Volume 2 Chapter 20 (2/2)

[Uncle Youya. I’m sorry. My eyes are finally opened. It’s attacks are heavy but its much slower, sloppier and softer to sink as compared to Uncle Youya’s attacks.] (Selene)-

Selene’s voice was still trembling, however I could feel her conviction behind her words.

[Selene is late! However, now we can finally fight as planned.] (Luna)

[Right? Selene is our tank, Youya is a close quarters fighter, Luna is our middle guard while I am in the back guard. That is how our party battles.] (Til)

Luna and Til shouted out a clumsy encouragement each as Selene smiled back while receiving the minotaur’s attack.

With this, we can finally demonstrate our original battle plan against the boss. Me and Luna crossed eyes as we began to run towards to the boss, Luna continued to the right while I turned to the left. Gathering magic power onto my left hand, it condenses and turns into a flame, burning brightly.

[Assassinate.]

[Napalm Strike.]

Now that its attention was completely occupied by Selene, I can afford to release a powerful attack. My left hand was imbedded into the minotaur’s flank as the explosive effect of the spell runs through its body. Meanwhile, Luna landed a critical attack using Assassinate. Simultaneously receiving a super high power spell on the left and the right, the minotaur was completely pushed back.

[UGAAAAAAAAAAAA] (Minotaur)

Without missing a beat, the minotaur further lowered its waist and turned its head towards Selene. Its horn began to glow. It was the characteristic of Horned Crash. In response, Selene began pouring mana into her shield, preparing to release her spikes.

Is she starting to get too excited and forgot my instructions? The explosive power of Horned Crash wasn’t something that could be prevented. Even if she uses her spikes and Fortress in preparation, it isn’t enough to protect her against the attack. It is an attack that can’t be stopped. However, looking at Selene’s composure, I decided to stay silent. She clearly remembers my words and wasn’t panicking just like earlier but with a look of conviction in her eyes. This was the move that she planned to bring for victory. Selene began to run forward.

Continue to run forward. With all your might!

[HAAAAAAAAH.] (Selene)

The minotaur’s horn locked onto the figure of Selene who was currently running forward with her full strength and its skill was activated. The instant it was activated, Selene launched her spikes onto the ground and applies her entire weight onto her shield.

[Fortress.] (Selene)

A wall of light appeared from Selene shield, the crusader’s special skill that increases their defense multiple times for several tens of seconds. However, Horn Crush was still too powerful to be stopped by her increased defense. However, that didn’t happen because Selene had ran forward. By closing the distance between her and the minotaur, the distance required for the minotaur to reach his sure-kill level of power was reduced, hence reducing the amount of power she received. When the minotaur collided with Selene’s wall of light, Selene was being pushed back, causing the spikes to gouge out the ground under her, throwing dust everywhere. In the end, Selene stood strong as the Minotaur failed to penetrate Selene’s shield and was actually damage by the recoil of its charge, breaking its horn. The minotaur’s defense was wide open when his horn was broken.

It was an opportunity to push the offensive.

[Til!] (Youya)

[I know that!] (Til)

I began chanting as Til concentrates her volleys of Lightning Arrows and normal arrows onto the minotaur’s stomach, gouging its flesh while simultaneously burning the area.

Electricity begins to crackle on my palm as the air around my palm begins to tremble. My long chant is finally over

[Superconductive Bullet!] (Youya)

My customized magic made from Lightning Storm. By increasing the casting time and sacrificing its area of effect, the spell was remade into a single shot of lightning with explosive range and power. I fired the spell onto the exposed flesh at the minotaur’s belly, further gouging out its flesh while burning the surrounding area, inflicting damage incomparable to Til’s damage and paralysis onto the minotaur. The next attack will decide the battle.

[End it, Selene!] (Youya)

While I called out to Selene, I began moving towards Selene as she nods back, increasing her pace towards the minotaur.

Twist your hips and stick out your arms, eject the spikes as the arm is accelerated, increasing the acceleration of the spikes to the maximum.

[Shield Bash!] (Selene)

[God’s Strength!] (Youya)

I have watched her repeat this movement countless times, making it easy for me to match her timing. Just before her spikes crashed into the minotaur, Shield Bash converts her defense power into attack, and I amplify her increased power using my Customized Magic: God’s Strength for several moments.

Together with a loud explosion, her attack which was amplified multiple times pierces into the Minotaur’s stomach where we had previously attacked, penetrating its body and transferring all her kinetic energy into its belly, causing its stomach to bulge up like a balloon.

[Your…Power…Seen. Reward…Items..However…Weakest.. Yet to see….Challenge… Real fear… Now on.]

It seems that the attack earlier was the finishing blow as the Minotaur says its last words before turning into blue particles, leaving behind two items. First was the item I’ve been hoping for, the Thread of Bonds which increases the party member limit. The second was the rare item unique to the minotaur, the Scarlet Horn. We’ve gotten extremely lucky ever since coming to Greenwood. First was the Starfish Larvae, second was the minotaur and now its the rare item drops.

After the Minotaur completely disappeared, Selene knelt on her knees as she had an astonished look on her face.

[I.. won? I actually survived.] (Selene)

[Yeah. You got of to a slow start but it was a magnificent ending.] (Youya)

This experience will serve well to give Selene courage in the future. Next time it won’t be so easy for her to be overwhelmed by fear, helping her grow significantly.

[I see.. I’m glad. I was scared.. And couldn’t move my legs. Everything went white. The moment I heard uncle Youya’s voice.. I thought that I had to do it.] (Selene)

Selene jumped into my chest as I hugged her and pat her back.

[Even so. You did it. You became stronger. This time, you are genuinely stronger.] (Youya)

At the start, Selene couldn’t help but panic as she faced death. However she still managed to pull it together and recover from her trauma. That was proof in of itself.

[Now then, let’s return home. There should be a vortex somewhere at the back. We’ll continue the training once we are back but there will be a bonus for defeating the boss.] (Youya)

After hearing the word “bonus”, Luna and Til ran over.

[Bonus!] (Luna)

[Tonight is going to be another feast!] (Til)

The two girls began chanting and danced as if they were performing a ritual. I wonder where did they get this idea from.

[Uncle Youya.. I have a request.] (Selene)

[What is it?] (Youya)

[I don’t have any strength left in my legs.. Could you carry me.] (Selene)

Selene said her request with a bright red face. I smiled bitterly at her request.

Till the bitter end, she still hasn’t changed a bit. I guess that can’t be helped.

[Kyaaa. This is embarrassing.] (Selene)

[Today is a special day.] (Youya)

Instead of the usual piggyback, I carried her with a princess carry as a reward for working her hardest today.

[Youya~, Luna’s legs can’t move too.] (Luna)

[Me too!] (Til)

The two girls who seemed to have completed their rituals had envious looks as they sat on the ground.

[Give me a break. I can’t carry three people at once. Maybe another time.] (Youya)

[Roger that!] (Luna)

[It’s a promise okay!] (Til)

The two people who claimed to be exhausted suddenly jumped up in excitement.

Seriously? These girls.. Well I have to admit that this is kinda fun.

Now then, it’s time for us to return. Let’s not forget the reward for breaking through the trial for today. We seem to be celebrating a lot recently, however today was definitely a good day for a celebration.

Above all, it’s been extremely fun.