Chapter 29: Ambush! Underwater Battle!

Original: Chapter 29: Ambush! Underwater Battle!

What in the world just happened—?

That question bubbled up in my mind, but I forcibly suppressed it. Because given this situation, I must have been attacked from behind by a Crayfish Monster. There’s no other reason I’d be face-first in a Stream.

I don’t know when it circled behind me. But there’s one thing I do understand about this situation: if I don’t act immediately, I’m dead.

This is a Dungeon. A place where lives are fought over. A single moment of misjudgment can easily become fatal.

I sense something approaching from behind.

“Guboh. Gabobobobobo—”

Air escapes my mouth as bubbles. No good. I have to close my mouth. Oxygen is necessary to sustain life.

It seems I’ve ended up in a fairly deep part of the water. Even though I fell forward into the water, my hands still haven’t reached the bottom.

“Ugugu…”

This is a major crisis.

Even as I think this, I feel the killing intent closing in rapidly from behind me. There’s no time to hesitate. I have to act as if I’ve reverted to a wild state, letting my survival instincts guide me.

I boldly attempted a somersault in the water. A position with my head down and feet up. This way, I could clearly see the opponent behind me.

There it was. A Crayfish Monster, just as I thought. Pretty big. And it’s aiming for me with its Pincers. I might just barely make it in time now.

Using the twist of my body, I decided to swing the Hammer I was gripping with all my might sideways.

If my timing for swinging the Hammer was off, which part of my body would get caught in those big Pincers? Probably my left leg, I think. If I got caught, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

I screamed with all my might in my heart.

Shaking off the fear of being attacked by the Crayfish’s Pincers, I slammed the Hammer down with all my strength.

Thud! I felt a dull sound resonate through the water. My Hammer struck the side of the Crayfish’s Pincer squarely and knocked it away.

It worked!

But I ended up spinning sideways heavily in the water. The recoil from swinging the Hammer so hard.

Since it has two Pincers, another Attack might come. I’m in a weird position in the water, so I probably can’t dodge the next Pincer.

I thought for a split second about what to do, and by the time I finished thinking, my body was already moving.

“Gunuh!”

With all my might, I struck the underwater ground with the Hammer. It worked.

I managed to move a distance about twice the length of the Hammer’s handle.

During the move, something cold and hard grazed near my right thigh. Probably a Pincer, I think. That was really close. If I’d been caught, what would have happened—?

Alright, from here I’ll escape with a frantic kick. With all my strength.

I really have to get to the shallows with all my might! Flail, flail, flail.

If I can’t escape with this, it’s because my school’s swimming lessons were pathetic. I’m trusting all the teachers who taught me to swim up until today.

I flail with all my might.

“Uoooooooooooooooooooooooh!”

Flail. Flail—.

Yes! My face is above water. I can breathe.

While gulping oxygen, I continued my frantic kicks. Splash, splash, splash.

I glanced back a little.

“Hieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! A Crayfish’s mouth is so creepyyyyyyyyyyyy!”

I shouldn’t have looked. Getting bitten even a little by something like that would probably make me die of shock.

“I have to muster even more strength!”

Come on, my frantic kicks. Flail, flail, flail, flail, flail. I think the water splashes are flying pretty high. Proof of my desperation.

“Aaaaaah, no good. Totally no good. Even though I’m kicking frantically with all my might, it’s catching up immediately. The Crayfish swims way too fast!”

Even though my Level went up and my Status improved, it seems I’m still no match for a professional swimmer who lives in the water.

“Guts! Guts!”

I’m aware I’m saying something very unlike myself. Words like guts and fighting spirit, those sweaty, intense words don’t suit a gloomy, loner high school girl at all.

But even if it doesn’t suit me, maybe screaming desperately while kicking frantically did some good.

“I should be safe now that I’m in shallows like this!”

My feet touched the ground. The water is just below my waist.

I turned to face the Crayfish. The Crayfish launched an Attack with its right Pincer. I’ll fight back with my Hammer.

The Pincer and Hammer collided with a dull impact sound.

I deliberately eased my strength a little, letting the Pincer push my Hammer. Using that pushing power, I moved further into the shallows.

The water was now at knee height.

“Hah, hah, hah…”

I’m tired. But I think a triumphant expression flashed across my face for just a moment.

Because I managed to escape an absolutely desperate situation unscathed.

“Hah, hah, hah…”

I pointed my Hammer at the Crayfish. The Crayfish’s eyes, level with my chest, were glaring intently at the Hammer.

“Mr. Crayfish, too bad you couldn’t defeat me in the water! I definitely won’t lose here!”

Alright, time to start the Counterattack. I’ll absolutely defeat this Crayfish and get that Empty Bottle.

Perhaps taking my words as a threat. The Crayfish raised both Pincers high, directing intense killing intent at me. It was incredibly intimidating.