Behemoth's Pet

Chapter 72.1: Conclusion of Gladdstone’s Riot

「GUH…! 」

Aria’s body was paralyzed due to fear.

It was a natural reaction for someone who experienced the thundering roar of an S-ranked monster, a roar that could shake the atmosphere.

But Aria was blessed with Tama’s 《Divine Protection of Lion King》, which also protected its bearer from fear.

Even if her body trembled in fear for a moment, a spark of courage returned to Aria’s eyes in the next moment as she stared at the Undead Dragon with a firm, resolute look in her eyes.

「Nyaa?! (Master, don’t tell me… You can still fight?!)」

As soon as he noticed the look on Aria’s face, Tama unintentionally cried out. Aria just looked at him and nodded.

「It is just my corpse… But anyone who dares to manipulate my former body will DIE BY MY HANDS! 」

Stella set a stance with her greatsword as she shouted those words. She was really angry seeing her corpse used like that.

A bulging vein could be seen on her forehead.

「For some reason, I feel that this guy is dangerous! Half of the troops, attack the Dragon! The other half, escort the civilians to a safe place! 」

After the Undead Dragon appeared, Dany started giving orders to the troops. Joey also gave orders to the adventurers.

「Stay out of my way!《Create Skeleton》! 」

Reis cried out, creating another crowd of undead appeared in front of the troops and adventurers that had arrived, intending to assist Aria and her party.

Meanwhile, Tama glared fiercely at the Undead Dragon. His tail stood tall with《Flame Edge》activated.

(Kuh… I don’t know for how long I can fight with this body… But it’s all or nothing!)

His opponent was an S-ranked Undead Monster.

Back then, when he fought Stella’s previous incarnation, he had evolved into his adult form and crushed the Earth Dragon. But the current Tama didn’t have that “Evolution” available anywhere in his status.

While he pondered on how to fight the Undead Dragon, it swung its forefeet.

『GUOOOOOON! 』

Aria and Tama were forced to step back a long distance to dodge that.

However, Stella didn’t move from her position at all.

「UOOOOOOOOOOOOO! 」

Stella raised her Mega Shield overhead while shouting a warcry. The Earth Dragon’s forelimbs clashed against the Mega Shield.

ZUDO――OON!

Since Stella was already in her Dragonewt form she was able to withstand the attack of the Undead Dragon.

「O mana, dwell within the Undead Dragon! 」

Reis chanted and raised his Drain Arrow.

The black miasma that gushed out of the Drain Arrow was absorbed by the Undead Dragon. Then, the color of the miasma became even darker.

「GUOOOOOO!? 」

Stella let out a pained cry.

As the mana released by Reis increased the Undead Dragon’s power, the pressure on Stella’s Mega Shield became too much for her to endure.

Unable to withstand its power anymore, Stella tilted her shield to let the forefeet of the Undead Dragon fall to her side.

Seeing Stella being pushed back in a contest of strength shocked Aria.

「Even stronger than Stella-chan’s power!? As expected of an S-ranked monster…! 」

That was when Tama aimed a short cry at the Undead Dragon.

「Nya~n! 」

The Undead Dragon was focused on squashing Stella and reacted far too late. That gave Tama’s attack an opening.

Tama’s 《Flame Edge》 pierced through the Undead Dragon’s sternum, bursting out from its front.

「You sh*tty elemental cat! Aiming for me, huh! 」

Reis noticed Tama’s aim.

He was aiming for the Undead Dragon along with Reis, its necromancer.

「You think I’m not prepared for that!? Undead Dragon, kill that Elemental Cat! 」

『GUOOOOOOO! 』

The Undead Dragon roared as if to answer Reis.

Swinging its sturdy tail, it went after Tama who tried to pass under its body.

「Nyan! (F#ck!) 」

Tama evaded the Undead Dragon’s tail attack by dodging to the side. But he didn’t make it in time. The tip of the tail grazed Tama’s flank and blew him away.

Aria cried out in alarm.

「TAMAAAA-! 」

「Nya~! (Don’t worry about me, Master!)」

Just before he was hit by the Dragon’s tail, Tama was able to protect himself with the 《Iron Body》 skill he got from a golem in a labyrinth.

He was able to safely land and reassure Aria with a nonchalant cry.

But protecting himself wasn’t all he did.

He activated 《Summon Tentacle》 as soon as he landed on the ground and two tentacles appeared from Tama’s paws.

Shuba!

His tentacles slipped through the gap between the Undead Dragon’s legs and reached Lily and Faeri, coiling around their bodies and pulling them back toward Tama.

「UH! How dare you steal those fairies! 」

Reis cursed with an annoyed tone.

(Humph, just as I expected.)

Reis’s reaction solidified Tama’s hypothesis.

Lily and Faeri should be a hindrance to Reis’s plans… But he kept them by his side. Despite being able to suck mana from the fairies’ bodies, Tama figured that the range was limited.

Naturally, there was probably another reason. But he had to save those two as soon as possible. If push came to shove, Reis might use the two fairies as his hostages.

Tama pulled back his tentacles and placed the two fairies in a safe place.

「GOOD JOB, TAMA! NOW WE CAN GO ALL OUT! 」

「Nyan! 」

Until then, Aria was unable to give her all since she was worried about Lily and Faeri.

But her worries disappeared once the fairies were safe.