Versatile: Alternate World

Chapter 951 Manato vs. Hagane

Despite having already knocked him down, he refused to give in. With a quick, agile twist of his body, he managed to free his legs from the chain. I was taken aback by his newfound agility, but perhaps he had grown during our time apart – or rather, circumstances had forced him to gain more battle experience.

Once the chains were removed from his feet, he executed two somersaults, dragging his shields with him, and then took up his defensive position once more.

"Manato, let's put an end to this. I don't want to fight," Hagane implored.

"I'm sorry, but that's not an option," I replied resolutely. I lunged forward and transformed my Versatile Weapon into a hammer, bringing it down forcefully on his shield.

"CRACK!"

His shield began to splinter, but Hagane remained undeterred. Realizing I had no intention of backing down, he decided to take the offensive as well.

Pushing his shield in my direction, he attempted to use it to make me step back. But I'm no stranger to facing opponents who rely on defense as their primary tactic. I wasn't one to back down easily.

Quickly transforming my weapon into a Magic Sword, I sidestepped his shield and harnessed the momentum to thrust forward, targeting the crack I'd created moments earlier.

"[Shield Bash]!"

Without retreating, I met the attack head-on, leveraging my Versatile Weapon against the fissure and pushing it back toward him. While it required some effort, I managed to thwart his [Shield Bash]. It might not have been an invincible force, but it certainly possessed substantial strength.

"Manato! I'd rather not do this!"

"Neither would I, but you're as obstinate as ever, and you might not realize whose cause you're inadvertently aiding."

I sent the shield flying with a well-placed kick, withdrawing my Versatile Weapon's blade from the crack before switching to Pain Delivery and firing at his battered shield.

I wasn't actively seeking to defeat Hagane, but I certainly wasn't making it a walk in the park for him either. Repeatedly targeting the shield's weakened spot, it was only a matter of time before it crumbled under the pressure, even if he hadn't yet noticed the extent of the damage.

"I don't get it, Manato! Why can't you just explain things to me right now?" Hagane's face contorted with desperation and confusion.

"Why bother? That guy's probably monitoring our every move, and did you honestly think you could convince me to join his cause? Not a chance!" I shot back, my eyes locked onto him with a fierce glare.

Hagane was on the verge of speaking up, but then his body froze. It was like he'd been hit by some invisible force or suffered a lag in real life, which was just plain impossible.

Despite his predicament, I kept my distance, my guard up. I might be a caring friend, but I wasn't foolish enough to rush to his aid while our unseen adversary likely plotted behind the scenes, a sly grin on their face.

Suddenly, Hagane's voice changed, no longer his own but that of an old man.

"I'm quite disappointed you didn't help your old friend. Shouldn't you be rescuing him from his torment?" 

That voice... I'd only heard it a few times, but there was no mistaking it.

It was Nobuhiko.

"Already figured out how to control someone like a puppet with your tech, huh? Looks like you've crossed a line that's way past moral when it comes to people's freedom."

Unbelievable. I almost got roped into his twisted game. If I'd been as trusting as Hagane, I could've ended up in his shoes, scheming to save my parents. Maybe that was part of his plan.

He's manipulating Hagane's body to intimidate me, and his shield's damage is slowly healing. It's not surprising, really. He has control over the system that's turned this world into a game, even though it never was one.

"You look surprised. Don't underestimate my ability to bend the rules and come out on top. I'm the 'god' of this world, and everything's within my grasp. You really think you can stop me?"

I swing my Versatile Weapon, transforming it into a katana. If he's planning to use that recovery trick again, I'll fight fire with fire.

"You're underestimating me, old man. You might think I've grown weaker, but I haven't. And you, a god? Ha, that's a f*cking joke, you know? If you want it to be funny, at least make it actually amusing."

"Heh, then let's see how amusing it is to challenge me to a fight."

He charges at me, unleashing a [Shield Bash], but something about it seems different. Instead of facing it head-on, I sidestep and dart behind him, thrusting my katana at his back. But his HP doesn't budge.

"What did I tell you? You can't beat me!" Hagane's grin contorted, a sinister expression I never thought he'd reveal.

Swiftly, he pivoted and struck me with his shield using [Shield Bash], launching me into the distance.

It dawned on me why he exuded such confidence in his invincibility. He'd resorted to cheating, making Hagane impervious to harm. He'd granted himself an unfair advantage, ensuring there was no cooldown for skills like [Shield Bash].

"So, you've embraced the cheater's way," I readied my katana once more.

"Finally grasping the situation, are you? I'm untouchable, unstoppable. You're simply courting death."

"Pitiful. What a pathetic excuse of a human."

Observing his erratic control over Hagane, I saw an opportunity. He might mitigate damage, but I understood the limits of the human body. After all, he wasn't pure data; he'd transformed his physical form into digital existence.

"I'm sorry, Hagane, but since you chose to be controlled by this guy, forgive me for being ruthless. I won't relent, even if you've become immortal."

I rushed forward, activating one of the Versatile Weapon's existing skills. I intended to rely on basic attacks instead of using a skill to ensure its effectiveness.

"[Devouring Hunger]!"

Closing the gap between us, Hagane squinted as my sword immediately transformed into a beastly form. It retained a katana's appearance but had taken on an eerie, infected quality.

I swung at Hagane, and he blocked me with a grin. However, my weapon's "creature" elongated, its jaws snapping down on his shield. It caught Hagane off guard.

"[DEVOUR]!"

The shield he held was consumed before it could serve as a defense. With one less shield, he only had one left. He could reequip another, but I paid no mind. I struck Hagane with the Versatile Weapon, and he received it as if it were a regular blow. Unharmed, he seemed confident.

But then...

"SHAAAAA!"

The Versatile Weapon's maw latched onto Hagane's neck, biting down hard.

"AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!"

Despite his immortality, he was not immune to the Shadow Dragon's damage.

"Try to survive this, you f*cker."

I had no doubt that Hagane would respawn at the shrine. The system treated him as a regular character, and even if he lost all his HP, death only meant revival.

"No one is truly invincible, Nobuhiko. If you think you'll achieve your goals, I'll be there to oppose you."

"You..."

"[Devour]!"

The Versatile Weapon obeyed my command. The Shadow Dragon opened its maw wide. Before Nobuhiko could react, it chomped off Hagane's head.

It was an instant kill, and there was no escape. With his head gone, Hagane's lifeless body knelt before collapsing, lifeless.

"Just to be sure, [Devour] the entire body."

The Versatile Weapon wasted no time, swallowing the remains of Hagane.

"You're not as unkillable as you thought."

Swinging my weapon from side to side, the Versatile Weapon reverted to its regular state.

"Are you alright, wielder? This is the first time you've let me consume a human," the shadow dragon spoke to me.

"He can still come back, so I'm not overly concerned. However, I'm uncertain about how he'll be handled from now on. Revealing his invincibility hints at his intentions for the future," I sighed and scanned the area for any remaining enemies.

"Yeah, I think you're right. But there's something I observed during our encounter with the man I devoured."

"Observed something? What is it?" I inquired.

"That fellow carries the scent and blessing of the Goddess of Life. It seems the person you just clashed with was directly affiliated with the Goddess herself. And from our conversation, it appears that the entity controlling the body I consumed is a devout follower of the goddess, carrying out her will," the shadow dragon explained.

"So, he's got some connection to the goddess herself? And if that's the case, his pursuit of the Tree of Life is..." I furrowed my brows.

"Your guess is as good as mine. I believe you're right about it. If that sly goddess is involved in this, he could use it to track down the Tree of Life and aid in her recovery from the injuries she sustained in the final battle. They must be truly severe if she's seeking the Tree of Life," the Shadow dragon clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"Would it be a problem if she finds the tree on her own?" I inquired.

"Yes, indeed. Considering the Goddess can communicate between dimensions, her return to full power could potentially allow her to dominate not only this realm but also your world. And judging by her track record, it's unlikely to bode well for either dimension."