With a loud thud, the skull of one of the Flesh Seeds that had lunged at me was crushed.
Blood and brain matter gushed out as the Flesh Seed stumbled and fell, but there were still countless more charging at me.
One from the left, two from the right.
My hand ax shot out like lightning. With a thwack, I cleaved the side of one Flesh Seed that rushed at me from the right and redirected my attack to strike the crown of another.
I responded to the Flesh Seed charging from the left by catching its outstretched arm and using all my strength to throw it down to the ground.
With a booming shockwave, a scream erupted.
My hand shot out to grab the sword that had been in its sheath. The blade, enveloped in a silver aura, pierced into the brain of one of the Flesh Seeds.
The convulsing Flesh Seed trembled for a moment before it finally stopped moving. It was tricky to deal with them since I had to aim strictly for the head.
Having gained a brief moment of respite, I gasped for breath and looked back over my shoulder. A chaotic battle was unfolding there.
Golden claws slashed through the air.
The golden aura that flowed down increased the temperature of the ongoing battle further. Five strokes of my sword, and three Flesh Seeds struck by one of them twisted and screamed.
However, the flames that began to roar were uncontrollable. Soon, the three Flesh Seeds were burnt to a crisp and collapsed.
Celin and Ceria were passing their training. Fortunately, with the two of them covering both sides, the risk of being ambushed was low.
Crash! Crash!
Every time Celin swung her sword, an explosive sound erupted. Each strike was infused with her full magical power. The overloaded magic exploded, scattering blood and flesh everywhere.
In contrast, Ceria was facing the Flesh Seeds with more refined swordplay.
One step, a ghostly downward slash severed one of the Flesh Seed’s arms.
Two steps, a blue line drawn horizontally cut through the two legs of a Flesh Seed.
And with the final three steps, the head of a struggling Flesh Seed on the ground was cleaved in two.
Surprisingly, everyone was responding well. But the Flesh Seeds kept charging infinitely. Even from the pit, more Flesh Seeds were continually being added.
To turn the tide, a powerful strike was necessary. At that moment, a scream echoed in my ear.
“Ah, ahhhh! Help, help! I-I-an!”
Startled, I regained my focus and leaped to retrieve my hand ax that was embedded in the skull of a Flesh Seed. Without even looking in the direction of the scream, I hurled the axe.
The trajectory shot out with great speed, targeting a Flesh Seed that was charging at Senior Elsi.
With a thud, the sound of an old pumpkin cracking echoed, and blood and brain matter spilled out.
Senior Elsi was trembling, sitting on the ground after taking a fall. Her pale complexion revealed just how startled she was.
In facing the encroaching Flesh Seeds like a wave, I couldn’t even spare a moment to protect Senior Elsi. Even if I did, how could I defend against the enemies that were falling from the ceiling?
With a sharp sound, the head of a Flesh Seed that was lunging at me floated away.
My sword had decapitated it. Before the Flesh Seed’s head even began to fall, more slashes were delivered.
With a rapid series of strikes, the head of another Flesh Seed burst open. I dashed forward, leaving the blood behind.
As my hand rose, the hand ax rotated back along the predetermined trajectory. Once again, I threw it, sending the head of another Flesh Seed that was targeting Senior Elsi spraying blood.
I quickly patted Senior Elsi’s cheeks. She still hadn’t regained her senses.
“Senior Elsi, Senior Elsi!”
But Senior Elsi was hiccuping and stuttering, in a state that wasn’t normal at all. It seemed the threat to her life had left her dazed, especially with the hand axe flying through the air.
Covered in blood, she curled up and muttered.
“I-I made a mistake… I-I can do it… P-Please don’t abandon me, I-an…”
“……Elsi Rainelle!”
I could no longer hold back and shouted. At that, Senior Elsi’s body shivered and instinctively, she responded.
“Y-Yes!”
Only then did I smile with satisfaction and gently pat the top of her head.
Though she was drenched in blood and sticky, I didn’t mind. I could feel her trembling body gradually relaxing.
Bending my upper body down, I whispered into her ear.
“Start the incantation.”
But Senior Elsi only had a confused expression in response.
“But, I-an… There are too many enemies right now…”
Suddenly, without warning, I swept her into my arms with one hand. The other still held the hand axe as I began to weave through the battlefield.
Whenever a Flesh Seed charged at me, I threw the axe and smashed its skull. The hand axe returned from its arc to strike down another Flesh Seed’s head that was trying to crawl.
With a thud, blood and flesh splattered. It was such a familiar sight now that I felt no stirring emotions.
Senior Elsi, who had initially been dazed, finally regained her senses when I yelled out again.
“……Incantation!”
“I-I will!”
Senior Elsi urgently began to chant in a mysterious and secretive language. Each time she muttered, a blue current gathered around me and her.
Feeling an unusual flow of mana, the eyes of the Flesh Seeds immediately turned to me. And soon, the mad rush of monsters began again.
I threw my axe at one, smashed the skull of another. Yet, even after that, more were still rushing at us. Senior Elsi had her eyes closed tight, concentrating solely on the incantation.
In that case, I only had one person I could trust.
“Senior Delphine!”
“……I know!”
Senior Delphine gritted her teeth and took out a dagger, throwing it.
The golden aura blazed intensely as the dagger pierced into the forehead of one Flesh Seed charging from my side. As the monster recoiled, a flame erupted, igniting the aura.
In its thrashing, the flame spread to the nearby Flesh Seeds. It was a scene of pure carnage.
Still, there were too many Flesh Seeds charging at us, forcing me to throw myself to the ground. In that process, I ended up exposing my back to one of the Flesh Seeds.
Blood trickled down. The acidic poison crawled into the wound, burning away my skin and veins. Even though I was protected by magic, the poison slowly melted my skin through the blood.
It was agonizing pain. But even in that moment, I did my best to hold Senior Elsi close to minimize the shock.
Thanks to that desperate effort, Senior Elsi completed her spell.
“……By the principle of the thunder connecting the stars, moon, and sun! O, wandering light and flame, aura! The winds call upon you!”
The crackling energy began to heat up significantly.
My vision turned white as the sizzling noise raced across my skin, delivering waves of heat.
Anticipating the power of the coming spell, I shouted to my friends.
“Everyone, close your eyes and duck down!”
And in the next moment.
“Raging Wind’s Thunder!”
An explosion shook the world.
The thunderous sound consumed my ears and reverberated through my entire body. A blinding light flashed, piercing my eyelids and embedding scarlet afterimages in my vision.
Screams echoed, the dying wails of the Flesh Seeds. I felt the chaotic motion of their thrashing bodies.
How much time passed, I slowly lifted my head while still holding Senior Elsi in my arms.
Charred corpses gave off a pungent odor. The ground of the cave was pitted, a testament to the torrential downpour of mana.
This was the power of a Mage. Before long, the remaining Flesh Seeds above the pit were completely annihilated.
But this was just the beginning.
I could feel the struggling Flesh Seeds attempting to climb out of the pit. A few had managed to escape and would soon crawl back up to the ceiling.
There was only one way to end this.
Destroy the Flesh Nest.
Gritting my teeth, I staggered to my feet. Ceria gasped as she noticed the scars on my back.
In a hurry, she rushed over and pulled out a Healing Potion with trembling hands. I stopped her.
“No, it’s too late; I’ve already been poisoned. The Healing Potion won’t be enough to treat my wounds.”
Moreover, my body had already sustained countless injuries. Though the bloodline would heal the wounds, the Healing Potion wouldn’t be effective enough anymore.
I could still move, albeit unsteadily. The poison was continuing to spread, so I had to settle this as quickly as possible.
Instead, I looked at Senior Delphine and shouted.
“Senior Delphine, I’m going to enter the pit!”
Senior Delphine nodded without hesitation, as if she also recognized that the Flesh Nest needed to be destroyed.
It was a place swarming with dozens of Flesh Seeds. Naturally, the strongest—myself and Senior Delphine—had to go down.
“Celin, Ceria! Hold back the Flesh Seeds trying to climb out of the pit while supporting Senior Elsi!”
Confirming the two’s nods, I immediately dashed forward. I leaped towards the pit.
The Flesh Seeds all turned to face me in unison. As an unwelcome guest, I decided to show them my prepared surprise.
From mid-air, the hand axe was hurled.
With a thwack, my axe buried itself into the forehead of a Flesh Seed that had been blankly staring up at me. The other Flesh Seeds immediately let out frantic howls, displaying their hostility.
However, the hand axe changed trajectory once more and killed another Flesh Seed. Blood sprayed from its head, and with a thud, I landed in the pit.
As I walked, I pulled out my hand axe. Senior Delphine’s golden aura streaked across the area, forming lines between me and the Flesh Seeds.
The flames erupted, and the Flesh Seeds screamed in retreat. Some were flailing about with fire spreading across their bodies.
Still, there were too many.
Dozens of eyes were fixed on me and Senior Delphine. The ominous pressure was palpable.
As the Flesh Nest emitted eerily grotesque sounds, saliva began to drip from the mouths of the Flesh Seeds. Even the ones who were on fire and writhing in agony were now staring at us.
It felt as if they had forgotten their pain.
I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. My eyes met Senior Delphine’s.
“It seems we’re in deep trouble.”
At that, Senior Delphine narrowed her brows. She spoke to me incredulously.
“Ha, you said you’d let us win this time…”
And together, stepping cautiously, Senior Delphine and I began to advance.
Flesh Seeds that had been waiting to attack us fell in half as we moved. Unless the monsters felt pain, there was no other choice but to kill them in one blow.
With Senior Delphine and me, it was possible. The only question was how long we could maintain it.
“……I’ll believe in you just a little longer.”
Senior Delphine said that, and I forced a smile.
Then, without a word, our feet struck the ground simultaneously. Dozens of Flesh Seeds leaped in unison, as if waiting for this moment.
Could we win? I forced my erratic breathing into a semblance of calm and stared down the looming Flesh Nest, filled with vague anxiety.
At its end, the Flesh Nest emitted a grotesque sound.
It was like a mocking laughter. A weird voice echoed low within the cave.
Just its size alone was overwhelming. It stood at least six meters tall, far surpassing the height of two adult men.
Sweat trickled down, and I felt around in my pocket.
The rough texture of parchment brushed against my fingers.
It was time to put an end to this long story.
