The Stone of Days Chapter 15

Grrr…. GAAAAAAAAA~!

As if wanting to give a reply to that roar, the sword 's flame – Pabak! – surged out. I had no clue how to control and use this sword at all. Mirbo who was leaning on a boulder covered in mud was staring at me.

"Lower your body!"

Despite being in such a state, his voice was quite composed and acute. Nevertheless, due to the injuries, the strength of his voice was fainter than before. It looks as if his stomach was slashed by the monster's claws.

But for now, let's heed to the advice of my senior.

Spreading my legs and lowering my stance, I held the double-handed sword out front. Since I'm right-handed, the right hand was in front. However, for two-handed swords, it was proper to leave an interval of a fist on the hilt, as per written on the swordsmanship manual.
Despite grabbing the sword like that, swinging it upwards and around, the weight was not light at all. While needlessly trying to display an intimidating stance by swinging the sword, I ended up just grazing the ground.

Pisshhhiiiiik…

Considering how it wasn't relatively hot holding the sword, I was shocked to see steam rising up from the snow as it melted.
If that's so? Then, try and have a taste of my sword!

Rushing towards the monster, I dragged the sword along the ground so I could perform an uppercut slicing maneuver. The body of this blade was mercilessly long, measuring at about 3 cubits. To be able to carry this weight and move, there was no mistake that this was all attributable to my iron snowboard which I carried, rode, and ran with.
How is it, furred monster? How do you like my magnificent stance?

"It's right leg will come first!"

Mirbo's voice. How does he know this so well? Can I trust him? Whether I do or not I should trust him for now, I couldn't afford the time to scrutinize about this at all.

My opponent is at least five to ten times stronger!

The one that's closing in on me is the front paw.
If that's the case…

At once, I retreated one step back with a jump.

A bear's paw is soft and delicious (isn't that what someone had once said)! (TL: No thank you~)

Kweeeeeeeeeeeek!

Like a stream, the blood sprayed into the snow as the monster's scream was quite different from before. It's blood had splashed onto my face. Strange, why is a living beast's blood so cold.

"Retreat! Fall back!"

I was on the verge of doing so anyways.

Mirbo's axe had pierced the monster's left shoulder. The blood there was already bleeding profusely as the white leather fur was soaked in blood.

Kuruk, KEUA~ KAAAAAK! Kurrr…

The monster, with it's injured arm, swung at me. At this point, I could move quickly without having to ask Mirbo. Gripping the sword tightly, the monster's arm clawed past me to the right, overextending more to the right. Evading backwards and pouring my strength onto both my shoulders (In order to do this, I had to clench my teeth in pain with endurance), I slashed the sword horizontally. Thanks to that, the monster spun half a circle. Then, in that last motion, I shifted my weight and turned my waist halfway.

KUUUUUK!

The arm that was clawing towards me for the third time – I faced it head on as I executed a full slash from my right to the left. Tufts of white fur flew into the air.

It felt like I hit bone, as if I had slashed through the texture.

The monster's arm was weakly dangling from the side. It's blood gushed out in front of my feet like a waterfall.

The reason why I was able to perform this action was because the monster had only attacked with his right arm as well as the length of this blade had given me leeway.

However, even the brief respite didn't last long.

KYAAAK!

The white-furred massive beast rushed forward.

However, there was no time to analyze this situation.

"Fabian, hold the sword to your right and charge straight ahead!"

What, what did you say?

The monster was now three paces away!
But even then I still temporarily doubted the croaking , struggling voice of Mirbo. Did I hear something ridiculous? No, it's precisely because I understood why I was so alarmed!

"…Then…Twist your body and escape through the gap between the monster's armpit and right arm!"

I got it!

I had already recognized that the beast, after having  the axe embedded on it's left shoulder, is not able to use the left arm to attack at all. There's no mistake that Mirbo had already known of this long before. However, I will give it's right arm an even bigger wound with this attack. The edge of it's elbow was tattered with blood gushing out.
If so, how should I act exactly? I should attack from the left this time!

"Of course…except, I think it's too risky!"

What if the beast goes crazy and attacks with his left arm?

Too tired to think of the situation, I charged forward forgetting about the moment I was in. Even if it's an action that can't be done by an intelligent person, there is no word that can be spoken of, and no spirit to break, so do not speak!

There was now a distance of about 7 more steps to go between the beast and I. In a state of ignorance, I lifted my sword chest-high and thrust slightly upwards.

Two steps, one step, finally…
Then… In front of me was a large furred-leather!

Poook!

Not even having the room to withdraw my sword, I braced myself from the impact and just pushed on. And once I felt that half of the sword had stabbed in, I turned my aching body sideways with all my weight behind it dragging the sword along the beast's stomach. .

The flame that surged out of the sword plunged inside the beast's body, causing me to feel as if my surroundings had dimmed in an instant. Instead, the flesh of the monster began to turn a dark red.
Blood!

Puaaak-!

Blood sprayed out like a fountain. The blade of the sword had cut halfway through the beast's body, and likewise, half of the remaining sword was still hanging outside. In an absolute crisis, the beast desperately raised its right arm.

"Fabian! Drop the sword!"

Ah, ah, you want me to drop a sword as great as this? It seems expensive as well…

Dropping the sword, I rolled forward down the hill.

The blood that poured out from the beast gushed over my head. Since I didn't have any thoughts of drinking blood, I closed my mouth firmly. By the way, the blood seems to be a bit warmer than before.

WOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! KUK!

The beast that had half of his waist cut collapsed to the ground and sputtered a shrilling cry to the heavens as if it was a slaughtered cow. And, then…

TL Afterword

God, that was one epic battle scene. No words are needed!

Translator: Calvis
Proofreader: Sai101, Kajin

Chapter end