Lament of the Undead Master and Servant (7)

"W-what on earth...?"

The storm released along with that scream slammed our backs hard against the wall. When I staggered to my feet, every one of my companions was still lying there, unable to get up. They were suffering from status ailments!

"I can't move...!"

"Mmm..."

Their markers were practically covered in status-ailment icons. Everyone's stats had been lowered across the board, and we had also been afflicted with multiple ailments, including poison and paralysis. Was it because of that scream!?

I hurriedly removed them with 【Dispel】, but the moment we returned to normal, the status ailments came back. Was she planning to inflict them on us permanently? This is completely absurd!?

The only one who had not been afflicted was Kanna, who was Undead like me. However, her leg had been burned, so it would be difficult for her to fight properly. Did that mean I was the only one who could fight right now?

But the battle was not over yet. Which meant I had to defeat that thing. Was it not absurdly reckless to challenge Claude alone, when he had been skilled enough to fight Genzuro and Jigoro?

'Aaaah...'

However, Claude, who had been pierced between the brows by Genzuro, had completely changed from the warriorlike figure he had been before. All he did was groan, and his right hand, still holding the sword, hung limply at his side. He looked like a zombie from a zombie movie.

Catherine, who was clinging to his back, was staring at Claude worriedly, so I assumed Genzuro's blow had worked. He had only a tiny amount of health remaining. Could I finish him off?

'Aaaagh!'

"Uwoooooh!?"

Just as I was about to try attacking him with magic from a distance, Claude charged at me with a hoarse cry. He had no reason left, and his movements were linear and easy to read. He was completely different from the Claude we had faced until now.

However, his body—or whatever it was—had not changed in terms of Claude's actual capabilities. In other words, the difference between our stats in close combat was enormous.

It went without saying that mine were vastly inferior. It hurt to say it myself, but I had no choice but to acknowledge the reality. It was only natural when comparing a mage with a knight.

"Gaaah! Stop being so ridiculously fast!"

Claude shouted meaningless words as he swung his broken sword wildly. I somehow tried to parry with my scythe, but his attacks were so erratic that they were difficult to deal with. I desperately moved my body, trying to withstand his rough and powerful slashes.

My arms went numb with every blow, and my health was shaved away bit by bit. If I took even one attack cleanly, I would die, so I fought desperately as well. For now, I just had to endure until an opening appeared, even if only for an instant...!?

"This woman!? Tail Wall, gahhhhh!?"

I had been concentrating every nerve on Claude's movements, so I failed to react when Catherine cast magic. She had shown no sign of attacking until that very moment, so the possibility of her attacking had never entered my mind.

Then, in the opening that had appeared in turn, Claude's sword came crashing down. I used a martial technique that bound my tails together into a wall just before the blow landed, but the wall was shattered with ease, and my breastbone and several ribs were crushed with a series of cracks.

"Cough... But I'm still alive! 【Dragon Factor】, activate! Star Magic Circle, standby! All right, let's go!"

But I had narrowly avoided death. That was thanks to the wall I had thrown up on reflex and the armor Iris had made. Since I had met the activation conditions, I was finally able to use my last trump card, 【Dragon Factor】, for the first time in a while.

My stats rose explosively, and power surged through my entire body. Even so, I probably still could not match Claude in close combat. I had no particular reason for thinking that, but that was my feeling. It was an instinct born from the combat experience I had accumulated, and I knew I should trust it.

"Ooooooooooh!"

'Gaaagh!'

Claude and I clashed our scythe and sword violently. Thanks to Genzuro's instruction, I had some rudimentary understanding of fighting, but I was still only a complete amateur with a little experience. Even if my opponent fought clumsily, I could not overcome someone who held the advantage in stats. I was no real-life cheat like them.

I knew instinctively that I could not beat him by fighting him head-on. My skill was not enough to overturn that disadvantage. So why had I exchanged blows with him?

"Here!"

'Clang!?'

It was obviously a strategy. I had not been swinging my scythe aimlessly. I had made him think we were simply matching strength against strength, while waiting for him to bring it down in a large overhead swing.

Jigoro had taught me the spirit of attacking, while Genzuro had taught me one counter technique. "It's a minor trick, but if you can use even one, you'll be able to catch them off guard," he had said, and he had drilled me until I could catch a powerful overhead blow.

If my weapon had been a sword, I would never have been able to learn such a masterful technique in such a short time. But my weapon was a great scythe. I could hook the attack around the base of its blade.

"Hnnngh!"

I scooped up the overhead blow from below, caught it, and then slammed the blade down into the floor with all my strength. 【Dragon Factor】 had increased my strength as well, so the blade sank all the way to its base. All that remained was to land the finishing blow!

'Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!'

"Of course you were going to use that!? Standby release! Black Thread!!!"

Catherine screamed again, but I had anticipated it this time. It was only natural, since her screaming was the reason I had been forced to fight alone. The instant she screamed, I released the 【Black Thread】 I had kept on standby and wrapped it around Claude and myself, anchoring us together.

Tremendous wind pressure battered my entire body. If I had possessed a flesh-and-blood body, that wind might have torn me apart with my own threads. I thought my companions were being sent rolling around behind me again as well, but there was nothing I could do about that. I was barely managing to fight myself!

'Ngh...'

"I won't allow a third time! 【Dragon Breath】!"

Being screamed at three times was more than I could take. I used my final trump card and strongest attack, 【Dragon Breath】. As I had suspected, 【Dragon Breath】 seemed to be a mass of vengeful spirits, and since Claude and Catherine were right in front of me, they had no chance to dodge before it struck them head-on.

The damage caused by 【Dragon Breath】 did not end there. It tore through the palace walls, ravaged the city, and even destroyed part of the Black Wall. Even I found its power terrifying.

After I had finished exhaling 【Dragon Breath】, all that remained were fragments of Claude's skull, his broken sword, and an unfamiliar black sphere about the size of an apple.

――――――――――

You won the battle.

You defeated the Legendary Boss, Undead Master and Servant.

You receive rewards and 10 SP.

You are the first party to defeat a Legendary Boss.

All party members receive special rewards and 20 SP.

Your Race level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.

Your Race has reached the required level. You can evolve.

Your Job level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.

Your Job has reached the required level. You can change Jobs.

【Tail Strike】 level increased.

You learned the 【Tail Strike】 martial technique, Luring Tail.

【Staff】 level increased.

【Sickle Arts】 level increased.

You learned the 【Sickle Arts】 martial technique, Flying Slash Dance.

【Dark Magic】 level increased.

【Spirit Summoning】 level increased.

You learned a new spell: Raging Spirit Summoning.

Your familiar's Race level has increased.

Your familiar's Job level has increased.

――――――――――

"Did we win...? Hahaha..."

When the announcement that the battle was over reached my ears, I slumped down where I stood as if a string had been cut. The extreme tension released all at once, and the mental exhaustion came crashing over me.

An avatar's movements should not be impaired by anything other than injuries and status ailments, so the sensation of all my strength leaving my body was merely a matter of my mood. Even so, I steeled myself and stood up. I had to get moving and remove my companions' status ailments as quickly as possible.

"Hey, brother! We did it!"

"It seems the status ailments ended at the same time as the boss's defeat. Well done."

Apparently, that had not been necessary. Jigoro repeatedly slapped my shoulder as I unsteadily rose to my feet. I was happy to be praised, but I was on the verge of death, so I wished he would use a little less force. Hadn't we gone through this exact exchange before?

"You really took the best part for yourself, didn't you?"

"No, no. That final exchange was magnificent."

"Yeah. It made me want Genzuro-san to train me properly too."

As Iris said, I had taken only the finishing blow, so it was true that I had walked away with the best part. Besides, being teased helped me realize more strongly that the battle was truly over. I could feel my exhaustion beginning to ease.

And as Eiji and Shichiko said, victory had only been possible because of Genzuro's teaching. What I had learned so that I could defend myself even from the rear had once again proved useful. Spartan training could be grueling, but since it had helped me so many times, I felt I had no choice but to continue.

"The sword and halberd are both broken, but they seem to have remained as items. But what is this orb?"

"Who knows? 【Appraisal】... Oh? Well, this is something. Hey, Boss! Come take a look."

"Hmm, this is..."

I used 【Appraisal】 on the mysterious sphere Shiitake held out as well. It said the following.

――――――――――

Orb of the Undead King　Quality: Superior　Rarity: L (Legendary)

One of the proofs of kingship possessed by the Undead King.

An extraordinarily powerful grudge is sealed within it, making purification impossible.

If you would become an Undead King, display authority befitting one.

Then the orb will answer you.

――――――――――

An orb, in other words. In the West, the symbols of royal authority were supposed to be the crown, scepter, and orb. Was the imperial seal an Eastern thing? No, wait, didn't the West have those too? My memory was hazy, but in any case, that was probably what a king's insignia meant.

Oh, come to think of it, I acquired a scepter quite a long time ago. I seem to remember it being a drop from the Ratman King. If I could just get a crown, I would feel like a king already!

"It says something about a grudge, so you should hold on to it, Izamu."

"I question the wisdom of recommending it while knowing that it is a cursed item... But since curses would not cause me any problems, I suppose it is a reasonable decision."

"Hey! Come over here! There's a hidden passage here! It must lead to the treasury!"

Treasury. After exchanging glances at that sweet word Ruby had uttered, we all rushed toward her, each trying to be first.