I ran a hand through my hair, pushing its matted form out of my eyes as I stared directly at the hunter. The blood on my hands acted as impromptu gel, and kept it stuck backwards.
I would need to wash that later! Sadly these new clothes might be ruined with this much blood, but again, I'd worry about that later.
More important things were in front of my companion and I.
The slow hum of the spinning weapon made my instincts blare, black ink like spots entering my vision. Coalescing around its weapon and its entire body.
For a moment I could have sworn the shapes they were forming were almost that of a predator preparing to strike.
Did I get hit too hard?
"Hey Belle, if I suddenly drop unconscious I trust you to handle this."
She blinked, her look one of supreme confusion.
Then she came to a realization and let out a small sigh. Of course it had to be that Belle was accepting her role as my Shounen ally.
No foe was undetectable, no situation was hopeless.
"If you're putting that trust in me, then I'll win."
I smiled without taking my eyes off of our opponent. Luckily after a moment the spite cleared up, as though they were never there.
Then the Monster moved its weapon, I grabbed Belle and moved us both out of the way of the rocketing strike.
"Can you dodge on your own?"
"I'm not sure."
"Then stand back, but remember, our promise still holds."
I stepped forward after setting Belle to the side, she wasn't strong enough just yet.
"Of course."
But that didn't mean either of us were giving up
The exhilarating rush I'd currently felt was nothing like I'd felt before.
I could hear the war drums.
They overflowed into silence.
Hector was charging me with magic.
My Soul felt as though it was super charged, though how I did not know.
The farthest I'd ever gotten was the second stage.
Nothing in my previous world had eclipsed me in such a physical way before, nor did I have my Persona awakened.
This . . . This was the strongest I've ever been.
What an exhilarating feeling.
I leaned back slightly as the hammer flew through the air, I sliced by blade at the dense rope, but the damage was negligible.
I smiled gently down at Heir, and for a moment I felt the sword vibrate with anticipation for what I was about to do.
I knew exactly what this called for.
I flipped my sword around in my grip, now being held by the blade I focused on the bolt of the sword and smiled at Welfs masterful craftsmanship. I was going to beat this fucker to death!
The Hunter violently yanked its weapon, the massive hammer flying towards me, but I let out a small breath and knew that from now on I had to be more careful.
Deflecting a strike could cause my fingers to get cleaved off, and without a doctor on hand to reattach them that would be a death sentence for a warrior.
This was the risk of my current grip.
So I twisted my body out of the way of the strike, and slightly widened my eyes at the easy flow of the action.
It's as though I could see the attack before it happened, my body moving on instinct away from the attack.
More strikes impacted the ground, and my foe paused, realizing it couldn't hit me as I slowly made ground.
This fight was won, all I had to do was- I bit my lip as my eyes bulged out of their sockets. My spine burned with agony, and I felt Hector's power rapidly starting to fade.
If things continued like this we would lose. I had to end this. I had to end this now. My body started to drop to a knee, and my now bleeding eyes stared up at the creature.
Then it brought the hammer down.
I screamed inside my head. I screamed so loud to MOVE that I didn't just hear my own voice.
First I was alone. Then Hestia, then Belle. All of my Confidants appeared, but were soon drowned out by the collective of everyone who had ever put their faith in me in my previous world.
I'd let everyone down by disappearing after getting hit by a car, but they still had faith in me.
Andrew Ariti had lost before, but never did he give up. I'd always pictured going out on an epic battle, but getting hit by a truck affected me more than I'd realized.
I see now.
That damnable Truck had made me afraid.
It made me afraid that I could give up. That in the end all I could do was give up even after trying to tell myself then I didn't have to.
I let out a snort. I strayed from the path. I had strayed from the path of Shounen in my moment of weakness.
Yet it would only make me stronger.
No longer would Andrew Ariti ever doubt the path he forged with his own two hands ever again.
From now on, I wouldn't second guess my own will to succeed. I wouldn't lie to myself that I could push forward.
Instead, I would believe.
The once broken path clicked back into place, far stronger than ever before. Never before had I fought a battle within, yet with this victory something finally had the opportunity to awaken.
The internal battle was won, and the Chimera within my heart finally opened one of its many eyes upon the battlefield.
Then it laughed. For its maddening roar was not needed, its overwhelming intensity needed not make itself known for the first time, at its first opportunity.
At this moment all I needed was myself, and my dear companions cheering me on.
As the hammer descended I pictured that truck in my mind.
The headlights. The cold winter air. The wet fog. The child is pushed out of the way. Then lastly the blaring horn.
I was alone. Then I pictured them all. Everyone who I was close to, as one we pushed against the truck and stopped it in its path.
The hammer and the Truck had become one.
Then I struck forth, my fingers burned but I could feel Hector smiling with me. He wouldn't let me lose my edge to my own strike, not with this last vestige of magic still boiling inside me.
Our weapons collided, and the rope connecting to the hammer snapped, sending it into the head of the Hunter with a cruel crack causing its to pause for a moment as the air around us howled from the overwhelming might of the blow.
Then it collapsed. Its body turned to dust as not only did a massive magic stone drop to the ground, its pale green color stood out among the blue walls.
So did a single emerald arrowhead, its tip a pale gold. I stared at it as my eyes slowly closed, I had dropped to a knee and I felt myself rapidly fading. Hector's power had left me, and I could see Belle approaching rapidly with a combination of both horror and deep fascination in her eyes.
"Our promise." I whispered the words, but she knew exactly what I meant.
She would have to handle things for the rest of today.
"Of course."
Then everything went dark.
Isabelle Cranel POV
Wow. He actually killed a Hunter. I stood in stunned silence for a moment at the drops of the Divinity Killer. Andrew slept soundly in my arms, as I silently fed him the last potion.
I was still partially in shock from what just happened, but he put his trust in me. I wasn't letting down my Hero.
I'd shoved the monster drops into a small bag we had, and slowly made my way out of the Dungeon.
My mind stirred over the mysterious figure that appeared from his form. They were seven feet tall, and covered in thick steel armor I'd never seen before. A massive spear over their back, and a small shield strapped to their arm.
I pondered who that was for a moment while continuing to remain vigilant.
Yet of course, I was rudely interrupted.
Two individuals made there way over, a greasy smile on one of their faces while the other watched over me like a hawk, and then slightly widening their eyes as they stared at Andrew.
"Hey, Hey. Looks like you're in a rough spot young lady. Your 'friend' is dead, and with that much blood on you, you aren't doing great either. How's about you leave whatever monster drops you may have and-"
Much to my shock his words weren't cut off by a throwing knife to the throat. Instead they were stabbed through the jaw by their 'companion' who wielded a thick gladius.
What? Betrayal while I wasn't even easily robable yet? These 'people' were far more stupid than I thought.
"Is he alive?"
The words hung for a moment, and much to my confusion the other person sounded concerned.
". . . Yes?"
"That's good, shame I had to kill this bait early though." With that they grabbed the small bag of magic stones the other person had and walked off. The only blatant hint of their features being the small burns on the right end of their jaw, steadily healing with the passage of time.
Was that guy . . . Stealing from thieves? Though it's not like he wasn't a thief either.
I have no idea what that is about, but it slightly bothers me that Andrew seems to know people like this.
People that aren't me at least. The only murderously insane person in Andrew's life should be me obviously.
I kept moving out of the Dungeon, and faced surprisingly low resistance after the first incident. We were already quite close to the exit, and while a few goblins spawned I was fairly easily able to dispatch them.
I could see the exit now, and my heart started to pound as I made my way towards it.
Then the wall next to me stirred.
And out came something that made me sneer in hate.
It was a two headed Kobold.
Of all times, why now? I lightly grit my teeth, setting Andrew gently on the floor as the creature dug out of the wall, its maws extended forward and ready to tear off my face the moment it was free. Though oddly enough the creature only seemed partially formed, its birth premature and slowing it down heavily as it finished forming while halfway in the wall.
So I took advantage of its weakness, and during my rapid approach to the creature I could feel something enhancing my speed. Perhaps this was the power of love?
I tore out its first throat, then I tore out its other. The knives I possessed were wonderful, and the monster didn't stand a chance. Unfortunately it's half former core was rapidly swallowed by the wall of Dungeon before I could grab it.
I rapidly returned to Andrew's side, and for a moment I could have sworn that the Dungeon itself despised him.
I'd never seen a partially formed monster like that before, nor had I heard of them. It was a desperate attempt to stop our leaving of the Dungeon, and it had failed.
I picked up the unconscious Hero and continued my leaving, partially thankful that the monster was so easy to handle.
Though I did wonder if it had a few more seconds to fully form if it would have become an actual threat?
Whatever, those no point dwelling on what didn't happen. Getting to the guild is more important right now. I'm certain that what we got is worth a lot of money, and while I'd love to take a shower right now, Andrew comes first.
The Guild will be sure to take care of him, and I'll be by his side to ensure everything goes accordingly.
He'd killed a Hunter, a creature famed for destroying their targets no matter what. A creature that the Dungeon could only create once per person, and only sent after those they deemed as a threat. To be sent a Hunter at level one was ridiculous, even more so was his victory.
He was already on the path of legend, and I was glad to be a part of his rapidly forming story.
I held him tight as I went up the stairs, and a moment later I was greeted by the shining sun.
It was promptly ignored as I continued to the guild. Andrew's soft breathing being the only sound reaching my ears.
He would be alright.
He had to be.
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AN: Back again, and the duel against the Hunter is finally over. What a monstrous foe! Andrew also finally faces his first inner demon, truly a new experience for him.
I think I'm getting sick, and I'm going to go pass out now. Hopefully I get better soon, I've felt exhausted and weak for the past 2 days, and been working a lot as well.
Despite Andrew's Bravado I wrote this chapter while barely being conscious, at least Andrew's Will pushed me forward to finishing this chapter.
Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!