SWNOVELXO Chapter 18: Fight
Excelente! Este é um capítulo cheio de ação que se desenrola em uma revelação ainda mais sombria para o Arthur. A luta em equipe foi muito bem descrita, e a reviravolta de ele não poder subir de nível é um golpe devastador que aumenta drasticamente os desafios para ele.
Aqui está a tradução, focando na intensidade da batalha, na raiva justificada de Arthur e no seu desespero final.
English Translation (Light Novel Format) - Chapter 17
The boy didn't have time to celebrate. In an instant, several Reapers positioned themselves in front of him. It seemed this fight would never end.
Until, from the back, a silhouette emerged and positioned itself beside the boy.
"Shapira…" Arthur exclaimed, still focused on the Reapers.
"Arthur, Zamir, let's finish these things!" she exclaimed, charging at a Reaper.
Shapira wielded a common straight sword and, without hesitation, launched a direct thrust at the Reaper.
However, as she did so, the other creature that was beside it decided to take the chance, attacking her.
"Watch out, Shapira, to your left!" Arthur shouted, trying to warn the girl of the danger.
But Shapira was experienced. At that same moment, she turned and positioned herself against the other creature.
When the blow came—an upward slash—the experienced adventurer found an opening and disarmed the Reaper.
Its dagger flew far away. The creature was left confused, and Shapira, in the same instant, launched a downward strike, wounding the creature, which turned to dust immediately.
"THAT'S IT, SHAPIRA, SHOW 'EM!" Zamir exclaimed, nocking another arrow on his bow.
Arthur could now understand Shapira's fame. She was truly extremely skilled. The young man found himself in awe within just a few seconds of battle.
ZIP! ZIP!
Two more arrows were fired by Zamir towards the remaining Reapers, who were forced to retreat for a moment.
Arthur understood. It was the same opening he had exploited before. Without hesitation, the boy advanced with a diagonal slash, from right to left, against the nearest Reaper, but…
The creature had anticipated this move. It defended against the two arrows that came its way and, at the same time, dodged to the right, causing Arthur to strike nothing but air.
'It learned from the other one's mistake. Impossible… These creatures learn from their companions' errors. This is going to be harder than I thought.'
With his guard wide open, the creature beside it did not forgive. It advanced quickly and prepared to attack him from behind. The boy tried to turn in time, but his footing was weak after the missed strike. He could only watch as the dark blade approached.
'Now what? What do I do?'
Arthur watched the dagger get closer, and just when he thought he would be struck, a shadow emerged at his side.
Shapira, wielding a broadsword that glowed with a soft light, struck the Reaper attacking Arthur squarely. "Your right, kid!" she shouted, as the creature dissolved into ash.
Arthur understood instantly. When he looked to his right, he saw the first creature's strike coming towards him. Using his newfound speed, he dodged to the side and counter-attacked with a direct thrust, piercing and eliminating another Reaper. Almost simultaneously, two of Zamir's arrows found the neck and chest of the other two advancing enemies, who fell and dissolved.
Now, only one remained.
The Reaper, seeing it was outnumbered, let out a terrifying growl and disappeared into ash, leaving only its dagger on the ground.
Broken shelves, lost merchandise—the shop was in complete chaos. Zamir walked slowly through the place, observing the damages he had suffered.
"And who's going to pay for all this?" he exclaimed with bitterness, as he picked up the pieces of a broken sword from the floor.
Arthur and Shapira watched the scene with a bit of pity for the man. "I'm going to check on my client," Shapira said, walking to the back of the shop.
Arthur seemed confused, the adrenaline from the battle still coursing through his veins. "Who are they? And what are they doing here?" he asked Zamir. "I heard you guys saying you hadn't seen these creatures since you were adventurers, right? Why are they back?"
Zamir, who was kneeling on the floor, stood up and looked at the boy. "Someone probably opened that dungeon again. The same one where we lost… you know who."
Arthur nodded, but something in his head didn't add up. 'Who would open such a dangerous dungeon, the home of a Demon Lord?... Wait a minute.'
His expression changed to one of pure rage. "I think I know who opened it," he exclaimed, clenching his fists. Hatred dominated his heart.
"Who?" Zamir asked, confused by the boy's reaction.
At that moment, Shapira returned from the back, helping the injured man walk. The woman who had been with him before walked beside them, visibly worried. Shapira looked at Arthur and seemed to understand exactly what he was thinking.
"The other three heroes, right, kid?" she said, her voice tired, draping the man's arm over her shoulders to support his weight.
"Exactly, Shapira. Those bastards." Arthur's anger was palpable. "It's probably a good place to level up… Reckless! How many innocent people could have gotten hurt because of their actions?" the boy said, looking at the floor, his expression a mixture of frustration and indignation.
"They probably don't even know about it, kid. And if they did, they wouldn't care, don't you think?" Shapira exclaimed with cynicism. "Anyway, I'm taking this guy to a healer. I'll be back later," she said, guiding the couple to the destroyed exit.
Arthur watched her leave and muttered to himself. "Really… they probably wouldn't care. The capital doesn't care what happens here either. Now I understand your hatred…"
Shapira disappeared through the destroyed exit, leaving Arthur and Zamir alone in the heavy silence of the ruined shop. The smell of dust and the dark energy of the Reapers still lingered in the air.
Zamir let out a long sigh, a sound that mixed exhaustion and irritation. He looked around at his broken shelves and scattered merchandise.
"Well, this isn't going to clean itself up," he said with bitterness. He picked up an overturned crate and began to carelessly toss the items that could still be saved inside it.
Arthur approached, picking up some items and putting them in the box.
"I'll help."
Zamir nodded, walking around the shop, trying to see what could be salvaged.
They worked in silence for a few minutes, a mute agreement to keep their hands and minds busy. The battle's adrenaline was wearing off, and Arthur finally had a moment to process what had happened.
'Okay, it was a terrible fight, but I defeated two of them. I must have gone up at least one or two levels.'
The boy then looked at his hand, but something surprised him.
LEVEL 1
The boy blinked, shocked, and analyzed his hand again, but again the same level 1 was displayed.
'Level 1? Impossible. I defeated those things. I felt… something. I feel faster.'
He looked at his hands, then at the remains of the Reapers. It made no sense. Every summoned hero gained experience and leveled up by defeating monsters. Why didn't he?
"What's wrong, kid? Seen a ghost?" Zamir asked, noticing that Arthur was standing still, staring at nothing.
"Don't just stand there, help me with this cabinet."
Arthur shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts. He couldn't explain about levels and status to Zamir; he wouldn't understand.
"N-nothing. Just… tired," he replied, going to help the man drag the heavy piece of furniture.
As they tidied up the mess, Arthur's gaze fell on the rusty dagger the last Reaper had left behind. He could swear he felt stronger. Maybe it was just battle experience… the boy was now more confused than ever.
"Help me here, kid. Let's make a makeshift barricade at the door. These things might come back in greater numbers," Zamir said, holding a shelf, waiting for the boy.
"Right," Arthur replied, walking towards Zamir.
The two then placed the heavy shelf over the doorway. It would prevent more Reapers from entering, but for how long, they didn't know. "Alright, that'll do for now," Zamir said. "Let's go out the back. We can't stay here."
Arthur nodded, following Zamir. As they walked through the back tunnel, the boy's mind was haunted by the idea of not having leveled up. Now he didn't know how he was supposed to do it, and he knew the only way to defeat the Demon King and return home was to get stronger.
'I have no magic, and I can't level up. This is a nightmare within a nightmare.'