Two Liberi barely twelve years old and a wounded quadrupedal monster over three meters tall.
If you were placing a bet, where would you put your money? Most would back the beast; only the desperate would side with us.
Why bring this up now? Simply because I'm curious which side you'd pick. This fight's about to deliver a dramatic upset.
Where it came from is unknown, but first I need to steady my breathing and survey the field.
I maintain my breathing and widen my observation. Sinclair stands beside me, stance firm. Fear flickers in his eyes, but his grip on the sword doesn't waver. He can fight.
Examining the creature, I note a blade-like slash on its left leg and several arrows lodged in its back. The arrows still bleed, indicating recent strikes, but the leg wound shows no fresh blood—so that cut is older.
Seeing slash marks across its body makes me wonder if one of our people missed those opportunities. But our teams are skilled; there's no reason to hack it to pieces like that... Then again, those maniacs might just do it for sport.
"It's charging! Roll!"
It charges again. Surprisingly, it follows a pattern. When it's at range, it gathers momentum then lunges.
"We can't match it in strength! Circle to its flank and slash slowly!"
"Uwaah! It bucks suddenly!"
When you get too close, it bucks violently like a rodeo, keeping you at bay.
At that point, I count: five... six... now!
"After it bucks, there's a six-second window!"
I drive my blade into its flank to hack at the wound, but it's not easy.
Purrrrr—!
"Huff... Sinclair, how is it? Do you feel the cut?"
"No, not at all. I just feel it against muscle."
It also appears to have some resistance to slashes; the blade barely penetrates its hide.
"This is the worst matchup."
Meanwhile, the creature circles, gradually herding us toward the center.
If this continues, we'll be wiped out.
We need to move to terrain that favors us.
"Sinclair, I've got a plan. Want to hear it?"
"What? What is it now? Another reckless stunt?!"
"If we don't do something now, we'll die. Just listen."
At this rate, we won't live long enough to see Rodos, let alone an excursion beyond Danguk.
"When it charges, we split left and right and run. If one is chased, the other breaks through those trees and reaches the buildings to call for reinforcements. Okay?"
"What? That means one of us is a dead man?"
Telling one to stay behind as bait against an opponent that won't budge even with two attackers means death.
"One of us will survive at least. Here it comes. Get ready!"
The encirclement tightens, closing in on us.
"Time it well. If one dies, the other follows. On three."
"Got it. Good luck—"
"Three!"
Ha! You dropped your guard, rookie. Life is a real fight, buddy.
"Bring the others quickly!"
The slope below is steep, but Sinclair should have rolled down safely... probably.
"Now it's one on one, you damned monster."
Bwooo—!
"Yeah. Come at me!"
The key is timing. Even if I roll aside, the next strike will come. No need to catch it on my own body.
"How about a round of rodeo? You don't have a choice!!!"
At the charge, I step onto its head, grip a horn, spin half a turn, and settle on its back.
Focus all breath to a single point... that's the basic stance of the art!
I circulate breath through my muscles, then between its bristled hide I spot the sinewy tissue beneath. Into that gap, I drive my sword deep.
"Good. It went in clean!"
"Grrrrraaah!!!"
It registers pain; for the first time, I've landed a valid hit.
"It reacts well...! Worth the effort!"
Watching it thrash is satisfying. Keep struggling and see what happens!
The creature, bucking to shake off the Magpie on its back, prepares a desperate move.
"Wait, another cliff! Aaah!!!"
This mad beast is charging straight at a precipice?!
Kugung!!!!!!!
"Uwaak! I almost fell!"
The beast seems to have realized that a heavy impact is the most effective way to dislodge me.
If I try to pull my sword free, the muscle clamps down harder—like prying a boulder loose. But letting go of the sword is out of the question.
"Hugh! Let's see who dies first!"
It slams into the cliff repeatedly; the rock starts to crumble. One more impact and I'll fall...
"If that hits you in the head, you'll die and won't even manage to cut me down!"
I might die too, but hey, I've died once before—dying twice might lead to adventures with magical high school girls and stands in life three.
"Purrrrr—!"
"Huh? Wait!!"
I'm an idiot—thinking about other things on the brink of death.
"Puhak! Cough!... Damn... at least I got the sword..."
By the turn of my body, I somehow free the blade, but now it's my turn to get hit.
"Buhomph!! Cough!!"
The charging blow lands on my unprepared frame. My ribs crack, and the metallic taste of blood floods my mouth.
"Shit... I won't die like this...!!!"
Right. I can't die so ignobly. Not to a nameless beast.
The sword is a vessel... it holds the self. It holds me, as I am now...
I clear my mind with breath and plant my feet on the cliff's edge. There is now one choice and two possible outcomes.
If I can cut it, I live; if not, we both die.
"You need to adjust your grip on the sword. At this rate, you couldn't even kill a fly. Heh heh heh."
"Who are you? Who's speaking to me?"
"Who knows. Right now, shouldn't you be focusing on lifting your sword?"
Right. The sword takes priority. The sword that will tear that thing apart!
I see a sinister red glow suffusing the blade.
"Bwoooooooo—!!!"
Yes. Come. I will become the beast that devours you.
Hidden Tiger in the Forest Stance: like a tiger hiding in the woods, I crouch, then spring forward like a released spring, surpassing my top speed in an instant as I lunge.
Rhino Horn Clash Stance: like two oxen locking horns, I slash diagonally from below to sever one of its horns, engaging in a test of strength.
Weird. Was I ever this strong?
I thought I was a character defined by speed, not brute force.
"You don't know the power you hold. You don't need to yet."
"Uuu... split apart!!!!!"
Crack! A splitting sound echoes as the beast's body severs diagonally and crashes into the cliff.
"Hoo... ha... It's my victory... you damned ox, or deer..."
Crack!Grrrrr...
Damn. The corpse's impact tore the cliff away. I have no strength left to dodge...
"What do you believe irregularity to be?"
Ah... that familiar voice.
"You're late, Lee Sang."
"Sorry. The path was rough, so I had no choice but to use Arts."
"That's all that matters..."
Relieved that they saved me, I finally lost consciousness.