bookbashuk #257 - I can't play without low health
#257 - I can't play without low health
If the first stage goal was to drag the White Whale down from the sky, then cutting off its left fin, gouging out its left eye, and tearing off its dorsal fin could already be considered a delightful success.
However, before Natsuki Subaru could shout about never having such a wonderful start, he watched in horror as Zun-zun was swallowed by the White Whale.
Although various questions arose, the most undeniable fact was unfolding before his eyes.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
A pleading groan squeezed out from his throat.
Before him was the White Whale that had swallowed Zun-zun, and on the other side was the White Whale lunging toward Wilhelm and the others. Front, back, and even the sky above were filled with the massive figures spreading mist.
The three White Whales laughed with countless mouths, stirring up despair in everyone.
As if echoing each other.
The White Whales' cries reverberated across the plains and streets, continuously emitting alien sounds like nails scratching against glass from countless distorted mouths.
One was already despair-inducing, and now their numbers had increased to three, practically mocking the resisting crowd.
— — — —
Zun-zun had no idea what the situation was like outside; he was currently unable to concern himself with others.
He knew that the White Whale had split into three.
However, the White Whale silently swam behind him without any warning.
He must have been too reliant on the Red Demon Clan's sensitivity to magic. After the White Whale spread mist converted from magic power, Zun-zun was no different from a 'blind man,' unable to locate it.
Being swallowed into the White Whale's belly, even a fool knew what would happen. Just think of the previous Sword Saint. If he didn't get out quickly, he would surely be digested until nothing remained of his existence.
He didn't believe he could withstand the digestive fluids of a giant whale, so he forcibly braced his body, creating a space for himself to survive between the whale's wide tongue and the roof of its mouth.
He had never hated being so short before.
Thankfully, the White Whale's tongue wasn't as flexible as a human's. Even though it undulated and swallowed back and forth, Zun-zun was still able to steady himself, preventing himself from slipping into its esophagus due to the massive amount of mucus beneath his feet.
How could he get out?
In fact, Zun-zun had been continuously using magic to destroy the White Whale's body since being swallowed.
Judging from the established tropes in manga, monsters with sturdy bodies usually have quite soft interiors, so being swallowed should actually be a good opportunity.
However, the White Whale was no ordinary creature. The Witch of Gluttony who created it seemed to have anticipated that someone might use this method, strengthening the White Whale's defensive capabilities.
The mucus attached to the inside of the White Whale didn't have strong acidity to digest, but instead had a strong dissolving ability—all magic was reverted to its initial magic power, similar to the effect of a dispelling bullet.
…Forget it, let's just explode.
He would rely on powerful destructive force and impact to forcibly pry open the White Whale's mouth and then escape.
Zun-zun was somewhat reluctant.
Actually, he wanted to save this move for the White Whale's main body, but now it seemed he could only use it on a clone. To ensure a successful escape, he would use Cherry's magic this time—
Boom!
Before Zun-zun could exert his strength, the White Whale suddenly suffered a heavy blow, and the unsteady giant whale staggered, causing Zun-zun to stumble as well.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on!?"
… …
"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on?"
Natsuki Subaru swallowed, dumbfounded as he watched the gray-haired boy single-handedly fighting a White Whale.
He was covered in blood, his pristine white knight's uniform stained dirty with dust and blood. Although he looked very disheveled, the aura emanating from him was not to be underestimated.
"Is he really that cowardly Otto?"
"…If Rem's eyes haven't failed her, then yes, that is indeed Otto-sama!"
Rem replied earnestly.
No, no, no, no way that's possible!
He had just been knocked down by the White Whale with one move, but he got up and exploded with power.
He won't play unless he's low on health, huh?
That timid man who was terrified of the White Whale was now with his hair standing on end, his whole body emitting visible deep yellow magic power, surrounded by massive chunks of earth several times larger than the ice pillars Rem had just released—almost rivaling the White Whale's head in size.
With a wave of his right hand, the incredibly solid giant chunk of earth slammed heavily into the White Whale, making the giant fish dizzy. Before it could even groan in pain, the chunk of earth fell again, slamming the White Whale down several feet. The aesthetics of violence unfolded before everyone's eyes.
He looked like a god of war!
Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but shout: "Seriously, who is he? Is he possessed by a ghost!?"
"…Subaru, Otto-sama is not of the Oni tribe."
"I was just saying!"
The man retorted, unable to resist Rem's comment.
No wonder Zun-zun thought highly of Otto. Natsuki Subaru suddenly understood that this guy was the type of character in fighting games who builds up rage. He's unstoppable normally, but once he explodes with power, no one can stop him.
This guy is fierce like a god of war!
"But his limitations are a bit too many!" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but retort again, soon grinning, "But thanks to Otto, it's easier for us to move! Rem, let's go!"
"Yes!"
This time, Natsuki Subaru was pulling the reins, completely forcing the issue, but if he wanted Rem to unleash her full power, this was the only way to do it.
Fortunately, the earth dragon he personally chose—Patrasche—was very clever. Even if Natsuki Subaru's skills were terrible, it could perfectly grasp its master's intentions and strength, running and dodging quickly while being careful not to let the inexperienced rider fall off.
Natsuki Subaru seemed to sense its thoughts.
"Patrasche, let's go!"
He shouted loudly, pulling the reins. The responding earth dragon leaned forward and charged ahead, fearlessly rushing towards the powerful White Whale, circling around its face.
Seeing an opportunity, Rem leaped and delivered a kick as powerful as a cannonball to the White Whale's face.
The giant face tilted to the side, followed by a direct hit from a pursuing iron ball. The spinning iron ball pierced the White Whale's cheek, breaking its molars, and staining the grass with blood and saliva, turning it dark red.
Yellow fluid flowed from the wound, and the White Whale screamed. Its body finally landed, struggling endlessly like a fish on land.
The ground was hollowed out, and chunks of earth scattered violently.
The wildly waving tail cut through the ground, slicing through the wind, suddenly approaching Natsuki Subaru's side—just as it was about to hit, a kitten darted in.
"The command that Big Sis gave me to protect that person, I haven't forgotten it! Quickly spit it out for me!"
"Mimi!"
In Natsuki Subaru's vision, Mimi waved the magic wand in her hand to deploy a magic barrier, and the yellow light bounced back the attack, while the earth dragon took the opportunity to escape in one breath.
Gasping for breath, Natsuki Subaru looked back at the kitten who had saved him at the crucial moment.
"I'm saved! Thank you, Mimi. I almost got a lunch box just now!"
"I saved Onii-chan just as a side effect."
"I was a side effect!?"
"But today Onii-chan worked very hard, so I subconsciously wanted to save Onii-chan. Also, today is a draw~"
Mimi laughed at Natsuki Subaru.
When facing the three White Whales, the mercenary group and the subjugation team had all lost the courage to continue fighting. It was Natsuki Subaru who took the initiative to attack, driving everyone's emotions. Although the first person to attack, the person who caught his attention, was Otto, who was still casting magic on the other side.
"Speaking of which, how's Zun-zun doing?"
"Remembering him means he hasn't been erased by the mist."
"But we can't dawdle any longer, it wouldn't be good if something unexpected happened."
After the master and servant exchanged ideas, they decided that the main task before defeating the White Whale was to rescue Zun-zun. Then they rode the earth dragon towards the gray-haired boy on the other side.
"—Otto!"
With Rem's help, Natsuki Subaru forcibly leaned out most of his body. Riding on the speeding earth dragon, he reached out a hand towards Otto.
Subconsciously, Otto grabbed that hand.
"Get on!"
Natsuki Subaru was a complete and utter ordinary person, but if he had to find some advantages in him, then besides those fierce eyes, it was only his 70-kilogram single-handed grip.
Gritting his teeth, his face flushed red.
He should have known not to show off just now and let Rem pull Otto up. In that instant, Natsuki Subaru regretted it.
But there were things a man had to do.
Clamping his thighs together and using all his strength, he barely managed to bring Otto up, and then threw him into the air.
"Alright! Mimi, I'll leave the rest to you!"
"Leave it to me!"
The petite kitten drove the nimble mount, easily catching Otto, who was thrown from high in the air, and then ran along the White Whale's tail towards its head.
Natsuki Subaru watched the two leave.
"…What's wrong, Subaru?"
"No, I just feel…in that kind of situation, shouldn't Otto be screaming and yelling? Why has he become so silent?"
Unfortunately, his doubts were not answered.
Due to Rem's continuous heavy blows, the White Whale angrily retaliated, and the two rode the earth dragon, dodging nimbly and escaping quickly.
On the other side.
Mimi, on the White Whale's back, after quickly running past the torn dorsal fin, pointed the magic staff at Otto.
"Go! Onii-chan!"
The voice was childish and gentle, but the action was not gentle at all. The flung Otto flew directly over the top of the White Whale's head.
Just as he was about to fall, at the last moment, Otto's hand grabbed the White Whale's thick lower lip, barely managing to climb up bit by bit, like a ghost crawling out of hell.
He came to the front of the White Whale with a blank expression.
Otto slowly reached out his hand.
"El Dona."
Earth attribute magic power burst into sharp thorns and extended outward. If an ordinary person suffered this blow, they would surely die, but for the White Whale, it was not painful or itchy at all, only a tooth was chipped off.
But—
"I know I'm weak, my talent is limited, and I can't even use powerful magic normally. But, I have things I can do!"
He suddenly thrust his hand into the White Whale's mouth.
"—Ur Dona!"
A thick, round pillar instantly condensed. The earth attribute magic power, which should have been reverted, was forcibly prying open the White Whale's mouth due to Otto's clever use of the angle difference.
Zun-zun raised both hands, squinting his eyes to welcome the sunlight. The blood-stained gray knight came into view, his eyes slightly broken, and the smile on his lips was very strange.
"Oh, I came to save you."
"—Too slow."
He firmly grasped the offered hand.