Volume 3 Chapter 14 (1/2)

”This cannot be. Never did I expect even that would fail.”

Wight murmured so as the map spread out before him rustled. It was a map filled with illustrations and letters; a map detailing the state of the battlefield.

Wight being as smart as he was had memorized every small detail featured in the map and therefore did not need it; it was really only there for the sake of the Dwarf Smith, his adjutant.

”Wight-sama, it's unfortunate that the High Elves were not able to land the killing shot with their long-range sniping. Additionally, to be able to recognize the threat of the napalm bombs even though it's only his first time to see it, I can't call it anything but having a terrifying perception.”

”Yes, that tiger monster alone is a problem.”

Out of all his miscalculations, the existence of the monster known as the Byakko was the greatest. If that monsters was not there, they would have killed and won over the [Steel] Demon Lord Zagan a long while ago.

”There's communication from the sentinel golems; that tiger monster is headed this way by himself. He's taking down our defensive net one by one. He can't be stopped.”

”Is that so? Without anything to weigh him down anymore, there will be no monster here in this dungeon room capable of stopping him.”

Wight replied so with a wry smile.

”As things are, it's bound to get ugly. Wight-sama, I will stay here so please go ahead and head to the crystal room. If it's the third room, the absolute defense room, taking down that monster is possible.”

”I cannot do that. If I did that, Stolas-sama would have to participate. And if it comes to that, it's not a flawless victory by our lord anymore.”

”But…”

”There is nothing to worry about. Anyway, from here on, we will be stopping the deployment of monster units against him and only use golems and traps instead. After all, doing otherwise would only result in increasing the number of casualties. Also, if that tiger monster does reach this point, I will fight him myself. If there's anyone here that stands a chance, it will be me.”

Wight matter-of-factly informed her so and thus upsetting her as she looked at him.

”It's suicide to face that beast of an enemy!'

”I will not confront him in a head-on battle; I will use myself to bait him into a trap based on his now too obvious ability.”

”Then, I too shall participate.”

”I will not allow it. You are my adjutant, are you not? In case something happens to me, you will be the one in charge of everyone. Head to the third room as you retreat and then use that. And, please also ask Stolas-sama for assistance. Now, please lend me your golems.”

”But…”

”Please do not misunderstand, m'lady, this is no bout of heroism on my part; it is simply the best course of action, considering my circumstance.”

”Wight-sama's circumstance?”

”I have already resurrected 20 fallen undead. That amount is close to the limit my ability allows me resurrect.”

A Wight was a creature accompanied by the dead. As such, he was able to turn a deceased being into an undead as well as being able to resurrect an undead.

However, this ability had limits. First was that it would only work on beings that have been dead for not more than three hours. Next was that Wight could only use this ability 22 times a day.

Strictly speaking, he still had some to spare but then, he wanted to be ready for unseen circumstances.

”I cannot and will not let any of my dear fellow monsters die. Moreover, as our beloved lord had said, let's all smile together once this [War] has ended. I wish for that as well.”

It might be a laughable and impossible wish but he rather liked his lord's naïve wish.

And so, Wight decided to realize his lord's wish of winning without losing a single monster. Of course, this sentiment didn't extend to the golems which weren't even considered monsters.

”Alright, I won't stop you but I will participate as well. Please make use of me as a pawn in your plans. I too want to grant Procell-sama his wish.” said the Dwarf Smith as she grabbed Wight's bone-only hand.

”What a troublesome child. Very well then. But if I tell you to escape, you must, without fail, escape. Only when you promise me this shall I let you participate. I might sound like I'm repeating myself but your most important role as my adjutant in case something happens to me is to survive and support the troops.”

”I understand. Then, the plan..?”

”Yes but first, let us discuss the tiger monster's ability and how he did not notice the landmines, the poison in the air, and the High Elves' long-distance shooting despite noticing the other attacks from his blind spots. Considering those…”

Like so, Wight began to discuss the strategy he thought of.

I'm certain I have a grasp on that tiger monster's shortcomings.

Having overcome the myriad of traps laid out by Wight, the Byakko appeared before the building Wight was using as a headquarters.

Wounded all over after breaking through those carefully, well-thought-out traps, the Byakko stood there with willpower-fueled fire in his eyes. Like that, a man came out to meet him.

”Are you the commander?”

The identity of that man was the all-bones monster that wore a robe that seemed to belong to an aristocrat… Wight.

”Indeed. I am the monster that [Creation] Demon Lord Procell-sama entrusted to defend this dungeon and Avalon. I am called Wight.”

”You're this competent and yet you're not named?”

”Yes, sadly. But that's only because there are other monsters far better than I.”

”Ohh. For you to say that much, those monsters are interesting. I certainly would like to have a fight with them. Anyway, allow me to show you my respect and tell you my name. I am of the Byakko race. My name is Kohaku. An unparalleled name given to me by my master.”

”Kohaku… which can mean amber… I see, that name suits you well. Pardon me for making you the only one to state his name. If in the future I do get a name of my own, I hope that at that time I get the chance to state it to you.”

Why Wight did not take the ever precious first strike or why Byakko bothered to strike up a conversation, only they would ever know.

”Now, then, shall we get started?”

”But you're not a fighter; you're not the type that fights head-on battles. In terms of pure fighting strength, you don't stand a chance against me. Without any allies nearby, what are you planning?”

”Why don't you try reading my mind? That is your ability, is it not? But then, doing that might prove fatal.”

”Hmm. So you've realized my ability and yet, you're provoking me to use it. Interesting. Well then, let's start this fight between the manliest of men.”

Their idle chat over, tension filled the air. Like so, the final, decisive battle within [Creation]'s dungeon began.

Wight took out two weapons from his robe. One was a flamethrower while the other was a shotgun.

The flamethrower was the only weapon among the two that could fatally wound the Byakko. The shotgun, on the other hand, was mainly there to keep the enemy in check; it was a weapon that allowed him to hit the Byakko even with his level of marksmanship.

The flamethrower was obviously a customized item that made use of the napalm mixture. While his shotgun was a shotgun converted to use 4-gauge shells and thus had noteworthy power.

Upon converting Kuina's shotgun into 4-gauge, it was further remodeled to increase its power even more. Meanwhile, Wight's shotgun was customized to put emphasis on recoil reduction and its ability to rapid-fire. Unless it was customized like so, Wight's thin arms wouldn't be able to handle it efficiently.

And so, Wight fired his shotgun against the Byakko.

The Byakko in response, jumped backwards. Although he was unable to dodge all of the shots within the shell, the damaged he received was insignificant. Still, in precaution to the flamethrower, he did not dare to plunge himself forward.

Meanwhile, although the power of the shots from the shotgun would not be able to deal him a fatal wound, it was enough to hinder the movements of his already weary and wounded body.

Wight continued his sporadic suppressive fire against the Byakko, keeping the enemy in check. But then, his attacks stopped; his shotgun had ran out of bullets.

Right at the moment the barrage stopped, the Byakko attacked Wight. In response, Wight used his flamethrower. However, such an obvious attack was nimbly dodged by the Byakko.

When the Byakko's claw was about to grab hold of Wight, the Byakko felt something from his side and was blown away.

That something was a bullet from a High Elf's anti-materiel rifle. Well before the fight, one of the two High Elves hid itself so that it could provide support to Wight.

This much was within the Byakko's expectations.

He took the first shot but in exchange, he knew the whereabouts of the High Elf and could now read its thoughts by glancing at it from time to time; he would never again be hit by the elf.

Wight then put a hand into his robe. Upon doing so, the Byakko who was just stabilizing his stance was blown away by an explosion from beneath his feet.

It was a landmine.

It was not a pressure-sensitive landmine but instead a remotely activated one. The Byakko being too fast for a pressure-sensitive landmine would have escaped long after the explosion actually happened. For that reason, it was better to manually activate a landmine that was in a place that the Byakko would land in.

And then, another explosion erupted.

As the smoke rose, Wight quickly changed the magazine of his shotgun while also being mindful of casting a glance at the rolling Byakko.

Unless Wight was able to reload his shotgun and keep his enemy in check, that enemy will close the distance between them and defeat him.

It looked like Wight was the only one on the offensive but in truth, it was a close fight. Despite all of Wight's advantages in the area—like the weakening curse that only affected living creatures, the nerve gas, and every single conceivable trap—Wight was barely holding on.

”What's wrong, Kohaku-dono? You don't look so good.”

”Do you think this much of an attack is enough to kill me? Listen, if you have some kind of trump card, hurry up and use it. Otherwise, you might die before then.”

The Byakko flashed a ferocious smile… and then roared, shaking the very air. It wasn't just to threaten Wight either; it was a binding skill that used magic power.

Its power made even Wight, an Undead, flinch and his body to stiffen. It was for only a few seconds but that was more than enough time for Byakko.

And so, he ran. The High Elf that was supporting Wight fired its rifle but the Byakko had read its mind beforehand and thus sidestepped the shot.

In the last few meters between Wight and Byakko, the latter leapt and brandished his prided claws. At the same time, he used his ability and read Wight's mind; no matter what traps his enemy still had up his sleeves, he would now see through it.

He hadn't use this ability until now due to his wariness on Wight.

Wight knew that the nature of his skill was the ability to read minds and yet urged him to use it, making him think that Wight had some kind of trap set up. However, he judged that whatever trap that might be, it wouldn't be able to change his enemy's fate even if it were to be activated now.

And so, he read Wight mind but…

”GAAAAAAA!”

”That was a bad move, Kohaku-dono.”

The most painful headache assaulted the Byakko. His brain screamed, unable to handle the load it had. His movements in disarray, his claws stopped at grazing just Wight's robe. Even his landing was done wrong, making him crash to the ground.

There was a trap set, yes, but contrary to what he believed—one where it was active only for a moment of time—this one was always active.

”Wight, you, just how many…”

With the stiffness in Wight's body gone, he prepared to use his flamethrower. Even if this chance was only for a moment, Wight's speed was enough. And so, he pulled the trigger and unleashed the extremely high temperature flames.

These extremely high-temperature flames wrapped around the Byakko and yet did not instantly kill him. Still, these made use of napalm and thus would continue to burn until there was nothing left it could use as fuel. Even if it was him, there was no way he could just disregard the flames.