Wrapping things up

“Heyy, Yuki where you been these last few days?”

I hid my good mask and the Arkolg’s axe in my personal space for obvious reasons.

“Days? Wasn’t it weeks?”

“Hey guys, I’ve only been gone for a few hours. In the real world at least…”

“Sure Yuki, then how did my beard grow a few extra inches?”

“You shaved your beard you silly fu—”

“OKAY! Let me interrupt you Park, we can follow this gorgon right here…” I gestured to a gorgon that was shadowing me my whole way back, “to the final boss of the dungeon. The sooner we kill him, the sooner we kill him, the sooner we leave this rat hole, I feel my body aging as we speak.”

“Well let’s go then.” Park answered normally, well energetically, but there was no sign of drunkenness.

“You had a cure? You’re a strange one, but I guess you just couldn’t afford extra cyclops eyes so you limited yourself to that drunken state until you managed to get your hands on another…am I close?”

“Definitely not…wow, he’s just been bugging me all day with his am I close crap, why you asking if you know you’re right?”

“You’re spot on!” Vorn answered with a thumbs up.

“Anyway…I’ll be heading off to kill the boss and take the reward money, see you in a bit.”

I then turned my attention to the gorgon, then we left for the giant boss. A few seconds later…

“…?”

“Wait for us!”

“Heyy!!”

“Yuki!!”

Then, just like that, I had formed a new party comprised of a magic swordsman, a strong(?) dwarf and a good mercenary. Compared to my former team, the total level was higher but my trust and knowledge of their abilities was far too little.

Sigh, my body aches enough as it is but now I’ve got to deal with this? Hmm, I can feel my body aging quickly. That can’t be good.

“Hey did any of you bring a watch or magic calendar or something?”

“Hm? Yeah, I always bring a magic watch to tell how much time’s past when I get back to the surface and luckily for you, I bought a new one this time. Here, you can have my old one.” He said as he untied a little bag around his waist and threw it to me.

After opening the bag, true to Ecstelsiana’s words, I found a watch that didn’t respond to any questions I asked. Magic watches normally used the wearer’s mana to catch up to the main stream of time. The watch gave the date and the time.

“Please get ready, we are almost there.” The gorgon told me.

“Alright, you guys should prepare yourselves for the largest fight in your lives.”

“That giant again huh? Well the plan was to take him on with Vorn here, but I guess one more adventurer raises our chances.”

The friendship between Park and Vorn started a few years back. Park was hired by Vorn’s little brother, Torn, to kill Vorn. All the king’s children wished Vorn dead but Torn was the only one to use a mercenary to do it. Park took him out but before killing him, he wanted to know the reason his own brother wanted him dead. After some talking between them, Park saw himself in the halfling and chose to spare his life. He even convinced Vorn to become a self-sufficient person and recommended him to the mercenary’s guild—after Vorn snitched his brother out to their father, causing Torn’s arrest and Park’s demotion for an uncompleted job.

Vorn, of course, wanted a thrill but since mercenaries chose to kill high people in authority and such, he opted for the adventurer’s lifestyle. Though Park was a bit disappointed, he found a way to compete with his friend so he wasn’t too reluctant to cheer his friend on. Eventually they both ranked up together—even though Vorn’s other siblings manipulated the guild to limit his progress—, then Park suggested the ditch games to his friend.

They staged the act with the mercenaries to find any dumb person with strong equipment and riches so they could kill him or her and take the treasures for themselves. Since the gorgon queen wouldn’t kill a member of the minotaur tribe, it was certain that they could kill whomever Vorn had teamed up with. Then all they had to do was lie that the dead person was a member of the tribe as well, then they could keep all the treasure to themselves.

But…

Their plan got messed up when I was the one that ‘saved’ Vorn. The vibe Park got off me wasn’t very pleasant but they only agreed to use me since I was a warrior ranked adventurer. The plan fell further down the rabbit hole, when I killed the two gorgons so easily and defeated Ecstelsiana, the gorgon queen. They gave up on trying anything, then they heard news that I had slain Arkolg, the minotaur king. That really drove in the final nail.

Or so Park and Vorn alternated in telling me on the way to the giant’s domain. Park added some additional info like: “I’m one of the eight people that have escaped the ditch three years in a row, this’ll be my fourth.” Or “I only joined the minotaur tribe to have free roam of the ditch.”

Sooner than expected, we arrived at the giant’s domain entrance. Of course this was far larger than the other ones before. It was far closer to the minotaurs’ domain—for obvious reasons—than the gorgons’ domain, telling any sentient being that the ditch was smaller on the eastern side, large on the western side and largest on the north- western side.

“I’ll take my leave now.” The gorgon said, bowed and left in a hurry.

“Whoa, what’s wrng with her. All the time that I’ve known her, she’s never been that scared. Do you think the giant got stronger?”

“Don’t know, I haven’t been here before. What do you think Yuki?”

“Huh? Oh erm, maybe the giant got stronger than the last time you were here.”

It’s probably because of the massacre from earlier, but they don’t need to know that.

My new party, ventured into the giant’s domain with no fear, well almost no fear. I had no fear whatsoever since I had already killed the strongest being in the ditch. Park had unease plastered all over his body and Vorn’s casual demeanor was a terrible front to hide the fear I could feel coming off him.

Sigh…that’s right, we are the fearless crew. Crap! I have a strong suspicion that someone will die here. Sigh…

As we got nearer to the giant’s own special room, the mana density increased.

“I bet this is one of those times you wish you had [Mana Steal] huh? Hehe”

“Y-y-yeah, I would be so full, the giant won’t know what hit’em…his own mana, his own mana would hit’em.”

“Yeah I got that Vorn.”

“Oh shut up. Hey Yuki, you’ve been awfully quiet back there… You dead?”

“You mean scared, right?”

“Umm, sure…Yuki, you scared?”

“Sigh, just hurry up already. I have to get back before…I have to get back soon.”

“…”

“…”

We continued on in silence. The path to the giant’s domain seemed to stretch on forever. We walked continuously but eventually, fatigue would set in. Vorn and Park set up camp about three times before we reached the giant’s room.

At the entrance to the room, we looked like ants that were looking to steal food of a dining table. A huge boulder in the corner of the room had a large pool of mana pouring out continuously. The shackles coming from the boulder had magical markings and runes that were used to limit one’s power.

Ignoring the obvious signs that we were approaching the giant and not a boulder, my party pushed on. I couldn’t tell whether it was stupidity or certainty of victory that clouded our minds, it was more likely the dense mana that was clouding our minds, but we kept walking toward the boulder with no hesitation. The fear I sensed from Vorn had dissipated while the fear from Park increased drastically. I was following them but I felt nothing too strange, the energy aura I had on was protecting me.

A few meters from the boulder, my body tensed up. It was as if all my instincts were screaming at me to stop right there. I could feel all my nerves twitching ferociously and my feet couldn’t move.

The next instant, my body had jumped high into the sky purely on instinct. Park, seeing me jump, followed my lead. Vorn however, either was not aware or did not care as that exact moment; he was hit by a large icy cloud.

“WHO DARES TRESPASS IN MYDOMAIN?! IDENTIFY YOURSELVES!!”

“Vorn?!” Park, ignoring the frost giant, called out his friends name.

“Hey! Shut up and focus, he’s obviously dead!”

“No, no, no, no, no. It’s all my fault. He’s dead because of me.”

“Get ready you fool!”

We were clinging to the walls when the giant go up. His large and overbearing figure was so intimidating, and the dense mana and icy aura he was coated in gave him an unbeatable image. He wore the necklace we saw during the briefing and a tattered pair of pants. He didn’t have a hideous appearance like I was expecting, he was rather good looking.

“I WILL CRUSH YOU!”

The moment he laid his blue eyes on us, he rushed us and swung his huge arms all over. Park was lost in thought so I had to push him out of the way, leaving me in the path of the arm. The giant’s arm, which was strengthened with ice blades all over, was met with my left demon arm as my right human arm supported my body on the wall.

“Haha, whoa, you are all talk. You’re not that much stronger than that minotaur.”

“YOU PUNY INSECT! WERE IT NOT FOR THESE SHACKLES AND THE [MANA LEAK] STATUS EFFECT THAT GOD CURSED ME WITH, I WOULD DESTROY ALL YOU TINY SHRUBS WITH ONE BREATH.”

“That’s what they all say…” I said as I pushed the giant back, “that minotaur was boring anyway, let’s see what you got.”

I jumped down and using my best sword, I slashed at the shackles continuously.

“You fool! What are you doing!?!” Park screamed.

He and the giant watched me strike the shackles for some time, then they stared at each other for some time, before the giant spoke up.

“YOU MUST BE STUPID! DESTROYING THOSE SHACKLES IS NOT A FEAT A MERE DWARF OR HUMAN CAN ACCOMPLISH, ONLY A GOD CAN BREAK THOSE.”

“Don’t be stupid yourself!” I answered back. “Anyone of a certain level can break these, you’re just too weak.”

“WHAT?!”

“Besides, I’m not doing this for you. I want to see what you’re made of.”

“Hey Yuki! Stop this, kill him now!” Park shouted again.

“Hey, my name isn’t Yuki, that’s just what your friend used to call me.”

After slashing repeatedly for some time without leaving a mark, the giant spoke up again.

“YOU FOOL, I TOLD YOU YOU COULDN’T BREAK THOSE.”

“I’ve read of these chains before, they were made by a ‘god’ sometime back but were lost. They’re called Gleipnir if I’m not mistaken. They’re too strong for me right now, but…”

I pushed my swords into my personal space and pulled out Arkolg’s axe.

“By slicing one spot continuously and finishing with this axe, there are no chains in the world that can survive.”

When I equipped the axe, my eyes changed to a blue color then glowed lightly. My hair retained it’s color but also glowed dark blue. The black tips darkened further and the energy aura covering me changed to t darker than dark color, like looking into an abyss inside of an abyss.

“Hyaaaa!”

I swung the axe in both hands with enough momentum to cut clean through a skyscraper—in my old world, I hadn’t really seen any skyscrapers in this world yet—and shattered Gleipnir.

“…!”

“…!”

The giant and Park were dumbstruck.

“What have you done!?!”

“NOW DIEE!!”

No sooner had the shackles crumbled away into nothingness, than the giant rushed toward me. He had a much fiercer aura than before and his [Mana Leak] was disappearing. He was back to a hundred percent.

“Come on big boy, let’s see what you got…” I said in a playful tone.

The moment he reached striking distance, he threw a punch with his right arm. I transformed quickly then jumped on his fist. I placed the axe back in my personal space as I maneuvered past his strikes. He began picking up speed with every blow and kick, prompting me to dodge faster.

“Wow, you’re strong aren’t you? How are you stronger than that minotaur guy?”

“I AM—”

“No, no, I don’t want to know your name or backstory.”

“…! RRAAAAAGH!”

He quickened his pace again, but I got bored of dodging so after ducking under one of his blows, I launched myself into his groin, sending such a powerful kick that he was launched into the air.

He squealed like a giant baby, it was hilarious.

“You squeal like a giant baby haha…that’s hilarious.”

He fell on his back groaning all the way down. He got up quickly, as if it was all an act earlier.

“Heyy, how are you so quick to rise…?”

“He has pain resistance you fool!”

“Thank you Park…I’m being sarcastic…”

Pain resistance? I should search for some when I get back to the top. I better finish this before I give myself more quests.

I pulled the axe out and equipped it.

I was expecting to get a far superior boost but what happened surprised me…everyone and thing froze in place.

“Heyy, Masayuki…”

That voice…oh no…

“Five?”

“You know it…so listen, this is technically breaking the rules but I’m here anyway so I’ll give you a hand this once.”

“I have a…”

“You are currently in your demon mode, equipping that axe unlocks part of your spirit abilities. You would have exploded if you didn’t have that {Persistence} energy protecting you from the backlash.”

“You’re helping me because…?”

“Simply, don’t try to use two different forms at once before you hit level fifty at least. No questions till you get a genesis gem and…I’m helping you because I like you…”

“…thank you?”

“Also do not try to use all three forms before you hit level ninty...oh no, Six is nearby, have to go, bye…”

Then he disappeared. By the time I realized that movement returned to the others, I was buried in the ground.

The giant stomped me into the ground.

“Ugh…pain immunity, gotta get me some of that…”

I pulled my arms out of the ground, then used them to push myself out of the ground. Immediately before the giant’s next punch landed, I used {Blur} combined with the axe. It was a quick and painless death for the giant that I split in half.

“That was easy…”

As I was moving to take the necklace, a magic circle appeared on the ground between the corners of the room, opposite the only entrance and exit we came in from.

“Wha…………??”

“Hey, I’m gonna leave you if you don’t hurry up.” I told the flabbergasted Park as I picked up the necklace.

The moment I picked it up, it shrunk to a wearable size. I threw it into my personal space then slowly walked toward the magic circle. That gave enough Park enough time to reach it before me.

“Now, to the surface…”