Volume 01, Chapter 17
Stargate Training [2]
!
Sensing danger, I leap into the air just as the claymore-wielding skeleton's wide swing cuts through the space I occupied moments before.
Mid-air, the spear-wielding skeleton retaliates, hurling its weapon directly at me with deadly precision.
[Gravity's Gambit]
Reacting instinctively, I angle both guns to the side and fire.
-Bang!
The recoil shifts my momentum, nudging me just enough to avoid the spear as it whizzes past. However, gravity soon asserts itself, and I start to plummet.
I forgot to plan for the landing.
-Thud!
Thankfully, the clouds cushioning my fall are soft.
Scrambling to my feet, I quickly refocus on the remaining skeletons. Without its spear, the unarmed skeleton poses little threat. My attention locks on the claymore-wielding one, the more formidable foe.
It's time to switch from defense to offense.
[Vanguard Volley]
Drawing upon another technique from the Gun Arts Manual, I take quick, deliberate steps forward, guns blazing in a controlled rhythm.
-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The skeleton attempts to block with its claymore, but the relentless barrage of bullets causes it to stagger.
This is my opening.
I maintain the pressure, advancing steadily as the skeleton falters under the unyielding volley.
Closing the distance, I leap, planting a foot on the skeleton's claymore and using it as a springboard to vault over. Mid-air, I twist and aim both guns downward.
-Bang! Bang!
The bullets strike true, piercing through its spine. The skeleton crumples to the ground, dissolving into pink clouds like the others before it.
One more down.
I turn to the unarmed skeleton. Without hesitation, I raise my guns.
-Bang!
The final skeleton collapses, its form disintegrating into the pink mist.
“Hah…hah…”
My chest heaves as I catch my breath, the intensity of the fight leaving me momentarily drained.
I feel a surge of energy as the System awards me another stat boost. It's not massive, but every bit counts in preparing for the challenges ahead.
Surveying the dissipating clouds of my defeated foes, I glance back at André. His expression carries a mix of pride and approval, punctuated by a small smile and an encouraging nod.
Nice.
Bolstered by his acknowledgment, I refocus. The Alpha still awaits, and this is far from over. I steel myself and press forward, ready for whatever lies ahead.
The pink clouds before me rise like a staircase leading to the unknown. The only way forward is up.
I approach the edge of my current platform, curiosity compelling me to peer down.
Below, a grim sight greets me—spikes jutting out with skeletons impaled on them, remnants of those who had failed this trial.
I swallow hard, a mix of dread and determination settling in my chest.
"This is no place for hesitation," I tell myself. "Let's do this."
Stepping back, I take a few deep breaths before sprinting toward the edge.
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"Hah!"
I leap with all my strength, reaching for the next cloud. My fingers barely catch the edge.
"Oof!"
Hanging precariously, I haul myself up, the strain in my arms burning with every pull. Finally, I collapse onto the surface, gasping for breath.
When I glance up, my heart sinks. Six more clouds await.
"You've got to be kidding me," I mutter, but there’s no turning back now.
-Crackle!
The sound jolts me. Spinning around, I see a skeleton with a sword materializing behind me.
-Crackle!
A second skeleton appears, this one brandishing a shield.
Great—just what I needed. A sword-and-shield duo.
The skeleton with the sword charges first, its movements unnaturally swift. I sidestep the attack and aim my guns.
-Bang! Bang!
Before my bullets can land, the shield-wielding skeleton leaps forward, intercepting them with a metallic clang.
-Clank! Clank!
The sword skeleton circles to the side, lunging at me again. I narrowly dodge its swing and aim directly for its head.
-Bang!
The skeleton ducks, evading the shot. Its counter comes swiftly—a thrust aimed straight for my chest. I leap back just in time to avoid the blade.
-Clang!
A sudden impact from behind sends me tumbling forward. The shield skeleton rammed into me while I was focused on its partner.
"Gah!"
I hit the cloud hard, rolling back onto my feet. These aren’t ordinary skeletons. Despite their bony frames, they pack a surprising punch—and their teamwork is impeccable.
Both skeletons charge at me now, the shield-bearer leading, with the sword-wielder close behind.
I perform [Vanguard Volley], a Gun Arts technique that allows me to balance mobility with relentless firepower.
-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
-Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
The shield skeleton halts to absorb my shots while the sword skeleton leaps over it, swinging its blade down at me.
I hit the deck, rolling to safety. Quickly regaining my stance, I focus my fire on the shield-bearer.
-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
This time, I close the distance, using its shield as a springboard to vault over it.
Mid-air, I twist and aim for the back of its exposed skull.
-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The shield-bearer collapses, dissolving into pink mist, but its shield remains intact.
Before I can celebrate, the sword skeleton picks up the fallen shield and enthusiastically charges me.
"Seriously?" I mutter, frustrated.
The fight resumes. I keep firing, but the skeleton blocks every shot with the shield as it advances.
I plan to repeat my earlier strategy: charge, use the shield as a springboard, and attack from behind.
I dash forward, leaping onto the shield.
-Clang!
Mid-air, I see the skeleton throw its sword at me.
[Centurion's Guard]
I twist mid-leap, narrowly avoiding the flying blade. Landing back on the solid cloud, I face the skeleton, armed only with the shield.
"You shouldn’t have thrown your sword," I taunt, confident I’ve gained the upper hand.
But my confidence is short-lived. Before my eyes, the shield morphs into twin knives, glinting ominously.
-Swish! Swish!
The skeleton deflects my bullets with its newfound weapons, cutting through the air with unnatural precision.
"You've got to be kidding me."
It charges, slashing with lightning speed. I dodge left, then right, firing as I move.
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
The skeleton slices through my bullets as if they were nothing, its relentless attacks giving me no time to breathe.
-Clang!
One knife collides with my gun. I block with the other, but its second knife is already coming for me.
I roll backward, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the skeleton is on me again instantly.
This isn’t just a monster; it’s a skilled fighter.
Desperation fuels my next move. I fake a shot to the left, hoping to draw its knives away.
The skeleton falls for the feint, leaving its right side exposed.
-Bang!
The gunshot echoes, but the skeleton tilts its head with eerie precision, the bullet grazing past. Its blade lashes out like a striking serpent, and pain explodes in my side.
"Argh!"
A cry tears from my throat as I stagger back, clutching the wound. Warm blood seeps through my fingers, each heartbeat a reminder of how close I am to losing.
The skeleton's hollow sockets fixate on me, an unspoken mockery in their emptiness. It advances relentlessly and unnervingly.
I force the pain to the back of my mind, biting down hard to steady myself. This fight isn’t about brute strength. It's about outthinking the enemy—strategy over desperation.
With the skeleton closing in, I know I have to act fast. My guns, for all their power, aren't enough alone.
I have to use the environment and my wits.
Backing away, I feign retreat, leading the skeleton into a false sense of victory. My back brushes against something firm yet yielding—a cloud's dense, pillowy surface. I glance over my shoulder, and an idea sparks.
The skeleton lunges, its blades poised to strike me down. At the last moment, I duck and roll forward, narrowly evading the whistle of its attack and slicing through the air.
Ignoring the pain in my side, I spring to my feet, adrenaline surging. I send a puff of dense cloud matter into the skeleton’s face with a desperate kick. To my surprise, the cloud hangs in the air like a thick veil, obscuring its vision.
The skeleton staggers, slashing wildly in all directions. Its deadly precision is gone, leaving an opening I can’t afford to miss.
I close the gap in a burst of movement, every step fueled by determination. Grabbing its bony arm, I twist sharply, turning its momentum against it. With my other hand, I guide the skeleton's blade straight into its ribcage.
For a moment, everything goes still. The world holds its breath.
Then, with a shuddering crack, the skeleton collapses. Its bones clatter against the cloud beneath us before disintegrating into a fine pink mist, carried away by an ethereal breeze.
“Hah... hah...”
My breath comes in ragged gasps as I sink to my knees. The knife protruding from my side is a cruel reminder of the fight's cost. Grimacing, I yank it free, blood seeping through my torn shirt. I tear a strip from the fabric, wrapping it tightly around the wound to staunch the bleeding.
The clouds around me have returned to their serene state, the immediate danger gone. But the road ahead looms larger.
I glance upward, past the expanse of shifting clouds. The summit feels impossibly far, yet closer than it’s ever been.
With a heavy sigh, I push myself to my feet. "Let’s keep going," I mutter, forcing my legs to move despite the ache in every step.
The journey continues.
Leap after leap, the clouds blur into one another. Thirty agonizing minutes later, I finally land on the last cloud. I bend over, hands on my knees, lungs burning.
“Hah... hah...”
This time, no monsters come. No attacks, no obstacles. Just silence—a respite I hadn’t dared hope for. I glance up, and there it is: a castle floating atop a massive pink cloud, shimmering with an otherworldly glow.
“This must be where the Alpha of this Stargate resides,” I murmur, steeling myself for the final confrontation.
The battle is far from over, but I’m still standing. And I’ll see this quest through to the end.
