arc1 · 018-ch18

Episode 18: Boss Fox 2

　How much time has passed? I'd believe it if they said a few minutes, or even if they said an hour.

　The Boss Fox's attacks were pure power, with enough force to knock someone out with a single hit. The Underling Foxes attacked too, supporting the Boss Fox.

　Suzuka focused all his nerves on absolutely defending against the Boss Fox's attacks. Because of that, he took several hits from the Underling Foxes, but the difference in status meant he didn't suffer fatal damage. Plus Yasu was sending recovery magic his way, so he didn't have any damage that interfered with his actions, though he probably had some bruises.

　But eventually that came to an end too.

　The Underling Foxes swarming around Suzuka decreased one by one, until finally only one remained. The Boss Fox, as if unaware of fatigue, swung its metal club sideways with the same power as at the start. Suzuka dodged by crouching, and now the Underling Fox brought its magic iron pipe down on the crouching Suzuka.

"You're annoying!!!"

　Until now attacks had continued in twos and threes, but now it was just one enemy's attacks. As if clearing the accumulated frustration, using the power of standing up, Suzuka smashed 'Underling Fox's Pride' down on the magic iron pipe that had been swung at him.

　With a short CLANG sound, the Underling Fox's weapon blew high into the air. The Underling Fox stood stunned. Suzuka hammered the magic iron pipe with all his might toward that side of the face.

　After feeling the impact of bone and flesh shattering, the Underling Fox turned to smoke. The Boss Fox glared at the sight with intense hatred, and its eyes met Suzuka's through the smoke.

"Phew... Finally we can fight one-on-one!! Boss Fox-san!!"

"Grrruuuuu"

　Letting out a low growl, the Boss Fox was wary of Suzuka and didn't immediately charge in. Yasu was still fighting two Underling Foxes, so he probably couldn't come to help immediately.

　Suzuka's face involuntarily grinned. That meant he could fight this guy right now without anyone getting in the way.

"What? You being cautious? Then I'll come to you!!!"

　Consciously using the Swordsmanship and Body Control skills, Suzuka approached the Boss Fox as if sliding along the ground. The Boss Fox's weapon, the metal club, was large and heavy, so Suzuka's attack was easily received.

　However, heavy and large weapons are always difficult to handle. He'd bring it to close quarters and seal its wide swings, gradually chipping away.

　As if disliking the approaching Suzuka, the Boss Fox launched a sweeping upward strike.

　If he stopped, evasion would be easy. If he jumped up, he could attack while maintaining his charging momentum.

　But Suzuka didn't have those options. If he's thinking safely, with room to spare, reducing risk, then he wouldn't have gone into dungeons in the first place and would be studying hard like a middle school third-year exam candidate.

　When fighting in dungeons, impulses occasionally rise up. Like a thirst for higher risk and higher returns. His body moves before he can think, wanting to feel the overflowing brain juices when he succeeds.

　He put strength into the foot stepping into the ground. Conscious of the Body Control skill, he sent his will for it to function perfectly. Suzuka, who had raised his acceleration one stage, charged forward as if ignoring the Boss Fox's attack.

　If he slowed down even from a bit of fear, he'd take a direct hit. Conversely, if he didn't keep accelerating, he couldn't dodge. With each step he took, he accelerated beyond his limits.

　Result.

　BOOM

　The metal club, making a terrifying sound as it approached, only grazed Suzuka's left arm. Though it wasn't a direct hit, it succeeded in breaking Suzuka's posture. An attack from the side when running at full power had more than enough force to break his posture.

　But Suzuka tried to use even his posture breaking. He added his own twist to rotate further, accelerating the momentum of his body rotating to the left.

　The power of charging and the power of rotating. He put all of it into swinging the magic iron pipe. His target was the shin. He wanted to aim for the knee, but the Boss Fox's body was large and he couldn't aim for it in his current posture, so he reluctantly set his sights on the shin.

　An attack without thinking about consequences. Suzuka, who made an unreasonable attack in an unreasonable posture, rolled violently on the ground with that momentum. But perhaps thanks to the Body Control skill, he was able to use the momentum to stand up immediately.

　While his semicircular canals were shaken and tormented him, he watched the Boss Fox, wary of follow-up attacks. But the follow-up attack he was wary of didn't come.

"GAH!! GRAH!!"

　The Boss Fox was growling while glaring at us, but it had one knee up on the spot and couldn't move. The power of Suzuka's blow while rolling seemed sufficient, and everything from the shin down was torn and pointing in the wrong direction.

"Oh my, oh my! So it ended this quickly! You had no luck!! Hey!!"

　Suzuka shouldered the magic iron pipe and narrowed the distance. It wouldn't be able to stand up with that leg. The match was practically decided.

　But Suzuka, eyes glowing brightly, expected something from the Boss Fox. The Boss Fox would absolutely land a final blow. And it wouldn't be a weak attack. If he received it poorly, he might be the one defeated.

　That intuition, like a certainty, seemed to have hit the mark.

　The Boss Fox twisted its waist while sitting and pulled the metal club back. From its appearance, it clearly conveyed the intention that if you approach, it will attack.

　At that appearance, Suzuka involuntarily deepened his smile.

　For Suzuka, who has no long-range attack methods, he needs to approach the Boss Fox to deliver the finisher. Therefore, even if the Boss Fox took a clearly visible attack motion, Suzuka had to enter within the attack's range.

　But there are countless ways to enter within range. Feinting to make the attack miss, circling around to approach from a position where the metal club can't reach, attacking from a posture where the Boss Fox can't put in power. There's no need to take a dying creature's last struggle head-on.

　Suzuka knows that too. No, maybe he doesn't.

　For the current Suzuka, with large amounts of adrenaline secreted and excited, he wasn't seeking a safe victory, only a perfect victory. That was the only thing he was thinking about.

"If I win like this, I can't use the excuse that your leg was crushed, right? Hey!?"

　Suzuka approaches the posturing Boss Fox. Strength goes into the hand gripping the magic iron pipe.

　In his mind flowed the scene of his first hit on the Boss Fox. At that time, they were equal. Even when he applied force, he couldn't push in, and conversely, the Boss Fox couldn't push Suzuka back either.

　Victory in such a state is boring.

"Come on, let's do this, Boss Fox!! Bring me your maximum firepower!!"

　Suzuka steps in deeply. The Boss Fox, who had been waiting for that moment, released the accumulated power, concentrated the energy of a full-body rotational motion into the metal club, and swung it down in a diagonal slash.

　Suzuka had no option to dodge. He wouldn't choose such an unrefined option. He pulled back the magic iron pipe and twisted his waist. Matching the timing of the Boss Fox's attack, Suzuka also released his power.

　From ground to legs, from legs to waist, from waist to shoulders, from shoulders to hands. Energy is transmitted and amplified many times over.

　The Boss Fox's attack, utilizing its physical strength.

　Suzuka's attack, linking his whole body.

　Those two crossed.

　A sharp impact sound. Unlike the first hit, in this attack they didn't match evenly.

　A dull DON sound rang out in the distance. That sound was the sound of a large metal club falling to the ground.

"Phew. With that, the ranking is complete."

　Suzuka raised the magic iron pipe again. The Boss Fox, after staring at its own weapon that had been flown far away, quietly closed its eyes.

　It was as if sitting and waiting for the last moment. Not running away disgracefully, nor desperately launching attacks. That dignified appearance was like a samurai who had decided on self-destruction.

"HAH HA HA! You're good!! Splendid!!!"

　Buying into that spirit, Suzuka, with as much careful force as before, swung the magic iron pipe down.

　Perhaps thanks to the Swordsmanship skill, his aim didn't waver and was drawn to the Boss Fox's head. That attack, which crushed the crown of the head, was swung down without stopping midway, and the Boss Fox turned to smoke and was absorbed into Suzuka and Yasu.