"How does it feel to be trapped, B*tch?" Haru taunted Roachina, but his expression showed the toll that was taking on his brain.
Controlling the chains burdened Haru's mind significantly as he wasn't handling just one or two but five chains simultaneously. While he had somehow felt that he could control multiple chains since the beginning, he never tested his limits until this crucial moment.
Despite the pain and strain on his brain, Haru had no alternative when confronted with a formidable foe like Roachina as a desperate measure. Additionally, he channeled not only his mental connection but also his Aura, which mostly contributed to Roachina not being able to break free from the confinements.
While Haru possessed the capability to completely encase Roachina within the chains by using all his Prana, he understood that it might not be the most effective strategy. Although the chains were resilient enough to withstand a blast from a fiery ball, the repeated exposure to Roachina's fiery balls could eventually cause them to melt away, which Haru did not want to face.
"SCREECH!" Anger flooded Roachina's red eyes as Haru's Black Chains restrained it from five directions, bringing out an enraged screech from the monster. Despite its attempts to move or break free with all its strength, it remained immovable.
"It's no use. I dug those chains way too deep just for you," Haru remarked, sounding weary but resolute. He wasn't bluffing. He had invested six hundred points of his Prana to create five long chains, each extending and entangled with each other forty meters deep into the ground. This effectively rendered it impossible for Roachina to escape by flying or moving along with the chains.
Despite the taxing and draining nature of the move, seeing Roachina immobilized in one place made it worthwhile for Haru.
Before he approached Roachina, Haru carefully set Aki down on the ground, mummified in chains to keep her protected from harm which would allow him to fully concentrate on the creature and finish it once for all.
"Now, let's end this," Haru declared with a determined expression as he approached Roachina. He was aware that time was running out, given his limited Prana for manipulating the chains and he did not want Roachina to bombard on the chains which could melt and break lose if he did not hurry up.
"SCREECCCHH!!" Roachina, seeing Haru advancing, retaliated by launching a fiery ball at him.
SWOOSH!
BOOM!
Just in time, Akio, concealed near the stands, fired another bolt that promptly exploded the fiery projectile before it could fully form.
"SCREECH!!!" But the moment Akio fired the crossbow, Roachina redirected its attention in that direction.
Initially hidden within the darkness and near the stands, Akio managed to evade the creature's attention, especially since it was primarily fixated on Haru. However, after the third time Roachina's attacks were stopped, it finally sensed that Akio, concealed near the stands, was the source of interference, as the crossbow emitted a faint noise when it was fired.
Ignoring Haru's approach, Roachina unleashed a barrage of fiery balls at Akio in a fit of rage.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
"Akio!! Watch out!!" Haru urgently shouted, his tone filled with worry, but it was already too late.
Swoosh!
Boom!
Akio tried to defend himself against the incoming fiery balls with his arrow, but their sheer number overwhelmed his efforts. The fiery balls landed near the stands, triggering a massive explosion.
BOOOOOM!
"Akio!" Haru yelled in panic, deeply concerned for his friend's safety. However, he couldn't rush to check on him. If he did, the chains restraining Roachina would weaken without the constant supply of his Aura and Mental Connection, and the monster might break free.
'Calm down!! Just trust Akio! He should be fine!! Just don't think about it!! Focus and end this monster already!!' Despite his concern for Akio, who remained unseen amid the flames, Haru reassured himself and hoped that his friend was safe as he redirected his thoughts toward the monster.
"AAHHHH!!!" Channeling all his negative emotions into strength, Haru charged toward Roachina with his sword raised.
"SCREEECCCHHH!!!" Roachina, far from giving up, unleashed a barrage of fiery-balls toward Haru, knowing that the person disrupting its attacks was no longer in a position to intervene.
In the face of the imminent threat, Haru pressed on, moving forward with quick speed. However, it wasn't an easy feat. He had to swiftly dodge any fiery-balls that came directly his way. If dodging wasn't possible, he relied on the shield on his left hand to protect himself.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Multiple loud explosions echoed throughout the football field, lighting up the ground with flames that showed no sign of stopping.
Even though Haru tried to avoid or shield against the fiery-balls, the explosions and heat were still hurting him. His health points were going down, and his skin got burnt. But he didn't stop and kept moving forward.
"SCCCCRRREEEECCCHHHH!!!" Just two or three meters away from Haru, Roachina screeched in anger. Feeling threatened, it launched a big fiery-ball toward him.
'Damn it!!' Haru's eyes widened as he sensed the danger from the fiery-ball.
He quickly raised his shield, recognizing that there was no way to avoid it head-on. Gritting his teeth, he continued to move forward, knowing that this was the only chance left for him to finish Roachina and he was not going to let it slip from his hands.
"Haru!! Don't worry!! Just move forward!!" Suddenly, Akio's shout echoed from the area under the fire.
'Akio!!!' Haru, hearing Akio's voice, felt a mix of gladness and relief, immediately understanding his friend's intention.
Swoosh!
BOOM!
Immediately after Akio shouted and before Roachina could throw the fiery-ball, a bolt flew straight toward it, exploding the projectile on the spot.
"SCREECCCHHHH!!" Roachina screeched in anger as its plan to kill Haru failed because of another human.
As the smoke and flames cleared from its view, Roachina wanted to bombard on Haru but something else also entered its sight.
It was the stun grenade, dangerously close to its head.
Already familiar with what it was and how to shield its eyes from the stun grenade after facing it multiple times, Roachina didn't hesitate to close its eyes quickly. However, something strange occurred. Seconds passed, but there was no noise that usually accompanied the explosion of the stun grenade.
Bewildered by this unexpected turn of events, Roachina cautiously opened its eyes and searched for Haru, only to find him absent. Instead, yet another stun grenade entered its field of vision.
Roachina swiftly understood that it had been deceived; the first stun grenade was merely a diversion. It quickly attempted to close its eyes once more, but it was too late.
Bang!
The stun grenade detonated, enveloping Roachina in blinding light, rendering it unable to see.
"SCREECH!!" Confused and terrified, it screeched in anger. Before it could launch another rampage to defend itself, Haru, using the chain, abruptly pulled the creature back while it was blinded and confused.
As Roachina's body fell backward, Haru, having seized the moment and positioned himself behind the creature during its distraction, swiftly took advantage.
Without hesitation, Haru stabbed one of its eyes with his sword.
"SCRRREEEEEEEEECCCCCCCHHHHHHH!!!!"