Chapter 60

"Dragon Extermination Extreme Flash Thrust"

"Clang"

I gripped the king-class metal spear with all my might and unleashed the next strike.

But the spear was immediately deflected by his sword and sent flying, scattering intense sparks around us.

"......Even this, and it still doesn’t reach him......"

──With that, I knew both of my arms were broken.

Even though my bones were shattered to pieces by the first strike, I ignored the pain and gripped the spear with only my enhanced strength. The muscles in both arms supporting the spear and the legs that kicked the ground were groaning as if they were broken, and my body was using up all its breath, causing my vision to blur.

──Just a few strikes.

Just a few attacks, and I’m in this state.

I thrust the best spear I’ve ever used in my life.

I continued to unleash strikes that exceeded my limits with more than full power.

──And yet.

It doesn’t even seem to reach him.

My once-praised invincible spear doesn’t even come close to him.

"Haha... What a joke, this is tough."

This guy is──a real monster.

What I’m wearing now is a gift left behind by the invading imperial army... a magical device called the "Magic Armor" that transforms an ordinary person into a superhuman by absorbing the wearer’s magic power. This one, in particular, is a crazy experimental model that Oaken, the old man, picked up from the battlefield and modified to provide several times the normal power.

...It’s amazing he even thought of making something like this.

It’s impossible for a human body to handle several times its normal strength and remain unharmed.

I, who immediately decided to use it when I heard about it, am also to blame.

Oaken warned me to only use 20% more than my full power when I first tried the armor.

He said that increasing the output any further would destroy my body and put my life at risk. He lectured me repeatedly and persistently when I took it out.

──No way.

The guy in front of me is in a realm that can’t be reached with just that level.

The first strike was 20% more.

The next was 50%.

The one after that was double.

I unleashed spear strikes that far exceeded my limits, and as warned, my body broke down.

But even so──it still doesn’t reach him.

My spear is easily deflected far from his body.

This power gap.

It makes me feel utterly hopeless.

"Dragon Extermination Extreme Flash Thrust"

The next strike.

I increased the output of the "Magic Armor" even further.

My body feels like it’s about to break.

"Clang"

But the next strike is also deflected as usual.

The king-class metal spear is deflected, and the impact of the spear being caught in my side broke my ribs.

I realize it.

There’s no way I can match him.

But──there has been progress.

Now, I’m making him use his sword.

Before, he would dismiss me without even swinging his sword.

So, in a way, I’ve caught up a bit.

At this rate, I’ll definitely catch up to him.

To this monster.

"Dragon Extermination Extreme Flash Thrust"

"Clang"

Every time the spear and sword clash.

My body and instincts tell me it’s reckless.

No matter what, you can’t catch up to this monster in front of you.

All the muscles, bones, and tendons in my body are screaming.

All my senses are pleading with me.

It’s no use. It’s futile. There’s nothing you can do.

My body is pushing me to the limits of reality and my limits.

Even to this extent, I can’t catch up to the overwhelming power gap.

It’s impossible.

I know that.

I understand it rationally.

But knowing that, I can’t help but feel frustrated.

I’m angry at my own weakness.

I should be.

──But at the same time, it’s funny.

My anger at my own weakness is overflowing, and I feel so frustrated that I’m almost going mad──

Yet, why am I laughing now?

A deep, uncontrollable laughter wells up from within me.

"Haha, haha"

What is this laughter?

Am I going crazy?

No, that’s not it.

I already know.

This is enjoyable.

It’s so enjoyable that I can’t help but be happy.

That he’s right in front of me.

That I have a goal to become stronger.

A goal to overcome.

Something I’ve always sought is right in front of me.

"Dragon Extermination Extreme Flash Thrust"

"Clang"

Surely, I’m not even being taken seriously by him.

He doesn’t even seem to remember my name.

Of course, to him, I’m just a nobody.

To him, I’m probably no different from any other commoner──that’s what he thinks.

That’s right.

He only sees me as that much.

──This fact stirs my heart.

The desperate power gap between me and him.

To bridge that gap, I feed all my magic power to the "Magic Armor."

I ignore the danger signals from my body and increase my speed even further──

All the muscles that were screaming in pain tore, and the bones in my feet shattered from the impact of the next strike.

That’s fine.

That’s the only way to reach him.

To reach the point where this monster is.

But──

"Clang"

And yet, he easily deflects my fastest attack, which has already exceeded my limits.

"Haha"

I can’t help but laugh.

I can’t stop laughing.

──Is there really someone like this?

Even after pushing myself to the brink of death──still, my spear doesn’t reach him.

It doesn’t even seem to come close.

"──You... still seem to have plenty of room to spare, huh?"

"Yeah. This level, I can handle it somehow."

"......Got it. Then, next time──I’ll go even faster."

"Sure, I’m counting on you."

I repositioned the spear, listening to the creaking and breaking sounds of my body.

My hands have already lost all feeling.

My hearing is half gone.

My vision is blurred, and I can only focus with one eye.

My body is swaying.

It seems I’m starting to lose it.

But──that’s fine.

I can feel my spear becoming more effective as my body breaks down and I’m pushed to my limits.

I can still do it.

Yes, this time.

This next strike will be the one that reaches him──my ultimate strike.

"Dragon Extermination Extreme Flash Thrust"

I just enjoy swinging the spear so much──that day, I continued to unleash strikes until my body completely stopped responding.