episode_0052

This person endured, seriously considering Kang Wan’s gambling nature.

“Haa…! Haa…!”

The armor and cloak had become covered in dirt from repeatedly hitting the ground, and the exhausted body, tortured all night, convulsed thinly, lamenting its physical limits.

Was it due to the sharpened nerves and senses pushed to their extremes?

In reality, it had only been a short time, barely enough for even a cup of instant noodles to cook, but subjectively, it felt like nearly an hour had passed.

“I’ve reached my limit! I have no more magic left to use!”

Amy exclaimed with a sigh.

Not only had the fire arrows and ice spears been depleted, but also the “unseen hammer” and “radiant sphere,” which could somewhat hinder the movements of the corpse giant.

“For goodness’ sake…! Just retreat for now!”

Essentially, this meant they were no different from ordinary people. In other words, it meant that now, Gerda and I had to confront this monster using only our own strength.

As for the remaining person, Friede, while I was engaging the corpse giant, she had chased after the abyssal priest deep into the forest.

“Gerda, is there any good way!?”

“Would there be such a thing! I can’t even stand in front of that thing in the first place!”

Gerda, who had been hiding in the forest, shook her head, expressing helplessness.

“Well, that’s true…!”

The fact that I could barely dodge meant that Gerda couldn’t even fathom dodging.

Conjuring up courage to face the corpse giant head-on, just one punch from him would immediately turn me into an undead.

So, in essence, it meant that I had to endure against this guy alone…

“…Easier said than done.”

Even with Amy’s assistance, every moment of the fight had been perilous, so how long could I hold out alone?

“Graaaaah!”

A single blow from the overwhelming force brought by the undead’s infinite stamina, and the sprint speed that blocked any attempt to escape.

There had been no opportunity to deliver a proper blow, so the few wounds I had inflicted were merely superficial.

The enemy was far too strong. At least much stronger than I am now.

“Haa…”

I gazed at the corpse giant, its eyes filled with a deep weariness, as it let out a piercing scream. It was a grim sight, enough to make me want to turn and flee.

But then…

“Alright, let’s go… all the way.”

Instead of giving up and fleeing into the woods, I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword, adding more strength to my convulsing muscles.

“There’s no other option now anyway.”

Running would only lead to immediate capture and demise. From the start, there was no path other than battle.

“Let’s find out. Whether you’ll die… or I will.”

So, now it was truly a gamble.

Hoping my instincts and senses wouldn’t betray me, I channeled the boundless, chilling sensation that had been residing in my heart throughout my entire body.

The intense cold spread through my veins, granting my muscles strength beyond their limits.

It wasn’t a transcendent level of power like that of a spirit spider, but…

– Grrraaah!

Enough strength to crush the wrist of the corpse giant as if it were nothing.

“Graaaah!”

Amidst the screams and the flowing black blood, I found myself smiling thinly in the exhilaration of spilling brain matter.

◆◆

Kang Wan’s restrained activation.

The gamble, staked on a 5-minute chance, had succeeded splendidly.

“…It’s hard to call it a perfect success.”

Dodging the arm swinging towards me with a scream from the opposite side, I glanced down at my arms gripping the sword.

With a face drenched in cold sweat,

“Huff…, haa…!”

Intense exhaustion. My breath was labored, and my arms trembled as if I had just finished a marathon.

As I swung the sword towards the creature’s hand, my control over the force faltered slightly, resulting in a bit more power than intended.

“Still, this should be enough.”

I could still fight.

At least three more swings were within my capability.

Such conviction surged instinctively within me.

The memories etched into my body and senses honed sharp as blades, the experiences of countless battles had been teaching me.

What I can do. Where my limits lie.

“Three times ahead.”

If I can lower the output to this level, perhaps five times.

That was the number of effective strikes I could land on him… my only chance given.

Perhaps my victory if I could sever his neck within that. Failure meant death.

A gamble with my life.

The first bet narrowly secured a victory, but the game wasn’t over yet.

“Grrrrr!”

Both he and I were still alive.

“Pant, haaah….”

I steadied my breath and aimed my sword at the giant’s corpse. The option of endurance was erased from my mind.

My characteristics didn’t match well against a prolonged battle with Kang Wan.

Unless one possessed infinite stamina, enduring the intense physical exertion characteristic of knights until reinforcements arrived was hardly possible.

So, I had to roll the dice again. A dice where both our lives were at stake.

“Graaah!”

“…Whining like a baby over losing a wrist. Such a waste of size.”

Therefore, instead of retreating beyond the giant’s reach, I charged straight at him.

There was no hesitation.

Even though he remained an absurdly powerful monster despite losing one wrist, at least now, my odds were better than before.

I can fell him.

And if I can, then I will kill him.

So, there was nothing to fear.

More akin to hope or wish than certainty.

Endlessly repeating this mantra to suppress the unease in my heart, I unleashed all the strength I had towards the giant’s corpse.

◆◆

“Graaah!”

“Haaah!”

Having abandoned dodging and parrying, the fight became even more intense and perilous than before.

I discarded my previous strategy of fleeing beyond his reach whenever his attacks came, instead moving forward, seizing the opportunity between his strikes to launch a counterattack.

And I realized.

Something had changed.

“Graaah…!”

“…Has he slowed down?”

The giant’s arms and legs swung violently toward me. They were slightly slower than before.

He’s definitely an undead, so it’s not that he’s worn out.

Then, what could have gone wrong with the abyss priest who summoned him?

Freide’s skills are outstanding even among top-tier adventurers… but to think that in such a short time, she could defeat the abyss priest single-handedly, seems unlikely.

So perhaps, Hugo was so focused on his fight with Freide that he lost the capacity to manage the undead he summoned.

Honestly, just that alone felt like divine intervention.

Perhaps due to the sluggish movements of the corpse giant, evading his attacks seemed somewhat easier than before.

Even without Amy’s help, I could somehow manage to evade.

“No, it’s not just that. He’s not only slowed down….”

Moreover, it wasn’t just the corpse giant that had changed.

More than just his sluggish movements, my own agility and reaction speed had improved significantly compared to before.

“I can see his movements…?”

I could see them.

Even if I couldn’t see, I could sense.

Every precursor to his attacks, the openings to exploit, every flaw in each movement, and the most opportune timing for a counterattack.

I could perceive all of these things so vividly.

Things I didn’t know, couldn’t see when I was hastily retreating.

As the weary body declined, the responsiveness of my movements sharpened in proportion.

A sensation as if the sensory organs throughout my body were expanding outward.

I realized.

Brynhildr’s body was speaking to me. Teaching me. Pleading with me.

This was the right choice.

Life doesn’t unfold behind those who retreat, but rather in front of those who leap forward.

I rushed forward.

The exhilaration of realization led my exhausted body.

◆◆

“Haaah!”

I leaped into the air like a swallow, spun around, and landed by thrusting my sword into the knee of the approaching corpse giant.

Acrobatic movements. The splatter of blood as I sprang up, the sensation of tearing through muscles enveloped my fingertips.

“Argh!”

The corpse giant let out an indistinguishable scream or roar.

Not yet.

I immediately leaped, driving my sword into his thigh, swiftly swinging past his exposed side.

Clang!

Second strike. Blackish-purple blood and putrid entrails burst forth between the gash on his side from the sword’s slash.

“Hack…! Hack…! Not yet, it’s far from over!”

As if pulling out his innards, I grabbed them and flew towards the back of his neck.

Just as the dry tree trunk loomed close, I kicked off it, launching myself towards the ground.

Thud!

My body shot downwards like a thrown ball.

The corpse giant’s convulsing arms dipped deeply as I passed over his head.

As my cloak tore away in the wind, the blade that had been poised above his head sliced through his extended arm.

Flawless evasion and counterattack. The seamless flow of each movement led directly into the next attack.

Kwaaah!

As the sword revealed bone, the corpse giant’s arm crushed the neck, I landed, slipping between his legs.

Thud…

The earth spat out clumps of dirt against my boots, converting the sliding momentum into rotational force.

From speed to weight, even muscle elasticity, all that power was encapsulated in the razor-sharp edge aiming for the corpse giant’s ankle.

Right at the spot where I had previously cut through, just grazing the skin.

“Kkuk…! Still tough, I see…!”

As the blade dug into the ankle, intense resistance surged through my arm. The grip on the hilt felt scorching hot.

But, this should be enough…

“Huuaaah!”

With a fierce shout, I squeezed every ounce of strength, forcibly suppressing the resistance of the massive muscles and tendons straining against the blade.

Crack!

Amidst the screams of the strained blade, the ankle was deeply cleaved, despite the accumulated shocks.

The True Shot that did not activate Kang Wan was not enough to reach the bone of the guy… but this was sufficient.

“Groooooan!”

With spurting fresh blood like waves, the giant’s body staggered greatly, kneeling on the ground and collapsing.

Kicking him in the lower abdomen, he folded forward like a twisted child.

Supporting himself with his arms and legs on the ground, he crouched, reminiscent of a cripple regressing from bipedal to quadrupedal locomotion.

Yes. Since I severed the tendons themselves, he won’t be able to run on two feet anymore.

“Now! Heal!”

Amy, who was watching from afar, shouted loudly. Her voice was filled with astonishment and hope, as if she couldn’t believe the situation.

I had the same thought.

Now.

There’s only now.

If he lost his balance due to the sudden rupture of tendons and is unable to control his body, leaning forward like this…

My sword can reach his neck.

“Just stay down!”

Enduring the excruciating pain that felt like my lungs were being turned inside out, I grabbed the giant’s arm with my hand and leaped over, flying towards his neck.

Gathering the remaining strength to activate Kang Wan once again.

“Groan, groooooan!”

The desperate giant pushed the ground with his arms, urgently trying to get up.

However, with the added force of Kang Wan, my leaping body surpassed his speed of getting up. My sword reaching his neck came before he could rise again.

“Graaaargh…!”

The monstrous giant turned to me with a fierce grimace.

“Too late!”

I exhausted every last bit of my strength to unleash the final Kang Wan.

The blade of the longsword swung diagonally, cleaving the giant’s neckbone in half.