Sealed room's demon

Just when kazuto used his 'perception', he found out that something dangerous is nearby. It was right above them.

When Kazuto had noticed its presence, that was the moment it dropped from the ceiling. With every ounce of effort he picked up Yue and used "Flicker". After executing his movement, he looked back at where he was. A thud came from the area he came from and saw what it was.

The monster's body was 5m in length. It had 4 huge-long-shear-like arms and 8 legs rustling around. A sharp needle was present on its two tails. Scorpions would be the best comparison to them. As for the two tails, it would be wise to assume it is poisonous. Kazuto felt that compared to all the other demons he had faced so far, this one was clearly a strong warrior.

Sweat streamed down his forehead. When he had entered the room earlier, his full powered "Perception" did not pick up anything; now it was going crazy. This meant that this scorpion-like demon was released after he released Yue's seal. The last resort to prevent her escape. If he had left Yue by herself, he could most likely escape.

He set his glance to the girl in his arm. She was earnestly watching him, and not minding the scorpion. Her eyes were like a calm water surface; resolving herself. The eyes that conveyed her feelings with eloquence. Yue had entrusted her fate to Kazuto.

The moment their eyes met, the corners of his mouth rose, and his usual battle hungry smile came into being. Kazuto, who did not mostly care about others except for battle, felt a little sympathy for Yue. Light stilled remained in his mostly broken heart and exhausted mind. For this betrayed girl and for a great battle, he would commit himself. If he couldn't reply to her pleas, he wasn't a man.

"Let's see what you can do."

Kazuto quickly took his "potion" out from his pouch, he embraced her and fed some of it to Yue; who was perched on his shoulders.

"Umu!"

The sacred water flowed into her body from the test tube-shaped container. Her eyes watered at being force fed an alien substance, but was surprised when her vitality was being restored.

Kazuto moved Yue from his shoulder to his back with his hand. Her feet were still weak, but it would recover soon. He did not want to fight while having to protect her.

"Hold on tight! Yue!"

Her body was far from recovered, but she used the power that returned to hold on tight to Kazuto's body with her limbs.

The scorpion started to make noise as it advanced towards them. Feeling Yue's grip on his back, he declared with a small smile and a excited voice.

"Let's enjoy our fight."

A purple liquid jetted from the needle on the scorpion's tail. Kazuto jumped aside at once. The floor started to dissolve when the purple liquid splashed onto it. Seemed it was an acid.

Kazuto was continuously moving around with his "Air Walk". On his face was a small excited smile but his eyes were full of seriousness. Using his "Perception" and "Magic Perception", he noticed the scorpion wasn't moving. But it looks like it got ready to fight at any moment.

The demon started it's attack and the needle on one of the tail aimed towards Kazuto. The tail enlarged for just an instant and the needle was shot with a tremendous speed. Kazuto's instinct kicked in and he dodged without waiting for the needle to appear near him and it was a right choice as the needle exploded in mid air and turned into a buckshot.

Kazuto once again came near the demon, swept with his "Grand Kick" and chopped with his "Air Claws". At the same time kazuto also used the gun and emptied it while shooting.

Although it didn't do much damage, it still hurt the demon and made it angry because of the pain.

"Kishaaaa!!"

Using its 8 legs, it rushed forwards fiercely while it screamed. The four arms it possessed elongated like a cannon shot and sped towards Kazuto. One of the arms he shook off with "Flicker" and another he leapt away from using "Air Walk". The third arm was smacked away with "Grand Kick", his posture was thrown off balance and the fourth arm was about to hit him. At that moment he leapt into air by twisting his body and arrived at the back of the demon. Even though it was hard, Yue managed to hold on him all this time.

After balancing himself at the back of the scorpion demon, Kazuto took a stance with his katana and hit the back of the demon. Only the crust of the demon was damaged with this attack as the burns of lightning was also seen on its body because of the skill "lightning clad".

When he was thinking about what to do at this point, an unprecedented scream came from the scorpion.

"Kyiiii!!"

Chills ran through his body and immediately he tried to retreat with "Flicker"; it was too late. The surrounding terrain started to waver and countless splinters ejected from the ground.

"Shit!"

This was a complete surprise. Kazuto was going to desperately escape into the air, but he twisted his body to protect Yue from an approaching splinter. This action caused his balance to be broken. He was able to dodge using katana and "Grand Kick". When he was dodging at the edge of his vision he saw the scorpion preparing its acid and buck shot.

Kazuto's face drew stiff. With its preparation done, the scorpion fired its attacks. He steeled himself. In this situation, dodging both of them was impossible. Kazuto clenched his teeth. Using "Air Walk", he was able to dodge the acid. Quickly after he started to protect his body. His left arm went to his heart and his right arm to his face. He also erected a small barrier with the time available. Kazuto used his magic to strengthen his body to the limit. Then dozens of needles pierced into this body.

"Gaaa!!"

Any fatals injury were avoided while he screamed. Since Yue was on his back, he decided to take the needles and stop them with his body. Kazuto was blown away from the impact, and rolled onto the ground; while intense pain wrecked his body. Yue was flung away from his back by the shock.

While dozens of needles were pieced into his body, Kazuto took out a "flash grenade' given by hajime and lobbed it towards the scorpion. The grenade drew a parabola, and flashed right in front of the scorpion's eyes.

"Kyishaaa!!"

Blinded by the sudden flash of light, the scorpion instinctively stepped back. It had been tracking Kazuto's movement from the beginning. The beast had judged which step to take and it didn't make a mistake.

Kazuto pulled out the needles stabbing his body and consumed the "potion" pill near his molar.

"Guu!"

A groan leaks between his gritted teeth. Kazuto looked for Yue while pulling his needles, but Yue found him first and came towards him.

"Kazuto!"

Yue ran up to Kazuto anxiously. Her expressionless was gone; she was ready to burst into tears.

"I'm fine. His armor is too hard. I can't think of a strategy…his four arms also cover his mouth and eyes....?"

Despite Yue's worries, Kazuto continued to mull over the scorpion. Looking at Kazuto, she started to cry.

"…Why?"

"Ah?"

"Why don't you just run?"

If he left her, he might escape. Yue brung up the topic because she knew it was possible. However, Kazuto had an amazing gaze.

"What are you saying now? Just because a slightly strong enemy showed up, don't give up."

In order to survive and be free, Kazuto was willing to do anything: bluffing, lying, surprise attacks, foul play, and whatever is needed to win. This was not the place for such a naive thought. There is not guilt here. You have to live this way.

But he wasn't going to allow himself to become heartless and forget about morals. He still knew right from wrong, humanity and justice. He may do wrong things but he won't hurt innocent persons if possible. He won't bat an eye if an innocent person dies because of someone else but once he decided to do something then he will complete it at all costs. That was why, he had no choice but to save her. She had entrusted herself to him. The moment he accepted that he could not leave her.

Yue nodded at him as she understood more than what he said, and she embraced him.

"H-Hey, what's wrong?"

This situation is not time for such a thing, what is she doing? The scorpion was going to recover soon. His wounds had healed. Preparations were needed to get him combat ready. Yue didn't care about that and placed her hand on his neck.

"Kazuto, please believe."

Yue kissed Kazuto's nape after she said that.

"Wha!?"

No, not a kiss. He was bit. Kazuto felt pain at his neck. There was a discomforting feeling as he felt power being extracted from him. At that feeling, he tried to shake free, but he remember that Yue introduced herself as a vampire. She was sucking his blood. Saying "please believe" while said vampire sucked your blood was scary, even if he did not like it he couldn't just run away and complain about it.

Kazuto just gave a small smile and supported Yue by embracing her. For a moment, Yue trembled but soon she buried her face into his nape and hugged back more tightly. Maybe it was just his imagination but he thought she was delighted.

"Kyishaa!!"

The roar of the scorpion echoed. It had recovered from the "flash grenade". Ground waves formed again; it seemed to know where they were. Probably this was its Special Magic, the ability to manipulate surrounding terrain.

"Be fast, Yue!"

Kazuto conjured a dome shaped barrier using half of his magic reserves. Not only that, he also used "Enchantment" and "magic manipulation" to send mana in the ground. It didn't help much but it still made it difficult for the monster to make more splinters.

The barrier cracked many times and he also repaired it again and again without losing concentration. Yue finally released her mouth from his neck. She licked her lips with a delirious expression. He felt fascinated though she had a childish figure. Her skin that was previously haggard completely disappeared and now her skin was glossy like white porcelain. Colored returned to her cheeks, and it looked dreamy rose red. Crimson eyes emitted a warm light. Her thin-small hands caressed Kazuto's cheeks.

"…Thanks for the meal."

She slowly rose her hand towards the scorpion.

One word was muttered.

""Azure Sky""

A pillar of bluish-white flame 6-7 m in diameter formed overhead of the scorpion.

Just from being around it the scorpion screamed as it was being burned and retreated. However, this Vampire Princess of the Abyss wouldn't allow it. A beautiful finger extended gracefully like a baton. The pillar of flame carried out its conductor's instruction without fail. It pursued the escaping scorpion then…a direct hit.

"Gu-ugyiyiaaaa!"

A never heard before scream escaped from the scorpion. Agony filled the scream. The pillar exploded into a flash of light and everything was blinded by it. Kazuto just looked at the sublime magic in utter amazement while he protected his eyes with his arms.

Soon, the flames disappeared and the magic was finished. There in the center was the figure of the scorpion in an anguish pose with its outer shell melted from the flames. The outer shell that didn't even melt at 3000 degree celsius, the same shell that didn't crack when fired upon by a lightning claded katana and the gun. Should he praise Yue, who had defeated such a monster so easily? Or should he praise the durability of the scorpion who took such an attack and was still intact? He was in a dilemma.

Kazuto heard a sound that pulled him away from the astounding sight. Yue was sitting down while breathing heavily. She seemed to have depleted her magic reserve.

"Yue, are you alright?"

"…Superlative…Tiring."

"Haha, that was a nice one! You saved us. I'll take care of the rest. Take a break."

"Go for it."

Kazuto shook his hand and used "Flicker" to shorten the distance. The scorpion was still alive. While the outer shell was melted, it roared with anger, and aimed a buckshot at the approaching Kazuto.

A "flash grenade" was quickly thrown by Kazuto. He fired a shot from gun before the needle could be fired. The "flash grenade" is shot through by the bullet, which wasn't accelerated by electromagnetism, and exploded. Familiar with the experience, the scorpion gloomily searched for Kazuto in the area painted with light.

No matter how much it look, it couldn't find Kazuto. The scorpion was perplexed at losing Kazuto's sign. Then Kazuto landed on its back.

"Kishua?"

An astonished voice raised out of the scorpion. It was wondering how a sign that disappear suddenly appear on its back. When the "flash grenade" went off, Kazuto had used his "Hide Presence" to cut off his sign and arrive at the scorpion's back.

Kazuto was burnt a little as the outer shell of the scorpion was still red hot. He didn't care about that. He fired the bullets from the rail gun and emptied it, afterwards he used the katana to slash the wounds with "air claws" and "lightning clad". The armor's original durability had already been lost. In response to the zero distance attacks from a railgun and the sword, that absolute shield crumbled.

The scorpion lashed out its two tails without any care if it hit itself, but Kazuto moved faster than it.

"It's over."

Kazuto took out the three grenades that he had got from his pouch and forced them down the holes he had created with the katana. Sticking his arm into these holes he left the beast a party gift. Doing this caused his arm to be burnt a little but he didn't care.

Before he could be attacked by the scorpion, he evacuated with "Flicker". The scorpion turned towards Kazuto to attack again.

However, its time was up.

Goba!

A muffled sound of an explosion coursed through the area and at the same time the scorpion trembled. Kazuto and scorpion were facing each without each moving, and the silence between them continued.

Slowly, the scorpion started to slope. It flopped onto the ground with a thud.

Kazuto approached the unmoving scorpion. He placed Katana into the beast mouth and sliced using lightning 3 times to make sure;when he was satisfied he nodded to himself. For sure its dead. This is the policy he came up with these days.

Looking back, there was Yue sitting there staring at Kazuto with an expressionless face but her eyes was somehow joyful. He did not know when his journey through the dungeon will end, but he seemed to have acquired a reliable partner. Thinking of partner, he should not have left hajime there alone but who cares he is sure hajime will survive.....probably.

Pandora's box was said to have contained disaster and a handful of hope. Apparently, this metaphor he made before he entered the room, had hit the mark. Kazuto walked to Yue while he thought of this.