Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 67: Forest Turtle 3

Episode 67: Forest Turtle 3

“(This is such a hassle…)”

There were already seeds buried underground before they sprouted, and during the battle, the Forest Turtle had been scattering seeds from the forest on its shell. To prevent them from sprouting, I had covered the ground with a shield made of hardened earth… but that too had been shattered by the Forest Turtle’s attack. 

Now, the plants started rapidly growing, accelerated by the [Sea of Forest]’s power.

“(Well, it’s not like I’m just going to sit back and watch them grow.)”

The current amount of greenery was about as much as you’d find on a school field. A few weeds sprouting wouldn’t affect the battle just yet. Besides, the [Factory] was still disrupting the area, so it would take some time before this place turned into an overgrown jungle. I just needed to finish this before that happened.

“(Cancel [Replicant Form], [Charge Slash]!)”

I reset my weapon’s wear and tear by re-mimicking it mid-air and used the impact of landing to propel myself forward with [Receiving]. Vines and plants manipulated by the Forest Turtle’s [Skill] stretched up from the cracks in the ground, but they were torn apart just by my running through them. The Forest Turtle likely expected this outcome. Without any signs of panic, it braced itself to face me.

“Slaa!”

“Gruuuu!”

The fierce wind generated from our collision made the newly sprouted plants sway. We clashed once, then again, two times, four times, eight times… the sound of our strikes and blows echoed repeatedly. 

At close range, our attacks were evenly matched. Earlier, I had gained a slight edge, but now that wasn’t the case anymore.

“(Tch, this is so annoying.)”

The poison whip I tried to swing got entangled in the stem of a flower, slowing it down. The [Sea of Forest] still needed more time to grow, but the Forest Turtle had used its [Skill: Blink of the Moss-Covered Turtle] to fast-track the plants’ growth. On top of that, it seemed like other plant-enhancing [Skills] were at play, making the stems as tough as steel wires. 

I was starting to regret that the ground shield had been destroyed. But honestly, this situation wasn’t all bad. Now, I could use that [Skill] I had been holding back.

“(Here goes.)”

I deliberately used the worn-down poison sword and swung it at the Forest Turtle’s face. Without a [Weapon Skill], my attack was a little slower. The Forest Turtle, accustomed to our high-speed exchanges, reacted by using the horn on its forehead—it was strange for a turtle to have a horn—to shatter the poison sword.

“(That hurt…)”

“Gryuaaah!”

The poison sword, made from the Hydra, was large. So, when it broke, the amount of necrotized tissue was significant. A sharp pain shot through me. As I stepped back, nursing my injured body, the Forest Turtle seized the opportunity and charged at me—just as I had expected.

“([Weapon Storage]!)”

I pulled out a massive club made from wood and swung it at the advancing Forest Turtle. Seeing it, the Forest Turtle didn’t hesitate; instead, it strengthened its stance, intending to crush both me and the club with its charge. Well, the club was going to break before it even had a chance to do anything.

“([Thousand Blades Genesis]!)!”

“Grruugh!?”

In that moment, the club, which had been swelling up like a balloon, burst. Countless wooden knife fragments scattered, slashing in all directions. Up, down, left, and right. The Forest Turtle wasn’t spared either, and its body was covered in a multitude of cuts, large and small.

This was an omnidirectional attack skill, [Thousand Blades Genesis]. Until now, I hadn’t used it because I was worried about damaging the ground. But now I didn’t care anymore. I would keep using explosions to push the Forest Turtle back!

“([Compact Thrust]!)”

The [Thousand Blades Genesis] had slowed the Forest Turtle’s charge, but it hadn’t completely stopped it. In the split second before impact, I thrust my poison spear forward, piercing the Forest Turtle’s cheek and further weakening its momentum.

“Gruuaaaah!”

“(Guh!)”

But the Forest Turtle wasn’t giving up that easily. Even with its cheek pierced, it kept advancing, slamming its body into me. A powerful hit, boosted by the [Turtle Tackle]. Without my shield in time, I took the full brunt of the blow and was sent flying back—

“([Unyielding Spirit]!)”

—Or not. Despite losing a huge chunk of my |Life|, I managed to hold my ground. I quickly pulled out two wooden weapons from [Weapon Storage].

“([Thousand Blades Genesis], Double!)”

I infused both with |Mana| and detonated them. Two simultaneous explosions echoed, attacking the Forest Turtle from both sides.

“Gruugh…”

“([Jump]!)”

I leapt after the retreating Forest Turtle, activating [Replicant Form] to mimic a giant sword that could bypass its defenses. I swung it toward the Forest Turtle’s neck.

“([Compact Slash]!)”

“Ruruuh!”

“(Tch, missed!)”

Just as I was about to slice through the rough skin of the Forest Turtle’s neck, my target vanished. It had withdrawn its head into its shell. My greatsword swung through the air, missing. I quickly reversed my swing for a second strike, but it was just a fraction too slow. The Forest Turtle leapt sideways, evading my attack.

With the distance between us widened, the Forest Turtle started to poke its head out again, and I unleashed the [Thousand Blades Genesis] at that moment. One of my wooden knives pierced deep into its knee joint, causing the Forest Turtle to lose its balance slightly.

I closed in instantly, launching a fierce assault with my Hydra weapons and greatsword. The Forest Turtle fought back with vines and branches extending from its shell, as well as the plants it controlled. But its movements were sluggish, likely from the damage it had sustained. Additionally, there was another factor tipping the scales in my favor.

“[Compact Whip!]”

“Gyuoooo!”

The poison whip struck its shell, causing a crack. The relentless attacks and the [Consecutive Hits] bonus were adding up. Now, even its shell was taking damage. The [Thousand Blades Genesis] was especially effective at stacking up the [Consecutive Hits] count, greatly amplifying the damage dealt. I could now easily break the vines and branches as if snapping dried twigs, and even the Turtle’s once-impenetrable shell was no longer a shield.

The Forest Turtle was forced to focus entirely on defense, which only allowed me to press the attack even harder.

“Guraa!”

It was inevitable. The Forest Turtle leaped back, and the rapidly growing trees blocked my pursuit. Under the effect of [Sea of Trees], the saplings had already grown to the size of young trees. They matured into full-sized trees before I could even begin to chase it.

Through the gaps between the trees, I could see the Forest Turtle, its back turned, fleeing at full speed. It had chosen to escape, abandoning both [Challenge] and [Bewitching Gleam].

The Forest Turtle was still running across the wasteland, but it would soon reach the forest. Once it was inside, there was no way I could catch it. However, even if I started chasing now, the plants would buy it enough time to get into the forest. In that case──

“[Jump!]”

──I’ll just strike from the sky, where the plants can’t reach.

I leapt high, soaring above the trees, glaring down at the fleeing enemy below. Even if I used [Aerial Jump] now, I wasn’t sure I could catch it in time.

“[Weapon Storage!]”

That’s why I’d stop it with a ranged attack. I pulled out a weapon shaped like a giant spear. From the tip to the butt, the entire thing was made of iron, like a tower of metal. Its material came from the steel weapons once wielded by Hobgoblins. I had fused them all together to create this massive spear, a trump card I’d saved for a crucial moment like this.

“[Powerful Throw!]”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Skill Details~

[Powerful Throw] 

• • • • Enhances throwing power based on strength. Consumes stamina for a powerful throw.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hurled the spear with all my strength and stamina. The giant spear flew through the night sky with a speed that belied its mass.

“Gyuaa!?”

“[Aerial Jump!]”

The giant spear pierced through the Forest Turtle’s shell, causing its legs to falter. I kicked off the air, launching myself toward it for an aerial assault. I landed on its shell, using the impact of the fall to continue the attack, all while channeling |Mana| into the spear.

“G-Gaaargh…!”

The Forest Turtle tried to retaliate by controlling the plants growing on its shell to attack me, but I ignored it and kept infusing |Mana| into the spear. Then, the transformation began.

“[Thousand Blades Genesis!]”

The spear expanded, then burst apart. It transformed into countless blades of steel, slashing out in every direction.

“──────!!”

A scream echoed through the night forest. The steel blades shredded the turtle’s internal organs. It was undoubtedly a fatal blow.

“[Slash!]”

I swung my greatsword, which ignored defenses, as the Forest Turtle writhed and spat bl00d. The sword cleaved through its neck with hardly any resistance. Its head rolled away, and the light faded from its eyes.

The apex predator of the forest, a being even Sovereign Beasts of its equal dared not challenge, thus came to the end of its long life.

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

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>> The Weapon Born from the Fire of War, Fuwa Katsu’s Soul Accumulation Level has increased to 175

>> The Weapon Born from the Fire of War, Fuwa Katsu, has acquired the [Skill: Storm Strike]. [Consecutive Hits] has been integrated.  

>> [On the Edge of the Ring] has been acquired. [Unyielding Spirit] will be integrated.  

>> [Brilliant Technique of the Storm] has been acquired. [Transient Martial Arts] will be integrated.  

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