Ch.115115. Blue Devil

“So, what’s the plan now!”

Talion asked as he skillfully turned the wheel.

I’m glad I had him practice before. He’s doing a good job maintaining balance and steering the boat even in this mess.

“Plan… a plan…”

I do have something similar.

But I’m not sure if it can be called a plan.

“First, I need to get a bit more benefit out of this, you know?”

“…Pardon?”

I look at Riru who’s chasing after us faster than the boat that’s advancing at full speed in the distance. It’s frightening how quickly she’s closing the gap.

Since she’s that angry, I’ll need to offer something quite valuable to calm her down.

Something that’s also precious to me.

But if I’m going to throw away something that valuable, shouldn’t I at least extract everything I can from the situation that made her like this?

“…You’re thinking about getting more benefits even in this situation?”

“…”

I remain silent at Talion’s words, which sound almost like a reproach.

That’s possible too, kid.

I’m starting to feel like my sense of crisis in dangerous situations is turning into something like a game where my life is at stake, but that’s still better than trembling under pressure.

In that sense.

“One of them will be subdued for a while…”

As I say this, I look at the first tentacle that’s writhing in the sinkhole before us.

After taking a hit from Riru, it tried to make a majestic entrance but now it’s just frozen in place, twisting its body.

I’ve seen this pattern a few times in boss battles in games. When it takes heavy damage, it falls into a groggy state and can’t recover.

‘…This alone skips the introduction phase.’

Normally, the boss battle sequence would involve fighting this first tentacle that popped out, then proceeding to the final battle with the “main body” that emerges from under the sinkhole.

But now, just by “burying” Riru in it, we’ve saved an enormous amount of time and resources, right?

“…”

“…”

I ignore Talion’s dumbfounded expression.

The expression might be a bit much.

But it’s true, isn’t it?

Anyway, it’s definitely beneficial to have Riru buried by each of the three bosses at least once.

‘…The problem is.’

During that process, Riru will definitely go berserk at least once.

Tatiana probably implanted “that thing” in Allan for this very purpose.

Considering the mechanism of the avatar shown in the game, Allan must be embedded in one of those three giant cephalopods.

“…”

I clench my teeth.

To be honest.

I never want to show that sight to Riru.

I almost threw up when I saw it. That’s how disgusting it is.

But.

‘…It’s going to happen eventually, damn it.’

Even if I don’t want to show it, Tatiana will find a way to thrust it in Riru’s face. That’s something even I can’t prevent.

Especially now that I’m drawing in the berserk Riru like a bullfighter and smashing through Phase 1, she might just decide to make Riru go completely berserk and kill me along with her.

It’s a surprisingly valid solution. As seen in Elnore’s case, even I would need to rely on luck to subdue a completely berserk demon.

“…”

But what she’s overlooking is.

For the Blue Demon, it’s better to explode completely than to go into a half-baked berserk state.

Seriously, the survival rate is much higher that way.

“Hold onto this for now.”

With a sigh, I take out Ultima from my pocket and hand it to Talion.

“What is this?”

“A holy relic. It should give you some resistance to curses, even if you can’t handle holy power.”

“I appreciate the thought, brother. But I can handle this much right now!”

Talion replied with an energetic voice despite sweating.

All around us, black mist is oozing from the flesh fragments scattered by Riru’s attacks.

All of that is the residual curse energy that would drive any ordinary person mad if they came into contact with it.

“Take it. You might be fine, but what about who’s with you?”

I point to the ice cat suffering above Talion’s head. Talion’s expression changes as he realizes.

“Wait, what about you, brother…!”

“I’ll be fine.”

In fact, I need to “reduce” such resistance.

Desperate Measure enhances “all stats.” The magic resistance stat on my status window must also be receiving that effect.

That won’t do.

“If my resistance is too high, well.”

I scratch my head as I continue.

“I won’t be able to get ‘eaten’ by the opponent.”

“…”

So.

Please stop looking at me with that expression.

●

My head feels dazed.

And everything before my eyes is blue.

Everything looks as if covered in a blue mist.

‘…Why am I so angry?’

It’s not like I can’t think at all.

I just heard someone who wanted to be friends with me. Is that really something to be this angry about?

-I like you, Riru Garda.

“…”

Oh.

Come to think of it, I do have a reason to be angry.

That damn womanizer, philanderer, piece of trash!

With a rage that makes my head go blank, I clear away the “obstacle” rising before me.

“I told you to get out of my way-!”

I don’t know how many of these creatures I’ve encountered on my way here.

I don’t know where they came from, but these monsters keep charging at me.

Normally, I should be questioning the situation.

How am I running on the sea?

What are these creatures? Why are they attacking me?

And how am I able to completely destroy them with just one hit?

I should at least be trying to understand these basic aspects of the situation.

But right now.

I just need to punch that guy in the face first.

That’s all I’ve been thinking about from the beginning!

“Stop, getting, in my way-!”

That was my mindset even as I destroyed the third giant tentacle with my fist.

The rain of flesh fragments showering down is now a familiar routine.

But this time.

Something caught her eye in the middle of it.

“…”

Among the scattered flesh fragments.

She could see someone who had been “buried” within those chunks of flesh.

A massive body. And a lion tattoo engraved on the abdomen.

An unforgettable appearance.

Allan Va-Thor.

The human who challenged her respected grandmother to a duel out of nowhere.

And the human who, during the duel, attacked the clan’s territory, took their lives, and even cut off her grandmother’s limbs.

Even with her reason clouded by rage that was burning her consciousness white-hot, she could recall these facts clearly.

The mind that had been consumed by anger partially awakened.

Her cognitive ability, which had been creaking like unoiled machinery, began to move.

Thanks to that.

Riru could now focus on the “scene” before her.

She noticed something “protruding” from Allan Va-Thor’s body.

It looked like a “sculpture” filled with twisted imagination.

A grotesque lump of flesh that clearly had some magical significance.

“…”

Riru instinctively realized that this was related to the giant tentacles she had been smashing until now.

She felt that this was making a significant contribution to summoning them.

She focused her consciousness more carefully.

It looked like half-finished clay figures roughly tied together.

However, what was used wasn’t clay, but “human bodies.”

This sculpture was made using the remains of the dead.

And on those bodies.

The “tattoos” shared and engraved by clan members were clearly visible.

All of them.

Were the markings of the Garda clan.

“…What is this.”

Such a murmur escaped her lips without her realizing.

All the bodies composing that “sculpture” had such markings engraved on them.

She couldn’t forget.

The markings that her family proudly wore on their bodies, and taught her never to lose pride in.

But.

Those who taught her that, her family, now.

Are being insulted like this.

Even after death, so miserably.

“…”

There was no need to think deeply about who did this.

She clearly remembered, even in her current state, who had taken the remains without handing them over to Riru, saying they would hold a “funeral.”

Tatiana.

The High Priestess.

That woman, who deserved to be torn apart, did this.

“…”

The next moment.

Blue energy began to surge around Riru’s body like an explosion.

●

“…The third one.”

Talion muttered as he watched the tentacle shatter and fly away.

With this, all three boss mobs have skipped Phase 1. Next would be dealing with the main body that will emerge soon.

However, the problem is.

“…Something’s strange.”

Talion narrowed his eyes as he saw Riru stop moving.

She had been chasing at a terrifying speed but suddenly came to a halt.

< System Message >

[ Target ‘Riru’ is enraged by the unbelievable sight! ]

[ Target ‘Riru’s corruption level exceeds 300%. ]

[ Target enters ‘Berserk’ state! ]

[ Expected damage radius is ’10km’! ]

[ Survival probability is 0.3%! ]

“…”

I close my eyes and apologize to Riru.

Truly.

I’m really sorry, Riru.

I’m sorry you had to see such a thing.

“…”

Therefore.

The one who did such a thing must be made to pay the price.

And I’m about to take the first step toward that.

“Stop!”

As soon as I see Riru stop moving, I give such an order to Talion.

Once the boat stops, I immediately “fly” toward her with a running start.

“Wait, brother?!”

I hear Talion screaming in shock behind me.

He must be wondering what I’m thinking, rushing at full speed toward someone who has been shattering everything in her path with a single blow.

[ Activating ‘Skill: King of Pandemonium’. ]

[ For 5 minutes, you have absolute advantage against demon-type enemies! ]

[ You face a target with equivalent abilities. ]

[ Resisting target’s unique ability ‘Authority: Pulverize’! ]

Fortunately, I have the ability to resist such authority for a few minutes.

I fly like an arrow and collide with Riru’s body as she stands dazed on the sea.

Normally, my body should be shattered upon contact, but thanks to the skill’s effect, I’m in a fairly intact state.

< System Message >

[ The energy of the ‘Blue Demon’ is felt! ]

[ The ‘Seal of Fallen Heaven’ responds! ]

Confirming such messages appearing, I cling to Riru’s body to support myself.

It feels similar to when I was hanging onto Elnore as she floated in the air.

Vessels on the verge of going berserk don’t usually react much even when you cling to them like this.

“…Hello. Nice to meet you.”

And.

Amidst the blue energy swirling around us, about to explode.

I whisper such words carefully to Riru.

“I’m Darwood Campbell.”

As if greeting someone I’m meeting for the first time.

“…I’ve come to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

I continue with a sigh.

“Shall we talk? Blue Demon.”

-…

Silence.

Silence.

And then.

The blue energy emanating from Riru’s body soon rushed toward me, as if to “envelop” me.

< System Message >

[ A ‘Mental Barrier’ targeting you has been detected! ]

[ ‘Magic Resistance’ stat resistance roll… ]

[ ‘Magic Resistance’ stat resistance roll… ]

[ ‘Magic Resistance’ stat resistance roll… ]

[ Resistance failed! ]

[ Entering target’s ‘Mental World’! ]

Yes.

Judging by the number of resistance rolls, it was quite close. If I had kept Ultima, I would have succeeded in resisting.

I smile wryly at that thought as my consciousness fades.

[I’m pleased to meet you too, Darwood Campbell.]

And beyond my fading consciousness.

Such a voice is heard.

Undoubtedly.

[I’ve been waiting to meet you like this.]

It was an extremely calm and modest voice.

[My husband.]

So much so that one could forget the speaker was a “demon.”

●