New chapter of Let’s Create a Dungeon is out! (3/5 chapters)
Unbeatable Battle
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(POV switch – Nobunaga)
In the blink of an eye, my body changed. From the strongest body known as Volt to the hardest body known as Tungsten. Alice’s slashes and the Knight’s fierce attacks hit me, yet my body remains unscathed. It was a body specialized solely for protection, the foundation of my confidence.
That confidence was shattered.
“What the hell!” (Nobunaga)
I understood that I had no sword due to the transformation, and that the arm on the ground was still Volt’s arm. But I didn’t want to acknowledge that a strike had been made to my side. A few centimeters of a cut. Even so, it was certainly inflicting damage on my Defensive Combat Mode (Tungsten Body).
While I was still astonished, Volt opened up some distance. Probably due to caution regarding my transformation or the fact that the cut was unusually shallow. But right now, that didn’t matter. I press on the cut and activate Automatic Recovery as if I were concentrating. It consumed a considerable amount of mana, but once I let go, the wound closed. For now, I could breathe a sigh of relief.
“The world is vast, a saying I’ve truly felt for the first time. It’s the first time I’ve failed to cut something in half with all my might, Maou.” (Volt)
“On my side, it’s the first time I’ve had a cut on this body, you old bastard. You even cut my arm… I wonder if it’ll attach again, growing back sounds kinda scary.” (Nobunaga)
When I pick it up, the arm changes as if overwritten, transforming from Volt’s arm to a silver-gray arm wrapped in a coat.
Oh, there was a reaction. Then, there is hope!
I tried to attach it immediately, but there was no sign of it wanting to stick. Reluctantly, I activate Automatic Recovery but kept it only superficial. If I fully healed, I probably wouldn’t have enough mana left to maintain this form.
“That’s good, it attached. Now let’s proceed.” (Volt)
Volt approaches me closely, and with a smoothness like gliding, he inserted the blade into the joint and cut it off.
“Ahhhh!” (Nobunaga)
“…Hmm?” (Volt)
That person, no, that Demon King just cut off the arm I had just healed!
“That’s strange. The hardness is completely different from before.” (Volt)
“You old bastard! Just after I healed it!” (Nobunaga)
My arm… I could cry over this old man. I quickly recover the arm and hold onto it. There’s no way I can let it get cut again.
“Hmm, shall we resume then?” (Volt)
“What are you saying when you can barely cut me? It’ll heal right away.” (Nobunaga)
I tried to act tough, but in reality, it was difficult. Mana was finite. Maintaining this form consumed mana, and if I healed my wounds, I would probably run out in a few minutes.
What should I do?
As I pondered, I suddenly notice the arm I was holding.
…Wait? Can I use it for defense? It’s the Tungsten arm. Even the previous strike only managed a few centimeters of a cut. If I defend with this arm, I can protect my body?
But reality was not so forgiving.
“Too naive!” (Volt)
Volt’s sword easily ignored my arm and strikes into my side. This time, it only grazed me without leaving a wound, but it was enough for me to realize the arm wasn’t useful.
Until a moment ago, I could see Volt’s sword because I was still Volt’s form. But now, as a combat novice, I could hardly see anything.
Isn’t this bad? I can’t move well and can’t defend, and even my proud Defensive Combat Mode (Tungsten body) is getting cut into by Volt’s sword. Even if it’s slight, if he keeps slicing away, eventually something will be severed. And if there’s hope of being able to cut, one would continue to try. If I keep trying, my mana will eventually run out, and returning to my initial body will make it certain that I’ll be cut down.
…I’m in checkmate.
I searched for a way to survive. I held my arm in a defensive stance, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to react. So, I focused on thinking. The conclusion I reached was…
—
(POV switch – Volt)
This might be checkmate.
Volt, keeping a slight distance from the Demon King, was poised to strike at any moment, but internally understood that attacking now would be meaningless, rather, it would exacerbate the situation.
The first attack on the Demon King. This was a failure. A strike relying solely on power. I had thought of it after observing how the Demon King fought, but it was a failure. It would have been a good way to cut the Demon King transformed as me. In fact, I broke the sword and severed an arm. But it had become useless against the Demon King after further transformation. That couldn’t be cut by brute force. Attempting to cut something that couldn’t be cut was asking for trouble, just like with this sword.
The reckless strike caused cracks to appear in the sword. To keep the Demon King from noticing and to search for a reversal, I swung it a couple of times, but it would likely break within one or two more strikes.
If I lose my sword, I lose my means of attack against the Demon King. A Sword Hand would be meaningless. With a blow from the legendary sword, I barely managed to slice into the side. If the Demon King hadn’t screamed, I would have been astonished.
Then, what should I do? The opponent is armed with the severed arm and is focused. If I could cut it, I would be happy to fight. A battle to the death is unavoidable in the end, but losing to someone who can mimic my every move is…
What should I do? How can I survive?
With my mind, which usually only thinks of cutting, desperately whirling, I found an answer.
“Let’s have a temporary truce.” (Volt/Nobunaga)
At that moment, the same answer came out simultaneously.
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