Chapter 85
"...Momo?"
I stare blankly at the place where Momo had been only moments ago.
A darkness like a puddle spreads across the ground there.
Its surface ripples faintly.
"Huh... ah, huh...?"
What happened?
I don't know.
I can't understand.
My brain refuses to comprehend it.
―――Momo was swallowed by the darkness.
"...Ah."
It takes me several seconds to grasp that simple fact.
"Momo..."
My heart is gradually dyed completely black.
I crumple weakly to the ground.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!"
The Dark Wolf lets out a tremendous howl.
For some reason, I feel an emotion resembling joy mixed into its voice.
"..."
I rise unsteadily like a ghost and glare at the Dark Wolf.
At some point, the trembling of my body has stopped.
Yet my heart is suffering, trembling as though it might burst apart.
Even though I had wanted to run away so desperately, not a trace of that feeling remains now.
"――Give Momo back..."
≪Certain conditions have been met.≫
≪You acquired the Skill 'Anger'.≫
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Skill 'Anger' has increased from Lv. 1 to 2.≫
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Skill 'Anger' has increased from Lv. 2 to 3.≫
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Skill 'Anger' has increased from Lv. 3 to 4.≫
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Skill 'Anger' has increased from Lv. 4 to 5.≫
"Give Momo baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!"
The instant I shouted that, something inside me snapped.
My emotions explode, and my mind goes completely blank.
My fear is blown away, and power surges from within my body.
Gripping my weapon tightly, I charge at the Dark Wolf.
I move at an unbelievable speed.
But the Dark Wolf doesn't move.
It merely shifts one of its forelegs slightly.
As if to say, "How pointless."
As though responding to that movement, the darkness around it spreads.
What appears is an enormous maw.
An enormous maw of darkness approaches me, dripping black mud in heavy drops.
So what?
"You're in my way."
I jump and make a wrecked car appear directly above the maw.
Then I make another wrecked car appear in midair and use it as a foothold. I stomp on it with all my strength to accelerate, then use the force of that kick to smash the wrecked car into the dark maw.
"Tch!?"
"Get crushed."
I shatter the maw of darkness, then use the wrecked car as a foothold to get beneath the Dark Wolf.
It still doesn't move.
It merely begins to inhale.
"―――I'm not falling for the same trick twice."
I was careless before, but this time is different.
Though my brain is feverish from the heat boiling inside me, my thoughts calmly 'Observe' the situation and 'Predict' my opponent's movements.
I pull out an 'ordinary kitchen knife' and throw it.
If this thing's howl is the same Skill as Momo's and the High Orc's, then its weakness should be the same as well.
That Skill requires a 'charge-up.' If I make it perform another action during that time, the 'Howl' Skill will be canceled.
The Dark Wolf deflects the kitchen knife I threw with darkness. As predicted, the 'Howl' Skill is canceled.
"Wooooooooooooo!"
Gripping the Orc's Kitchen Knife (Fine), I close in on the Dark Wolf.
There is no strategy whatsoever—just a series of slashes relying on my Skills and stats.
But they don't reach the Dark Wolf.
Its automatic defense with darkness blocks my slashes. So what?!
I don't let up on my attacks.
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Skill 'Swordsmanship' has increased from Lv. 4 to 5.≫
≪Your proficiency has reached a certain level.≫
≪Your Skill 'Vital Strike' has increased from Lv. 3 to 4.≫
My Skills level up.
Thank goodness. My attacks become even sharper.
I cut through the darkness and close in on the Dark Wolf.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!"
As it howls, darkness spikes emerge from beneath my feet.
They rip through the flesh on the soles of my feet and gouge into my arms, spraying blood. So what?
I use the 'Shadow' to snap off the spikes lodged in me and pull them free.
The pain has long since gone numb.
Without hesitation, I continue attacking it.
"Give Momo back...!"
'Danger Sense' and 'Hostility Detection' activate.
Arms, jaws, and spears of darkness close in on me from every direction. So what?
"Momo...!"
I create makeshift walls and footholds around me and continue attacking. They probably won't last even a second.
So what? I just have to kill this thing before then.
"Give Momo baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!"
I wonder what kind of expression I wore at that moment.
My eyes meet the Dark Wolf's.
"―――!"
At that instant, the Dark Wolf, which hadn't moved a single step until then, finally moved.
It leaped backward, putting distance between us.
"Haa... haa... Don't... run."
Give Momo back.
I glare at it with my body covered in blood.
"..."
It doesn't avert its gaze.
But for the first time, the Dark Wolf's eyes seem to contain something other than 'Hostility'—yes, a hint of 'Interest.'
Ripples appear beneath its feet.
Momo emerges from the darkness that had captured Momo.
"Momo!"
Momo doesn't move.
But Momo is still alive.
Momo only seems to have lost consciousness.
"...What are you planning?"
A hostage... no, a dog hostage?
"...Woof."
The Dark Wolf gives a small bark.
It sounds as though it's asking me something.
"What are you trying to say...?"
The Dark Wolf raises Momo high, then gives another low bark.
"Woof..."
Perhaps my ability to communicate with nonhumans has been honed through communicating with Momo and Aka, because somehow, I can tell what it's trying to say.
The Dark Wolf is probably saying this:
―――What is Momo to you?
That's what it's asking.
"―――Momo is my partner."
I answer without hesitation.
That expression feels the most fitting.
Ichinose-san and Aka could be described as my companions.
But if you ask me what Momo is, the answer is 'my partner.'
Even before the world changed, I had no family or any particularly close friends. To me, Momo was the one precious―――
"My precious... partner."
"..."
Perhaps my words got through to it, because the Dark Wolf's eyes widen slightly.
After staring intently at me, it slowly places Momo on top of the darkness, for whatever reason.
It doesn't swallow Momo into the darkness as it did before. It simply lays Momo down quietly and stands in front of Momo.
I don't know why, but the Dark Wolf apparently has no intention of killing Momo.
Its form is almost that of a guardian protecting a treasure.
Then the Dark Wolf looks at me. Its gaze is almost taunting.
"Grr."
I feel as though it's saying, If Momo is so important, then try taking Momo back.
"Yeah, of course I will..."
To be honest, our chances of winning are slim.
After fighting it, I understand that clearly.
This Dark Wolf is far stronger than it was before.
But―――so what?
There is no option in my mind that involves leaving Momo behind and running away.
My belief that my own life comes first hasn't changed even now.
But even so, there has to be at least one thing I can't give up.
If I run away here, I will definitely regret it.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!"
The Dark Wolf charges at me with a howl.
―――It's fast! It closes the distance instantly, as though flying through the air.
In an instant, the darkness clinging to it transforms into two enormous hooked claws.
"GRAAH!"
The black hooked claws swing at me with a thunderous roar.
I instinctively bring my blade up to block the attack.
"Guh... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
―――It's heavy.
An incredible impact strikes me. I can't block it!
"~~~ (trembling)!"
In an instant, Aka shrinks down and, despite having barely any strength left, transforms and wraps itself around me.
It disperses the impact and slows its momentum.
I use that opening to try to escape.
But there were two claws.
Another hooked claw closes in on me from the side.
At that moment, a rapid series of small gunshots echoes through the air, scattering part of the hooked claw's tip and throwing off its trajectory.
I know without looking.
It's Ichinose-san's covering fire.
Even with a shallow cut on my arm, I manage to evade the second strike as well.
(―――Leave the support to me!)
(Thank you, Ichinose-san!)
I don't turn around.
I don't have the luxury. But even without seeing Ichinose-san or exchanging words, our feelings get through to each other.
Increase your concentration. Don't take your eyes off it for even an instant.
Otherwise, all that awaits me is 'Death.'
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
As the enormous hooked claw swings at me again, I plant my hand against the spine of my knife and forcibly deflect the attack. A fierce impact strikes me. My arm creaks, and blood sprays out.
The aftershock gouges the ground, and the impact travels into the school building, which collapses with a rattling roar.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!"
The Dark Wolf growls and swings its hooked claws again and again.
To it, this attack isn't some ultimate killing blow.
It's merely a normal technique it can repeat as many times as it likes.
The overwhelming difference in power is being driven into me whether I like it or not.
"..., ... (trembling, trembling)"
Aka's body shudders painfully.
Even Aka's impact absorption isn't omnipotent.
There is a limit to how much Aka can absorb.
At this rate, after Momo, even Aka will...
"Damn it..."
I grit my teeth, but I have no time to spare.
At this rate―――I'll be killed.
But the Dark Wolf doesn't slow its assault.
On the contrary, two more enormous hooked claws are created.
The number simply doubles. Twice the attack power.
"D-damn...!"
Four hooked claws close in.
I can't reach it...? Can I—or we—really not defeat this thing...? Can't I save Momo? Run. Run. Run―――.
For just an instant, those thoughts cross my mind.
But even so,
"...Like hell I'll give up!"
Don't screw with me!
Who the hell is running away?!
Think! Find a way to survive!
Look ahead! Find the path we have to take!
Don't cower! Rally your heart!
Don't yield! Keep searching for a possibility!
Just for now.
I want power. The power to take Momo, my partner, back.
The power for all of us to survive this situation.
At that moment, a voice echoes in my head―――.
≪Skill application accepted.≫
≪Confirmed the death of the previous holder.≫
≪Unique Skill '■■■■' is being made available for use.≫
≪Unique Skill 'Job Enhancement' is now available.≫
The heavenly voice echoes inside my head.
At the same time, power surges from within my body.
What... is this?
I can see. My 'Five Senses' have been enhanced, allowing me to 'Predict' the trajectories of the attacks.
I can dodge. My 'Agility' has been enhanced, letting me dash through the gaps between the attacks like the wind.
"Grrr!?"
It apparently hadn't expected me to dodge.
For the first time, a look of confusion appears on the Dark Wolf's face.
But I'm just as confused.
What is going on?
What was that just now? What is this power overflowing from within me?
I open my status screen.
Then I look at the Unique Skills section and am startled.
Unique Skills
Early Bloomer
Job Enhancement
The place that had been unreadable until now.
A new Skill was listed there.
"Why...?"
The mysterious Unique Skill '■■■■' had been completely meaningless until now.
Why can I use it now?
No, think.
I think the heavenly voice said something about confirming the previous holder's death.
Before that, I think another heavenly voice had played as well.
―――'Currently applying for a Skill,' or something like that.
I had been too pressed for time and ignored it, but was it referring to this?
Could the Skill section have been unreadable because someone else already possessed it?
Does that mean Unique Skills cannot have multiple holders?
If two people fulfill the conditions for obtaining a Unique Skill, the person who fulfills them first receives the Unique Skill, while the other is given the Skill '■■■■' in a pending state.
Then, when the previous holder dies, that Skill is granted to the other person.
That would explain everything.
But why now...?
Who exactly was the previous holder...?
―――I could 'Enhance' that Skill even further, you know?
I suddenly remember the Monster Tamer's words.
...Could she have been the previous holder?
'Job Enhancement.' Its effect is probably exactly what its name suggests: a Skill that enhances Jobs.
More precisely, it probably enhances the Skills acquired as a result of choosing a Job.
If so, that explains why she was able to command so many monsters.
She had a Unique Skill, just like me. This Skill was the source of her strength.
I see. So that's what it was...
"Ha... haha..."
I laugh despite myself.
I can't believe I obtained such a conveniently useful Skill at this point, in this utterly hopeless situation.
And I've realized one more thing.
I look at my HP and MP.
HP: 33/180
MP: 3/35
I still have a little MP left.
I wonder why, but then I look at my Lv. and understand.
It's the MP I gained from leveling up.
With this, I can use it.
Only once, but I can use 'Ninjutsu.'
And in its 'Enhanced state.'
My thoughts accelerate again.
They weave together a means of surviving and saving Momo.
My body is hot, as though it's burning from within.
"Haa... haa...!"
I'm covered in wounds.
I can use Ninjutsu only once.
My enemy is a monster that surpasses even the High Orc.
Ah, what a completely shitty situation.
But―――so what?
I've decided on a plan.
I will make it succeed, no matter what.
A faint glimmer of hope has appeared.
I have no choice but to grasp it and pull it toward me.
"Wait for me, Momo..."
I'll definitely get you out of there.