Volume 1 Chapter 99 The End Of The Phantom
The red cloak swayed gently as Kasim swung his axe right in front of me.
By some miracle, I managed to move my body and avoid it.
"──Ugh!!"
I dodged the strike of the axe that should have been easy to avoid, just barely moving back at the last moment. At the same time, a rush of sweat poured out from my entire body.
Now that I'm level 1 and unable to use my only ability, [Instant Death Magic], I have no power at all.
If I were to take even a single blow with my bare body, it would undoubtedly be a fatal wound.
Even though we're facing each other as humans, Kasim's attacks show no hesitation. He's not trying to intimidate me, but solely moving to kill me.
There's even a possibility that he's hiding other weapons besides what I can see. Despite both of our abilities being sealed, I couldn't possibly imagine being able to handle an opponent with just my bare hands.
"Ark-sama!"
"You shouldn't worry about others. Deal the opponent in front of you."
Lyle, who was getting closer, thrust his red spear at Fatina.
Fatina's wolf-like ears seemed to tremble slightly before she took the blow with the blade of her sword and deflected it.
Instead of getting ready to attack with her sword, Fatina held it in place on the ground. Maybe she couldn't lift it easily because she had lost her strength.
The black sword that had been through many battles was now just a heavy lump for her, now that she had lost her abilities.
"You're an adventurer with the skill of that [Sword Saint], right?"
Lyle said as he readied his spear again.
"So what?"
"I just wanted to try. A battle between the most skilled sword and spear users, both in a weakened state. I wanted to see who would win."
"What's the point of doing something like that?"
"Whether it has a point or not is something I'll decide."
Fatina swung her sword skillfully, timing it perfectly to parry the incoming attack.
However, it wasn't due to her skill, but rather she swung it with force, making it seem like she was just flailing around.
"Wow, you move pretty well. Is it because of the difference in physical abilities between beastmen and humans?"
"..."
"It seems like beastmen are indeed different from humans."
Fatina's face showed a hint of frustration, as if she didn't want to be thought of that way.
"Fatina-san! Run away!"
Mel shouted, but there was nothing else she could do.
Now that she couldn't use magic, she had become completely powerless, just like me.
If only I could use Ragius's sword, I could have fought back. But now, I couldn't even lift it.
Ragius's sword only emitted a faint light, refusing to grant any wishes.
I wasn't ready.
I let my guard down.
Now I regret it.
Those thoughts keep swirling in my head.
If only I had prepared even just one spare short sword, maybe I could have escaped this dire situation.
There's no choice but to run── that's what I thought.
If what Io said is true, then this phenomenon is happening because of Kasim's skill, "Ability Nullification." To undo it, we have only two options: defeat Kasim right here and now, or escape beyond the range of his skill.
"Both of you, run! Go back the way we came!"
"There's no way I'm letting that happen!"
Io tightens her grip on her dagger and moves closer.
Mel is standing right in front of her.
"Mel!"
Just as I was about to rush over, the edge of an axe grazes my nose.
Kasim doesn't let up his attacks and slowly, but surely, he closes in on me.
The three of us have been completely separated. This is hopeless.
Even Fatina, who is the only one able to fight, seems to be struggling to defend against Lyle's attacks.
"No... No..."
"Mel! Run!"
Mel had a pale face and was just shaking.
It seemed like she couldn't even move because of the fear.
"Please, stop this already..."
However, right after those words echoed emptily, Io's dagger deeply pierced into her left shoulder.
"Ah... Gah..."
"I won't kill you easily, you know? I'll make you suffer and then die."
Io slowly put her hand on Mel's neck.
Just as the pained groans of Mel and the mocking voice of Io entered my ears at the same time, all strength left my body.
I thought there was no way out anymore.
──Why?
Why did this happen at all?
From a terrible beginning, we had finally come this far.
Just a little more, and I thought we could achieve our goal.
──No, that's wrong.
Suddenly, I thought so.
──It's all wrong.
Everything was going too well before.
I became an adventurer, gained a special skill called [Instant Death Magic], and made it to this place.
Just the three of us, we went all the way to the brink of collecting the keys.
Maybe that, in itself, was strange.
In the first place, is this really the scene of the real me?
As soon as I started thinking about it, I began to doubt if the days before were actual events.
Maybe, I had already died on the first day of becoming an adventurer, and I'm just seeing an illusion.
Even such a scary thought crosses my mind.
Thinking that I would become stronger than anyone else, was it foolish to have such a thought?
If I had been walking the right path, maybe I could have avoided this helpless situation.
So, what is the right path...
Besides collecting the keys, there's something else I must do──
──Could it be...?
──Did I... miss something important here?
"Ark-sama! Look out!"
"──Uh."
Just as I thought I let out a dumb voice, my body suddenly heated up.
By the time I realized it, my shoulder to my stomach... had been roughly sliced.
"──Ah"
For a moment, I couldn't comprehend what had happened to me.
I lost my strength and leaned back against a large rock that was right behind me.
As I lifted my trembling arm, I saw that my hand was covered in sticky blood...
"Ark-sama! Wake up! Don't give up!"
"──Don't give up."
I thought it might be impossible.
Even so, I gathered my remaining strength and aimed my right hand at Kashim.
"De... (Death)..."
But nothing happened from my raised hand.
I knew it.
Miracles don't happen often.
"..."
Kasim showed a slight hint of caution, but as nothing happened, he raised his axe high.
There's only a little time left until the blade comes down on my head.
I could only silently watch it happen.
"Ah, ah..."
This is the end of my adventure.
Such a sudden, miserable ending.
The passage of time felt unusually slow.
With a lot of regret, I can only burn the sight of the moments before death into my mind.
I simply waited for the moment when my head would be crushed.
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