Dragged Into Another World Because of My Otaku Friend-Chapter 87: Card of Darkness

Our bodies were bathed in a warm green light as Mina healed us. Since she was with our party, we rarely used healing skills ourselves, only in emergencies because her magic was far more potent.

Then, a laugh echoed throughout the chamber.

Bob and I turned toward the source. Alice and Beltimore were still at the Kaoslith, keeping an eye on the tied-up robed figure. The laughter came from him.

"What’s so funny?" Bob asked, clearly annoyed. "We’ve obviously won. Did he lose his mind after losing the fight?"

"Isn’t that kind of thing a red flag?" I said casually.

Bob immediately clamped his mouth shut, realizing the weight of his words.

Then, suddenly...

Daria stood up.

The shallow water beneath her rippled red with blood. Her soaked hair hung low, clinging to her face. Her eyes bloodshot and filled with rage, locked onto us.

"Curse my mouth..." Bob muttered, slapping his own face.

Daria slowly straightened her posture, her expression hidden behind her wet hair.

"Use it, Daria! Use the blessing given by our Lord!" the robed figure screamed from where he was restrained.

"What blessing?" Beltimore snapped, grabbing the man by the collar and pulling him close. "What did you just say?!"

The robed man grinned, unfazed.

"Heh heh heh... You’ll find out soon enough."

Daria reached behind her back and pulled something out.

Her hand trembled as she raised it.

What she held was a rectangular object, black, ominous, and wreathed in an eerie mist.

I narrowed my eyes, and my breath caught.

"Bob... that’s a card," I said.

He looked closer.

"You’re right... Hey! Where did you get that card?!"

"This... this card... is a gift... from my Lord," Daria said, her voice low and trembling.

"What Lord?" I asked cautiously.

Daria slowly lifted her face. A twisted smile stretched across her lips.

"I gave... my soul... to the Ruler of All."

The moment she finished her chant, the card in her hand began to glow with black light. The mist thickened, no longer vapor, but a dark, liquid-like fog that slithered around her hand, then her arm... until it swallowed her whole.

And then...

After Daria’s entire body was engulfed, the black liquid began to shift.

From inside, we heard screaming, Daria’s voice.

It was full of agony.

Then... silence.

The black substance began to change shape, writhing unnaturally. It twisted and contorted until it formed into a perfect sphere, hovering slightly above the ground. Its surface rippled violently, like something inside was desperately trying to escape.

"Alan... shoot that thing! Don’t let it finish whatever it’s trying to do!" Bob yelled, urgency clear in his voice.

I did not hesitate.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I fired multiple rounds directly at it.

But... nothing.

My bullets were completely absorbed into the sphere’s surface, there was no impact, no ricochet, nothing.

I stepped back, stunned.

"It... it didn’t do anything..."

"Then we’ll slash it down!" Bob said, already charging forward with both swords raised.

I followed.

"Go!" Bob roared.

Together, we rushed the black sphere.

"Dash Slash!"

We slashed at it from both sides, striking again and again, pouring every ounce of strength and momentum into our attacks.

But it was like trying to cut into water, the surface rippled and absorbed every blow.

As we kept slashing the sphere, it suddenly shifted shape violently.

Without warning, the black mass morphed into a giant clawed hand that shot outward and struck us with crushing force.

I barely managed to raise Indra in time to block.

The impact sent me flying backward, slamming onto the ground with a hard thud.

Bob crashed beside me, groaning.

The massive claw slammed down again, this time, onto the floor. It gripped the stone beneath it like it was pulling itself free from the black sphere.

The sphere twisted and reshaped, now forming a second clawed hand. Then came two powerful legs, with thick thighs and folded, bestial joints.

The creature’s body continued to assemble.

A broad, armored torso took shape, followed by a head that rose like a nightmare from the liquid dark.

Its face was monstrous.

Its eyes were narrow and glowing red, sharp and full of hateness.

Its teeth were jagged, like broken glass arranged in a zigzag snarl.

And from its gaping mouth, a thick black liquid dripped endlessly, hissing where it touched the ground.

"What is that thing?" Bob said, horrified.

I stood up immediately.

Its head turned abruptly, locking eyes on me and Bob. Now standing on all fours, its massive clawed hands were planted firmly in front.

Then it opened its mouth and roared—

ROAR!

The sound echoed through the chamber, like a lion’s roar, but layered with a high-pitched screech that grated the ears.

It crouched low, folding both of its legs, then suddenly leapt forward, aiming straight at us.

Its large thighs gave it terrifying momentum.

"Stoneguard Ward!" I shouted.

A green aura enveloped Bob and me, forming a protective shield of magic.

This creature was a nightmare. One look was enough, I knew it was bad news.

It reached me in a blink.

"Alan, retreat!" Bob shouted.

I immediately used Dash Slash to leap backward, putting distance between me and the creature.

Bob stepped into my place, dashing forward with his own Dash Slash and standing firm as the beast attacked. It swung a massive claw.

Bob instinctively raised his blade.

"Defensive Stance!"

Ping!

The strike connected. Bob was pushed back nearly two meters, his [Earthwalker Boots] scraping the ground. But he held firm.

He was applying William’s lessons perfectly.

The creature turned its head and looked at me again.

"Taunt!" Bob shouted, drawing its attention.

The beast snarled and swung again.

It began slashing wildly at Bob, who remained on the defensive, blocking strike after strike.

I took the chance and aimed at its side.

Bang! Bang!

I fired,but the bullets simply stopped at its skin, then vanished as it was absorbed.

It did not even flinch.

I rushed in and used the only melee skill I had, Dash Slash.

Swoosh!

My blade cut across its back.

But there was no resistance. It felt like slicing through liquid.

The taunt wore off, and the creature turned toward me.

Its left claw swung backward, straight at my position.

"Alan, be careful!" Bob shouted.

I reacted fast, casting Arcane Barrier on my left hand and raising it just in time.

Thump!

The impact was brutal. My footing gave out, and I crashed into the shallow water.

I looked up, catching my breath. The creature’s twisted left claw had become deformed from the impact, but within seconds, it reshaped itself back to normal.

"Alan!" Bob yelled.

The nightmare creature jumped high directly above me with its claw raised, ready to thrust down on me.

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