Page 96

(Walson)

"Squeak squeak squeak——!!!" The ear-splitting screech of the incoming monster reverberated through my ears, threatening to shatter my eardrums.

Righteously gripping the wrench of the Redstone Motor in my clenched hand, my small wooden boat surged forward in a daring serpentine dash.

With lightning reflexes, I effortlessly wielded the [EX-ARMA] in my other hand, launching a barrage of iron chunks that obliterated the oncoming pests, reducing them to mere fishy pulp.

Gone were the days of calling them mere pufferfish. No, I've redefined my nomenclature for them.

Compared to the behemoth lurking behind me, those seemingly massive deep-sea guardians were nothing more than tiny shrimps.

"Boom rumble rumble——Crackle——" A deafening cacophony of crumbling and splashing water echoed from behind as I turned my head, witnessing the colossal relic pillar being toppled like a mere plaything by that gargantuan creature.

I raised the [EX-ARMA] and aimed it squarely at the monstrosity.

[Block Emperor · Ancient Guardian_LV100_HP 39540/39540_Status: [Frenzy], [[Curse of the Wither(I)]_Title: Slayer of Relic Overlords]

Its pallid carapace bristled with blue spikes, creating surging waves as it burst through the narrow stone pillars, hurtling towards me with an unstoppable force!

A massive, over twenty-meter-long behemoth of a pufferfish, aaaaahhhhh!!!

I had initially believed that the labyrinth's pillars would constrain its movements, but those pillars were nothing more than mere decorations!

Gripping the trigger, I unleashed a volley of scorching iron projectiles that should have pierced through it at an imperceptible speed... or so I thought.

But in the next moment, I swiftly swung my stone wall, only to have it shattered upon impact. It rebounded.

"Ooooo, oooooo——[Tempest Thunder Lance]!!!"

A rapid incantation resounded from above as a winged azure dragon, adorned with Derisha's [Dragon Soul Possession], darted towards the Ancient Guardian with incredible speed.

The azure dragon, formed from pure magical essence, was a manifestation of Derisha's power. It soared through the air, its swift rotations stirring up powerful gusts, surging silver currents enveloping it. Detaching from the dragon's body, the currents coalesced into a lethal strike!!

...

...

...

The wind dragon swiftly evaded, but the attack rebounded, causing debris to rain down from the ceiling.

The dragon seemed to falter in its flight, teetering on the verge of plummeting into the water.

Derisha, too, was the type that rapidly drained her reserves... Tsk.

However, this was far from over. The Ancient Guardian, which had been recklessly charging back and forth, began undergoing peculiar transformations.

It glared at Derisha with fury, and a purplish-blue radiance emanated from its spikes. It was then that I noticed everything on its body, except for the grim white carapace, was semi-transparent.

The magical hues swirled and danced, transforming from purple-blue to shades of white, yellow, and even fiery red. Like a mesmerizing light show, the colors weaved through the creature's body, converging with a purposeful intent towards its colossal, singular eye, all through the intricate crevices of its shell.

Converging...

Wait, Converging!?

And then it hit me!

"Derisha! Take cover!" I bellowed, almost roaring the words at Derisha.

In an explosive instant, the ceiling and the ancient relic pillars behind Derisha succumbed to the monster's mighty strike. They crumbled and shattered into fractured remnants, unleashing an avalanche of rubble that sent shockwaves rippling through the small boat.

The dragon's tail, unable to dodge in time, shattered into countless shimmering particles, dispersed like radiant stardust.

"What... what kind of monster is this?!" Derisha's voice echoed through our telepathic connection, trembling with fear and disbelief.

"Don't hesitate! Run!" I urgently commanded, as the vivid purple-blue radiance once again burst forth, its intensity growing exponentially.

Derisha took flight through the air, but without her tail, her aerial balance was thrown into disarray. She careened straight into one of the relic pillars, then veered and crashed into another.

And the Ancient Guardian's gaze never wavered, relentlessly tracking her.

My small boat, propelled by an unseen force, hurtled directly toward the Ancient Guardian. Without a moment's hesitation, I activated the [Mini Dispenser], firing a spider silk strand that pierced its gigantic eye. Simultaneously, I showered it with dozens of explosive fuses, detonating upon impact against its sturdy carapace.

The relic once again suffered immense destruction, but the guardian veered off course... and its attention shifted to me.

... Did I make the wrong choice by going on the offensive? That thought raced through my mind.

As I stared at the flickering purple-blue radiance, I made a resolute decision. Without a second thought, I abandoned the ship, just as it was obliterated, and propelled myself upward in a daring arc between the crumbling relic pillars.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The relic endured repeated bombardments from my energy cannons, while a multitude of explosive fuses rained down, protesting in a spectacular display of defiance.

My brain raced, considering countless strategies, only to dismiss them just as quickly.

The villagers alone didn't possess the power to turn the tide. I was at a loss.

For the first time since arriving in this Minecraft world, I felt utterly powerless.

Grace, Melan... Damn it... Is this where it all ends for me?

In the original Minecraft, the Ancient Guardian was indeed a formidable boss, but it didn't possess such outrageous attacking power and impenetrable armor.

Countless chunks of debris rained down, forcing me into a frantic dance of dodges and evasions. The air cleared, and amidst the chaos, I caught a glimpse of Derisha flapping her wings, launching another assault on the transformed guardian.

"Storm Thrust!" she unleashed a barrage of wind blades, but this time, it seemed utterly futile.

Oh, you quirky princess! That attack hasn't had any effect to that monster since the very beginning! Couldn't you try something else instead?!

The winds, comprised of magical energy, blurred the outlines of Derisha's draconic wings as the rebounding wind blades slashed through the air. In an instant, it seemed as if Derisha had lost consciousness, suspended in mid-air, at the mercy of the raging elements.

The purple-blue radiance shimmered with intensity, glaring angrily at Derisha.

Are you kidding me?

"Derisha!"

Swiftly switching to my [Gale Glove] I accelerated towards her, positioning myself between her and the menacing gaze that sent shivers down my spine.

...Damn it, can a stone wall really withstand its gaze?