Pioneering the Apocalyptic World - Chapter 49

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Chapter 19: The starved Screams from the depths of the forest

At the same time as Uru jumped out, I first laid a stone floor at my feet. This will protect us from attacks from the ground to some extent. After that, I laid a stone wall behind as precaution to a surprise attack.
As expected, I don’t have a mobility like Uru, so I chose to strengthen my defenses.

“Fricka, can you use cutter-type magic?”

“Wind, water, I can use both.”

“It doesn’t matter which one you use, I would like you to cut the roots that come this way, and if you have room, aim for the thicker ones. Also, you probably already know that without me saying it, but be careful when handling a huge fire magic!”

“……OK!”

No matter how much regenerative ability it has, there should be a limit to it. For the time being, we have no choice but to cut down even a little and reduce Its LP.
In my game days, I used to use fire magic scrolls in mass without worrying about wildfires, but it’s too dangerous to do it in real life. There was already damage from flying sparks in the game, but here in addition to that, there is also the possibility of asphyxiation by lack of oxygen… Naturally, forest fires are also no good because Alness Village is close.

“Eat it!!!”

Thump!

Uru roared and threw her fist at the trunk.
There was a loud sound, and the upper branches and leaves swayed, but just like the Chimera fight, it didn’t seem to be effective because the effects of the miasma.
The Evil Treant rains down branch spears from overhead as an counterattack, but Uru swings her arms and break them into pieces.
It seems that just the trunk that is hard, but the branches and roots are not so strong. It will be fine for a while… But there is still a lot of them remaining.

“Uru! Try attacking from various positions!”

“All right!”

After all, while shaving It, we have to cut off the root of the problem… It would be best to aim for the magic stone.
When we try to attack it, if it tries to defend that part too much, there is a high possibility that it is there.

“Wind cutter!”

As Fricka chanted her magic, an invisible blade of wind flew away, and the thick root that was aiming at us was cut off. Yep, pretty powerful.
However, the attack range is not an area, and there will be some delay before using the next magic, so there will be some roots that pass through to attack us.

“But I won’t let them do it, hey!”

That’s it, I’m not just standing there doing nothing, so I cut it off them with my axe, making a good thud sound.
I had Fricka cast magic first, and I dealt with the attacks during the delay, an impromptu collaboration. How nostalgic, it brings back memories of doing this in multiplayer mode.
However, if we just repeat this all the time, it will be a downhill battle. If you ask which one is faster, our stamina consumption or Its stamina consumption… It would be us who will go down faster.

“I-I’m sorry, my mana is…”

“Oops, I’ll give you this. Take them all.”

I handed the MP potion to Fricka who was out of breath after firing a few dozens of magic attacks.
The mana itself can be recovered with this… But the burden on the body and mind can’t be recovered that easy.
What about Uru?

“This piece of-! It’s so persistent!!”

Even though she was fed up with the branches and roots that are coming one after another, she was not injured and seemed to still be able to move. However, the Evil Treant doesn’t seem to be taking that much damage either.
How about the position of the magic stone… I’m observing Its reaction to the two’s attacks, but so far I haven’t seen any major changes. I wonder if it’s the center of that thick trunk, as I was expecting.
……Come to think of it, those eyes and mouth are just hollow wood, right? If I can attack there, it would be easier for it to reach inside? It’s in a high place, but it looks like I can hit them with a bow.
In order to buy time, I surrounded our whole position with stone blocks and reinforced the barricade.

“Fricka, can you use explosive-type magic?”

“Y-yes, if it’s just about a flare blast… But I can only use one time because it consumes a lot of mana.”

“Then put it in this. I’m sorry after you done that, it’s going to be tough, but please recover your MP with potions again and be ready to use magic at any time.”

I handed a large magic stone??that belonged to an orc who was a dungeon guardian?? to Fricka.
Mikos generally can’t use magic, but they can use items with magic sealed in them. The most typical examples are the aforementioned scrolls and… Magic arrows.
With the magic stone that Fricka had returned to me with an “I’m done” signal in my hands, I took out a tree branch and a bird’s feather.

“Creation (Making), [Explosive Arrow]”

Three arrows were created with a flash of light. In addition let’s sprinkle the arrowhead (the magic stone) with holy water as well.
Then I equip a bow and shift the stone blocks to create a gap that allows the arrow to pass through but the roots can’t pass through. Like a arrowslit in a castle.

“Uru! I will shoot a bigger one so avoid!”

“I got it!”

As soon as I warned her, Uru took a side step and moved to a position where she wouldn’t get caught.
So I shoot an arrow at the Evil Treant’s eye!

DOGOOOOOON! !

Guaaaaaaa!

The moment the arrow was sucked into Its empty eyes, it made a loud noise, and flames and shock wave were scattered around. Fragments of trees and stones flew pounding at the barricade, and I reflexively put my head down.
…… I-It was more powerful than I thought …… It is a happy miscalculation that Fricka was better than I thought, but is Uru okay? In addition to the miasma, smoke and dust is blocking my vision, so I can’t see the surroundings, so I couldn’t confirm whether are was effective or not.
While I was impatiently waiting for the visibility to clear, I heard Uru’s shout.

“Rion!”

“Uru, were you okay!?”

“No problem! Besides, if you still have more, do it again!”

Hieeee… Don’t ask the impossible…! As expected, I don’t have the confidence to hit it when I can’t even see it…!”
As I was glaring at Evil Treant while breaking into a cold sweat, Fricka positioned herself behind me.

“Rion-sama, I will guide you.”

“… Can you see it?”

“Although it’s just a little I can, since I can see Its mana light.”

Really. Elves are amazing.
But I see, so it can be used in this case… let’s remember it. I want to quickly raise my magic skill level as soon as possible…
I nock an arrow in the bow and point it at the same direction as the one I just shot before.

“A little more to the right and below… There’s a wind current, so a little more to the right… There.”

It’s feels nice to have Fricka give me instructions right in my ear, but… In this emergency, let’s not get distracted by the tickling in my ears! Let’s concentrate in the work!

“It’s swaying left and right due to the impact of the previous attack, but It will pass through that position. The timing is… Three, two, one, now!”

“Go!”

When I shoot an arrow as if to shake off my impure thoughts.

Doppaaaaaaaan!

Gyiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaa!

The explosive sounds and screeching voice that resounded again. And in addition to them.

“Eat this one too!”

DOGGAAAAAAAAAAN!!!

As usual, beyond the unseen field of vision, the sound of a blow that was as loud as my explosive arrow sounded around.
Uru-san, even though you’re barehanded how strong are you?
Ah, no, I the attack passed through, because the miasma was scattered by the arrow with holy water?
In any case, the current series of attacks seems to have worked quite well. And the screeching that seems to be the scream of Evil Treant doesn’t stop.

As I waited for the visibility to clear while shutting myself in the barricade, I soon saw that the huge trunk had been largely gouged out.
The hole is quite large, but the trunk was too thick to penetrate through. Even so, it clearly did a lot of damage, so I without thinking said “Hooray!” and pump my fist in the air.
Fricka, who was also watching the Evil Treant in the same way, let out a slightly confused voice.

“Rion-sama, inside the trunk of Evil Treant… Can’t you see something? I see a great mana…”

“Hmm? A magic stone?”

If that’s the case, all we have to do is focus our attacks there. I squint my eyes while clutching the last arrow.
But, to call it a magic stone… it was too big. No, if it’s a monster of this size, it might not be strange to use a magic stone of that size.
Still, it’s the first time I’ve seen a magic stone that’s covered in black mist and emits a mysterious light… No… I…Already…Seen it… Before!

“………A dungeon’s……Core……?”

Although the size is different from the core I saw in a dungeon before, other than that, it looks just like it.
But wait, if it’s a dungeon core, it’s strange that I can’t sense it even though it’s so close.
No…But, I can feel a vague feeling…It feels like something’s not right…I have never felt such a vague feeling before. What the hell is that?
Or maybe this Evil Treant.

??Is perhaps a monster born from a dungeon core?

I’ve never experienced anything like that before in my gaming days. It’s completely unknown.
I had no idea how it would differ from a normal dungeon, or how it would differ from a normal boss monster.

??GiVeMe GivEmEEE.

“Wh-what?”

A shrill voice with a slightly different quality hits my cold heart.

??YoUr WeaLth PoWer.

??YOur BoDy GivEmEeeee! !

“This is…”

The Evil Treant’s voice, which until now could only be heard as a groan, began to take shape as a clear malice filled voice.
Seemingly, the black haze around the magic stone took an apparence of being shaped like a human??

??IAM, A CHAMPIOON! EVERYTHING IS MINE!!!

“?!?”

“… Hah… What… It said?”

Champioon… A champion?

I just recently heard about a story like that…

??ALL THAT YOU HAVE, DEDICATE ALL TO MEEEE!!!!

“??Do It have the consciousness of the miko?”

Gobah!

A powerful root strike was released as if to drown out my muttering, and the barricade was destroyed.
With the shock of the destruction and the sudden gust of wind—which must be the work of Evil Treant(?)—we who were inside couldn’t stand it, and were blown away.

“Guheaah!?”

“Ugh…!”

It goes without saying which one was my voice.
Even while groaning in pain after being rolled around, I turned my gaze toward the Evil Treant, wary of a follow-up attack.

A black haze almost shaped like a human??this one also had an eerie light flickering in its eyes, and it was an appearance suitable to be called an evil spirit.
I felt like his eyes met me for a moment, but it was quickly turned away. …Is was just my imagination?
However, the light of his eyes swelled immediately.

??OOOOOOOOH

??THATWOMAN ISMINE!

“Hi!?”

Fricka, who was lying next to me, was targeted, and her face turned pale in fear.
…… This, ???????! He just ignored me after looking at my face!? No, it’s true that compared to elves, It’s like comparing day and night, I don’t care if this guy doesn’t like me, but Its still piss me off!!!
And the roots are that are rising up with the most momentum ever… This is perverted! Even if after dying (?), your rotten mind won’t heal!!!*

“Who will give it to you something your fool!”

I placed multiple stone blocks in front of Fricka to guard her, and fired the last explosive arrow.

“Just eat it!!”

Dogaaaaaaaan!

??Woooooooon

The arrow flew straight toward the core and did hit it, but… It seems that Miko’s obsession was too great, or the power of the arrow was reduced by the effect of the black mist, he was still alive.
……Tch.

??DONT GET IN MYWAYYY!!!

“Rion, hold on tight!”

Uru’s warning came from somewhere, but it seems that it didn’t arrive in time.
The black haze seemed to contract for an instant and spread out, filling the entire field of vision with black light.

“Rion-sama!”

Along with the sensation of being hugged from the side, I was covered with a feeling similar to floating??

*Translator Note: A reference to the japanese saying :(????????????) A fool don’t heal his foolishness even if he dies.