Barbarian’s Dark Fantasy Strategy Guide

Chapter 25: Knightess （4）

The barbarian warrior’s basic skill, ‘Full Power’.

A technique that amplifies the power of the next attack.

In the game, weapon skills’ performance varies depending on proficiency. Going through a total of 7 stages from ‘Beginner’ to ‘Transcendent’, mastering one skill transforms even basic techniques into ultimate moves.

Having observed it countless times, Khalid’s Full Power is already at the Transcendent stage. No, it was beyond that. Even Gunnar, whom Becky played, didn’t reach this level.

（Perhaps it’s reached the realm of ‘Infinite’.）

The 8th stage, which only exists as data.

There was no other way to explain the Full Power Khalid used.

Flash!

The black flash created by the Blacksteel Axe emanated a terrifying sense of pressure.

As its name suggests, since it puts full power into each swing, it can’t be wielded with the usual speed, but being able to spam a technique of this power without any conditions is a feat in itself.

Slash!

The Scale Troll’s back was deeply gouged in a straight line.

Grooooan!

The troll’s pained cry echoed through the sewer. It rolled away to avoid Khalid, finally revealing its ugly face.

A tiny human warrior.

He approached, wielding the pitch-black axe with both hands. A smile that would make even a demon shudder was plastered on his face.

What’s even more frightening is that his axe didn’t even touch the body. It blew away all the launched scales with just wind pressure and tore through the troll’s thick skin.

Shudder……

The troll’s scales trembled in fear.

It was hard to tell which was the demon and which was the prey. The tense Scale Troll curled up tightly and rolled back a full circle.

Whoosh!

It looked like it was running away, but it launched hundreds of scales from its back like buckshot, filling the passage. However, Khalid broke through relentlessly, flashing a black light.

Not to be outdone, the troll increased its rolling speed.

The barrage of buckshot scales continued to hit the walls, but it couldn’t stop Khalid’s charge. As Khalid closed the distance and leaped into the air, the Scale Troll instinctively curled into a ball for defense.

“You’re like a hedgehog.”

Boom!

The Blacksteel Axe slammed into the troll’s shoulder. The layers of rainbow scales split in half.

Groooan!

The Scale Troll groaned in pain.

Although it wasn’t cut by the axe blade, the impact pierced through to its bones. It felt as if its insides were being skewered by an invisible spear.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Merciless axe swings battered the troll’s entire body.

The troll’s regenerative ability only amplified its pain. Even if its bones broke and its organs ruptured, they immediately recovered, leading to an endless cycle of agony.

（How is this happening? The Scale Troll can’t even move.）

If this were a game, countless “1”s would be popping up above the troll’s head by now. Even then, it wouldn’t die because it regenerates constantly.

However, even if its body was fine, the demon’s spirit was being gradually eaten away by fear.

（Wait a minute. Isn’t this situation even more dangerous?）

The ultimate move, the trump card that Commander-level or higher monsters possess. Even if its health hasn’t decreased, it wouldn’t be strange for it to use it now that it’s cornered psychologically.

The Scale Troll’s ultimate move is ‘Great Wheel’.

It’s a high-speed roll utilizing its massive size and sturdy scales. The narrow sewer passage was the perfect place to crush an opponent.

『Hey, stop attacking and get to the end of the passage! We’ve come in too deep!』

‘What are you talking about all of a sudden?’

『Hurry! This guy, he’s going to roll soon!』

‘Roll?’

Kooahhhhhhh!

At that moment, the Scale Troll, unable to endure Khalid’s beating any longer, roared as it rose. It blasted its scales outward, flinging Khalid away.

“Ugh……!”

Blood welled up where the scales grazed him. Fortunately, he avoided any vital spots, but the distance widened again.

New scales grew on the troll’s body, which had been momentarily bare. It glared at Khalid with bloodshot eyes. Then, it tucked its head between its legs and curled into a ball.

Keeeeeeng, keeeng, keeeng!

The Scale Troll spun furiously in place, revving up for a charge.

‘Is that what it meant by rolling?’

『Dodge quickly! If you don’t want to become jerky!』

The sewer stretched out in a straight line.

It charged with explosive speed, sparks flying from its contact with the floor. The giant metal ball that filled the passage slammed towards Khalid.

Rumble!

A sense of pressure as if a dump truck had passed overhead.

Khalid instinctively jumped into the water and lifted his head above the surface.

“Phew. There’s really no way to deal with that.”

『Damn…… that was close. Right, this is a sewer.』

The water wasn’t particularly clean, but now wasn’t the time to worry about the smell.

Boom……

A loud noise echoed from the far end of the passage, shaking the ground. The Scale Troll’s charge, having hit a dead end, wasn’t over yet.

Rumble……

At the sound of the troll rolling back, Khalid quickly dived underwater. The Scale Troll passed overhead once more with tremendous force. If he got hit by that, he might be sent flying to another world.

『What are you going to do now? Wouldn’t it be better to dive like this and get back to the surface?』

‘No, that cheap trick won’t work forever.’

『Then what are you going to do? We have no way to stop that.』

‘They’re weak to light and fire. Then maybe this light will work.’

『Light?』

The warmth spreading from Khalid’s heart seeped into the Blacksteel Axe. That power became a pure white light, gently enveloping the axe.

（This is……, the Power of Conviction that defeated the Banshee!）

Certainly, trolls are resistant to physical attacks but vulnerable to elemental attacks. Even so, could it stop a chunk of steel hurtling at that speed?

But once Khalid had unleashed his ‘Conviction’, it was as good as a commitment. This skill strangely affects Becky’s mental state as well, temporarily erasing her fear of death.

（Maybe it’s possible.）

Rumble……

The sound of the Scale Troll rolling back.

This time, he stood firmly on the passage floor. One of them had to die here.

“Haaa……”

Khalid took a deep breath and raised the Blacksteel Axe. And as the troll’s scales glinted in the distance……

“Pandoraaa!”

He swung the axe down at the perfect moment.

A combination of ‘Full Power’, ‘Battle Cry’, and ‘Conviction’.

A silver flash bisected the dark sewer.

Slice.

The severed halves of the troll flew past Khalid on either side. Unable to control its momentum, the demon’s corpse flew almost to the end of the passage before splattering its innards and blood everywhere.

“Phew.”

Khalid calmly caught his breath.

The light from the Blacksteel Axe vanished with the strike.

Although it succeeded, it seems he’s still not proficient at maintaining the skill.

『……』

Becky was still dazed.

Due to the aftereffects of Conviction, her mind was still bathed in tranquility.

（This confirms that Conviction is an elemental attack.）

It’s proof enough that it damaged the materialized Banshee and sliced through the Scale Troll’s armor like fruit.

The fact that it can launch elemental attacks on its own, without relying on rune weapons, magic, or divine power, is very encouraging.

（It’s fundamentally different from magic or divine power.）

This power wasn’t borrowed from demons or angels, but an alien ability emanating from Khalid’s heart. It’s Khalid’s unique skill, something not seen even in the game.

And one more thing.

By obtaining the Blacksteel Axe, Khalid became able to freely use Full Power. Who knew the Immortality option would affect combat in this way?

It seemed Khalid himself was slightly surprised by his fully unleashed form. That’s probably why he looked so gleeful when he was pounding on the curled-up Scale Troll.

（Ugh……, it stings.）

The wounds on her arms and legs stung.

It’s fortunate she wasn’t run over by a truck, but the pain was unavoidable. Seeing that Khalid didn’t even flinch, it seems he doesn’t even consider these wounds as wounds.

『Oh, wait a minute.』

Becky felt like she was missing something important.

『……Come to think of it, weren’t we almost killed just now? It’s a good thing the last attack worked, if it had failed, we would have been on our way to the afterlife.』

As if waking from hypnosis, Becky’s mind snapped back to reality. As her sense of reality, which had been numbed by Conviction’s calming effect, returned, she shuddered.

Just moments ago, she was practically standing in the middle of a highway.

Khalid nonchalantly said to her.

‘It’s fine since we’re alive.’

『You crazy bastard!』

Becky finally lost her temper.

◈◈◈◈◈◈ ◈◈◈◈◈◈ ◈◈◈◈◈◈

In the game, the basics of combat are to prevent the enemy from using their ultimate move altogether, or if they do use it, to guide it to a pre-planned timing and safe form for the player.

But looking back, from the Vampire Bat, to the Banshee, to the Scale Troll, they’ve been fighting by taking ultimate moves head-on.

It’s not something to be taken lightly, saying everything’s okay because they won. At first glance, it may seem like they defeated them effortlessly, but the slightest mistake could have sent them to the other side.

If they keep fighting in this dangerous way, Becky’s mind might break first. Even with Conviction’s calming effect, the aftereffects are unbearable.

（I have a mountain of things to say, but right now, we need to go help Ingrid.）

She was worried about the safety of the female knight they left behind to face the Scale Troll horde.

Of course, as Khalid said, division of labor is important. It’s true that this method is efficient if everyone can reliably perform their assigned roles.

Especially when it comes to groups of monsters, the moment they lose their leader, they lose a powerful command buff. Moreover, if that leader is a demon, the buff’s effect is even greater.

『Hurry! If by any chance, she’s found dead, I’ll hold a grudge against you forever, including what happened earlier.』

‘Alright, alright.’

Unable to withstand Becky’s nagging, Khalid headed towards the farmhouse with a rainbow scale tucked into his side. Seeing the blood-stained scale of their leader would crush the monsters’ morale. A demoralized monster is nothing more than a lump of meat.

（I hope she’s holding up well……）

Even though she hadn’t known Ingrid for long, Becky didn’t want to see her die a gruesome death.

But the moment they arrived at the farmhouse.

Becky’s worry turned into shock.

『Wh, what is this……』

Ingrid was cheerfully smiling as she wiped the blood off her saber.

“Ah! You came just in time, Sir Khalid.”

In front of her was a mountain of Scale Troll corpses, their heads severed.

“There were so many, it was a bit of a struggle. How was it on your side, Sir Khalid? I was worried because the ground shook like an earthquake earlier.”

“There was a demonized leader underground. This is its scale.”

“A demon! And yet you dealt with it so quickly, as expected, you’re amazing.”

“You don’t need to be needlessly humble about your skills either. It makes people worry unnecessarily.”

“Were you worried about me?”

“No, if I was, I wouldn’t have left you to handle the rear.”

Only Becky was worried.

‘See? I told you there was no need to worry.’

『……』

The two of them were warmly encouraging each other.

Only Becky couldn’t keep up with the mood.

（Am I…… am I the weird one? These guys aren’t abnormal, are they?）

A female knight who slaughters dozens of high-level monsters with a smile. A barbarian warrior who cleaves a Commander-level leader in a single blow.

Not only had the level of the appearing monsters become ridiculously high, but what was even more absurd was the skill of the individuals before her eyes.

What in the world happened to this world after the game’s ending? Perhaps the common sense Becky knew had already become a relic of the past.