I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 493

A few days ago, I saw a post like this on the Gallery.

Title) Don’t turn your back and flee from giants

You will all get caught.

Even if you run as fast as your legs can carry you, giants will cover the distance in five steps.

So if you want to run, at least cut their Achilles tendon or blind them.

If you can’t meet these conditions, most of you will end up caught and turned into a meal, so take heed.

L Is it meaningless even if I run away using Lightness Skill?

L OP) According to experts, they said it just feels like a cockroach scurrying away friggggin’ fast.

L Who the hell is the expert? Did you talk to monsters or something?

L OP) It’s me.

L Kkkkkkkkkk

L Kkkkkkkk

L Holy shit kkkkkkk

L "It’s me" LMFAO kkkkkk

L So damn confident it’s just hilarious kkkkk

L OP) (Photo of missing one leg) Will you believe me now?

L Uh...

L Hmmm...

L Uh... I’m sorry...

L You really were an expert. Sry;;

L OP) Anyway, I’m a lucky case, so definitely listen to me. Against giant-type monsters, unless it’s do-or-die, don’t even put running away on your list of options. Or flee right from the very beginning.

L Can’t we use Teleport?

L OP) I barely survived with Teleport when an Ogre bit my ankle, too. Teleport is fine.

Never turn your back and run when fighting a massive monster.

Just as the comments on the Gallery said, even if we run like madmen, the giants only need to take a step or two to catch up.

That’s why when subjugating high-rank monsters like Ogres, elite troops like knights are usually dispatched instead of regular soldiers.

Soldiers are nothing more than meat shields no matter what, but knights can at least escape.

However, the wild is a place where numerous monsters exist that even those knights can barely handle.

Not only monsters that demand you prepare for death at a single encounter, but one wrong move could provoke a dragon-level calamity.

For a mere human to run on two legs in front of a being of overwhelming proportions is utterly foolish.

Kuuung!

"Uaaakh!"

"Everyone, keep your balance!"

And I am currently committing that very foolish act right now. I have no choice.

Because fighting a knight vastly larger than a building—no, a skyscraper—was literally suicidal.

Striking a rock with an egg? The egg would shatter to pieces before it even hit the rock.

Koong! Koong! Kwagang!

To make matters worse, the knight was cunning. The moment it noticed us fleeing, it stomped its feet repeatedly.

Then, remarkably, the ground began to ripple like rolling ocean waves.

Even a severe earthquake wouldn’t cause such a phenomenon; it was truly marvelous.

The problem was that it didn’t take long for even that marvel to turn into sheer terror.

"Ggyuuuu! Ggyuuuu!"

"Bbi-iiik! Bbiik!"

The little ones had already lost their will to fight. No, it was at the level where they had already given up on surviving.

I fully understood how they felt. I felt like giving up right this instant as well.

But even if we give up, those who can live must survive, right? So I asked Bbareumbo.

"Bbareumbo. Can you take the kids and run right now?"

"...."

Head shake, head shake—

Even at my question, Bbareumbo shook his head. Fast as he was, his speed was meaningless before that giant colossus.

There was only one other way. Just as I saw on the Gallery, Teleport was the only answer.

A flea jumping around. There was no better expression for us.

’Teleport is impossible right now... Wait.’

I hurriedly looked around. Currently, the entire city had been absorbed by the colossus.

Therefore, there was nothing but vacant ground around us. Like a desert, there was nothing.

"Lackey! Can you cast magic right now?!"

I urgently called out to Lackey. The problem was that Lackey had fallen into a state of panic.

Burying his head in the ground and trembling violently, he seemed terrified by the overwhelming size.

Barely suppressing the rage boiling inside me, I forcibly dragged Lackey up.

Slap!

Then, slapping his cheek hard to wake him up, I shouted.

"Hey, you bastard! Get a grip! Can you use magic or not?!"

"U-uh? Master...?"

"Can you use magic?! Check quickly!"

At my yelling, Lackey barely snapped out of his panic.

With eyes consumed by fear, he glanced at the colossus behind me.

But whether his survival instinct kicked in, he hurriedly checked his condition.

"I-I think I can! But it takes time!"

"So you can do it, right? Got it."

Better than not being able to. I turned my head and looked up at the giant statue.

Swooosh—

"Oh. Dear God."

It was slowly raising the sword it had pulled from the tower.

It was a truly sluggish movement, but its sheer overwhelming presence was more than enough to convey terror.New chapters come out on novelping . com first.

But I couldn’t just stand there staring. I yelled to Lackey.

"First, cast Teleport as fast as you can! Set me as the last target! Got it?!"

"But..."

"Shut the hell up with your ’buts’ and just do it!"

"U-understood!"

There wasn’t even time to hesitate. I calculated the optimal timing to escape.

The moment that sword brought down its strike, we would all die. We had to get out of here before then.

And as far away as possible, if achievable. I pulled out the Elixirs I had and downed them all.

Just in case, I shoved the remaining one into Ludwig’s hands. It was necessary to keep future contingencies in mind.

"Cain-ssi. Is giantification still impossible?"

[I am truly sorry... but to become a colossus, I must react with the Holy Sword. That acts as a key of sorts.]

Even in a situation like this, Cain could not display his true power.

I couldn’t even scold him for it, since Cain was an AI directly blessed by Aris.

If I were to curse anyone, I should curse Aris, not Cain.

’I can’t receive the Holy Sword in a situation like this either.’

Every second was urgent. I tightly gripped the Sword of the Heavenly Demon.

The feeling from when I sliced the Mechanical Sand Worm in half. Recreating that exact feeling wasn’t hard.

Keeping the absolute worst-case scenario in mind. In such a situation...

Hwooouuung!

The very scenario I feared began crashing down from right above our heads.

I shouted for everyone except Lackey to duck their heads as low as possible.

I didn’t know if I could actually block that thing, but I had to block it.

At least until the group could safely escape.

"Lackey! How many seconds! How many seconds do you need?!"

"3, 3 seconds until it activates! But one by one is the best I can do!"

Kwaaaaa!

Even that was something. A calamity was already dropping over our heads.

Shadows fell, and a pressure beyond description weighed down upon us.

"I-it’s ready! Activating!"

"The kids first!"

"Ggyuuuuu! Ggyuuuu!"

Paat!

Sensing something strange, Wonmo lunged toward me, but it was too late. He had already vanished.

The same went for Maengkkongi atop my head.

"Bbi-iiik! Bbiik!"

Tyranno, who flew toward me as if refusing to be separated...

"Bbae-aek! Bbeaek!"

Cheongseol, who grabbed my face as if she would never let go...

All of them were transported to a safe place.

Kuaaaaa!

"Keep going! Keep going! Hurry!"

It’s coming.

A massive power beyond imagination.

Even striking back a meteorite falling from space wouldn’t be weaker than this.

Regardless of whether it strained my body, I drew up every ounce of strength I had.

What was needed right now was pure force itself. Monstrous strength capable of supporting a falling meteor.

’Seriously...’

Though I hate gods...

’What kind of suffering is this...’

At this moment, I had no choice but to beg pathetically.

I gripped the hilt of the sword tightly with my right hand and pressed the palm of my left hand against the flat of the blade.

And...

Kwaaaaang!!!

To buy even just a single second, I caught the greatsword falling from above my head.

"!!!"

Not even a shout of exertion could escape. All I could do was grit my teeth tightly.

I gritted them so hard that my molars—no, my teeth—began to crunch and shatter.

Pat!

1 second.

Ludwig and Largo vanished.

My teeth were so thoroughly shattered—or rather completely ground down—that even the sensation of biting down disappeared.

Paat!

2 seconds.

Cain, who was lending me even a little bit of strength, vanished.

Woodudeuk! The crunching sound of bones snapping in my waist echoed vividly.

I felt no pain.

Pat!

3 seconds.

Bbareumbo, who was looking at me with a sad expression, vanished.

Ggwadeuk! The sound of my shinbones fracturing resounded.

I felt no pain.

And finally, 4 seconds.

"...I’m sorry. Master."

Lackey apologized as he disappeared. I commended his wise choice.

’If I let go now, is it over?’This story is hosted at novelpin‌g.com.

Time moved slowly. A phenomenon similar to when I fought the Mechanical Sand Worm.

If I relaxed my body like this, I could be at peace. My spine and leg bones were already damaged beyond repair.

I was merely holding out through my unique regenerative ability, but the outcome wouldn’t change.

’...No.’

Shouldn’t I do what needs to be done before going? That giant colossus might bring harm to the party.

Crucially, I hadn’t given up yet. So, using whatever strength I had left, I managed to twist the sword.

As soon as I forcibly twisted my blade, the colossus’s greatsword slammed down right beside me. A loud noise should have rung out, yet I heard nothing.

’It’s not over yet.’

If I can inflict enough damage to incapacitate that colossus...

And if the remaining companions finish it off or knock it down entirely...

I can survive. It’s not over until I close my eyes.

’I am...’

Recall it to the very end. Its weakness.

Don’t give up on thinking until the very end.

’I didn’t survive until now just to die...’

Skuld’s real body must be inside the laboratory.

If I strike that laboratory with all my strength, I can find hope.

’No...’

I never loosened my grip on the Sword of the Heavenly Demon. Quite the opposite.

Mana, stamina, physical energy, and even the life essence known as Innate Primordial Qi.

Drawing out all of these, I finished preparing to deliver one final blow. I slowly raised my head.

The head of the colossus was impossibly high. But if not now, there would be no more chances.

I slowly pulled back the Sword of the Heavenly Demon and...

Kwang!!!

Hurl it toward the head of the colossus. The sound of tearing air pierced into my ears.

A moment ago, I could hear nothing, yet this time it sounded so vivid.

Whether this would be the last sound I hear before dying, or the opposite...

The result would be told by that Sword of the Heavenly Demon flying fiercely forward.

Kwaaaaa!!!

It flew as fast as an arrow. The Aura Blade enveloping the Sword of the Heavenly Demon did not shrink in the slightest.

Did the colossus sense danger as well? It let go of the greatsword held in both hands and raised its arm.

It was a reasonable judgment in its own right, but there was something even it had failed to expect.

Kwazijik!

That the Sword of the Heavenly Demon was a masterwork among masterworks.

Wrapping that masterwork blade in an Aura Blade made its power beyond description.

Ggwadeudeuk!

The Sword of the Heavenly Demon pierced straight through the giant colossus’s arm.

My precious blade lodged precisely into its head before the colossus could even react.

Though it failed to penetrate all the way through, it must have been a lethal blow to the colossus.

Lurch—

The balance of the giant colossus, which seemed like it would never fall, tilted backward.

If it collapsed or crumbled like this, a chance at victory would remain.

’Please. Please. Please...’

I desperately prayed inside that the giant form would collapse. Only then could I raise my chances of survival even a little bit.

But perhaps God found it disgusting to see a guy who spent all his time cursing Him suddenly cling pathetically.

Kuuung!

The giant colossus seemed to fall, but barely managed to regain its balance.

I managed to land a blow, but that was as far as it went.

"...Ha."

I let out a hollow laugh. Now I didn’t even have a weapon.

As despair vaguely rushed in, pain also surged like a tidal wave.

I thought I had grown used to pain, but not at all. Sparks flashed in front of my eyes! Soon, my body stopped listening to me.

Thud!

After stumbling like that for a while, I fell backward. I didn’t even have the strength to twitch a finger.

On the other hand, the statue remained intact. Even though I delivered a blow, killing me would be easy for it.

Fumble— fumble—

Even as my consciousness drifted away, I moved my hand. A small stone was gripped in my hand.

It was truly a shabby stone. Staring at it blankly, I swung my arm with all I had.

’Eat this, asshole.’

Naturally, it didn’t do shit. I didn’t even have the power to throw the rock in the first place.

Meanwhile, as if to finish me off, the giant colossus turned the greatsword upside down. Its intention to plunge it into me was clear.

Now it’s truly the end. I struggled so hard to survive, but in front of a true disaster, it was all futile.

’Even if I regret it early, regret is still regret...’

I slowly closed my eyes. I didn’t even have the strength to keep them open.

Flap!

But right before my eyes shut completely, something caught my sight.

A giant... anyway, a colossal something flapping its wings as it approached.

In my heart, I wanted to open my eyes wide, but my mind had already given up.

In the end, without knowing what that rapidly approaching entity was, I closed my eyes.

Instead.

[Gooaaaaaaarrrgh!!!]

A ferocious roar struck my ears with extreme clarity.

[Stopping video recording.]

’...Ah.’

I didn’t turn off the recording.