Chapter 26

This is the second part of today's two-part posting.

If you haven't read the first part, please start with that.

□＜Nex Plains＞ 【Paladin】Ray Sterling

A strange red window appeared, and immediately after, Nemeysis dissolved into particles of light.

However, Nemeysis returned to my hand in a completely different form.

"Jump! Master!"

Nemeysis's voice.

I responded to the voice, kicked off the ground, and tried to leap sideways away from Galdoranda—leaving Galdoranda far behind.

"!?"

I realized I had jumped over twenty meters.

My surprise was not only at the impossible leap but also at the appearance of Nemeysis in my palm.

The current Nemeysis was not human.

It was not a greatsword either.

It was a "spear."

More specifically, it was a "halberd," a weapon with an axe blade attached to the end of the shaft.

Black light flowed out from the opposite side of the axe blade, resembling a military banner.

The equipment window displayed the new name "Black Flag Halberd."

"Nemeysis, what happened to you?"

"I don't know either. I realized I was like this when I regained consciousness."

Was Nemeysis unconscious while in particle form?

"But there is one thing I understand."

"What is it?"

"It seems I have evolved into a second form. I feel a stronger power within me than before."

Evolution.

The greatest feature of ＜Embryo＞, granting infinite patterns of power.

The red window that appeared indeed mentioned something about an emergency evolution.

Was that for this purpose?

But when Luke evolved, there was no such window...

"Anyway, that's not something to think about now."

Right now, I only need to focus on one thing.

"『CoaaaaaaaAAAAA!!』"

Galdoranda, having lost sight of me and then found me again, roared from both shoulders.

"By the way, Nemeysis."

"What is it, Master?"

"You mentioned a stronger power... how much stronger?"

At the moment I asked, I had a vision of Nemeysis smirking.

"There's a chance to defeat that bastard."

"Sounds good to me."

There's a chance.

The way Nemeysis spoke, not definitively saying "I can win," reminded me of our first meeting.

But that's fine.

If there's a chance to defeat him.

For Luke and Babi, for Marie, and for the people of Tian who are in danger, if there's a chance for me to fulfill my role, then I'll bet everything on it.

"Then let's do it, Galdoranda."

The battle began with a skirmish against goblins, I was defeated by you, I crushed your head, I was cornered by you, and now I've regained a chance to win.

I already understand your tricks.

This is the final round.

I raised the Black Flag Halberd high and roared at the headless giant.

"The final round... begins."

◇

Swinging the Black Flag Halberd, I lunged at Galdoranda.

Despite the status debuff from 【Weakness】, my speed was faster than ever thanks to the 【Panacea】.

Moreover, my vision, which should have been blurred by 【Intoxication】, seemed to see more than usual.

Galdoranda's right arm, with a missing finger, swung at me, but I narrowly dodged it and sliced through the wrist with the axe blade as I passed by.

The skin, flesh, and bone were all severed.

Dark red blood spurted from the severed arm.

"You're in a good mood, aren't you?"

Nemeysis's performance as a weapon must have improved with the evolution, but even so, the difference from before is too great.

This might just work... but, be careful.

I'm still affected by 【Poison】.

If I let my guard down, my HP will keep decreasing...

"...You're in too good a mood."

My HP, which should have been decreasing due to 【Poison】, was now continuously recovering.

Enhanced physical abilities.

Sharp senses.

Continuous HP recovery.

It's as if the status effects have been "reversed."

"I see, so this is..."

"Indeed. This is my new skill—《Reversal Like a Flapping Flag》."

The window opened by Nemeysis displayed the name and power of the skill 《Reversal Like a Flapping Flag》.

《Reversal Like a Flapping Flag》:

Reverses the status effects and debuffs received from enemies.

Active skill.

* The effect varies based on the enemy's level and skill level.

* Automatically consumes 1 SP per second when active.

* The skill is deactivated if there is no SP to consume.

* This skill can only be used with the Form II Black Flag Halberd.

Instead of continuous HP damage from 【Poison】, it now continuously recovers HP.

Instead of a status decrease from 【Weakness】, it increases stats.

Instead of sensory paralysis from 【Intoxication】, it sharpens the senses.

《Reversal Like a Flapping Flag》 is a skill that enhances the body by reversing the adverse effects.

"Quite convenient. It's a very favorable skill, isn't it?"

"...Yeah. But..."

According to the message in the window, Nemeysis called out the optimal solution from the possibilities it could become.

However, it only reported what happened.

I can feel that the result was brought about by my will.

And this skill is a possibility to turn the tide of this situation.

Just like when I met Nemeysis during the battle with the 【Demi Dragon Worm】.

My will called forth the possibility.

Then...

"Now... I'll bet everything on this possibility!"

"I agree with you, Master!"

Dodging Galdoranda's attempts to crush me with his arms, I continued to strike and roared.

Galdoranda's triple status effects were the worst.

But now, they are enhancing my power, closing the gap in stats and levels between me and Galdoranda.

With triple enhancements—HP recovery, sensory enhancement, and physical enhancement—and Galdoranda, who has lost his head and whose miasma characteristic is almost gone, the balance of power has shifted... no, "reversed."

"『CUUUAOAAAAAAA!!』"

Galdoranda, enraged by the reversal of the situation, continued to spew miasma.

But the purple-black smoke, like a curse, was nothing more than a smokescreen to me and Nemeysis.

"Quickly!"

As I exhaled, I thrust into Galdoranda's abdomen. The tip of the Black Flag Halberd pierced his flesh and touched the vital point—his heart.

"『CEEEEAAAAAAAA……!!』"

Galdoranda let out a cry of agony.

Indeed, the weakness is in the abdomen!

But,

"It's regenerating...!"

The wound I just inflicted disappeared with a black-purple smoke.

Not only the flesh, but even the scratch on his heart is regenerating.

"Hmm, it seems the regeneration function is only active on the vital points."

"Attacking bit by bit won't defeat him forever."

"Either way, we can't afford a prolonged battle."

I understand what Nemeysis means.

Currently, my HP is continuously recovering due to 《Reversal Like a Flapping Flag》. However, my SP is continuously decreasing as the maintenance cost of this skill.

Compared to my HP, my SP is not very high. It won't last long.

To win in this situation, I need to do something.

The regenerating heart.

The limited battle time.

The power of Nemeysis and me.

There is only one answer.

"Keep taking his attacks without dodging."

"That's the only way."

Accumulate damage from him and use 《Vengeance is Mine》 again.

This time, on the vital point in his abdomen—his heart.

"There's one thing to note."

"What is it?"

"In this form, 《Counter Absorption》 and 《Vengeance is Mine》 cannot be used."

"I've already used 《Absorption》, right?"

"No. Thanks to the evolution, the stock has increased to 3, and 1 remains. However, like 《Reversal》, which can only be used with the Black Flag Halberd, these can only be used with the greatsword."

To use 《Vengeance is Mine》 on him, I need to switch from the Black Flag Halberd to the greatsword.

This means the effect of 《Reversal Like a Flapping Flag》 will be lost.

To land a sure and fatal blow while under status effects...

"Neemysis, I'll cripple his legs."

"Understood!"

I will take away his mobility!

I swung the Black Flag Halberd and cut at Galdoranda's ankles multiple times.

Galdoranda also swung his arms in retaliation, but I took the hits.

My HP was reduced by the damage, but the continuous HP recovery from the reversed 【Poison】 quickly healed me.

It was almost the same flow as when the 【Panacea】 was effective.

However, thanks to the continuous HP recovery, I could attack, take hits, and recover more smoothly.

"…………3250,…………3784"

As I listened to the damage count Nemeysis was accumulating, I checked my SP in the corner of my vision.

SP remaining... 53, 52.

The duration of 《Reversal》 is already less than a minute.

"……4265, Master!"

It's time to make a move!

"Zaa!!"

I burst through the miasma and dove under Galdoranda, swinging the Black Flag Halberd with a fierce cry.

The rotating axe blade severed the tendons of Galdoranda's already damaged legs.

"『CuqEEEEEEEE!?』"

With a loud thud, he fell to his knees.

"Now! Nemeysis!"

"Form Shift ——【Black Blade】!"

The Black Flag Halberd in my hand dissolved into particles and immediately converged into a black greatsword.

At the same time, the triple status effects hit me.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

All that's left is to land the final blow.

Despite the 【Intoxication】 making my footing unsteady, I ran.

I raised the greatsword and aimed it at the kneeling Galdoranda,

"!"

I noticed.

The miasma was thick, obscuring my vision.

But I could still see the "red glow" on his shoulders.

"CUUUGGAAAAAAAAAA!!"

The fatal flames.

It seems he can also spew them from his shoulders.

But I didn't stop.

"《Counter Absorption》!"

The third 《Counter Absorption》, gained from the evolution, blocked the flames and absorbed the damage.

This damage added to the total, exceeding 10,000.

This should do it!

"Master! Now!"

The flames passed, and the wall of light disappeared.

I swung the greatsword at his abdomen this time,

"CUUQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

—Just before spewing the flames, I looked up at the "left shoulder."

"Wh...!"

This bastard learned...!

Galdoranda split the fatal flames into two, from the right and left.

To break through Nemeysis's 《Counter Absorption》.

The miasma he was spewing was a setup to obscure our vision and prevent us from noticing the split...!

"Master...!"

My arms were already swinging the greatsword.

I was on the trajectory to strike his abdomen with 《Vengeance is Mine》.

Even with the status effects, I could hit him in three seconds.

But he would spew the flames faster.

The world seemed to slow down as I neared death.

The large jaw on the left shoulder opened, and the maximum flames were about to be released—

"Kyaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah