Chapter 91 – A Fight That Isn't Impossible
My body had taken so many hits that there wasn’t a single part of me that was unharmed.
I had also pulled out and broken so many chains that my stamina was nearly at its limit.
At this point, all I could do was control the chains that were keeping my body moving.
If I tried to create any more chains, I probably wouldn’t even be able to control the ones supporting my body anymore.
Modak was definitely the strongest fighter among our group.
But even he was intimidated by One-Horn.
I could clearly see him hesitating.
Meanwhile, One-Horn looked perfectly fine.
The only attack that had properly landed was the punch I’d hit his chin with earlier, and even that hadn’t caused enough damage to seriously bother him.
Anyone looking at this situation would say the same thing.
Winning was impossible.
“In other words... this is exactly the kind of situation where the protagonist makes a comeback.”
Playing my role properly, I put Modak behind me and stood in front of him like a shield.
Well...
That shield was already torn apart and full of holes, barely held together by thin wires that looked ready to snap at any moment.
Still, if I could block one or two decisive attacks, wouldn’t that count as doing my job?
“...This reminds me of our fight at the beach. You remember it too, don’t you?”
“I prefer forgetting the past.”
“Ha! As if.”
Apparently deciding that we didn’t need to talk anymore, One-Horn tore off the chains wrapped around his arm and began swinging them around like a whip.
It was an unfamiliar weapon, and he was using it in an unfamiliar way.
He could’ve made at least a few mistakes.
But every single swing accurately targeted either me or Modak.
Seriously.
This guy was ridiculously talented too.
But still...
This wasn’t right!
Those chains were mine to begin with!
Clang!
To reduce the damage as much as possible, I covered my hands with chains like gloves and grabbed the chain he was swinging.
The moment I caught it, I raised the flames around the chain to their maximum output, hoping to force him to let go.
But One-Horn didn’t even flinch.
He simply continued swinging the chain.
“Second Fist, Cannon!”
BOOM!
Fortunately, Modak hadn’t completely frozen in fear.
While One-Horn was focused on me, Modak attacked.
One-Horn’s body shook slightly from the impact.
As expected, Modak’s attack power really was incredible!
Now it was my turn to do my job.
Still holding onto the chain One-Horn was swinging around, I pulled myself toward him so I wouldn’t be sent flying.
Normal strikes didn’t work.
Joint locks probably wouldn’t work against those ridiculously thick limbs either.
So there were only two possible targets left.
The eyes, which couldn’t be trained...
And the neck, which I might somehow be able to choke!
Still, I wasn’t planning on being the one to finish him.
Modak had ways to attack from a distance.
All I had to do was buy enough time for Modak to keep attacking and gradually deal damage.
“Modak’s attacks have become sharper. And that power he’s using feels similar to yours... So why can’t you do that?”
“I don’t know! Stop asking!”
I climbed onto One-Horn’s back, wrapped my legs around his neck, locked an arm across his forehead to hold his head in place, then squeezed with all my strength.
I also tightened chains around his neck.
It seemed to be having at least some effect, but...
What kind of neck strength was this?!
He was resisting the strength of my entire body with his neck alone!
Was he some kind of monster?
Well...
Technically, he was a monster.
“Ohhh! Dad! Hold him tight! First Step! Explosive! Cannon!”
BOOM!
RUMBLE!
It was a technique Modak had shown once in the underground kingdom.
It was somewhat similar to Aien’s Sure-Kill technique, but also slightly different.
Instead of one powerful impact, it repeatedly damaged the same spot.
The attack landed perfectly against One-Horn’s rock-hard abs.
Please.
Just pretend that hurt a little!
Come on!
“Pathetic!”
“Hey! I’m choking you right now! Stop talking like everything’s fine!”
“Hmph! This is nothing!”
One-Horn reached toward me and Modak.
If he grabbed either of us, we’d be crushed in his hand like empty cans.
I hurriedly grabbed his intact horn and violently twisted his head sideways, preventing him from moving properly.
No matter how strong someone was, if their vision suddenly started spinning around, they couldn’t move exactly how they wanted.
“You insignificant little...!”
“Aaaah! Move your hand! Get it away from me!”
The hand that had been reaching toward Modak changed direction and moved toward my legs, which were wrapped around One-Horn’s neck.
I had no choice but to jump down from his shoulders.
One of my arms was already wrecked.
If he destroyed my legs too, it would really be over.
Shhhh!
The moment I landed on the sand, I twisted its flow.
This time, I caused One-Horn’s ankles to sink into the sand.
Then I grabbed onto his waist and held him with all my remaining strength so he couldn’t move easily.
“Hey! His chin! Keep targeting the chin! Focus everything on one spot!”
“Ah! Okay!”
“Did it never occur to you that saying that out loud would make me defend it?”
It didn’t matter.
If he kept paying attention to one area, his defense around the others would become weaker.
That alone would help us.
And if a decisive attack came and he instinctively tried protecting his chin, leaving another opening...
That would be incredibly satisfying.
“First Fist, Battering Ram! Barrage!”
Modak’s fists, filled with burning flames that perfectly represented his nature, repeatedly slammed toward One-Horn’s face.
But just as the name Barrage suggested...
His accuracy was terrible!
I literally just told him to focus on one spot!
Was this his lack of experience showing?!
One-Horn simply spread out his massive hand.
That alone blocked Modak’s barrage.
Then One-Horn swung his fist.
BAM!
Modak was struck and sent flying.
“It hurts! Dad, it hurts!”
“Yeah, yeah. Dad will handle all the pain, so please just move more carefully!”
“Tch! If it were that easy, I would’ve already done it!”
“Hey! Your dad is Indomitable, you brat! If you’re the son of Indomitable, then endure it a little!”
Just like the Chains of Indomitability had responded to passionate words before, the flames and power surrounding the chains around my body began growing stronger with every sentence I spoke.
...Just from saying this stuff...?
Seriously.
The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous this Willpower system seemed.
If this was a game, we should’ve been fighting with stats like a proper game!
Getting stronger through willpower and emotion was basically cheating!
“The stronger your heart becomes, the stronger that power will become. Why don’t you finally understand that and develop something called pride?”
“Shut up! No matter what you say, I’m going to win! Against you, I absolutely refuse to lose!”
“Tsk, tsk.”
BOOM!
Once again, One-Horn exploded with power.
My two arms couldn’t withstand the force.
He grabbed them, spread them wide, then swung me around with one hand and threw me away.
SHAAAA!
I managed to land.
But the arm that had already been damaged was completely ruined during the throw.
I couldn’t even put strength into it anymore.
“At this rate, even if you return to the Forest of Mazes, do you really think you could stand before that Great Hero for even a moment?”
“Maybe I can’t do it now, but I will next time! Even if I fail a hundred times or a thousand times, I’ll succeed on the thousand-and-first try! Or the ten-thousandth!”
The flames of Indomitability burned fiercely.
Modak, who had come closer to me, reacted to those flames.
Without even realizing it, his own flames grew larger.
This was it.
The momentum had arrived!
Keep going!
Push harder!
Think of even more embarrassing lines that would sound like something straight out of a Japanese shonen manga!
“I am the Knight of Indomitability! Enduring, enduring, and enduring again until I finally seize victory... that is my destiny!”
“You used to represent Madness, yet you’ve become quite good at talking.”
“So what?! I beat that Madness with my indomitable will and even became friends with it! What makes you think you’ll be any different?! You’d better flatten the ground now so it’ll be easier for you to kneel later!”
[The Heart of Indomitability has reached its maximum level! Synchronization with the summoned beast, Mountain-Burning Flame Wolf ‘Modak’, is increasing!]
What?
Something like this existed too?!
I knew this game was based on a world that had actually existed, but...
Damn, they really made this game insanely well.
“I already lost once, and you expect me to lose again?! Nonsense! This time I’m winning! Definitely! Absolutely! Me and Modak together! We’re definitely winning!”
“Yeah! Exactly! We can do it!”
“Aaaaaah! We can do it!”
I quickly changed my words to include Modak.
Apparently, hearing that moved him.
His fighting spirit reignited.
Then, suddenly...
His form began to distort.
Like a soft cloud...
Like mist...
He began wrapping around my body.
[A Seed of Hope planted inside your body has sprouted, creating a new possibility!]
[Synchronization with the Mountain-Burning Flame Wolf ‘Modak’ has reached the maximum level! Integration with ‘Modak’ will now begin!]
Just like Hayang had once used the power of Madness to heal my injured body, Modak’s warm flames seeped into me and began healing my wounds.
As our bodies gradually merged, I could feel myself becoming stronger.
My body felt lighter than ever before.
Power overflowed from me so violently that I could barely control it.
[There is an extreme difference between your power and ‘Modak’s’ power! You cannot fully contain ‘Modak’s’ strength!]
...So it was literally overflowing?
Then I didn’t have much time!
Situations like this usually led directly to something like...
“You can only fight for three minutes!”
Modak seeped into my eyes.
The entire world suddenly became much clearer.
The overflowing power transformed into flames and gathered around my arms and hands.
Those flames formed the shape of a weapon I knew extremely well.
Lux Mea.
The remaining flames gathered around my legs.
They transformed into something resembling the limbs of a four-legged beast.
Not only power...
My speed had increased too.
Perfect!
My son was the best!
Still, I was much weaker than Modak.
Flames were already dripping from my body like melted candle wax.
I had to move quickly.
“...Thanks for waiting!”
“Even after that transformation, my victory remains unchanged.”
“You really know how to make everything you say annoying. Come on, then!”
BOOM!
An explosion erupted from my heel.
One-Horn had already pulled his feet free from the sand.
I charged directly at him.
This time, apparently deciding he couldn’t simply take the hit, he raised his club and blocked the massive flaming claw I swung at him.
Ahhh!
Yes!
This was it!
This savage feeling of tearing something apart!
I’d missed this!
