episode_0034

Normally, if a chimera of that size were glaring at me with multiple eyes, I would have no choice but to focus on it, even if I wasn’t scared.

However, if there were hundreds of disgusting bugs squirming all over the body of the chimera, it was inevitable that attention would be diverted in that direction as well.

Especially if they appear to be the source of the enemy’s newly acquired regenerative powers.

‘…No matter how I look at it, it seems like that’s the cause, but what is it? ‘These are a type of life form I’ve never seen before.’

But the chimera didn’t give me time to explore their identity.

It spread its six wings once again.

Because it fell from its back, the skin on its wings, which had been torn and burst under its own weight, was covered with writhing earthworm-like things, just like its body.

But surprisingly, although the chimera scattered a handful of insects on the floor with each flap of its wings, it succeeded in levitating its heavy body in the air once again, albeit lowly.

Then, while screaming as if his throat was locked, he attacked as if sweeping the floor with his body.

“Ema!”

“I understand!”

The moment Emma, who quickly transformed into a half-man, half-horse form, kicked the ground with all four legs, the chimera’s body, being eaten by insects, crushed the area where we were and stopped only after hitting the wall of the arena.

The enormous impact created a large crack in the wall, causing even the audience members who were running away in shock to stumble and fall.

It was obvious that if we even brushed against that, all three of us would be instantly reduced to a pulp and wet the floor of this arena.

It was a wise choice for Emma to immediately change into this appearance, even if people were concerned.

‘…Ema changing into this form in front of so many people will definitely attract attention… but this is the only way to avoid the opponent who flies at you.’

-Well…

Of course, the recoil from such an impact was also bound to be significant.

The chimera’s neck was half-bent as it pulled its body out from the wall and turned its head, and the flesh and muscles in various parts of its body were torn and blood was flowing out.

In some cases, black bones had torn the skin and were sticking out.

However, the wriggling insects moved and covered the disgusting body above it, stopped the bleeding, and forced the damaged muscles and bones to move again.

“…Damn… How can I die from that?”

As of now, the only way I can think of is to tear the body into pieces to neutralize it first, but unfortunately, my spear was stuck too deep earlier and was still stuck in its neck.

“…Ema, since the Empress has been attacked, the imperial army will probably step forward in person. Bring a ballista and shoot it or whatever…

Until then, if you keep avoiding it and taking time-”

“Ugh..ugh!”

“Crazy! What on earth is this?!”

And the shock and screams that followed reminded us that it wasn’t just us and that guy in this arena.

Before the Chimera attacked the Empress of Solaria, the four Bestiari who were dealing with the Chimera first raised their weapons and seemed embarrassed by the situation in front of them.

Well, no matter how many times you’ve dealt with all kinds of beasts and monsters, you’re probably like me and have no idea how to deal with something like that.

The problem was that the sounds they made inadvertently seemed to unfortunately attract his attention.

It seemed that even their eyes were covered with bugs, making it difficult to distinguish them from our original target.

“Oh my…”

“Master.”,”Master”

As I grit my teeth, Rubia and Emma quietly call to me.

If we think about it calmly, we may actually have an advantage.

It was clear which would take more time: targeting us alone or targeting others first.

nevertheless.

“Unless we know what those bugs are… we don’t know what will happen if they enter the bodies of the Bestiari.”

“Haha. okay. I guess so.”

“To begin with, I don’t want to be in the same space as that disgusting thing for even one second longer.”

Perhaps they felt that the reason I gave was valid, but they also seemed satisfied and Emma immediately ran towards one of the Bestiari.

Emma was able to avoid the menacing charge by catching her before it attacked the frozen centaur.

“Oh my God, Epona…”

Although Emma, who was said to have been blessed by Epona, the goddess served by centaurs, approached her, she was surprised, but quickly tried to lower her head.

“It’s okay, so I’ll just borrow that window for a while.”

In response to Emma’s words, I immediately took the spear that she gently handed me and grabbed it. I swung it lightly and got used to it, while turning my head to watch the creature’s movements.

Although he missed his target twice, he looked more confused than angry.

It’s as if he’s even losing the sense or intelligence to judge whether he hit his target correctly in the first place or missed it.

In fact, if you can kill prey or enemies with a single blind attack, these things may not be so necessary.

And in order to kill an enemy with that kind of power…

“…First, I have to get my spear back first.”

“Please leave that to me.”

“Are you okay? There are a lot of people watching.”

In Emma’s case, centaurs in the form of half-man and half-horse are rare in this world, so it will certainly attract attention, but if you look at it the other way around, it may end up in that line.

However, the moment Luvia, a vampire who is still hated in the Empire, is discovered, tens of thousands of spectators may storm in and attempt to kill her, regardless of whether there are rampaging chimeras or not.

The imperial army, who never knew when they might come rushing in, would probably take the same attitude.

“It would be possible if the owner could give us just a moment.”

“…Okay. Don’t overdo it.”

After that conversation, I grabbed my spear and aimed it at the chimera that was sniffing towards me.

“Emma, you know what to do, right?”

“Of course. Don’t worry, get ready. Owner.”

As Emma pounded the ground with her four hooves, the animal finally seemed to be convinced and opened its mouth to let out a roar and flapped its wings again.

It was approaching with its teeth bared and its claws scratching the floor of the arena, and its own blood and the bodily fluids of the bugs that had been crushed were flowing down, creating a dark red path behind it.

However, no fear was evident in Emma’s movements as she rushed forward.

Because I have no doubt that I, riding on her back, will do my part.

The weight of the trust that Emma sends to me is added to the spear I am holding, and as I charge, the tip of the spear blade remains steady and aims at the target.

As her hooves step on the dirt of the arena and gain speed, the spear also gains strength equal to the speed.

Even as we rushed at each other and the distance disappeared in an instant, I just aimed my power at the target that was getting closer and closer.

Finally, at a distance where its teeth, claws, and paws could reach me, and where the spear I was holding could stab it.

I twisted my whole body away from Emma’s leaping back and stabbed the spear with all my might into its wings.

Since I couldn’t guarantee that my sense of pain was still alive as long as my body was in that shape, the only way to stop the movement, even for a moment, was to break my balance.

Coincidentally, what I cut off with the spear blade were the same wings that I had ripped off from that chimera earlier.

-Kiyaaaak!

Even if the fallen wings grow back into insects, it does not change the fact that at this moment, one cannot maintain balance with only one wing.

In the end, while the chimera rolled over in the air, I was unable to overcome the shock and let go of the broken spear, and quickly pulled out my sword and cut down the insects flying from the torn wings.

At that moment, Luvia, with the most appropriate timing, also jumps from behind Emma’s back, hiding her body in the shadow of the falling Chimera.

A dark red energy mixed with blood and darkness grew from her fingernails and dug into the chimera’s neck, cutting off the disgusting insects along with its skin and flesh.

As if performing acrobatics, she immediately turned and caught my deeply embedded spear, pulling it out of the guy’s neck in one smooth motion and landing on the ground.

Chimera, whose wings were cut off and whose neck was pierced by a spear and who was once again cut by Luvia’s nails, was unable to land as gently as Emma, unable to see.

As fast as it flew, it fell to the ground, rolled several times, and bounced. Its wings and legs were all broken, so it looked like it couldn’t stand up again, let alone fly up.

-Well…

Nevertheless, when it raised its head again, it had a terrible appearance that could not be described even with the word chimera.

One thing I was sure of from that appearance was that, whoever it was, the people who put that thing in the chimera were not doing the monster any favors.

At first, I thought the chimera gained its regenerative abilities simply because of those bugs, but…

There was only one reason why the unknown bugs were holding on to the Chimera’s lifeline.

Because it would be difficult if the host that will survive by eating its flesh dies.

However, the chimera’s already ruined body seemed to no longer be of much value as a host, and the insects were just tearing the body apart at will to increase its size.

The chimera, which was said to have been created to imitate the shape of a dragon, was now becoming more like a writhing mass of numerous insects.

Just a collection of disgusting parasites that constantly crawl and roll, crushing and burrowing into everything in front of them to become part of themselves and hosts.

‘…If it’s like that, even if you tear the body into pieces, bugs will keep popping out of the pieces.’

Sensing that the solution I had thought of earlier would not work, I clenched my hand holding the weapon with a nervous expression.

‘There must be some kind of weakness… what…’

At that time, Rubia came up to me and handed me the spear she had returned and said.

“Master, I think I have discovered its weakness.”

I immediately turned to her and Luvia continued speaking.

“I saw it when I cut off the guy’s head earlier. Those bugs… they didn’t grow from where the fireworks exploded inside the guy’s body earlier.

They just covered up the spot and the burn marks remained the same. At least it seems that wounds caused by fire cannot regenerate.”

It was good that Rubia had figured out a solution, but the problem was that there was no way to get fire right away.

Above all, it would be difficult to use even a decent torch to fight someone that size…

However, Luvia quietly placed the spear in my hand.

And what I felt at my fingertips was not the coldness of the metal… but a warmth that felt slightly hot.

Only then did I look more closely at the weapon that had returned to my hand, and remembered the red-hot spear blade and the fireworks that had exploded in the man’s throat when I had plunged the spear into his neck earlier.

That flame, imitating the dragon’s flame, must have heated up my spear blade.

Fortunately, there seemed to be no need to separately obtain fire in this arena.