NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29 - Episode 29: How Strong is Zaus?
Episode 29: How Strong is Zaus?
We were riding on the Wyvern airship, a type of flying vessel where large ships are pulled by wyverns like carriages. Despite feeling the refreshing breeze, we flew past the Duke’s territory and arrived at Solitude Island in the Eastern Sea.
In the middle of the island stood a mysterious tower, which served as the Great Sage’s research facility. Normally, you’d enter using a teleportation magic circle. I never expected us to come here on a Wyvern airship. The hero, Cea, only comes here after defeating the Duke.
For Cea to come here, permission from the special shrine’s gatekeeper is required. Beyond that shrine is a magic circle, which activates teleportation once you step into its center, allowing access to the island.
Skipping through that event, I flew here. The three of us, Meel, Arjena, and I, headed towards the laboratory visible from the coast.
Suddenly, *bam*!
“Ouch! Hey, what’s this? There’s an invisible barrier?”
Hmm. It’s like bulletproof glass, creating a dome around the laboratory.
“The Great Sage is cautious. They’ve set up a barrier to prevent monster intrusion.”
So, it was a place only accessible via teleportation magic.
Since I skipped through the event sequence, the hero wouldn’t normally come to this barrier’s location.
“Hyah! Take this!”
Arjena swung her sword at the barrier.
“No good. It doesn’t even leave a scratch.”
“Allow me. Dragon Flare!”
Meel cast a massive flame spell.
“No… it’s no use. This barrier remains unaffected.”
Hmm.
“Both of you, step back.”
I’ll try hitting it a bit harder.
“Here goes.”
*Crash!*
The barrier shattered like broken glass.
“All right.”
“Wait! What?! My sword strikes didn’t even faze it!”
“I’m letting you in, so let’s go.”
“Eehh… Zaus is incredible.”
“As expected of Zaus-sama. Fufu. This is Zaus-sama’s strength, isn’t it?”
“Why are you looking so proud?”
“Of course. Master’s power is a source of pride for us, his caretakers.”
“Sigh… But seriously, Zaus has become unbelievably strong. He’s now the strongest Duke.”
“Yes. Zaus-sama is the strongest.”
“You can’t see Zaus’s stats because they’re covered in a black mist. I wonder what level he is?”
“It seems he’s using concealment magic to hide them. It appears he doesn’t want others to see his abilities.”
“How cautious.”
“Hehehe. Zaus-sama is a prudent person indeed.”
“Again, boasting.”
*sigh*
What are you muttering about?
“Let’s leave them.”
“Wait up!”
After a while, we saw a signboard in the forest.
【One who has broken the barrier. It is advisable to turn back immediately. Continuing will subject you to utmost terror】
What’s this?
“Hehehe. Don’t underestimate the Demon Hunter Arjena. This is provocation. I’ve become strong too, you know. I’ll show you my level 150 strength!”
She said, readying her sword.
As we walked on, the surroundings became densely covered with trees, becoming dimmer.
The atmosphere felt like something was about to happen.
Suddenly, a woman’s voice echoed from nowhere, with a creepy vibe.
“Haven’t you seen the signboard? Foolish beings~ You shall soon experience utmost terror~”
It’s like some cheap haunted house at an amusement park.
At that moment, thuds of footsteps were heard.
“W-What’s that sound!?”
“It’s footsteps. Something big is approaching. Stay alert, Arjena.”
“Y-Yeah!”
It attacked from the thickets of trees. A giant hand.
“Waah!”
She narrowly dodged it.
At the tip of the hand was a giant stone statue.
Ohh.
“It’s a Sage Golem.”
“Zaus, do you know about it?”
“Nah, I just saw it in the setting materials.”
“Setting…? What’s that?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, it’s a strong monster. Arjena, step back. I’ll handle this.”
“Don’t get in my way! Don’t underestimate the Demon Hunter Arjena! I’ll slice up this stone doll myself.”
The Sage Golem is a rock giant golem created by the Great Sage Caphrodyte using magic. It was part of the background in the game, so there was no battle. The protagonist was exempt from battling the Sage Golem as proof of defeating the Duke. So, seeing this moving rock giant golem is nostalgic as a player. In the setting materials, it was the strongest rock giant golem.
“Brave Slash!”
Arjena’s ultimate slash.
However…
“W-What is this?! It’s incredibly tough! My slashes aren’t going through!”
“That’s why he’s strong. Check out his stats.”
“Yes!? Level… is, 280!? That’s too strong!!”
The Sage Golem’s movements were swift. Its power was on a whole other level. Its punches shattered giant trees and gouged the earth.
“I-I can only dodge!”
As soon as Arjena landed, its fist caught her.
“Aaaahhh!”
Good grief. Taking a hit like that would mean instant death. Her body would be pulverized, bones and all.
I stopped the Sage Golem’s fist with one hand.
“There!”
“…Z-Za-Zaus?”
“Are you okay?”
“I-I-I-I’m fi-fi-fine… You’re stopping it… with one hand…?”
Good, looks like she’s not injured.
“Hmph.”
I just gave it a light shake.
However, the Sage Golem was sent flying about 20 meters.
Ohh.
“It’s quite tough.”
Even with just a light swing, a normal monster would have disappeared. Bare hands are troublesome.
I summoned a jet-black sword from the extradimensional space.
“Demon Sword.”
It crackled with lightning, emitting sparks.
“I haven’t used this sword in a while. Let’s swing it for old times’ sake.”
With one hand.
Lightly.
*Dark Slash*
BOOOOOOM!!
Oops. Might have overdone it.
My sword wave gouged the earth, reaching all the way to the sea on the opposite shore. A path was carved through the dark forest, with the horizon visible in the distance.
It seems the Sage Golem vanished without a trace…
Oops… I might have made it too bright…
“I might have swung a bit too hard. Teehee.”
“Teehee isn’t the point here! The shape of the island changed!”
“Indeed. I feel bad for the landowner.”
“And you’re saying that now!? W-w-w-what kind of power was that…”
“Normally, it would be a matter for apology. But since they attacked us first, this was unavoidable. It’s force majeure.”
“T-Too strong…”
“I was surprised too. I never imagined Zaus-sama would become this strong…”
I’m a bit surprised myself. Recently, even my ultimate evolved subordinates couldn’t stand against me. It’s difficult to gauge my own strength.
Arjena blushed and fidgeted awkwardly.
“T-Thanks for earlier.”
“Don’t do anything reckless.”
“Okay… hehehe. Zaus is so kind.”
“Not really. If you were injured, I’d have to go through the trouble of healing you. It’s more efficient if I handle it.”
“W-What’s that supposed to mean!? It makes me feel like a burden!”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Ugh! Next time, I’ll definitely shine!”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice echoed.
It sounded similar to the previous one, but this time, there was a sense of urgency.
“W-What, what are you! You defeated my strongest Sage Golem Zage-chan that I created!?”
Ah, that voice is the Great Sage.
It’s the same as in the game. She speaks like an old lady but has the voice of a grade schooler.
“Could it be that the Sage Golem from earlier was the ‘utmost terror’?”
“Ugh!!”
“It seems they wanted to scare us, but what exactly is ‘utmost terror’?”
“S-Stop it with your nagging!!”
They prepared this event for us, so it’s kindness to dig into it. For the one who prepared it, being ignored is the saddest thing.
“Or perhaps, the ‘utmost terror’ hasn’t attacked yet? Is there a stronger enemy? I want to experience the ‘utmost terror’. Come on, show yourself.”
“Don’t pick at people’s wounds!!”
“What’s with you!? Who are you!?”