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Episode 353: The Strange Case (2)
[The evolution of the Gnoll race usually ends with the Hexahorn, which has six horns.]
[Like other top-tier entities, they are extremely strong and rare, and only a very small number of instances have been found throughout history.]
[However, if five Hex Horns gather in one area due to natural causes, a strange phenomenon occurs despite the probability being close to 0%.]
[Even though they are of the same species, they try to kill and eat each other. It's like instinct.]
[… … It appears that only one individual who survived the bloody slaughter became Septa Horn, possessing seven horns… …]
The contents of a notebook stored in the Adventurer's Guild headquarters.
The footprints and traces left by Septa Horn were closely observed and analyzed, and the validity thereof was also reasonable.
However, since I did not witness it directly, there was a slight hesitation rather than confidence in the handwriting and ending.
It was a journal written by an Obsidian-class adventurer who had been chasing the background of Septa Horn's birth after subduing it 47 years ago.
Woodduck.
Septa Horn flashed five claws the size of a man's torso. A blast of wind tore through the air, tearing apart the building on the other side.
The adventurer Vermin, who had just managed to avoid the attack, screamed without realizing it.
“Hey… If I had stopped it, it would have been torn in two?! What kind of power is that!!”
“So be careful, idiot!”
Fellow party member Rubina shouted and pulled back her bowstring.
Let's show off our skills, two arrows flying in a curve. We aimed straight for Septa Horn's eyes, but they bounced off his eyelids.
“Tch, it’s a mithril arrow, but it doesn’t work at all……!”
“The same goes for magic. Resistance is no joke.”
Dark brown leather and fur. Ridiculous defense.
Even armor that contains some of the highest grade metal wouldn't be like that.
There was no way to penetrate from the front.
but.
'It's good enough.'
The punitive force gathered in the square has never worked together, but they are in harmony without any tangles.
Moreover, there have been no deaths yet.
Whenever major or minor injuries occurred, priests, including Bishop Lena, performed miracles of healing on the spot.
And in particular, the roles of the two people at the forefront were very important.
Kaaaaang!
Romer's shield deflected Septa Horn's blow.
It was a perfect parrying. It was a technique that was almost an art.
This caused the center of the Septa Horn to momentarily waver.
Leila, the Bloody Sword, rushed forward without missing a single opening. The kick that drew an afterimage while spinning struck the back of the bastard’s head.
Kwaaaaang!
[Kaaaak… … !]
Finally, a response came.
From then on, the punitive force learned Septa Horn's strategy.
Perhaps the bastard's weak point is his head.
And that we must aim for the inside, not the outside.
'To do that, you have to tie Septa Horn's limbs.'
There is no need to say it out loud.
Everyone who glimpsed the possibility of subjugation moved in unison as if they had made a promise.
Arts, magic, miracles, and even skills honed over a lifetime.
I tried desperately.
It was at that very moment that I was frantically pushing Septa Horn in the middle of such a destroyed square.
The opportunity has come.
“Take away my sight!”
The Mithril-grade adventurer party, Manha, moved first.
These are adventurers who fought alongside Verden in the Kingdom of Estyria and fought against spirits and blues.
His skills have already been proven.
“Uratcha!”
Vermin and Rubina each threw their shields and shot arrows, momentarily blinding Septa Horn.
Cleric, Kedian, performed the miracle of divine summoning.
“Servant of Luas, crush our enemies!”
The servant of the Holy Light revealed himself and grabbed Septa Horn's body from behind.
In addition, the prayer of <Holy Blessing> by Bishop Lena and the clergy temporarily blocked the movement.
“Fuck, break it!!!”
“Ewww!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Adventurers and mercenaries rushed forward and struck the monster's legs with all their might.
All the impact was concentrated solely on the joints. The final blow was Romer's sword.
The groaning Septa Horn staggered, then fell to his knees.
“Now is the time!”
The wizards, including Gelton, aimed their wands and staffs along with their magical powers.
<Wave>
<Frozen Orb>
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<Winter Blast>
<Cryo>
All kinds of water and ice magic pour down.
In the thick cold, Septa Horn and the Servant of Light began to freeze.
Quasi-snap.
The divinity and some of the ice were shattered by the evil force. Once again, miracles and magic were calculated to distract the nerves.
and.
Pfft! Pfft!
The leaders of Manha, Skald and Leila, simultaneously struck Septa Horn's temples with all their might.
Two-handed axe and heel.
Septa Horn's mouth opened and a scream escaped.
“Go, this is this X!”
The top-tier mercenary who had been waiting immediately thrust his sword into the ground.
It went in properly.
Regardless of the taste or anything, the blade with the black aura stabbed deep into the body, so it would be at least a fatal wound.
[Kaaaaaa… … .]
Kuung.
Septa Horn fell backwards with a creaking sound.
With a sword stuck in his mouth, a cold silence fell.
Soon, the bastard's breathing and heartbeat began to fade.
“Okay, did you catch it?”
Only then did someone ask, but no one answered.
He never let his guard down and never took his eyes off Septa Horn for a second. This was standard when dealing with intelligent beings.
However… I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief inside.
That moment.
Hwaaaaaaaaaaah!
A vast flash of light burst forth from the skies above Sacred.
“What is that…? A light?”
“Is it divine power?”
Very few people knew about this mysterious phenomenon.
Bishop Lena raised her head and clasped her hands together, her eyes reddening.
'Archbishop Joseph has finally arrived!'
I felt like crying without realizing it.
If the seven great archbishops and paladins come forward, Sacred will surely be saved.
It can save people.
The Ainz and the demons will not dare to fight against him.
It was an absolute belief as a believer.
However, it didn't take long for that hope to turn to despair.
As the light gradually faded, a familiar flying object came into view.
"……uh?"
Severely damaged hull.
Its front end was completely frozen, so it soon lost its balance and tilted forward.
Soon it started to tumble diagonally downwards.
Rustus is falling.
* * *
The altitude is decreasing by the minute.
The relic did not completely lose its power, but it was still uncontrollable.
The knights shouted urgently as they saw the flying machine gradually getting closer to the ground.
“Rain, it’s a plane! A plane is crashing down here!”
“Everyone get out of there!!”
The soldiers on the wall hurriedly retreated to the sides.
A moment later, the Rustus that had rushed in suddenly collapsed the upper part of the wall, and fell into the middle of the battlefield where Ainz and Demons were swarming.
Bishop Lena's lips trembled as he witnessed the scene.
“Lady Leila…… What, what on earth is going on? Why is Lustrous……!”
“…….”
Layla was speechless.
It wasn't calm or anything. She was equally embarrassed.
That was when.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Suddenly, a sound like metal being crushed rang in my ears.
Everyone in the square instinctively turned their gaze to the side.
“What, what is it…….”
“Wasn’t he dead?”
Septa Horn, who had clearly been holding his breath, stood up at some point.
The guy who was mumbling something grumbled while looking at the top-level mercenary.
An ominous feeling.
“Okay, wait a minute───”
[Craaaaaaaaa!]
Pubber pubber pubber!
The sword fragments that flew in the roar shattered the mercenary's body.
The fifth-tier ice wizard at the rear also suffered serious injuries and collapsed.
Blood and pieces of meat splattered everywhere.
Septa Horn moved, trampling the blood flowing on the floor.
“?!”
Kwajajajajak!
A large claw that tore through Leila's armor and cut into her body. It was completely different from the previous blow, so she couldn't react properly.
In an instant, she fell out and was thrown into the building.
Septa Horn shrugged his shoulders, licking his red-tinged claws.
[Kat. Kaka. Kaka. Kaka.]
It is a laughter full of joy.
My breathing and heart, which had clearly been weakening, are now beating rapidly as if nothing had happened.
And the movements have changed.
Septa Horn possesses a higher intelligence than humans.
Finding prey is not just about filling one's stomach.
Sometimes the pleasure of seeing the prey cower in fear, and sometimes the texture and taste.
For various reasons, they go hunting themselves.
That was the reason why he infiltrated Sacred alone, leaving the group alone, and why he pretended to be dead as a part of it.
In short, it was a predator's game.
"this……."
Septa Horn has begun hunting in earnest.
A sharp difference in agility from when the punitive force had finished adapting.
The situation is one of many adverse conditions, including the death of a top-tier mercenary and the absence of Leila.
“Kkaaaak!”
“Damn it, Panax got hit!”
“I will stop you, so everyone step back!”
“Scald, don’t come forward and get out of here! Get out of here! Don’t worry about your skills or anything, if you block me you’ll die!!”
“Whoa?!”
The formation was broken all at once.
Even Romer, who displayed amazing shield skills, was unable to properly block the attacks that came pouring down.
“Ugh, uh, save me!!”
“That crazy, freaking bastard took the hostage…….”
Along the way, Septa Horn captured one of the expedition members and took him hostage, then tore him to pieces with a horrible laugh.
Casualties began to pile up with screams every moment.
So much so that even the priests of the Luas Church could not respond.
“Ugh…….”
Leila rose from the rubble.
A near-fatal wound.
Blood gushed out from inside the helmet that covered his face.
But there is no danger to life.
The devil's curse engraved on his face even has self-healing powers.
But that didn't mean the situation could be reversed.
Septa Horn's intelligence was beyond what was expected.
On top of that, something strange happened to Archbishop Joseph.
‘… … This can’t go on.’
Layla, her molars clenched, stepped into the square again.
“Lena, Bishop.”
“Lady Layla, are you okay───”
“Can you… possibly release me from my curse?”
Bishop Lena shook her head sharply, her eyes wide open.
“Never, never! If you do, Lady Leila’s ego might be eaten. And even if you do, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to defeat that monster!”
Every word is correct.
Even so, Layla did not back down.
“It’s okay. I’ll try to control it somehow.”
"but……."
“And I’m not the only one facing Septa Horn.”
The punitive force was disbanded.
Still, it was by no means a complete failure.
Because I was able to buy enough time that was absolutely necessary.
“Ugh, euaaaah!”
“Gelton, no!!”
Gelton fell to the floor and was about to be killed.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the entire square, and the darkness beneath Septa Horn's field exploded.
[?!]
A soul-shaking shock.
The guy who screamed for a moment quickly stepped back.
It wasn't some kind of acting, it was genuine pain.
“It became a mess in that short time.”
Haldirn finally joined the battle.
The moment he landed on the square, a divine light appeared behind him.
Thud, thud.
Leila, with her eerie presence, stepped forward.
“Haa, haa…….”
I'm out of breath.
I felt a sense of disconnect, as if I was full of energy but exhausted. My mind was spinning.
Nonetheless, Leila confronted Septa Horn with her sword in hand.
Haldirn said.
“That power… is a demon’s curse. It looks difficult to handle.”
“Because the situation is serious.”
“That’s true. The Archbishop’s plane crashed for some reason, and now there’s a race of Ainz they brought before our eyes.”
This is not the time to be picky about the means.
“Bishop Lena, take everyone here and join the front line. And rescue Joseph.”
“Yes, yes!”
Magic power overflowed from the activated magic circuit.
The blood and bone fragments that were scattered around floated into the air and came together through the curse.
“We will drive that monster out of the city.”
<The misfortune of the flesh and blood>
Haldirn held in his hand a cursed, black spear made of blood and bone.