Chapter 104 - Virus Tumor (1/2)
Inside the cave, the chaos outside could not be heard. It was completely silent, the sounds outside being buried by the thick aura that coated the air. It was ominous, dark. It wasn't direct poison, per se, but it felt like it.
Cyanide and Ragnar walked closely together, careful to not be separated. The coat and dense air that shrouded the entire cave's interior was not forgiving, and would punish the two if they let their guards down for even one single moment.
After sniffing the air, Cyanide determined the direction of the root of this air, and shot a glance at Ragnar. Understanding the meaning of his gaze, Ragnar gave a nod, and followed after him.
Soon, they arrived at what looked like a massive tumor. It was noxious, emitting the virus's purple energy all around it, and had a stone outer shell around it. It pulsed with light, pumping the venomous virus-filled air out with every time it glowed.
”… So, we just got destroy that, huh?” Ragnar muttered, readying his stone greatsword.
”Seems like it. But-”
”Flaming Crescent!”
Cyanide had been about to tell him to wait and observe for a little longer, but it was already too late. Ragnar unleashed a deadly crescent-shaped projectile of raw fire at the tumor, striking its shell directly. Unfortunately, the stone absorbed the fire, rendering his attack completely useless.
”… Tch. Pretty tough, for a slightly-decorated piece of rock. And wait… is it just me, or is it getting bigger?”
Ragnar was right—the tumor had increased in size just a little as a result of the attack. It would seem the rock shell had absorbed the energy of the Soul Art, and converted it into energy for the virus tumor.
”… This is why I was going to tell you to wait,” Cyanide muttered. ”Look up there.”
Ragnar followed where Cyanide was pointing with his gaze, and arched an eyebrow. ”Tendrils, of some sort…?”
”That seems to be what's fueling power to the tumor,” Cyanide analyzed, lifting his gun and aiming at the two twisted vein-like rock tentacles hanging the tumor in the air. Then, he unleashed two bullets, each accurately hitting one of the two tentacles. They swung a bit, but didn't break.
Ragnar, seeing this, gave a chuckle and stepped forward.
”Can't be attacking like that, little guy. To take out something like this… you need the big boy weapons.”
As if to demonstrate, Ragnar leaped upwards and swung at the two tendrils with his massive stone greatsword, shattering the two tentacles instantly.
The massive tumor fell to the cavefloor, shaking the earth. Standing atop of it, Ragnar rubbed his nose in triumph, greatsword over his back.
”Heh. Just like that.”
But Cyanide, completely unamused, merely pointed up, above Ragnar's head.