The Insurrection of the Inept Hero
Chapter 18: Battle Against a Demon

I took one step forward, just one. When that happened, I was surrounded by countless spikes made of water.

When they closed in on me, I quickly used Flash Step and avoided getting skewered.

I launched a fireball at the pig and he jumped out of the way. Huh, I'm surprised he's able to do that considering how fat he is.

...

Let's see just how long he can keep that up though.

I began to throw multiple fireballs at him and I watched as he managed to keep his tail from getting caught on fire.

"Dance pig, dance!"

"Y-you-!"

I threw another wave of fireballs and they managed to hit him. That was until the smoke cleared that I saw a dome made of stone.

Earth Dome... right.

When the pig thought everything was alright, he let down his Earth Dome. I launched a Shadow Fist at him, sending him crashing into the wall.

I smirked as I fired countless fireballs at the ceiling above him. The stalactites broke and they were now plunging towards him.

However, the stalactites stopped right when they were about to hit him. Slowly, they were repositioned and now they were facing me.

Oh... shit.

They soared towards me and I used Fallen Descent to send the spikes off course.

I took a few steps back while sending a wave of fireballs at the pig. In return, he sent a wave of water spikes at me. I'd jump to move but I couldn't lift myself. That's when I realized that my feet were trapped in the ground.

This bastard, he caved my feet in!

Not only that but I also felt some kind of rope tighten my arms. But when I took a glance, there weren't any ropes, it was chains of dark energy pinning me into the ground.

The pig snorted as he approached me.

"Foolish human, you really thought you can stand a chance against me huh? Sadly, you are just like every other human. Weak and naive! Soon the demon king will take over this world and none of you will be able to stop it. Not even the heroes, especially you, Inept Hero."

...

"Hmm? What's wrong? Are you feeling accepting that you aren't speaking?!"

He then whacked me with his staff.

"How wea-"

WHAM!

"Oof!"

The pig flew back and landed in the pool.

"What the-?! How-?"

"Aura Barrier, not only is it useful as a shield against magic but it's also good for nullifying mana. Though it only works if I'm not pinned. You should've tightened the chains a bit harder," I said as there was a red and white aura circling around me.

"You-!"

Suddenly, the pig opened his mouth and a stream of blue flames burst towards me. I quickly jumped away before tossing another round of fireballs, this time I made them deliberately slower.

"Hmph, you should know that I myself also know how to control flames. Ha!"

But when the pig tried to take control over my fireballs, it didn't work. That's when the fireballs began to glow and then they exploded.

"Gyaaaaah!"

[Skills Obtained: Volatile Orbs(Lvl.1)]

[Volatile Orbs: Using flames, send rounds of fiery orbs that detonates near your target(s)| Effects: Throw Flaming Orbs that cause an explosion to ensue near your enemy| Conditions: Consumes 100,000 mana per round]

...interesting...

I watched as he fell deeper into the lake. I walked over and placed my hand into the lake.

"Have fun turning into bacon,"

Then I began venting flames into the water, immediately creating vapors.

[84,719,420/100,000,000]

[84,214,624/100,000,000]

Hmph, despite having so much mana, it's decreasing by a hundred thousand per second. I can keep this up but I'll eventually run out.

I took my hand out of the lake and it was surrounded by smoke. Hmm, I have resistance to flames, but not hot water. Kind of stupid...

Glancing back at the lake, I saw the pig struggling to swim up to the surface. Then flames came out of his mouth again and even out of the water.

I Flash Stepped back and watched as the level of the lake declined.

Those flames, that must be his Inferno skill. Pure blue flames, meaning they are extremely hot. My flames aren't at that level yet so I doubt I would be able to avoid a burn or two.

Once the lake was drained, the pig climbed his way back up.

"I'm surprised you haven't been cooked yet," I taunted.

"Cocky hero, I'll send you to the underwor-!"

Before he finished his sentence, I struck him with a Shadow Fist which sent him back into the hole.

I'd run to dive and attack him there but my feet were stuck once more.

"Tch, bastard."

I used Fallen Descent and smashed the ground into pieces, then I jumped down and followed after the pig.

Splash!

I landed in the water and swam up to get some air. Looks like there is still some water left.

"HA! YOU FELL FOR IT, FOOL!" The pig yelled as the water around me began to move.

I looked around and swam for the nearest wall but I could feel it getting stronger. I looked over my shoulder and watched as a whirlpool formed.

Quickly I used Flash Step to get out of there and I managed to do it. I used Wolf's Blood and turned my attention back to the pig.

"Tch, you managed to get out of there. Not surprising coming from a hero."

"I prefer you don't call me that."

"A hero is a hero, so let's continue this unless you are willing to give up."

"I won't give up until you become part of my breakfast. I am getting a little hungry."

"Tch, stubborn hero."

I threw another round of fireballs at him but he controlled them and sent them back at me. I did the same and controlled them to go back after him. Then he controlled them. It went off for a while but I eventually let them come to me before I dodged.

Hmm, maybe I should try those last fireballs I did.

I launched a round of Volatile Orbs and they slowly moved towards the pig. Again when the pig attempted to control it, he was unable to.

"W-w-why can't I c-c-c-control it?"

When they got closer, they glowed brighter and exploded.

"Even though you are a demon, you are no different than a pig. I think I've toyed with you enough."

I jumped and broke two spikes off the ceiling.

"Time to die."

The pig used his staff to get up and stumbled as he did. He glared at me and snorted before slamming the end of his staff into the floor.

"You've given me no choice but to use this."

A red and black aura appeared around him and he suddenly began to chant. Hmm, this doesn't look good.

I took a step forward to try to stop him but I suddenly tripped. Then I felt something wrap around me and I couldn't move anymore.

"Hmm?!"

"Stay still, you are one of the first to witness this."

He then resumed chanting as I struggled to get out of whatever he bound me with.

Suddenly, I saw some kind of portal appear behind him.

1... 2... 3 of them appeared and the entire cave began to shake.

"I open... the Den of Gluttony!"

And out of those portals came out behemoths. They slammed into the ground and I was suddenly free of the binds.

When I got onto my feet, I noticed he was fleeing down a tunnel. Fuck, I just realized there was another exit.

I would go after him now but I have a bigger problem right now.

The behemoths in front of me began thrashing around, breaking the walls and creating large craters in the floor while bellowing.

I drew my recurve bow out and began to fire at them, however when they hit, it didn't affect them.

I took out all the arrows I had and began charging them.

Flash!

I looked up and suddenly one of them was above me. I quickly Flash Stepped out of the way before I got crushed.

Flash!

I slammed into a wall but when I turned around there was only a large hungry behemoth with an open mouth, ready to devour me whole. Again I managed Flash Stepped out of the way before I was eaten.

Flash!

My charged arrows were ready and I released them at the behemoths.

The arrows flew around and flew towards the behemoth but the tentacles on their backs were troublesome as they managed to deflect some of my arrows and they even ate some too!

I went to get another arrow but I realized I had just used them all. I folded and strapped my bow back while retrieving another round of stalactites from the ceiling. However, when I jumped to get one, the feeling in my legs disappeared.

I looked down at my legs and they weren't there. Below me was a behemoth with half of my legs in its mouth.

I fell onto the ground and almost fell into the whirlpool.

F... FUCK!

[Status: Critically Injured]

I rolled back to watch that the three behemoths were fighting over my legs. Those fuckers!

I used Quick Regeneration on my legs and I watched as they slowly began to grow back.

Thump-thump-thump!

I heard footsteps and I glanced at the behemoths. They had stopped fighting over my legs, but now they were headed for me and they looked hungry.

That swine! Once I see him again, I'll kill him. I will!

But I don't think I'll be able to get the chance. The behemoths were already headed towards me and the only thing I could do was throw Volatile Orbs, but that will only slow them down.

I can't use Flash Step because I need legs to perform that.

I looked over at my legs but they won't be able to heal in time. So this is it, huh?

I looked down at the whirlpool and then back at the behemoth.

...maybe. But it's risky... but do I have a choice?

I stretched for the ledge and I was ready to fall down until-

BOOM!

I felt and heard a loud explosion or what sounded like an explosion coming from the direction of the behemoths. When I turned over to see what it was, there was a black Kitsune standing in front of me.

Could it be-?

"Master, are you alright?"

Kiyomi rushed to my side and lifted me up. My legs had fully regenerated too. How convenient.

"Y-yeah... Kiyomi, why are you here? Didn't I set you free? Why did you come back to me?"

"I... I don't have anywhere to go."

"So you came back to me?"

She was silent and shuffled around before saying yes.

"Besides, without me, master won't be able to clean his room."

I scratched my head knowing she was right. My room is beyond messy right now.

"GROOOOOAAARRR!!!!"

The behemoths got back up and slammed into each other before noticing us.

"Go master, I'll take care of them, you go after that demon," she said as she extended her claws.

"Right. I'm counting on you," I said before I rushed into the same tunnel that pig had fled through.

"Good luck, master..." Kiyomi whispered before she refocused her attention on the behemoths.

.

.

.