Chapter 11: Chapter 11 - All The Way
I was still too careless.
I believed I would only need one more swing, but streaking towards me, were five fireballs that eclipsed the entire bottom half of my field of view, and lashing out just above the layer of fire, was the beast’s tongue, travelling in a perfect horizontal arc, creating an absolute wall of fire that was headed straight for me.
Somehow, someway, those indiscriminate attacks had created an attack that couldn’t be dodged.
I was careless.
My body froze for the first time, a reflexive action when I believed I was backed into a corner. But then I questioned, Why do I need to dodge?
I realized I’d been trying to imitate the Hunters.
I admired their capabilities, but...my own capabilities were very different to theirs.
Dodging an attack was not a desirable outcome. Enduring it, and having my regeneration strengthen me even further---that is what I should have been doing.
This is my path.
My body relaxed. I didn’t bother moving. The wall of flame and tongue struck me directly, consuming my body in an inferno of flames, followed by searing impact of the Toad’s tongue on my skull.
A sickening crack reverberated through my head and sent me hurtling through the air faster than every time before it. But this time, I was fully aware.
Even as I sailed through the air, I shifted my center of mass, forcing my body to rotate. My feet hit the ground squarely, but the momentum dragged me across the dirt in a spray of dust and smoke.
I stood up straight, my singed trousers barely hanging on, my skin blackened and raw, my chest caved in, and my skull fractured. I felt everything. Every broken bone. Every ruptured organ. It was horrible. So overwhelming that all I wanted was to scream, collapse to the floor and curl into a ball, but I didn’t. I overrode every instinct to remain standing.
It was the only way.
[Host’s [Impact Resistance] has increased significantly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
Bones snapped into place, skin healed like it was all a lie, but my grip on Freya’s sword never loosened for a moment. I watched the toad carefully. It’s head was turning rapidly, listening for any sign of me. Clearly, it felt the impact from its attack, and was almost convinced of its victory.
Something in me refused to let it think that.
Yet another emotion. I believed it was called "Pride". I didn’t know what to make of it. But it forced me to move.
I stepped forward, walking straight towards the creature, smoke still curling off me.
The Toad’s head swiveled, taking aim in my direction as it’s throat bulged. And then, another fireball streaked straight towards me.
I continued walking even as it detonated square in my face.
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
And then it shot another.
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
And another.
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[The Skill [Fire Resistance V] has been upgraded to [Fire Resistance VI].]
I stopped in place, just out of range of the Toad’s tongue. I needed efficiency for what came next. I wanted to take my Fire Resistance all the way.
All the way to the Silver Rank.
A voice reached me distantly through the haze. Gerard’s.
"What’s he doing just standing there? Why isn’t he finishing it?"
I did not answer. Merely tapped the ground with the sword, informing the Toad of my location, and it croaked, promptly belching out another fireball.
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
My skin smoldered, my hair burned away to ash, but I felt it. The difference. The pain was dulled. And that meant the damage was less.
My blonde hair regrew, the skin of my face knitted itself up.
It was progress, but it was still too slow. I needed it to return to its rampaging state.
And to do that, it had to feel threatened. So I burst into a sprint, my movements precise as I maneuvered around the beast. Both hands gripped Freya’s saber as I held up the sword, using my momentum to create a slicing motion across the elbow joint of the Toad’s right arm.
It shrieked in pain, and spat fire straight down towards me. That’s right. You’re in danger. Attack me.
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
It exploded in my left shoulder as I circled behind it, this time choosing to punch the beast in its hind-leg. There wasn’t much damage, but it did the job.
The thick muscles I’d punched tightened, their flames flaring as the leg exploded out in a backwards kick that knocked me off my feet and caved my chest in yet again.
[Host’s [Impact Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Impact Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Impact Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[The Skill [Impact Resistance VII] has been upgraded to [Impact Resistance VIII].]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased slightly.]
I recovered quickly, feeling my strength and stamina increase marginally due to the skill upgrade.
Bolting to my feet as soon as I was able, I looked around, searching for the Toad, only to find a few more fireballs rushing my way. I welcomed them with open arms, but the detonation no longer had enough force to move me.
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[Host’s [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly.]
[The Skill [Fire Resistance VI] has been upgraded to [Fire Resistance VII].]
I’m getting there, but this is still too slow.
I dashed in a wide circle around the camp, keeping my distance from the Beast this time, as I took a moment to figure out the most efficient way to increase my fire resistance.
What if I..?
My gaze landed on the Toad’s wide, warty, back, bathed in flames.
That should do it.