From the very beginning, he knew there was no chance of winning.
Defeat was inevitable, but he couldn’t just give up.
Giving up would mean conning countless lizardmen of their lives, lying to them that they would be victorious. Since there were lizardmen who believed this liar, he will not accept defeat.
Giving his all til the very last moment—
“I can still swing my sword!”
Zaryusu’s roar echoed out loud.
The sound of Cocytus’ teeth protruding out of his mouth clanking shut could be heard.
“A nice roar—”
Cocytus was probably laughing. That wasn’t the sound of the powerful looking down on the weak, but that of a warrior acknowledging his equal.
“Very well, younger brother. Let’s fight til the very end.”
Shasuryu laughed too.
“Okay… My apologies for keeping you waiting, Mr Cocytus.”
Cocytus merely shrugged in response to Shasuryu’s words.
“Don’t worry. Interrupting the last farewells of two brothers would be very rude. Prepare to die… Ah, it looks like you already did, didn’t you?”
In the face of Zaryusu and Shasuryu who took a step forth, Cocytus swung his blade and said:
“State your names.”
“Shasuryu Shasha.”
“Zaryusu Shasha.”
“... I will remember them, remember you two warriors. I also have to apologize, I would normally fight with a weapon in each hand… I am not demeaning you, but you are not strong enough for me to do so.”
“Such a pity.”
“Absolutely right— Let’s go!”
The two sprinted at Cocytus, splashing the waters in the wetlands.
The slight difference in the duo's timing made Cocytus puzzled.
They won’t enter his attack range at the same time, Shasuryu was faster. Suspecting the enemy had a scheme in mind, Cocytus waited eagerly for their attack.
The first to get into range was Shasuryu and Cocytus kept a close eye on him, wondering what he will do.
Shasuryu stopped right outside the attack range of Cocytus sword—
“「Earth Bind」!”
— He cast a spell.
Numerous chains made from mud flew at Cocytus and Zaryusu used this chance to charge. To make it harder for his enemy to gauge his attack range, Zaryusu hid Frost Pain behind his back.
Shasuryu announcing that he had exhausted his mana had been just a trick to deceive Cocytus. If he fell for it, Cocytus might get constrained by the magical chains and be hit by Zaryusu who was attacking from behind.
No matter how hard Cocytus’ exoskeleton was, Zaryusu should be able to break through by throwing everything he had behind a stabbing attack. Zaryusu who abandoned all defences in favor of offense will definitely yield a powerful attack.
He seems very confident with his sword.
Cocytus emphatised with him. Just like him, Cocytus bore intense feelings for his weapons, especially the blade in his hand right now— He felt very strongly for this weapon that was used by his creator in the past. That’s why Cocytus was using Royal Blade God Slayer despite the disparity in fighting prowess as a show of his greatest respect.
However, they misjudged one thing. Their opponent right now was the Guardian of Nazarick’s fifth floor.
“... The spell cast by those with a level lower than mine won’t break through my defence.”
The mud chain bounced off before it could physically touch Cocytus, falling back into the wetlands like slabs of mud. Low tier magic couldn’t penetrate Cocytus’ magic defence.
“— 「Icy Burst」!”
With a roar that came from behind his back, Cocytus was covered by a white fog around him.
Futile effort.
Cocytus, who was completely immune to frost attacks, simply embraced the gentle freezing breeze as he waited for Zaryusu and Shasuryu to get into range.
One breath later, the moment he was waiting for came. But Cocytus hesitated slightly, wondering if cutting off their heads was enough to stop them.
When facing Zaryusu who had abandoned his defense, decapitating him might not halt his attack. The image of a headless body charging him appeared in Cocytus’ mind. If that was the case, he will take out the arms, then the head.
No, that is not a clean enough kill, I will finish him in one strike.
Zaryusu’s reckless charge was too slow for Cocytus.
The vaguely visible black figure— The sword swung out by Zaryusu, was pinched by Cocytus’ fingers like he did earlier.
Cocytus did not feel any frost from his fingers, Zaryusu probably knew it was useless against Cocytus and didn’t activate this ability.
The unexpectedly quick assault was blocked so easily by Cocytus, which made Cocytus doubtful. But the doubts only lingered for an instant, he could finish off his foe with a swing of his blade, there was no need to think further.
And then, there is only one more left.
So it was just a reckless assault...
Cocytus who felt disappointed was about to swing his sword when he changed his mind.
I see.
“Warrghhh!”
With a roar a giant sword cleaved through the icy smog. Shasuryu slashed through the fog strongly enough to disperse it.
Be it the ‘Earth Bind’, Zaryusu’s attack or ‘Icy Burst’, all these were just baits.
Cocytus needed to be wary of the stabbing attack from Frost Pain, but the threat of Shasuryu’s cleaving sword was greater. This must be the true intention of the enemy, but—
“If you want to perform a sneak attack— you have to do it silently.”
If they couldn’t cover their footsteps while running in water, it was not really a sneak attack. Cocytus was puzzled, was all of this worth the damage they took from the ‘Icy Burst’? Or are they just struggling in vain?
But it was a fact that an enemy was in his attack range.
Zaryusu's only weapon was immobile, rendering him helpless. This was just changing the order in which Cocytus would kill them. After coming to this conclusion, Cocytus wielded the blade in his hand.