Sousetsuka

16





Boudo cannot see mana.

Thus, he was ignorant of the huge amount of mana poured into the attack coming at him as he stood there to endure it.

He must be using <Hardening>.

Boudo's <Hardening> was nowhere near this powerful back then. And his previous style of combat didn't have him rely on <Hardening> so much like this. Thus, Lecan anticipated this tactic would work on him now.
    
Dealing magic damage on Boudo who's innately strong against offensive magic added with maximum <Hardening> is a tall order. However, it's not like he's completely immune to magic. Magic still damages him ever so slightly.

<Rush Flare> is a magic that rains down a huge onrush of <Fire Arrows>. Each individual attack is <Fire Arrow>. Compared to <Flame Spear>, <Fire Arrow> has a weaker penetrative power and far less firepower.

However, this is a downburst of ten of thousands or maybe even more <Fire Arrows>.

One <Fire Arrow> may only inflict a tenth or perhaps a hundredth of <Flame Spear> damage, but it's damaging nonetheless. And all these arrows would incessantly hit Boudo's armor before its <Self-Repair> function could kick in.

Moreover, Boudo won't move. He can't use <Hardening> if he moves. Hence his only option is to stand still as the entirety of <Rush Flare> comes down on him.

Boudo's figure could no longer be seen under the waterfall of magic.

<Rush Flare> tore up the meadow, sending cloud of dust everywhere.

This dust cloud gradually grew thicker and eventually reached Lecan's spot. Lecan focused his all into <Wand of Halvos>, controlling the <Rush Flare> to keep pouring down on Boudo.

The last <Rush Flare> eventually fell down, and with it silence onto the battlefield.

The dust cloud receded.

Lecan came into view first.

He had put away <Wand of Halvos> already, with both his hands gripping <Sword of Agost> at the ready, focusing ahead on high alert.

The dust cloud receded further, showing Boudo's figure.

In the center of a circular crater in the meadow, there Boudo stood.

Standing in the same pose as when <Rush Flare> started, with the battle hammer on his right shoulder.

Both his armor and helmet have been greatly damaged.

The arms and shoulders parts are especially wrecked.

He's not moving like a statue.

But suddenly, he laughed out loud.

『UHAHAHAHAHAHA. Well I'll be damned. You've amassed quite the power in this world huh.』

(Look who's talking!)

(How the heck anyone withstood that.)

(There should be a limit to sturdiness.)

(But that impregnable defense has been scrapped down for sure.)

Thud, thud, Boudo started walking forward.

Lecan retreated behind. All while taking two large magic stones from <Storage> and absorbed their mana.

He'd like to refill as much mana as possible for the final clash.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
(This spot will do.)

Lecan stopped and broke into a calm run forward.

As if acting in concert, Boudo put his left hand on the battle hammer's handle.

<Sword of Agost> went at Boudo while tearing up the wind.

Boudo slammed at it with the pommel of his battle hammer, producing a loud reverberating sound in the battlefield.

Lecan pushed hard.

Boudo pushed back in response.

Two over two-step tall large adventurers are currently locked in a colossal contest of muscle strength.

The two stopped moving.

The strength put in each their weapon is utterly equal.

Boudo can't afford to even recite <Power> spell due to him squeezing his everything.

At the same time, Lecan can't shoot magic either.

Both Boudo's arms and Lecan's arms started to tremble.

Then both pulled back their weapons in the same exact breath before clashing into each other once again.

"<Power>!"

The battle hammer which repelled Lecan's greatsword got pulled by its inertia to Lecan's right side, causing Boudo to lose his balance a bit.

Lecan had predicted Boudo's use of <Superstrength> and pulled his greatsword back the moment they clashed. After dodging the battle hammer by taking a half step to the left, he spun his sword mid air and slashed at Boudo's head.

Boudo's twisted his neck to dodge this resulting in the greatsword hitting his right shoulder instead.

"<Power>!"

Boudo swung his battle hammer from right to left, aiming at Lecan.

Lecan hit the battle hammer from below shifting its trajectory.

Boudo spun the battle hammer and swung it down at Lecan.

Lecan met this head on with his sword, producing sparks in the process.

Thus these exchanges between a battle hammer and a greatsword continued for a while.

This ongoing clash between two big adventurers wielding heavy weapons created an intense soul-shattering sound with each and every hit, scattering sparks everywhere, the impact of this scene stirred up a sense of awe to every soul witnessing this fight.

(Not good.)

(If this goes on.)

(Boudo's armor gonna get restored.)

(Mwu?)

Lecan felt something off when his <Sword of Agost> hit the battle hammer.

(Perhaps.)

"<Power>!"

Lecan's pair of eyes foresaw the trajectory of Boudo's <Superstrength>-infused battle hammer downswung as he drove <Sword of Agost> toward a spot on the handle that connects to the pommel.

The handle broke and the pommel flew off.

Boudo threw away the broken handle and attempted to retreat back.

Lecan swiftly stepped forward and swung down <Sword of Agost> at Boudo's head.

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 15





It's an overhead slanted down attack.

Lecan experienced a blunt impact on his left shoulder.

His chest felt like it had been powerfully compressed.

His right waist felt like it had been obliterated on the insides.

Boudo pulled his battle hammer and spun it around to strike at Lecan's right side.

Lecan lifted his left arm and attempted to shoot <Flame Spear>.

But his left arm wouldn't follow his command.

He tried to flee backward with <Gust>.

But his voice wouldn't come out.

The battle hammer is fast approaching.

Lecan swung the solid sacred silver sword.

Aiming for the grip part that supports the hammer head part of the incoming battle hammer.

Boudo spun the hammer head around. The second trick he exhibited in this fight.

The solid sacred silver sword directly hit the battle hammer head.

A shrill sound echoed as the solid sacred silver sword broke into pieces.

The battle hammer struck Lecan's abdomen.

Lecan willed as he was getting blown away.

(Get healed! Get healed!)

(Get healeeeeeeeeeed!!)

<Self-Recovery> gets activated, allowing him to speak again.

He crashed on the meadow on his back.

The penetrating damage wasn't too serious thanks to Great Flame Dragon's armor.

"<Recovery>!"

He cast <Recovery> on his left shoulder with his right hand before immediately twisted his body to the left and sprung up.

A battle hammer hit the ground an instance later.

Lecan ran.

But due to the grave injuries the impact inflicted on his legs and waist, he couldn't run at full speed.

Boudo is in hot pursuit behind him.

Lecan couldn't spare the focus to <3D Perception> at this point, but this fact was crystal clear to him even without using that skill.

Some spectating beastmen are standing ahead of him.

There's quite a lot more of them now.

Boudo is right behind him.

Lecan frantically ran for it while desperately trying to control his entangling legs.

The beastmen looked surprised as they started to get away from the two of them.

(Outta my way!)

(Move it!)

Just as Lecan attempted to get in a gap between the beastmen, a random beastman suddenly ran in front of him.

A moment later, Lecan tripped on a tree root and fell forward.

A battle hammer made a swooshing sound as it passed right above his head, sending the unfortunate beastman flying into the air.

Lecan rolled up to the right as he stood and ran straight into the spectators.

(These spectators are no different than rocks and trees.)

(They're obstacles.)

(I just gotta run between these obstacles.)

(To put some distance.)

For some reason, there's an awfully lot of these spectators.

Including many humans.

Lecan found it weird, but now's not the time to wonder about it.

Lecan ran past all the obstacles by making use of <3D Perception>.

After doing that for a while, Lecan focused to the spot behind him.

(Did I manage to get away a bit?)

He did not.

Boudo was right behind him.

He's blowing away all the beastmen and humans in his way, sometimes by grabbing and tossing them around, other times by pushing them away as he makes a beeline toward Lecan.

Lecan resumed his escape.

Visca Kouen stood in front of him.

Visca's eyes were wide open.

Lecan quickly went around behind him.

He tried to go further but the people there were too densely concentrated, not even <3D Perception> could find him a gap.

Duo Bahn stood before him. The knight commander of Yufu Knights. Lecan wondered why was this guy here, but he got no time for it.

Lecan turned around.

Boudo was pushing some knights away with his left hand as he put his hammer's pommel on Visca's armpit and swung that, flinging Visca high into the sky.

Lecan lunged at Boudo, pushed down Boudo's right shoulder, the battle hammer arm, with his left hand and grabbed the weird looking helmet with his right hand.

"<Fire Arrow>!"

Four <Fire Arrows> emerged within the helmet and pierced both Boudo's eyes.

Lecan can manifest <Fire Arrow> a bit further from his body. And it seemed there are enough gaps on Boudo's helmet to let mana pass.

Lecan swiftly jumped back.

Boudo put his left hand on his helmet while groaning.

Lecan grabbed five Large Red Potions from <Storage> and crushed them around his neck.

The red potion flowed inside his armor.

Then he faced the sky, opened his mouth wide and squeezed the red potions above it, gulping down the falling potion.

"<Recovery>! <Recovery>! <Recovery>!"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
He cast <Recovery> on himself.

In front of him Boudo also squeezed red potions, smearing it on his face.

"<Wind>! <Wind>!"

Lecan ran to an unpopulated place. The center of their initial battlefield.

He ran past 50 steps at once.

Mana flowed into his body.

(<Guardian Jewel of Miko> huh?)

He must have gone out of the Grace Void range.

Which means Grace Void really is in effect around Boudo.

He saw his Argent Flame Wolf's overcoat lying nearby and picked it up.

Boudo calmly walked up to Lecan with his battle hammer on his shoulder.

Lecan took <Sword of Agost> from <Storage>.

With that in his right hand, he grabbed <Wand of Halvos> into his left hand and recited the preliminary casting for <Rush Flare>.

Boudo kept walking toward him.

Lecan continued the preliminary casting.

Boudo kept walking.

And once he was about halfway there, Lecan finished the casting.

"<Rush Flare>!"

The wide area magic <Rush Flare> poured down on Boudo and his surroundings.

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 14





Boudo boldly approached Lecan while shouldering his battle hammer.

His helmeted head tilted to the left.

『Ooh? That a Divine Steel Sword? Been a while since I last seen one. I see, you might just manage to cut me with that yeah.』

『I'm gonna end this fight before you clicked into high gear!』 "<Flame Spear>!"

Lecan dashed at Boudo as the <Flame Spear> landed on Boudo's face.

Boudo always starts out a fight against formidable foes with a slow walk. Then it'll gradually turn into a dash and rapid flurries of attacks. By the end, he will eventually move at high speed unleashing terrifying barrages of attacks. By this point Boudo's face looks akin to a mad bear thirsting for human flesh. The source of his <Man-eating Ursa> epithet.

Even when Boudo has reached his maximum speed, he can't hope to outrun Lecan, but since the chain attacks are a pain to deal with, Lecan intends to end this duel before it gets to that point.

Unperturbed by the flames occupying his vision, Boudo switched his battle hammer from his right hand to his left hand. Lecan drove his solid sacred silver sword on Boudo's left upper arm.

It got cut. But it didn't dig deep.

(Tch. He foresaw that.)

Boudo had anticipated Lecan's attack and used <Hardening>.

"<Power>!"

A giant battle hammer zoomed at Lecan's head.

Boudo's battle hammer has a long grip and a large pommel. Meanwhile the blade on Solid Sacred Silver sword is short, thin and light. Since the two's statures are about equal, Boudo has the upper hands in range.

"<Wind>!"

Lecan cast <Gust> to leap backward and immediately stepped to forward left. The battle hammer went to the right, gouging out the ground.

At the same time, solid sacred silver sword cut Boudo's right upper arm.

(Got him!)

Lecan's sword cut deep into Boudo's armor this time around.

Boudo could only use very weak <Hardening> when he was in the middle of attacking or moving around.

Thus, Lecan simply has to keep dodging Boudo's attacks while cutting at both his arms in the same exact moment.

This should eventually damage those arms.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
Once he's no longer able to swing that battle hammer around, the victor would be decided.

Boudo swung down his battle hammer diagonally, Lecan read the trajectory and closed in on him while dodging and cutting at his left upper arm.

Boudo immediately swung the battle hammer with the opposite end.

Lecan reflexively leaped back. He only managed to inflict a shallow cut.

A direct hit from Boudo's hammer could potentially incapacitate Lecan. Not even Great Flame Dragon's armor could stave off an <Impact Penetration>-infused strike from that battle hammer. He was made aware of this fact in their first exchange.

Boudo swung down his battle hammer from upper left.

Lecan dodged to the right and was about to leap forward when the battle hammer suddenly curved to the right, thus he dodged to the right instead.

The battle hammer dragged the hem of Lecan's overcoat.

He almost lost his balance but managed to recover by forcefully twisting his body to the right.

(Overcoat's in the way.)

"<Flame Spear>! <Flame Spear>! <Flame Spear>! <Flame Spear>!"

Lecan shot a barrage of <Flame Spears> directed at Boudo's face.

Boudo has a high innate resistance against physical and magical attacks, adding <Hardening> to that makes him virtually unaffected by magic attacks. But an explosion right in his face should make him lose Lecan for a moment. Boudo's not so good with detection.

Lecan took some distance away, took Argent Flame Wolf's overcoat and threw it in the spot.

And then he rushed at Boudo.

Boudo swung down the battle hammer from upper left to lower right.

Lecan slashed at Boudo's right upper arm.

Boudo swung his battle hammer from right to left.

Lecan slashed at Boudo's left upper arm.

This routine continued for a while.

Boudo gradually increased the frequency of his swings from two, three to even four.

Lecan could barely keep up dodging this storm of attacks as he kept cutting at Boudo's arms.

(My swings feel too light.)

Lecan has gotten completely used to <Guardian Jewel of Miko>'s Grace. Thus his slashes feel light without the Grace's help.

Nevertheless, his continued slices finally bore fruit as Boudo's armor looked diced on the arm parts he cut. Should be about time his slashes damage the flesh part.

Boudo's battle hammer strikes may be incredibly powerful but they're simple to read. Lecan had gotten used to his pattern, he could predict the trajectory now. He could cope even if it got changed mid swing.

Lecan took a closer look on the arm parts of Boudo's armor to check how much damage it had suffered.

And he was taken aback.

(It's been restored?)

(It can't be.)

(But the cuts are clearly getting smaller and fewer.)

(Does his armor have <Self-Repair>?)

(Are you saying he's not affected by the Grace Void when I am?)

Boudo swung down his battle hammer from upper left.

Lecan took a step back to narrowly miss the trajectory.

Boudo stopped the downswing, lifted the battle hammer again and took a big step forward while swinging down the battle hammer once again.

(Crap!)

This was the first cheap shot Boudo exhibited in this fight. Lecan's body which had gotten used to the straightforward pattern failed to dodge this.

Boudo's battle hammer struck Lecan dead on his left shoulder.

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 13





Boudo's body slightly bent backward.

His head lowered a bit.

But that's it.

Boudo's head which should have been cut in two remained on its neck.

In fact the slash failed to even break through his helmet.

An unbelievable spectacle just unfolded.

That slash had Lecan's maximum speed and power put behind it.

It should have sliced any and all thing in two.

Yet Boudo didn't even budge.

The helmet occupies Lecan's view. It's got the visage of an eerie looking fierce god, but the eye parts are round which is kind of weirdly charming.

Lecan felt like Boudo's are staring at him behind these round shaped eyes.

It also felt like he just grinned behind the giant curved fangs on the mask.

"<Power>!"

A moment after Lecan thought 'crap', the giant battle hammer was already swinging toward Lecan.

"W-<Wind>!"

He cast <Gust> in an attempt to get out of Boudo's attack, but he was a tad too late.

The battle hammer's tip dug into Lecan's abdomen.

Lecan got blown away, spinning in the air before getting slammed into the ground.

The impact he took clouded his vision, but Lecan frantically got up and put his left hand on his abdomen.

"Gofh. <Recovery>! <Recovery>!"

He cast multiple <Recovery> as blood spewed out of his mouth.

Boudo walked up to him with battle hammer on his shoulder.

"<Flame Spear>! <Flame Spear>! <Flame Spear>! <Flame Spear>! <Flame Spear>!"

Lecan rapidly shot out five <Flame Spears> ahead of him while he was still on his knees.

He put quite a lot of mana into them.

The five <Flame Spears> hit Boudo's face, right shoulder, left chest, abdomen and waist, creating huge explosions upon impacts.

However, Boudo just calmly stood there without even flinching before resuming his walk forward.

(Dammit!)

(It's <Hardening>!)

(No doubt.)

Boudo stopped moving when the five <Flame Spears> landed on him there. He always stops moving whenever he activates an especially strong <Hardening>.

And before that, he must have deployed <Hardening> to meet Lecan's full powered slash earlier.

<Hardening> is an active skill that doesn't require spell recitation for activation, a skilled user is capable of chain activation over a short burst. Boudo would keep a weak version of the skill active entirely during combat and put it in the highest gear at the right timing, stopping him in his track.

However, <Hardening> should consume a huge amount of mana when cast at maximum effect. How come Boudo is able to activate <Hardening> when he's got no mana.

Boudo roared as he swung down his battle hammer from upper right to lower left.

Lecan had quickly stood up and leaped to the left just as Boudo initiated his assault.

Lecan's Argent Flame Wolf's overcoat almost got torn away from the wind pressure.

Lecan slashed at Boudo's upper right arm with <Sword of Lecan> as he passed by.

The feedback was not entirely stiff, there was some suppleness to it.

Lecan used this chance of Boudo whiffing a large swing to slash at his back.

It was a direct hit, but it didn't feel like he was cutting at things.

<Hardening>'s effect applies to clothes and armor but some armor works well with it, while some other not so much. Metal armor doesn't work too well. While armor made of magic beast materials have high compatibility.

It seems Boudo's armor is made of magic beast materials. It's of an exceedingly high quality with a strong <Hardening> applied. It cannot be easily cut. However, Lecan felt like it's not impossible either.

Boudo spun around to the right and amassed his power before swinging his battle hammer.

"<Power>!"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"<Wind>!"

Lecan greatly leaped backward with <Gust>.

<Power> is the spell to activate <Superstrength> skill. And that attack earlier must have been loaded with <Impact Penetration>.

Lecan spat out the blood collected in his mouth.

<Recovery> may have healed his wounds, but the blood lost in his stomach wouldn't come back and the pain from damaged internal organs remained. Lecan endured the pain and discomfort from having his internal twisted all this while.

There's no doubt now, Boudo has been employing <Impact Penetration>, <Superstrength> and <Hardening> skill. Lecan's <Gust> wasn't classified as magic in his world, which got adapted into one when he came to this world. <Life Detection> and <Mana Detection> were also remade, adapted per this world's law. In Boudo's case, <Impact Penetration>, <Superstrength> and <Hardening> must be seen as not magic by this world. Hence he must be consuming something that's not mana to activate them. Or so how they were adapted by this world's rule. That's the only explanation.

Still, how he came out unscathed after getting hit by that slash Lecan put his everything into is just not normal. Either <Hardening> had evolved abnormally after his arrival in this world. Or perhaps he's got an equipment that maximizes the effect of <Hardening> on him.

And that attack that penetrated through Lecan's Great Flame Dragon's armor and dealt heavy damage.

Seems like <Impact Penetration> has evolved as terrifyingly.

Boudo held his battle hammer aloft and calmly walked up to Lecan.

Lecan stooped low and waited until the very last moment before dodging to the right, circled around Boudo's back and cut at his left upper heel.

The battle hammer that was swung down right ahead changed its trajectory midway and gouged the ground on the left side.

Had Lecan dodged to the left, he would have eaten that blow.

(One hit by him will drive me into the corner, near incapacitation.)

(Yet my attacks barely have any effect on him.)

(Now then.)

(How to approach this fight.)

"<Wind>! <Wind>!"

Lecan greatly leaped backward to take some distance, put <Sword of Lecan> in <Storage> and grabbed a Solid Sacred Silver sword.

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12





『Didn't the duel end with the third one.』

『Uhahahaha. Haven't you proven yourself in the battle you fought earlier, you have earned the right to challenge me, the Thousand Dragon General of Guido Empire.』

『I see. If I win this duel, suspend the war and have representatives of the beastmen army come with me. I'm gonna go negotiate to get that treasure of yours back. Is that fine?』

『Sure is, but what do we get if I win?』

Lecan pondered for a while. Then he took five <God Cures> from <Storage>. The ones Manfrey let him keep.

『How about these.』

『Hou! <Spirit Fruit>. And five of them. Very well.』

『And what if you kicked the bucket in the duel? It'd be my win.』

『Hahahahaha. Yeah that's plausible alright. Baru Pavi!』

Boudou shouted some foreign words, then the horseman came closer.

Boudou spoke with the horseman. The horseman glared at Lecan before making a salutation gesture by tapping his left fist on his right chest.

『You can keep them.』

Lecan presented the five <God Cures> on his open palm, then Boudou ordered the horseman something. The horseman took the five <God Cures> from Lecan.

Boudou looked around before shouting out something.

The surrounding beastmen began taking some distance away from both Boudou and Lecan.

The golden rabbit beastman next to Boudou looked up at him and said something.

Boudou replied curtly.

The rabbitman glared hard at Lecan before turning around and hopped away.

『Speaking of, Boudou.』
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
『Hm? What's up?』

『That was a splendid show of <Formation of Ishas>.』

『Uhahahahaha. So it was. You think so huh.』

『I don't really get war tactics and stuff, but from what I heard, how your units moved, how they dealt with the opposition in clashes and even the resting methods were all excellently done.』

『To think I'd hear that from you.』

『Where'd you even learn how to command an army.』

『My father was a general of Sparcant』

『What.』

There was once a kingdom known as Sparcant in Lecan and Boudou's world. It was said to have been a peaceful and beautiful country, it fell into ruin before Lecan's birth.

『I was taught how to assemble formations, as well as deploy and command them since childhood.』

『I had no idea. Ah, so that's where the name Boudou comes from.』

『Uhahahahaha. Yeah, something like that.』

Boudou means <Precipice> but it's also used as an idiom for <Impregnable>. Lecan always thought that he came up with that on his own considering how larger than world it was, turned out it was his real name.

『Climbed my way up as an adventurer with the arms and martial arts I learned from my grandfather. Who coulda imagined I'd also end up using all those tactics they drove on me. Hahaha.』

『Wasn't it difficult to command beastmen.』

『Wasn't hard at all. But it sure was lacking.』

『Hou? How come.』

『Strong soldiers are strong no matter what. But getting weak soldiers win a battle through group tactics is where's it at for us commanders.』

『I see.』

As they talked, the beastmen had finished surrounding Lecan and Boudou in a 120 step circle.

『Looks like they're done.』

『Sure is.』

A breeze blew through.

The cloudy gray clouds in the sky flew from east to west as if drawing a vortex.

Lecan stepped back. Then he stopped about ten steps away from Boudou and took <Sword of Lecan> out of his <Storage>. His trusty sword from original world.

Boudou also grabbed his weapon from <Storage>. A familiar looking one. It's his trusty battle hammer. The handle is straight and looks thin compared to Boudou's build. The striking part is shaped boorishly like a shaved log, but its sturdiness is second to none, and it turns into an unrivaled weapon of destruction in Boudou's hands.

His dark red armor looked like it's made of metal from afar but looking closer, it seems to be made from a shell of an insect type magic beast.

His helmet has no holes. It's probably got a clear view inside. Or perhaps it's completely transparent on the insides even.

Boudou has three skills: <Impact Penetration>, <Superstrength>, and <Hardening>. But every single one of them consumes mana to execute just like Lecan's <Gust>, <Life Detection>, <3D Perception>, and <Mana Detection>. Moreover, while passive skill like <Life Detection> only consumes very little mana, skills like <Impact Penetration>, <Superstrength> and <Hardening> won't activate unless you've poured over a certain amount of mana, and they get more effective the more mana you pour. Now that Boudou has lost his mana, he shouldn't be able to activate them or at least, only very weak versions.

However, there's no telling what kind of abilities Boudou obtained after coming to this world. He must have overcome powerful foes. And conquered many dungeons.

The warrior Boudou standing before Lecan is brimming with terrifying fighting spirit, emanating a sense of presence befitting of his epithet, the <Man-eating Ursa>.

(I've gotten stronger.)

(But I should regard that the same goes for him.)

Lecan took a deep breath to relax his body before amassing his strength.

Life energy filled every fibers of his being then an intense craving for combat welled up from within.

Lecan's grey eyes opened wide, shooting out silver lights.

"<Wind>!"

He dashed forward with the power of <Gust>.

"<Wind>! <Wind>!"

With his explosive leg strength and acceleration from multiple <Gust> casting, Lecan arrived right before Boudou in an instant.

<Sword of Lecan> in both his hands, he swung it down aimed at Boudou's crown of head. Boudou failed to even dodge or defend against this extreme speed, his battle hammer was even still on standby.

A full powered strike with Lecan's trusty sword landed squarely on Boudou's helmet.

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 11





Lecan experienced a sensation of bumping into something.

At the end point of teleportation, the supreme commander that was supposed to be right in front of him was still quite a bit away.

And the horseman stood a few steps behind him.

He only teleported about ten steps ahead.

Looking at <Comet Cutter>, its magic blade has disappeared.

The teleportation by <Leg Bands of White Devil> was interrupted, and <Comet Cutter>'s Grace stopped working.

Something is not right.

However, Lecan didn't panic.

Because this wasn't the first time he went through something like this.

Grace Void.

The same situation he had endured in the lowest floor of Dungeon Tsubolt.

This was the reason why the supreme commander's bodyguards, the beastmen took some distance away.

Because no Grace works within 30 steps radius from the supreme commander. Which means all the elite bodyguards have Grace Gear on them.

The horseman and the other beastmen quickly noticed the vanished Lecan showing up behind them. And they all went after him.

The horseman ran up to Lecan while raising its giant halberd.

To its right a silver tiger beastman opened its mouth wide.

Lecan put <Comet Cutter> away, grabbed <Sword of Rusk> which he immediately pointed at the horseman while reciting three spells.

"<Fire Arrow>! <Flame Spear>! <Wind>!"

Five <Fire Arrows> emerged in front of the horseman and hit the spot around its eyes.

A <Flame Spear> landed in the mouth of the silver tigerman where it was converging mana, creating an explosion.

Graces don't work, but magic do. Then there's no issue at all.

Lecan received the <Gust> as he leaped backward to dodge the horseman's downswung halberd, then he spun around and readied himself to make a mad dash toward the supreme commander.

That was when the supreme commander spread its arms open and shouted out loud.

"Maldo Moruk Zandie!"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
All the beastmen stopped moving at once.

Lecan also stopped after a moment.

There's only a 20 step gap between Lecan and the supreme commander.

With no other object within this gap.

Lecan took a good look on the supreme commander.

The guy is wearing a weird looking helmet. A full faced helmet with the image of a laughing fierce god on the face side.

But it's weird.

He's clearly visible yet it feels as if there's something hazy about it.

His body build looks like Boudo's.

The voice just now sounded like Boudo's as well.

However, <Mana Detection> tells that he's got no mana at all.

Therefore he can't be the Boudo Lecan knows.

Lecan focused his <3D Perceptions>, and while it showed that the supreme commander's shape is that of a human, the precise shape was hazy.

『Uhahahahaha. Lecan. It's been a while eh.』

The supreme commander walked up to him with a vividly reverberating voice. Using the nostalgic words of his world.

『Boudo? Are you Boudo?』

『What are you saying now. Can't you tell it's me. Ah, yeah it's cause of this helmet huh. But man, there's this nostalgic sensation I've been feeling since way earlier. Did you not feel it?』

『Nah. I did. But I had experienced it once already with another guy. So that wasn't enough to conclude it was you.』

『Hou? Did he come from our world?』

『Yea. Guy's a great adventurer.』

『Well well. You've really changed outwardly, haven't you. Not to mention those barrages of magic, I thought it was just a lookalike. And your left eye, it's been restored huh. Haha, aren't you quite the lad. By the by, have you been hired by my enemy?』

『Took on a request from a noble of this kingdom. A quest to either kill the enemy's supreme commander, or find a way to make the beastman army withdraw.』

『Uhahahahaha. So we stand on opposite sides once again. And here I was looking forward to see you again.』

『Yeah about that, I've got something to discuss you with.』

Boudo stopped about three steps before Lecan.

The horseman behind Lecan was about to make its move toward him.

Boudo shouted out an intense warning at the horseman. The horseman stopped moving like it was frozen stiff.

Boudo told the other beastmen something as he surveyed them. Then his line of sight went back to Lecan.

『Discuss?』

『I heard you guys came here looking for a treasure that was in a temple located in a big forest.』

『Indeed. His imperial majesty has ordained us to take back the <Orb of Peace> snatched away by the <Fur-torn Ones>, you humans, at the Shrine of Golzaza in the great forest.』

『I might know this group of humans who attacked and robbed you of that treasure.』

『Ooh. Is that right.』

『But there's no guarantee if they're really the ones until we've gone there to check ourselves. And even if they  were the culprit, there's no telling if that treasure is still with them. Sorry, but could you come with us there to check and negotiate with them?』

『Are they nearby?』

『Distance-wise, it's a bit shorter than Daina to this place. But we're probably gonna traverse through some mountains. I don't know the route that well myself.』

『Fuumu. My subordinates aren't gonna agree with such a vague proposition after all this time. Neither am I. The battle has long since begun.』

『Then how do I change their mind.』

『It's gotta be a duel between you and me.』

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 10





Lecan grabbed <Myriad Dragon Cutter> without thinking.

Even if it looks like a dragon, his opponent is a human. This sword's Grace is meaningless. Nevertheless the sword is not as heavy or long as <Sword of Agost> so it's good for this swift foe, it's also slightly longer and heavier than <Sword of Rusk> thus it should still deal some damage.

Lecan gripped <Myriad Dragon Cutter> with both his hands, greatly pulled his right shoulder back and swung the sword at the shield at full power. The dragonman also strengthened its grip on the shield to receive this attack.

However, despite the show of a full powered slash, there was no power nor speed behind Lecan's sword. In fact, he pulled his sword away right before it even touched the shield.

The dragonman lost its balance.

Lecan leaped and rolled to the left before immediately slashing the dragonman's back.

His sword dug deep into its flesh.

(What?)

The dragonman groaned in pain while bending its back.

Lecan slashed at that back with the <Myriad Dragon Cutter> once more.

It dug even deeper than earlier.

The dragonman spun itself to the right at incredible speed and thrust its shield.

The speed itself might be impressive but the movement was rough.

Lecan easily dodged the shield to the right as he raised his sword overhead and swung down the <Myriad Dragon Cutter> with both his hand on the dragonman's left shield arm.

His sword sliced off the dragonman's left hand.

The golden light wrapping the dragonman's body vanished.

It made an attempt to block Lecan's attack with its shield but it was moving far too slow.

Lecan circled around to the right and swiftly unleashed a slanted upward slash from down right to upper left.

His sword deeply cut the dragonman's neck.

Lecan retreated a step backward and observed his opponent carefully.

The dragonman's eyes glared hard at Lecan below.

Then it slowly fell down, causing a tremor before laying lifeless on a patch of grass.

The dragonman's red dot displayed on <Life Detection> disappeared.

Even the shield that exhibited such sturdiness earlier cracked and broke into pieces.

Despite his victory, Lecan's mind was full of questions.

How come <Myriad Dragon Cutter> worked.

The Grace clearly worked there. Otherwise that kind of sharpness would have been inexplicable.

(It must be human since <Life Detection> showed it as a red dot.)

(So how did <Myriad Dragon Cutter> work on it?)

<Myriad Dragon Cutter> is supposedly only effective on common dragons. In other word, dragon magic beasts.

(Are you saying this guy is a beastman, a human.)

(Yet at the same time it got the blood of dragon magic beasts running in its veins?)

It's a mystery.

But now's not the time to ponder about that.

There are only ten knights left under Jinga's commands. However, only two left on the enemy's side as well.

As for Eda, surprisingly enough she was in the midst of stabbing the throat of the black rhinoman on the ground with knight Yog pinning it down.

Lecan is standing roughly in the same spot he was originally at. Despite all that zigzagging, he ended up in the spot.

To the east, about 50 steps ahead, nine beastmen were standing in a row to guard the supreme guard.

Golden Lion, Golden Wolf, a lot of them are golden colored.

All of them are looking at Lecan.

Hard to tell their expressions, but it seems to be looks of shock.

They probably never imagined that the dragonman could have lost. Hence their frequent glances at Lecan.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
Now's the time, thought Lecan.

The leopardman's corpse lay before him.

He put <Myriad Dragon Cutter> away, quickly picked up the curved sword the leopardman had in its right hand and stowed it in <Storage>. Then he grabbed <Comet Cutter>.

He put his hand on the <Guardian Jewel of Miko> over his leather armor and poured mana into it. If <Comet Cutter> could end the fight then that's that, but if <Comet Cutter> somehow didn't work, and he had to resort to physical attacks, the jewel's physical boost Grace would come in handy.

He took two large magic stones and absorbed mana off them.

"<Purification> <Purification>."

Eda cast <Purification> twice on him.

Relieving his fatigue, giving his body fresh energy.

He turned around and smiled at Eda.

Eda smiled back and nodded.

Lecan turned his sight ahead.

His entire body gets roused up, thrilled in the eve of the final battle.

His usually dark grey eyes emitted intense silver lights.

His blue leather armor and silver overcoat are breathing like living beings as if to match Lecan's heightened fighting spirits.

He generated <Comet Cutter>'s magic blade. It's shining a mystical light under the cloudy weather.

The nine beastmen standing 50 steps ahead drew their weapons all at once.

Lecan breathed in deeply.

Then he broke into run forward.

He mustn't run too fast.

<Leg Bands of White Devil> teleports its user 20 steps ahead when used while immobile.

But this distance gets extended when used while running.

While maintaining the user's speed right before teleportation at the terminus.

He's been training to teleport right into the target spot.

Would be best if he could teleport five steps before the enemy's supreme commander. Even better if he's still accelerating by then.

Standing in Lecan's path is a giant beastman with the face of a horse.

He kept running while adjusting his speed.

Ten steps until the horseman.

Now.

He raised his speed at once and recited a spell.

"<Wind>!"

Lecan entered a state of explosive acceleration.

"<Zoruas Kurt Venda>!"

With the use of <Leg Bands of White Devil>'s Grace, Lecan teleported inside the enemy's formation.

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