Nia slowly drew the two-handed sword '180 gold coins' strapped to the waist.
The blade, forged from Bareil steel, gleamed with the inscription "Little Red Dragon" etched by the blacksmith Rambadil.
Nia lifted the head and glared at Muidoc. Muidoc's form, twisted by the power of the pendant, had become even more grotesque and menacing.
The body was entirely enveloped in a deep violet hue, with skin hardened like the horns of a beast.
Pus clumps trailed down the neck and shoulders, glowing dark red as they slowly dripped to the floor. Massive spike-like protrusions jutted from the back. The muscles bulged abnormally, and the arms and legs appeared as rugged as armored plates.
The hands were no longer human. Rough like stone, with sharp claws sprouting forth, and every movement revealed something wriggling beneath the skin.
"At least you're pulling out a proper weapon now."
Muidoc spoke with a voice laced in mockery.
"But I doubt that'll be enough, Droko."
Instead of replying, Nia gripped the sword with both hands and lowered into a stance.
Though suffocated by Muidoc's overwhelming presence, Nia raised the head to glare straight at Muidoc.
"Here it comes!"
Nia shouted loudly and charged toward Muidoc. The blade heavily cleaved through the air, aiming for Muidoc's flank. But the moment the sword touched the hardened skin, a sharp metallic clash echoed.
-Clang!-
The edge slid off the skin like it was slippery, and Muidoc leisurely dodged Nia's attack while bursting into laughter.
"Did you really think that blade could cut through this armor?"
Nia didn't stop the assault. Twisting the body, Nia swung the sword upward from below, targeting Muidoc's chest. Yet again, the sword was blocked by the armor-like hardened skin, unable to leave even a scratch. Muidoc flicked the blade away with one hand and extended a massive claw-gleaming hand as if to counterattack.
"It's futile! That sword can't slice me!"
As Muidoc's hand sliced through the air toward Nia, Nia ducked low, rolled to the side, and evaded.
"Haa... Haa..."
Nia breathed roughly and readjusted the stance.
Muidoc's hardened body resembled some magical armor. It wasn't just tough; upon contact, a faint ripple seemed to absorb the impact.
Muidoc leisurely raised the sword again and said,
"This is the blessing of Nidlas, the Lord of Pus. No matter how much you struggle, you won't leave a single mark on my body."
Nia concentrated mana once more, gripped the sword firmly with both hands, and charged at Muidoc again.
This time, Nia aimed a swift, sharp slash at the knees. But upon contact, Muidoc's legs revealed a metallic surface, producing a fierce impact sound.
-Clang!-
The blade of '180 gold coins' bounced off, momentarily disrupting Nia's balance.
Muidoc didn't miss the opening. Extending a massive hand to grab hold, but Nia retreated just in time by a hair's breadth.
"How about it? Can't hold out much longer, can you?"
Muidoc erupted in laughter and swung the sword widely. Dark red pus spurted from the blade, corroding the ship's deck as it fell to the floor.
"Before the power of Nidlas, your body will grow increasingly powerless!"
Muidoc prepared another attack, raising the sword high. Intense energy emanated from the blade, as if intending to cleave the entire deck.
Nia exhaled heavily and lowered the stance again. It was clear that brute force alone couldn't handle Muidoc.
Nia gripped '180 gold coins' so tightly that the leather strap around the hilt creaked.
'With this... Must succeed. Can't fail...'
Nia's gaze turned to Dallen in a corner of the deck. In that moment, a resolute determination seemed to solidify, and Nia took a deep breath.
"Dalleeeeeeeeeeen!"
Nia's voice echoed loudly enough to shake the hull.
"Ugh... Mm, yes..."
Dallen struggled to lift the head and responded.
Nia approached the edge of the deck and shouted,
"Dallen! Down there, near the ship by the rocks, Mau is waiting! Get there! It'll be safe there "
Hearing Nia's words, Dallen nodded and slowly spread the wings.
"Understood, Nia... Please stay safe!"
Dallen began to take flight. The wingbeats were clumsy, swaying several times in the wind, but without a hint of hesitation, Dallen pressed forward.
"Where do you think you're going, Dallen!"
Muidoc's low voice resounded across the deck. Slowly walking to the edge, Muidoc extended a grotesquely twisted hand. Like a serpent, the hand elongated, slicing through the air rapidly toward Dallen.
As if anticipating this, Nia moved immediately.
"The hand is mine to block!"
After blocking Muidoc's strike, Nia used the hand as a stepping stone and agilely leaped high into the air.
Then, soaring high like in flight, Nia recalled a moment with Gravel.
『Not long ago, on a peaceful day.
Soft sunlight illuminated a clearing in the forest. The breeze was pleasantly cool, and the chirping of birds through the leaves added to the serenity. Gravel sat in the middle of the clearing, polishing a sword. The movements were smooth and quiet, with silvery glints dancing on the blade.
Nia sat nearby on the grass, holding a small piece of paper in one hand. Bold letters listed names of Mana Veins, but Nia's face was deeply furrowed.
"Hmm... Umm... mana vein names are too hard r. Even written on paper, hard to remember ..."
Nia pouted and flipped the paper back and forth.
Gravel looked up at Nia and smiled.
"Haha... Mana training is tough. Even I still mix up some mana vein names. But you'll get used to it. Don't rush."
Gravel carefully set down the sword being polished and smiled toward Nia.
"Still, I know you've been working hard. It's time to teach you a new skill suited to your level."
Nia's ears perked up. The expression brightened instantly, eyes sparkling as Nia looked at Gravel.
"Really? A new technique! Quick! Tell me quick r!"
The paper vanished from Nia's hand in an instant, both hands clasped tightly on the knees.
Gravel smiled meaningfully at the sight.
"But you mustn't overuse this skill recklessly. And..."
Turning to gaze at the sky, Gravel continued.
"Actually, I've only taught this skill to one other person besides you."
Nia's eyes widened even more.
"Who is it?"
Nia's voice brimmed with curiosity and anticipation.
Gravel's expression grew wistful for a moment.
"Droro."
Stroking the sword, Gravel added,
"As I mentioned before? Droro, known as the Emperor Dragonblade in my world. That one praised this skill highly and used it often."
Nia's eyes flashed with excitement.
"Emperor Dragonblade! Droro! Droro who resembles Droko! If that one praised it, it must be amazing r? Teaching me that technique r? Tell me quick, quick!"
Nia leaned forward, waving both hands. Seeing Nia's childlike excitement, Gravel raised a hand to calm down while laughing.
"Hahaha, no need to pester; I'll teach you. But remember one thing."
The voice turned serious.
"This skill consumes a lot of mana. That's its only drawback. But it's that powerful. Used at the right moment, you'll one day overpower even tough opponents in a single strike."
Nia pressed the lips shut, nodded, and clenched both fists tightly.
"Uooo... Tell me! That technique!"
Nia's eyes were filled with resolve and passion.』
And now, back to the battle with Muidoc...
Looking down at Muidoc standing on the deck below, Nia shouted intensely from midair.
"Toktura kulob na dutse! (Toktura's Stone Club)"
In that instant, the surrounding air grew heavy, and small rock fragments from the deck and the cave ceiling nearby began to float slowly.
Winds enveloped the fragments, concentrating them toward Nia's blade.
-Whoooosh whooo-
The rock pieces gathered at increasing speed, enveloping '180 gold coins.'
Upon contact, they melted into the sword as if fusing, followed by larger stones detaching from nearby and flying in.
Fragments from the hull below the deck, pieces from the rocky area close by, all sliced through the air toward the sword.
-Thud! Boom! Crash!-
The rock pieces merged into a massive mass, forming a hefty stone club far larger than Nia's body.
The club spiraled long around the blade's tip, a colossal amalgamation of shattered stalactite fragments, resembling something a giant whose head could touch the cave ceiling might wield.
This club was no mere stone lump. The surface was solid, with uniform-colored broken stalactite shards, emanating an eerie aura where golden and black lights intersected under the glow.
Nia firmly grasped Toktura's stone club with both hands. Intense mana extended from Nia's hands, enveloping the entire club in flickering light.
"This ends it!"
For the first time, surprise and confusion flickered in Muidoc's eyes.
"What... is this?"
Nia readjusted the grip on the club while breathing heavily.
"Nid... Nidlas's power won't work against this club!"
Mana bursting from Nia's entire body made Toktura's stone club even larger and heavier. The club now grew to a size that could cover the ship's deck. Nia gripped it firmly with both hands, breathing roughly.
"Uaaaaah!"
With Nia's cry, the club was raised overhead. The weight seemed to shake the very air around.
Muidoc, for the first time, wore a bewildered expression at the sight and thrust both arms forward. The hardened skin and steel-like body had repelled every attack until now, but this time, Muidoc instinctively sensed the club's might was no ordinary assault.
"You think I can't block this!"
Muidoc roared and crossed both arms to defend against the club. However, the moment the club collided with the arms, overwhelming force crushed Muidoc's body.
-Boooom!-
A massive shockwave erupted from the point of impact between the club and Muidoc's arms. The power shoved Muidoc backward, shattering the deck into pieces. The hull, made of wood and metal, began crumbling in an instant, the entire ship twisting unstably as intense destruction sounds echoed.
"Uaaaaaagh!"
Ultimately, Muidoc couldn't withstand the club's overwhelming weight and force, burying deep below the deck. But that wasn't the end. As the club continued descending, the hull sank further and began to split.
-Boom! Kraaaak-!
The colossal stone club hammered down relentlessly toward Muidoc.
The deck heaved, a massive crack forming from the center. The fissure spread unchecked along the ship's core, racing toward the stern and bow.
From the epicenter, sounds of wood splintering and twisting groans burst forth in succession, pressure reaching the hull below as the ship progressively collapsed.
In moments, the hull tore apart on both sides, the split sailing vessel sinking helplessly.
Muidoc tried to hold out beneath the stone club, but amid the total collapse, the form vanished completely.
While slamming down the club, Nia squeezed out every last bit of mana from the body.
Nia's body had already reached its limit, and with an intense light, the club gradually scattered into small rock fragments and vanished.
"Haa... Haa..."
Nia knelt down, breathing heavily. Toktura's stone club was a technique that drained the user's mana completely, matching its immense power with equal risk. Yet the result was undeniable. The ship was utterly destroyed, and Muidoc's shape was nowhere to be seen amid the wreckage of the sailing vessel.
"Vi... Victory..."
Nia smiled faintly and looked up at the sky.
From afar, voices of Mau and Dallen reached Nia's ears.
"Nia! Are you safe!"
"Nia... Over here r...!"
Nia struggled to raise a hand, waving in response to their calls.
The body was utterly exhausted, but the afterglow of victory settled deep within Nia's mind.