“What the heck is this! When did it move!? Rui, did you see it?”
“N, no…”
Rui was also bewildered by Akito’s question. It happened in an instant, and he couldn’t keep up with his eyes. Yuma had fallen near the wall but was trying to stand up somehow.
Anyway, they couldn’t just stand still.
Rui repositioned his longsword and glared sharply at the monster.
“Akito, more importantly, we need to help Yuma! If it’s fast, we have to stop its feet!!”
“Y, yeah, you’re right!”
Akito also readied Gae Bolg. No matter what abilities it had, they could fight back if the three of them combined their strength. Rui thought so and shifted his gaze to Yuma.
Yuma had stood up and was facing the Great Ape with both fists raised.
The monster didn’t move an inch, standing firm. However, upon closer inspection, white steam was rising from the monster’s body.
Feeling an immense killing intent, Rui and Akito grimaced.
Furthermore, red streaks ran all over the monster’s body, and it began to glow fiercely.
“That’s, Bloodstained Ore!?”
Rui’s eyes widened in surprise. The red streaks flowing through the monster’s body looked exactly like the power of Bloodstained Ore.
As expected, it must be related to the Steel Ape “Varlin.”
As Rui and Akito heightened their vigilance, the ape monster slightly crouched, kicked off the ground, and attacked Yuma.
◇◇◇
Yuma took a deep breath and looked at the monster in front of him.
Many red streaks ran all over its body. It was definitely “Bloodstained Ore.” If it was a higher species of Varlin, it was natural that it could use it.
Yuma also activated “Bloodstained Ore,” took a stance, and glared at his opponent.
This should be even. The next moment he thought so—the Great Ape kicked off the ground and charged.
Yuma also stepped forward and met it with a right straight.
It hit! The moment he thought so, his vision spun, and for some reason, he was looking at the ceiling of the cave.
He fell to the ground on his back and realized for the first time that he had fallen.
—What!? Was I punched by the opponent? I didn’t see it at all.
Yuma put his hands on the ground and raised his upper body, but he was kicked away by the Great Ape. He rolled on the ground and crashed into the rock wall again.
He was being beaten up without being able to do anything.
Yuma shook his head and tried to stand up.
But the Great Ape’s onslaught didn’t allow it. It closed the distance in one go and punched Yuma’s jaw.
Staggering, Yuma tried to grab the Great Ape’s hand. But the Great Ape slipped past that hand and unleashed five blows.
Abdomen, chest, face, shoulder, flank. With precise attacks, Yuma was doing his best to guard.
Staggering backward, he tried to regain his posture, but the Great Ape didn’t let up.
A powerful blow to the face made the world shake.
Furthermore, he was kicked forward, and Yuma was blown away more than twenty meters.
He crashed into the rock wall and slid down.
The Great Ape was watching the slumped Iron Giant from a distance. A disrespectful attitude as if making fun of him.
Yuma looked at the Great Ape again.
The body was covered with lean steel muscles. It resembled the giant form of the 【Yellow King】, and its strength and speed were at the same level. The high level of martial arts was also similar.
Yuma slowly stood up, leaning against the rock wall.
After shaking his head lightly, he raised both fists and took a stance.
—It’s quite strong, but if I can’t defeat this guy, defeating the 【Yellow King】 is just a pipe dream. I will definitely beat it down!
Yuma charged at the Great Ape, keeping his guard up.
The Great Ape also lowered its waist and took a stance. A gesture like a martial arts master. Where did this guy learn martial arts!?
Yuma avoided the big swing and unleashed a compact blow. But the Great Ape skillfully parried the attack and unleashed a counter punch.
Yuma was hit many times without landing a single blow, staggering backward.
The battle was one-sided, but Yuma didn’t take any damage from physical attacks. Therefore, he went forward without worrying about being punched.
Yuma’s right straight cut through the air. The Great Ape’s counter matched it.
Both were using Bloodstained Ore in their offense and defense, so they were colliding at tremendous speed. Akito, who was watching it from a distance, grimaced.
“What a fight! If we get close, we’ll get caught up in it!”
Rui was also confused. The impact of the collisions was too strong, and they couldn’t assist. Even if they tried to attack from a distance, there was a possibility that it would hit Yuma.
“Damn it… what should we do?”
While Akito and Rui were hesitating, Yuma continued to receive the Great Ape’s attacks.
Yuma desperately guarded, but he was punched in the face many times, and he became dizzy and staggered.
The Great Ape didn’t miss such an opening in Yuma. It closed the distance in one go and unleashed dozens of blows. Iron Fists continued to hit his cheeks, jaw, shoulders, abdomen, and legs in a state where he couldn’t even guard.
Yuma retreated helplessly and crashed into the cave wall.
After all, he had no chance of winning in terms of physical ability. Then—
Light was emitted from the back of Yuma’s left hand. The Chimera’s Jewel was shining. His left arm was covered with ice armor, and six tentacles were extending from his back.
The temperature inside the cave dropped sharply. A form that reproduced the power of the 【Blue King】 in part.
He could freely use most Water Magic. Yuma held out his left hand covered in ice armor to the Great Ape, which was about to attack.
Frost spewed from his hand, freezing the ground. The footing became slippery, and the Great Ape couldn’t move as it wanted.
Furthermore, frost spewed from the tentacles extending from his back. The frost, which spread like mist, robbed the body temperature of those around him.
“Hey! It’s super cold! Is Yuma trying to kill us!?”
Akito snapped. Rui, who was next to him, had a calm face.
“I can offset the cold with Fire Magical Power, so it’s not a problem, but…”
“What!? That’s unfair, just you! Lightning Magical Power can’t do that!!”
“Look, Akito. The ape monster has stopped moving.”
“Huh?”
The Great Ape put its arms forward and endured the Blizzard that Yuma unleashed.
The cold was so intense that its body had become unable to move. Rui smiled for the first time since this battle began.
“It seems that the ape monster has an advantage in hand-to-hand combat, but it can’t possibly beat Yuma, who is using magic. This match is decided.”
“I hope so.”
Akito’s face clouded slightly. Rui was concerned about Akito, but he turned his eyes to Yuma, who had become dominant.
While unleashing a Blizzard from his left hand, he slowly approached the monster. It seemed like he was going to finish it off.
The moment Rui thought so—the Great Ape looked up and opened its big mouth.
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
The red streaks flowing through the Great Ape’s body became thicker and shone more intensely. The red light gradually changed to reddish-purple, emitting ominous Magical Power.
The three people who were watching the situation stepped back from the overwhelming pressure.