Hammer and Spear.
Both are weapons I handle well, having used them hundreds, no, thousands of times more than any other weapon.
The difference between the two is simple.
‘Spear of Technique, Hammer of Power.’
Among them, I preferred the hammer more.
Clang!
‘An overwhelming blow that shatters logic and power.’
The destructive power to crush enemies just by swinging it instead of relying on fancy techniques.
I wielded the hammer almost as frequently as the spear, especially when facing ‘Ancient Beasts,’ where the hammer was my primary choice.
Gulp.
Their bodies were generally enormous, and they were directly injured by the hammer.
“Um, it’s really okay, right?”
─Of course.
Young Lily slowly approached from across the sea, gripping the hammer.
Half of the village was already submerged, and the people were trembling on top of the village.
─Rather than just sitting still and getting eaten by nightmares, it’s better to try something.
“I… I…”
─Want to hear a fun fact?
“Uh?” Young Lily looked up at me.
It feels a bit self-congratulatory to say this, but she has a really pretty and cute face.
[So cute! Hahaha!]
[Wah, baby Lily!]
[Will Lily be able to catch it?]
[Is the Hammer God Lily coming back?]
[One-shot cut expected, hahaha!]
[Wow.]
I patted her head with the fairy’s body and pointed to the other side.
─Is that an octopus?
“…An octopus?”
─Yeah. Someone who revived the Nightmare Demon King must have really loved octopuses, so they resurrected the nightmare in the form of an octopus. So the Nightmare Demon King looks like an octopus too.
The world’s largest octopus.
Grrr… Grrr…
As we got closer, its true form gradually became visible.
So it’s purplish…
Wiggle.
“……?!!”
In an instant, Young Lily stumbled forward.
The imbalance of the body due to ‘Focus.’
Young Lily was about to fall into the sea, unable to control her body.
“Gah!”
The White Guardian, covering her body, forcibly steadied her and brought her back to her place.
Additionally, using jewels to block the focus to clear her head.
Young Lily looked at me with trembling eyes.
“W-What was that just now?”
─If you look at the sun with the naked eye, it’s dazzling, right?
“…Huh? Yes.”
─It’s like that.
The Kraken’s power, which typical life forms cannot even challenge.
It’s a being that can flood the village in just a few hours with its passive area control.
Its influence is massive enough to consume an entire subcontinent.
If you can’t even properly resist its area control, just think about facing the Kraken’s ‘eyes.’
Both body and mind, even the soul, would crumble under the pressure.
Of course, even the mind and soul cannot withstand it and shatter.
At least, it’s a relief that it’s not the real deal.
‘The only things influenced are the body and mind. It’s not the real thing that shatters the soul.’
If it’s not the real thing, it’s worth a shot.
I mobilize the White Guardian.
A pure white substance slowly gathers in Young Lily’s eyes.
[Goggles?]
[?]
“Eh.”
─You need a shield when looking at the sun.
Click!
A white, translucent pair of goggles is attached to her eyes.
Young Lily fidgets with the goggles awkwardly, her head nodding slightly.
─Can you see better now?
“What is this… huh?”
The view suddenly opens up.
The stormy sea and waves crashing high.
The deep seawater instills an inexplicable fear, while the giant purple something visible in the distance instinctively makes me pull my body back.
‘I had created it.’
“…?”
But it’s different now.
The storm and waves aren’t that strong, and the seawater has turned a cool blue, perfect for playing.
Most of all, that purple something in the distance.
“Nightmare Demon King?”
It resembled the Nightmare Demon King I had seen in a fairy tale book.
A round lavender face and a sharply edged black robe.
The expression had an evil air, as if plotting something, and the multiple legs spreading through the robe moved threateningly.
One difference is, as the Dreamland Fairy said, it’s not a demon-like form, but an ‘octopus.’
Definitely a villain, but… how should I put it?
“I’m not scared anymore.”
It’s completely different from the past, when it would make me tremble at the bizarre and unknown.
In fact, it might even look cute to ordinary adults.
Tap tap.
The Dreamland Fairy, who has perched on top of my head, nods in agreement.
─Right. Not scary. We had no reason to be shaking in our boots.
‘In fact, they’re not much of a threat.’
Boom!
Whoosh!!!
The blue waves split, creating a path of white clouds.
I saw this in a fairy tale too.
The path the young girl took to escape while receiving help from the Dreamland Fairy to lure the Nightmare Demon King.
“The Dream Path!”
─Shall we go give him a smack?
“Yes!”
As soon as I stepped onto the joyful Dream Path, I dashed toward the Nightmare Demon King at full speed.
Its massive size was undeniable.
‘This is nearly a mountain… no, how big is it?’
It’s really gigantic.
─But it’s just the Nightmare Demon King.
“I’m the Nightmare Demon King.”
But my appearance remained the same.
Still the ridiculous visage of a villain.
I have to land a hit… but where should I strike?
It’s so overwhelmingly big that I have no idea where to hit.
“Should I just hit it?”
─Yeah.
“I noticed the eyes looked suspicious earlier, so if I hit the eyes…”
Despite transforming into a goofy figure, it’s still hard to face the Nightmare Demon King’s eyes.
If I hit the eyes, wouldn’t it cause serious damage?
Nervously shaking my head.
The Dreamland Fairy sitting above my head shakes her head.
─No, let’s attack the legs first.
“Why?”
─If you attack with intent, it will get incredibly angry. Then it’ll be harder to deal with.
“?”
Isn’t it the same if I hit somewhere else?
Why does it get angrier when I hit its eyes?
Because eyes are precious?
I pondered for a moment, but since I was fighting according to the Dreamland Fairy’s wishes, I decided to attack the legs.
Kuoooh…
After chatting for a bit and walking as if I were flying, I was just about to touch the Nightmare Demon King’s body.
The pressure increased as I approached, but maybe because the Dreamland Fairy had some defense set up, it wasn’t unbearable.
“Ah!”
I grip the hammer.
I’ve never held a hammer or struck anything with one, but for some reason, it feels strangely familiar.
So like this…!
“Hyahhyahhyahhyah!!!”
I swing with all my might!
[The White Guardian realizes rescue (physical)!]
Kwaaang!!!
With a tremendous explosion, the body of the Nightmare Demon King shakes.
For a moment, I was surprised by the power, more than I expected.
Kwaaang!!!
Once again, the Nightmare Demon King’s leg gets hit.
Even though I didn’t swing, suddenly a hammer swung down.
In that moment, my eyes widened and I looked to the side to see another hammer floating there.
“Um… Is that you, Fairy!?”
Kugugugung… Puhwaaaak!!!
The gigantic body completely toppled, creating a massive tidal wave.
For a moment, I was stunned by the colossal wave when suddenly, the tsunami spreading around the Nightmare Demon King brought me back to my senses.
“The village!”
─Don’t worry.
The Dreamland Fairy was already conjuring something with her tiny hands in mid-air.
Some blue something spread toward the village, creating a translucent barrier.
Through whatever was covering my eyes, I thankfully saw that the tidal wave was stopped by the barrier and didn’t hit the village.
The Dreamland Fairy seemed a bit tired and lowered her head.
─…I can’t use much power in reality. Blocking is my limit.
“Ah! Okay!”
I can’t let this place get swallowed by the sea!
I have to quickly defeat the Nightmare Demon King while the Dreamland Fairy holds on.
I hurriedly splashed through the sea and leaped upwards.
I burst out of the sea.
And then plunge back into it.
Whooosh!!
“…Ugh!”
Another leg, aside from the one I previously hit, is trying to keep me submerged in the water.
It seems it’s able to match my strength since it’s enormous.
Smash! Another leg completely wraps around me.
In the dark space, I exhale… and grasp the hammer tightly.
To be honest, I’m scared.
I’ve fought with friends before, but I’ve never fought to hurt someone, let alone fought for my life.
If the Nightmare Demon King looked as bizarre as before, I might have just frozen in place or run away.
“But not now.”
The Nightmare Demon King isn’t scary, and the Dreamland Fairy is helping me.
Plus, behind me are countless villagers.
I can’t stay trapped like this!
I grip the hammer tighter.
I need a stronger attack than before.
If I attack like I did earlier, I might be able to incapacitate one leg, but the Nightmare Demon King has at least 8 or more legs.
If another leg comes and wraps around me, the result will be the same.
Of course, I might be able to subdue all the legs, but time is against me.
“One shot!”
A technique that could affect the entire Nightmare Demon King, not just one leg…
‘A storm is coming.’
A storm?
‘Let’s read the flow of the clouds. Where and how they move, how the power flows.’
… I close my eyes.
The storm has weakened but not diminished.
It looks calm because the Fairy Lady has covered my eyes, but in reality, it’s pouring rain.
I read the flow of the torrential rain.
…Crackle…
‘I’ve caught something.’
…Yeah. I’ve caught it.
To be honest, at this point, I know this isn’t my thought anymore.
But that doesn’t matter.
Crackle…!
“Right now, defeating the Nightmare Demon King is more important.”
Swish!
I grab the hammer with a flourish.
With a small chuckle, the explosive way to use my technique embeds itself in my mind.
Yellow lightning flows in the sky, contrasting with the dark clouds above the sea.
Bludgeon technique…
‘Thunder Dragon.’
“Thunder Dragon!”
Krraaaack!!
The Judgment of the Brain struck the head of the Nightmare.
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