Necromancer 51

Test

51. Kenzaki’s Transformation

“Is your skill going out of control…? Kenzaki, dispel your [Beast Transformation] for now!”

“I already did! But… damn it, my body isn’t turning back!”

Kenzaki shouted.

His appearance remained that of a rhino beastman.

“Huh…?”

What’s going on…?

Could it be—Kenzaki has—

I gasped as I realized it.

The form of a rhino beastman… isn’t just a [Transformation]—

It’s become his true body…!?

“H-hey, Shigure, do something… please…”

Kenzaki’s voice suddenly grew feeble.

“Am I… turning into a monster…?”

“Kenzaki—”

I swallowed hard.

“AAAAAAAHHHH!”

With a scream, Kenzaki glared at me with bloodshot red eyes.

“Kill… destroy… all of you…”

The voice was unmistakably devoid of reason.

He was in a state of complete frenzy—

“Master, he’s already fallen to the level of a monster.”

Said Mirage.

“We should consider extermination as an option.”

“Extermination… huh.”

He’s put me through a lot of trouble.

Treated me horribly.

But that doesn’t matter now.

I have to save him—

That was the only thought swelling within me.

“It’ll be okay. I’ll save you now.”

I told Kenzaki.

But, practically speaking, how…?

“Master, I have a thought.”

Said Reaper, addressing me.

“The Holy Sword resonates with its wielder, granting power—likely, that power has become too great for him to handle.”

Reaper explained,

“As a result, the ‘power of the Holy Sword’ is overflowing within him, causing this rampage—”

“Then we just need to transfer that power somewhere else, right?”

If that’s even possible.

“The energy seems to be concentrated around his horn.”

Mirage added.

“I can sort of sense the flow of energy. More so than before—”

“The horn, huh.”

I fixed my gaze on Kenzaki.

“So if we cut off that horn—”

“The rampage might subside.”

Reaper confirmed.

“Alright, let’s all work together to stop him.”

“Wouldn’t killing him be quicker, Master?”

Reaper suggested.

“Restoring him would be more complicated and less risky.”

“No. As long as there’s a chance he can be saved, I’m betting on that.”

I shook my head firmly.

“Killing him is a true last resort.”

“… Hmph. So you’re at least keeping ‘killing’ as an option.”

“In the end, yes. Of course, I’ve thought about it.”

And so—the operation to stop Kenzaki’s rampage began.

“Ooooohhhh!”

Kenzaki charged.

Swordsman and Red Mage launched magic-imbued blades and fireballs, but they had no effect, as expected.

However—

Boom!

With a thunderous explosion, flames spread wide.

“Ugh…!?”

Yes, the Red Mage’s fire wasn’t for offense or suppression… it was to blind him.

This would take me, Mirage, and Reaper out of his line of sight.

Before he could reacquire us—

Run!

I signaled with a glance to my two allies and began to move.

I circled behind Kenzaki.

The plan was to attack from his blind spot, inflict damage to slow him down, and then sever the horn.

“GRAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

A shockwave burst around Kenzaki.

“Guh…!”

This was stronger than before—probably the maximum output of his sonic shockwave!

“[Burst Slash]!”

Mirage unleashed a destructive sword technique.

It tore through the soundwave, dispersing it entirely.

“Impressive—”

Even with the same skill, my servants usually exhibit greater power than I do.

I didn’t expect Mirage’s [Burst Slash] to be this destructive—

“Ooooohhhh!”

Kenzaki and Mirage’s roars clashed.

Sonic shockwaves raged, but Mirage’s [Burst Slash] tore through them individually.

Now’s the chance—

I circled behind Kenzaki.

Following the plan, I aimed to inflict damage.

“[Burst Slash]!”

“GROAAAAAAHHH!”

The moment I struck with my skill, Kenzaki turned and unleashed a sonic shockwave at me.

“Tch…!”

Our attacks collided.

“If I can just push through with my Burst Slash—!”

But my energy slash was being steadily overpowered.

At this rate, I’d be overwhelmed—!

“[Flying Sword]! [Fire Buster]!”

I shouted instinctively.

Even though I usually left these skills to the Swordsman and Red Mage, I could use them too.

I unleashed them in rapid succession, aiming at the shockwave—

Boom!

The explosion shattered Kenzaki’s sonic shockwave.

“Ooooohhhh!”

I charged forward.

“This ends now!”

With all my strength, I unleashed a final [Slash].

Slash!

With a clean cut, I severed Kenzaki’s rhino horn at the base.