Free Web NovelChapter 35: Smasher (2)
Despite their combined efforts, the Smasher zombie was a formidable opponent. Its armoured body was too strong for Shinon’s sword and Rico’s flaming machetes to penetrate, leaving them struggling to find an opening.
But since the system had prompted Shinon to kill the creature, he knew it was possible, as the system would want him to get stronger and not die like a fool.
’The question is, how the heck do I do it?’ He thought.
The Smasher appeared to be toying with them, moving with an almost casual grace as it deflected their attacks. It seemed as though the creature was biding its time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike them down together.
"Ah fuck it! I’m gonna throw everything I have at this piece of shit."
Shinon gritted his teeth and focused his shadowmancer abilities, using his sword to create a flurry of afterimages surrounding the Smasher. The creature roared in frustration as it tried to keep up with Shinon’s movements, but the young man was too fast.
For a moment, Shinon’s trick looked like it could work. So Rico decided to join in as well. He charged in from the side, his flaming machetes leaving a trail of fire in their wake. The Smasher dodged and countered with a swift kick, sending Rico flying through the air.
"Damn it!"
Shinon cursed under his breath as he saw his friend go down, but he didn’t have time to worry about him now. One mistake, and he would be joining Rico on the flying express.
Kira, who had been observing the Smasher closely, noticed something peculiar. As the creature turned around to face Shinon, she spotted a small opening behind its knee.
Unlike the rest of the Smasher’s body, that part was not adequately armoured, probably to allow for smooth mobility as the zombie jumped before slamming its fists on the ground to use its infamous shockwave attack.
Without thinking, Kira raised her pistol and fired, hitting the Smasher right where she had noticed the weakness.
The Smasher let out a howl of pain and stumbled, allowing Shinon to attack. Shinon used his shadowmancer abilities to teleport around the creature, striking it from all sides. He managed to slice through a small gap in the creature’s armour, but it was barely a scratch.
Meanwhile, Rico recovered from Smasher’s attack and was back on his feet. He charged at the Smasher, his flaming machetes spinning in a deadly arc. But the creature dodged and countered, sending Rico flying once again.
"Get a grip on yourself, Rico!" Shinon barked as Rico weakly raised his thumb to show he was alright.
Unfortunately, Shinon should have paid more attention to the Smasher as he grabbed and effortlessly threw him over to the next room. It looked like the zombie was no longer in the mood to play with them after being hurt.
As the creature turned to face her, Kira raised her pistol again. She aimed for the same spot on the Smasher’s knee, hoping to weaken it further.
But this time, the creature was ready. It swung its massive arm, knocking the pistol out of Kira’s hand and sending it flying across the room.
"Oh shit..."
Kira cursed under her breath as she stumbled backwards, trying to keep her distance from the Smasher so she could draw the second pistol. However, the Smasher did not give her an opening.
Kira knew she was no match for the creature in close combat, not with its massive size and armoured body. But before the Smasher could harm her, something unexpected happened. The Smasher let out a roar of frustration as if it had just realised something and swung its arms behind.
Seizing the opportunity of the distracted zombie, Shinon and Rico sprang into action. Shinon used his shadowmancer abilities to teleport around the Smasher, striking at it from all sides with calculated precision.
His sword danced through the air, aiming for the joints and crevices in the creature’s armour, hoping to find a weak spot.
Meanwhile, Rico used his machetes to create a blazing inferno around the Smasher, his flaming blades leaving fire trails in their wake. The heat and flames engulfed the creature, creating a scorching barrier that trapped it in a circle of fire.
The Smasher tried to break free, its movements becoming slow and sluggish as the flames licked at its armour. Kira’s shot had undoubtedly weakened the creature, making it more vulnerable to their attacks.
"Oh, yeah! Payback time!"
Without thinking, Rico charged forward into the fiery circle, dodging the Smasher’s attacks as he went. He reached the creature’s knee and struck it with the Inferno’s Edge machetes.
"Did you forget about me?" Rico winked at the zombie before repeatedly slashing the creature’s knees from behind.
The Smasher raised its arms, intending to release another shockwave. However, the machete’s ignition ability got triggered before it could finish making the move.
"ARGH~!"
The Smasher groaned in pain as the flesh behind his kneecaps exploded into bits. But that wasn’t all. Shadowy tentacles shot through the fiery walls, grabbing both Smasher’s weak legs before snapping them away with ease.
Shinon soon appeared behind them, blood trickling from his nose from overusing his abilities but a smile on his face. "I hope that hurt like hell."
The Smasher let out a series of angry roars, clearly frustrated by the trio’s relentless attacks. It tried to attack them with its signature attack again, but this time, they were ready.
Shinon used his shadowmancer abilities to create a protective shield around Kira and himself, shielding them from the Smasher’s attack.
Rico used his machetes to deflect the shockwaves that got past the shield while Kira continued firing at the Smasher’s head, weakening it bit by bit.
"Fuck it! I can’t seem to break through his shell!" Kira cursed loudly.
"Let me try," Rico mumbled before jumping out of Shinon’s protective shield.
Shinon understood Rico’s plan and summoned the biggest shadowy tentacles to hold the Smasher in place. Rico, not one to back down from a challenge, charged in from the side, his machetes twirling in a blur of deadly attacks.
He slashed and sliced with all his might, yet the armour on Smasher’s body wasn’t ready to give up. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"I didn’t expect to use this here... but so be it," Shinon mumbled before getting back to his feet.
As the Smasher lay on the ground, its massive body still twitching, Shinon knew he had to act fast. He reached into his shadow and pulled out a modified hand cannon. The weapon was sleek and black, with intricate runes etched into its surface.
Shinon took aim at the Smasher’s head and pulled the trigger. The sound was deafening, the recoil almost knocking him off his feet. A bright flash of light illuminated the area, followed by a loud explosion as the Smasher’s head was blown to bits.
As the Smasher’s head exploded into bits, Kira and Rico stared at Shinon in awe and surprise. The sheer power and devastation of the blast left them speechless for a moment.
Rico’s machetes hung limply at his sides, and Kira’s pistol remained raised, smoke wisps curling from its barrel.
"What...what was that?!" Kira exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement.
Rico nodded in agreement, his usual bravado momentarily replaced by astonishment. "Yeah, I’ve never seen anything like that before! What kind of weapon is that, Shinon?"
Shinon, panting from the exertion of using the powerful hand cannon, smirked as he stared at the weapon. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and looked at his comrades.
"It’s a replica of a weapon I created long ago," he explained, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "But unfortunately, due to the lack of proper materials, it was a one-off... I can’t use it anymore."
He gestured towards the hand cannon, its barrel resembling a metal flower with spiky petals. There was no way in hell the weapon would fire ever again with a barrel like that.
Rico whistled, impressed. "I mean, it’s sad you can’t use it anymore, but the weapon was incredible! No wonder it packed such a punch."
Kira nodded, her curiosity piqued. "But why didn’t you make more of them? With that kind of firepower, we could have used it against the Smasher and other powerful enemies."
"You better start listening to what I say..." Shinon sighed a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I’ve tried. But the materials needed to recreate the weapon are scarce and difficult to obtain."
He continued, "I’ve searched far and wide, but so far, I haven’t been able to find the required materials. So, this weapon remains a one-of-a-kind, a relic of my past creations."
Rico patted Shinon on the back, offering his condolences. "That’s a shame, buddy. But hey, at least we got to witness its power in action, and that was something else!"
"Indeed, Shinon. You truly are a master of your craft." Kira nodded in agreement, her admiration for Shinon’s skills and ingenuity evident. "Wait... what’s next to the bastard’s corpse?"
"It seems like a key- what the fuck?" Shinon jumped back.
As Shinon picked up the key left behind by the Smasher, the corpse suddenly started to disintegrate before their very eyes. Within moments, it had vanished entirely, leaving only the key in Shinon’s hand.
Kira and Rico stared at the spot where the Smasher had been just seconds ago, still in shock at what they had just witnessed. Shinon, on the other hand, quickly recovered and examined the key in his hand.
"This is strange," he muttered, turning the key over in his palm. "It looks eerily similar to the key the leader of the Raiders was carrying!?"
As he spoke, the ground began to shake, and the walls around them groaned. The walls around them began to shift and change, revealing a hidden doorway behind the stone. The door creaked open, revealing a dark and foreboding room beyond.
Shinon exchanged a quick look with Kira and Rico, and they all knew what they had to do. Without a word, they stepped through the doorway, each preparing for the unknown dangers ahead.
