“([Leap], [Charge], [Cross Counter], [Slash]!)”
Using the newly learned [Charge] in conjunction, I slipped past the Great Bear and landed a full-force slash.
I flew at an unprecedented speed, crashing through a tree in front of me before stopping.
The previous charge was so fast it exceeded my perception.
My [Slash] was practically a wild swing.
I felt it connect, so I’m not worried about that, but I won’t know how much damage I did until I see it.
“Velluuu…!”
“(Tch, I thought I could take off an arm or something.)”
My attack seemed to have hit the Great Bear’s right foreleg.
The black, log-sized arm was half-severed.
That injury would render it useless in combat, but that’s not the important part.
Even with an attack that combined all of my [Skills], I could only inflict that much damage.
“(Looks like it’s time to retreat… No, it’s not absolutely impossible yet!)”
If I aim for the vitals, there’s still a chance to win!
Just as I renewed my resolve, the Great Bear turned around.
It seemed to be quite enraged that the prey it thought it had was able to injure it, and its eyes held even more fury than when it accepted my [Challenge].
It stood up on its hind legs, looked up at the sky slightly, and roared.
“Gwooooooooh!!”
“S, la!?”
A howling with physical weight came from above. It must be the effect of some [Skill].
I received it undefended, and while I didn’t take any damage, I was pinned to the ground.
“(! This is bad)”
During the few seconds that the Great Bear roared and I was immobilized by an invisible pressure,
the Great Bear didn’t move, likely due to the constraints of its roar [Skill], but instead, it was preparing an attack in place.
It was gathering [Mana] in its uninjured left foreleg.
As the roar stopped and I tried to escape with [Blink], its arm was swung.
Along the trajectory of its claws, a semi-transparent slash flew out.
The long slash, several meters in length, was faster than the Great Bear’s charge, and I couldn’t evade it in time.
“(Damn it, [Block]…!)”
I transformed a part of my body into a shield, trying to intercept the five slashes with my [Weapon Skill].
Normally, an attack like this would be easily withstood, but the Great Bear’s attacks ignore [Toughness].
A gash was carved into the shield.
“(Ouch!)”
A sharp pain spread from the cut. The area around it began to melt. The cells had died.
When a Slime’s body receives a powerful attack, the damage spreads to the area around the wound like this.
This time, about 10% of my [Life] was shaved off, so about 5% of my volume melted.
Even if the attack doesn’t cover a large area in terms of physical volume, it can be fatal, so I need to be careful.
“(–No time for that, [Leap]!)”
The Great Bear, having unleashed the flying claw attack, immediately started running.
Its speed was somewhat reduced due to the injury to one of its forelegs, but its base [Speed] was still far superior to mine.
I, having blocked the claw attack, immediately leaped away from the spot.
“([Lightning Strike], [Lightning Strike]!)”
I’m also unlocking my [Unique Skill], which I had been holding back to catch it off guard.
I’ll start by sending two bolts of lightning.
“Grrrul”
It doesn’t seem to have taken much damage.
That fur, which looks so tough, seems to be able to block lightning as well.
For now, it seems pointless, so I’ll stop using [Lightning Strike].
I should save my [Mana] for [Body Repair].
“Vevuuu…!”
As I was running away, the Great Bear began to gather [Mana] again.
I shook my head, thinking it was going to use the same claw attack again.
This time, the [Mana] was being gathered in its hind legs.
“(If it’s the legs, it’s probably a [Skill] that enhances its charge… ?)”
I raised my guard while increasing my speed.
I had been trying not to get too far away to look for a chance to counterattack, but if it’s going to use a [Skill], then my only option is to run.
I focused on the timing when the opponent’s [Skill] would activate, watching closely for when the power in its legs would be particularly concentrated.
“Gwau!”
“(What!?)”
With a simple stomp, the [Mana] in its legs was poured into the ground.
Then, it expanded as if it had exploded.
Before I could do anything, the ground surged up violently.
I was struck hard by the earth’s fist, breaking through the branches and into the sky.
“(Ah, but I didn’t take any damage.)”
I don’t feel any pain in my body, and my [Life] hasn’t decreased. Come to think of it, the roar [Skill] didn’t do any damage either. Why is that?
Is it because it wasn’t a direct attack, so the [Toughness] penetration ability didn’t activate…?
No, if that were the case, then the flying claw attack from earlier would also–.
…Well, whatever, what I need to think about is what to do now.
Specifically, how to deal with the Great Bear on the ground that’s preparing its flying claw attack.
“([Air Jump] would let me escape, but… this is a perfect situation right now. I need to choose carefully what to do.)”
Carefully, but since I didn’t have much time, I ended up making a rather impulsive decision.
The Great Bear, looking up at me through the gaps in the trees, swung its arm.
Five claw attacks that distorted the scenery flew towards me at high speed.
It’s an unimaginable speed, but since it’s the second time, I’m a little more used to it.
I carefully assessed the slashes and activated my ability.
“([Weapon Body]!)”
[Weapon Body] is always active even if I don’t consciously use it, but I shouted it for the sake of it.
I transform my entire body into a shield. A round shield, as they call it.
The round shield is flat, but it’s shaped like a flattened mochi.
It’s closer to the Slime’s basic form and puts less strain on it than other weapons like swords or spears.
The Slime Shield that was created fell vertically, successfully slipping through the gaps between the claw attacks.
Being able to adjust with [Air Jump] once was also a big factor.
“([Air Jump]!)”
Then, while returning to my oval-shaped normal form, I accelerated straight down with [Air Jump].
Combined with the effects of gravity, I quickly approached the Great Bear.
“([Challenge], [Alluring Radiance]!)”
Furthermore, I provoked its aggression to prevent it from escaping.
Its ferocious red eyes glared at me.
If I’ve gotten this far, the rest is up to luck.
I extended a whip to strike the Great Bear that was rapidly approaching, sprouted a blade from the tip,
“([Lightning Strike]!!)”
And unleashed about three bolts of lightning at the eyeball that was glaring at me.
Since I don’t have much experience with sniping, it wasn’t perfectly on target, but I should have been able to obscure its vision with the lightning.
The Great Bear tried to shield its face with one arm, and that’s when I entered my range.
“([Crush], [Combo], [Slash]!)”
An attack with all sorts of [Skill] buffs landed directly.
A large cut was carved into its uninjured left foreleg.
I was able to inflict damage comparable to the first one I landed.
“(Damn it, I couldn’t finish it off!)”
However, it wasn’t quite enough to kill it.
I, having landed on the Great Bear’s snout, was about to jump back immediately, but I stopped myself.
“(Wait a minute–)”
“GumoOOOOOO!”
The Great Bear groaned and shook its head, trying to shake me off.
I endured with [Unyielding] and entered its mouth as it roared.
Then its jaw closed, and its fangs tried to crush me,
–Clang.
A hard sound echoed.
I don’t feel any pain in my body.
It seems my gamble paid off.
“(So, it seems your [Skill] only makes claw attacks penetrate [Toughness].)”
I wasn’t sure.
After being bounced off the ground, I thought about the commonalities of the attacks that didn’t damage me.
I wondered if maybe it could only use [Toughness] penetration with its claw attacks.
It seems my guess was correct, and the Great Bear’s fangs haven’t even scratched my body.
“(Then all I have to do is this.)”
And then I stretched my body to the back of its throat, the opposite of the entrance to its mouth. I blocked its airway.
I could hear the muffled screams of the Great Bear, but there was nothing it could do about it.
At best, it could attack the edge of my body that was sticking out of its mouth, but its battered arms couldn’t do much damage.
“([Dissolving Liquid], [Earth Growth Thunderbolt]!)”
And then, a final, decisive attack. It should be somewhat effective from inside the body.
As planned, the Great Bear’s resistance weakened. Its struggling power gradually faded.
Having high 〖Life〗 also enhances your cardiopulmonary functions, but if you can’t breathe, you’ll eventually die.
It was stuck to my face for a minute, maybe two, or even more.
While frantically using 〖Dissolving Liquid〗 and Lightning Strike, the giant body collapsed, and then, a few dozen seconds later, my 〖Level〗 rapidly increased.
~Unidentified Information Log~
…
>> Fue Toukouya (Jewel Weapon Slime) has acquired 〖Skill: Crash〗. 〖Crush〗 has been integrated.
>> Fue Toukouya (Jewel Weapon Slime)’s 〖Soul Accumulation Value (Level)〗 has increased to 56.
>> 〖Evolution〗 is now possible.
…