Akatsuki Translations

Canaan Fortress, Old Dormitory Ruins, Second Floor

Ur had dashed into this place and was now peering through a hole in a collapsed wall, observing the courtyard. In the center of the courtyard, the Gashadokuro was writhing, trying to heal its body that had been pierced by Ur’s Dragonfang Spear.

The body Ur had destroyed with his Dragonfang Spear was not completely restored in an instant. After driving Ur away, the Gashadokuro was focused on its own recovery.

However, the recovery of its lower half was somewhat slower compared to its upper half. That’s why Ur was able to escape easily.

『GAKA… 』

“…” -Ur

Ur watched, observing.

When challenging something mightier than oneself, he had learned during the crystal golem battle that observation and understanding were essential.

The true nature of the undead soldiers was that they were puppets controlled by magical energy. The necromancer infuses his own soul into the bones, controlling them at will.

In other words, the bones are vessels for souls.

And the Gashadokuro is a collection of these bone vessels.

Perhaps the reason the lower half isn’t recovering is that the vessels have been destroyed and are lacking?

“Keep destroying the vessels, and eventually, it won’t be able to regenerate, huh?” -Ur

It can’t use the tactic of capturing hostages and using them as shields like it did when it appeared before the Island-Eating Turtle. The hostages have already been rescued by Ur and his team. Thus, if they continue to attack steadily, eventually, the giant humanoid will crumble as it loses its vessels.

“…Hold on, in the first place, do I need to defeat it as fast as possible right now?” -Ur

The primary reasons for his frantic rush here were to rescue Rose and thwart the necromancer’s conspiracy. While they were able to save Rose, they couldn’t prevent the necromancer’s scheme.

Having failed to prevent it in time, there’s no longer a need to rush.

The Gashadokuro can’t move due to the damage from the Dragonfang Spear. As long as they meticulously prevent it from heading towards the city, they can communicate with the scouting unit of the knight order and cooperate with the army preparing to sortie in Aru-

『That would seem quite challenging. 』-Skeleton Knight

“Huh?” -Ur

A chill ran down Ur’s spine. Reflexively, he raised his shield towards his neck. A strong impact hit his arm, and Ur was slammed to the ground.

“Wha?!” -Ur

As he looked up in a panic, he saw a gleaming sword tip close to his face. He tried to escape, but something pinned him down. He couldn’t move! Ur raised his shield again, protecting his face and eyes.

The crystal golem shield protected his face just as the sword thrust at the shield. A sharp clang echoed around. The shock from blocking the attack traveled from Ur’s arm throughout his body. Ur deeply thanked the Golden Hammer craftsmen of Greed for such a robust shield.

『Ho, I was confident I could pierce through the shield and into your eye, but it’s a good shield. 』-Skeleton Knight

“…Why are you still alive, you old sack of bones? Hurry up and be called to Zerudia already.” -Ur

『It seems difficult given I’m being manipulated by such heretics and monsters. 』-Skeleton Knight

It’s the Skeleton Knight. The one Ur thought he had shattered to pieces just a short while ago.

He was sure he had destroyed its vessel. Once the vessel was gone, the soul should have been released.

『Remember, I’m special. Apparently, there’s a mechanism in my body. It seems that the container isn’t easily destroyed. 』-Skeleton Knight

“I see,” thought Ur, feeling incredibly frustrated. But it made sense. The vessel was crucial for the undead soldiers. If the vessel is destroyed, that’s the end. It’s unreasonable to think that the evidently special Skeleton Knight hadn’t taken precautions for that weakness.

“A regeneration function, huh?” -Ur

『Probably…! 』-Skeleton Knight

The Skeleton Knight’s blade, which had been pushing against the shield, slid off like a snake, repelling the shield. Using this opening, Ur kicked the knight’s torso with all his might.

『GAH! 』-Skeleton Knight

“DAH!!” -Ur

Ur, using the momentum of his kick, rolled away and quickly got into a stance. The Skeleton Knight laughed with a clattering sound.

『HAHA! You’re good. 』-Skeleton Knight

“…” -Ur

Ur couldn’t retort. The fear, tension, and reflexive action had taken his breath away. He couldn’t pull off that reflexive counter again. He knew the Skeleton Knight was superior in combat skills, especially in killing techniques. Continuing this fight was too dangerous.

So, what to do? The answer was clear. He had to run.

The bone vessels of the undead soldiers regenerate. The vast amount of magic stones stolen from the necromancer of the Gashadokuro and from Island-Eating Turtle are likely being used for that regeneration.

Destroying it would be a never-ending task. Engaging it was just a waste.

He needed to create distance. Then, use holy water again to evade its magical detection. While distracting it, he had to destroy the Gashadokuro, doing everything in one fell swoop. Ur took out a magic talisman from his pocket and threw it.

『I won’t fall for the same trick. 』-Skeleton Knight

The Skeleton Knight was quick to react. Having experienced the earlier surprise attack, he wasn’t going to be easily fooled. As he avoided the magic talisman to chase after the fleeing Ur…

『EH!? 』-Skeleton Knight

It exploded right next to him.

The talisman Ur had thrown wasn’t the same as before; it was a talisman of explosion magic. Its power wasn’t immense, but it seemed the knight was cautious and defended against the blast.

However, Ur took this chance to flee.

『What are you, a damned illusionist?!! 』-Skeleton Knight

Ur ran, trying to put distance between himself and the Skeleton Knight. He needed to regroup and strategize. If he could rendezvous with Shizuku, they could hide using her barrier…

“Huh?” -Ur

『ＧＡＧＧＡＧＡＧＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！』

A monstrous roar pierced Ur’s ears. It wasn’t the sound of the undead skeleton soldiers. Nor was it from the Gashadokuro. The only thing that came to his mind…

“The living dead!!” -Ur

『ＧＵＵＵＵＵuuuu YOuuUUUU BRAATTTTTTTT!!!!!』-Living Dead

Surprisingly, the living dead leapt from the courtyard, flying towards Ur. Its movements were clearly different from a mere undead soldier’s. Having flesh makes it agile, but was the difference really this pronounced!?

『ＧＡＡＡＡ！！！』-Living Dead

It descended and charged at Ur, slamming both its arms into the ground. The impact shattered the ground, creating a hole that led to the floor below. Ur hastily retreated, while the living dead curiously looked down at its broken arms.

『Ａ，Ａ？』-Living Dead

“It’s completely out of control…” -Ur

『ＧＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！！』-Living Dead

“And so noisy.” -Ur

Ur dodged the living dead that kept lunging at him. It was unable to control its strength, destroying its own body in the process, resembling a rampaging crystal golem.

Of course, compared to that, this threat is lesser, but it’s still dangerous.

“I wasn’t told it’d be this bad, Diz!” -Ur

While complaining to his absent employer, Ur pulled out a magic tome and poured his magical power into it. Without the need for chanting or focus, just by channeling his magic, the magic tome completed the spell.

“【Fireball】” -Ur

A palm-sized fireball flew toward the approaching living dead, exploding on impact.

『ＧＡ、ＧＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！？』-Living Dead

“Well, they burn better than bone… Are they even flammable? Well, it seems effective.” -Ur

This was one of the countermeasures prepared considering the danger of the living dead.

The magic tome was costly, but it proved worthwhile. However, it consumed magic. Overusing it would also sap his stamina. He couldn’t use it too much.

“But, first, let’s reduce their numb–––––––?!” -Ur

Just then, he noticed.

A dark red pulsation illuminated him. Looking up, a hand, larger than Ur himself, was raised, ready to squash him.

And then it came crashing down.

“–––––––Ah!?” -Ur

Before he could even scream, a pitiful sound escaped his throat.

Simultaneously, the ground just behind Ur was literally “smashed”. The fragile remains of the castle wall were obliterated, creating a cloud of dust.

If he had been a step slower, he surely would have been buried.

And towering above him was the Gashadokuro.

“How did it…” -Ur

Weren’t they unable to recover because they lacked vessels? Or, like the Skeleton Knight, had the vessels been restored? Ur quickly glanced at the supposed absent lower half of the creature, widening his eyes in shock.

『ＳＩＩＩＩＩＩＩＩＩＩ…』

“Treant…?”[1] -Ur

The tree monster that lurked beneath the dungeon was entwined around the Gashadokuro’s lower half. No, not just entwined. Two large trees, like those torn from a giant, served as its legs. Their roots extended and wrapped around the core of the necromancer, “digging” into it.

Rather than “digging”, it seemed like…

『ＳＩＩＩＩＩ……ＳＩ，ＺＩＺＩＺＩ……』

“It’s… eating?” -Ur

Why did he perceive it that way? The word “eating” came to mind because of Diz’s advice about 【Predation】 and 【Expansion】. Monsters, or any living creature nearby, are absorbed and make it stronger. If the Gashadokuro consumed all the creatures in the plains, how powerful would it become?

『Exactly as I said, right?』-Skeleton Knight

With a nod of understanding, the Skeleton Knight leaped over the burning corpse of a living dead and approached. Ur took a step back, but the Skeleton Knight continued speaking without concern.

『If you just leave it be, it seems to feast on all the creatures around, grow fatter, and become more powerful. And there seem to be no limits. 』-Skeleton Knight

In other words, monsters, or any creatures for that matter, nearby would be absorbed and made stronger. Ur understood this and shivered.

To be honest, the Gashadokuro was a direct threat to Ur and Shizuku, but when considered on a city-wide scale, it didn’t seem like such a fatal situation.

In this world, there were plenty of dangerous monsters, and because they could deal with them, the cities could survive. If it was just a giant monster, it would be repelled by the city’s barrier and dealt with by the knights entrusted with city defense. If that proved difficult, priests blessed with the protection of the spirits from the temple would come out and eliminate it.

But what if this Gashadokuro devoured all the monsters on the plains? If it continued to absorb and consume everything, all the creatures on the plains, what then?

Ur didn’t know. He didn’t know how fast it would grow or at what pace it would consume other creatures. He also didn’t know how many monsters were between this fortress and the neighboring cities.

One thing was clear, though: the current Gashadokuro was at its “weakest.”

The barrier created by the necromancer is keeping the monsters away from this area. Ironically, it’s also preventing the Gashadokuro from feeding. Because there is less prey to consume, the Gashadokuro hasn’t been able to grow.

Therefore, right here and now, he must defeat the enormous skeletal figure in front of him.

“…” -Ur

『What’s with the sudden silence? 』 -Skeleton Knight

“I’m lamenting my misfortune.” -Ur        

『Poor you. 』-Skeleton Knight

“Thanks. It’s your fault.” -Ur

Ur took out holy water from his bag and sprinkled it over himself. When consumed, holy water, which suppresses the release of magic from within the body, takes a shorter time to take effect when applied directly to the body, and it has a stronger sealing effect.

『ＫＡＫＡＡ！？！』

The sightless undead soldiers naturally lost track of Ur.

『Even if you hide, we can pinpoint your locati—』-Skeleton Knight

And then, Ur threw something toward the Skeleton Knight who couldn’t see him. Perhaps due to its previous experiences, the Skeleton Knight immediately assumed a defensive stance, but there was no way to evade this.

“What!?” -Skeleton Knight

It was “dust” created from shattered magic stones.

It was an experiment.

The undead skeletons can sense and recognize magic power. Understanding this, Ur had been holding onto magic stones he obtained by defeating the treants in the underground dungeon, crushing them into dust.

The magic of Ur is now cut off by holy water.

And the powdered magic stone was thrown towards the Skeleton Knight.

Now, what will the Gashadokuro do?

『GAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!』

『Nuuuh?!』-Skeleton Knight

The Gashadokuro lifted its fist, not towards Ur, but towards the direction where Ur had scattered the magic stones, in other words, where the Skeleton Knight was. The Skeleton Knight leaped in surprise, trying to evade, but at the same time, the ground was shattered, and he fell.

“I see, your perception isn’t that high. But you’re pretty agile for a sack of bones.” -Ur

Understanding and admiring, Ur resumed his escape.

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TL Note(s)

[1] The author gave the reading of 悪霊樹 as トレント, which is “Treant” (as in like the DnD monster) so that what I’m going to change it to from here on out.