Chapter 131

131st Episode: Whose Side Will the Gods of War Take?

My mind felt like it had broken down from the sudden situation.

Just a moment ago, the giant who had grabbed my collar and acted like he was going to swallow me whole suddenly started rolling around on the ground by himself.

“This, this guy! I, I won’t just let this go…!”

After rolling around for quite a while, the ashen giant got up, steadied himself, and came charging at me, shaking the ground with every step.

“Kraaaaaa! D, d*ath Charge!”

The feeling was like a truck with a broken brake was barreling down on me, making the hair on my whole body stand on end.

I tried to dodge the net-like hand that was reaching for me by rolling away, but his speed was unnaturally fast, and I ended up being grabbed again.

“Grrrrrrr… I’ll crush you into pieces! d*ath Wring! This is a merciless technique of the underworld, infused with an extremely potent power, making it impossible for anyone to escape!”

Aaaaahhhhhh!

The veins in the giant’s massive hand were bulging as he exerted every ounce of strength, his forehead turning red with effort.

Normally, I should have been crushed under pressure like a squirrel under a lion’s paw, but I felt nothing out of the ordinary.

“How does my d*ath Wring feel!”

For some reason, there was no pressure to speak of from the giant’s hand gripping me.

What’s going on here? Could it be that my body has gotten tougher thanks to leveling up? Or could it be because of the new armor?

Or maybe it’s because of the stamina potion Luna gave me?

While several reasons came to mind, the most important thing for me right now wasn’t figuring out the reasons.

Regardless, this monstrous giant is trying to k*ll me, and I have no other choice but to k*ll him!

“Guuuuuhhhhhh-!”

I put all my strength into trying to break free from the hand that was gripping me. The giant started grinding his teeth.

“Never! I’m not letting go! Ugh, ugh, wait… Huh?! You’re too strong! My grip is loosening!”

Fueled by sheer determination, I finally managed to break free from the giant’s clutches. But breaking free wasn’t the end.

I pulled the club from my waistband and lunged at the giant, who was gasping for air on the ground.

For some reason, I felt an inexplicable surge of confidence. I thought that with all the factors enhancing me, I might be stronger than him.

“Eh, eh where are you going-!”

But the ashen giant extended his arm again, refusing to back down. Though his movements were noticeably slower compared to before, the difference allowed me to narrowly dodge his hand.

Thanks to yesterday’s grueling training with Lady Hippolyte, it seems I’ve made some progress.

“Argh, Argh?! AHHHH!”

With his two large hands missed, all that was left in front of me was his wide-open chest and humongous head. I aimed the club for the giant’s massive head, sized almost like my own body, and struck it full-force.

Swinging from below to above, like a veteran golfer driving a ball, I threw all my strength into the blow that aimed directly at the center of his forehead.

Whooooosh, PAK!

“Kraaaaaaa! It actually hurts! You fearless b*stard…!”

“Guuuuhhh…”

The thunderous roar from the giant left me truly experiencing what it means to have my legs go numb. My knees were tingling, and I felt like my legs were losing their strength.

sh*t, did I overdo it!? I should have just run away!

“Ah, ah, uh, uh, you, it really hurts! D, I feel like I’m dying!”

Just as I was worried that I’d receive a counterattack, the giant stumbled and fell to the ground with an eerie scream.

Thinking that this was my chance, I continued to strike the giant’s body repeatedly with my club.

“Ah, Grrk! Ahhhhhhh-! No, if this keeps going, I’ll be erased altogether!”

Lord Moros! d*mn it, this is ridiculous! How can a mere mortal fight against the power of an ancient deity? What are you doing!? Hurry up, save Lord Moros! Attack! Attack!

With that ominous voice from the heavens, the ground began to shake.

Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom.

I can’t think of a better expression than “the ground shaking.”

KRAAAH!

Crack, Crush!

And with that, there was no time for such thoughts. I realized that the army of the undead I had seen in the distance was now charging at me with all their might.

“We will rescue Lady Young as well! Charge! Charge forward!”

“Hurry! We must reach them before they do! Use the windstorm tactic!”

Not only that, but the soldiers who had been waiting behind me also rushed towards me. My mind went entirely blank from confusion.

“Kraaaaaa-! Disgusting skeleton bastards!”

KRAAAAA!

Crush, Crack, BOOM—Crackle!

Just as the soldiers and the undead collided, explosive sounds of all kinds of impacts and shattering filled the air.

“sh*t!”

Clang, Shatter, Grind.

The armed soldiers swung their swords and clubs, bashing the heads off zombies that weren’t fully decayed yet, as well as skulls that were already skeletons.

But soon, the soldiers were overwhelmed by the swarm of skeletons that attacked them from behind, falling to the ground and being ripped apart by the relentless pulling forces.

The nauseating smell of bl**d so strong it could bend one’s nose, combined with the deafening cries and metal clanging sounds, flying bone fragments, and screams, all scattered my focus.

KRAAAAAH!

Just then, a skeletal undead with sharp fangs came after me, which brought me back to my senses. With that, I tightened my grip and unleashed a powerful swing.

Boom-.

With a strong strike, the couple of skeletal undead shattered instantly and dispersed into the air.

At Kalin’s Swamp, I could barely handle one skeleton. Now, I’ve taken down two with a single strike! It seems my growth has not been in vain.

“sh*t! You’re all doomed!”

Filled with newfound confidence, I first repelled all the skeletons attacking me, then struck the giant’s head beneath my foot with the club once more.

“Earth Crusher!”

BOOM-!

“Guuuhhh! I, I’m disappearing! Now, now I’m truly dying…”

My all-out strike seemed to have worked, as the giant’s body went limp and collapsed into a heap, his limbs going lifeless.

At the same time, the separation between his head and body, which had cracked earlier, became clearer again, glowing in a vivid red light.

Lord Moros! Dammit, you Samaritans keep interfering so frequently! Betratus, Delmo, Grandesimo!

Soon after, strange phrases rang out from the sky. Someone shouted.

“Magic is coming! Be careful everyone!”

“Magi, what are you doing? Disrupt the spellcasting!”

“Struthube, Mored, Mosiderang-.”

The wizards began reversing the incantations coming from the sky, making Anchors growl in frustration.

You spellcasters bragging about being guests of the House of Count Sarditch? Bah! You’re just a bunch of amateurs. You can’t beat the likes of me, Anchors! Meteor!

Whoosh- BOOM!

Something tore through the air with a tremendous sound and crashed into the ground.

“What is that? What’s coming!? Is it a real meteor?”

“No, look over there! There’s a catapult on the hill!”

“sh*t! Those Cultists even have catapults?!”

KRAAAAA!

The battle was fierce. The undead, clad in worn-out armor, didn’t feel fatigue or fear. Meanwhile, the soldiers hastily gathered from all over were a clumsy, ragtag assortment.

Nevertheless, the fighting, a never-ending cycle of killing each other, continued.

But, if this keeps up, it seems the living will be the ones at a disadvantage.

Gruuuuhh!

“What the hell is this thing! Dead bodies are moving! They’re reviving!”

The reason was simple: the undead were using dead bodies to add to their ranks. This was one of the many horrors the undead possessed.

Klarrr.

Kuhhhhh!

But there was no time to stand around in awe. I was too busy flailing my arms at the countless skeletons coming at me.

“Ya bastards! You’re all finished!”

My mind was clouded with curses and the survival instinct to live.

Perhaps from over-excitement, or maybe from the constant movement, I found myself breathing more and more heavily, my breath climbing up to beneath my jaw.

“Huh, Haaah…”

I could barely feel the reality that I was still moving. I felt like collapsing at any moment.

Crack, Crumple, Grind.

Even as their torsos shattered, the skeleton creatures didn’t hesitate to lunge at me.

Their skull-like heads clung to my ankles, arms, and legs, making my body increasingly heavy.

Whoosh, BOOM!

Moreover, the projectiles from the catapult made the ground soggy and harder to move on.

Kheeeeh!

“Get lost! Get out of here!”

And beyond that, why the hell do these guys keep targeting me? What the f*ck!

While trying to shake off the skeletons clinging to my body, I heard something unusual.

“AhHHHHHHH!”

A high-pitched, shrieking scream, quite feminine and out of place on the battlefield, pierced directly through my mind.

It may be instinct, but I glanced without even realizing it, looking toward one corner of the battlefield.

There, an owl-helmeted woman sat squatted on the ground, struggling with the skeletons coming toward her.

“I, Enya, am the guardian of Sodomora…! I won’t just stand here and be taken!”

Crack, Snap.

Seated on the ground, she was fighting the skeletons with her longsword. If her skills were remarkable, then they were extraordinarily extraordinary.

But she was no match for the swarm of skeletons. Soon, she had to crouch down and hide while screaming as the skeletons bit and tore at her.

“HAAAAAAA! These, these hideous monsters!!”

“Miss! Anyone! Someone save Miss! Hurry!”

The soldiers and knights attempted to move to protect her, but the wall of undead blocking their way prevented them from making much progress.

“Gods! Watch over me, Enya!”

As she was covered in countless bones, she extended her hand toward the heavens. But the gods of this world often ignored such prayers.

But I was different.

I was close enough to hear her voice clearly and only a few steps away from reaching her.

Though she might not have my preference, she’s still the commander. If she dies, this already chaotic battlefield will become even messier.

If that happens, I’ll also be moving further away from Luna, who awaits me at the cottage.

So, I ran.

I ran hard and struck the skeletons covering her body with all my strength.

“Hmpf-!”

With both hands gripping the club, I swung it in a large circular arc like a batter’s full swing—.

Crack-crack!

Three or four skeletons were instantly shattered into fragments from the force of the club.

“sh*t, there’s so many!”

But the skeletons covering Enya were thick like bees trying to crush hornets, making it difficult to reach her buried deep underneath.

sh*t, what should I do? Just abandon her?

I was seriously considering this when—

BOOM!

The pile of skeletons covering Enya was blasted apart as if a bomb had gone off.

There, revealed in the aftermath, was Enya. Her armor, along with her corset underneath, had been torn in various places, revealing patches of white skin here and there.

I was momentarily surprised, but what struck me as even stranger was the longsword she clutched in her hand. It was emitting a strange humming sound and shining with a yellowish light.

I’d seen something like that before; Hilary used to use it. Something similar to the magic warriors use. It’s likely what’s called “aura.”

Through it, she must have freed herself from the entrapment. Anyway, it worked out well!

“Miss! I have come to rescue you!”

“Y-you are Hassan of Samaria, are you not!”

“Hurry, flee quickly!”

“There’s a problem. I, I can’t move my legs.”

“Your legs have lost strength?”

“It’s something different, it seems. I can’t feel anything in my lower body… Perhaps it was due to the strange force before—.”

KRAAAAA!

Swinging her sword at a skeleton lunging towards her, any bone touched by her blade split cleanly as if cut by a machine.

Enya spoke as she swung her sword at the swarm of skeletons surrounding her.

“Samaritan! Can you become my mount!”

“Mount…?”

“You will have to carry me! Hurry! It seems that is the only way to escape the center of the battlefield!”

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