Episode 337: The Reason for Strength
Yuma took a step back, bracing for the opponent’s attack. The Dragon, towering above him, was gathering an immense amount of Magical Power within its maw.
What was unleashed was a Lightning barrage. A flash of light that would destroy everything assailed Yuma’s body.
Yuma crossed his arms to endure it. Even with Wind Magical Power surrounding him, it felt as though his body was being shaved away by the tremendous energy.
He was being steadily pushed back, but Yuma unleashed his Wind Magical Power to its fullest, deflecting the Lightning Strike. The flash flew off into the distant horizon.
“Now it’s our turn!”
Wings sprouted from the back of the Black Giant, and a tail grew. Having gained the Dragon’s ability to fly, Yuma kicked off the ground and soared into the sky.
He rapidly flew towards the “Gold Dragon.”
–That form seems to specialize in long-range attacks. If that’s the case, I’ll get close and slam my fist into it!
The Gold Dragon flapped its wings, trying to create distance, but Yuma closed the gap with lightning speed, attempting to nullify the opponent’s preferred range.
He returned his hands to their original position and gathered “Wind Magical Power” into his fists. Just as he was about to slam those fists into the Gold Dragon, the Dragon’s form suddenly vanished.
“Huh?”
As Yuma stood there dumbfounded, a Megaton-class punch exploded on his face. Not understanding what had happened, Yuma lost his balance in mid-air.
He fell straight down. He tried to land somehow, but his arms were seized, and he crashed face-first into the ground.
Yuma, prostrate on the ground, turned his head to the side.
He finally understood what had happened. The Yellow King had reverted to its Giant form and was now on Yuma’s back.
He must have been struck in mid-air and had his joints locked. Yuma forcefully got up, transformed his right hand into a Longsword, and swung it horizontally.
The Yellow King, belying its massive size, dodged it with nimble movements.
Then, it slightly lowered its waist and took a stance with both fists raised. Yuma felt irritated by its appearance, like that of a Martial Arts expert.
“That bastard… does he want to have a fistfight with me?”
Yuma reverted the Longsword in his right hand to its original form. If it wanted a brawl, he would accept!
Both arms became dyed in Metal Green. Sharp Spikes extended from his knuckles, and something like Iron armor formed.
Both legs were also clad in Metal Green armor, and golden body hair grew on his wrists and ankles.
It was a combat form that allowed him to use the “Power of Wind” to its fullest.
“With this, I can do it!!”
Yuma, having activated the Bloodstained Ore (Bloody Ore), kicked off the ground. The ground exploded, and he instantly closed the distance to the Yellow King.
Yuma’s right straight caught the Giant’s face. Or so he thought, when an Iron Fist exploded on Yuma’s face.
The impact was so great that Yuma staggered backward.
–What?! What the hell?
When he looked up, not understanding what had happened, the Golden Giant was standing still with its fist extended.
“Could it be… did I get countered? There’s no way a Monster can do something like a boxer…”
As Yuma tried to punch again, the opponent’s figure disappeared.
“What?!”
A shock ran through his leg, and he almost fell. When he looked down, the Giant had unleashed a low kick.
Its movements were just like a Martial Arts expert. Yuma somehow managed to brace himself and swung his fist down.
Responding to this, the Golden Giant rotated its body and unleashed a roundhouse kick. Yuma couldn’t withstand this and fell backward.
Dust clouds rose, and the ground rumbled.
“Damn it!”
As he tried to stand up immediately, the silhouette of the Giant raising its right leg high came into view.
This is–
Yuma managed to block the descending “heel drop” with his arms crossed.
However, he couldn’t defend against the following consecutive attack, a “spinning back kick,” and Yuma was kicked in the face.
He flew backward, hitting his head hard on the ground.
Yuma rolled around and somehow managed to stand up. In his sights was the Yellow King, taking a fighting stance.
–It’s strong. Its pure Martial Arts skills are far superior to mine. If it weren’t for the Wind Barrier, I would have been killed in an instant.
Yuma also raised both fists, carefully closing the distance while maintaining a solid defense.
Half-hearted attacks wouldn’t work on this opponent. But the magical affinity is in my favor. If I can land a clean hit, I can defeat it.
First, I have to land a blow!
Yuma lowered his stance and kicked off the ground. The Wind Magic and Bloodstained Ore (Bloody Ore) created explosive acceleration, instantly closing the distance to the Yellow King.
Left jab, right straight, left hook, right short uppercut. He focused on landing the blows, making the swings as compact as possible.
“Guh…”
Despite this, he couldn’t land a single hit.
The Yellow King dodged all the attacks with nimble movements and unleashed a backhand strike. It hit his face, and Yuma couldn’t help but step back.
His attacks were being read. The Golden Giant, slowly approaching, launched an attack on Yuma with fluid movements.
Two left jabs, a right hook, a left middle kick, a right straight. All of them hit Yuma.
Yuma staggered backward.
He had the Wind Barrier around his entire body, so he wasn’t taking damage, but he couldn’t win like this.
Yuma took a step, then another, backward, desperately searching for a way to attack.
◇◇◇
“What… what is that Monster?!”
Akito frowned, glaring at the Yellow King. Everyone was engrossed in the battle between the Giants.
Albert, who was nearby, sighed once and then looked up.
“There was an American Seeker who challenged the Yellow King in the past. He was a master of Martial Arts. He skillfully used gauntlet-type Magic Enchanted Armaments and fought a battle against the Yellow King, who was in the form of a deer.”
Rui thought that he was just like Akito’s brother, Tennoji Hayato.
“Could it be… that in the battle with that Seeker…”
Albert smiled wryly at Rui’s mutter.
“Ah, that’s right. It learned the way humans fight. It means it has a high learning ability.”
“No way.”
Rui, Akito, and the Prometheus members stared at the Golden Giant. Until now, there had been Kings with intelligence, but there had never been a King who imitated human fighting styles.
Rui thought so, but then he suddenly realized.
–No, Yuma is here. Yuma, who has absorbed the power of the Black King, is confronting the King with a very human-like fighting style. If that’s the case, is the Yellow King similar to Yuma?
Ignoring the confused Rui, Albert continued to speak.
“That’s not all. There’s another reason why the Yellow King is strong.”
“There’s more?”
When Rui asked with a frown, Albert nodded slightly.
“Have you heard that the Yellow King is attacking Lightning Monsters?”
“Yes, I heard it from an American Seeker. I don’t know the reason, but it’s attacking Monsters that should be its allies.”
Albert chuckled and smiled.
“That’s right. However, recently, we’ve come to understand the reason why it’s attacking Lightning Monsters.”
“What is it?”
When asked, Albert turned around and looked straight into Rui’s eyes.
“It’s killing Lightning Monsters and eating the Magic Gems they produce. That guy is a King, but at the same time, it’s also an Enhanced Species.”