Episode 84: Beyond the Limit
Yuma transformed his body into “Metal Armor” and walked out from behind the rocks towards the Golem.
“Are you really okay, Yuma?”
The President asked with concern. Yuma turned back and said, “I won’t push myself too hard,” before resuming his walk.
Yuma stopped midway through the level.
Before him stood a massive Golem, its entire body covered in rock. It had thick limbs and even a face like a human.
The oppressive aura prickled even his steel skin. It was probably one of the strongest Monsters he had encountered so far. Yuma regulated his breathing and glared at the giant Monster.
The Golem also noticed Yuma’s presence.
It slowly moved its body, facing the small enemy. Each step it took caused the ground to tremble.
The Golem raised its arm high, as if to strike Yuma.
–Evading is easy. But if I evade here, I won’t be able to remove my power’s Muscle Limiter. I’ll meet it head-on!
A Megaton-class punch came crashing down. Yuma also unleashed the full power of his Bloodstained Ore (Bloody Ore) ability.
If he could release his Muscle Limiter with this, he could deflect the Golem’s fist. Believing so, Yuma unleashed a Seiken Zuki (Straight Punch).
It was his most powerful attack. The Golem’s strike and Yuma’s full-powered Seiken Zuki (Straight Punch).
When the two collided, a violent shockwave spread throughout the Cave.
“What happened!?”
The President, who was watching from a distance, widened his eyes. Rocks and dust exploded and scattered. The one who was overpowered and blown away was Yuma, clad in black armor.
He seemed to have lost consciousness and crashed straight into the wall.
“Yumaーーーー!!”
The President jumped out from behind the rocks and rushed to Yuma, who had fallen to the ground.
“Are you okay!? Get a hold of yourself!”
He shook the armored body left and right to wake him. Yuma gasped and woke up, sitting up.
“Ah! That startled me… Did I lose?”
“You idiot! That’s why I told you it was dangerous!!”
Since he hadn’t taken any damage, Yuma stood up immediately, but he didn’t feel like he could beat that Golem.
–So, it’s no good after all…?
Just then, Aisha, who had rushed over with the President, pointed at the Golem.
“Look, Yuma-kun. At the Golem’s right hand.”
“Right hand…”
When he looked, the Golem’s right fist was cracked, and fragments of rock were falling off.
“It’s working… isn’t it? My “Seiken Zuki (Straight Punch)”…”
“That’s right. Yuma-kun, your power is working. If you can unleash more power, you can definitely defeat that Golem!”
Yuma looked at his hands. Even if he said he would remove his Muscle Limiter, it wouldn’t be easy.
Even so, he felt like he could grasp something. Yuma decided to try one more time.
“Hey, Yuma. It’s okay to stop, you know!”
“President, just a little more, let me try just a little more.”
Stopping the President, who was trying to stop him, with his hand, Yuma walked towards the Golem.
The Rock Golem, spotting Yuma, once again raised its rocky arm high. It stomped its left foot down with a thud and brought down its giant fist.
Yuma didn’t evade. He took a Seiken Zuki (Straight Punch) stance, and the two fists collided head-on.
An impact that shattered the earth. Dust billowed up, and rocks scattered. Blown away and crashing into the rocks, Yuma slid down to the ground.
“Ugh…”
He stood up shakily and looked at the Golem standing majestically.
–Still no good. I still can’t stand up to it. But… but I feel like I can grasp something. Just a little more…
Yuma went to the Golem again. The two faced each other for the third time.
The Golem’s eyes were sunken, and two red lights shone there. It stared at Yuma with red eyes and raised its arm.
It would kill anyone who came at it, no matter how many times. That intention was clearly conveyed.
Yuma regulated his breathing and took a Seiken Zuki (Straight Punch) stance. He could feel the blood rushing to his head. His body was burning hot.
He had the sensation of a raging wave surging from the depths of his body.
–Next time for sure…
“He’s looking good,”
Aisha, who was watching from a distance, opened her mouth. Hearing those words, the President made a dubious face.
“What do you mean, ‘looking good’? Don’t say things like that so casually.”
“Yuma-kun is entering an excited state. I know that when a large amount of adrenaline is released, it becomes easier to remove the Muscle Limiter.”
“Is that so!?”
“The rest is up to him. If he can really release the Limiter… we might see something interesting.”
Aisha smirked.
◇◇◇
The sound of cutting wind. A punch that shook the atmosphere approached before his eyes.
Shatter that fist! Thinking only of that, he put everything he had into this one blow.
He took a step forward with his left foot. The ground cracked, and his foot dug in. Red streaks ran through his entire body, emitting a strong glow.
The Golem’s right straight. In response, Yuma also unleashed a right Seiken Zuki (Straight Punch).
Steam spewed from his body.
“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
Fist and fist collided– A shock that shook the Cave ran through the area.
Aisha and the President, who were far away, widened their eyes. Yuma was standing with his fist still thrust out. He hadn’t been blown away like before.
Looking at the Golem, it was also stopped with its fist thrust out.
–Is it no good? Just as Yuma thought that, a cracking sound rang out.
Cracks ran through the Golem’s fist. The cracks spread from the entire fist, to the arm, and even up to the shoulder.
A sound like rocks creaking echoed, and the Golem’s arm shattered magnificently.