Chapter 47
Bursting through the blast at its nose, the crimson flash came in with a tackle.
Looks like ATK 2,000 wasn't enough to stop the red monster.
I leapt back to dodge the tackle.
"Blooood field!"
As we passed each other, I got bashed hard with the shovel.
A sharp pain shot through my cheek, and I was sent flying.
They've got Super armor too. Their core strength is insane.
More than anything, they're fast. And even more than that, the shovel hurts like hell.
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Akagi Hideo
Level 146
HP 13,521/22,523
MP 3,149/3,740
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv5'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv7'
'Single Strike Lv6'
'Steel Spirit'
'Probability Time: Coin Lv2'
'Super Metal Assault Lv6'
'Blue Pulsation'
'Black Swamp's Severer'
'Super Catcher Lv3'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv3' G4
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
'Trap Room Lake' G3
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The damage was around 4,000.
Since I don't really worry about remaining HP on shallow floors, I'm not exactly sure though.
I landed and injected 'Blue Blood Lv3' to recover my HP.
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Akagi Hideo
Level 146
HP 22,523/22,523
MP 2,923/3,740
Skills
'Finger Snap Lv5'
'Phobia Syndrome Lv7'
'Single Strike Lv6'
'Steel Spirit'
'Probability Time: Coin Lv2'
'Super Metal Assault Lv6'
'Blue Pulsation'
'Black Swamp's Severer'
'Super Catcher Lv3'
Equipment
'Blue Blood Lv3' G4
'Proof of the Chosen One' G3
'Labyrinth Conqueror' G4
'Adolphene's Holy Shroud' G3
'Trap Room Lake' G3
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A great point about 'Blue Blood Lv3' compared to earlier versions is that one injection fully restores you.
"Gii!"
"Chii chii chii!"
Both Shimaenaga-san and Gii-san started screeching like they'd lost it.
Seems like getting hit made them fully recognize the red dog as an enemy.
Gii-san summoned tentacles with 'Call of the Black Swamp' and started attacking on his own.
"Blooood field, blooood field."
Swinging the shovel wildly, the red costume clashed with the tentacles.
A deep, gut-rattling sound of heavy metal smashing into heavy metal.
Sparks scattered violently in all directions.
Is this horror, action, or comedy?
Either way, that costume swinging a shovel at insane speed is scary as hell.
"Gi, gii."
"Blooood field."
A total of 150 strikes.
Gii-san's tentacle barrage was all fended off with just a single shovel.
The rusted, bloodstained tip glowed red-hot, sizzling with smoke.
"Gii-san, leave the rest to me."
"Gii."
Red liquid spraying from its mouth, it charged in at full speed.
It's completely lost its mind.
Maybe it's an explorer, but there's no longer any way to communicate.
This thing's not sane. At this point, fighting back counts as self-defense.
There's no other choice.
I'll spend 200 HP and finish this for good with a 'Finger Snap Lv5' at 100,000 ATK.
——Snap
Engulfed in a blaze, the costume was swallowed by raging fire.
Cracks ran along the dungeon corridor, and the walls glowed red from the intense heat.
We kept our eyes on the flames, not letting our guard down until they burned out.
"Blooood field."
Blood dripped from its costume's gaps as it cut through the flames with its shoulders and lumbered forward.
Its tongue flopped out adorably, twisting the expression at its mouth.
At that moment, a single peanut rolled onto the ground with a clunk.
Again. This happened earlier too.
"Gii gii."
"Hmm, what's that? You're saying it might be using peanuts as a substitute to take the damage instead? Is that true, Gii-san?"
"Gii."
The red dog grinned menacingly.
Its mouth was hollow, and I caught a glimpse of the stuffed-tight peanuts inside the costume.
What.
So, like, we have to kill it once for every peanut in there?
"Blooood field."
Once again, it rushed in insanely fast, bashed me with the shovel, and as I flew through the air, despair sank in.
I didn't know peanuts had that kind of power...
That's it.
Come to think of it, the name "peanuts" could be interpreted as "a falling flower bearing life."
Probably, when people long ago discovered this miraculous bean, they must have thought, "To serve as a substitute in exchange for reclaiming lost life—it's like a fleeting blossom drifting down."
And so, this miraculous bean came to be called "peanut."
"Fine, I get it... If each peanut counts as one life, then I'll go along with it ten thousand times, a hundred thousand times. Because if I just keep firing away... eventually, you'll hit your limit, right?"
"Blooood field..."
The costume froze in place.
I tossed aside the Mugen High-Load Lv5 and spread my arms open wide.
Earlier, it used one peanut for an ATK of 2,000, didn't it?
Which means, while it may have a lot of extra lives, its HP probably isn't all that impressive, right?
——Snap
"Blooood field"
The red dog tried to step away again to dodge.
"It's useless."
The costume's head exploded.
"Blood, blooood field."
"My Finger Snap has a 100% hit rate. Theoretically, no matter how fast you move, it's impossible to dodge it."
"Blooood fieeeld..."
"Now let's dive into the mud pit. Let's begin."
With my ultimate barrage of finger snaps, I incinerated the red dog.
——Two hours later
(Skill level has increased)
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'Blue Pulsation Lv2'
Proof that you've accepted the blood of a non-human being.
A new life is circulating within you.
Recovers 1 HP every 5 seconds
Unlock condition: Blue Blood corrosion progresses
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I was attacking while using 'Blue Blood Lv3' and it ended up evolving.
I've now gained the second stage of doping addiction. Truly, thank you.
"Blo... bloood fieeeld..."
At last, the costume breathed its last.
It was just a cycle of reviving and killing over and over... Man, that was exhausting.
I thought my fingers were going to fall off.
I might've killed it like 3,000 times.
"Hm? What's this..."
Lying limp on the ground, the costume had dropped a particularly shiny gold coin. What is that? It's so pretty. I'm gonna pick it up. (Kindergarten-level thinking)
Apparently, it's an anomalous substance (Anomaly).
There were also item indicators on the shovel, and crystals were spilling out of the costume.
All of it probably belonged to the red dog.
"Blooood field..."
"Ah, it got up."
The costume slowly rose, glanced at us, lowered its ears as if in defeat, and trudged off toward the dungeon entrance.
All the peanuts were gone, its insides were hollow, and everything was completely visible.
There was no one inside.
It even left behind crystals and the shovel and all sorts of stuff...
"Chii chii chii."
"Gii."
Before I could stop the red dog, Shimaenaga-san and Gii-san were already scooping up the anomaly and crystals, stuffing them into the Mugen High-Load ver5.0.
They totally beat it down and stole all its gear and crystals.
Isn't this basically full-on post-apocalyptic behavior?
Is this the Road of Death by Rage or something?
Shimaenaga-san, Gii-san, are you two really okay with this?
"Chii♪"
"Gii♪"
Seems they're fine with it.
Apparently, the victor is justice.
Personally, I don't think that's right though...