds.

Right then, I heard Kinu giving instructions via telepathy.

≪Everyone, protect yourself with your full magic barrier so that Aun can put out all of his power.≫

She’s truly… a very good partner.

They’re quite a distance away, so those four should be fine by defending at full strength.

I’ll be going all out with no hesitation.

「【The Roaring Lightning King】.」

Kicking the air, I rushed at full speed from the sky toward the Arch Chimera on the ground.

The Arc Chimera escaped from the [Lightning Bound Cage] on its own and was about to flick off the [Lightning Ball] as well.

But… It was a few tenths of a second late.

My right fist pierced the Arch Chimera’s body and slammed it into the ground.

Immediately after that, a flash of black lightning struck the ground from above, and at the same time, a lightning bolt with a sound similar to an explosion shook the very air, ground, and atmosphere.

The Arch Chimera, which ate my ultimate skill, stood firmly on its four legs even though its body was charred and pierced in a huge crater on the ground.

…But there was already no light in its eyes.

「Thank you.」

It’s strong will to win over me without falling to the ground until the very end is worthy of respect.

Having used up all my strength, my mouth naturally spoke words of gratitude for the worthy opponent.