[Weapon Item “Talos’ Thermal Rondel” has been summoned.]
[Grade: D]
[Attack Power: 38]
[Effect “Immolation”: The target will be scorched with an extreme amount of heat.]
It's a good thing one blade of Talos’ Thermal Rondel is making deep cuts that I wonder for a while if it's true that this item can't be found and crafted from any Labyrinths in this world. But the more I slash the Bulgasari's body, the more I realise that I'm gonna waste my energy at this rate.
“Hey, hey, hey. Slayer Ban, did you lie about her being the weakest healer?!”
“Yeah like…how on freezing icicles is she fighting like that?!”
“It's as if she moves like that of the assassin subclass. Slayer Ban, who is she exactly?”
“Even if you ask me…I too am asking the same questions like you all.”
I can hear their conversation about me from afar despite the constant clanging sounds coming from my self-heating rondel daggers; not to mention, the sound of sizzled flesh slowly gets louder along with the Bulgasari's bellows and grunts at my constant slashing on its metallic skin. As I land on the ground, I analyse its whole appearance one more time.
The steaming slashes I make on it are closing up again; the steam goes away after the wounds are closed. It's as if this creature has its own kind of healing magic like the Alleviation Skill some higher-ranked healers have as its penultimate form. Anyway, besides the two archers asking unanswerable questions to Slayer Ban who's looking more annoyed at their constant questioning, the wizard father just stares at me, looking more astonished after every single slash I make. Whilst avoiding the Bulgasari’s uncoordinated offensive attacks on me, especially its whipping tail, I say these words aloud to them.
“It's best if you all follow the visible route by that staircase and leave the chamber now.”
“What the heck you're…”
“All of you are making me not fully focused here. Besides, we’re strangers in the end.”
“Slayer Kang…”
“You all have a family to get back home to, right? Especially you, mister. It'll be a hassle for me if your daughter blames me for your avoidable death.”
It seems that I've managed to convince them to leave me behind, seeing how the archers talk about me giving a pragmatic request to them.
“Are you sure this is the same meek girl you described about this morning, Slayer Ban?”
“How cold-hearted…Wait. Isn't she a…”
Another swift attack from the Bulgasari's tail nearly hits them; one of the archers falls down backwards with a frightened look on his face. Surely enough, he tells Slayer Ban and the rest of the other Slayers to get out of this chamber. I glance to see her and the wizard looking hesitant. Alas, all four of them run towards and up the existing staircase.
At least those archers yield to my instructions. It's good to know they're planning to abandon me. Besides, the Guideline insists I complete this…
[You are given the Solo Mission - Slay the D-rank Final Beast - the Bulgasari.]
[You have a 50% chance of slaying the Final Beast of this D-rank Labyrinth.]
[Important rule: You must complete this mission all by yourself.]
[There'll be a penalty if you disobey this important rule.]
So this is why you made that warning to me, old man? Even so, I can't become strong enough if I keep avoiding taking risks!
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[The Moderator of the Guideline Kang Joo-yeon to finish this Solo Mission with success.]
The Moderator? I didn't know the old man had another title to his name.
I land back on the ground for a pause after I realise it's useless to keep on slashing this Beast’s regenerative metallic body. The Bulgasari makes another roar, expressing its annoyance at my slashing attacks towards itself. I inwardly recall my weapon, putting it back into the Guideline’s storage. At this moment, I can no longer see any of the Slayers lingering around inside this chamber.
Well…It's expected. It's normal for humans to save themselves first. I must be the abnormal one because I'm about to do this!
My ‘Strength’ stat is possibly the cause of my capability to jump very high which I wasn't able to do when I was fighting the bronze robot. Normally, I would've used the Bulgasari's tail as the only way to head to its shoulders, but now, I can jump instantly towards them from the Beast’s right side. The moment I land on its shoulders, I activate my {Lightning Control} for at least thirty seconds.
12MP per ten seconds seems to be my improved skill usage due to surpassing the minimum level of becoming an E-rank. But alas, the Bulgasari is durable against my lightning magic despite the common knowledge that metals are excellent conductors of electricity and heat.
I speculate this creature’s own mana is capable of channeling the electricity flow out of its body, sending it towards the rocky ground through its feet and tail. I witness many spots of electricity coming upwards from the ground due to the Bulgasari's transferral skill. I stop using this skill as I don't want my MP to drop way below 100 along with my cooldown of regaining back 1MP is eight minutes.
That said…if the others were still standing in this chamber, they would've been paralysed by my lightning magic. Then, I would've to make more effort in protecting them while slaying this Beast.
“I don't have the luxury to make an easy choice like what every S-rank Slayer does.”
I know I shouldn't be thinking about him now, but my memory of Chun telling Jung-han that I'm heavy baggage has me feeling bitter and cynical about him. My thought of him having the privilege of having S-rank powers has distracted me, seeing how I subconsciously paused midway in my current fight against the Bulgasari whose body seems to be glowing a golden color.
Maybe I should've looked up online during my time at the hospital, but then again, there was no record of a Slayer of the elementalist subclass using lightning magic while battling a Bulgasari. Even though I'm considered a lightning-type magic user, I'm not risking myself in getting electrocuted by the Beast’s replicated lightning it got from my {Lightning Control} skill. I dodge many of its lightning attacks coming out from its bull-like tail. It seems to be smirking at me while I run and duck from its offensive skill.
Alas, the last lightning bolt strikes the ground on my left side, forcing my body to lunge sideways. I hit the stalagmite that was made by the Bulgasari's earthquake-like technique. I feel enough pain that has me groaning and gripping my right shoulder. My body plops to the ground with the Bulgasari walking angrily towards me at a fast pace. I can see my HP bar went down to 1025. My vision becomes blurry whilst I helplessly stare at the Beast’s oncoming approach towards me.
My left hand can still move. I could use an Explosive Potion, but I don't know how strong it needs to be capable of blasting a hole inside its metallic skin. I guess I can throw it in its face when it gets up close to me like what I did to Talos back then. Distract the monster again and hide…no…There's nowhere to hide except that bandwagon which will get smashed easily by the Bulgasari's tail. Anyway, I might be killed if such an explosion happens too close to me. I don't want to admit it, but…you're right, old man…I got ahead of myself…subconsciously depending on a “do or die” kind of luck…
As the rhino-faced Bulgasari arrives and looms above me, I let out a heavy sigh of disillusioned feeling welling up inside me. It lifts up its right front foot, ready to squash me like an insignificant pest that unknowingly invaded its territory. Oddly enough, I don't feel desperate anymore even though I know that Uncle Seung-min will be heartbroken once more, and that Gi-young is coming back from his school trip tomorrow. As for Ga-young, I dream of being able to talk to her comfortably someday. A dreamy vision of the three of them appears in my mind. They appear to smile at me while they embrace each other side by side.
Ah…I really want to go back home…
“Hey, ugly!”
Unexpectedly, I see a few rocks thrown at the Bulgasari's left eye that it turns to focus on the unknown thrower. Come to think of it, it sounds like Slayer Ban. It doesn't make sense that I'm able to listen to that haughty-toned feminine voice right now. Sure enough I turn to see someone standing at the very top of the staircase. It really is the impudent young woman whose face still has me mistake her as a high schooler occasionally. I never imagined the day I would see the 20-year-old inquisitor continuously throwing lemon-sized rocks at a frightening-looking Beast.
“Leave her alone, you ugly Bulgasari!”
“Take this, you bully!”
The two archers follow Slayer Ban’s rock throwing strategy despite it's clear as day that their rocks aren't doing any critical hits towards its durable body. Then, I see the same familiar spell where visible blue-colored waves turn into huge chains. Each one binds down each of the Bulgasari's feet to the ground. It's the young father who shouts these words so loud that it’s echoing throughout this chamber we're all in.
“Slayer Kang, now's your chance to slay it!”
I waste no time thinking about how these Slayers are being foolish in coming back to rescue the person who firmly told them to abandon her with the metallic Beast. I get up immediately, ignoring the Guideline's blue notification that seems to turn orange for a second. I never read what it says as my eyes are fully focused on the restrained Bulgasari. One chain, which was tying its back leg, breaks off with the same shattering sound the grimoire’s previous spell has. I jump with all my might, landing on its trunk.
The glowing red eyes still scare me and my whole body trembles for a few moments before I fully realise that the Painting Labyrinth is the only Beast that can make me feel fear whenever I think about it. I summon Talos’ Thermal Rondel from the Guideline's storage. I bet that whoever is watching me at the staircase has a shocked look as they witness blue-colored electricity illuminating around me. I'm aware that I can't convince them that I'm an F-rank healer, but that's my least concern for now.
And so, my left hand thrusts my self-heating blade into the final Beast’s left eye. It roars in so much agony that it breaks the next two chains that were holding its front legs. Immediately, the Bulgasari activates its replicated lightning magic that makes a defensive barrier, stopping Slayer Ban and the archers who have to drop their rocks. They cover their eyes as the lighting visuals are blinding them.
I, on the other hand, am experiencing the pain from absorbing its own lightning. I've to let go and leave my blade inside its eye, hoping that it stays distracted by its own pain so that it won't go destroying the staircase. I can see my HP going lower than ever that I've only got a few seconds to slay it. And then, an idea hit me though I suddenly remembered the conversation before entering the Painting Labyrinth; that metals are difficult to digest, which this creature has no problem in doing so.
If you're quite hard on the outside, you should be soft on the inside!
I run up towards the end of its trunk though I'm making more effort to balance myself while it still moves in a frenzy manner. The final chain has been broken and before the Bulgasari can buck me off, two low-grade Explosion Potions; one in each of my hands. I toss them inside its mouth while it still roars in agony. The Bulgasari swallows them instinctively, and I think the look on its face shows that it made a mistake in doing so.
A victorious smirk forms across my face, not to mention I take my time to gaze the frightened look on its face. I manage to get off its trunk on time, and do gymnastic-like moves as a faster method in running away. And then, the moment the metallic creature makes its final roar, its whole body explodes leaving huge holes in its stomach and throat that mercury-like blood oozes out of them. Unsurprisingly, the smell of mana-absorbed sage coming from its body still lingers in my nose.