"Ambush."
That was the only thought that echoed through my mind.
At that very mont, my hair was yanked forcefully forward in a sudden and humiliating manner, forcing my body to move out of the attack’s path by a narrow margin.
Thakhkhkh—!
I heard the sound of teeth violently crashing against each other.
I fell harshly onto my face, barely avoiding being devoured alive.
The good thing? My nose injury was minor.
The bad thing... was that the distance between and the monster was far too close.
Terrifyingly close. And I wasn’t even given enough ti to get up— as the monster lunged at once again.
Trrrakh—! Spark!
"Fwoooof—!"
Nox moved with blinding speed.
He drew his sword in an instant, and a trendous sound of collision echoed through the area while sparks scattered through the air.
But... in the very next second, Nox was violently forced backward, leaving a deep crater beneath his feet as he clenched his teeth tightly.
At least... that gave a few seconds.
I quickly rolled away, before lifting myself up and jumping to my feet.
"Haaah...!"
I took a deep breath while frowning... then raised my gaze toward the monster in front of .
And how could I not frown? When the monster was—
The Stone Devourer.
The very sa monster that was supposed to have the flag inside its stomach.
Why did it appear in front of ? Wasn’t Ethan supposed to face it?
...Is my luck even worse than his?
Damn it, my plan was sowhat perfect. Hide while Ethan fights it.
Observe the situation from afar. And if a suitable opportunity appears...
Step in at the last mont and steal the victory.
Otherwise? I had no intention of interfering at all.
And how would I even do that?
This monster is a Infant -rank (D).
I let out a slow sigh.
It seems... this will be the end of the simulation for .
But— I won’t lose this easily. There is still a chance.
Even if it is slim. As long as I can avoid just one touch... from those poisonous sensory horns.
"Tsk... damn it."
I couldn’t stop myself from cursing when I saw the Stone Devourer crawling toward at terrifying speed.
It resembled a giant snake to so extent... but with differences that made it look like it had crawled straight out of a nightmare.
Its mouth, filled with dozens of rows of sharp teeth, continuously opened and closed, producing a disgusting sound, while its long sensory horns trembled like the antennae of a giant cockroach. Its many eyes spread across both sides of its head— all of them staring at at the sa ti.
Skrrsh—!
I quickly pulled out my sword while stepping backward.
Thakh!
My back slamd against the wall of a destroyed building.
My feet froze for a mont. There was nowhere left to retreat.
And even if I tried to escape to one of the sides...
It was already too late.
The monster was too fast. So fast that it was already in front of .
Or rather... almost behind . There was only one option left for .
Prepare for the collision.
I tightened my grip on the sword until I felt the bones of my fingers ache.
Boom—! Skrrshhh—!
"Fwooosh—!"
Its massive body slamd into my sword.
I felt as though all my bones were about to shatter.
I clenched my teeth tightly.
In fact, I could no longer even hear the sound of them from the intensity of the pressure.
All I could hear... was the sound of its teeth clattering together, only centiters away from my face.
Threatening to devour alive.
Damn it... this feels real, I can even sll the stench of its foul breath.
Spark—!
My feet slid backward.
Damn. If I don’t do sothing now... this will be the end of here.
What can I even do in the first place?
And at that mont— I caught sight of Nox.
He was charging from behind.
He leapt high after pushing off a protruding rock, raising his sword above his head, before descending with all his strength toward the monster’s back.
Boom—!
But the monster noticed him. With one of its many eyes.
At the last mont, its massive tail rose like a whip.
Fkhraash—!
Nox was sent flying away as though he were a light doll, rolling across the rubble.
The monster’s attack intensity lessened for a brief mont.
And that was enough.
I quickly lowered my body, firmly planting my feet on the ground.
Then I pushed my full weight toward the right side.
Instead of trying to stop the monster— I used its montum.
I tilted my sword at a sharp angle, letting its heavy body slide along the tallic edge, as if I were redirecting a rushing current instead of resisting it.
The monster lost its balance. Its path was forcibly diverted.
Booooom—!!
It crashed directly into the front of the destroyed building.
Stones scattered through the air, while the explosion echoed through the area.
Thick dust rose, scattering together with fragnts of cent and rocks.
"Haaah...!"
I took several broken breaths, while my chest rose and fell violently. But I had no ti to rest.
I had to get up... and get away from here quickly.
I rushed toward the place where Nox had been thrown, before spotting him staggering slightly while blood flowed from his nose.
I quickly approached him.
"Are you okay?"
He wiped the blood beneath his nose with his hand before answering:
"Yeah..." Then he raised his gaze toward . "Did you take down the monster?"
"No." I paused briefly before adding, "How was I even supposed to do that in the first place? You saw its strength yourself. All I did was evade it... and honestly, the credit goes to you."
"So... it’s still alive?"
"Most likely."
"Tsk..." Nox clenched his teeth slightly while wiping the blood. "That thing is stronger than I expected."
Crashhh—
We slowly turned toward the source of the sound.
The dust was still rising from the destroyed building...
And from between the rubble— the Stone Devourer’s body slowly began to erge.
Its sensory horns moved. Then... its many eyes fixed directly on us.
"..."
"..."
"Does it only seem to ... or has it beco angry?"
"No." Nox paused for a mont. "I think it actually hates us now."
Skrrrsh—!
And suddenly— it began crawling toward us again. But this ti... it was faster.
"Damn it." I tightened my grip on the sword. "Do you think the best option right now is to run away?"
"Yes....because we won’t win if we fight it in this condition."
"Wow. Really? I didn’t notice that at all. How the hell did you arrive at such a genius conclusion?"
"...Are you joking right now?"
"No."
Nox stared at for a second with a strange look... then turned his face away.
"...You’re weird."
"Can you run?"
"And if I say no? Do you have a second plan?"
I thought about it for a mont, while arriving at the best possible plan in this situation.
"...Yes. Beco faster. Otherwise, you’ll turn into lunch for that thing." I paused for a second. "Ah, right... I forgot to tell you. Its breath slls terrifyingly bad. Honestly? It’s worse than being poor."
"..."
Nox stared at for a second, and said:
"Then yes. I can run."
And in the next mont— we ran.
Booooom—!
The ground shook violently behind us.
"Faster!"
I shouted while turning toward him. What the hell...
He was too slow. Yes, he’s injured. But not to the point of turning into a turtle!
"I’m already running as fast as I can!"
"Then what? Do you want to carry you like a shy princess?"
Wait.. what the hell am I saying?
Is this what fear usually does? Makes you blurt out the most embarrassing things in your life?
My God... I never imagined I’d say sothing like that one day.
Nox looked at with obvious shock.
"...I’d rather apologize to the monster and ask it to give a little ti. That might be more rciful."
"...Not a bad idea."
"Damn you."
Fkhrrrsh—!
The giant tail passed directly beside us, smashing the nearby wall.
We jumped to the side at the last mont. Stones scattered over our heads.
Nox got up while breathing heavily.
"We won’t escape from it this way."
"Then... run faster."
"..."
"What’s wrong with you?"
"I just feel a great sense of reassurance knowing that the monster will devour you first... giving ti to escape afterward."
Wait, did I say that out loud?
"..."
"..."
Nox stared at with a completely expressionless face.
My God... you monster, please... kill quickly.
Before I say sothing even more embarrassing than this. I literally can’t tolerate myself anymore.
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