Arrogant monkey.
My scales bristled involuntarily, making a rustling sound.
It wasn’t on purpose, but out of anger.
What an insolent creature.
He thinks he can wipe us all out alone?
Me and Dad?
Does he really believe he can do that?
It’s not just Father here right now.
The Crystal Python who killed a Chimera as a baby and burned a crazed Shadow Elf to a crisp is hiding its Venomous Fang here.
If I can properly exploit an opening, even that monkey won’t be able to avoid getting a hole punched in its heart.
Should I dig a tunnel to approach from under its legs?
It might be a bit messy, but the groin area must be a weak point.
If I use Leap of Heart-eating there, could even that monkey withstand it?
It would be better if I create a water splash to obstruct its vision.
I wonder if its fur catches fire easily.
As I was trying to stealthily approach while looking for an opening, something grabbed me.
It was Father’s tail.
「Acting recklessly…」
His gaze was still fixed on the monkey, but for some reason, it felt like he was talking to me.
When the Black Scales skill activates, he seems to become a bit more emotional.
Tss tss tss…
The color of the blackened scales returned to normal.
It’s not that his anger subsided, but it’s strange.
“Has this guy gone blind and deaf after his eyes rolled back? Hey!”
Pelerian suddenly got angry at me.
‘Why?’
Apparently, Pelerian had been talking to me continuously.
I was so focused on figuring out how to take down that monkey that I didn’t hear him.
“That monkey, in my view, is a very cunning one.”
A good student should read between the lines of the teacher’s words.
Since Pelerian is indeed acting as my teacher, I pondered his words.
‘…It seems so.’
Does the Silverback Chimpanzee Akims really think he can wipe out Father and us alone?
I’m not sure. But it doesn’t seem like he’s just bluffing.
I know from watching him fight Grand Riokku. Plus, Father’s condition isn’t good either.
Then, is fighting Father not a burden to him at all?
This is certainly not the case.
If it were easy, he would have taken out Father long ago and leveled up.
Conversely, if it were difficult, there would be no reason to come alone.
‘It’s suspicious that he came alone.’
Yes, there’s no reason for him to come alone.
His subordinates are definitely more numerous than us, and among them, there must be monsters considered elite.
Yet, there must be a reason why he gave up all those advantages.
“It’s certain. That guy is…”
‘He’s testing the waters.’
He’s testing the waters with us.
If he had ambushed us, it might be different, but appearing like that, putting on airs and hesitating is suspicious.
‘We need to show him we’re not to be trifled with.’
If we give him a taste of our blade, he’ll realize he made the wrong choice.
It’s a good opportunity.
I couldn’t do it last time because the timing wasn’t right, but now I should borrow a skill.
──────────────
[Silverback Chimpanzee Akims lv129]
…
[Skills]
…[Monkey Beheading lv10]…
──────────────
It’s still hard to see through clearly.
Maybe it’s a bit better than last time since we’re closer.
Time is of the essence now.
I exerted snake-like concentration.
And finally found a skill worth borrowing.
「Leaping Horn lv2 surpasses the limit of skill ‘Billy’s Horn lv4’.」
「’Billy’s Horn lv4′ temporarily becomes ‘Billy’s Horn lv10’.」
Learning from the experience with Steel Gunter, I first strengthen Billy’s Horn itself.
「Billy’s Horn lv10 borrows ‘Thunder Roar lv10’.」
The result…
「Success.」
「Temporarily gained ‘Thunder Roar lv1’.」
The monkey who was about to pounce stopped abruptly.
“Snake…! What did you do!”
Like Steel Gunter, it seems that strong ones notice something strange when I borrow skills.
But he seems to think Father did something, not me.
Father just glared silently at the monkey’s question.
His eyes flashed like the North Star.
The atmosphere is no joke.
Actually, he probably just didn’t understand what was said.
This is why appearances are important, I guess.
I quickly climbed onto Father’s back.
I had a plan.
“It doesn’t matter… I’ll kill you anyway.”
We need to show that arrogant monkey who’s still putting on airs that our strength is beyond his imagination.
I told Father.
‘Dad, use the Destruction Beam!’
I’m not sure if he’ll follow my words well.
Just in case, I said it once more.
‘At maximum output!’
「Arrogant monkey.」
Father granted his child’s request.
Light gathered in his mouth.
Peeeeeng!
The beam was fired.
And the arrogant chimpanzee didn’t dodge.
As expected, he seems to be trying to gauge Father’s strength.
But it won’t be a good choice.
This is a maximum output Destruction Beam that didn’t spare any magical power.
The monkey’s expression twisted at that output which exceeded his imagination.
I half expected him to turn to ashes.
But the guy seemed to have something he believed in.
Kwakwakwa-!
He stretched out both arms to block the beam.
The beam hit his palms and deflected into the sky.
Kwakwakwakwakwa-
He couldn’t ignore even that physical force.
The monkey planted his feet firmly on the ground, but he was gradually pushed back, creating furrows.
“Ugh-aaaaah!”
He manages to endure somehow while shouting.
What a terrifying guy indeed.
Father followed my words exactly.
He used up all the magic power he had recovered in that short moment.
As the Destruction Beam stopped, Silverback Akims’ figure was revealed.
The guy was alive.
However, both his arms were charred black, and blood was dripping from his palms.
Should I say it’s amazing that he blocked the Destruction Beam with that?
Or should I say Father is amazing for injuring such a monster in an instant?
“Ugh, huh. Huh.”
A smile appeared on his face.
If fighting is an exchange of moves, Father used several moves at once.
And the monkey probably thinks he blocked it with one move.
To shatter his confidence, I stood on top of Father’s head.
My eyes met the chimpanzee’s.
The guy looked puzzled at my appearance.
And first, a roar.
「Using ‘Thunder Roar lv1’.」
Simultaneously, the Hegemon’s aura.
「Using ‘Hegemon lv2’.」
A gale swept through and the air turned chilly.
A thunderous cry burst from my mouth.
“Saaaark!”
At the same time, the monkey’s fur all over his body puffed up.
He’s clearly scared. I can tell from his twisted expression.
「This is my son.」
Father made a timely comment.
Monkey, the enemy you have to face is not just one.
