[Ha. . . Ha. . . .] (Haruto)
Iâm beginning to lose my breath.
From when the battle against the Golem/Dragon began, 30 minutes have already passed.
Frankly speaking, this doesnât look good.
The Golem/Dragon has quick movements that donât match its huge body. Especially its tail attack. Itâs very troublesome, and makes it hard to be approached.
If there is some distance between us, it will do the breath attack, even when itâll also burn other demons that dare to approach.
Although I was able to get in some hits with great difficulty, it will simply regenerate any damage.
Iâve been wanting to try attacking the Golemâs main body that was buried inside the dragonâs head, as I supposed that it will change the tide of battle if I succeed. But, the Golem/Dragon has been really careful in defending itself, to the point that I canât even cut off its neck.
I still havenât exhausted my stock of magic power yet, as Iâve been saving it in case I want to try a great magic.
In contrast, the Golem/Dragon seems calm and composed, as it can easily take magic power from its surroundings.
Itâs difficult fighting this thing on my own.
I do not want to put those girls into the face of such a danger. A lot of coolness has been inserted here.
[Damn!] (Haruto)
Iâve begun to think that I shouldâve made my escape before long.
[I must set the limitation. Iâm indeed at an advantage in a prolonged battle, but escaping wonât be tolerated. Here we go, letâs begin with this.] (Golem/Dragon)
The Golem/Dragon spoke as it raised one of its arms.
Apparently, it also has the same thoughts as me.
The Golem/Dragonâs position is not that far from me, thus it doesnât let out its breath attack. But at the same time, the armâs swing distance doesnât seem to be able to reach me, either.
But, magic might just reach.
I became vigilant, focusing on the swinging arm.
What followed as the arm swung lower was beyond what I expected.
The arm shakes as it is going down towards me, and suddenly extended into multiple tentacles that are shot at me.
Hiii!?
So. . . So thatâs how it is.
This thing was a mass of tentacles before taking the shape of a dragon.
Then, it should be of no surprise that it can morph parts of its body back to tentacles like this.
Ten tentacles were coming toward me with great momentum.
[Uorya!!!] (Haruto)
I tried to fend it off, cutting down as many as possible.
However, the tentacles quickly grew back, and split into an even higher count.
As a result, I couldnât keep up, and was quickly restrained.
[Shii. . .] (Haruto)
Before I knew it, the tentacles expanded to all sides, and have restrained my legs as well.
Kuh. . .
In one corner of my mind, I remembered that using {Earth Bind} to restrain my enemy has become somewhat of my modus operandi, so this is somewhat like karma to me.
This is bad!
[Gununu. . . ] (Haruto)
I exerted both my energy and magic power to release myself, but the restraint was too strong. Itâs almost impossible to break out from the inside, even when I used both.
This is it, I have no choice but to focus on protecting myself.
As I strengthen my determination, the Golem/Dragon began releasing its breath attack.
At that moment.
[Deei!!] ( )
A blue silhouette appeared in the air above, striking the Golem/Dragonâs head.
Thanks to it, the Golem/Dragonâs breath landed just in front of me.
The breath raised clouds of dust, and along with a roar, the Golem/Dragon retracted its tentacles back.
I used that chance to release myself from the restraints, while slashing at the remainder.
An. . . And now. . .
[Haruto! Are you okay?] ( )
From within the dust cloud, a blue figure walked out.
[Laurier! It was really bad. That saved me.] (Haruto)
[Umu. Thank you.] (Laurier)
To Laurier, who came to my side, I profusely bow in gratitude.
But why did she return?
Isnât it too fast for Celes and Sharon to escape back to the town already?
[Thanks aside, what about Sharon and Celes?] (Haruto)
[Those two are safe. Maybe.] (Laurier)
Ma. . . Maybe. . .
[Oi, âmaybeâ is not okay.] (Haruto)
[Ah, those demons wonât give them any trouble.] (Laurier)
Laurier absentmindedly explained about the two.
To summarize it, Laurier had rather forcefully sent the two back to the town by using the reflective power of her {Air Shield} to throw them upward.
Because the magic was not meant to be used that way, the landing might be somewhat rough for the two.
. . . . Thatâs so irresponsible. . . .
Afterward, she quickly made her way back here.
[So. . . Thatâs how. . . Perhaps it is indeed okay. . . Right?] (Haruto)
[I know, right?] (Laurier)
Laurier was puffing her chest out proudly.
My nice judgement was praised again, thatâs what her expression tells.
If we manage to get out alive, Iâll praise you to your heartâs content.
It might be a little harsh to Celes and Sharon, but surviving is good enough already.
Iâll try to appease those two for a bit later.
[Oh my. So Steinhart returned? Troublesome.] (Golem/Dragon)
The Golem/Dragon said calmly while showing itself after the dust cloud cleared.
A while ago, the tentacle arm was destroyed due to Laurierâs interference, but now itâs already completely regenerated.
[So, how should I put it. I do not really have a method to deal with Steinhart.] (Golem/Dragon)
[Fufufu. Relax. I wonât interfere further in this man-to-man duel.] (Laurier)
Eh?
Laurier, what are you talking about?
[Well, itâs not that I donât want to help, itâs just that I donât have any reserve energy left.] (Laurier)
[What do you mean?] (Golem/Dragon)
Laurier, in the eyes of the Golem/Dragon, seemed to have superiority over it, and it began to step back.
Well, I donât understand what she means either.
Did Laurier exhaust herself while trying to get here?
[Hey, you, do you think we cannot get exhausted? This is unfair in a duel, thatâs what I think. Otherwise, do you think Haruto would make such a blunder like earlier?] (Laurier)
Laurier declared with a clear voice so it can be heard by the Golem/Dragon.
To think you would put so much trust in me, I feel like a real man.
[Laurier. . .] (Haruto)
To my murmuring, Laurier glanced at me and gave me a wink.
Oh no. . . Thatâs too cute. . . .
[Thatâs why, fully recover yourself, so Haruto can fight to his best.] (Laurier)
Laurier said while clasping my hands with hers.
Her palms felt so smooth and soft, comforting.
At such a time, it caused my heart to beat faster involuntarily.
And in the next moment, I can feel a large amount of magic power flowing from Laurier to me.
This. . .This is. . .
As it appears, Laurier could transfer her magic power to someone else.
Moreover, unlike Sharonâs, I donât feel any strengthening effect, just raw magic power being transferred.
[Fuu. . . I have transferred most of my magic power. It was a fair amount too, yet it seems a full recovery is impossible. As expected of Haruto.] (Laurier)
Laurier said as she passed her magic power to me.
For certain, although my magic power was not fully refueled, I think it is enough as it is.
With this, I can apply some more strategy during the fight.
[Laurier. . . This is very helpful of you. I thank you.] (Haruto)
[What? It doesnât matter. Iâm not the type to help. Just do me this favor, will you?] (Laurier)
[E. . To. . Ah. . .Iâm on it.] (Haruto)
Laurier joking around at a time like this isnât really helping.
After I was done talking with Laurier, the Golem/Dragon, who was silent all the time, opened its mouth.
[. . . Ma. I see. . . . Good then. However, can it really allow you to defeat me?] (Golem/Dragon)
[Of course. This woman has given her grace to me, so how could I not do so?] (Haruto)
I release Laurierâs hand, and draw my sword toward the Golem/Dragon.
[Yes, thatâs how to do it, Haruto.] (Laurier)
[Che, leave it to me.] (Haruto)
Laurier took a little distance from me while saying so.
[Letâs begin round two] (Haruto)
As I said that, I was imagining a magic.
Not some magic like {Ragnarok Blade Break} or some second level magic, but one magic I know the most.
However, Iâll need my whole magic power to fuel it.
Tentacles began to spread from the Golem/Dragonâs arm.
However, before the tentacles could reach me, the image of the magic has been completed.
[Earth Element, {Earth Restraint}!!] (Haruto)
As I called out the name of the magic, I stabbed my sword to the ground.
Beginning from where the sword was stabbed, cracks opened up on the ground right under the Golem/Dragon.
[What!?] (Golem/Dragon)
With an expression of amazement, the Golem/Dragon fell into the opening that appeared suddenly.
{Earth Restraint} is basically a magic that controls the soil.
Not only extending spikes, it can also be used for other applications.
However, it requires quite a huge amount of magic power to open up a crack in the earth like that.
If I didnât acquire magic power from Laurier, this will be impossible to do.
While making a loud noise, the Golem/Dragon fell into the small abyss I created.
The depth is about five meters.
Thatâs much deeper than the height of the Golem/Dragon, and itâs head normally cannot physically reach out from inside.
Naturally, even when the Golem/Dragon is trying to climb up, the effect of my magic is not done yet.
Huge pillars made out of soil shoot out, effectively restraining the Golem/Dragon while making a âdosun-dosunâ sound.
Thatâs the payment for earlier.
Itâs only temporary though.
The Golem/Dragon might likely slip out of the hole with surprising swiftness.
So before then, itâs time to end this!
I pulled out my sword from the ground, and ran straight toward the Golem/Dragon.
At that time, the head of the Golem/Dragon can be seen slightly out of the hole.
And, it opens its mouth in my direction.
Itâs going to do the breath attack.
However, I have expected that.
If I avoid this, it will most likely slip out of the hole.
From the mouth of the Golem/Dragon, a vast amount of magic is being expelled.
Without caring, I stabbed toward the stream of magic.
Kuh!
The power was more than what I imagined.
Though I managed to withstand it, I can feel my skin burning.
My clothes and hair are scorched.
This was some intense streaming of light magic.
My view became white, and I couldnât see anything.
The Golem/Dragon that I need to strike down with my sword was no longer visible in my eyes.
. . . However.
However, I simply know.
Inside the head of the golem, I can sense the presence of a gem.
Without seeing nor using magic, only relying on my instinct.
I stabbed there, giving my best to pierce it.
[This is iiiiiitt!!] (Haruto)
With a shrill âgaakiiinâ sound, my sword pierced it.
Recovering my eyesight from the previous breath attack, I saw my sword had stabbed the Golem/Dragonâs neck.