“……Chimera……”
……I never thought such a being could actually exist.
“You know about it?”
“Sort of……”
With an Overall Combat Strength exceeding 7000……it’s insane. Even Aria-san doesn’t take her eyes off the Chimera, and Kitty-chan is on guard, growling.
“I’ve only read about it in documents, though……”
The Lester family’s library……not exactly forbidden books, but some close to it mentioned it.
An unnatural creature. Not a monster evolved from animals, nor a Mystic Beast born as a powerful being from the start. A guardian of treasures nesting in ruins. A legendary existence rarer than Dragonkind, which you hardly ever see otherwise.
Perhaps that’s why common books say it’s a magical creature created by the ancient Elves who gave magic to humans……but books closer to forbidden texts describe something different.
Why isn’t this generally known?
When you think about it, it’s obvious……
Human cities are built around “Dungeons” to seal away danger and to gain their benefits. What would happen if the Dungeon’s will, the Spirit that should grant blessings, was known to create the greatest danger?
I thought it was just a hypothesis, but seeing the situation so far, I’m convinced it’s true.
Chimeras are born only from Dungeons.
Gigi……
Behind us, the mangled metal door is closing. It’s because the Chimera, the monster of the deepest level, has recognized us.
“It doesn’t look like the door will open again.”
The innermost door is there for final confirmation. So, once you pass through it, the door closes after a certain time and won’t open until the monster is defeated. But with the door in this state, it’s doubtful whether it will open even if we defeat the monster.
If that’s the case, someone has to receive a Spirit’s Divine Protection and open the exit door to get out. But to reach the Altar in the back, we have no choice but to defeat the Chimera.
“It’s all the same either way.”
Aria-san, who had been wary of the Rank 7’s appearance, seemed to have steeled herself, and quietly began to loosen her body.
“That’s right……”
I came here for my “wish.” If it doesn’t come true, all three of us might die here. Even so, Aria-san says what we have to do is “the same”……
Never give up. Crush everything that stands in our way and move forward.
Really, she’s so reliable.
“Ready?”
“Anytime.”
“Gaa.”
It’s our first time facing this enemy, so there’s no preparation to speak of. But we live always prepared to fight. It’s no different from usual.
“—Bless—”
I boosted the defense of Aria-san and Kitty-chan, who started moving, and at that moment, I pointed my finger at the Chimera from between the two who split to the left and right.
“—Lightning—”
Lightning bursts from my fingertip along with a flash.
First, let’s see how it goes. Honestly, the three of us alone exceed the fighting strength of those who participated in the Large-Scale Dungeon on that isolated island.
But the monster in the deepest part of that time was Rank 6. Aria-san has defeated an Elemental Dragon of Rank 7, but the situation and fighting strength are different from that time.
If there’s a concern……it’s “myself.”
“Gigyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
Just before the lightning hits, the Chimera roars and releases Mana, weakening its power, and uses the countless beast halves overflowing from its body like arms to deflect the lightning.
How troublesome. It has intelligence.
“Over here.”
At that moment, Aria-san, who had approached, released multiple Pendulums, crushing the monkey’s head and tearing the throat of the big deer.
“Giggaaaaa!!”
But even if you crush one or two of the multiple heads, the Chimera doesn’t flinch. It immediately raises the wolf’s upper body towards Aria-san and slams down as if crushing an insect.
But—
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
With a moment’s time difference, Kitty-chan slammed a powerful blow from the opposite side.
Is that the Combat Art, “Claw Strike”?
The Chimera’s body is greatly gouged out by the Combat Art unleashed by the Rank 6 Mystic Beast. But in exchange, Kitty-chan, who had just used the Combat Art, can’t defend against the Chimera’s attack due to the post-Combat Art stiffness.
“—Critical Edge—”
In the next moment, Aria-san’s Combat Art, which evaded the Chimera’s attack with Kitty-chan’s blow, pierced the Chimera from the opposite side.
“Gugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
With that blow, the attack on Kitty-chan is deflected, and the Chimera lets out an angry roar.
This time, Aria-san can’t move due to stiffness. At the same time, the Mana released from her entire body blew away the two who were approaching. Both of them, who lost their balance, can’t defend against the attack.
“—Ice Storm—”
At the same time as the Chimera released Mana, I unleashed the Ice Storm.
Ice Storm has no speed. It’s a range attack, so there’s a risk of involving allies. That’s why I was waiting for this timing.
The full-power Ice Storm with added Mana attacks the defenseless Chimera, who had just released Mana.
But—
“Nero, get back!”
—End—
Aria-san and Nero-san take distance in that gap. I should be following up with an attack, but Aria-san takes distance without hesitation, and Nero-san immediately follows it.
“……It’s really troublesome.”
[Chimera] [Race: Magical Beast] [Magical Beast Rank 7]
[Mana Capacity: 287/350] [HP: 976/1180]
[Overall Combat Strength: 7306]
Its HP hasn’t decreased much. Aria-san, Kitty-chan, and I, all the last blows we unleashed had enough power to kill a Rank 5 lower-level monster with one blow.
Its physical strength is also high, but more than that, the Chimera, which is a fusion of multiple monsters, not only makes it difficult for physical damage to pass through, but also avoids fatal wounds from all attacks with its multiple “eyes.” The fact that its Mana hasn’t decreased much may also be because it’s absorbing it from the Mana Particle-rich Dungeon itself.
Aria-san is frowning even while retreating, probably because she also appraised it and had the same impression as me.
Aria-san and the Chimera have the worst compatibility. It doesn’t seem to feel pain, and there’s no clear vital point. Aria-san’s weapon is too small for the giant body that’s as big as a two-story house……
It’s similar for me too. Even with the Ice Storm, only the surface froze. Small Magic won’t do much damage.
To defeat it, you need level 7 or higher Magic.
There’s a possibility if I use my Divine Protection, but……
“Snow.”
At that moment, Aria-san called my name as if reading my thoughts.
……I know. I promised.
But……if you’re going to die, I’ll die instead.
Bakin!
“Gigyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
The Chimera roars as if crushing its frozen skin.
It’s already moving.
Is it a battle of attrition……?
Aria-san is thinking the same, so she’s not using Iron Rose or Illusion Magic.
If Great Magic is impossible, we’ll act as decoys and inflict small damage, and Kitty-chan will whittle away the Chimera’s HP.
Whether our Mana runs out, or the Chimera’s HP runs out.
We were about to start moving with that in mind, but we are made to realize that our thinking was “naive.”
There’s no way a Rank 7 monster would be “normal.”
“Gigyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
Don!!
The Chimera, freed from the freeze, suddenly shot out like an arrow.
The Chimera, which hadn’t moved from its initial position until now, uses dozens of monster legs to move at a speed exceeding that of a beast.
“—Iron Rose……Real Breaker—!”
It was Aria-san who was attacked.
Immediately, Aria-san used Illusion Magic to make herself non-corporeal and evade the attack.
It’s not just a beast. Beasts jump using four legs. But the Chimera, with its many legs, doesn’t waver up and down, always kicking the ground, gaining terrifying speed.
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
“Gigyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
Kitty-chan immediately enters to support. But the Chimera confirms it with the head on its back, and without changing its posture, it moves at a right angle and blows Kitty-chan away.
“—Gaa.”
Blood gushes out from Kitty-chan’s entire body.
Those are all the nearly ten jaws that were unleashed at the moment of impact.
If even the fur, which has a strength close to steel, receives that much damage, then if Aria-san or I were to take it head-on, we would have our entire bodies gouged out and die instantly.
Like us, the Chimera was also observing to measure our fighting strength.
“—Rock Blast—”
I also stopped holding back and fired a barrage of exploding rock projectiles.
“What!?”
At that moment, the Chimera’s giant body, which evaded by crushing the Dungeon floor with rocks and jumping over it, attacked me.
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
Don!!
The injured Kitty slammed into the Chimera from the side, slightly slowing its mid-air speed.
In the next instant, Aria, using Real Breaker, grabbed me and moved away. At the same time, the Chimera’s massive body crashed into the spot where I had been standing, with a deafening roar.
“…This is a joke, right?”
It’s so absurd that all I can manage is a dry laugh.
“Do you have any ideas?”
Aria, having deactivated Real Breaker, asked while still holding me.
“Well…”
If things get really hopeless, I’ll use my Divine Protection. But Aria hasn’t given up yet.
Aria never gives up on her own, no matter the enemy.
If I have to risk my life, even if it means breaking my promise to her…
“There’s one thing I want to try.”
＊＊＊＊”I have a good idea.”
What is the method that Snow came up with? It’s not a flag!
“Demon Princess 2” is now on sale nationwide. It seems some bookstores are starting to run out of stock! Get yours while you can!