SHEE-SHIK!──
SHEE-SHEE-SHIK!
Thousands of bone tendrils surged toward the Bone Lord from all directions.
The Bone Lord and the Turncoats.
Though the Turncoats clearly held numerical and tactical superiority, the ensuing clash was brutal beyond words.
THOOOM!
BOOM! KA-KA-BOOM!
Bone fragments flew in all directions.
Yet, as if unwilling to waste even those, both the Bone Lord and the Turncoats swept the fragments back in with their bone tendrils.
Fragments mixed indiscriminately with one another.
["Indeed, a true delicacy."]
"Alright, let's take it further!"
Naturally, both the Bone Lord and the Turncoats began to morph—little by little.
Closer to one another.
As if all the beings here were inching toward becoming one.
'Then…'
It wasn't as if I'd been standing idle this whole time.
I'd been waiting—for the right moment.
And finally, that moment was right before my eyes.
"Esther."
["Yes. I'm ready."]
"Good. Let's go."
The Great Spear of Ankelenth, clutched in both hands.
Strictly speaking, it was only connected to my arms; to say I was holding it myself would be a stretch.
The only reason I could bear the sheer weight and mass of it was because of the support from Janus and Esther.
Like using power steering in a car, allowing me to move the colossal weapon with relatively little force.
[Activating 'Rift Shift'.]
Through a space so void it made one question if color even existed, my vision shifted instantly.
As the distance between us closed in a flash, I spread the massive Wings of Ankelenth and drove the Great Spear straight at the Bone Lord now just in front of me.
KRAAAAAASH!───
It was a carefully timed, decisive blow—yet the opponent was the Bone Lord.
A massive bone shield emerged to block the Great Spear of Ankelenth.
Crackle...
Though nearly shattered, the Bone Lord's bone shield, with its overwhelming thickness, managed to halt the Great Spear's charge.
Strength against strength.
A crude tactic, perhaps—but effective.
'Indeed. Not going to be easy.'
But I had no intention of stopping just because a single strike was deflected.
This was only the beginning.
[KROOOOOOOAR!]
With its now-lithe frame, the Bone Lord unfurled its Wings and began to move—at a speed unthinkable for something of its size.
I moved as well.
The enlarged Wings of Ankelenth.
The Z-74 Jetpack.
The PROTOTYPE-001 Combat Greaves.
Ether.
And [Rift Shift] on top of it all.
All of it combined to create a battle of incomprehensible speed against the Bone Lord.
THOOM!
RUMMMMBLE!
Each clash between us could have obliterated an average beast or monster with a single hit.
Yet, these attacks barely fazed the Bone Lord.
It was to be expected.
This battle wouldn't end until one had been completely devoured—it was destined to be a war of attrition.
'At this rate, we'll eventually bring it down... but the Wave is coming.'
Even if I left my post, Ark wouldn't be in immediate danger.
Not only had it preserved great power, but with the completion of the Silk Road, Ark had grown vastly stronger than before.
This might even be a golden opportunity for Ark's soldiers to gain real battle experience and grow stronger.
'No—the problem lies here.'
Under normal circumstances, no monster would dare intrude on the Bone Lord's domain, not even during a Wave.
But now?
With the Bone Lord weakened like this?
'I can't predict what effect the Wave will have on this battle. Better to finish it before that happens.'
Uncontrollable variables must be eliminated.
That was one of the most important survival laws in this accursed world.
"Esther, boost the output."
["What? But if you increase it further, I won't be able to maintain control."]
"It doesn't matter."
["…Don't blame me then."]
The Ether swirling around me began to rampage, forming a raging storm.
[Greeghhhk───!]
[It hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts.]
[Kyaaaaaaah────]
An artificial storm birthed from Ether.
In the chaos of continued skirmishes, this storm made it harder and harder for the Bone Lord to retrieve its scattered bone fragments.
"Damn—it!"
But it wasn't just the Bone Lord who struggled—the Turncoats were also finding the unrelenting clash more and more difficult.
It was inevitable.
What began as a battle of plunder had become one of mutual destruction.
["I don't know what your aim is… but following orders is a soldier's duty."]
From the Turncoat King's arms, a pitch-black great spear emerged, resembling the Spear of Ankelenth.
Now a part of Janus, he could wield such a weapon.
And holding a weapon akin to the Spear of Ankelenth, the Turncoat King stood just as imposing as he did in life.
KRAAAAAASH!───
As the Ether storm raged, the Bone Lord retaliated fiercely—but as the battle intensified, more and more bone fragments were lost.
[GROOOOOOH...]
Little by little.
The once massive body that spanned an entire domain began to shrink.
It wasn't just its size.
Unlike before, when the Bone Lord had condensed its form to shift its shape, this was something else.
The Bone Lord was weakening.
More precisely—it was dying.
'Still... we lack a definitive final blow.'
Even as I swung the Great Spear of Ankelenth, I searched for an opening that never came.
Until—
["Where are you looking!"]
The Turncoat King and Queen unleashed a vicious roar, briefly shattering the Bone Lord's shield.
Shhh...
Though the shield quickly began to regenerate, the Ether storm slowed it down considerably.
Now.
A fleeting moment.
Yet, within the mind stretched artificially by Ether and combat serums, that moment became an enormous gap.
[Activating 'Rift Shift'.]
Leaping through space in an instant, I focused all my power into the Spear of Ankelenth in my right hand.
Crunch, crackle...
Jet-black bone tendrils from Janus converged, causing the already massive Great Spear to grow even larger.
But only for a moment.
As if reaching some threshold, the weapon began to shrink—condensing, compressing.
'What is this…'
Power swirled in my grip.
The pressure, enough to tear my hand apart, spiraled uncontrollably.
Had I misjudged, it would have crushed me—but I didn't stop.
"Esther!"
["What are you doing—?!"]
Calling on both Esther and Janus, I barely managed to suppress the raging force.
'…It feels like it could explode at any moment.'
My hand, protected by Janus, repeatedly shattered and healed under the strain—the pressure radiating from the spear was absurd.
To think just holding it could exert such force...
'What kind of thing is being born here...?'
The answer came quickly.
The stabilized weapon began to take form.
['Bone Armor (Lv.5)' [Janus] awakens a new ability.]
[Summoning 'Judgment of Ankelenth'!]
Slightly longer and larger than the original Spear of Ankelenth.
Yet, despite having been forged by compressing the Great Spear, it appeared smaller—almost humble.
'Judgment of Ankelenth...'
What was this "Judgment" directed toward?
No need to think too hard.
Just test it and see.
FSSHHHH!
The Bone Lord's shield crumbled effortlessly upon contact.
As though the weapon dismantled the very material the Bone Lord was made of.
'No—is it really disassembling it...?'
I'd seen this before.
From the Beyond-Grade Dragon, Ankelenth—who once scorched the skies above Ark.
'If the power within Judgment of Ankelenth is truly that...'
There was no need for speculation.
I'd soon find out.
["…You're finally here."]
"It's not a king's virtue to leave the front lines to soldiers while staying in the back."
As I reappeared at the front, the Turncoat King and Queen—locked in fierce battle with the Bone Lord—offered stinging remarks.
"Stay sharp."
The Turncoat King eyed the Judgment of Ankelenth in my hands.
["Then, are you ready to end this?"]
"I am."
["Good. I'll support you."]
Leading the charge, the Turncoat King advanced, and the Turncoat Queen, resigned, bloomed petals of bone in response.
"You're finally here!"
["Same… kin…"]
Still locked in combat at the front, the Turncoat Rook and Knight joined in.
["Clear the path."]
All at once, the Turncoats unleashed their spears of bone toward the Bone Lord.
The Bone Lord roared back, unleashing a furious counteroffensive.
KAKAKAKAKANG!───
Amid the ceaseless explosions, I surged forward with the Judgment of Ankelenth.
FSSHHH!
The Bone Lord's tendrils reached for me—but vanished the moment they touched the weapon.
None of its attacks could pass through the Judgment of Ankelenth.
'...This is insane.'
This wasn't just a spear.
It was a weapon that physically embodied some concept—some space.
That was the Judgment of Ankelenth.
'Of course.'
Having devoured both part of the Bone Lord and the Turncoat King, Janus had nearly digested the entirety of Ankelenth's Fang.
Naturally, it could now access most of Ankelenth's hidden power.
The Beyond-Grade Dragon—Ankelenth.
If Janus had inherited such power, then the Judgment of Ankelenth displaying this kind of might made perfect sense.
I didn't ponder it long.
The Judgment of Ankelenth drove forward.
Straight toward the Bone Lord's heart.
["So... our long grudge ends here."]
A soft murmur from the Turncoat King, who had finally cleared the path.
The Judgment of Ankelenth surged forward through the gap between me and the Bone Lord.
[KIEEEEEEEEEE!]
The Bone Lord screamed, unleashing a storm of attacks at the oncoming Judgment.
Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone. Bone...
It was as if the world itself was made of bone—but I only thrust the Judgment forward.
FSSSHHHHH!──
In an instant, all that bone—once poised to swallow the world—disappeared.
An unbelievable sight.
And within that void, I finally reached the Bone Lord's heart, extending the Judgment of Ankelenth.
I, to you—
Declare judgment.
Declare death.
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa