hotmtlnovel Chapter 165: Gift of Battle
Chapter 165: Gift of Battle
Chapter 165: Gift of Battle
Prison? Dallion asked.
Was the dagger a prison? The copyette had said something similar as well. So, the sphere items were prisons. Did that mean that fulfilling their destiny meant freeing the inhabitants? The last part felt like a stretch.
If you dont know it by now, youll never know, the guardian replied.
Dallion couldnt tell whether the guardian was being facetious, or this was a result of an information limiting curse put on him. His music skills told him that the scylla wasnt lying, and alsointerestingly enoughthat he wasnt as angry at him as the guardian pretended to be. There were shimmers of hope among the other emotions, along with an acceptance of fate.
You wont tell me more, will you? Dallion shook his head. Harp, do you want me to give you two some time before we start?
The strings echoed a resounding no, to which the scylla laughed.
Always contrary. Maybe thats the better approach. Its not good to cling to the past too much, but I just cant help myself. Spikes emerged from the tarry substance that covered the guardian, slowly turning into swords. Dallion, is it? You keep asking realm beings to accept a draw or surrender. Since youve been nicer than I expected, Ill give you a gift, one that you desperately need.
The twelve swords emerging from him formed a semi-circle, then linked together, creating a spiked black halo behind the guardians head.
A real battle, the scylla added, and rushed forward.
COMBAT INITIATED
The speed was faster than Dallion expected, barely giving him a chance to react. Thankfully, the harpsisword did for him. Guiding his hand, it made a circular arc, parrying all the blades that threatened Dallion well before the green defense markers appeared.
For the slightest of instances the action caught him off guard, but he snapped out of it quickly leaping to the side, then back.
The guardian had no intention of giving him a break, quickly following up with another charge attack.
Shield! Dallion shouted. The metal gear extended over the entire left part of his body. The sound of blades crashed into it. Dallion felt the force pushing him back, but managed to keep his ground. Unable to handle the pressure, the black blades shattered like glass. The fragments then quickly melted and slid along the floor returning to the scylla.
Hes preventing me from using music, Dallion thought.
The intensity with which the guardian kept up the pressure made it impossible for Dallion to play a chordhis right hand was gripping the harpsisword, while the left was positioning the armadil shield to protect as much of him as possible. Both were necessary to keep him from getting sliced up.
This was so much harder than the thunder leopard, as if Dallion had jumped into an elite tournament after completing a game tutorial.
You wont win if you keep defending, the scylla said. There was no malice in his words, just an observation. Your sword wont be able to save you forever.
Counterattack, Dallion thought.
Red and green markers appeared, constantly moving about to keep up with the dynamic of the battle. Every attempt to follow a series of markers ended in failure mid-way, reminding Dallion of the difficulties he had upon first arriving in this world. It wasnt that his skills were so low, rather his opponent was extremely good at disrupting every attempt as it happened. If Dallion was to win this one, he was going to have to create his own opening, and fast.
Shield, inverse! Dallion said.
The semi sphere bent in the opposite direction, covering the front of the guardian like a lid. At that point Dallion didnt think. He knew that he would have a disadvantage if he attacked outright, but there was one thing that his enemy couldnt counter, something that Dallion had become exceedingly good at.
At the same time, the remaining ninety-five percent of Dallions mind yelled just do it and so he did. Still singing, he thrust the harpsisword forward, striking the guardian in the chest.
CRITICAL WOUND
Damage has increased by 200%
I hit? Dallion wondered, confused by the fact. This seemed to be a common themeeach time he thought his opponent was going to respond in some unexpected fashion, he had turned out to be wrong. In contrast, many of the times he thought hed have an easy victory the enemy would surprise him, coming up with something completely unexpected. What made it even stranger, in this case the scylla didnt even bother reacting in any way. He just stood there, a harpsisword sticking from his chest.
Surprised? the guardian asked, as the black blades sunk back into his shirt. Im still limited by the dagger. I can only use part of my skills against you.
Dallion swallowed. While it was nice to have the sphere item match their strength, it also showed him what monsters existed out there in the real world.
Also, the fight is still going on, only not against you.
Harp? Dallion looked at the harpsisword. Only now he noticed that the weapon kept vibrating in his hand.
She always was an enthusiastic one. Good to see shes having fun, even in this state. Streaks of blue started to mix with the tar that composed his outfit. This is the second time you broke my monotony. As the copyette would tell you, thats more than one could hope for here. We can probably continue the fight and Ill cause you enough damage so you cant win, but would there be any point?
Dallion had stopped singing. He could see the calm in the guardian grow. Hopefully, it was he that had caused this. Either that, or the harpsisword was to thank for the scyllas change of heart.
Do you think you can make it all the way?
Yes, Dallion said without hesitation. I can.
Or at least you think you do. The guardian smiled. There are three of us you have to watch out for in this realm. The other is just a beast like the leopard. Youve already seen the copyette, so you know what to expect. As for the last the approach you used against me wont work. Music is powerful, like magic, but relying on it too much will make you weak.
CRITICAL WOUND
Damage has increased by 200%
Huh? Dallion stared at the rectangle.
I told you the fight is still going on. With my present limitations, Im no match for her. Still, it was nice sparring again. I missed that.
A sense of regret appeared, pulsing in the guardians chest. Moments later, he disappeared in a cloud of black mist.
DAGGER Level 2 has been cleared!
Two out of five cleared. Now Dallion only had to face the copyette before venturing into the unknown. He was supposed to be happy with this victory. Despite a rough start, he had only lost fifteen percent of his health, which put him in a good spot moving on. And still, part of him was conflicted.
Harp, are you okay? he asked, looking at the harpsisword. The weapon had gone completely still. Even so, Dallion felt part of her emotions. The link he had formed let him get a glimpse of sadness very similar to the one he had seen in the scylla.
The strings vibrated, conveying I am fine. Dallion, though, could see she wasnt being entirely truthful.
Its fine. He looked at the entrance to the next level. We did good. Or at the very least, they had done well.