Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Merchant (6)

#32

Bran wrapped Kale’s face with both hands.

“Kale. The core of this operation is you.”

“Uub, m-me?!”

“Yes. We’ll draw the gaze so you secure Uncle Leodorn’s person. Until then don’t hang the blessing. Because those two have to forget your existence itself.”

About 15 minutes ago.

The conversation the two shared while Ilark was charging alone and getting hit.

Kale carefully asked.

“···Can we win even without the blessing?”

“Of course we’ll get unilaterally beaten. They’re not ordinary strong guys.”

“Th-then why?!”

“Because even receiving the blessing from the beginning is disadvantageous. There is a chance of winning if we strike at a moment they don’t expect. And if the fact that you can hang the blessing is noticed they’ll unconditionally try to eliminate you first.”

The Iron Blood Twin Shadows are strong.

Unless Ilark is in perfect condition as of now this side was a clear underdog.

Therefore to overturn the weight class difference there was a need to use the head.

Kale stammered.

“I-I···.”

It was an extremely dangerous mission even if not as much as Bran and Ilark.

To the point of wanting to roll his eyes and faint right away.

But he could not do so.

The journey the three passed through the south was flitting before his eyes like a panorama.

Huuuu.

Taking a deep breath Kale nodded with a determined expression.

“Yes. I’ll try.”

“Thanks.”

Bran smiled.

Because the face was too close Kale ended up slightly avoiding his gaze without realizing.

Parting from Bran he stealthily moved his steps toward Leodorn.

While muttering in a voice without confidence.

“You can do it Kale. You can do it. Uheuk, as expected scary...!”

As a result, their operation succeeded.

****

“Kuek!”

Blood water poured from Zerban’s mouth.

The tip of the longsword was protruding like a thorn over his back.

“Hueup!”

Twisting the blade as is Bran swung the sword with all his might.

Slaaaash!

The blade dyed red came out while tearing Zerban’s side.

The fresh blood that poured like a fountain wet the cave floor.

“Khahaak!”

A scream full of pain burst out.

Widely swinging his arm and shaking off Bran Zerban quickly retreated.

Grabbing the wound Zerban collapsed while kneeling on one knee.

“Ah, no··· kuek, Belan!”

His gaze was staying on Belan.

Her corpse with the head completely crushed was twitching while causing postmortem spasms.

Zerban shouted.

“You, you guys! Do you know what you’ve done!”

“First cleaned the small trash among the big trash and small trash.”

Bran answered dryly.

It seemed they were quite affectionate but such circumstances were none of his business.

Ilark spread her sticky palm with Belan’s brain matter and showed it to him.

“Nothing special.”

“You, youuuu···! Guk!”

Catching his breath Zerban lowered his head deeply.

Both hands supported the ground. Sharp claws were digging deep into the floor.

Crunch.

A rough cry began to leak from the gap of the opened maw.

“Kraaaak! Kra, kraaaa!”

“Th-that guy why is he suddenly like that?”

Ilark flinched.

It was an action as if having acute rabies.

At the hair-raising monstrous sound Kale’s face turned pale.

“Hik···!”

“Prepare. It’s phase 2.”

Bran said.

Evidence that the hidden piece acquisition condition was satisfied.

Although called phase 2 it is practically the final struggle.

A special pattern that activates only when Belan is killed first and the armor is broken.

Pat! A red warning window appeared before the eyes.

『Zerban the blood and steel of the Iron Blood Twin Shadows uses “Beastification”!』

It was a message of the same type that appeared when Spera used a finishing move.

Crunch!

Zerban’s body began to swell rapidly.

Not a level of Body Strengthening Art or something. Bones twist and organ structure changes.

The body hair that had been burning in bright red was transforming into a dark and murky red like a dying sun.

Claws and teeth becoming stronger, body becoming heavier.

Finally Zerban who finished Beastification revealed himself.

“Krrk! Krrrr!”

It was a giant red wolf.

Looking at a body larger than a bus it seems even the Iron Bull would easily be taken as a snack.

In the setting the armor Zerban is wearing is not armor but a restraint to suppress the wild nature.

With the armor broken, and having lost the companion Belan Zerban becomes a monster without reason.

Bran muttered.

“Every time I see it. Bloodline is important."

The weight class is different.

Like Ilark who was born with the blood of the Fire Dragon, Zerban was born with the blood of an ancient beast.

That name Red Wolf.

Ordinary knights and mages would not even be able to inflict a scratch on his hide.

“Kwoooooo-!!”

Stepping on the ground with four feet Zerban raised his head and roared.

Dozens of stalactites fell with a thud due to the sound wave that flashed like thunder.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Fuck, what?!”

Ilark and Kale’s bodies froze.

The roar of the ancient beast had the power to shake the soul.

『The ferocity of the ancient beast intimidates you.』

『High Mental Power shakes off the fear!』

『Decrease in physical abilities does not occur.』

The only intact person was Bran.

There was the reward of desperately raising Mental Power from the Bottom Farm.

Although a boss with crazy physical the strategy was certain.

Tat!

Gripping the sword hilt with both hands Bran leaped toward Zerban and shouted.

“Kale, blessing!”

“Huk.”

Kale’s pupils regained focus.

Paaaat!

The moment he extended the staff the light of morning rose along Bran’s sword.

Smash activated. Power of the Giant Tree still remained.

Kwak!

Raising his arm with all his might Bran shoved the longsword into the center of Zerban’s upper jaw.

“Kyahaak!”

Zerban struggled.

Because it was right after transformation the response was slow.

Bran pressed the sword hilt with all his might.

Crunch kwak!

The blade that pierced the palate came out under the chin while piercing the tongue and lower jaw.

Zerban’s maw that had been open wide closed completely.

“Done.”

Bran smiled.

Along with blitz the core of the phase 2 strategy.

Most of the attacks of Zerban who turned into a quadruped use the mouth.

If he can just block the maw right after transformation the clear probability rises very high.

“Ilark! Finish him!”

“Fuck, just trust me!”

Ilark nodded.

The serene light of morning was wrapping her body.

Boooom!

Kicking the cave wall and leaping Ilark drove a two-stage side kick into Zerban’s side.

“Kuuk···!”

A wave formed over the hide.

Blood water gushed between Zerban’s teeth.

Slaaaash!

The guy who was pushed about ten meters while carving claw marks twisted his body as if in pain.

“Kuek! Kurrk!”

Seems the organs were injured. Blood was also gushing from the wound received before transformation.

At the appearance of not collapsing even so the flustered Ilark spat out a curse.

“Fuck, he endures this!?”

“It’s fine so hit one more!”

Bran shouted.

Strength was gradually becoming insufficient.

Pressing the maw that keeps trying to open was by no means an easy task.

Just as Ilark who accepted the request was about to drive a straight punch loaded with her entire weight.

Boooom!

Suddenly turning his body Zerban leaped deep into the cave.

“What! Where are you going?!”

“Hiiik! Bran!”

Ilark was flustered. Kale covered his mouth.

Kwakwakwakwa!

Instantly leaving the underground cavity Zerban began to run becoming a red gust.

“Kuuuu!”

“Tough···!”

Bran clenched his teeth.

Due to the wind pressure it felt like the face skin would be torn off. It seems a path used as a tunnel. A long uphill path was continuing.

He wanted to stop right away but the only thing Bran could do as of now was to endure while blocking Zerban from being able to open his mouth.

How long did they run like that.

One crack engraved in the far darkness came into view.

“Wait. Surely···!”

Bran gasped.

Anyone could see it was a dead end but Zerban did not stop.

Just as he lowered his posture preparing for the impact Zerban rammed the crack.

Boooom!

Along with the roar of the rock shattering Bran’s vision opened wide.

“Ah.”

Bran’s eyes widened.

The night wind that poured greatly flipped his bangs.

Below the feet was distant. They were flying in the sky that would be at least hundreds of meters.

It seemed they burst out piercing the mid-slope of the Red Mountains adjacent to the city.

Below there the lights of the Steel District were shimmering.

“Damn.”

That was the problem.

Although flying vigorously, in the end this mut has no wings so he will not avoid falling.

Judging from the speed and direction the expected crash point is the middle of the Steel District.

With high probability Zerban will not die, and like a beast that lost reason he will kill and destroy everything visible.

Even estimating as little as dozens of units.

“No choice.”

Now he had no choice but to gamble.

Bran pulled the sword hilt stuck in the upper jaw.

Slash. The white blade was drawn while spraying blood.

“Hueuup!”

If it was as his heart wanted he wanted to cut in one slash but it was too thick so unreasonable.

Immediately turning the sword once and gripping Bran drove the longsword into Zerban’s neck.

Puhak!

Zerban’s pupils became small like buttons.

“······!!!”

For a moment the guy’s movement stopped.

It was transmitted along the fingertips that the blade stuck deeply.

Died?

Just as Bran was thinking so, Zerban’s throat gulped.

“Krrk.”

“Fuck.”

Bran clenched his teeth.

The gamble failed. The breath did not cut.

Having become able to freely open and close the maw Zerban twisted his neck and looked at Bran.

The torn corner of the mouth was reminiscent of a smiling expression.

Red light was flowing back along the guy’s esophagus.

Radiance tangled with blood and wild nature, ancient curse.

It was the moment Zerban’s maw opened.

Booooooo-!

A red ray burst from inside Zerban’s throat.

Bran twisted his head. The ray passed while grazing his cheek at a paper-thin interval.

The ray emitted with the momentum to burn the moon scattered into particles only after advancing nearly a hundred meters.

“Done for.”

It was a mistake. The situation only worsened further.

Just a monster wolf turned into a fucking laser monster wolf.

The duration of Power of the Giant Tree had long ended.

Drawing the sword again Bran tried sending a slash but it was in vain.

Tung!

When Zerban twisted his body Bran was bounced.

“Keuk!”

“Kyaaaaa!”

Bran was above and Zerban was below.

The giant wolf was looking up at him while flipped on his back but it was not the meaning of submission.

Tsaaaaa···!

Red light was gathering inside Zerban’s opened maw.

“Damn it.”

A life-or-death crisis. In the air there was no method to avoid.

As Bran who knows the power of the ray he could not draw a hopeful future.

If even the sole of the foot was attached to the ground it would have been somewhat better.

Just as scenes similar to a revolving lantern were shimmering before Bran’s eyes.

“Bran!”

Suddenly a familiar voice rang out from behind.

Even before turning back.

Thud! Ilark who flew like the wind caught the falling Bran.

“Ilark.”

“Are you okay?! What was that ray just now?”

It seemed she followed the path Zerban came.

To leap this far the leg strength is amazing as expected.

Suddenly hope flashed in Bran’s pupils.

Ilark asked back.

“Surely that guy shot··· fuck!”

The woman who was continuing the words hurriedly twisted her shoulder.

Booooooo!

The ray that burst out again passed while grazing Ilark’s tail.

“Kraaak!”

Ilark let out a scream full of pain.

The tip of the tail that touched the ray was glowing red like embers.

If not a hybrid of the Fire Dragon it was a power that would have extinguished without a trace.

Just as she was about to spit out a curse, Bran sharply extended his longsword.

“Ilark! Grip the sword hilt and infuse mana!”

“What?! What are you saying?”

“No time! Quickly!”

“L-like this?”

Ilark gripped the sword hilt in bewilderment.

It was a sword too small for her but that kind of thing was not important now.

Gripping the remaining part of the sword hilt with one hand Bran shouted again.

“Good. Now slam all the remaining mana!”

The other hand was overlapping on Ilark’s hand.

Ilark did so.

The powerful mana of the dragonblood poured toward the longsword like a tide.

At the unfamiliar sensation transmitted under the overlapping palms Bran’s eyes opened wide.

‘This is···.’

It was the moment of feeling the existence called mana for the first time.

It was a memorable event but now there was something to do.

Between the lips of Bran who concentrated his mind, a small recitation leaked.

“Heavy.”

For a moment the blade flashed.

The command the owner of the sword issued intertwined with Ilark’s mana.

The unique effect of Numerite mass conversion began to occur.

“Uak?!”

Ilark’s body tilted greatly.

Because the weight of the longsword had become no different from an average anchor.

Bran shouted.

“Good! Now push me to that guy!”

“Fuck. I don’t know what you want to do but···!”

The distance to the ground now did not remain much. The lights of the city were gradually getting closer.

Ilark threw Bran as if handling a shot put.

Boooom!

Gripping the longsword with both hands Bran was shot toward Zerban.

“Kraaaa!”

“Die already! Mut bastard!”

The opportunity was once.

Due to the unrealistic weight he could not swing the sword in a normal method. Moving the center of gravity the body tilted greatly and rotated forward. Just as the ray was about to be emitted again, the blade dug into Zerban’s neck.

“Krrk···?!”

Zerban’s eyes widened.

Different from before. The blade accelerated by rotational force was digging into the hide.

Hide. Muscle. Neck bone. Hide again.

The moment the blade eventually came out while tearing the nape, a message announcing the conclusion of the battle rose.

『Amazing achievement! You defeated Zerban the blood and steel of the Iron Blood Twin Shadows!』

『You annihilated the Iron Blood Twin Shadows. Overcoming hardship Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『The growth speed of all stats greatly increases!』

『You defeated Zerban who manifested the blood of the ancient beast. Additional reward is paid as conditions are met!』

“Ha.”

Bran smiled.

The night view of Valkeros was pouring over his head.

Although in the position of falling while exhausted the celebration was a celebration.

The head of the beast fell from the torso.

The light extinguished from Zerban’s pupils that had been blazing with madness.

Slaaaaaash!

The fresh blood that bloomed fully over the night view wet the bright moonlit night.