We managed to reach Nigpyura with Ryoku, but he was taken away.
Nigpyura grabbed Ryoku with his left hand and lifted him up. If we let this continue, the spirit will be taken, and then he’ll be invincible.
“Ryoku, wake up! Hey!”
If only I could somehow break free from these tree roots… No, they’re too hard, and there’s no sign of them loosening. Nigpyura’s glowing right hand approached Ryoku.
At this point, it’s do or die. I threw the shield I was holding towards Nigpyura.
—My vision turned white. After a slight pause, my eyes burned and sparks flew. It was like fireworks exploding in my head.
I couldn’t hear anything over the ringing in my ears. I forced my consciousness, which felt like it was flying away, back.
“…Ugh, Ryoku?”
I tapped my temple and shook my head. My vision slowly cleared. There was Nigpyura, clutching his right hand. Had he taken his own magic? His fingers were blown off.
“Tsk, what an unnecessary move…!”
What happened to Ryoku? I moved my eyeballs, searching the tower’s footing. He had fallen by the edge. Nigpyura had embedded his right hand into the tower wall. He was probably trying to regenerate it with the water from the Spring of Life. If so, now is the only chance.
I pulled myself free from the loosened tree roots and jumped onto the platform.
“Uggh, guhh!”
I was caught by the upper body at the last second. If I fall here, death is certain. Damn, my arms have no strength. I somehow managed to lift my legs and climb up.
“Ryoku, hey, stay with me.”
“A repulsion stone? To think you’d have such a toy. And a gun too, you have all sorts of things.”
His right hand, which had been ripped out, was regenerating as if nothing had happened.
“Hey, even if you gain Ryoku’s power, that ability is limited to this forest. Do you want to be a frog in a well?”
“You wouldn’t understand, being an exile, but my plan is far grander than something so petty.”
Nigpyura rubbed his right hand and approached me.
“Heh, want me to guess? Your older brother is superior, so your mother never loved you, right? If you want to be loved that much, why not give her flowers?”
“You seem to be good at only one thing: infuriating people.”
My shield was gone. In this cramped space, fighting in an enemy’s castle, there’s no chance of winning. Nigpyura began to gather power in his right hand again. This time, he intends to finish me off.
“You damn pest, disappear!”
“Kch…!”
As the enemy’s attack was released, I grabbed Ryoku and jumped off the tower. Behind me, I heard the sound of something freezing.
I jumped, but of course, I can’t fly. The ground was approaching at an insane speed. The wind pressure made it impossible to open my eyes or breathe. I held Ryoku tightly to my chest. Looking back at Nigpyura, I saw vines extending towards us as we fell.
Even he doesn’t want to lose Ryoku, it seems. As long as he has the spirit, anyway.
The extended vine grazed my ankle. At this point, I wouldn’t give him up, even if it meant losing my life. I kicked away the vine that tried to wrap around me. Whether I was smashed into the ground or caught by Nigpyura, there was no escape.
Just then, something from the side charged in. The scenery spun, and I was flying through the trees. No, it felt more like falling.
*Rustle rustle rustle*
“Ugh, aggh, ouch!!”
I finally stopped after breaking several thin branches. Slowly, I opened my eyes to see the world inverted.
“Ouch, ouch… ”
“Shh, hurry and get up, stranger.”
Even if you say that, branches are sticking out all over my body. Ryoku seems to be unharmed. I have to move slowly, slowly, or I’ll fall. What kind of posture am I even in right now?
“What are you doing? How long do you plan to stand there looking like an idiot?”
“Am I being an idiot?”
In the inverted world, I saw a woman with a falcon spirit, someone I had met on the way to the village. It seems she saved me. She’s quite rough, though.
Bending my body to avoid falling, I somehow returned to my normal field of vision. My foot slipped, and leaves fell.
“Whoa, dangerous. Phew, I thought I was going to die. Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. The enemy is probably still looking for you. Go quickly.”
Even if you say that, this tree is quite high. Slowly, slowly…
“Ugh! Ouch… ”
I intended to climb down along the trunk, but I missed my footing.
“Go straight ahead. Your companions are waiting.”
“Ah, thanks.”
She flew away before I could finish speaking. I’m really curious about what happened to Piyo and Elana. And the hunters, Cowardly Ear, and Veronica, I ended up leaving them behind.
Still, I can only do what I can do now. I readjusted my hold on Ryoku and ran. As I broke through the bushes, I saw Karubene mounted on a horse.
“Brother, get on, we’re going back to the worm’s nest.”
“What about everyone else?”
“They just arrived and are stalling Nigpyura. But I don’t know how long they can hold him.”
With her help, I mounted the horse. I worry about everyone, but they’re much stronger than me. I’m sure I’d be told to worry about myself.
Ryoku still had a vacant expression. Suddenly, Karubene stopped the horse. I almost hit my face on her back.
“Hey, what is it?”
“Brother, look.”
In the direction she pointed, a Hummingbird Har stood.
