Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken (LN) - Volume 20 Chapter 1.7

Carrera was fighting an evenly matched battle against Zess, the leader of the Insect General.

Although Zess was a strong opponent, he was not an opponent that Carrera could not win. He was a good opponent and enjoyed the fight.

Carrera showed off his recently acquired skills.

Golden Gun and sword, the same fighting style as Lieutenant Chikando, suited Carrera well. The movements were so natural and effortless that one could be convinced that Carrera has been an expert for a long time.

In addition, Carrera was accustomed to fighting against the insectoid majin (insector). This was the reason why Carrera was not even a step ahead of them, even though it should have been her weak point.

Yes, Zess was very similar to someone Carrera knew well.

From his back to the exoskeleton that covered his entire body.

Although their fighting methods are quite different, the quality of their techniques, and the presence of a strong man who overpowers others, are just like that of Zegion, whom Carrera has recognized as his rival.

Indeed, Zess has a tremendous presence. It easily surpasses Carrera’s existence, and is almost three times as large as Zegion’s. However, in terms of threat level, Zegion is not as big as Carrera.

However, Carrera felt that Zegion was superior in terms of threat.

He had fought against Zegion many times.

That is why Carrera was able to outthink Zess even though he had never seen Zegion before.

Moreover, he does not have the limitations he had imposed on himself now.

Zegion’s “don’t target parts made of Rimuru’s cells”, the crazy rule that Diablo had come up with, did not apply to Zess. This is the reason why Carrera is able to give his all.

At the beginning of the battle, there was an obstacle called Peliod. However, Esprit and his team did their best to get rid of him. They are trying their best to do their best against a superior opponent.

(Well, my friends are putting in a lot of effort, so I can’t show them how bad I look!)

Carrera was enjoying the mortal combat with Zess, as if she was releasing her boiling emotions.

The blades, aiming at the gaps in the shell, cut through Zess’s body tissues. In addition, between the dancing sword blows, close-range bullets pierced through Zess’s compound eyes.

Little by little, the battle was tilting in Carrera’s favor.

“Ha-ha-ha, this is fun!

“Hey, you devilish devil!

You’re a strong fighter, but not as strong as Zegion.

What?

Zegion is my acknowledged rival, but my battles with him are nothing like this. I’ve fought him for days on end and never been able to put a scratch on him.”

That’s true.

Even with the rules that don’t make sense, Zegion’s strength is extraordinary.

Zess is indeed strong, but Carrera’s attacks were hitting him several times. Carrera was convinced that if they continued the battle, he would surely win.

“So what?”

“That means you’re weaker than me.”

“Nonsense. Then let’s show them how serious we are.

Carrera’s words were enough to wound Zess’s pride.

Converting his anger into energy, Zess turned his murderous intent on Carrera.

Anyone below A rank could be killed with just a glance. No, even for a greater majin, there was a violent pressure that could have been fatal.

Carrera, however, brushed it off with a cool air. In return, Carrera himself raised his mana, improved his haki, and hit Zess.

The high spirits of the two heroes pressed against each other, and a huge vortex was formed on the battlefield. Those who touched the vortex were engulfed by the tremendous mana wave, and their lives were taken away.

The Milim camp had anticipated this danger, and no one approached Carrera. However, the insectars, who had filled the battlefield in great numbers, were greatly reduced in number by the vortex.

And then-

Zess takes a step forward, and Carrera intercepts him.

Zess’s fist ripped into Carrera’s cheek, and Carrera’s sword sliced through a gap in Zess’s exoskeleton.

Zess makes a kick that slaughters even the greater majin with a single blow. Unafraid of this, Carrera dives into Zess’s pocket and fires his Golden Gun.

The bullet from close range pierces through a gap in Zess’s exoskeleton, opening a hole. Immediately after that, however, Zess’s kick, which seemed to have struck out of the sky, was aimed at Carrera’s head and swung down.

“Tsk!”

Carrera barely had time to react and save her head, but it was not enough, and she was kicked in the shoulder.

“I missed!”

“I am ashamed that I made a mistake.”

Carrera’s left shoulder was shattered, but she still had a wry smile on her face.

Although she regrets that she was injured when she intended to defeat Zess with no damage, she does not expect to be defeated by Zess.

After several hours of battle, Carrera had seen through Zess’s habits. Nevertheless, Zess’s power was real, and Carrera would be defeated if he was not careful.

He had to accumulate damage little by little to ensure victory.

Carrera stares down at Zess with an imposing look. His uniform is torn at the shoulder, revealing his white skin.

Yes. The blood has already stopped flowing, and he is completely healed as if he had never been injured from the beginning.

The same is true for Zess, whose wounds inflicted by Carrera have all healed.

For transcendent beings like Carrera and Zess, half-damage is meaningless. The decisive factor is how efficiently they can exhaust their opponents, and the opponent who shows a big opening is at a disadvantage.

Carrera has a big move (abyssal annihilation) in his first move, and he has less energy than Zess. Therefore, I thought I would be very careful from this point on.

（I know the skill level of Zess. He is strong, but I will win.)

Carrera decided that there was no need to push himself anymore.

But then, he noticed a change in the atmosphere of the battlefield.

（What is it? What is this feeling? Milim-sama was on alert, so I left it to him.)

Milim-sama was on guard, so Carrera could do whatever he wanted. That’s why we didn’t notice it until later.

No, it is not only that.

The main reason is that Zess was so powerful that he did not have enough time to pay attention to his surroundings. And it was a situation that Zess had intended to cause.

“ku ku ku, you noticed. You are strong. I admit it, but we will win. This is not a duel, it’s war.

“What?”

Carrera raises his eyebrows in displeasure.

Zess did not care, but raised his right hand and pointed in a certain direction.

“Look.”

Carrera does not look back, but uses his ‘Magic Perception’ to explore the situation.

Then, she would know the meaning of Zess’s words.