Chapter 172
(172) Ancient Nova
Translator: Tseirp
The Leviathan’s attack swallowed the island and the island’s shape changed in a blink of the eye .
“Sheena!”
That can no longer be called lightning . Isn’t that an Eldritch Blast that consumes everything?
“Ichino-sama, that attack was only aimed at the surface! Since the labyrinth is deep underground, Sheena should be all right . ”
“I know … but ―”
Is she really fine?
That labyrinth is not a normal labyrinth but an artificial labyrinth . There were things like pipes trailing here and there .
I can’t imagine the facility’s equipment surviving being bathed in lightning . If just the air conditioning breaks down in that underground labyrinth, the monkeys would suffocate to death .
The Leviathan began moving .
It intends to get closer to the island .
“Ichino-sama, quickly, your spell!”
“I know ― but, I can’t get an aim on it . ”
I’ve not used Ancient Nova even once until then so I didn’t know the speed and the size of the flames . Moreover, since I was adding Boost to it, I didn’t know the speed even more . If only there’s a way to make it stop for a moment ―
Or rather, I missed my greatest opportunity just now .
The Leviathan stopped for a split second when it released that attack .
I would have been able to somehow pull it off at that time .
But I couldn’t wait for that to happen again .
Since there was no guarantee that Sheena won’t die from the next attack .
If that’s the case, I just have to aim at it ―
(If only Marina was here, I could probably hit it if I follow her instructions . )
I knew that I couldn’t hope for something that wasn’t possible but I wanted to somehow make it such that I won’t miss .
“Ichino-sama, it is fine as long as you aim it in the direction of the enemy . And Carol also has a plan that might work . ”
“Plan?”
“Carol will dive into the sea ― below the boat . The effect of the Temptress skill manifests even during the day when Carol is underground ― since that is the case, it might work if Carol dives down under the ocean surface as well . Carol has the bucket we used to throw water out of the boat . If Carol turns this upside down, Carol can have enough air to last underwater for a couple of minutes . ”
“Carol, your Captivating Fragrance of the Moon is a skill that invites monsters with smell! Even if it is only released in the air pocket made by the wooden bucket, if that smell spreads into the ocean ― ”
“Carol heard that sharks can smell blood from a kilometer away ― In the first place, Carol doesn’t know either if Carol’s skill works on the Leviathan . ”
” … I will release my magic the moment the Leviathan changes direction . Immediately return to the boat after that . Even if the Leviathan doesn’t change direction and I don’t release my magic, swim back to the boat once two minutes pa.s.s . If that saying about the sharks’ olfactory sense is true, even if it doesn’t work on the Leviathan, there’s a high possibility that the smell will cause the monsters that escaped just now to turn back . ”
“Okay . Carol swears on this slave collar that Carol will definitely follow Ichino-sama’s orders . ”
Carol nodded as she turned over a large bucket to capture air and prepared to jump into the sea .
“Carol, the boat might sway greatly once I release my magic . Be careful not to hit your head . ”
“Yes, Carol prays for Ichino-sama’s fortune in battle . ”
Carol said that and dove into the sea .
I heard the sound of the bucket hitting the bottom of the boat . She probably pressed the bucket against there to stabilize it .
I didn’t count how much time pa.s.sed .
If the Leviathan showed any gesture of releasing the next attack, I would immediately move to attack .
After all, if I allowed the next Leviathan attack, I would lose the meaning for this battle .
Then ― a minute pa.s.sed .
The Leviathan opened its large mouth and gathered power at its horn .
s.h.i.t, I can’t wait any longer!
I thought .
“Boost Ancient ―”
As I was about to cast my magic, lightning suddenly retracted from the Leviathan’s horn .
Then, it changed its direction .
Towards us .
(You’ve done it, Carol!)
The Leviathan was heading straight in our direction .
In this situation, neither the attack speed nor the enemy’s speed would matter .
Aiming directly straight at the enemy would most likely hit .
“Carol, hold on tight! You better not drown!”
I shouted,
“「Boost Ancient Nova」!”
and released my magic .
I was immediately struck with the sensation of my energy being uprooted and s.n.a.t.c.hed from my body .
It was a sensation I had not felt until then, an intense feeling of weakness greater than when I had magical power depletion .
At the same time, a minutely small grain of flame was released from my wand .
Its speed was quicker than the eye could capture but I wondered what was the meaning of such a flame .
That flame struck the Leviathan .
Then, there was an impact . It wasn’t an explosion or a blast .
All the surrounding s.p.a.ce was absorbed and the released Big Bang-like destructive power swept the boat backward greatly . (TL: The direct translation was Big Van-like but it didn’t make any sense at all … unless he was referring to truck-san? lol)
“Carol ―!”
“Ichino-sama!”
The rolling waves swept Carol but I grabbed the hand she stretched out . I felt like I was about to lose consciousness from the feeling of weakness but I summoned the last of my strength and pulled her up to the boat in one go .
“Was it defeated?”
Carol said as she stared at the Leviathan that was still caught within the blast flames .
“Of course . If it survives that, I no longer have any chance of winning ― ah … . . ”
That’s when I came to a realisation .
My level didn’t rise .
Even though my Fire, Water, Wind and Earth Magicians were at the peak, my Jobless job still has room to level up .
If my level didn’t go up, it meant ―
I wanted to think that it was a condition whereby its experience points didn’t come in because it was a boss but it was wishful thinking .
Because a gigantic body appeared from within the flames that was clearing up .
It survived . It was considerably weakened but it was still alive .
” … Its wounds are closing up . ”
It was beginning to self-regenerate .
Does that mean now is the only time to defeat it?
“I’ll release the same magic again . ”
“That’s reckless, Ichino-sama! Your magical power won’t sustain it! Not only is it doubtful if Ichino-sama’s magic will activate with your current condition, we also don’t know what will happen if you activate it! Magical Power Boost might be a trump card for magicians to use during important battles but at the same time, it is also a dangerous magic! If Ichino-sama dies ― ”
“Carol will not be able to leave My World and Pionia would also be troubled … but, there’s Torerul-sama . That person will most likely come to my world to slack . You can appeal to Torerul-sama when that time comes ― I can tell from that attack from the Leviathan just now . If that thing reaches the continent where there are countless people, thousands or tens of thousands of people will die . ”
Coming to this world, I thought that I will be able to do anything with my growth cheat power and Jobless cheat power . No, I believe I can do it .
Therefore, if I don’t defeat it, who will!
“Prepare yourself, Leviathan! Boost ―”
― 『Gan』
A dull sound struck the back of my head and my weakened body suffered immense damage .
When I collapsed, I saw the figure of Carol crying while holding onto the oar .
“Ichino-sama, sorry . But Carol cannot live without Ichino-sama . ”
Carol said as she pulled my body and entered My World — at the same time, my consciousness once again fell into darkness .
※※※
The shadows of two human-like beings that suddenly disappeared and the flames that a.s.saulted it just now . And the mysterious smell that controlled its consciousness . The Leviathan that was being wary of all that detected the appearance of a new presence .
“I thought I saw a huge explosion — what happened?”
A human girl on the island said while laughing .
The Leviathan bared its fangs .
Because even though the appearance was different, it could detect that it was the human that a.s.serted itself as the Demon Lord, the one who sealed it .
Then, as the Leviathan was about to release lightning,
“For you who haven’t regenerated your horn, you are out of your depth challenging me . 「Thousand Dark Swords」 . ”
She — the reincarnated Demon Lord Famiris‧Raritei — Kusunoki Miri released a gigantic sword of Darkness that pierced the body of the Leviathan and that darkness swallowed its body .
Then, in the end, all that remained was a calm sea and a burnt island — as well as a small unmanned boat .