I Obtained the Final Boss' Power

Chapter 6 : Prescription (2)

Prescription (2)

"Failed? What kind of nonsense is that!!"

From broad daylight, Odun shouted loudly and activated the spell engraved on his hand.

"It's not that, it's really... Kyaaah!!"

"Aaaargh!!"

Before the soldiers could even make excuses, they screamed in agony from the pain.

Tortured by the current running through their bodies, the soldiers could only open their mouths once the spell ended.

"Ugh... It's true. That Louis guy... He's not dead."

"We tried everything we could..."

"Explain in detail."

The two who had night watch duty were ordered to kill Louis. Killing someone asleep should've been a piece of cake.

Yet, they failed.

They said they swung a blade at his neck while he was asleep, but Louis dodged it.

How was that possible?

"He dodged the sword while his eyes were closed, sleeping? And we're supposed to believe that?!"

"I-it's true! Even while we swung the sword down, he twisted his head away every time!"

"That's right! Trust us, it was just as ridiculous for us, too!"

Unless he was sleepwalking, it was impossible. Even if he was, dodging a sword coming for your neck shouldn't make sense.

How could he possibly do it while sleeping?

"Of course, we also suspected he was awake. But he was genuinely asleep."

"So, we held him down completely and swung at his neck, but even then, he dodged..."

"Are you kidding me right now?!"

At Odun's explosive shout, the two shrank back, their faces twisted with injustice.

But making Odun understand was impossible; it simply made no sense.

"So... we changed our method."

"Changed to what?"

"Since we had some rope, we tied him up really tight. And then..."

"We hung him from a tree."

Because slashing his neck didn't work, they chose to strangle him instead.

It was a reasonable method, requiring neither hassle nor noisy effort.

Actually, they said Louis was much more docile than when they used the sword.

That part was odd, but nothing to worry about.

"But since it's hard to blame it on a monster if we did that, we hung him a bit farther away."

"That way, a monster passing by might just swallow him right up."

"Don't tell me you even failed at that?"

Anyone hung from a tree for hours while asleep should obviously die. It should've worked. And yet...

"There you all are!"

A boy's voice called out from behind them. Odun and Kelton started at the voice.

"What are you all doing here?"

"Lu, Louis!"

Their expressions twisted as soon as they saw Louis. Was their claim of strangling him a lie since he's alive?

No—it wasn't.

There was a thick rope still hanging like a necklace around Louis's neck, and the part that had hung him was torn apart.

"Everyone had supplements for breakfast—when are we leaving? The officers are looking for you all."

"Wait, you... what's that!"

Odun nervously pointed at the rope around Louis's neck. It was unmistakably a sign he had almost been strangled.

"This? It just appeared on my neck while I slept. I don't know what it is, but can I toss it?"

Louis broke the rope around his neck with his bare hands. For a child, his strength was overwhelming, leaving everyone gaping.

"So... when are we leaving?"

Unbothered by their stares, Louis just asked matter-of-factly.

****

After a restful sleep, the expeditionary force resumed their march. The end was in sight, and the soldiers felt invigorated.

Pulling the cart as he walked, Louis stretched and rubbed his neck.

'I figured as much.'

He had known last night that the two on watch tried to kill him.

That made Odun's motive for including him in the expedition clear.

All the night watch shifts had gone to Odun's squad soldiers. That revealed how desperate even his subordinates were to kill Louis.

Even though he knew, Louis simply slept. Even when asleep, he could wake the moment anyone approached.

Ever since that day Louis transformed into a monster, his body underwent dramatic changes.

Not just greater strength and durability—every sense was heightened to the extreme.

Smell, hearing, even dynamic vision—he could sense danger instinctively.

Thanks to that, he could hear soldiers' muffled words and even smell if something was hiding nearby.

Occasionally, he saw flies flitting in slow motion or sensed when someone harbored ill will toward him.

It was like a sixth sense, or an internal sensor. Because of this, even when asleep, he could wake up automatically if danger approached.

A night watch? Louis had no need for such a thing.

Detecting Odun's men sneaking up at midnight was only possible because of this sharpened sense.

Even now, Louis could feel animosity from some soldiers. He could make out small disparaging whispers against him.

The ones whispering just happened to be the same two watchmen who tried to hang him last night.

"Big bros!"

Louis sneaked up behind them and startled them.

"Aaagh!"

"You little brat, you nearly scared me to death!"

Anyone would be shocked if the subject of their gossip suddenly jumped out.

Louis smiled and tried to ease their fright.

"Just a prank, that's all. Can't fellow soldiers joke around? Sorry if you got too scared."

"A prank? You think you can say anything and get away with it?"

"This is a monster zone! Of course we're jumpy!"

Louis wanted to say, 'Then what about you trying to kill me?' But he suppressed it.

There was no need; they were intimidated enough by him.

"So what were you two talking about?"

"W-why do you want to know?"

"Just wanted to join in."

"W-we're not telling! Nothing to know!"

Usually, guys like this would act defiant, saying, 'Yeah, we were talking about you, so what?'

But neither of them blustered; they instead looked completely tense.

He could hear their rough, frightened heartbeats with his superhuman hearing.

They were afraid of Louis.

He wanted, honestly, to kill them right then and blame it on a monster.

But he was curious about their murmuring, since it wasn't only about him.

"Do you think we'll be rewarded if we finish this mission?"

"Oh? Right, rewards! That's what we were talking about!"

The topic shifted, just as Louis intended.

He had overheard them discussing it during yesterday's march, too.

"Rewards?"

"You wouldn't know, as a trainee, but if this expedition succeeds, we'll all get huge rewards."

He'd already eavesdropped on that. What Louis wanted to know was what was behind the expedition and what kind of rewards were at stake.

A regular soldier wouldn't normally receive benefits unless he had achieved something great.

This meant the expedition was significant enough for even regular soldiers to profit.

"This expedition must be important."

"Yeah, the Royal Magic Tower is desperate to get their hands on a higher-rank monster egg. That's why we're out here now."

So, as expected, orders from above. If higher-rank monsters were involved, everyone could die, but the 7th Legion was considered suitable.

Even if they failed, they could always throw more soldiers at the problem.

"Especially for Kelton the squad leader—this is great news. He's finally getting the chance to win his freedom like he's always dreamed."

"What about us? What do we get?"

"Well, not freedom like Kelton, that's for sure."

Naturally. You don't get freed from slavery or as a convict just for one achievement.

"At least we'll get a taste of real happiness for a bit."

"I heard from the seniors—they serve special food you can't get here."

Honestly, since regular food was so bland, Louis could relate.

"You can also bring in items you want or exchange for better equipment."

"You can save up those rewards, too."

From this, it seemed the reward system was like a points or penalty system—some kind of currency in this place.

"What if a soldier brings in tools for desertion?"

"What would be the point? The spell will stop you anyway."

"Once the spell triggers paralysis, running is pointless."

With the spell in place, no soldier could escape. If anyone tried, they'd be executed by the spell. How convenient.

'Wait a minute. Should I just desert?'

Louis considered it for a moment. After all, he could endure torture with barely any pain.

Thanks to the physical enhancements from turning into the Chaos Dragon, the spell was more like a prescription for him.

'No—not yet. I can't desert yet.'

For Louis, who needed the spell, desertion would be a disadvantage.

Besides, he still couldn't fully control his strength.

He didn't know where his limits lay, so he couldn't act recklessly.

'Besides, the Chaos Dragon has too many enemies.'

As the final boss monster of the story, the Chaos Dragon was the stuff of nightmares.

If he revealed his strength carelessly, he'd become the enemy of the entire world.

The odds of victory were unknown, but Louis would certainly lose control.

For now, it was safer to quietly accept "support" here, hunt monsters, and train to wield his strength. That was the sensible plan.

If a trustworthy, regular sponsor appeared, his rampage problem might be resolved.

Not that finding such a person would be easy.

"Tsk. Looks like getting out of the fortress is impossible."

"That's why everyone is desperate for rewards."

"Yeah. Even if we can't leave, at least we deserve a shot at happiness."

Happiness? Hearing that, Louis couldn't help but snort.

"Pfft!"

"What's your problem?"

"Are you mocking us?"

They scowled in resentment. But they hardly deserved happiness.

"Of course. I just wondered what right people who've robbed, killed, and assaulted travelers have to talk about happiness."

"What?"

"You done running your mouth?"

Their faces twisted in anger, but to Louis it was just amusing.

"Was I wrong... hmm?"

As Louis spoke, he suddenly sensed something odd. At the same time, a massive boulder in front of him began to tremble.

"So that's why it hasn't shown itself yet."

"What are you talking about?"

The two looked confused at Louis's murmur.

Kwaaang!-

The house-sized boulder shattered into pieces, and a gigantic serpent reared up.

Smashing the rock with its head, the snake immediately flicked its tongue at the soldiers.

The tongue, moving fluidly like a whip, tried to snatch up prey. But suddenly, the tongue was severed.

― Kyaaah!!

"Luckily, it's a weak one. I'll take care of it."

Having cut off the monster's tongue, Odun addressed the soldiers.

In that moment, the serpent swung its tail, hurling rock fragments at Odun.

Dodging in a single leap, Odun landed before Louis.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Odun exchanged glances with the two night-watch soldiers standing by Louis.

It was no accident he landed there while dodging rock fragments.

― Kyaaaah!

As the snake shrieked and lunged, Odun readied his stance. Gray energy swirled along the blade, sharpening its edge.

Only a skilled knight could wield such aura, but the snake charged ahead regardless.

At that moment, the two soldiers grabbed Louis's arms and shoved him forward.

Louis was now within the blade's reach, but Odun swung without hesitation.

The gray aura on the blade traced a perfect circle.

Normally, a half-circle would suffice to cut the snake, but Odun deliberately drew a full circle to ensure he'd behead Louis as well.

Sshk!-

The colossal serpent's face split down the middle, and from behind it, a human head tumbled to the ground.

Finally—they'd done it. Success.

Or so Odun thought, as he looked down to see a head at his feet.

His expression turned icy.

"... Huh?"

The heads lying on the ground were those of the two night-watch soldiers.

"Whew! That was really close."

The one who should've been cut—Louis—was still alive, his head ducked, having dodged the blade.

At the same time, Louis was holding on to the collars of the two soldiers who had pushed him forward.

As if he had pulled them in front instead.