“Arrrghhh!”
The sword came swinging down. Sheto jumped to the side, but the blade nicked his shoulder, and blood flowed.
“Gah!”
“Arghh! Arghhh!”
The blade swung again, this time slashing his cheek.
“Kuaah!”
“Cleave him in half.”
The words came out of the Hero’s mouth. The reflex timing he had thought of over and over again. The bow was pulled, his body prepared for the moment of death…
“Arrrrghh!”
“Guha!”
A horizontal flash, and along with his clothes, a shallow cut through the skin of his stomach. Blood sprayed.
“I can see through all of your strategies now!”
The blade shot out at a diagonal angle, creating another line across Sheto’s face.
The Hero was swinging like an amateur. Relying only on brute force. Still, Sheto was wounded, and it would be difficult to continue dodging.
“What’s the matter? I thought you said that I was easier than a rabbit!?”
Silver light cut through the air, slashing at the small body that desperately jumped back. The Hero’s face was contorted by rage and madness.
“Uh?!”
Before he knew it, he sensed the fallen tree at his back.
“Were you too distracted with dodging? Mr. Kobold?”
The trunk was about the size of his thigh. But he was in too awkward of a position to jump over it. In front of him, the Hero prepared to strike.
“Now, it is my turn. Try to guess. Sword or magic? Which will I use to kill you?”
“Uh…”
Murderous rage. It was hard to believe this was the same human from the past three days, who could not predict his moves at all. The sharp gaze. The Hero looked so much bigger now.
“Pierce.”
He said in a monotonous voice. However, the hunter did not miss the sudden tension in the right shoulder.
“Just kidding!”
The sword was raised in an instant, and Sheto’s mind moved from fear towards survival.
“Arrrghhhhh!”
The bow glowed with light as he used it desperately to block the sword. Power exploded, burning his vision.
“Gah…ahhh!”
Blood sprayed from his side, and the strength seeped out of him. The man who pressed down was shining with unending cruelty.
“You tormented me quite a lot! How is it? This Hero’s power, which you have been mocking!”
“Guaaahh!”
He could not win in a battle of strength. While being pushed like this, he could do nothing. The pain burned into his brain, just as the platinum blade shot towards the spot between his eyes.
‘Drop forward, Shetttttoooooo!’
He obeyed, curling up.
“Woah!?”
The Hero’s sword was taller than he was. And with the momentum of the swing, he stabbed the empty ground.
Sheto jumped up.
“Ugaaaahhh!”
With all of the strength he could muster, he thrust his arm, bow and all, forward. The armor’s barrier reacted to the attack, throwing Sheto violently into the air.
“Woah!”
“Ahhhhh!”
The bow shattered and the quiver went flying. Still, he now had some distance from the Hero. Fatigue tried to pull away his consciousness, but the monster still managed to jump back.
“Wa-wait!”
The Hero ran towards him madly. While losing his momentum, Sheto rolled on the ground.
The forest had a smooth incline, and he used that to roll desperately away. Several branches stabbed into his stomach, but he did not stop.
“Shit! Wait!”
‘Sheto! The tree behind you!’
The great tree that loomed beyond his spinning vision.
‘You can’t stay like this. Jump to the right!’
He obeyed Salia’s voice, jumping and avoiding the tree in his path.
‘Get up! Your wounds will…!’
“Rolling is faster! I need to get away!”
The pain and rolling were scrambling his mind. Still, Sheto surrendered himself to the slope.
As for the Hero, he was shouting with anger over being left behind.
“If-if that’s how you want to do this!”
He slammed against a tree, causing it to explode.
“What!”
‘How!?’
While relying on his barrier, the Hero began to slide down the slope. And though he would sometimes go in the wrong direction, he was able to charge down at an incredible speed, without getting injured.
‘Wha-what will you do, Sheto!?’
“Continue, to my destination!”
The side of his stomach had been scraped against the ground repeatedly, and the pain would not subside. Still, he managed to get up on one knee and jump onto a tree.
“Agh!”
‘Sheto!?’
“I’m, fine! Will keep running!”
To the side, the Hero passed him while rolling, and then he also stopped on his knees.
‘He’ll catch up with you!’
“Come back hereeeeeeeee!!”
Sheto took in a deep breath and ran. The Hero chased after him.
“Shit!!”
“Hah, hah, hah!”
Every step brought more pain. If he lowered his concentration even a little, he would probably faint. Still, he continued to run while focusing on the presence of the Hero at his back.
The forest scenery began to change. Up ahead, he could hear the sounds of the river. He could also tell that the Hero was panting heavily. The Hero had not eaten or drunk anything. But Sheto was wounded.
“Pier-Pierce, ‘Ze-’”
“Ahhhhhhh!!”
Sheto jumped. Through the edge of the forest, through the bush, until he felt the hard surface of the cliff top. And then he took one more step.
“You…that’s the cliff…”
The Hero said dumbly. Just as Sheto’s body plummeted straight down.
“Acch!”
His two feet landed on the small protrusion. A human could never manage it, but it was enough space for a small kobold.
“Are you serious! Pierce-”
But instead of stopping, he jumped down into the river. At the same time, he lifted the wooden board that he had been hiding behind the rocks.
“Damn it! You still have those!”
“Hah! Kah, hah, haaah…”
He hid between the boulder and board, and caught his breath. If he was able to buy more time like this…
“Crush, ‘Zephant’!”
The explosive pressure pushing from above. The shield was broken, and Sheto’s body was slammed against the ground.
“Gyaaauu!”
“Don’t think you can keep relying on that trick!”
His fur was burnt all over, and the smoldering smell filled the air. Still, his four limbs were intact, even though his stomach was bleeding even more.
‘Get up, Sheto! The Hero is coming!’
The goddess warned, just as a mass of wind flew towards him with a groan.
“I’ll crush you and it will be oveeerrr!”
“Shiiit!”
The Hero’s barrier and the monster’s escape occurred at the same time, causing the nearby rocks to fly and disperse.
“Gafu!”
“Arrghhh!”
Some of the rocks hit his stomach, and without being able to absorb the entirety of the impact, the Hero stumbled back.
And then they both stood up and glared at each other.
Koji felt a little dizzy, but also good about where he stood.
The kobold was not moving nearly as quickly as it had before. Once he noticed the wound, he knew that he had to stop it from healing at all cost. He had been reckless in doing so, and even used up all of his magic. Still, he clearly had the overwhelming advantage now.
The kobold was not holding any weapon. No bow or arrow. The hatchet at his belt was too short.
He quickly scanned their surroundings. There was nowhere to hide, or any place where a weapon could be hidden.
Still, he would not lower his guard.
“Not bad. I suppose you meant to lure me into this place?”
It was just a guess, but he saw doubt appear on the kobold’s face.
Yes, to the kobold, he was of a lower rank. Manipulated into running around the forest, falling into traps. The one who vomited by the river. Everything went according to his plan.
And things had been going too well.
“I think that you lured me into this place, and were going to get me to use my magic.”
Koji took another step forward. The kobold stared at him while slowly retreating.
“Perhaps you would use rocks in order to avoid my sword, even after losing your bow.”
The kobold looked frantic. Bullseye. He felt that his mind was going above and beyond anything his opponent had planned.
“How does it feel? To be cornered by the person you saw as prey?”
Yes, being able to dominate over others. This was not a game with brute force. This was a battle in the truest sense. Control the kobold’s movements and prevent him from going around to the river. He had no idea what would happen if the kobold managed to escape.
“Still, I am actually grateful towards you. I think…I probably was a failure as a Hero.”
The kobold crouched while pressing the wound on his side. At least for now, it seemed like the bleeding had stopped.
But he must have a stone or something to avoid the next attack.
“I will defeat you and become stronger. And this time, I will become a true Hero.”
There was still a way to win.
His once muddled mind was incredibly clear now. Perhaps the adrenaline had done away with the hunger and fatigue.
“Let’s go!”
Koji rushed forward in order to unleash the special attack.
Bonus chapters courtesy of ShitaiNoKootoRyuu. Thank you so much!!