Chereads / An Adventurer's Best Friend / Chapter 29 - Abyssal Arc - Part 5

Chapter 29 - Abyssal Arc - Part 5

---- Battle Start! Squire Versus Slave! ----

--Slave attacks! Squire suffers 6 point(s) of damage! Squire's HP have been reduced to 176!

"Wait? What are you talking about? I'm not trying to take anyone!" I say. I don't even draw my sword. Contrary to what the music might imply, I have absolutely no intention of fighting the cat.

"Liar." she hisses. "Do you think I don't see it? The way you eagerly follow her orders, looking for her approval? The way she enjoys hurting you, and you never asked her to stop?"

"I'm like that with everyone!" I say, "Look, let's just talk this over. There's no sense in us fighting. Even if I wanted to hurt you, you're too tough for me to really damage, and you're too weak to hurt me. It's pointless!"

Why on earth did I say that? I knew that her lack of physical strength was a sore spot for the feline.

"Weak, am I?" She snarls. "We'll see who's weak."

--Slave enters an enraged state(level 1)! Attack power doubles! Defense decreases!

--Slave attacks! Critical hit! Squire suffers 20 point(s) of damage! Squire's HP have been reduced to 166!

--Squire uses Lay on Paws! HP has been restored to maximum!

"We'll see who is better suited to defend Lady Vile." the cat says.

--Slave enters an enraged state(level 2)! Attack power doubles! Defense decreases!

--Slave attacks! Squire suffers 24 point(s) of damage! Squire's HP have been reduced to 162!

"Please, just listen to me!" I say, voluntarily giving up my turn, hoping that will encourage the feline to do the same. "I don't want to be her defender... well, I mean I do, but no more than anyone else! I still don't know exactly what sort of relationship you two have, but she's not interested in me!"

"Do you really think I'm that stupid? Or maybe you're the one that is stupid. Either way, everything was going great until you showed up and now... and now..." she whines softly, lowering her head. After a moments pause, she raises it once more, baleful yellow eyes filled with fury, her small body engulfed in a torrent of golden energies. "You already have a master, but that's not enough, is it? You won't be happy until you take everything from me, will you?"

--Slave enters an enraged state(level 3)! Attack power doubles! Defense decreases!

--Slave attacks! Critical hit! Squire suffers 82 point(s) of damage! Squire's HP have been reduced to 80!

--Squire uses Lay on Paws! 99 HP restored! Squire's HP is now 179!

"I-"I begin, but have no idea how to follow it up. The pain in her voice is readily apparent, and I have no idea how to heal it. Should I just run away? Maybe she's right, that the two of them are better off on their own. I have to admit, I have difficulty relating to either of them. I can't seem to bring myself to do so, however. Maybe it's just a stubborn side I didn't know I had, or maybe I just can't bear to have someone out there, anyone out there actively hating me.

--Slave enters an enraged state(level 4)! Attack power doubles! Defense decreases!

--Slave attacks! Squire suffers 81 point(s) of damage! Squire's HP have been reduced to 98!

--Squire uses Lay on Paws! 94 HP restored! Squire's HP is now 175!

I had no idea that Slave could hit this hard. Why didn't she do so during the past fights? Of course, it's obvious. I can't tell how much her defense is decreasing, but for such a significant enhancement, it can't be a trivial amount. Up until now, she's been standing strong and putting everything into protecting Vile. I can certainly relate to the idea of caring for someone that much, even if I question whether the rat is worthy of such fanatical devotion. I can even sort of relate to that sting in your heart when you realize that you can't do everything on your own anymore.

"I'm sorry." I simply say, head bowed. I probably should have said something more eloquent, but can't come up with any words that felt like they might help. I am tempted to just stand and let the attack hit me. I don't have much talent when it comes to math, but I know that my Spirit is drained after healing myself three times in a row, so even if I wanted to attack, I can't use Divine Strike, and can't see a single strike being close to enough. I can't bring myself to cause more hurt to a creature who is already in pain, can I? One who, along with Vile, I still owe a great personal debt to?

--Squire defends!

--Slave enters an enraged state(max level)! Attack power doubles! Defense drops to 0!

--Slave attacks! Squire suffers 84 point(s) of damage! Squire's HP have been reduced to 95!

"I'm sorry." I say to the cat, gripping the blade between my jaws. My teeth ache from the impact, and even guarding to reduce the damage still proved extremely painful. "I wish I knew what to tell you to make this right. I guess I am pretty stupid after all. Still, I can't let you kill me. I have a mission I still need to accomplish, and as angry as you are, I know that you're a good person at heart. Killing me wouldn't make you happy, nor would it please your mistress."

I crouch down, ready to strike. I'll go for nonlethal damage. I don't exactly know what '0 defense' entails, but I should be able to hit awfully hard. I'm not sure if it will be enough, as I know even without her endurance which fends off blows, she still has a massive pool of HP, but all I can do is try.

That wasn't enough to end the fight, of course. Even aside from her frustrations with me, it's clear that that 'enrage' ability influences more than just statistics. This isn't normal anger, it's sheer bloodlust and killing intent, the sort which can't be disuaded with a few soothing words. Maybe if I can knock her out, she'll return to her senses and we can resolve this, somehow. All I know is that I can't give up now. I crouch down, blade in my jaws, as the black cat does the same, her claws extended, fur standing on end. We both rush one another, both having abandoned all defense, each hoping to end the battle with a single blow.

--Vile has cast Fireball! Slave suffers 74 point(s)! of damage!