Chapter 85

85th Episode

The Hero of Sodomora

085 – The Hero of Sodomora #1

Now that I think of it, I have a confession to make: truthfully, I wasn’t very good at fighting.

Without learning martial arts or some form of combat, where could a man in his early twenties, living in the 21st century, gain fighting skills? At least, I didn’t know of any way.

The laws, norms, and morals of the 21st century are tight-knit enough to protect people, so there’s no way anyone would find themselves in a life-and-d*ath duel.

If I had to describe my fighting experience, it would probably just be the occasional scuffles I got into during elementary or middle school when I couldn’t control my temper around friends. But by the time I became a high schooler and calmed down, even those had disappeared.

However, since coming to this world, I’ve had to wrestle in the dirt with various kinds of people — whether it was someone clinging to my large build or those deliberately provoking me.

When I was purchased as a slave by Elpride, I didn’t have to do such things, but during my time as a gladiator before that, it was a continuous series of terrible beatings and violence.

Frankly, I don’t even want to think about those memories. There was nothing good about it, and I was bruised and in pain every single day.

Still, if I had to point out anything helpful from that time for my survival, it would be that I gained experience in fighting and dueling.

“Huff.”

The first time I fought, I was so excited that I couldn’t think straight. But after going through this process several times, I’ve learned to calm down even when I’m face-to-face with an opponent.

For instance, even when I’m standing before Schizo, a far superior Cultist dressed in a dragon helm, I’ve developed the nerve not to scream and run away.

“If you don’t come out, I’ll destroy your house.”

“sh*t, I knew you’d do that.”

“The old shack seems more precious to you than your life, doesn’t it?”

The man in black armor — Schizo — slowly drew the greatsword hanging from his back like a sack.

Whoosh.

A massive hunk of iron plate came crashing down, tracing a huge arc. No matter how you look at it, this thing was closer to a siege weapon than a weapon.

The idea of carrying such a thing is hard to understand, and whether it can actually be wielded is questionable. I was extremely curious about it, but not curious enough to find out firsthand.

“I’m coming.”

Clank.

With a sound like a steel greave kicking off the ground, the figure clad in black armor charged at me like a b*llet.

With his bulk and heavy armor, he was practically a tank. Even more astonishing was how he easily lifted the massive iron plate with both hands, sweeping it in a diagonal upward swing from his left bottom to his right top. It was as if he were casually swinging a light rod!

Scre-e-eek!

The colossal iron plate howled as it tore through the air. If I were hit by something like that, I wouldn’t just be shredded but completely crushed.

Thus, I quickly maneuvered my sword, blocking the attack with its sturdy metal portion.

Clang!

As the harsh sound of metal striking metal echoed, my body flew back like a baseball hit by a bat, crashing into a pile of junk.

If these scraps hadn’t cushioned my fall, my body probably would’ve broken somewhere.

“sh*t….”

Even though I managed to block the attack, my arms felt numb from the tremendous force, and my entire body was tingling.

In contrast to my struggles to regain my posture, the greatsword warrior Schizo showed absolutely no signs of fatigue.

“It’s a futile fight. Surrender peacefully.”

“sh*t, you’ll figure it out now. I’m not one of your comrades, moron!”

“Yes, even though I can’t see, I can tell that much now. But your potential is high. If you receive Pluto’s grace, you could become an excellent priest.”

It seems that in this world, the pseudo-religion spreads its teaching through a greatsword. sh*t, when magic and voodoo are also trending with physics, is conversion also a physical attribute?

“If you don’t like it, then I’ll have to take someone from inside that shack. A small breathing sound, the weight of footsteps—it must be a little girl. Young girls can be quite useful.”

“sh*t…!”

I felt a chill run down my spine when I realized he had detected Luna’s presence. Judging by the situation, Schizo, who supposedly cannot see, might possess superhuman hearing, just as Luna has an incredible sense of smell.

“Get lost!”

“Even without urging d*ath, everything that lives is destined to come to Pluto. The only difference is between the early and the late.”

Whoosh.

The greatsword, raised high like the blade on a guillotine, came rushing down towards me in a straight vertical line, combined with the sound of a rapid dash.

Scre-e-ek!

There was absolutely no time to move my legs and evade.

So, I decided that if I had to lose my life, I would at least sacrifice a finger or a single arm. Raising my sword, I crossed my arms into an X-shape above my head, bracing for the attack.

Clang, clang!

With a powerful explosion of sound, sparks flew. Incredibly, the sword I tightly gripped managed to block his greatsword despite the preparation to lose my arm!

“Uuuuugh…!”

d*mn, the force with which it struck was so powerful it almost buckled my knees, and I felt like I was about to lose my grip on the sword.

“The sounds of your joints and muscles screaming can be heard. You have a sturdy body, but it’s clear you haven’t trained specifically to wield a sword.”

“Uuuuugh!”

“I’ll crush and sever you both.”

Even though my sword blocked his initial attack, Schizo exerted even more strength, pressing down on me with tremendous force.

Clang, Clang!

The terrible sound of sharp metals clashing continued for a while. Finally, unable to withstand the immense pressure as if an elephant were sitting on me, I dropped to one knee.

“Shiiit!”

At this rate, I’m really going to d*e!! Is there any clever way out? My mind was desperately searching for a way to survive.

But there wasn’t anything obvious coming to mind. We have to buy more time until Luna completes her sorcery. d*mn, when will it be finished?

“Give up.”

Just then, the weight pressing down on me from the greatsword slipped away.

The reason? Schizo, who had been pressing down on me as if to crush me, raised his sword high again.

He powerfully swung down his high-raised sword once more with great intensity.

Crack, crack!

At the same moment, the two swords I was holding shattered completely, and I was thrown far away by the force.

My wrists tingled, and every finger and joint in my hands screamed in pain. Perhaps some of them were fractured.

“Your weapons are broken. What will you do now?”

“b*stard! I’ve got one more!”

Swish.

I quickly drew another dagger from my waist. sh*t, I’m alive because of the three-sword style. If it had been just a dual-sword style, I would have surely lost the battle by now.

“Why not lie down quietly? Rest assured, I won’t k*ll you. I will deliver that your head should be opened for a brain operation by Somnia and Anchors.”

I imagined undergoing brain surgery with the primitive medical equipment in this world. sh*t, maybe dying would be better.

d*mn, when it comes to this, I’ll risk everything to survive.

“Huff…”

I let out a deep sigh from somewhere far within me.

“So, you’ve finally given up.”

Did Schizo interpret this as a sign of surrender? However, contrary to his understanding, I hadn’t given up. Instead, I was preparing to challenge him.

“Gasp… Huff…”

I gradually calmed my pounding heart and heavy breathing.

“…Lord Nox, I ask for your strength.”

When I felt this was enough, I took a deep breath and held it.

“The Blessing ‘Cape of Night’ activates.”

“Consumes mission points to adjust the probability of detection for covert actions.”

“Remaining mission points: 17.”

16.

15.

“Huh? The presence… it’s disappeared?”

I could sense his confusion. Given his clear reaction like this, using the ultimate skill was worthwhile.

Still, I didn’t have much time to relax either. I had only about ten seconds, and something effective had to be done within that time.

Swish, swish…

”I don’t know what trick you’ve played, but it’s useless. Your mana can’t lie. I know exactly where you are!”

Just then, the warrior with the greatsword, sensing my location, charged through the mist with his sword raised high. The sword came down again in another forceful swing.

Clang!

Like a forklift piercing the ground, the sword plunged into the bumpy ground below and created a deep indentation. Pebbles and grains of sand splattered around like buckshot.

But the sword did not touch my body.

“What? It’s not there…?”

The confused Schizo placed his hand on the ground to check what his sword had struck. With a crunch, what he touched was—

“Star of Calan, you wouldn’t…you used the pendant as bait!?”

He moved to get up, straightening the knee he’d bent.

But by the time he noticed, it was already too late.

I, who had quietly stopped my heartbeats next to the pendant, took action.

I grabbed the back of his helmet as he panicked and drove my dagger directly into the only exposed part of his full plate armor – the eye.

Crunch!

The sensation of the sharp dagger piercing bone and flesh traveled clearly through my palm. Shortly after, a horrifying scream echoed from beneath his helmet.

“Gahaaaak!”

“Go tell Pluto I’m doing fine, shithead.”

Even the strongest warriors can’t withstand the fatal wound of this ambush.

Watching Luna’s defeat of Hippolyte made me realize that no matter how strong someone appears, everyone eventually falls and bleeds.

Even this monstrous hunk of iron plating would surely d*e when struck with a fatal blow.

Pfft, pfft, crack.

Still, unsure of this, I plunged the dagger repeatedly into his eye to finish him off.

With a tremble of Schizo’s body, the last of his strength finally left him, and he collapsed, unable to bear the massive weight of his armor.

Thud.

sh*t.

I won.

I actually won.

His inability to see must have been a significant disadvantage, and the power of my blessing played a huge role in bringing him down.

Ding.

“Accomplishment ‘Hitting a Rock with an Egg’: You’ve defeated a foe 20+ levels above you for the first time.”

“Mission Points + 200.”

“Remaining mission points: 204.”

“sh*t! I won! You sons of bitches!”

A wave of relief washed over me knowing I’d crossed the threshold of d*ath, and the excitement of surviving after defeating such an overwhelmingly strong enemy sent my bl**d rushing to the top of my head.

The reaction from holding my breath began, making my breathing increasingly rough and my heart pounding violently as if it would explode.

It was right at that moment.

Thud. Thud.

At the sound behind my back, I instinctively swung my dagger. After all, there could be other members of the Cult present.

Pfft.

But something blocked my elbow, leaving me unable to move.

“I felt called as if from a friend and came to check things out. So… quite the eventful scene here, huh?”

It was a pervert in a red cape, over a skimpy triangle underwear, with a striking long orange hair and rugged features that gave off a strangely handsome vibe. sh*t. Was it possible? This guy was a meta-human. No matter what I did, I wouldn’t be able to beat him.

“Wh– What’re you so scared of? Friend Samarian, haven’t you forgotten my face already? It’s me, Actaeon, hero of Sodomora!”

Hearing Actaeon’s name, I snapped back to reality.

If this guy’s arrival means Luna’s sorcery was successful, it also implies… d*mn, maybe I don’t need to show off here anymore.

My shaky legs gave out, and I plopped onto the ground.

“I was lying in wait hearing that an attack on the Minerva Guild would take place, and look at this! Running into a guy in black armor like you in such a place.”

“Hmm, do you know him?”

“Pluto’s priest. The black warrior of schizophrenia. Quite a famous guy. I heard this guy demolished the Mars Guild’s building with extraordinary abilities.”

Whatever extraordinary abilities they were, I didn’t notice him using them against me.

Probably overconfident, treating me as a noob, he didn’t use his ultimate skill – d*mn, whatever the case, I’m really lucky I survived.

“Anyway, I was aware that my friend had some skills, but I didn’t expect you to knock out a priest of this Cult! You’re even more impressive now. You’re the second most interesting Samaritan I’ve ever seen. Now that I think about it, we do look alike!”

Actaeon lifted me to my feet and casually slung his arm around my shoulder.

The feel of his armpit pressed against my shoulder was quite nauseating. sh*t, is this guy actually gay?

“Anyway, you’ve done a great job! You can look forward to a reward!”

[Author’s Note]

Kadeom! Uzukirin! Ossutus! Vurgil! Charackter! Thank you for the support coupons…!! Also, super grateful to those who sent the revenue coupons…

All the coupons you’ve sent will be converted into illustrations without exception…!!

I always appreciate your comments and recommendations!!!

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