The place where I landed was called the Royal Castle Plaza.
It was at the very heart of the capital, no more than ten minutes’ walk from the castle gates. Markets were set up there several times a month, and I had come countless times in my former life as a messenger.
And now—a monster had appeared there.
“Buuoooooo!!”
At first glance, it resembled an enormous bear. Rising to its full height, it must have been at least eight meters tall. Its eyes were bloodshot. Its drooling mouth was grotesquely split along the right side like a wolf’s, revealing enormous fangs. Its tail—somehow—was a snake. From its arms, thick as bound logs, sprouted legs of other beasts like branches. The combination was horrifying.
A high-pitched, cackling laugh rang out.
I stood facing it, scanning for any other enemies. There were none. The laugh—undeniably—came from the monster itself. The monster’s body had a mouth where a human would have a flank. And from that mouth, a grating raucous laughter spilled out.
“What… is this…?”
The people in the plaza screamed and scattered. I could see mothers clutching their children who had collapsed in terror. I had no choice but to stand my ground.
By late morning, the plaza had already become a stage for the monster’s devastation.
Solana descended beside me and spoke.
“Do you remember the zombie wolf? The ones in the Eastern Dungeon—”
“Y-yeah…”
“This creature is similar to that. Those were monsters corrupted by darkness, but this one… it’s from ordinary animals transformed into monsters by Ymir.”
I steadied my trembling legs by lowering my stance, trying to hide my fear.
Soldiers from the castle began streaming into the plaza.
“F-First, evacuate the civilians!”
I shouted. Coming to the castle had not been in vain. Soldiers and knights were already moving to rescue people.
I drew a deep breath. The fight to gather allies was over. The next battle—the one to protect the city—was about to begin.
Heimdall crossed his arms, eyes narrowing as he surveyed the chaos.
“This monster appeared suddenly in the plaza. It might be a new ability of Ymir.”
The bear groaned in pain, its serpentine tail writhing violently in tandem.
I fixed my gaze on this manufactured abomination.
“I’ll take it down. Watch me, Gods.”
The bear swung its massive arms. I leapt sideways to avoid them just as the cobblestones beneath me shattered into fragments.
In my mind, I called out my Status.
| Status: Rion (14 years old, Male) Level: 32 Skill『Alarm』: ➥ 【Wake Up】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Wakes up a sleeping person refreshed. ➥ 【Unseal】 ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Cancel any type of sleep. [+] Can also analize seals. ➥ 【Master of the Horn】 ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Fully unlocks the power of the horn. Skill『Sun’s Divine Protection』 ➥ 【White Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Recovery. The blessing of the sun also exorcises curses. ➥ 【Golden Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Improves physical ability. Further effect for a limited time. ➥ 【Sword of the Daughter of the Sun】…… Imbues the Daughter of the Sun in a weapon. ➥ 【Light of the Sun Awakening】…… Imbues the Daughter of the Sun in a weapon. Skill 『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』 ➥ 【Hammer of the God of Thunder】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Shoots a powerful lightning attack. ➥ 【Will of the War God】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅When facing an enemy stronger than oneself, it increases the power one’s blow. ➥ 【Mjolnir】 ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Borrows the legendary war hammer from the God of Thunder. Skill 『Divine Protection of the God of Hunting 』 ➥ 【Wild Heart】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Detection. With magical power consumption, effects can be further increased. ➥ 【Hunter’s Steps】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Moves silently without being detected. Skill 『Divine Protection of the God of Medicine』 ➥ 【Valkyria’s Spoon】…… Recovery. Consumes magical power to expand the range. ➥ 【Sigris’ Spear】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅a ranged support. The magical effect is channeled into the spear, delivering it to the target. Skill 『God of Mischief’s Divine Protection』 ➥ 【Duplicity】…… It can be used in combination with the two divine protection. ➥ 【Friend of Spirits】…… Draws upon the power of spirits. ➥ 【God of Mischief’s Deception】……Creates illusions using magical power. |
This was the full hand I had at my disposal. Every skill, every blessing, a tool to protect the city. I had to think fast and act faster.
First, I invoked the Golden Flame.
| Skill『Sun’s Divine Protection』activated. 【Golden Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Improves physical ability. Further effect for a limited time. |
Suddenly, my speed surged. The bear seemed startled, struggling to keep up. Its massive arms rained down in chaotic swings, but I dodged with precision, parrying and redirecting blows with my dagger.
The smaller, randomly sprouted arms made things worse. The wolf-like front limbs bore sharp claws, and as I rolled aside, one of them grazed my cheek.
“H-hey, are you okay…!? We—!”
A goddess hovered, ready to intervene, but I shouted.
“I’m fine!”
As long as the bear was focused on me, the others would remain safe. Its frantic rampage in the presence of a divine being, mindless and violent as it was, actually minimized collateral damage.
“Raaah…!”
The massive bear groaned, bleeding from its eyes like crimson tears. It twisted its body, bringing the serpent tail toward me in a sweeping strike. I leaned low, dodging the impossible weight just in time.
And yet, the snake’s head was already turning toward me again, relentless.
“Shaaaaa!”
A gush of violet fluid shot from its fanged maw.
“Wake up!”
The wind spirit Sylph leapt forward, deflecting the venom. The droplets sizzled as they hit the cobblestones, scorching the ground.
For a tense moment, it was just me, the massive bear, and its writhing serpent tail, locked in a silent standoff. Then the bear rose to its full height and let out a thunderous roar.
――BuoOOOooOOO!
High above, Heimdall tilted his head, his gaze sharp.
“This bear… perhaps it was once a creature of some renown.”
His eyes flicked to me, cool and calculating.
“Rion… it seems it has acknowledged you as its final opponent in life.”
I nodded. Drawing its attention fully, I shouted with everything I had.
“Come at me!”
Suddenly, the bear charged. The ground trembled beneath its weight. Market tents collapsed under the shock.
If I dodged—it would probably crash into the nearby buildings. Using Skill 『Divine Protection of the God of Hunting 』, “Wild Heart”, to sense the surroundings, I could still feel human presence in the structures behind me.
“Rion!”
“Believe, Sun God. Your follower—he’s no longer just protected by the gods!”
I braced myself. I met the bear’s charging shoulder with my short sword.
| Skill 『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』activated. 【Will of the War God】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅When facing an enemy stronger than oneself, it increases the power one’s blow. |
I pushed back with all my strength. My feet sank into the cobblestones and slid as the bear barreled forward. The wall behind me was closing in.
It would crush me!
【Golden Flame】 and 【Will of the God of War】 amplified my strength against this monstrous foe. Probably, Loki’s【Duplicity】 had enhanced the already formidable 【Golden Flame】, fusing it with 【Will of the God of War】 to heighten my resistance.
――Oooh!
The giant bear groaned. The shattering of cobblestones beneath its paws came to a halt.
God’s protection… just a little longer, please!
“I… will… push you back!”
I swung my short sword through the air. The blade seemed to be blocked by the monstrous fur, but I still pushed the massive body back.
“Guooooo!”
A serpentine tail lunged at me. I awakened the fire spirit Salamander and met it with a blazing fireball. The giant bear staggered, losing its balance, and toppled over.
Using “Wild Heart” to sense its body, I noticed a red glow in its chest. My magical detection pinpointed the place where the monster’s power concentrated the most.
| Skill 『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』activated. 【Hammer of the God of Thunder】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Shoots a powerful lightning attack. |
I leapt into the air, imagining Thor’s golden hammer in the short sword I raised. The lightning-wreathed blade struck the bear’s chest. Electricity coursed through its massive body, and the red glow in its chest vanished. The monster crumbled, turning to black ash that drifted away on the wind.
The square fell silent.
The soldiers who had been protecting the people stared at us in stunned disbelief.
I wiped the sweat and blood from my forehead.
“We… won…”
The goddess descended from the sky.
“…You’ve grown stronger, Rion.”
“It’s thanks to your blessing, Goddess.”
“The one who faced it… was your strength.”
She gripped my hand tightly.
A roar of cheers and whispers rippled through the square, filling it with awe and relief.
――D-did we… really defeat it!?
――That child…?
――Or wait, could he be the “Awakener” after all!?
Heimdall approached, clearing his throat.
“…Well then, the obstacles are gone, right? Or… am I the one in the way?”
Solana and I hurriedly let go of each other’s hands. My cheeks burned. My chest fluttered. Something felt… strange. Somehow, the cheers around us felt warmer, more heartfelt.
Heimdall smiled at me.
“Boy. Blow the horn once more.”
I blinked and tilted my head.
“O-once more?”
“Yes. The horn sounds at the start of battle, but it is also sounded at victory. Above all…”
Heimdall pointed to the sky. The aurora still shimmered, painting the heavens in radiant light.
“Your sister’s magic still lingers in the horn. If we channel the excitement of the gods across the world through this victory… the tide will turn in every dungeon on the planet.”
I froze.
Ymir was loosening the seals on monsters in every dungeon. Just as the royal capital’s dungeon was in danger, monsters were surely about to spill into other cities as well.
But in the same places, the gods were sealed too.
“…So that means we’re going to wake the gods sleeping in distant dungeon.”
I drew out the horn.
They called me the “Horn Boy,” and during the previous battle, even a hero. I was ready to endure and push forward.
In the royal capital’s square, watched by gods and countless onlookers, I blew the horn.
Wake up!
This is a counterattack against the monsters using the Gjallarhorn, the alarm horn.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Previous ⚜ Table of Contents ⚜ Next
Yume Neiji's Works 