A cloud of dust rises. Cobblestones fly.

A huge stone statue is swinging a sword. Just before it does, I jump to the side, carrying the prine on my shoulder. I leave the pyramid-topped square and start running on the stone bridge. Prine, with her buttocks pointing in the direction I was going, screams.

Hyaaaaaan!
'You're pretty fast with the sword!
'Whoa, Ra! Next one's coming, next one!

Prine, who is carrying me on her shoulders, turns around and points at the giant to let me know.

Hm, wow!

The giant drew his sword, which he had swung at the top of the pyramid, and reeled it off to the side as if it were sliding down a stone bridge.

Boom!

I jump to avoid it. I knew it,

''He's fast despite his size!
What do I do?
'Should we get off the bridge and run away?'
'Escape! I will!
''But Kuroneko said no matter how far you run, you'll always come back to the desert, right?''
'Meow! What shall we do?

The giant turned around. He swings his sword down. This time it's a vertical slash.

Oops!

Sudden braking.
The sword swings down in front of us, in the direction we're going. If we hadn't stopped so suddenly, we would have been hit by a direct hit by now.

The stone bridge is blown away. We lose our foothold ahead. I could have jumped over it, but I turned on my heel.

I bring the prine I was carrying on my shoulder to the front. I talk to her, holding her like a princess in my arms. While running.

'Prine, let's calm down.
'How can you be so calm, Ra-kun?
'Hmm, well, he's not very strong, is he?
'Hi!
See?

Me and Prine back at the top square of the pyramid. The plaza that had been destroyed earlier had already been restored. It seems to be automatically repaired when it is broken.

I put Prine down, face the giant, and do the Koku-Ki breathing exercise.

'Soooooooooo haaaaaaaaaaah!

The chi filled his tanden. Immediately after that, the giant swung his sword down. I look straight at it and cross my arms over my head.

--Guard!

Gaaaahhh!

On top of my crossed hands, a huge sword was swung down - and stopped.

My foot slightly dents the floor of the plaza. But that was all. I was unharmed.

I turn around and smile at Prine.

See?
'Whee! Ra, Ra, you're awesome!
No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

As he was speaking, the Titan swung his sword down again. I glance at it and catch it with one hand.

''Just before this--didn't you kill a lot of raid bosses in the 14th layer?
'Uh-huh. Um, Ra-kun, doesn't that hurt?
It's okay, because it's guarded by iron walls. So, a raid boss is a boss that can only be defeated by a large group of people, right?
'Umm, um...... that, Ra-kun, Mr. Titan, you're attacking desperately, but......'

Gahn, gahn, gahn kiiiinnn!

--Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!

I smile.

I can see your sword. I won't try to hit you. So, which do you think is weaker, a raid boss that can barely be defeated by a large group or a hierarchical boss that only one party has to fight?
'That's ...... the hierarchical boss,' he said.
'Correct! So--'

Oh--ohoh--oh--oh--oh--oh--oh--oh--oh--oh--oh!

Don't ignore me! As if to say, the giant raised his sword with all his might. His roar is nothing if not a surprise attack.

Seeing that a slash would not work, the giant raised his sword and thrust it at me.

I gathered my ki again and took a half-stride posture to intercept him,

From the martial art "Ryuki-Mattei"!

Shokken-tsuki.

My fist collided head-on with the giant's sword,

PAKKIYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

The giant's sword broke in half.

--Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

The Titan steps on the tatara and shouts in astonishment.

I look back at Prine and tell her.

We can do this easily.
'Ra-kun, soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Prine jumps up and hugs me.

'Hey, hey, hey. We're still fighting.
Yes!
'So, I can beat this guy. Now let's practice, Prine.


'What?'
'Overcoming Prine's weakness - can you fight as usual even against a scary enemy?
'Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Behind the screaming Prine, the Titan picks up the broken end of the sword and brings the damaged parts together. The broken parts are forming stones and sticking together. Can it be fixed?

He looks at Prine and speaks.

When I came down the misty stairs, Prine would have thought of using levitation magic. But you were too scared to think of it, weren't you?
'It is, yes, but ......'
'So practice with this partner. Give me your instructions. I'll do as I'm told.'
I'm the one! I can't do it, I can't do it, I can't do it!

Placing my hand on Prine's shoulder, who shakes her head, I nod confidently.

'Don't worry! You can do it. It's the same as when you played Wangqi.
'But, but, but!
'I'll give instructions only at the beginning. From the middle, I'll leave it to Prine. How's that working out for you?
'Wheeeeeeee!
'Prine. You're a great guy. I'm just not sure.'
'Because, I don't have confidence. ......'
'It would help me a lot and make me happy if you could gain confidence and become stronger. I can brag about how great my partner is. I can still do that.
'Ta, it helps ......? How can I help you, Mr. Ra ......?''
'Ah! I'm still reassured enough, but I'd be very happy if you could be yourself at all times!
'Be me ......................... Then, I, am ...... I--!'

The giants' swords are now fully attached. They look at us and roar.

Prine looks up at me, her hands clasped in front of her chest. Her eyes were determined.

I'll do my best! I'll do my best!

I held his hand and nodded.

'Yeah! Let's go for it!'

A huge shadow covers us as we hold each other's hands.

I turn around and see a huge moving stone statue looking down at us. The sword in his hand seems to be thicker than before.

Let's begin, Prine!
Yes!
'Defensive magic, please!

The reply was a spell.

'--whole shield!

A pale light envelops me and Prine. The giant swung his sword down. Before it could strike,

'Whole Shield!

A second defensive spell is cast. I catch the giant's sword. Without any fighting skills.

Slow and Heavy!

The mage's staff glows, and the magic he unleashes slows the giant's movements. The stone statues groan. Prine's magic does not stop.

Hole Shield! --The ancestral dragon. The source of all particles, the Dragon Son of the Origin! Thy power is before me.

A giant tries to crush us with a round shield in its left hand. I, who had been gathering chi through breathing exercises, raised my hands to catch it. Prine casts a spell.

Dragonic Power!

My whole body was filled with power. My level temporarily doubled. Change of plans. I retracted my upraised hands and struck head-on at the great shield that filled the heavens.

A very basic fist strike.

An uppercut.

Aaaaahhhhhhhh!

With a resounding crash, the giant's stone shield smashed to pieces.

Shards of the stone that had constructed the shield rained down around us. I stand in front of Prine and hit her with blows to protect her. Prine casts a spell behind me.

Dragonic Power".

The second level-up spell was cast on Prine herself. Now that the auxiliary magic has been cast, she is finally ready for battle.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Prine took a deep breath.

I looked back over my shoulder, looked the genius mage in the eye, and nodded.

--I'll do it.

Prine's eyes answered me. And then..,

Ra-kun can defend against the Titan's attack. But I can't. No, you can't. That's not it. What we need to think about is how to defeat him. That's why--

Prine says.

'Ra, protect me, please.


'Of course. What about you?'
'That ...... is a very, very simple thing, but it's not a genius idea, like you told me, Ra. ......'
'Just say it.
'--Mr. Titan's big, so it's hard for Ra-kun to attack. Because of the long distance. I'll shoot magic from afar with all my might.
I'm on it!

It's a perfectly natural tactic. Mages attack enemies at a distance with magic.

It's amazing that Prine is able to conduct such a natural command at the very first time.

I gathered up my ki to be ready to receive the giant's attack.

From behind me, Prine releases magic.

Fireball!

A huge ball of fire goes straight for the giant.

The enemy, whose shield was destroyed, tried to block it with the sword in his hand. It lands, causing an explosion and a blast.

The giant's sword breaks in two again. It cries out in disgust.

Icicle Lance!

Prine's magic does not stop.
No, but this--

A spear of ice, perhaps five melts long, is released and plunges into the giant's chest. It freezes the area around his chest, and it seems as if it will reach his entire body..,

--Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

The giant grabbed his chest with his hand, hollowed it out, and threw the frozen part into the desert. The gaping hole in the chest slowly heals.

The shield and sword have been restored.

I mutter to myself.

'How far will it go ......?

Prine shouted from behind.

I saw the flow of the Titan's magic, Ra-kun!
'Oh, a recovery point by any chance?
''Yeah! When I repair, the magic seems to flow from the forehead area!
'Yes! It's easy once you know the weak points. So what do we do now?

I ask, and Prine looks like she's trying to find the right words.

'Let's see ...... that ......'.
''Hmm?''
'You know, that ......
''What's wrong?''
'I'll take a shot from behind while you ......'
'Oh.'
'...... that, Ra-kun, I want you to distract Mr. Titan.'

You want me to take the bait. I see...that's why you were so reluctant to tell me.

Leave it to me! And don't worry about it.
'...... yeah. Sorry.
'Don't apologize. I would do the same.'
'Yeah. ...... Thanks, Ra-kun.'
'Ugh! Then I'll hang on to you! I'll finish you off, Prine!
'--Yes!

I concentrate my chi in my hands.

Qigong shot!

I fired a mass of chi at the giant. The enemy defended himself with his shield, but the chi gung shot destroyed the area it touched, and flew toward the giant's face.

The giant just barely avoided it by shaking his head. His eyes glared at me.

At that moment, I had already started running. I cross the stone bridge, trying to get around to the side of the giant.

Meanwhile, Prine..,

'--Photon Wing!

He cast a spell, floated up, and flew backward from the top of the pyramid. The giants' attacks should now be out of reach.

The giant let out a yell and swung his sword at me. I evade it with time to spare, and with chi in my legs, I leap onto the sword and run up the blade.

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!

The panicked giant lifts the sword vertically. Just before he does, I kick the blade and fly straight into the giant's face.

--Whirlwind Legs!

A spinning kick of fighting spirit hits the enemy in the nose.

--Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ......!

One step backward, the giant steps on the tatara.

I fall to the desert earth. A few dozen melts to the bottom. On the way down, I gather my ki again, and at the moment of landing, I slam my fist into the ground to offset the impact, and succeed in landing unharmed.

He glances at Prine. She is floating at a great distance from the pyramid. She doesn't seem to be ready for magic yet.

The giant tries to step on my foot as I fall to the ground.

I avoid it by jumping to the side, and decide to try out a [martial art] I haven't used yet.

--I decided to try out a [martial art] that I hadn't been using.

An enemy thrusts with a huge sword. I waited until the very last moment, not daring to avoid it. I already have the "stance" to activate my "Bu-Yoku" (martial arts).

With a snap.

I held myself in a half-self-position and did not move even a muscle.

If a non-adventurer were to receive the attack, he would not even be able to hold a human form as a giant's thrust with terrifying mass loomed over him. Normally, the distance between the two would have been long enough to avoid it. But not yet. Not yet, not yet, not yet--not yet!

Kasumi gaeshi!

The tip of the Titan's sword begins to move just before it touches his left hand. Time seems to stretch out as if it has increased many times over, and the movement appears to slow down. The chi that has built up all over his body sounds "titi-titi-titi ......" when it touches the enemy's attack.



Yes, you're right. Only the "fighting spirit" in his body.

This technique is to evade an enemy's attack while being hit by it - and that's not all.

The enemy's thrust slips backward, half touching me.

I let my "Fighting Spirit" touch the thrust and jump straight forward as if passing by. I close the distance to the empty torso of the attacker. The friction between the giant's sword and my fighting spirit creates a high, rumbling sound.

--Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch!

A boost technique that stores chi when an enemy attack is avoided is called "Kasumigayeshi" ( ). The stronger, closer, and longer the enemy's attack is, the more powerful it becomes. The sound of "tichi tichi tichi" indicates success.

With each sound, my "fighting spirit" becomes more pure. In an instant, I am covered with several times as much fighting spirit as I can accumulate through breathing exercises. I gather chi in my feet and kick the ground.

Haaah!

My right fist smashed into the giant's flank.

--Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!

I smashed through the belly of the enemy and went through to the other side, landing on a stone bridge floating in the sky.

The next moment,

'--Seriously?

A huge ice spear, one size bigger than a giant, appeared in the sky.

Beneath it, there is a girl.

Floating in the sky, her right hand holds up an owl staff pointing straight at the target, and her left hand is pointed to the sky as if supporting the ice spear.

The spear, which is about one meltor above her left hand, seems to tremble.

Prine chants.


Icicle Ballista!


Immediately after he swung his left hand down, a gigantic ice spear was released with blinding speed, and when he realized it, it pierced through the giant's head and shattered it into pieces.

--Oh ..................!

Without even a scream, the stone giant fell into the desert.

He soon returns to the mist.

Victory!

Yee-hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! That's awesome, Prineeeeeeeeeeeeee!
'e,ehehe............'

It wasn't long after that that Prine, who had come flying quickly through the air, smiled shyly at me as I bounced happily on the bridge.





At the top of the pyramid, a staircase appears and we descend to the 16th level of the dungeon.

We saved at a save point with a healing fountain and left the dungeon.

We had a good response today, but not so much yesterday.

Yes, a response to break through the martial artist's level 20.