Chapter 72 – Rotten Swamp (2)

“A crocodile…?”

“To think we swam in a place where such a thing was roaming around… It’s a relief we weren’t eaten.”

“Oh, my God.”

Everyone except Veloc uttered a word, trying to find their balance. It was futile. The thing was a monster as long as a building.

Just by poking its head out, the surface of the lake that Cara had frozen cracked like broken straw and sank into the water. Adel hurriedly reached for her waist. Then she swung her whip toward a stone statue slightly away from the monster. As the taut line connected, she reached out her hand.

“Sir Veloc!”

“No, you won’t be able to support me. Take care of Isabel.”

Saying so, he scooped up Cara and held her. Then, stepping on the floating corpses of the mermen and the remaining ice fragments, he hurriedly fled the spot. Adel also wrapped her arm around Isabel’s waist and pulled the whip. The group stepped onto the ground where a small pile of dirt and collapsed stone statues were embedded. In the meantime, the monster of the lake also revealed its robust upper body.

Over the bumpy scales, water as dark as its skin color trickled down. On its contrasting white belly, arms that looked short compared to its body length were attached. However, due to its size, they looked like huge hammers. ‘Damn. One hit from that and I’ll be a goner.’ The monster rolled its eyes and looked at the group.

“A giant crocodile with three eyes. Is it a chimera? What kind of spell should I use against such a guy…”

As Cara clutched her staff with a lack of confidence, Isabel spoke while loading an arrow into her bowgun.

“At least it’s in the form of a beast, which is a relief. For lizards, the underbelly is the weak point. It’s soft compared to the back skin. The eyes are, of course, a critical spot. Though I don’t know if it will be of any use given its size…”

“Can you hit its eye?”

At Veloc’s words, Isabel raised her head. The green eyes of the elf and the eyes of the giant reptile monster met. The monster’s eyes gleamed with malice. They were eyes that looked cold, slit vertically.

Grrrrr.

The monster growled low. Nonetheless, the entire cavern rumbled. Isabel gritted her teeth and nodded.

“I can do it.”

Was it because of its size? She could even see the transparent membrane covering the pupils. If she couldn’t hit that, she would have to break her bow. But… Isabel touched her waist and replied with a lack of confidence.

“I don’t have many arrows left. What I have loaded right now is the end. I think this will be far from enough.”

Given its size, no matter how many arrows she drove in, it would probably be like getting pricked by toothpicks. Leaving her worry behind, Adel spoke.

“It’s coming.”

The giant crocodile moved. Its attack was simple. It thrust its face forward with its mouth wide open. Under the light sphere Cara had floated, saw-like teeth as big as a human torso shone menacingly. A huge shadow was also cast on the faces of the group. It was like a mountain was approaching.

Roaaar!

Along with the screech, black water rushed like a tsunami. The arrow that Isabel had shot with high spirit was also buried in it. ‘Damn. How do we kill this? Should I just swing at it?’ While Veloc was having crazy thoughts, Adel shouted, releasing holy power.

“Helena!”

“Don’t talk nonsense! We have to run!”

Leaving only those words, Cara tore open a scroll she took from her robe. With a blue circle rising around her, a huge shockwave occurred. The surrounding scenery zipped past, and a feeling of floating was felt under their feet. Below, the piles of dirt that were being shoved into the giant crocodile’s mouth were visible. It was the place where the group had been standing just a moment ago.

Dust rose, and the water surface, which exploded, was swirling around the monster. The crocodile standing at the center was looking around while chewing its mouth. It looked sad because the expected taste was not felt. ‘He has a sharp tongue.’ Standing next to Veloc, who was floating in the air, Cara spoke, her robe rustling.

“I wanted to save it… but with the scroll just now, the Archmage’s legacy is completely used up. Now, all we have left is a single teleport scroll. Damn. Should I have just torn that instead?”

Isabel asked, letting out a sigh.

“Thanks to you, we lived. Is it levitation magic?”

“It’s something more advanced than that… a spell called Wings of Guidance… Anyway, the important thing is that we can go up to avoid that monster. Where was the door? Adel. Do you remember the location?”

“It is probably there.”

Adel pointed her finger at the ceiling, which was packed with stalactites. Just as she said, the door embossed with an ox-headed monster, which they had seen when they entered, was also attached to the ceiling. Cara spoke, waving her staff.

“Okay. Let’s get out right away. If it was going to be like this, I should have just used the scroll from the beginning. I saved it in case some situation occurred.”

The blue force field surrounding the four moved slowly, weaving through the stalactites. The giant crocodile below only growled, struck the ground, or shrieked. Watching the monster with her gaze lowered, Isabel spoke in a whisper.

“It seems the monster doesn’t know yet. If we just go like this, we can get out easily.”

‘Yes, if it goes like that.’ But… Veloc spoke.

“Cara. Stop.”

“What is it? We are in a hurry. We don’t know when it will notice us.”

Cara grumbled, but stopped her staff. Then, the blue force field also stopped in place. Adel asked.

“Sir Veloc. Why did you stop?”

Veloc raised his visor. Then, pointing his sword downward, he spoke.

“That guy. He knows we are up here.”

“What does that…”

“Look over there. The ceiling is exceptionally low.”

Veloc gestured with his head toward the door. Currently, the ceiling where the group was floating was so high that the giant crocodile couldn’t reach even if it poked its head out. However, only the place where the door leading to the upper floor was located had a low ceiling. Although the protruding stalactites blocked their view, Veloc could see it all.

“If it’s about that height, it’s enough for its teeth to reach. It seems it plans to jump up and eat us the moment we arrive at the door.”

He looked at the monster, which was casting a blank stare with only its head above the water. Huddled and spitting water bubbles, it looked helpless, but it was hiding sharp teeth inside. ‘Sly bastard. It looks like a monster, but it’s a wild beast.’

Veloc smirked. He didn’t think this just based on the surrounding environment. His sixth sense, which couldn’t be described in words, told him the monster’s scheme. Patience, anticipation, and the thrill of the hunt. The various emotions of the three-eyed crocodile were clearly transmitted to Veloc.

“It’s exactly as Sir Veloc says. Only that spot is strange. It looks like a trap.”

Isabel frowned as she scanned the front, then shook her head.

“Then we should retreat for now…”

Just as Cara was about to chant a spell again, Veloc stopped her.

“No, we go as is.”

“What do you mean by that?!”

“To pass through the door anyway, we have to catch that guy. In that case, it’s better to target his gap.”

Adel offered an opinion.

“Can’t we lure it away and then get out?”

“It’s a cunning fellow. It will be hard to fool it with ordinary methods. It’s better to kill it instead.”

“How are you going to kill it?”

When Cara asked, Veloc spoke.

“When we get near the door, release the levitation magic. And using Adel’s whip, the three of you hang onto the stalactites.”

“And then?”

Veloc tilted his head. Then, tapping his sword, he spoke.

“I have to give it a blow.”

“That’s a plan?” Cara shrieked in horror.

“Don’t talk crazy! No matter how big your sword is, that guy is as big as a castle. No, the very thought of falling from this height is too reckless!”

Holding Veloc’s arm tightly, she stopped him once more.

“Okay, let’s say you stabbed it. Let’s say you blew off one of its limbs. What if you get eaten after that?! What are you going to do then? Are you going to cut the monster’s belly and crawl out?”

‘Oh, that’s also a good method.’ Veloc looked at the brown eyes full of worry for a moment, then lowered his head. Below the bumpy scales, the crocodile’s head, protruding like a mountain peak, was visible. Looking at it again, it was as big as a giant beast. It also looked unrealistic. But… he gripped the sword in his hand tightly and spoke.

“Falling from this height and swinging, how much acceleration will my sword gain? The force and destructive power added by that? I can’t measure it, but it should be enough to pierce that monster’s skull.”

Cara glared at Veloc for a moment, then turned her head away.

“You… really… do whatever you want!”

Along with those words, she chanted a spell again, and Adel looked at the two with a subtle look, then spoke.

“Sir Veloc. Will you really be alright? As Cara said, if by some chance things go wrong…”

“Trust me, Adel. I leave the two in your hands.”

Replying as usual, he touched the pommel and crossguard of his sword. The black light, which grew stronger every time he cut a demon, was now wriggling as if it would explode. It looked like a demonic sword. ‘Should I visit a temple sometime to get it purified?’ Just as he thought so, the movement stopped. Cara spoke. Her voice was much lower.

“Veloc. Think again. There might be another way.”

Veloc did not reply. He simply held the sword with both hands and stamped his foot. Along with a low sigh, a curse was heard. She snapped her fingers. In an instant, a feeling of floating was felt under his feet. A roaring wind, incomparable to the sound of an arrow flying, rang in his ears. The crested armor he wore also clattered noisily.

Feeling his heart beat for the first time in a while, Veloc gripped his sword tightly. The mountain was getting closer. Then, as if waiting, the vertically slit pupils rose. The monster opened its mouth wide.

Roaaar!

The view was instantly darkened. In the deep passage that looked like an abyss, only malice to kill him was filled. Each of the fangs attached there were daggers that would easily slice his flesh. Veloc did not blink an eye. To resist this predator, he raised the blade in his hand high into the sky. ‘Yes, come on.’

Whether the arrow shot from behind lodged in the monster’s eye or the wind summoned by Cara pushed his back, Veloc did not care. He turned into a black line and rushed. Soon, the black line pierced the monster’s head.

An immense resistance was felt in the hands holding the greatsword. It was the discord created as he sliced the monster’s skin and broke bones and muscles. He did not stop. He kept running, splitting the monster’s head. Soon, he pulled the sword out, spun his body, and raised it.

Screeech!

————!

Befriending the monster’s shriek and the blood dripping down, Veloc also shouted fiercely. At that moment, the dark energy surrounding the blade exploded. It also created countless sparks with a fizzing sound.

He did not care. No, to be precise, he couldn’t. Because the heat of battle boiling from his blood vessels and the sound of his heartbeat sent the knight’s mind somewhere. That was why he acted as he always did. With a deep breath, he struck down the sword in his hand fiercely.

Along with a roar, a flash of light gleamed. The monster’s head split in pieces. The three-eyed giant crocodile, the predator of the Rotten Swamp, died. Veloc was drenched in the pouring blood of the fiend and the black water of the swamp. However, the black sword in his hand began to shine even brighter. Eventually, it enveloped the entire cavern. ‘Shit. Why is it like this?’ When the recovered Veloc was taken aback, the mass of light gathered in one place. Soon, it became small rune letters and appeared on the blade.

Forgetting the fact that he had leveled up, Veloc examined the sword. The blade engraved with rune letters shone faintly and sparked. It looked as if it contained lightning. He let out a sigh. Soon, sitting comfortably on the monster’s corpse, he muttered.

“It looks like a demonic sword, but lightning… what on earth did you make for me? That old man.”