Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 48

Episode 48

A blue spark flashed across the monster's entire body, just as it was about to bite Kassel's foot.

Pzzt, pzzzt, pzzt!

"Kieek!"

With a death cry, the Giga-Centipede's movements stopped cold.

Along with a rank, burnt smell, smoke plumed from its glossy shell.

"Haaa..."

I let out a dizzy breath and yanked Kassel's foot away from the monster's maw.

I wonder if this bastard even knows that this time, it was really a hair's breadth.

But, seeing as the thought 'thank god it wasn't my foot' came before the relief that he was unhurt, I really was a rotten human being, not suited to be a comrade.

"Tsk-tsk-tsk..."

Even after taking that attack, the beast made a cry as if it was about to wake up.

I had deliberately avoided using an attack skill.

But seeing the monster's health bar, which had barely changed, I felt a momentary regret.

'Maybe I shouldn't have just dodged and should have swung the sword to chip away at its health.'

Since Stun was a skill that only temporarily incapacitated it, the Giga-Centipede would start moving again soon.

"Whew... still, it's a relief my mana recovered just in time."

I calmed my pounding heart, looking at the tiny MP bar that was just now ticking up from 3 to 4.

If I'd been a second slower, I would've been hit by the next attack without even having time to drink a potion.

I shoved that bastard Kassel securely into a gap in the rubble of the collapsed wall.

To keep him from taking as much damage as possible.

Then I quickly rummaged through my pocket, pulled out a potion, and gulped it down.

[Using one S-Grade Health Potion.]

HP 1998/999

My HP, which was already full, rose above its maximum.

Not just any potion could raise it above the max; it was an effect only possible with S-Grade or higher.

The developers probably gave the health potion in advance as a reward, to replenish lost health after defeating the Giga-Centipede.

But I had a one-hour time limit, so I couldn't just fight a drawn-out battle.

Besides, there were still people left in the estate, so I had to minimize any damage outside the Tower.

[S-Grade Defense Artifact Effect Duration: 00:32]

"Aw, shit, what did I even do for 30 minutes to just vanish?"

I checked the remaining time and anxiously pulled another potion from my pocket and drank it.

[Using three Recovery Potions Containing Lizard's Vocal Cords.]

[Temporarily increases HP recovery speed and strengthens vocal cords.]

It was lucky I had made a ton of these low-grade recovery potions that I could chug easily.

After I drank three in a row, the monster, which had been knocked out, slowly began to stir.

"Tsk-tsk-tsst..."

The beast, which had been staggering and slowly lifting its head, soon righted its body.

But unlike the first two times, when it had recklessly slammed its head down, this time it didn't attack right away.

"Tsk-tsst, tsk-tsk-tsst..."

It just made that bizarre cry and swayed its body from side to side.

You know, just like a real centipede.

Goosebumps ran down my spine at the sight of its glossy joints bending and twisting this way and that.

Strangely, hazy smoke began to leak from the beast's maw, which was raised toward the sky.

At the same time, the middle of its body began to glow a fiery red, even redder than its shell.

A crimson mass, as if it had a giant iron ball lodged in its stomach, slowly moved up toward its maw.

It was clearly preparing its third attack.

'Finally.'

I finally gripped the level one sword I had been holding uselessly.

The Giga-Centipede had a total of three attack phase patterns.

As I'd learned from that hellish experience, two were reckless headbutts.

If you dodged those well, you took 0 damage, and you could even attack it to chip away its health.

But the third. The final attack: the poison-filled flame attack.

The orb rising slowly inside the beast's body was the fireball it was about to shoot at me.

'It's not a dragon, so why is a centipede breathing fire?'

I felt a strong urge to complain that it was breaking realism.

And it wasn't just any fire, but a poison-laced fire that continuously drained your health if it touched you.

However, the Giga-Centipede's poison fire had another function besides attacking the user.

It was to perfectly strengthen the incomplete greatsword through a high-temperature, toxic heat treatment.

Because of that, I hadn't bothered to refill my depleted mana and had just rolled around like a dog during the first two attacks.

Because if I accidentally used an attack skill and the Giga-Centipede died limply before reaching the third phase, that would be a disaster.

[S-Grade Defense Artifact Effect Duration: 00:28]

Before I knew it, the remaining time had dropped into the 20-minute range.

Just in case, I prepared one more extra health potion.

But when I emptied my pockets, there were no high-grade health potions.

It was because I had given them all to Kassel.

'Useless bastard!'

Completely forgetting that I, too, had often drunk them instead of eating, I snapped and yelled irritably at the monster.

"Hey, I'm running out of time, so spit it out already!"

Was that the trigger?

"Tsk-tsk-tsst."

The beast, which had been thrashing its body around as if dancing, suddenly stopped.

The crimson mass had already risen to just below its head.

The monster's maw gaped wide, aimed directly down at me.

With a bizarre sound, the layered teeth began to rotate, revealing the hidden interior.

Just as the pitch-black abyss, and at its center, the single, slit-like yellow eye, were revealed.

A fist-sized hole just below it, which had been closed, popped open.

And.

"Kuweeeaaargh!"

Fwhoooosh...

The monster began to spew its flames.

They said it was poison-laced fire, and just like that, the pouring flames flickered a dark, crimson color.

So what did I do?

'HP -99'

'HP -99'

'HP -99'

"Ngh."

I just stood there, holding the greatsword aloft, and took the full force of the pouring flames.

The firepower was so strong that the flames hitting me didn't just disappear; they split in two and burned away the ruined prison walls.

Fwaaaaargh!

Thankfully, I didn't feel any pain.

However, a wave of scorching heat washed over my entire body.

Because of it, I unconsciously let go of the sword with one hand and raised my arm to block my front.

Of course, thanks to the robe's high defense, it wasn't unbearable.

'I just have to endure for one minute!'

While anxiously counting the seconds in my head, I peeked back to check on Kassel.

Hiding him right behind me, just in case, had been an excellent choice.

Since I was acting as a human shield, there was no way the flames could reach him, and the poison was also blocked by the wall's rubble.

'40 seconds.'

Fwhoooooosh...

I tore my gaze away from Kassel's hiding spot and looked at the relentlessly pouring flames.

The blade of the sword I was holding up front, though completely useless, was being heated by the fire and was slowly turning red-hot.

'HP -99'

'HP -99'

'HP -99'

Even though I'd filled my health to the max, taking the full brunt of a high-level monster's attack meant my health was rapidly depleting.

Along with the rank, burnt smell, I could see the sleeve of the shabby, NPC-only robe I was wearing on the outside slowly burning away.

Of course, it wasn't just the sleeve.

I was prepared for the robe to be destroyed once its defense was exhausted.

'HP –199'

'HP –209'

'HP –239'

HP 688

'Aw, shit.'

Is this what they call 'speaking things into existence'?

Right on cue, the robe's defense must have run out, as the damage I was taking, which had been manageable, suddenly spiked.

Startled by my rapidly decreasing health bar, I hurriedly chugged one of the mid-grade potions I had prepared.

HP 999

HP 798

But, perhaps because of the poison in the fire, the HP bar that had just been refilled depleted in an instant.

I'd even drunk the lizard potions to prepare for this, but it seemed those measly low-to-mid-grade potions were no match.

Before I knew it, the sleeve of the arm blocking my face was in tatters, half-burnt away.

Not only that, but the robe itself was already more than halfway burned up.

Thanks to that, my original costume, which had been hidden under the robe, was gradually being revealed.

I was momentarily dumbfounded by the sight of the flashy patterns and the ridiculously bright and cheerful skirt I hadn't seen in ages.

'Ha... what the hell am I putting myself through?'

Anyone who saw me like this would point their finger and call me crazy.

Even though I thought so.

Even though I had the easy option of stabbing the Lord of Nightmares with a sword, I felt like I was insane for doing this instead.

Originally, the Giga-Centipede wasn't at all a monster you finished off in one go like this.

The strategy was supposed to be progressing step-by-step, repeating the three attack phases, including the poison flame attack, multiple times...

HP 590

'10 seconds.'

Enough time had passed that I could finally start the countdown.

With desperate eyes, I looked back and forth between the sword, which was now completely red-hot, and my HP bar.

HP 390

'Seven seconds.'

HP 152

'Three seconds. Fuck, it can't drop below 100!'

My heart sank.

Because if it fell below 100, I'd be hit with a forced recall, no questions asked.

If I'd known this would happen, I shouldn't have been stingy and just chugged another S-Grade potion.

A wave of belated regret washed over me.

'Please...!'

The moment I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed to all the gods in heaven and earth.

Vrooooooom...

The sword in my hand began to vibrate.

[Lv.1 Incomplete Greatsword Submerged in Darkness resonates with your courage and blind fighting spirit.]

At the same time as the system window suddenly appeared, the endlessly pouring flames finally stopped.

And, this time, an explosive light began to pour out from the sword I was holding.

[Light swallows the darkness, and darkness becomes that light's shadow.]

[O hero, who lonely swallows the encroaching night to protect the tranquil dawn.]

[You are more than worthy to possess this sword.]

[With a 1% chance, you have succeeded in strengthening the 'Ancient Sword Reborn from Swallowing Darkness' to Lv.999 Lumiekar.]