Arifureta [Vol 1] Chapter 15 – The Monster in the Sealed Room (1/2)
The scorpion’s first move was spraying a purple liquid from the stinger on its tail. It came flying at a considerable speed, but Hajime immediately dodged by jumping back. The floor where the purple liquid landed on emitted a sizzling sound and melted in the blink of an eye. It appears to be a solvent.
While confirming with a side glance, Hajime drew Donner and fired.
Dopan~!
Maximum Power. Bullets with speed of 3.9 kilometer per second burst on the head of the scorpion monster.
Yue’s shock was transmitted through Hajime’s back. A never before seen weapon, releasing a flash-like attack without any signs of magic ⌈1⌋. Although the right hand looked somewhat wrapped in electricity, there wasn’t any use of magic circles or chanting. Yue noticed that, in other words, Hajime is similar to herself, possessing a way of directly manipulating magic.
“Similar” to herself, then, why was he in the abyss. Yue knew that it wasn’t the appropriate situation, but she kept her attention on Hajime instead of the scorpion.
On the other hand, Hajime repeatedly leapt using 【Aerodynamic】without rest, his expression unprecedentedly grim. Hajime realized what the unmoving scorpion was doing through 【Presence Perception】 and 【Magic Perception】. As if to prove that point, the scorpion aimed its other tail stinger at Hajime. Then, the pointed end of the tail seemed to bulge momentarily before the stinger was shot out at a terrific speed. Hajime tried to avoid it, but midway, the stinger exploded into a wide area buckshot attack.
“Ku!”
While giving a bitter groan, Hajime shot with Donner, swept with 【Grand Kick】, and hacked with 【Air Claw】. Finally tiding over it, as if returning the favour, he fired Donner. Immediately after that, he tossed Donner into the air and while it was falling, he took out a grenade from his pouch and threw it at the scorpion.
The scorpion endured another hit from Donner, and was about to release even more buckshot stingers and acid. However, before that could happen, a grenade eight centimeter in diameter tumbled over and exploded. As the grenade exploded, it scattered burning black slush which stuck onto the scorpion.
This was the so-called 【Incendiary Grenade】. Using the Flame Ore he has obtained at the Tar Level, it could spread three thousand degree celsius of “clinging flames” ⌈2⌋.
As expected, it appears to be effective in disrupting the scorpion’s attack as it rampaged, trying to tear off the clinging blaze. Sensing this opportunity, Hajime landed on the ground, having already caught Donner and quickly reloaded.
By the time that was done, the tar from the 【Incendiary Grenade】 has burnt out and the flame was just about to extinguish. However, despite having smoke billowing everywhere and appearing to have taken damage, the scorpion’s intense fury was clearly transmitted ⌈3⌋.
“Kishaaaaaaaa~!!!”
Raising a shriek, the scorpion suddenly started moving its eight legs, charging towards Hajime and Yue. With a howl of the wind, all of a sudden, its four huge pincers extended like cannons as they approached Hajime.
The first was dodged with 【Ground Shrink】, the second was avoided by jumping with 【Aerodynamic】. Using 【Grand Kick】 to kick away the third destroyed Hajime’s stance and the fourth pincer struck. But Hajime shot Donner at once, and using the force from the discharge, he blew himself away while twisting his body, somehow managing a successful evasion. Yue, who was on his back, let out a groan, “Uuu”. However, she somehow withstood the violent movements.
While in the air, Hajime leapt and landed on the scorpion’s back. Then, as he was maintaining his balance on the raging scorpion, he pressed the muzzle against the sh.e.l.l, and with a Click, Donner released a point-blank shot. ⌈4⌋
Zugan~!!
A tremendous explosive noise resounded, and the scorpion’s body was slammed into the ground from the impact. However, even receiving a direct hit on its sh.e.l.l was unable to damage it, and seemed to barely scratch it ⌈5⌋. As he gnashed his teeth at the fact that he was unable to deal any damage, Hajime brandished Donner, invoking 【Air Claw】. Kaching, along with a sound of striking metal, he was still unable to break through his enemy’s sh.e.l.l.
As if to say “That’s enough!”, the scorpion aimed and fired buckshot stingers towards its own back.
Hajime swiftly jumped away from that spot and twisted his body in the air as he fired towards the origin of the buckshot stingers. The high speed bullets accurately struck the end of the front end section of the tail and was grandly repelled&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; the tail which was covered with a hard sh.e.l.l appears to receive zero damage. The firepower was completely lacking.
Once again, like a tempest, the four giant pincers a.s.saulted the midair Hajime in succession. In desperation, Hajime threw an 【Incendiary Grenade】 on the scorpion’s back and took a huge leap back. The scattered tar from the explosion seemed like nothing more than a stalling attack.
Thinking about “What to do” the instant after he evaded the scorpion, the scorpion let out an unprecedented shriek. ⌈6⌋
“Kyi~i~iii~!!”
Hearing that cry sent chills running across the entire body and made Hajime want to take distance with 【Ground Shrink】 instantly&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; but, it was already too late. As the shriek echoed across the room, suddenly, the surrounding ground heaved and with a resounding roar, countless conical needles protruded from the ground.
“Son of a ----!!” ⌈7⌋
He was completely caught by surprise ⌈8⌋. Hajime was planning on desperately escaping into the air, but upon noticing the approaching conical needles from behind, he twisted his body to cover for Yue, causing his posture to be broken. Though he managed to somehow parry with Donner and 【Grand Kick】, on the edge of his vision, Hajime saw the buckshot stinger and solvent-releasing tail aimed squarely at him.
Hajime’s face stiffened. The next moment, the buckshot stinger and the solvent were fired from both its tails to shoot down the aerial target. Hajime steeled his resolution, in such a situation, it was impossible for him to dodge both attacks. Clenching his teeth, he avoided the solvent with 【Aerodynamic】, and crossed his left arm which was only up to its elbow and his right arm to protect his vitals as best as he could. Furthermore, Donner’s gun barrel was also used to s.h.i.+eld his face, and then, he used direct manipulation of magic power to strengthen his body muscles to their limits. Immediately after which, along with an immense force, several tens of sharp needles pierced deeply into Hajime’s body.
“Ga~a~aaa!!!”
Raising a scream, he somehow barely avoided a fatal wound. As he had used his own body to stop the needles, Yue who was on his back, was uninjured.
Hajime was blown away by the impact. The immense pain from the strike and being further thrown onto ground caused him to simply tumble along. Yue was also thrown from his back from the impact.
While gritting his teeth and enduring the pain from the countless needles stabbed in his body, Hajime took out a 【Flash Grenade】 from his pouch and threw it at the scorpion. The 【Flash Grenade】 flew in a parabola, releasing an intense flash before the scorpion’s eyes.
“Kyisha~a~aaa!!”
The scorpion cried and instinctively stepped back due to the sudden flash. From the start, it seemed to be mostly relying on sight to observe Hajime’s movements, so he went and followed through with the throw, and apparently, his guess wasn’t wrong. ⌈9⌋
Hajime bit into and drank the Sacred Water fitted behind his molars as he pulled out all the needles in one go.
“Gu~u~u!!”
Groans due to the residual pain escaped from the gaps between his clenched teeth. However, it wasn’t to an unbearable extent. Hajime could endure manyfold this pain, a pain of simply this degree was completely insufficient to break his spirit.
While removing the needles, Hajime was looking around, searching for Yue, but before he could find her, Yue was quicker, and has already came over to his side.
“Hajime!”
Yue rushed up to Hajime anxiously. Her expressionless face has crumbled and was on the verge of tears.
“It’s all right. More importantly, isn’t that guy too hard? I can’t seem to find an appropriate method. I would have to go pa.s.s the four pincers’ obstruction to aim at its eyes or mouth&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; Should I resign myself to getting damaged and go for the suicide attack?
Hajime pondered over he should deal with the scorpion, oblivious of Yue’s worries. Seeing such a Hajime caused Yue’s tears to begin falling.
“&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; Why?”
“Ah?”
“Why didn’t you run away?”
Yue’s appeal implied that she understood the possibility that ‘He might be able to escape alone’. Hajime sent a shocked look towards those words.