Chapter 20
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Episode 6 - Sword of Faith [3]
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「Error」
'He...'
「The sword's characteristics can only be seen with 'Inspection'」
I sighed, somewhat annoyed.
"I guess it was to be expected, wasn't it? The characteristic the system shows me without inspection is too weak with high-ranking objects."
Even so, a radiant smile spread across my face, while my heart pounded hard as I held the sword.
It felt like my chest was going to burst.
Suddenly, I looked at my hand.
More precisely, the hand with which I tried to grip the Evil Sword.
"W-what the hell..."
How was this possible?
A burn spread across my entire wrist. It was first-degree, not too severe... but all the skin—
'It was slightly burned.'
At first, I didn't notice.
I was so focused on the Sword of Faith that, without realizing it, I already had the burn I received in that 'recording' of the sword.
'Well, it's just a burn, nothing more...'
A burn caused just by trying to touch it.
Even though I knew I couldn't wield it... that reaction it had just from me getting close...
'It was strange.'
I shook my head to push those thoughts away and focused. I imbued magical power into the ring to heal myself.
A golden glow emanated from the ring and enveloped my hand.
And just when I thought it should have healed by now...
The light vanished. I looked at my hand.
"....."
My heart skipped a beat in an instant.
A lump formed in my throat. I couldn't breathe.
'Why didn't it heal...?'
I used the ring once.
And then again.
And one more time.
'Why isn't it working...?'
A third time.
A fourth.
A fifth.
"....."
No matter how many times I tried, the burn didn't disappear at all.
'Maybe... the ring's ability isn't strong enough to heal this wound.'
Just maybe.
But... what if it's not that? What if no ability can heal it...?
Thump. Thump.
My heart was pounding hard.
I could hear my own heartbeat, resounding clearly in the midst of the silence.
My body froze, staring at the burn in disbelief.
"H-ha... ha, damn, this is bullshit..."
I had to think calmly. I took a deep breath.
'A priest might be able to heal it...'
But... what if that doesn't work either?
Then, there was only one option.
"Ultra Regeneration."
An ability that turns the user into something close to immortality.
Ultra Regeneration could heal anything. It regenerated the entire body no matter how destroyed it was.
Even if my head was cut off, my body would rebuild itself in less than a second.
Although, of course, it had a flaw...
'The magical power consumption is brutal.'
Just regenerating a finger would consume all the magical power of a B-rank individual.
"Let's not forget this... Maybe it's just that the ring's ability is insufficient."
Maybe it couldn't heal such deep wounds.
Or worse: maybe it couldn't heal wounds caused by magic.
I sighed and tried to relax. I released the tension in my shoulders and breathed slowly.
I directed my gaze toward the sword.
'Clank!'
I swung it without much force... and even so, all the dust around me rose as if a gale had swept through the place.
"Maybe... I could kill an E-rank."
An idea popped into my mind.
Then, I looked toward the exit, blocked by a huge piece of concrete.
A gigantic piece of debris.
I approached, grabbed it with both hands, and lifted it in a single motion, throwing it to the side.
'Rumble!'
A small curtain of dust rose along with a loud impact sound.
Right at that moment...
"....."
A tentacle appeared next to my body.
「Skill: Instant Acceleration has been activated」
My body vanished from where it was in the blink of an eye.
'Flap!'
My feet touched the concrete a dozen meters from my previous position as if I had teleported.
'Even a G-rank couldn't easily see me.'
They'd have to use a movement-slowing skill or something similar to track me with their eyes.
"I'll put you to the test."
I swung the Sword of Faith.
「Skill: Weapon Master has been activated」
「Mastery of all melee weapons increases by 90%, attack strength and swing speed increase by 50%」
After raising Weapon Master to Level 9, its effects changed and were replaced by much more powerful ones.
'Clank!'
By swinging the sword, I struck a tentacle that had reached me in a second.
The piece flew through the air as dark green blood spurted from the tentacle, splattering the ground with a corrosive sizzle.
"....."
A guttural screech echoed through the air. The monster had several tentacles all over its body, and a huge mouth extended from its head to its stomach.
Just at that moment...
My eyes flickered.
「Skill: Intellectual Genius has been activated」
「All brain functions accelerate to the maximum. Ocular vision is enhanced. You can now see everything much slower」
The world around me slowed down immediately. Every movement, every particle in the air seemed to float slowly.
The monster's tentacles moved with a deceptive slowness, as if swimming in thick water.
Then I looked more closely.
The tip was like a drill with a fine needle. It had spines all over the tentacle with edges as sharp as blades.
'Wow, that's made of something hard like metal…'
My mind accelerated even further. I could decipher the material's composition and detect a precise line where I should cut to disable its mobility.
'Clank! Clank!'
My sword sliced through the air with surgical precision.
Two quick, clean cuts. The tentacle fell in two pieces.
Without losing momentum, I repeated the process.
「Skill: Instant Acceleration has been activated」
The surroundings seemed to stretch around me, but I could still see everything clearly. Time continued to flow slowly for me.
I swung the sword, now covered by a faint magical veil.
'Slash! Slash! Slash! I cut! I cut! I cut!'
Pieces of tentacles the size of my forearm flew everywhere, accompanied by an acidic stench.
Some managed to graze me, leaving deep cuts on my body. But I didn't stop. I used the ring's skill, and although the magic power consumption was brutal, the wounds began to close.
I approached the monster. Its huge mouth opened wide, and from its jaws emerged fleshy tentacles, bright red and slimy.
One grazed my cheek, leaving a burning sensation. I ignored it.
I swung my sword with all my strength. A thin line was drawn across the monster's entire body.
In an instant, it split in half.
The ground trembled.
'Clank!'
A one-meter line was etched in the concrete as the tip of my sword buried itself halfway.
"That was… tough…"
I couldn't help a heavy gasp of exhaustion. My legs were trembling. I felt the little magical power I had left draining away.
I had used my skills and the ring's skill several times. I was almost empty.
Just at that moment…
'Thump!'
My heart pounded heavily. A sharp pain erupted in my cheek and spread quickly.
"Poison…"
I quickly channeled the little magical power I had left.
However…
'It's not enough… I need help.'
A small amount wasn't enough. I needed the full mana of another person. All their magical power.
Otherwise…
'I'll die poisoned.'
I looked toward a building in the distance. I still had one activation of Instant Acceleration left.
"Ugh... the poison is spreading fast..."
I could see green veins starting to expand from my cheek across my entire face.
Worst of all... they were already close to my heart.
Without thinking any further, I ran toward an open area and used Instant Acceleration.
It didn't take me long to reach the building where Clarisse was.
At that moment, I felt the muscles in my body weaken, and a cold sweat ran through me.
I was hesitating.
Far too much.
I climbed the stairs quickly, and after a few seconds, I reached the top. Then I saw her.
"Clarisse... I need your help."
Her eyes locked onto mine just as my face paled and my vision began to blur. A sharp pain spread to my shoulders.
"W-what's happening to you... Zeth, what do I do?"
Clarisse was alarmed. Her voice trembled with concern.
It was fortunate that she was someone so deeply worried about the person she loves.
She ran toward me and held my face with both hands, her eyes wide with fear.
"The ring... Use your magical power... everything into the ring."
She gripped my hand tightly as my legs lost balance and I fell to my knees.
"Zeth..."
I raised my other hand with effort.
"Do it quickly..."
My voice barely escaped my throat. Clarisse nodded, and at that moment, I could see her eyes fill with tears.
"....."
What an intriguing character, honestly.
While I thought about it, Clarisse's magical power was absorbed into the ring. It was an enormous amount, very similar to mine.
Then, a bright light emanated from the ring and enveloped my entire body.
The pain began to fade quickly.
My vision cleared, my muscles relaxed, and the greenish hue of my veins gradually disappeared.
"Ahhh... that was close."
I sighed inwardly.
For a moment, I thought I'd die poisoned.
I need to get the poison immunity certificate...
I needed it as soon as possible to survive most of the strongest poisons.
Soon after, I stood up as oxygen rapidly entered and left my lungs. Perhaps due to my body's natural shock from the poison.
Then.
"Clarisse..."
Clarisse held me tightly, hugging me without hesitation.
I looked at her, somewhat bewildered, but I understood immediately and sighed.
I placed a hand on her head and stroked her hair for a few seconds.
"That's enough."
I gently pushed her away and sat on the ground.
It was uncomfortable having someone so close to me. Even annoying.
I leaned the Sword of Faith against the wall behind me and gazed at the ashen gray sky covering the city.
"Zeth, what's that sword?"
As if she'd only just noticed, Clarisse looked at the Sword of Faith with some curiosity.
'Right... I need an explanation for Seth about the sword.'
Would he believe I just happened to find it exactly where I was going to gather "information" about the Deviations?
I shook my head.
'Of course not.'
So I improvised something quickly.
"Clarisse."
She nodded, taking a step toward me.
"It was a reward I found in the church, remember? I told you to help me find a church... well, that's where I found this sword."
'A simple story, but believable.'
Seth should more or less buy it.
A sword a hero would carry in a fantasy world is usually found in a temple... or a church.
Of course, not just any church...
But it's not like Seth is going to come check.
Clarisse nodded.
"Oh, yeah, I remember."
It seems her personality right now is that of a child.
Not like the one I saw in the previous Deviation.
I nodded to myself and said:
"Let's kill some monsters and then head back to the others. Oh, and let's wait until I recover my magical power."
My fatigue was recovering quickly thanks to the ring, so there was no issue.
Clarisse nodded shortly after, with a smile.
"Heh, heh, of course. Zeth, if it's you, I'll wait as long as you want."
"Yeah... ha, ha..."
Ugh... what a creepy smile, honestly.
It's hard to get used to a character with issues in their head.