*crack*
Fine cracks spread onto the skull of the dungeon boss, and because of the heaviness on its head, its bone legs couldn't support it any longer. A breath of time later, it heavily and facedown collided with the ground, producing a loud sound and a cloud of dust. The rusty sword almost left the grasp of its hand at the same time.
The surprise attack has failed to inflict a fatal wound to the dungeon boss, and on the other hand, Dante has not had high hopes for succeeding either.
His every move was a gamble on its own. He has failed to inflict a fatal wound to the dungeon boss, but that kick has created a chance for him in the end, allowing him to continue gambling.
Dante didn't try to kill the dungeon boss while it was facedown lying on the ground. Instead, he made a move toward the rusty sword at its hand.
That kick was the limit of Dante's power, but it was only enough to leave cracks on its skull, nothing more. In other words, his strength alone was insufficient for killing the dungeon boss. He needed a weapon urgently.
As soon as it dropped to the ground, Dante grabbed its sword holding hand from the wrist, and with a swift move, he positioned himself on top of it, twisting and pulling its arm at the same time with all his might while stepping on the shoulder bone of the dungeon boss.
"Please... break..."
Because of his position, he could see the skeletons rushing toward him. In fact, all of the skeletons in the hall had stopped pursuing other newcomers after Dante pushed the dungeon boss under him. Now, each monster in the hall, even the halflings were crazily speeding toward his position.
Ulfred and Niles suddenly found themselves free. The skeletons were ignoring even them.
All this while, Niles hadn't moved his attention from Dante even a moment. Naturally, he knew what he was trying to do.
"DANTE... YOU BASTARD! I WILL GIVE YOU THE MOST PAINFUL OF DEATHS!" Niles yelled on top of his lungs. Despite the noise he made, the skeletons continued to ignore him.
There were hints of fatigue in his voice. In fact, it was natural. Until now, he had been running and wielding his sword at the same time. Moreover, because of his rage, his attacks were fiercer than what he needed, which led his stamina to drain faster.
Niles had yelled to Dante, but he was rushing toward Ulfred while growling like a wronged and angry dog.
A moment later, Niles was just two meters away from Ulfred. With a snarl, he horizontally swung the longsword toward the old man's waist.
Niles had chosen to come after him for an unknown reason, but this made Ulfred more than happy. The old man was waiting for him with a pair of armless skeletons in hands.
*Boom*
Ulfred defended himself using both of the skeletons as a shield. However, as soon as the blow met with the bone shield, both the skeletons transformed into broken bones without being able to show the expected resistance. Furthermore, the old man felt the cold iron cutting his flesh. On both of his forearms, there were two ten centimeters long bloody cuts now.
[You lost 10 HP]
[You'll lose 1 HP per minute until the bleeding stops]
Because of the flying bone fragments, Ulfred had instinctively closed his eyes for a moment. However, it was just for an instant. He paid no attention to his wounds and immediately attempted to jump on Niles. He thought he could rip the bastard to shreds if he could catch him.
Honestly, it was a stupid action to do in this situation, but nothing came to his mind in order to stop Niles. As Dante would say in similar situations, every decision one has to make in an unfavorable battle was just another gamble in which the life of the other party was the jackpot.
However, when the old man led his eyes on Niles again, he only saw his back and heard his drifting voice.
"You'll have to wait your turn, old bastard."
It was a trick!
Niles had no intention to deal with Ulfred first. He could clearly see Dante and what he was trying to do. The old man Ulfred could wait a little longer before meeting his blade, but Dante couldn't.
He has to be the one who will kill the dungeon boss!
Ulfred immediately sprang into action and ran toward Dante after Niles. He warned Dante with a yell at the same time.
"Dante! Be careful! I... couldn't stop Niles!"
If Niles had chosen to go after Dante, Ulfred would have blocked him anyway. So a little trick saved time and effort for Niles. Without losing any speed, he continued to go after Dante.
He used his sword only for making a way for himself. Between them, there were not even 10 meters of distance now. A few breaths of time later, he would finally be able to cut Dante into pieces.
"Let's see... what little tricks you have left, Dante! Let's see... how will you protect yourself from my blade that is coming for your life!"
It took a little time to describe the circumstances, but not even ten breaths of time past since Ulfred had thrown Dante toward the dungeon boss.
Right now, Dante was using every ounce of strength left in him in order to separate the rusty sword from the dungeon boss. His face was twisted in an unnatural manner because of excessive and continuous use of physical strength.
He could see the skeletons rushing towards him. He could see Niles... He had no more than three breaths of time before he was clawed to his death or split up in half by Niles.
Moreover, ever since Dante pressed the dungeon boss to the ground, it has been struggling fiercely in order to free itself. But somehow Dante's strength was greater than the dungeon boss'. Otherwise, it could have released itself from the shackles long ago.
Dante wouldn't be able to continue to exert his strength in this way any longer.
"Break... already!" His voice sounded like a cry as he pushed his muscles to the limits.
*Crack*
Finally, the long-awaited moment came, and the arm of the dungeon boss broke from its elbow!
At this time, the claw attacks of the skeletons and Niles' longsword arrived.
The skeletons jumped on Dante and tried to claw at him in unison.
"DIE!" Niles bellowed with a hideous and distorted expression on his face. He held his sword high and sent a hate-filled slash toward Dante with all his might.
*Boom*
Five pairs of claws slashed the air, and the following instant, a longsword destroyed five purple-lined pygmy skeletons, crashing them all and piling up their bones on top of the dungeon boss at the same time!
[Level up!]
Dante had barely pushed himself back before the claws arrived, avoiding the attacks of the skeletons. He was lying on the ground with the arm of the dungeon boss that was still holding the rusty short sword.
He hadn't any strength left in him. So he couldn't get up immediately. His arm muscles were paralyzed. He couldn't even try to separate the hand of the dungeon boss from the rusty short sword.
Then he heard the system's message, and a second later, he felt the vitality moving toward his rigid muscles, giving them energy.
Dante got up slowly and tossed the hand of the dungeon boss aside after he had separated the rusty sword from its grip.
"It was easier than I thought." He said after killing a skeleton with a single slash. Then he pointed his gaze at Niles.
The latter was gritting his teeth and gripping the longsword strongly. His blood vessels on his head were threatening his forehead's skin to burst open.
Niles seemed like he completely lost his mind!
"Why... are... you... always... so... lucky! JUST LET ME KILL YOU ALREADY!" Niles was about to make a move toward Dante, but then, the dungeon boss 'slowly' got up. The bones on it -and in it- fell to the ground as it moved.
A second earlier, Niles was abnormally angry. He almost seemed to be trying to kill Dante with just his gaze. But after looking at the dungeon boss that was just a meter away from him again, he gradually calmed down until his mental faculties worked properly again.
From what he had seen so far, he could tell that this dungeon boss was fairly weaker than he had expected. Dante alone was enough to rip off its arm without using any weapon. So killing it would be much easier for him since he had a weapon.
Why don't I kill this weak dungeon boss before I kill Dante?
That was what coming through Niles' mind. This was one of his aims in the first place.
Dante was also staring at the dungeon boss, but with furrowed brows. He couldn't help but feel like something was very wrong here.