The Troll King's body began to emit a thick, black aura, his eyes glowing a blood-red as if consumed by pure rage. His appearance was terrifying, enough to inflict a fear status on anyone who looked at him.
"Ugh, what is this? I... I can't move." I struggled to will my body into action, but I was frozen in place.
Glancing over, I saw Lyra and Freya rooted to the ground as well. Lyra clutched an unconscious Freya, her face pale with terror.
And then, something completely unexpected happened.
--------
Warning!!
Due to an unknown force's intervention, the Mini Boss has evolved into an Area Boss!
Troll King -> Berserker Troll King
--------
A notification appeared, explaining the transformation of the Troll King.
"Th-this can't be happening!" Envi's voice was filled with disbelief.
"An unknown force's intervention? That means… someone or something is manipulating the Troll King!" I shouted to Envi, voicing my suspicion.
"We'll worry about that later! For now, focus, Nao!" Envi's voice rang out, snapping me back.
The Berserker Troll King charged forward, no longer wielding his massive stone axe. Now he was attacking bare-handed, like a savage beast, slashing with his claws.
GAH! GAH! GAH!
The monster cackled, the sound disturbingly manic. He charged at us full force, swinging his enormous fists.
"Nao, dodge!!" Envi yelled, panicked.
"It's no use! I can't move!"
"At least… I need to protect Lyra and Freya…"
Summoning every ounce of strength, I tried to turn my body, shielding them both.
But it was futile. The Berserker Troll King's punch was already barreling down on us—
...
...
Suddenly, my body could move again. No, it wasn't that—my consciousness had shifted. I was now within the system's realm, and Envi had taken control of my body.
With a cold, intense look, Envi faced the monster head-on. I could feel his anger.
CLANG!
My katana clashed with the Berserker Troll King's massive fist, stopping it in its tracks.
"If I have to step in… then get ready, you ugly monster!" Envi yelled fiercely, drawing the Troll King's attention.
"I'm counting on you, Envi… at least until I can fight again." I entrusted my body to him, calming myself to dispel the fear status.
The Berserker Troll King kept swinging, but Envi blocked each blow. I noticed Lyra staring in amazed, while Freya began to regain consciousness.
"You disgusting brute! Take this! <Kazekiri 3X!>"
In a surprising display of skill, Envi unleashed Kazekiri three times in rapid succession, stacking the skill like a powerful combo.
He managed to counterattack, sending the monster staggering backward.
"So, this 'useless' system can do that! Guess I underestimated you, Envi." I teased.
"Ha! Show me a little respect! I'm a genius in some things, you know!" Envi replied, smugly lifting her imaginary nose in pride.
"Alright, ladies, stop crying and back off. Maybe you can call for help from the kingdom," Envi said to Lyra and Freya, his voice sounding almost cool.
"B-but we can't just leave you here alone!" Lyra responded, trembling.
"That's right… ugh… even if I'm hurt, I can still fight!" Freya gritted her teeth, struggling to stand and lifting her magic sword.
"Honestly… it'll be a pain to fight while protecting you two… but fine. Looks like this crazed monster isn't letting anyone escape."
"So get ready! Support me from behind!"
"Understood!" Lyra and Freya responded in unison.
The Berserker Troll King resumed his crazed charge, laughing as he began circling us. Envi, Lyra, and Freya stood back-to-back, keeping an eye on his movements. Envi braced herself for the next strike.
The boss circled around, grabbing his stone axe and feinting, launching a sudden attack aimed at Lyra and Freya.
"You sneaky monster! Did you think I'd let you harm these ladies?!" Envi shouted, intercepting the Troll King's axe swing.
"O gracious protector goddess, grant us the strength of a valiant knight!
While Envi held off the Berserker Troll King's relentless strikes, Freya began her own incantation.
"O mighty god of fire, grant me the power to burn your foes in an instant!
"Did we… get him?" Freya asked breathlessly, hopeful.
"Hey… I wouldn't say anything jinxing like that… most likely—" Envi replied, her voice hesitant.
GAH! GAH!
The Berserker Troll King rose again, his body slowly regenerating. He laughed mockingly, charging at us once more.
"Regeneration?! That's impossible! That skill should only belong to mid-level demons or higher!" Lyra exclaimed, horrified.
Hearing that, I started wondering if demons were involved somehow. Maybe this monster was one of their experiments.
"Envi! I can move again. Let's switch back!" I called out, ready to resume control.
"Finally, the sleeping princess awakens! HAHAHA. Alright, he's all yours, Nao!"
We switched, and I felt my calm determination return.
"Lyra! Freya! Focus on defense. Support me like before. I'll go on the offense and finish this!"
"Understood! We'll leave it to you!" Lyra and Freya replied confidently.
The Berserker Troll King attacked me furiously, this time mixing punches with wild axe swings, his pattern erratic. I was beginning to struggle keeping up.
"Nao, try to remember another katana move from Japan that could work here!" Envi urged me.
While parrying the Berserker Troll King's onslaught, a memory flashed in my mind—a technique used by samurai, one that combined a smooth parry with a precise counterattack…
This technique allowed me to parry attacks seamlessly and launch an immediate counterattack. I lifted my katana, angling the blade to my side, deflecting the Troll King's stone axe and causing it to fly from his grasp.
Taking advantage of his opening, I quickly unleashed a follow-up strike.
In that moment, an image of a new sword technique flashed in my mind—moves inspired by all the samurai anime I'd watched back on Earth.
I assumed a combat stance, charging forward toward the Berserker Troll King, gripping my katana tightly and swinging with purpose.
<Katana Style Technique: Tsurugi no Mai!>
This was a fusion of offense and defense, a pattern that would allow me to advance on my enemy like a dancing blade.
I deflected the Troll King's furious strikes, slicing his arm, then slashing in a spiral pattern across his legs and torso.
Staggering, the Berserker Troll King fought to keep up with my relentless assault.
"Don't stop now, Nao! Finish him!" Envi's voice rang in my ear, reminding me to press the advantage.
Lyra cast a Booster Spell on me, and then Freya joined the attack with her Fire Lance Spell.
Without wasting a second, I prepared my finishing move.
<Blackmore Swordsmanship: Kazekiri 3X!>
My attacks struck true. Three powerful, diagonal slashes cut through the air, tearing into the Troll King's body. At this range, the impact was devastating. I followed up with my ultimate move, ready to end it all.
<Katana Style Technique: Inazuma!>
With a flash, I sliced the Berserker Troll King cleanly in two, his massive body collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Yes! You did it!" Lyra cheered, her voice filled with joy.
"Such strength! Truly impressive!" Freya exclaimed, admiration clear in her eyes.
I took a few steps toward them to check on their condition.
But our moment of victory was interrupted.
GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH!
GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH! GOH!
A grating laugh echoed behind me.
"Be careful!" Lyra and Freya cried out.
I turned around, but it was too late—the Berserker Troll King was already looming over me. His claw came crashing down, shattering my armor and leaving my chest dripping with blood.
I felt my head spin.
"Hold it together, you fool!" Envi's shout snapped me back to my senses.
Freya quickly stepped in, shielding me from the Troll King's next attack, while Lyra cast a defensive spell, encircling us in a protective magic barrier.
"Ugh, this cursed monster. It's like he's got a cheat code!" I muttered in frustration.
"Hang in there! Can you still fight?" Lyra asked, her face etched with worry.
"Yeah, I can still go... but not for much longer."
"Listen, the only way we're bringing him down is with a single, powerful strike. We need to combine our strength. If I give the signal, focus all your magic on me," I instructed, bracing for the final blow.
"Understood!"
"We believe in you!" they encouraged me.
The Berserker Troll King pounded against our barrier, and I readied myself to counter his assault.
The barrier shattered, and I pushed forward, intercepting his attack to keep him away from Lyra and Freya.
He unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one wilder than the last. Then, in a split-second opening, I saw my chance.
"Now, Nao!" Envi's voice rang out.
<Yanagi-Uke!>
I slashed both of the Troll King's arms, flinging them aside.
"Lyra! Freya! Now's the time!"
"<Magic Sword Release: Burning Strike!>" Freya channeled her magic, launching it forward.
"O divine protector, grant us your boundless blessing against our foes! <Support Magic: Magic Transfer!>" Lyra's incantation infused my blade with Freya's lightning magic, amplifying its power several times over.
As my katana surged with electrical energy, a vision of a finishing move formed in my mind. I combined the Inazuma technique with this magic.
Suddenly, a notification appeared before me:
-------
Warning!
Skill (???) activated. A new skill is emerging!
-------
Seeing this, I immediately launched the attack that had crystallized in my mind.
I assumed the Iai stance and leaped at the Berserker Troll King, unleashing my new move…
<Resonance: Karyuu no Issen (Flash of Fire Dragon)>
This was a rapid, devastating attack executed in a single, precise slash, powered by huge fire magic that formed the aura of a dragon.
As I swung my sword, a dazzling flash of fire lit up the dusk-filled forest. A fire dragon soared from my sword, incinerating the Berserker Troll King and obliterating the surrounding forest in a twenty-meter radius behind him.
The Troll King's body was completely disintegrated.
"You... you did it!" Lyra cried out in delight.
"What an amazing attack! That was incredible!" Freya praised, her eyes shining with awe.
They both ran over to me.
As they reached me, I collapsed into their arms.
...
...
They gently laid me down on the ground.
I could feel them letting me rest my head on their laps, their soft expressions mixed with tears of relief.
Their warm smiles filled my heart with a gentle warmth that I hadn't felt in so long.
"If only… if only I were stronger, they wouldn't have had to die… Forgive me." Memories of those I couldn't save flooded my mind.
"That's not true… you've already saved both of us." Lyra's hand gripped mine tightly.
"Yes, Rowan, Tristan, Baldric… they can finally rest in peace." Freya held my other hand, her touch just as reassuring.
...
"Hey… we still don't know your name."
"That's right… our savior, won't you tell us your name?"
Lyra and Freya's voices resonated softly, and I couldn't ignore their request.
"My name is… Naoki von Blackmore. It's nice to meet you, Lyra, Freya…"
"It's nice to meet you too… Naoki-sama," they replied together, cheeks dusted with a faint blush and gentle smiles brightening their faces.
"Hey… turns out, they're quite pretty, aren't they?" Envi's voice whispered admiringly in my head.
"What a shameless system… But fine, just this once, I agree with you," I replied inwardly.
Lyra and Freya began to cry, and their tears, glistening with joy, fell onto my cheeks like warm raindrops.
The evening sky seemed all the more beautiful with the sight of them beside me...
And with that, I drifted off into unconsciousness…
...
---Continued to the next chapter---