A sharp, red light flashed in the dust.
Black mist churned with sand and dust, making the ominous presence on the other side appear even more ferocious.
No, the sense of threat wasn't just due to obstructed vision… Even with the view blocked, the black aura mixed with dust… still indicated the presence of that colossal creature.
As the dust gradually settled, the massive monster's body began to appear. "...Ugh…!" Cecilia and several soldiers groaned in fear. "...Damn it."
I involuntarily uttered a curse.
While not as enormous as Jormungandr before, it looked at least as large as a truckload of super-giant wild boar.
...No, could that thing really be called a wild boar? Six legs, a mixture of human hands and feet and beast legs. And below the nose, it had a grotesque, rotting appearance.
The black aura rising from its massive body, the black liquid dripping from its mouth—if there truly was a creator, I'd love to see that face—a design overflowing with such malice.
Now, it's obvious without even needing confirmation. Without a doubt…
... Name: Kalidon—Hero Devourer
Race: Hai
Rank:
Title: The One Who Invites Destruction
Age: @#$%: 8
****…Wait? What's this?
The Hero Devourer status bar, which originally only displayed the name and title, seems to have something extra? Hai…? 8? What could that be? "…All troops! Monster Encirclement Formation! Cecilia! You retreat!" Leo roared, and the stunned soldiers snapped back to reality, frantically grabbing their weapons.
…Hmm. True. Now is not the time to leisurely check the status bar.
First to regain consciousness and issue orders.
Truly the demeanor of a hero?
I'm currently only wearing a Marburgini-style coat, unarmed… I need to get Cecilia to Ladia first, then go get the armor and horse tack…
"Goo ... "Gahhhhhh!"
"Aaaaaah!!!" The soldiers, armed and guarding against the monster, let out futile screams and were thrown back.
The soldiers' levels were probably only 10-30 at most. Even though they wore heavy armor, being rammed by that behemoth at that speed, their level was simply no match.
No. I have to get into Radia quickly and prepare before coming out again…!
"Ah…! Brother Shimo! That monster is looking this way!" Just as I was running towards Radia, the Hero Devourer seemed to pounce on me.
A moment later, realizing something was wrong, I heard the sound of a sword clashing behind me.
"Ugh…! Run! Go save Cecilia…!"
"Brother Leo!" Leo, his body surging with blue light, cried out in pain, as if being suppressed by the monster.
Well done, Leo!
But even his hero's aura was suppressed!?
Damn it.
They say size trumps everything…!
I have to get out of here quickly…! "Ah! Brother Shimo! I want to fight too…!"
"He's not even wearing armor, just a rapier! No way!"
"But…! Ah! Brother Leo!" Hearing Cecilia's scream, he turned around and saw a burst of blue energy shooting out from behind the monster.
Damn it, only two seconds have passed!
How could a mere hero be so easily repelled!
But he's supposedly a top-tier level 30 soldier, a mid-to-late stage! Getting repelled like this is too pathetic!?
Tsk… In the end, these heroes are all unreliable…!
It's all my fault for being too naive and thinking I could hold out until the city wall!
"Brother! They're getting closer!" Ugh, are they even faster than me!?
With that physique!?
Damn…!
Looks like I can barely make it to the city wall.
If this continues, I'll be caught in the blast wave of that guy's charge…!
No.
I have to find a way to stop that guy…!
"Cecilia! Can you jump!?"
"Ah, ah!?"
"Jump right now, using your aura to step on my waist! I'll stop that thing!"
"But, but brother's all alone...!"
"It's alright! I'll hold it off. You go find the soldiers and adventurers inside! Hurry!"
"Um, um!!!" Seeing my anxious shouts, Cecilia stopped insisting and nodded.
Was it thanks to her riding assist skill? Amidst the jolting of the full-speed run, Cecilia stepped on my waist and straightened up.
Soon, her waist received a considerable impact, and Cecilia, enveloped in red flames, flew towards the city gate. After confirming Cecilia's safety, I spun in mid-air, switching into my demon form, my body swirling violently amidst the smoke... At the last second, before the Hero Devourer could touch me, I completed my arm transformation, firmly grasping its rotting fangs. "...Ugh! This...this bastard...!!!" The momentum from my run, combined with the force of Kaliden's attack, made it impossible to stop, pushing me backward.
As I slid backward and crashed into a nearby city wall, some kind of magic circle-like pattern flashed and then shattered abruptly.
Without the magic circle's cushioning, the violent impact caused the walls of Radia to begin collapsing.
"Gahhhhh...! Damn, my back...!!!" Although I managed to stop myself with the wall's protection, the situation was still dire.
Even buried under the collapsing walls, the Hero Devourer appeared completely unharmed.
But a sharp, agonizing pain shot through my lower back, as if it were about to snap, and my legs felt like they were about to give way.
This is it.
Even though I caught it, if this thing shakes its head a few more times, I'll be sent flying…!
Then this thing will wander into the city!
No, damn it!
This is practically my city now!
How dare it try to trespass into my paradise!?
"You bastard…!!! It's the Demon King Fist, you pig!!!" Demon King Fist!
Demon King Fist!
King of all fists, taste the Demon King Fist!
You twisted hellish pig!
Trying to be arrogant just because you're big!?
I've never lost a battle of strength!
If I just grab you like this, the high-level adventurers will come and chop off your head!
Postponing my demise while taking a stroll!
Perfect! The pain in my back will make you pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold!
I'll smash your disgusting head in!
"Demon King Fist! Demon King Fist! Die, you bastard... Ugh!?" W-what!?
The impact that hit my face just now was...!?
Could it be this guy?
Now...!?
Among those strange legs, there are legs that look like human arms. Did he swing that just now!?
"Cough! Pfft! This...this bastard!?" What is this!?
Although those two legs seem to be forcibly attached, he can actually use that thing to throw a punch!?
Is he imitating me!?
He even imitates my punching style, this madman...!
This...damn...!
And it's not just the size difference...!
That guy uses four legs to propel himself, while I only have two legs for support. My strength is simply insufficient!
Ah, no.
I'm being pushed along...! At this rate, we'll be pushed into the city…!
Rumble!
Bang!
Crack!
Thud!!!
Just as I was thinking about being pushed into the city, Kaliden's side exploded simultaneously, a huge block of ice flying in and embedding itself.
...That combination. Here they come…! My females…!
"Master! Are you alright!?"
"A mere failure, daring to attack Master…!!!" Lisbeth and Celeste unleashed magic as they swooped down as if leaping from a city wall.
Ice and fireballs, seemingly capable of changing the color of the sky, swooped down on Kaliden in a spectacular display.
"I'll control it, you two. Finish it off!!!"
"Lizbeth! Celeste! I'm going to cast a blessing, launch a powerful attack immediately!"
The instant I shouted, Claire's hands shone brightly behind them, casting a blessing on Lisbeth and Celeste.
Bathed in blessing, the red and blue mages unfurled massive magic circles behind them and chanted incantations.
From their wands, flames and ice surged forth like giant beams of light.
"Flame Blast!!!"
"Extreme Ice Shard Lance!!!" A storm of fire and ice, seemingly capable of incinerating and freezing everything, erupted.
Their magic intertwined and amplified, pouring down towards Kalidon's waist.
Jormungandr was indeed troublesome, but after a few blows, this guy didn't seem so difficult to deal with.
With this kind of power, that twisted hellboar should be finished too.
Come and taste the icy and scalding magical feast of my females!
"Gurgle, gaa ... Since it's a destroyer, it should have some skills!
But my females, thanks to my horse semen's stats being off the charts, and now with Kleia's buff!?
I'll hold onto you forever, try and last until you die…
"Gurgle, gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle!!!"
"Ugh!!! Stay still…! Ugh!!!" The moment Kalidon's head and twisted arms pushed me away…
I was using all my strength to brace my arms when a collapsing rock struck the back of my head.
This unexpected impact caused my grip on Kalidon's fangs to loosen slightly.
It seized the opportunity to shove me away, leaping off the city wall.
As Lisbeth and Ceres's magic caught up, something suddenly twisted and flickered in front of it… In the blink of an eye, Kalidon vanished through a portal.
"Ah, that's...!...Master!"
"Are you alright!? Ahh, while we were gone...!"
"Please wait a moment, Master! I'll come down and heal you right away!" As I clicked my tongue at the vanished Kaliton, my subordinate beasts rushed towards me.
The adventurers who had accompanied her were now running towards the collapsed city wall where I was.
Ha...If only they had come sooner.
With those adventurers there, maybe we could have caught it...
"Brother...Brother Shimo!!!" Among the adventurers, I saw Cecilia running towards me, calling my name.
...Oh well, what's gone is gone.
At least I should be thankful that my females, including Cecilia, are all safe and sound.
"Brother! Are you alright!? Are you hurt!?"
"Phew. I'm fine. My back hurts a little, but I'm not seriously injured." As the beasts covering me with a cloth were examining me, Cecilia squeezed among them and threw herself into my arms.
Even under their watchful eyes, she showed no shyness whatsoever.
My beasts seemed to be watching Cecilia with satisfaction. "...Hehe. Alright. Cecilia. Master needs treatment, don't disturb him too much, get up quickly."
"Ah, Mother... Yes, yes. I understand..."
"You've learned to care for Master now... Our Cecilia has really grown up?"
"Ugh, huh? Ahaha... Lately, I've become closer to Brother Shimo..."
"...Hehe. As expected... Master and... as expected of my daughter. Cecilia." Cecilia and Cecilia reunited after a long time.
Ceres, dressed in licentious attire, praised Cecilia's appearance, a sight that inexplicably radiated a heartwarming maternal tenderness.
Leo, staggering closer with the soldiers in the distance, gazed at this scene.
The mother and daughter didn't even glance at Leo in his demeanor; they only stared at me.