The Blasphemous Tomb of Gugi II: Awakening
“…Are you alright?”
“Yeah… What just happened?”
“They ripped open their own belly.”
A torrent unleashed by the act of self-disembowelment. As Ferno and his companions narrowly escaped the deluge, they gazed at the horrific scene where the ground was engulfed in a mixture of red, black, and brown liquid and solid matter. They quickly checked on each other’s well-being and readied themselves for the next move.
Meanwhile, Gugi, the source of the blood and flesh torrent, was propping itself up, tearing apart its own gaping belly, which spilled its contents onto the ground as it began to mend its body. Though its abdomen had shrunk, it still retained enough mass to perform a similar gruesome act once more.
“…It seems like it doesn’t intend to move any further.”
“Looks that way, but we have no choice; we must strike at the core. Lend me your sword.”
“Are you going to use it?”
“If I don’t, this will lead nowhere. I don’t know the mechanics behind it, but the impact doesn’t seem to reach deep enough.”
“I see. Then take it.”
“Thanks.”
As Ferno and Fana exchanged words while surveying the hellish scene, they brushed off the blood and flesh clinging to their bodies, tossing it into the flames. The other members of their party, three Beast-folk with keen senses, pinched their noses and gagged at the stench of the mingled blood and acid, while Stella remained silent, contemplating the unfolding disaster.
Recognizing the situation but choosing to ignore it, Ferno received a spare Iron Sword from Fana and prepared to re-engage. Observing the grotesque transformations of the blood and flesh, he issued commands to Fana.
“…If we take our time, this will become a hassle. Burn them or blow them away, one by one.”
“From the start?”
“Yeah, you can tell just by looking.”
“…I see, that does seem to be the case.”
Convinced by Ferno’s directive, Fana noted the grotesque changes in the blood and flesh. What had once resembled ordinary creatures was now morphing into a chaotic, artistic mess devoid of recognizable forms. Mouth-like appendages sprouted from bizarre locations such as shoulders, fingertips, and even a second neck branching from the first, emitting sounds that were far from the cries they had made before. Among the transformed blood and flesh, some remnants moved like slimes, merging with the aberrations and becoming part of their grotesque forms.
Five hundred in total. Even if they were to slash and crush them, the creatures would only rise again, merging and growing stronger. Thus, it was far more beneficial to ensure each one was dealt with thoroughly. Hence, the command to Fana was to eradicate them one by one, delivered with a tone of trust that she could accomplish what seemed an impossible task.
“Then I’ll go strike over there.”
“Leave this to me.”
With that, their conversation concluded, and Ferno vanished from the hilltop. In the blink of an eye, he confronted Gugi, who was still repairing its body, delivering a powerful kick to its temple, sending the massive creature crashing back to the ground.
“Well then, I have my own work to do.”
After disposing of two of the aberrations, Fana picked up a torch from beside the burning campfire, igniting it as she moved. Noticing that she hadn’t given additional instructions to the others, she casually threw out words as if engaging in everyday conversation.
“Once you’re able to move, help with the cleanup. Even just spreading fire around would be fine if you can’t fight those things.”
With that, Fana vanished from sight, landing amidst the ever-shifting aberrations, swinging her sword down. As remnants exploded around her, she ignited them with the torch, crushing the creatures that lunged at her.
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Engagement, kick, slash. After repeating this sequence twice, the Iron Sword Ferno had received from Fana shattered with a high-pitched crack as it could no longer withstand the force of his swing.
“…It breaks too quickly, damn it.”
He couldn’t help but curse. The sword, which had been promised to last a decade even against rock-hard creatures, shattered after just two strikes. Tossing aside the broken hilt, he kicked away the severed foreleg he had just cut off. He had intended to sever both forelegs to prevent Gugi from rising again, but the sword’s destruction thwarted his plan.
Thus, he resorted to punches and kicks, but it felt futile. He sensed something within had broken, yet he couldn’t tell if it was enough to stop the creature.
“…Ah, so this is the type.”
Moreover, the severed foreleg was already beginning to regenerate. At this rate, it would likely be fully restored within minutes, its speed and vigor alarming. Creatures with this kind of regeneration were a significant nuisance. To kill them, one had to either destroy them faster than they could heal or exhaust their energy for regeneration. In Gugi’s case, killing it faster than it could regenerate was impossible. Even if he aimed for the heart, external attacks wouldn’t even rattle it.
He had confirmed that he could peel away some of its skin, but that only resulted in another torrent. It was more accurate to describe it as a pre-molt state; the skin that should have been shed was still clinging on, filled with a mass of accumulated fluids.
“…It’s multiplying. How much has it consumed?”
The number of Wraiths had also increased. No longer just a dozen, but now several hundred of various forms. Most were humanoid, but their heads resembled insects, birds, or snakes, and their arms and hands took on the shapes of antennae or wings, forcibly contorted into those forms.
Naturally, this was unpleasant, and they had to be obliterated.
In the past, he had thought that physical attacks wouldn’t work unless he used magic, but he realized that the Wraiths contained a core Soul that could be damaged physically. Thus, he aimed for that core. He didn’t know the precise location, nor did he care to investigate; he simply struck with overwhelming force, knowing it would obliterate them.
“…What? It tore apart. What was different?”
As he crushed the Wraiths, stomping and kicking them, he felt the difference when he stomped down and a toe broke off. Pondering the disparity between the lack of response from his previous attacks and the current stomp, he kicked away the foreleg that was trying to rise again.
…Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t felt the slickness of bodily fluids for a while. Though the fluids were still flowing, he no longer sensed the subtle way they deflected his strikes.
However, losing a single toe was merely a minor setback. The creature had already nearly fully regenerated from the damage he had inflicted, and the severed foreleg was almost completely restored. He kept this in mind while focusing on preventing its rise.
He understood that using a sword could cut through. If Fana could join him, he could hand her the sword, and together they could strike down the heart and head faster than it could regenerate, ensuring their victory. Provided it didn’t turn into an Undead right after being killed, of course.
“Gugo.”
Just as he resolved to continue his interference, a cry echoed, halting his movements. It was no longer the sound of a mindless creature but a clear, articulate voice filled with intent.
He turned his gaze toward the creature’s face. Its head moved, and its eyes locked onto him.
A chill ran down his spine, a primal instinct warning him. He leaped back just as a thick, pink object slammed into the ground where he had stood, gouging the earth.
“Gugoa!”
A resounding roar echoed. Looking up, he saw the massive frog had risen, its mouth moving as if chewing, revealing the pink object from earlier. The source of his earlier dread was now clear: the frog was preparing to devour him.
The eyes that had been half-closed moments ago were now wide open, devoid of any emotion. I couldn’t discern where its gaze was directed, but I could clearly feel the focus aimed at me, accompanied by unmistakable hostility and murderous intent.
It had awakened.
“GOGAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”
With a thunderous roar, it brought its foreleg crashing down to crush me. I dodged just in time, forcing my mind to sharpen and casting aside any unnecessary thoughts.
I would kill the enemy before me.
This was just the beginning.