836 Bear fights the big monkey Part 2 - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

The Big Monkey attacks with erratic movements, making him difficult to fight. Even if he falls into a pit, he lands with spring-like legs, then kicks off the walls to climb out. His enormous body and long arms and legs only add to the challenge. Just when you think there's enough distance, you're barely out of reach. On top of that, he wields a massive sword with ease. "Kikikikiiii!" His long arm swoops down. I step back to dodge. But with his quick advance, the distance closes in an instant, and he simultaneously swings down his sword. I evade with minimal movement, slipping into his guard. Stepping in, I strike out with a Kuma-yuru knife. Just as I'm about to sweep his arm aside, his foot comes rushing in. It's a kick—I'm too late. He kicks me up; I quickly intercept with my left hand, avoiding a direct hit. The force sends me flying backward, but I manage to land. My reflexes are sharp. Can ordinary adventurers even defeat such a monster? I deeply understand why Mane-san called it a matter for the nation. He's strong. But all I'm doing is avoiding his attacks. If I land a hit, even Big Monkey should take damage. I take a breath and ready myself. Big Monkey, perhaps enjoying the fight, grins. He launches another attack. The gap closes once more. His sword swings down. With minimal movement, I parry it with the Kuma-yuru knife. It's more like subtly altering the angle. Even a small change in angle is challenging with the weight of Big Monkey's sword. Normally, even a glancing blow would knock it away. It's only possible thanks to the power of my bear equipment. As I deflect his sword, I gather magic in my left hand and unleash flames at point-blank range. Big Monkey leaps back on his spring-like legs. I swiftly hurl a fireball. Big Monkey realigns himself and slices the fireball with his sword. The fireball scatters and vanishes, seemingly absorbed by the sword. Was that just my imagination? Well, how about this? I conjure a large bear-shaped flame and unleash it on Big Monkey. His sword glows red as he slices through the bear flame. The flame disperses, absorbed into the sword. The sword is now clad in flames. Could this be the power of the Goblin King's sword? Or perhaps it’s Big Monkey’s own strength? At the moment he smirks and flexes his legs, he closes the gap between us almost instantly with a leap. And in that same instant, he swings the flame-entwined sword down at me. It's fast. I narrowly dodge it. Using the momentum from my dodge to spin, I deliver a roundhouse kick. After swinging down the sword, Big Monkey's reaction is delayed. My kick connects, sending him flying. For the first time, I manage to hit him. Maybe he’s unused to wielding a sword because he only just started using it. After swinging the sword, his movements felt awkward. Despite his repeated attempts to close in, his movements are not as fluid as they should be. Big Monkey rolls across the ground. He stands up, not letting go of the sword — that’s commendable. He lets out a shrill "Kikikikiiii!" As soon as he's hit once, he goes from grinning to anger. Typical ape behavior, unable to control his emotions. "Kikikikiiii!" At Big Monkey's call, the red monkeys around us suddenly rush at me. From the right, the left, the front, behind — even above and below. They attack from all directions. Using Kuma Punch and Kuma Kick, I launch them away without holding back. Yet, the struck and kicked monkeys land nimbly. Did they disperse the impact? … In that case. I conjure a whirlwind around myself, sending the monkeys flying into the air. As the airborne monkeys become immobile, I shoot ice arrows at them. The arrows pierce the monkeys, dropping them to the ground, motionless. I must ensure they are down for good, or they'll keep attacking relentlessly. Again, Big Monkey lets out a "Kikikikiiii," and fresh red monkeys appear. How many are there? It's a relief they aren't pursuing Mane-san and her group. I'm grateful they're targeting me instead. "Phew." Now, how to take him down? The red monkeys are manageable, but Big Monkey is the problem. Wind magic is avoided; fire magic is cut down. Effective magic might be water, ice, or lightning. The question is how well that sword can defend against magic. As I contemplate, Big Monkey lets out another "Kikikikiiii," and the surrounding red monkeys attack again. Numbers alone don’t affect me. I conjure another whirlwind, lifting the attacking red monkeys into the air. Preparing to shoot an ice arrow upwards, I catch Big Monkey charging at me in the corner of my eye. I lower my left arm, initially aimed at the airborne monkeys, and release the partially activated ice magic toward the charging Big Monkey. From my left hand, countless ice arrows fly forth. He bats them away with his sword, closing the distance between us. But with his sword mid-swing, I advance before he can raise it again, using the great sword as a foothold to kick his face. My right kick lands on his face. Or so I thought; his other hand catches my leg. With a grip on my right leg, Big Monkey lifts me effortlessly. Despite my light weight, to lift me single-handedly— he swings me down quickly. I must time it right. I gather magic in my leg, enveloping it with electricity. His body stiffens momentarily, loosening his grip enough for me to twist and escape. Meanwhile, the red monkeys I had sent flying earlier fall to the ground. Once landed, they again rush at me. I won’t repeat the same mistake. Whirling wind around me, I infuse it with electricity. The monkeys are flung up, crashing back down and ceasing movement. Throughout, I never took my eyes off Big Monkey. Any slight opening might provoke an attack. He watched me with intense focus. Breath in. Lightning is effective. I cloak both hands with electricity. Seeing this, Big Monkey's movements pause. He seems to understand the impact of the electricity he's felt earlier. "Kikikikiiii!" His hands ignite in flames, transforming his sword into a flaming weapon. "Is he mimicking me, perhaps?" Fire versus lightning — looks like that's where we're heading. "Kikikikiiii!" The Big Monkey comes charging at me, and I launch a bolt of electricity. He swings his flaming sword, effortlessly slicing through it. The electricity diffuses around him, seemingly absorbed by the fiery weapon, which grows even stronger. Is my magic really being siphoned away? I deftly jump back to dodge his sword, but he doesn’t stop, pressing the attack. As I retreat mid-air, his sword approaches once more. I intercept it with my mithril knife, charged with electricity. The electricity flows into his blazing sword. Now, even lightning dances alongside the flames. Sensing the danger, I quickly retreat. The sword is now shrouded in both fire and electricity. If I’d touched it any longer, more of my lightning might have been absorbed. I put more distance between us, but the Big Monkey is relentless, pursuing me persistently. I leap further backward, evading again and again. He swings his sword, then smirks knowingly. Suddenly, I understand why. "…!?" By the time I realize it, I'm airborne. There’s nothing but a cliff behind me. Was I lured here? I plummet past a waterfall. Thanks to my bear equipment, I’ll be okay even if I fall. "Kikikikiiii!" Looking up, I see the Big Monkey diving after me, a grin on his face. Was he waiting for this very moment? If nothing changes, he’ll strike right when I land. Landing isn’t a problem with my bear gear. But even with it, there’s a split second where I’ll have to brace myself. Just a fraction of a second. An unavoidable moment. In that case, I’ll have to withstand it. As I reach the ground, his sword comes slashing down. I intercept the flaming sword with my bear puppet. It’s heavy. The full force of his body and the weight from the fall presses down on me. I stagger a bit, but I hold my ground and endure it. Just as expected from this bear equipment. The expression on the Big Monkey's face shifts from a grin to one of shock. He didn’t anticipate that such a small human could halt his sword. Flames rage right before my eyes, yet I feel no heat, nor does the bear puppet catching the sword. "Freeze!" I switch from electric magic to ice magic. From my hands, a chill seeps forth. In response to his exertion, the flames grow stronger. I channel more magic to counteract. Freeze! Freeze! Freeze! I envisage the icy, sub-zero magic freezing everything. The flames on his sword begin to wane. The part of the sword I touch starts freezing over. My magic triumphs. Perhaps the Big Monkey imagines flames, but against the sub-zero iciness I envision, I have the upper hand. That’s the difference between beast and human. Between this world and an outsider. As the ice approaches his hand, for the first time, the Big Monkey lets go of the sword. He leaps back quickly, inspecting his hand. Perhaps the chill touched him, feeling cold to the touch. Maybe, for the first time, he's experiencing a cold sensation unlike water.