Cheers to the Battle! | Episode 3: "The Sinking Shield"

Episode 3 is the second half of Episode 2. If you haven't seen it yet, please go here →Episode 2
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The swamp. Dベッド's party is in the middle of a battle with the giant Armadidon. This continues right after the shield-bearer Zeed fixed his footing and began his attack with the sword imbued with the Earth Orb.
Well then ☘️🐾

Episode 3: The Sinking Shield

"Gyaaaaaa—"

Writhed in pain, the Armadidon slowly pulled away from the shield and disappeared into the muddy water.

The stagnant water rippled irregularly, making it impossible to read the movements beneath the surface.

Only the presence of murderous intent spread across the water's surface.

However, the target remained unchanged.

Its head turned back.

And then, it shifted its focus toward Zeed's shield, as if drawn to it.

Pushing through the water, its low-slung body charged in like a flowing tide.

Thud.

"Ugh."

Zeed's feet sank even deeper into the mud.

The light dwelling on the silver curved surface flickered slightly.

"Now!"

"Yeah!"

Dベッド was already moving.

"Hraaaaaah!"

The blade was driven into the cracked wound.

Squish.

"Gyaaaah!"

"Daaah!"

One more strike.

Squish.

Ocher-colored fragments scattered onto the mud.

"Gyaaaeeeh!"

I looked deep into the crack.

Beyond the hard layer, a dark color peeked out, slick and wet.

"I can reach it. The soft spot!"

"Alright, do it."

Zeed replanted his sinking feet and brought the silver curved surface back to the front.

The ocher-colored body, which had pulled back for a moment, lowered itself low.

But something was different from before.

The jewel-like object embedded in its head was glowing with a bleeding light.

A gray sense of unease suddenly traced down Dabed's spine.

He reflexively drew in a breath.

That is not something to block.

"Zeed, dodge it!"

Zeed's shoulder twitched.

His feet bit into the mud.

He quickly shifted his shoulder to the side.

But it was too late.

His body, which had sunk low, was not straight.

Kicking up mud, the brilliantly glowing protrusion bit in at an angle.

Clang.

The edge of the silver was gouged.

"Guh!"

The bracer connected to the shield came loose.

Black water splashed.

The curved silver surface flew in an arc over the mud.

A moment later, Zeed's body tilted heavily.

The light of the protrusion had not yet faded.

With a beat, its neck twisted.

Its head was thrust into Zeed's torso as if exploding forward.

Thud.

"Gah!"

Having lost his footing, Zeed's body slid across the mud without resistance.

Ahead of him, the stagnant water lay waiting like an open mouth.

Splash.

The stagnant water surface swallowed the figure.

"Zeed!"

"Zeed! Zeed!!"

Mud blocked his feet as he started to run.

"Damn it."

At the same time as that voice, the ochre-colored body dove into that spot like a madman.

Splash.

The muddy water splashed up like a wall.

Beyond the fallen water, the ochre back writhed.

"Gyeh, Gyehh-ehhh!"

The Armadidon was trampling the area where Zeed had sunk.

Torn grass and white flowers were scattered on the muddy water, sinking down.

Dabed's throat tightened.

There was no sign or sound of Zeed on the water's surface.

Only the ferocious roar echoed.

On the water's surface a little further away, only the shield, having lost its luster, floated half-submerged.

His fingers gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

"Damn it, am I going to die here...!"

It creaked in his hand.

Switch, switch. Just, switch.

It's not over yet.

But with no Geed, no shield, the footing at its worst, and an enemy still moving in front of me, if I stop here, I'll be the next one to disappear.

The next moment, the black water split.

An ochre-colored body charged straight at me.

It's not a shield.

It's coming for me!

My legs are heavy.

I can't dodge it completely.

Rather than run, I'll go forward.

I let out a short breath.

At that moment, the giant body twisted unnaturally.

A faint sense of unease brushed against my chest.

It's protecting its split back.

The shadow draws near.

The head, sunk low, cuts through the muddy water.

I aimed the blade tip at the crack.

"Yaaah!"

The giant body twisted even further.

On the underside, a whitish belly was visible.

—That's it!

I stepped in without hesitation.

The mud rippled just below my face.

My feet were sinking.

Up to my knees.

Up to my thighs.

There was no turning back now.

Even so, I did not lower my sword tip.

A shadow fell over me.

Beneath the looming body, I stared only at the single point where I would thrust my sword.

--I'll give you all of the Earth Orb.

At the base of the blade, an earth-colored light spread like a crack.

The shadow overhead grew even darker.

I placed both hands on the hilt and gripped it deep.

My target was right there.

"Uraaaah!"

The blade flew toward the belly.

Squelch.

A heavy sensation traveled back up to my arms.

"Nghhh!"

The blade bit deep into the gut.

"Gyaaaaaaah!"

An earthy-colored light raced into the wound, and the entire sword vibrated sharply.

The gash in its belly cracked, and its body jerked violently.

At that moment, the blade slipped smoothly out of its belly.

A drooping head peeked out, just barely above the surface of the mud.

Dabed's breath returned, and that single point became strangely clear to his eyes.

The light of the jewel embedded in its head slowly faded away.

Suddenly, the massive body swayed and tilted toward Dabed.

"Whoa!"

He immediately threw his sword forward and cast himself into the murky water.

The ochre belly fell as if to crush the water's surface, and a large wave struck Dabed's face.

The giant body did not stop.

The ochre back slid down as if being sucked in.

Amidst the waves, that back grew smaller and smaller.

The muddy water slowly closed over it.

Holding his breath again, he reached his hand toward the bottom of the stagnant water.

His fingertips brushed against the hilt of the sword he had thrown earlier.

He pulled it toward him and, using the sword for support, barely managed to crawl out of the swamp.

Dripping with mud from head to toe, he sat down on a nearby rock.

"Haa, haa... haa."

I can't seem to catch my breath.

The swamp was already beginning to grow quiet.

There was no sign of Zeed, nor of Armageddon.

In that silence, Dabed slowly closed his eyes.

Only the sound of Zeed's voice and the sensation of his own heavy feet remained.

In the distance, a bell rang once.

Episode 4 (In progress) Tentative: "Buff of the Windy Hill"

You can listen to it in 30 seconds.
Produced with Gemini (Lyria 3).
Click here to listen ☘️↓🎯

※Please note that while this is purely for entertainment, it contains music that may evoke feelings of loss or sadness.

A battle song of resurgence to reignite a broken heart🔥↓

I created a musical novel using Suno.
Listen to music as if you were reading a story. That is the kind of work this is👍💘👆⛱️ (Suno link)↓🎯
Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3 (In progress)

I would be happy to hear your thoughts on either the story or the story song, whichever caught your interest✨🐾

It got a little long, but thank you for reading until the end🙇🛍️🐾