Chapter 253: A Hero is Born (2)
This was spiraling out of control; at this rate, Undeus would fall under the relentless attacks of these bothersome ants.
*ROOOOOAAAAARRRR
It couldn't go on like this.
"Guh!"
"Ais!"
With his eyes burning even brighter, Undeus struck Ais with his second arm while she was still in the air, sending her flying.
The rest of the group watched helplessly as Ais was treated like a mere insect. Although she managed to destroy one of Undeus's arms, they hoped Ais hadn't been injured too severely; otherwise, it would all be over.
At the same time, Undeus focused on his next target, moving his first hand and lowering his enormous sword.
"AHHHHH!"
Tione, lost in pain, continued attacking like a maniac, oblivious to the massive sword descending towards her head.
"Sister!"
"Huh?"
Shouting loudly, Tiona watched as Undeus's enormous sword threatened Tione's life again.
Tione, on the other hand, glared at the approaching sword with hatred.
"AHHHH!"
Fearless of death, Tione screamed and prepared to take the nearly impossible-to-dodge attack. Just like the first time, this oversight would cost her Finn's life, and now it was her turn.
"Don't forget about me!"
However, just like before, Tione felt another incredible impact that sent her flying. It was Gareth, who swung his battle axe and took the frontal attack.
*BOMM
The ground shattered, Gareth's legs broke, and he fell to his knees. This sword strike was incredibly powerful. Now he understood why Finn ended up in that horrible state. If not for his elevated resistance stats, his body might not have withstood such an attack.
*Roar
But before Gareth could recover, Undeus had already brought down his second hand.
"HAHAHAHA FINN, HERE I COME, MY FRIEND!"
Smiling at his death, Gareth showed no regrets because this time, he had fulfilled his duty.
He protected the woman for whom Finn gave his life.
He achieved his glorious death.
*BOMM
With another incredible shockwave, the group was forcefully separated once again.
"Old man!"
Crossing both arms, Bete shielded himself from the shockwave. At the same time, he shouted, but just like before, his words were drowned in the commotion.
After all, Gareth lay lifeless on the ground, while Undeus raised his enormous blood-stained sword, his eyes burning like a predator.
*ROOOOOAAAAARRRR.
"YOU BASTARD!"
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"AAHHHHH!"
"They've lost composure."
Sighing, Yuki observed everything through Ais's shadow. Finn's death dealt a severe blow to his companions.
With their mental state, it was impossible for them to defeat Undeus.
But...
"They're not doing badly."
The death of their leader caused their inner power to surge suddenly. They were giving everything they had against Undeus.
They were strong enough even to press this monster, but it was a pity they were blinded by hatred and pain.
He had faced Undeus before and knew that the 'Fury' strike caught them by surprise, causing inevitable casualties.
"But this is fine... As long as there is love, there will be hatred..."
*Bom, Bam
Amidst the powerful explosions and strikes, Yuki smiled while opening both hands, continuing as if he wanted his words to be heard by the Loki family.
"Know the pain..."
Only by knowing the pain would the potential within them awaken.
"Think of the pain..."
Only by thinking of their pain would their goals not be lost, and they would honor those who fell.
"Feel the pain..."
Only by feeling the pain could they change their destiny and never give up.
"Accept the pain..."
Only by accepting the pain could they become strong.
That's why...
"Those who don't know pain can't move forward..."
Watching everything from the shadows, Yuki's Sharingan spun, just as Gareth died.
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"Guh..."
Feeling intense pain, Ais tried to get up.
However, her arms weakened; Undeus's last strike had hurt her a lot. Several of her ribs were broken, and her body screamed for a break.
This feeling was almost the same as when she trained with Yuki, but this time, she was conscious. Her body was already accustomed to enduring this pain.
Unfortunately, she couldn't stand up.
*BOMM
"Old man!"
Opening her eyes, Ais witnessed another heartbreaking scene. Gareth had died...
First Finn and now Gareth.
This shook her; tears ran down her eyes, and her heart pounded. Gareth and Finn were considered her mentors since she was a child. Now, they were gone.
(I... I...)
Clenching her teeth, Ais tried to get up, but she couldn't.
"Argh?!"
*Bom, bam...
She could only watch helplessly as her comrades were struck by Undeus.
"AHHH! DAMN MONSTER!"
Tione couldn't believe it; she had been saved for the second time. Just when she had accepted her death, another comrade sacrificed their life.
"Finn... Gareth..."
Riveria, on the other hand, muttered with devastation. Her two most significant comrades had died, fulfilling their duty to the end. Even though the younger ones still lived, the pain was unbearable.
"If fate wills it, we will meet again soon."
*Bam, bam
Despite being devastated, Riveria suppressed her grief, wiped away her tears, and continued casting her spells. Her mana was nearly depleted, but she wouldn't give up. Not when her cherished friends had fallen.
"Ahhh! Die, you bastard!"
The same went for Bete; with Gareth gone, the last shred of his rationality vanished. Gareth was, after all, one of the adventurers he respected—brave and tenacious, even in the end.
...
Meanwhile, Tsubaki kept attacking. It wasn't worth shedding tears now; the next one could be her.
(I can't...)
Shedding tears, Ais clenched her fists.
(I'm weak... What should I do?)
Watching her comrades continue to fight, Ais felt so powerless. Unlike them, she couldn't join the battle...
"I don't know... What should I do?"
(Ahhhh!)
As if her consciousness sank into infinite darkness, Ais internally screamed, cursing her weakness.
"Yuki-sama... Please... Tell me... What should I do?"
Ais knew. She knew that at this rate, the rest of her comrades would die. If she didn't do something, everything would end.
But she also knew her own weakness. It was happening again.
Once again, her family left her alone. She didn't want this to happen.
Yet, it was inevitable... Weakness is a curse...
Humans are so fragile; they should bow their heads and be trampled like insects.
They are weak, and as the weak, they have no voice.
Ais knew she had been surpassed...
But what could she do?
Nothing... She's weak and helpless. The weak cannot triumph.
She is not strong enough...
[DON'T GIVE UP!]
Responding as if to her call, a light illuminated the infinite darkness. Looking up, Ais's teary eyes trembled.
"Yuki-sama..."
She recognized that voice...
[THIS IS NOT OVER YET! GET UP! DON'T LIE THERE ON THE GROUND! YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO BE STRONG!]
Those words were enough to make her inner self tremble.
Yes, she wants to be strong; she hasn't fulfilled her vengeance yet...
She hasn't seen her mother, hasn't killed the one-eyed dragon...
She still has to live.
She hasn't been strong enough yet. She's not a Hero.
"Yuki-sama! ..."
Holding onto that light, Ais felt her soul rapidly warming. At the same time, her destiny began to turn in response to that light...
[THIS IS IT... GET UP... FIGHT! BREAK THE SHACKLES! PROTECT YOUR FAMILY! BECOME A HERO!]
Opening her eyes wide, Ais stood up with difficulty. Her body was covered in wounds, but her will did not yield.
She couldn't stay on the ground; she needed to fight, to protect her family...
*Bam, bam
Hearing the explosions from her comrades, Ais clenched her teeth. Her family couldn't deal deep damage to that monster. With Finn, Gareth, and herself out of the fight, their group faced an incredible setback. They could no longer keep up with Undeus.
They were at their limits...
"Yuki-sama... Please... Let it work..."
Taking her sword, Ais crossed her arms. There was no way she could defeat Undeus unless she gave it everything.
There was only one way, though dangerous. She needed to win, for those who died, for her family, for her Goddess, and, of course, for herself...
*BOMM
Breaking the ground beneath her feet, Ais's mana surged suddenly...
But this wasn't all. She began murmuring a spell, her eyes turning fierce, and the wind around her turned black.
This was her strongest ability...
'Tempest-Avenger'
This was an all-or-nothing situation... Win or lose.
("To protect... and not lose my way...")
"The first gate... The gate of opening, OPEN!"
*BOMM
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TN: Guy: 👍