Once the Curse of Reversed Likability Was Lifted, My Party Members Became Unbearably Heavy
โYou’re still aliveโฆ Dagura.โ
โI crawled back up from hell just to get revenge on you.โ
Dagura’s eyes flashed like a silver beast.
Celia swallowed hard behind him.
Rina gripped her sword tightly, while Noel, her face pale, gathered her magic.
All three felt their hearts nearly burst at the thought of Ren fighting opponents this formidable with only one arm.
โRenโฆ don’t push yourself. Pleaseโฆโ
โThese guys areโฆโ
The three showed signs of panic.
But at that instant.
โโฆHmph. You three are in the way.โ
With a low voice that seemed to echo from the depths of the earth, Dagura stamped his foot.
โRen!! Watch outโโโ
Before Noel could finish, the ground suddenly erupted in a sharp flash of light.
โโCrack!
A magic circle. The area where he stepped triggered a magical trap Graham had set earlier.
โโBOOMโฆโฆGRRRRRRRR!!!
The earth erupted with a thunderous roar, violently surging upward.
As if the forest itself had been torn into two realms, a massive earthen wall rose, separating Ren and the three others.
โRen!!โ โNooooo!!โ
The three desperately sprinted forward, but their feet halted before the towering wall.
As if waiting for that opening,
Graham stepped forward before the three.
โYou โburdens to the heroโ? I’ll deal with you lot.โ
He smiled slightly, resting his sword on his shoulder.
Rina drew her blade and shouted.
โYouโฆ You planned this from the start, targeting Renโฆ!!โ
โWell, yeah. I couldn’t have some extra meddler interfering while that Hero and Lord Dagura were settling things.โ
Noel and Celia’s eyebrows shot up, their voices trembling with rage.
โWe’ll kill you right now!โ
Graham snorted derisively.
โWorried? Do you really think a one-armed hero can defeat Lord Dagura?โ
At those words, all three twisted their faces in fury simultaneously.
โIf you think you can just talk your way out of thisโฆ!โ
Rina stepped forward.
โRen sama, I’ll rush to you nowโฆ!โ
Celia swung her divine staff, bestowing a strengthening blessing upon Rina and Noel.
โHuhโฆ you look pretty determined. Fine, then. First, I’ll test that resolve of yours.โ
Graham readied his sword and charged toward the three.
On Ren’s side, across the wall, Dagura was already moving.
At the sound of each of them drawing their swords, the distance between them became zero.
The first blow was deflected, sparks flying from the center of their swords.
โYou think you can swing a sword properly with just one arm?โ
his sword swept in from the side.
Ren slid his blade to change the angle, aiming for the neck at the shortest distance.
Dagura blocked it with one hand.
โOne arm is more than enough for a piece of trash like you!โ
โHow insolent!โ
Dagura lunged forward, his sword attacking like a storm.
Heavy, fast, and wild in its trajectory, yet utterly efficient.
With each clash of blades, Ren’s arm creaked, the strength draining from his knees.
โWell? What’s wrong?! One missed strike and it’s over!โ
โI know that!!โ
Ren stepped forward.
Though his blade was parried, he slid it along, aiming for Dagura’s shoulder.
Dagura flipped his sword to a reverse grip, deflecting Ren’s blade skyward.
โNot bad for a one-armed manโฆ But I am the strongest. The strongest never loses. All logic is meaningless before raw power!โ
With a roar, Dagura’s knee drove into Ren’s gut.
Air escaped his lungs, but Ren countered with a headbutt from the position he was driven into.
โIf you’re the strongest, don’t make excuses when you lose, okay?โ
โI don’t need excuses! I won’t lose!โ
Dagura’s arm swung like a whirlwind.
Ren lowered his body, aiming for a sweep, but Dagura’s leg rose faster, a kick striking his temple hard. Though his vision blurred, Ren held his stance and stood his ground.
โThought that was a good one. Why won’t you fall?โ
โIf I fall, there are some who’ll cry.โ
In that instant, Ren’s lunge exploded.
A flash of counterattack drew a thin line across Dougra’s cheek.
Blood flowed, yet Dougra’s eyes gleamed with something closer to amusement.
โThat’s itโฆ that’s the face. A strong guy’s gotta have that look!โ
Dougra’s sword came down from directly above.
Its weight threatened to split the earth, but Ren plunged into the opening without a thought for the dust cloud.
Blade met blade.
Sparks flew in rapid succession.
Their breathing grew ragged. At this distance, a single misstep meant instant death.
โYou’re annoying with all that darting around!โ
โShut up! You’ve been spitting all over me this whole time!โ
The instant Ren’s sword grazed Dagura’s chest.
Dagura’s movements faltered slightly. Ren seized the opening.
Butโ.
โYou worthless human scum!!โ
Dagura’s sword slid along the ground, streaking toward Ren’s feet.
โDieeeee!โ
But Ren barely leapt upward.
Immediately after, Dagura’s blade gouged the floor.
Dagura lunged at Ren, whose posture had faltered mid-air.
A massive shadow descended, the sword tip streaking toward his throat.
โThis is the end!โ
Ren flipped his sword in midair, deflecting the slash diagonally.
He took a single breath as he landed.
โIf you’re so obsessed with being the strongest, why didn’t you try to defeat the Demon King? You think defeating me now, missing an arm, makes you the strongest?โ
โHuh? What’s your point?โ
โHmphโฆ You’re just a worthless piece of trash who only picks fights with opponents you think you can beat, then struts around thinking you’re the strongest!โ
โI’ll kill you.โ
Dagura, his face contorted with rage so intense his veins seemed ready to burst, charged straight at him.
Ren, seeing this as the decisive moment, put all his strength into his legs and unleashed a strike with everything he had.
Their blades clashed, a sharp sound tearing through the air.
A brief, silent moment hung between them.
THUD
It was Dagura who fell.
Ren’s sword had struck precisely, hitting the old wound on Dagura’s abdomen.
โGuhโฆ Haa, haaโฆ Is this itโฆ?โ
BOOM
A deafening roar echoed as a hole tore through the wall separating Ren and the three others.
โRen!!!!โ
โRen-sama, are you alright!? I’m casting healing magic now!!โ
โRen, are you okay!? No injuries? I’ll join the fight too!!โ
“Ren! Stay back.ใI’ll wipe this entire forest away!!”
โI’m fine, just finished. You done over there?โ
โI beat the crap out of that bastard and sent him straight to hell.โ
โHehโฆ Graham got taken down tooโฆ Looks likeโฆ this is as far as it goes.โ
โIt’s over, Dagura. Reflect on your past sins in hell.โ