The Rising of the Hammer Hero [Volume 1+2]

[Volume 2] Chapter 8 - Cerberus (Part 2)

"First Guard!" Shouted Naofumi as a green light enveloped the dashing Raphtalia. "Healers, get out of here!"

The healers heeded Naofumi's words and left at once.

"Illusion Blade." Murmured Raphtalia as she closed her eyes, drawing her sword from her sheath.

Raphtalia disappeared.

Cerberus just stood relaxedly in Yaketsuku's body.

"Light Beam!" Shouted Hikari as she roared, gathered all the nearby mana into her dragon mouth, and fired a massive beam of pure white light from her mouth towards Cerberus to serve as a distraction, as she knew that the beast wouldn't be so easy to stop. "Raphtalia-nee, go for it!"

The Queen was very surprised to see Hikari release such a destructive attack that she could only replicate herself with great difficulty. You truly have great friends, Hammer Hero. I am glad for you.

"Stop." Said Cerberus, as he held up his right hand, and the light beam stopped an inch from his palm.

The Queen gasped, her eyes widening.

She just couldn't believe that an attack on that magnitude was stopped so easily by Cerberus.

"Zero-Stance Rondo: Reverse Four Seasons!" Shouted Glass, as a magic circle appeared and wind blades cut through the air towards Cerberus, combining with the beam of light that was still being emitted by Hikari.

"Get out of Yaketsuku's body!" Suddenly reappearing, Raphtalia shouted as she swung the blunt part of her sword down at Cerberus's exposed neck.

Crack.

Raphtalia watched in shock as her sword crumbled when it hit Yaketsuku/Cerberus's skin.

"Heh, naive girl, you think I am that easy to be taken out?" Asked Cerberus while chuckling darkly as he shot out an arm and grabbed Raphtalia. "So much that you didn't even enhance your blade with any mana?"

"Raphtalia! Get out of there-" Started Naofumi, rushing towards Cerberus as he changed his shield.

Raphtalia screamed.

Her left arm was clenched in Cerberus's hands.

"Raphtalia!" Shouted Naofumi, his face going pale.

"Raphtalia-nee!!" Filo changed into her bird form and charged at Cerberus.

The Queen steeled her nerves, and held up her hands to perform a spell that was highly forbidden for a reason.

"The Guardians of this world, I ask you, allow me to take on the burdens of my companions, and may this tragedy be reversed!" The Queen's eyes turned bright cyan, as her hair flew up.

A massive amount of mana surged through space and time, and towards Raphtalia.

Time stopped for a moment, and started again right after.

"Raphtalia!" Shouted Naofumi again. "Eh?"

Raphtalia's left arm was still attached as if it was never ripped off in the first place, although, she was unconscious.

A groan of pain brought him back to his senses.

The Queen was kneeling, with her face drained of colour.

Her left arm was laying on the ground, and blood was pouring out of her wound, the exact same as the one that Raphtalia had on her a moment again.

"Your Highness!" Shouted Naofumi, as he got over his shock and kneeled down to begin healing the Queen.

The ground trembled and the walls of the summoning chamber cracked again, as Cerberus began to laugh.

Naofumi, Filo, Hikari, Sakura and Glass turned their heads to look at Cerberus, who was keeled over, laughing.

"You humans, you are really interesting! To think that you would have the courage to use that spell and take on the raccoon girl's wounds!" Cerberus wiped off the tears that had appeared when he had begun to laugh.

"You wouldn't understand..." The Queen stood up and shook her head.

"Your Majesty, I don't think you should-" Began Naofumi as he concentrated with all his might to stop the blood from flowing.

The Queen raised her right arm to silence Naofumi.

He fell silent.

"Human interactions are something you will never understand." Spat out the Queen, her face contorting into one of hate.

"Perhaps not." Said Cerberus indifferently. "But you have pleased me. I will allow you to live a bit longer. Goodbye."

Yaketsuku's body collapsed as his eyes closed.

Hey guys, sorry for the late update, but I had some recent issues that I had to take care of. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter, (as always) and hope you look forward to the ship! (If you know, you know.)