Chapter 84
We make our way toward the sandbar where the Tarasque resides, splashing as we go. Oh, Kar and I are flying, by the way. Getting wet would be a hassle.
"Hmm? What's this? Isn't this a gathering point?"
Since Jigoro can't fly, he was walking along the river when he apparently found a gathering point. I wonder what kind of item can be obtained from this riverbed?
"...Bones."
Jigoro pulls the thing he stepped on out of the riverbed and shows it to us. It is unmistakably a bone. However, it's quite large. It's about the size of a human femur, isn't it?
"Let me see. I'll try 【Appraisal】."
"All right. Here you go."
I catch the bone Jigoro tosses to me. I don't know how long it spent underwater, but the bone appears to have barely deteriorated. What kind of bone is it? Time for 【Appraisal】!
――――――――――
Lesser Fire Dragon Bone Quality: Fair Rarity: S (Special Grade)
The bones of a lowest-tier Fire Dragon. They harbor the powers of dragons and fire.
Though immature, material from a true dragon would make excellent weapons and armor.
――――――――――
"D-Dragon bones?!"
I accidentally shout at the top of my voice. That's how shocking it is. In fact, Jigoro and Genjuro are both staring intently at the bone in my hands.
Lesser Fire Dragon... I suppose that is how it would be read. What marvelous material! If Iris were here, she'd dance with joy and want to collect every last bit of it.
However, the fact that this bone is lying around so carelessly bothers me immensely. This is clearly superior material to the bones of the Lesser Small Naga I incorporated into my body. Yet it is normally unthinkable to obtain something like this by picking it up instead of defeating an enemy.
"Izam, I found one over here too."
"Oh, thanks. Let me borrow it... Hm?"
It seems Genjuro has found another bone. When I take it from him, I notice something strange.
"What? It's incredibly light."
The bone Genjuro found is almost the same size as the one Jigoro found. And yet, the weights are completely different. It's not because this one has deteriorated. In terms of condition, they are both nearly equally clean.
I don't understand, but I'll try 【Appraisal】. That should clear up all sorts of things.
――――――――――
Flying Dragon Bone Quality: Fair Rarity: S (Special Grade)
The bones of a Flying Dragon that soars through the vast sky. They harbor the powers of dragons and wind.
Material from a dragon's kin would make excellent weapons and armor.
――――――――――
Flying Dragon... Another dragon's name has appeared. I don't understand any of this anymore.
Still, there is one thing I do understand: it is related to the Tarasque. Now that we are closer, I can see that the sandbar where the Tarasque is located has several bones buried in it.
The Tarasque probably obtained 【Dragon Factor】 from Lesser Fire Dragons and Flying Dragons. I don't know how, but that seems like the most likely explanation.
"Grrrrrrrr..."
"This is bad! Let's get onto the sandbar, now!"
Ugh! What fools we are, casually chatting, gathering materials, and analyzing things while approaching a boss! We need to hurry!
――――――――――
You have entered the field boss area.
――――――――――
"Goooooaaaar!!!"
Just as we jog onto the sandbar, the Tarasque finally reveals its body from within its shell.
In a word, its appearance is grotesque. Countless tiny spikes densely cover its head, while its four eyes have vertically slit pupils. A double row of fangs lines its mouth. The Forest Beast Turtle isn't even comparable to it.
Its six legs are unbelievably thick, bringing enormous trees to mind. The fact that they support that massive body proves that their strength is no mere show. Its body is also covered in fur that looks incredibly tough. Cutting through it is going to be difficult, to say the least.
Its tail is quite long. In fact, it is long enough to wrap around its own body. Its surface is rough and knobby like a crocodile's, and a club-like lump is attached to the tip. I feel like there was a dinosaur like that. I can't remember its name, though.
"Where should we attack from, brother?"
"Well, where should we attack it from?"
Jigoro asks me, but I wish I knew the answer myself. What the hell is that thing? It's like a moving fortress!
"Come on. If you're the leader and you don't know, then—whoa!"
Just as Jigoro is about to make another wisecrack, the Tarasque seems to move. I say "seems" because I couldn't see it move at all.
Still, I can guess what happened. The Tarasque's tail is embedded in the spot where Jigoro was standing a moment ago.
The Tarasque must have struck Jigoro with its tail. I didn't see it at all!
If my eyes can't keep up with its movements, I should consider dodging it practically impossible. That means I have to be careful not to enter the range of that tail. It is obviously a blunt-force attack, and all I can see in my future is instant death!
"That was damn close!"
Despite being unable to see the attack at all, and despite it being a complete surprise, Jigoro somehow managed to evade it. As expected of him.
Even though that was such a dangerous situation, he is laughing with great delight. It's his usual ferocious grin. His fighting spirit has been ignited. He must have realized instinctively that this is a powerful opponent.
"Everyone, first we need to deal with that tail! Jigoro, keep its head occupied! Genjuro, can you do it?"
"What a foolish question! Of course I can!"
Genjuro apparently understands my intentions despite my saying so little. At some point, he has sheathed his spear and switched to a three-sword style with an odachi, katana, and wakizashi.
By now, anyone should understand my plan: sever the tail. Against the Ratman King, we destroyed its knees to restrict its movements. This time, we will cut off its tail and gain the upper hand in the battle.
When it comes to cutting, no one among us can surpass Genjuro. I believe he ranks among the very best of all players. Therefore, we will focus entirely on supporting him while he severs the tail.
"Leave it to me! Kar, keep it occupied alongside Jigoro! Don't overdo it, okay?"
"Kyuoo!"
This is his first battle against a dragon's kin. Perhaps he is excited to fight a monster so similar to himself, because he is more motivated than usual. Just don't let all that enthusiasm make you overextend yourself.
"I will provide thorough support! Light Armor!"
I cover everyone, myself included, in glowing magical armor. Through spell modulation, I strengthen the armor on Jigoro and Kar, who are serving as decoys, raising their defense. At least they shouldn't die instantly now.
"Next comes the imbuement..."
I stack Defense Boost fivefold on Jigoro and Kar, imbue Genjuro's odachi with lightning, and cast Dexterity Boost and Strength Boost on him twice each.
Both weapon imbuement and stat enhancement are forms of 【Enchantment】, so they compete for the same slots, making this count as a fivefold enchantment. I want Genjuro to sever the tail as soon as possible, so I give him Strength Boost to increase his attack power and Dexterity Boost, which apparently affects things such as his critical rate. I'll handle his defense!
"Come on, come on, over here!"
"Kyururururu!!"
"Graaah!"
Jigoro and Kar charge straight at the Tarasque while shouting loudly to draw its attention. Naturally, the Tarasque swings its tail to intercept them, but the two split to the left and right to evade it.
"Shaaa!"
"Kyuoo!"
Jigoro closes in from its right and Kar from its left, slamming a fist and claws into its face. Jigoro's punch succeeds in breaking several of the spikes growing from the Tarasque's head, but Kar's claws only manage to scratch them. So their physical strength really is that different.
"Kyu..."
"Don't let it get you down, kid! Keep your hands moving!"
Jigoro encourages Kar, who is gnashing his teeth at being unable to deal any meaningful damage. In fact, Jigoro is right. Even without dealing damage, simply flying around its face is more than enough to keep it occupied.
"Gaaaaaah!!"
Angered at having its spikes broken, the Tarasque opens its mouth to bite Jigoro. If he were caught by the double row of fangs filling a mouth large enough to swallow him whole, even he would either lose a body part or die instantly.
"Whoa! Now!"
"Kyu!"
Jigoro twists his body aside and evades the bite, then gives Kar a sharp command. In response, Kar flies above the Tarasque's head and slams his tail down onto its crown with all his might.
"Guaaah!!"
Kar's tail strike, strengthened by rotating his body vertically in midair like a somersault, slams into the Tarasque's head after its bite misses. Since the tip of Kar's tail is sharp, it cuts off several of the spikes growing from the crown. An attack using his whole body can get through! As expected of Kar!
"Kyu-uuuu!"
Having regained his composure, Kar begins making small attacks while flying around its face. Kar is not foolish enough to repeatedly unleash his full-power strike just because it works. He understands the importance of creating openings in the enemy as preparation for delivering that decisive blow.
Apparently, while I was away, Jigoro and Genjuro taught him the principles of being a vanguard by showing him mock battles. I thought it presumptuous of them to act on their own, but now I am filled with gratitude.
"Seiyaaah!!!"
"Gah!?"
While Jigoro and Kar keep its attention, Genjuro circles around behind it and brings his odachi down toward the base of its tail with a fierce battle cry. The odachi, imbued to exploit the enemy's weakness, does cut into the tail, but it fails to sever it. The thick, hard hide and powerful muscles stop it. The blade probably hasn't even reached the bone.
"Not yet!"
However, Genjuro's attack does not stop there. After all, he is holding three swords.
He swings his katana sharply into the wound created by the odachi. It doesn't seem to have reached the bone either, but he still succeeds in making the wound deeper.
"One more!"
Kak!
"I felt it!"
He thrusts the wakizashi into the wound and gouges it. At that moment, even I hear the dull sound of hard objects colliding. At the same time, Genjuro seems to grin.
It appears that Genjuro's blade has finally reached the bone. Only someone with the skill to strike precisely the same spot could have created an opportunity to sever it this quickly. What a real-life cheat! Thank you!
"Gugyaaaaaaaaa!!!"
There is no way the Tarasque would ignore its tail being nearly severed. With an enraged roar, it brings the tip of its tail down toward Genjuro. Since Genjuro has leaped deep inside its guard, there is no way for him to evade it.
"Remote activation of magic circle, Holy Shield."
But I had already accounted for that! I construct the Holy Shield I had prepared for immediate use between Genjuro and the Tarasque's tail.
Kriiiing!
Sadly, the Tarasque's tail destroys my Holy Shield in a single blow. The high-pitched sound of the holy shield shattering echoes through the area.
However, thanks to its property of completely blocking any attack once, it successfully protects Genjuro from the Tarasque's lethal strike. In the meantime, he retreats and creates distance, withdrawing to a safe range. Just as planned.
"You saved me!"
Genjuro shouts his thanks to me. What a courteous gentleman.
"Don't look away!"
"Kyurur!"
The Tarasque turns its body, trying to face Genjuro head-on as though it cannot bear to have its tail cut off, but Jigoro and Kar interfere. Jigoro's powerful leg kicks its jaw upward from below, while Kar's tail comes crashing down onto the crown of its head.
"!!?"
The Tarasque, struck from above and below simultaneously, is stunned by the impact. Even with a body that huge, it is possible to cause a concussion if you keep the force from escaping like that. I had no idea.
"Now! Let's go!"
Even though it is stunned, the opponent is a boss. That condition probably will not last more than a few seconds. Unwilling to let this perfect opportunity slip away, Genjuro raises his odachi and charges forward.
"...Hm? What's that?"
However, because I am the only one at a distance, I notice the change in the Tarasque. More smoke is billowing from its shell than before.
This is obviously some kind of sign. Then I remember one of the Skills the Tarasque possesses and, following my instincts, shout!
"Everyone, get down!!!"
The next moment, the Tarasque's shell bursts apart with a deafening boom.