Chapter 14 (2/2)

“It’s too bad, but no demon is allowed to be brought into the Empire. So shall I let you die along with that Nine-tails there?” (Grendel)

“Well, sorry, but no thanks.” (Shuten)

Grendel barely reacts, with a face chiseled from stone. While brus.h.i.+ng aside his clean blonde hair, he half-turned towards me.

“Indeed, it seems to be above the Nine-tails, but…I am the wrong person to go against. I will crush you thoroughly.” (Grendel)

“I would also like to be excused from that.” (Shuten)

Catching a terrible glimpse behind me of the Nine-tailed girl, her borrowed clothes have turned to rags. Are only demons treated this way? No, it might have been because the Nine-tails instigated the fight…Even so, her side had been gouged out, her tails were burnt and ears tattered, and blood dripped from her legs…If the target had not changed to me, she would be dead.

“Stop…it…” (Nine-tails)

“Speak clearly.” (Shuten)

“You…!!” (Nine-tails)

I do not understand what you are saying. It is not some scene where I’m das.h.i.+ng to protect a girl’s appearance here. Or it would be a little more like, “Shuten-kun…for me…(dazed by my charm)” is what it looks like.

He didn’t introduce himself. Is my fantasy unachievable?

“I will not give you time to look away!” (Grendel)

“I didn’t intend to do so from the beginning.” (Shuten)

Grendel released three kinds of spheres, white, green, and red.

I knew their three roles in the game.

White disables all attacks. Green is power amplification. And red, it’s dangerous if it hits you.

“Let’s go!”

“Well then!”

Shaking from left to right, the red sphere excitedly attacked me. That is, when the moment it hits you, a bomb attack that ignores defense. He really is a dangerous guy.

In response, I slam the Demon Slayer into the ground. The earth rises in a wave to strike Grendel. In the meanwhile, I avoided the flying red ball.

“Hmph.” (Grendel)

My earth wave went in a straight line. Grendel held up his black gloved hands and punched it hard. At the same time, his green sphere resonated and caused his body to glow.

Explosion. The waves of earth were shattered by his fist.

Beyond the flying, scattered soil Grendel shows a fearless smile.

“Do you still want to fight?” (Grendel)

Why not? (そりゃねーぜ。)

“…Sorry, I haven’t done anything yet.” (Shuten)

“Mmm…really? In that case I will destroy everything until I break your confidence. Since I got a good reaction, I thought it was a real attack.” (Grendel)

However, as long as Grendel has that green sphere, his attack power will continue to rise.

Also, the red sphere will continue to fly at me with attacks. They are not an autonomously mobile, but rather Grendel manipulates each one individually. It is an amazing thing, but it is also a weak point.

“Well then.” (Shuten)

“With that giant thing, of course it’ll be battle of close proximity?” (Grendel)

Driving into the ground and crouching low almost to my chest, I swung the Demon Slayer. I was confident in its speed.  However, Grendel received it with a glove.

“D*#n.” (Shuten)

“Hmm…!” (Grendel)

Oioioioi, isn’t his power too strong?

With pure antagonistic force, Grendel’s feet are driven into the ground. I thought I could push him further, but at the same time as the green sphere glowed, from behind—

“Oops.”

An explosion. The red sphere exploded into my right shoulder, and the sharp sensation rapidly transformed into pain.

…It’s good I had this Kinagais.h.i.+.

I can sense that even this amount of damage had been reduced. That was really dangerous.

“Hmm, I thought that was a fancy outfit for a demon…but it seems that it is not just for appearance.” (Grendel)

“Your men saw through that at a glance.” (Shuten)

“Thanks, but I’m not good at that kind of thing.” (Grendel)

“That’s good.” (Shuten)

Grendel casually stretched his wrists.

I hope that speed of the Demon Slayer will not dull because my right shoulder was wounded.

“Now then, shall I start with this?” (Grendel) (そろそろ、僕から仕掛けようか)

In an instant, Grendel arrived in front of me. His speed is comparable to mine earlier.

Just before his glove was about to hit my face, I jumped back while swinging the Demon Slayer.

He avoided it by moving to the side, and then Grendel crouched and instantly began to accelerate. c.r.a.p, not only attack is increased but also speed.

“That’s the difference in capability. That big axe is not suitable for a martial artist as an opponent.”

“Heh, then allow me!”

“!!?”

Slamming the axe into the ground, he then countered with his attack. The quaking earth hesitated momentarily as both sides met, then quieted—

And behind the scenes, spinning over in a hurry, the red sphere pierced through the earth.

“You avoided it.” (Grendel)

“That’s it…!” (Shuten)

“But.” (Grendel)

He slams his fists together and muttered with a ferocious smile. What is with that expression?

“All three of my spheres are meant to be together.” (Grendel)

“!!?” (Shuten)

Hey, where did the white sphere from earlier go!? The white sphere was now aiming for the right side of my body.

I avoided it, then responded to the red sphere approaching with my Demon Slayer.

“You look away too much.” (Grendel)

“c.r.a.p…!!” (Shuten)

If I am too dependent on the Demon Slayer then it might as well be a stick…!

My distraction by the sphere created a gap of opportunity, which Grendel rushed into before I realized. The flat of his palm jabbed forward.

It’s aiming for my heart—I must avoid it!…!?

I try to avoid it by twisting my body, but it is already too late.

The palm released from Grendel’s right side hit the left of my chest strongly, knocking me into the air.

That-is-

It hurt. It felt like his palm shoved something into my chest.

“Ah…Gah…!?” (Shuten)

Something is causing my whole body to hurt.

Cold sweat poured out of my entire body.

“Mu?” (sfx for annoyance, though it also seems confused) (Grendel)

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!” (Shuten)

What is this.

It must be what I put in my pocket a little while ago.

I absorbed the pearl piece.

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