The opponent in front of me clearly wasn't interested in talking, and definitely wasn't going to let me go. Its eerie, blazing red eyes locked onto me.
"GYABOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The Emperor of the Sacred Peak roared. At the same time, an enormous fireball shot out of its mouth with terrifying speed. The heat was on a completely different level from my Flame Smash. If it hit me, I'd be vaporized instantly.
I desperately threw myself sideways to dodge. Even the aftershock was enough to scorch my skin. The giant fireball flew past me, obliterating the mountain path behind me before exploding high in the sky.
"Ughhh…"
The shockwave robbed my body of all mobility. I looked forward in despair. The Emperor already had another fireball — as big as or bigger than the last — charging in its mouth.
"It can rapid-fire attacks like that!? This is beyond impossible…"
I faced the Emperor's next attack in a foul mood. The previous explosion had completely immobilized me. There was no way I could dodge this one.
The flames of despair erupted from the Emperor's mouth.
The world seemed to move in slow motion. It felt like I was seeing my life flash before my eyes right before death. I closed my eyes and prepared to die for real this time.
――――『Title Skill "Reincarnated Person" activation conditions met.
Special Skill "Comeback Blow" acquired.
Special Skill "Limit Break" acquired.
Special Skill "Cornered Rat's Counter" acquired.』
Power surged through my body. And in that instant, I understood exactly what I needed to do to defeat it.
"Lightbringer!!!"
I wrapped myself in the glowing blue blade and whipped my immobilized body into motion with sheer willpower.
"Power Stride!!!"
I charged straight toward the massive fireball the Emperor had fired. I spread Lightbringer's light in a fan shape to counter the heat, but the overwhelming temperature still scorched my body. My skin blistered and peeled away.
Enduring excruciating pain, I kept running straight ahead. The enemy was right in front of me.
『GUGA!!?』
The Emperor's eyes widened in shock. Of course it was surprised — it must have thought it had already delivered the finishing blow. But with Limit Break enhancing Power Stride, I shot forward like a cornered rat biting a cat and slammed straight into the dragon's face.
"Dragon Strike!"
I poured every last ounce of my strength into this one blow. If this didn't work, my death was certain.
"Piiiiiiiiiierce iiiiiit!!!"
―――『Comeback Blow activated. Instant Attack Power ×10.』
Isis's mechanical voice sounded strangely clear in my head. Every sense had become razor-sharp in the face of death.
I plunged into the Emperor's mouth. Then I activated Limit Break on Lightbringer's output.
―――『Limit Break activated. Magic Power and Skill Power can now be used infinitely for a limited time.』
I tore through the soft flesh inside its mouth. Blood gushed out. I poured magic power through the blade embedded in its body.
"EXPLODE!"
"GYAOOOOOO!!!"
The inside of its mouth was engulfed in overwhelming heat. The Emperor thrashed wildly. It could have easily closed its mouth, but it didn't. No — it couldn't. Every time it tried, I unleashed another Explode directly into its brain.
"Explode! Explode!! Explooooode!!!"
I hammered it with every drop of magic and skill power I had. If I got spat out while it was still alive, it would be over. I'd be crushed or chewed up and sent to the dragon's stomach.
I kept firing Explode with everything I had, even as dizziness hit me and my blood vessels felt like they were about to burst. If I lost consciousness here, I would die.
"EEEEEEEEEEEXPLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODE!!!"
With one final, all-out Explode, I poured everything into it. My magic power had already run dry long ago, but Limit Break kept the spells coming. I raised Lightbringer's output even higher and swung it upward. The sickening sound of thick flesh being torn apart echoed inside the dragon's mouth.
"Fungaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!"
I let out a roar that tore at my own throat as I leaped upward. Using the last of my strength on Lightbringer and Explode, I split the Emperor of the Sacred Peak's skull clean in two, causing it to explode.
I flew into the air and then free-fell, slamming hard into the ground. The impact knocked the breath out of me. The pain was so intense I nearly blacked out, but I couldn't faint until I confirmed the enemy was dead.
However, the headless dragon had already lost all strength and slowly toppled onto its side.
『Hostile entity's death confirmed. Terminating battle.』
I… somehow… won…
※
Why was Tōya able to win? Once again, the reason lay with that loli goddess.
Normally, there is no title called "Reincarnated Person." It should have been "Reincarnator."
That was the true blessing the Creation God had given him.
Tōya didn't know this. And now, he had no way of knowing.
It was yet another secret the goddess had hidden from him.
The true name of the "Reincarnated Person" title was…
Title Skill: [Protagonist of the Story]
『Passive Skill: Protagonist Correction (When at a disadvantage, hidden parameter [Luck Value] increases by 9999%) and many other effects』