Meanwhile, as Edward fought the creature, Jim finally recovered his
balance.
He looked at Edward—then at the raging Boslame—and sprinted
forward with renewed force, reinforcing his legs and arms.
Jim leaped, plunging his left short sword deep into the monster's back.
The blade tore through the rough flesh, forcing the creature to bend
forward in pain, making it even harder for it to stand.
He ripped the sword free, then drove his right blade into the monster's
neck.
A burst of dark red blood sprayed across the stone floor.
Jim jumped back, wrapping the magical chain around the creature's
neck, pulling it backward with all the strength he had.
He connected the end of the chain to his other sword and stabbed the
blade into the ground, using it as an anchor while he held the chain tight.
Even then—the Boslame resisted.
The chain strained, glowing, bending.
Jim dug his heels into the mud.
It almost broke free—
—but one of the soldiers rushed in and grabbed the chain as well, adding
his strength.
The two of them barely managed to hold the beast still.
On the other side of the chamber, the archer released another perfect
shot.
The arrow struck the Bolsame's remaining knee, forcing the massive
creature down onto both legs.
This was the moment.
Edward charged forward.
The Boslame swung at him viciously; Edward dodged the first strike by
shifting left to right—but then came the second attack.
This one he couldn't dodge.
His sword was in his right hand—he had no footing—no time.
Just as the monster's claw was about to tear into him, another soldier
with a long spear thrust forward, piercing the monster's right lower arm.
The blow halted the creature's strike inches away from Edward's face.
Edward regained his footing.
Now fully recovered, he raised his sword high with both hands and
delivered a brutal downward strike, severing the monster's right arm
completely.
The Boslame roared in agony.
Edward ducked beneath the remaining arm, slipped into the creature's
blind spot, and with a clean, powerful swing from the left—
—he severed the monster's head from its neck.
The Boslame collapsed at last.
Dead.
Silence.
Then relief washed over the chamber.
Jim checked the wounded soldier whose chest had been slashed earlier.
"Lucky bastard… the claws didn't make it all the way through the
armor," Jim muttered, relieved.
The soldier was injured, but still alive.
Another soldier's arm was wounded, but the others were unharmed.
"Fuck… that one was a tough bastard," Jim said with a half-laugh.
Edward shrugged.
"Well… not as smart as I thought," he said carelessly.
Edward knelt beside the corpse and filled two small bottles with the
monster's blood.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Jim asked.
"Taking blood. Could be useful for potions," Edward answered calmly.
"Right… well then, let's get out of this hole. I've had enough."
"Yeah, let's get the hell out," the soldiers agreed.
Outside the cave, the Baron, Commander Ronald, and several soldiers
waited anxiously.
"My lord," Ronald said, "it's almost noon, and they still haven't
returned. What do we do?"
"What do you think, Ronald? We wait."
The Baron clenched his fist against the stone wall.
"If they fail to kill the Boslame, we'll have to send a large squad down
there. I can't sleep knowing that thing is still lurking beneath my city."
Moments later—
"My lord! They're coming out!" a soldier shouted.
The Baron rushed forward instantly.
The first three soldiers emerged, tired and covered in filth.
Behind them, Jim carried the injured soldier's arm over his shoulders,
helping him walk.
And then Edward appeared.
Slow, calm, and soaked in blood, mud, and waste—yet standing straight.
In his left hand, he carried the severed head of the Boslame.
In his right, his sword.
The Baron's eyes widened with relief and excitement.
"I see the mission is done."
He smiled.
"Well done, all of you."
He noticed the wounded.
"Sirus! Bring the physician at once!"
Edward stepped forward and dropped the monster's head at the Baron's
feet.
"There. I've done my part," he said in a cold, threatening tone.
"Now it's your turn."
"Oy, boy! Watch your tongue!" Ronald barked.
"It's fine, Ronald," the Baron said calmly.
"They went down there to face a monster. It's only natural for them to
be angry. They risked their lives while we waited here in safety."
The Baron turned to Edward with a reassuring smile.
"Do not worry. I will keep my promise."
He looked at both Edward and Jim.
"But first—you need a bath, rest, and a proper hot meal. After that, we
will discuss your reward."