The Banished Swordsman and the Easy-going Demon King ~Free people change the world~

The next attack was immediately unleashed.

Doooooooooon!!!

A heavy blow struck with such swiftness that it defied its weight. Luct narrowly avoided the attack and closed the distance to the rock giant’s feet.

Screech!

A sideways slash created a deep cut in the slightly narrower left leg of the rock giant. However, the rock giant didn’t fall. It didn’t seem to feel much pain and retaliated with an even more powerful overhead strike. Luct read the trajectory and leaped backward, distancing himself from the rock giant.

“Steady!”

Ignoring Remly’s irresponsible cheers from the sidelines, Luct adjusted his sword and took a deep breath.

“It’s tough.”

Luct’s observations led him to realize that brute strength alone wouldn’t work. If they engaged in a direct confrontation, he would surely lose. The main body seemed to be made of normal rocks; it could be cut. But it wouldn’t be so easy; there were no signs of self-repair when he had slashed the same spot repeatedly.

Moreover, that colossal club was another matter. It was likely made from refined crystal from Gilnium ore. It radiated magical energy. If Luct’s sword clashed head-on with it, the blade would most likely chip or break.

He realized that Luct’s previous attacks did not provoke any counterattack. He saw that the rock giant stood with its back to the cliff. It wouldn’t attack anyone approaching the cave unless they came close.

“Why isn’t it even acknowledging someone standing on that cliff?” Remly had turned into a spectator, safely watching from a distance.

She had insisted that the rock giant wouldn’t attack her, and now it was apparent that she was telling the truth. It was all so mysterious; Luct no longer knew the rock giant’s identity or purpose. The only way forward was to defeat it.

That’s what Luct thought as he noticed something on the ground. He turned his gaze to the rock giant.

It was merely a small pit created by one of the previous strikes. But inside that pit, Luct saw something peculiar. Then, he glanced back at the rock giant. The creature still hadn’t attacked.

“Is that the reason it’s not attacking?” Luct wondered.

A few more seconds passed. Luct noticed Remly standing near the cliff, safe and unharmed. The rock giant had made no move to harm her.

His head was filled with doubts, and he was losing sight of the purpose of this whole encounter. Nevertheless, he knew he had to defeat the Guardian if he wanted to make any progress.

So, Luct took a deep breath and rushed at the rock giant. But this time, the Guardian acted too. With a powerful swing, it launched its massive club directly at Luct.

Confronting this imminent death, Luct did not flinch. At the moment of impact, he muttered quietly.

“Crush, rock golem.”

Diiiing!

The moment Luct uttered those words, it was the signal that decided the battle.

Baaaaaang!

The club, which had been swinging down menacingly, deviated from its path and flew off somewhere in the distance. At the same time, Luct’s sword was still embedded deep in the rock giant’s back, left untouched.

“Wow!”

Ignoring Remly’s triumphant cheer, Luct retrieved the fallen sword. Then, he disconnected the chain whip from the loop at the hilt’s end and the one at the end of the club’s handle. The rock giant’s back, left untouched with a gaping wound, revealed a large, pitch-black crystal.

Luct didn’t hesitate. With a swift horizontal slash, he cleaved the crystal in two.

In the next moment, the rock giant’s body, which had ceased to move, began to crumble, piece by piece. It reverted to the shapeless masses of rock it originally was.

The final fragment fell with a clink.

A silence fell upon the rocky plateau.

The only sounds were the chirping of birds in the distance, their voices echoing eerily in the stillness.