"Damn it, Damn it! Damn it! Are you insane?!!"
I tried to shout as loud as I could while Cerberus was chasing me to death from behind. Was that man Merlin crazy?! He's making me fight Cerberus just to prove that I'm King Arthur!
"Come on! You're King Arthur! Don't run away like a cowardly chicken, fight!"
I only frowned at Merlin's response. Even though I'd been running for half an hour, this stupid dog wouldn't give up. Fortunately, I was faster than him.
"Wait, how can I even be faster than him?!"
When I heard Merlin laughing, I didn't understand what was going on. "What are you laughing at, you bastard?!"
As I saw Erika sigh, Merlin gave me a mocking look. "Idiot, do you really think a C-ranked creature like Cerberus can defeat you?! Stop running like a coward and fight!"
"How do you expect me to fight with my bare hands?! Can't you see I'm about to die!" I yelled angrily, and when I saw Vivian raise her hand and hit Merlin hard on the head, I laughed.
My laughter was cut short as Cerberus's snake-like tail hit me. I was suddenly thrown back and dragged across the ground.
"Agh, that hurt! Stupid dog!"
As I tried to get up from the ground, I groaned and cursed at the dumb dog. It seemed to have only made Cerberus angrier.
"Arthur! The sword's here!"
As Cerberus rushed toward me, Vivian shouted. My eyes lit up in admiration when I saw the sword in her hand.
It was long and sharp. Gold and silver patterns glowed mystically on the blade, and there were strange symbols I didn't recognize engraved on it.
Vivian threw the sword to me, and as it came flying toward me, I looked at it with concern. "Damn it, are you trying to kill me?!"
As Cerberus approached, the sharp tip of the sword pierced the ground. I quickly grabbed the hilt. As I closed my eyes, I felt my veins bulging and my mind briefly throbbing with pain.
I could feel Cerberus coming at me faster with every second, as if he wanted to kill me as soon as possible...
"But I won't let him!"
With a cry, I pulled the sword from the ground. As it emitted a white glow, Cerberus suddenly slammed its paws down and stopped.
"Hahaha, what's wrong, you stupid dog? Are you scared?! Hahaha!"
As I taunted Cerberus, I couldn't take my eyes off the sword. I felt my body fill with new energy. My muscles tightened with strength, and the sword gleamed even more, almost as if it was happy.
At the same time, the pain in my mind faded, replaced by memories. These memories were of sword techniques.
"Grrraaa!!" Cerberus roared and lunged at me, swinging its claws. Reflexively, I quickly raised the sword to block its attack.
Sharp claws clashed with the blade, throwing me off balance as I slid across the ground. Fortunately, Cerberus was also pushed back.
Using one hand to steady myself, I remembered the sword techniques that flashed in my mind. I bent down, and with my eyes glowing with power, I used the first sword art.
"Sword Art: Dance of the Gale!"
Suddenly, I felt my body loosen, my tense muscles relaxing, and even Cerberus seemed to slow down. I bent my knees and shot forward with a shockwave.
My muscle memory instinctively kicked in, and I held the sword horizontally. With a grin of excitement on my lips, I charged toward Cerberus.
"Graa!"
Cerberus angrily swung its snake tail in response, but I dodged it with a quick step and leapt toward its head.
I drove the sword into Cerberus's eye in one swift motion. As it roared wildly in pain, the other head lunged at me, forcing me to quickly quit the sword and ı grab its fang, holding it in place with incredible strength.
"Calm down, big boy! Calm down!"
I gripped Cerberus's fang and used my new strength to pull it with all my might. As its head jerked back, I viciously swung the massive fang—almost as tall as I was—and plunged it into Cerberus's back.
As Cerberus whimpered in pain, I balanced myself by touching its fur for a moment. Then, when I saw its tail whip toward me like a whip, I reflexively dodged.
"I need to finish this!"
I raised both hands and clasped them together into a fist, then smashed them down onto the fang with all my strength.
"Graaahhhh!"
As Cerberus howled in agony, I yanked the sword out of its eye and leapt off its back. The fang had pierced deep into its flesh, striking its heart.
I let out a tired breath. The Sword Art technique had drained me. Laughing, I collapsed onto my knees and watched Cerberus struggle in pain, trying to pull out the fang that was now buried deep in its back.
A weary smile crept across my lips. "That was the most adrenaline I've ever felt. So good..."
Even though I was exhausted, the thrill of the fight was a new experience. With every strike, Cerberus recoiled, the feeling of the struggle...
I felt like I could keep going forever.
"If I were you, I'd be careful, Arthur," I heard Merlin say. I gave him a tired, annoyed look. I was about to tell him that my name wasn't Arthur until I hesitated.
For someone who had never seen a sword before, let alone held one, I had shown incredible skill. This wasn't a miracle; it was my talent.
I saw Merlin continue, "The real fun is just beginning! You better be ready!"
As Cerberus's eyes suddenly flared with a crimson light, I understood what Merlin was trying to convey.
As Cerberus's body became covered in miasma, I recoiled in shock. "Now I'm really screwed..."
It was as if Cerberus was undergoing an evolution—its muscles became more pronounced, its claws gouged the earth, and its serpent tail aggressively tore into the solid ground. Its eyes gleamed with a blood-red glow.
For a moment, I felt as though the apocalypse was upon me. I gripped my sword tighter, preparing myself for what was to come. I shoved my fears to the corner of my mind and focused entirely on Cerberus.
"This is going to be exhausting..."
As Cerberus lunged at me with a roar, I nearly froze. At the last second, I swung my sword to block its claw.
"Graaa!"
When Cerberus pressed down with its claws, I had to bend my knees to withstand the force. As Cerberus threw its full weight onto me, my sword trembled, sparks flying. The ground cracked beneath my feet, and suddenly, Cerberus twisted and lashed at me with its tail.
"Tch, that really hurt!"
Swiftly regaining my footing, one of Cerberus's three heads came at me with the intent to devour. I quickly leaped to the side.
Seeing Cerberus's sharp teeth sent a chill through me—dying like that would be excruciating.
Cerberus leaned forward, then whipped its serpent tail at me repeatedly. My eyes could barely keep up with Cerberus's speed. Luckily, my reflexes were sharp.
I swiftly raised my sword vertically, and as the tail came straight at me, I spun my blade and deflected it to the side.
Though my sword clashed with Cerberus's tail, it couldn't sever it, but it did deflect the attack. Cerberus pulled back its tail and then charged at me once again.
I braced myself. Cerberus swiped at me with its claws, and I blocked it quickly. As Cerberus relentlessly attempted to slash me with its claws again and again, I barely managed to block each strike.
No matter how hard Cerberus hit, I blocked it, but at this rate, I would be the one to lose. I had to think of something.
Cerberus was a powerful and savage beast with simple but brutal attacks. Even with my incredible strength, I couldn't deal much damage to it. My only option was to use Sword Art as I had earlier.
After blocking one of Cerberus's wild strikes, I leaped back and dashed to create distance between us. Cerberus was faster than it appeared, but my speed wasn't that far behind.
Once there was some space between us, I steadied myself and used another Sword Art from the memories that flashed in my mind. This was my only hope.
I took a breath, and as Cerberus closed in, I relaxed my body, spread the unknown energy inside me throughout my body, and prepared myself.
Taking a deep breath, I gripped my sword tighter than ever before. Gathering my courage, I was finally ready.
"Sword Art: Dawn's Blinding Slash!"
Suddenly, my sword shone with a brilliant light, stopping Cerberus in its tracks. The light blinded Cerberus, its three heads writhing in agony.
I dashed forward, using the unknown energy flowing through me to move at incredible speed. Appearing right in front of Cerberus, I swung my sword toward its neck.
"Graahh!" One of Cerberus's heads bled profusely, and the beast thrashed wildly, swiping its claws in every direction. The light emanating from my sword still rendered it ineffective, allowing it only to lash out in desperation.
"It's almost over."
I dodged Cerberus's claws, and before it could retract them, I swiftly drove my sword into its paw, pinning it to the ground. I climbed up its arm and onto its back once again.
Even though Cerberus tried to pull its paw free, the sword held it firmly in place. Taking advantage of this moment, I clenched my fists and began pummeling its back with all my might.
"Grrrrhhaaa!" Cerberus howled in pain, one of its heads lunging at me, but it was too late. With a shout, I delivered my strongest blow to its back.
Cerberus lost its balance, and I quickly seized the opportunity, grabbing its head and slamming it into the ground. As Cerberus fell, I leaped onto the head I had caught and, with all my strength, attempted to sever it from its body.
"Graaa!"
Just as one of Cerberus's free heads lunged at me, I delivered an punch to its nose, sending it reeling back.
With the head that had attacked me retreating, I grabbed hold of the head I had pinned down and, driven by adrenaline, wrenched it from Cerberus's body with incredible force.
"That's one head down."
I pulled my sword from Cerberus's paw and, in a merciless strike, plunged it deep into its body. Then, driving the blade all the way in, I slashed sideways, opening up its stomach.
As Cerberus's organs spilled onto the ground, I was surprised I didn't vomit at the sight. Still, without hesitation, I continued slicing through its abdomen until I reached its heart.
Ignoring Cerberus's cries of pain, I kept cutting until I could see its heart. I reached in and, with a powerful yank, pulled it out.
"Ghhaa..."
With one final groan, Cerberus collapsed onto me. I quickly retreated and collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.
The last thing I saw before passing out from fatigue was Merlin and Vivian rushing toward me. Then, everything went black.