The queen cast a spell that negates all magic attacks. It probably doesn’t affect buffs or healing magic, which is why she was able to heal all five ants.
“I get it! If it negates all magic, the queen wouldn’t be able to heal them!”
Exactly. My spell at one hundred percent strength was resisted, but my healing magic hit them no problem.
“Huh? But isn’t that bad? All you did was heal them.”
Heh heh heh. Just sit back and watch. If my assumption is correct...
“Wh-What’s going on? This ant is...” Datil said. The ant in front of him had completely changed its behavior. It was hobbling all over the place, and started swinging its sword around wildly.
All right, the plan should be obvious now. They’re wide open!
“Im-Impossible! What magic have you wrought on my child?!” the queen cried.
“Huh? Why’s that ant all wobbly?” Grida asked.
Grida, have you ever heard of moderation? There’s always just the right amount for anything. If you drink too much medicine, you might get sick. That ant got way overhealed, so now it’s wobbly.
“Raaaagh!” Datil yelled, his sword gleaming as he struck. With a shriek, the wobbly ant’s head fell to the floor.
I knew you’d get it!
“H-How is this possible? A human, overhealing my children to inebriate them? Absurd!” the queen screamed.
Well, I’m not a human anymore, but since you’re so surprised, we’ll hit you with one more. All right, Grida! Please cast the healing spell on the remaining four ants with thirty percent of your power!
“Okaaay! Break the water’s seal, thieves, at thirty percent strength!” she said.
Her thirty percent is my three hundred. This is pretty powerful, you know?
Ding! “Spell confirmed. Firing spell at multiple targets at thirty percent strength.”
The light of Grida’s healing spell was a deeper blue, and it quickly enveloped the other four ants. In an instant, they started writhing on the ground and running around in circles.
It’s working!
“Wow! My magic hit them!” Grida said happily.
Good for you!
“Y-You wretch!” the queen ant said. “Grrr...”
You can’t save them anymore, can you? If you try to heal them again, they’re only going to get worse!
“I get it now! You’re amazing, Apple-san!” Datil grinned at me.
Seems like he got what I was going for.
“Hey? What’s going on? What’s happeniiing?!” Fresa wailed in surprise.
Just sit back and watch for now.
“Gggh! Gack! Graar!” the ants squeaked. Datil took their discarded weapons and carefully killed each ant.
He may look young, but he’s calm, collected, and quick to adapt. You can tell he’s an experienced adventurer. All right, then. I’ll aim for that one with a spear—that dance it’s doing sure looks weird. Take this!
Bam!
The impact echoed through the room as I tackled the ant. Its head flew off and it sank to the ground, still convulsing and twitching.
Phew! Finally hitting it feels so good!
“You! You insolent fooool! I’ll never forgive you! Never!” The queen was quivering with anger. Even the air around her seemed to tremble.
“Furutsu, she looks pretty mad, huh?” Grida said.
Grida didn’t understand their language, but even she seemed to notice the shift in the air.
Well, if she’s got this much of an aura, I’m sure anyone would notice.
Datil sighed in relief. “All five of them are... What’s going on?! What was that surge?!”
“Eek?! What is that?!” Fresa screamed.
The pale light surrounding the queen turned pitch black.
I guess she’s the final boss.
A deep thudding noise filled the room as she stamped her legs with anger. “Huff. How very, very unpleasant. Oh, I feel most unpleasant.” She spoke slowly, as though she was trying to calm herself down.
The ones that calmly try to kill you are worse than the ones that just go berserk with anger.
“F-Furutsu, I’m scared.”
Don’t worry, Grida. I’m by your side.
I tried to reassure Grida, but the queen was clearly very strong. Her murderous intent was so powerful, it felt as though she was pressing a blade against my throat. My body, sensing that her strength was clearly on a completely different level, was setting off alarm bells left and right.
“Apple-san, I was a bit naive. Do you think we can really win against that?” Datil whispered to me.
I know. I was taking this a bit too lightly myself. But we must win. If we don’t, the people above ground are doomed.
“Furutsu...”
Grida, don’t worry about me, so please cast a healing spell on Datil and Fresa.
“Okay, I’ll do my best!”
All right, then I’ll go first! Strength at one hundred percent! Remove the shackles of fire, traveler!
Ding! “Spell confirmed. Activating at one hundred percent strength.”
A huge flame flew towards the queen.
All right! I hit her! I hit her, right?
“How lukewarm. I hope you realize that I’m the queen. Perhaps you felt a rush of confidence because you killed my children? Curse your utter folly as I send you to your deaths,” she said.
She didn’t even resist it. Did she take it head-on? A direct hit, and she’s completely uninjured?!
“Furutsu! Above you!” Grida cried.
Above?!
The queen’s monstrous body had vanished, before suddenly appearing above us.
“It’s fast!” Datil said, dodging to the right. I immediately dodged to the left.
Boom!
As soon as she landed, her left leg—clutching her staff—was pointed towards Datil, while her body faced me.
“How curious. It seems that fruit’s got a mind of its own.”
Damn, she’s got her attention on me. I think I stood out a bit too much.
“Ugh! I can’t seem to find an opening!” Datil said. He was unable to move, and I was frozen in place too. One wrong move, and I would be blown into pieces.
“To think I’d have to destroy this puny fruit to avenge my children...” the queen said.
A chill ran through my entire body, and I used all of my strength to leap back as far as I could.
WHOOSH!
The sound cut through the air, and was immediately followed by the queen’s staff ripping through my skin.
“Eeeek?!” Grida’s small voice echoed through my head.
Th-That was close! A moment later, and I would’ve been sliced to bits!
“So you’ve dodged that, have you?” The queen faded out of sight, and her voice came from a completely different direction. “I’m more interested than angry now. Just how are you able to move, little one?”
Before I knew it, she was already waiting where I was dodging. Damn it! She’s so fast! I couldn’t see her at all!
“Oh ho ho ho ho! See, I’ve caught you now,” she said as she picked me up. She stared down at me and gripped me tight. “Judging from your previous magic, you certainly don’t seem like a normal fruit. Perhaps you’re a demon in disguise?”
Nope! I’m not a demon! I’m just a cute little apple!
“Hmmm, splitting you open may reveal your little secrets.”
Ack! Stop! Owwww! Hey, stop that! Owwwww! I-I’m gonna break! Owww!
“Raaaaagh! Let go of Apple-san!” Datil yelled, slashing the queen from behind.
“Quiet down, now. Wait your turn,” the queen said.
She parried Datil and his sword flew into the air. In the next instant, he was flung to the side. He hit the ground hard, rolling away before coming to a stop.
“Oh ho. I’d assumed you would show a little more backbone than that, hm? I suppose not.”
“Datil? No! D-Datil! Datil?!” Fresa’s screams echoed through the room.
“Oh no! Break the water’s seal, thieves!” Grida yelled.
Ding! “Spell confirmed. Activating spell at two percent strength.” Datil’s body was wrapped in a blue light.
Nice job, Grida!
“Heh, you really are rather interesting. I’m intrigued,” the queen chuckled.
“Ugh... Grr...” Datil slowly got up and reached for his sword. His injuries were healed, but it seemed he still wasn’t fully conscious.
This isn’t good. We’re gonna lose at this rate.
“Furutsu! Should I cast my magic?” Grida said.
Y-Yeah! Use your water spell at one hundred percent strength!
“Roger! Break the water’s seal, thieves, at one hundred percent strength!”
Ding! “Spell confirmed. Activating spell at one hundred percent strength.” A light so deeply blue it was almost black enveloped the queen.
Please work!!!
“Nnnngaaaaah!” the queen shrieked. She released me from her grip with a look of ecstasy, and I rolled on the ground. She had left a dent in my body, but I was mostly uninjured. My blessing card had started to regenerate me.
“How?! How do you have such a powerful healing spell?!” She shrieked as her body writhed.
Oh?! Was this super effective?!
“Thank you for this wonderful magic! It’d be rude of me to not return the favor with the most magnificent death for you!”
“Furutsu! It’s not working! Watch out!” Grida screamed.
The queen found me on the ground. She took her staff and swung it like a golf club. I immediately strengthened my outer skin to block, but I wasn’t even sure if I made it in time.
“Apple-san?!” Datil yelled.
“Noooooo! Apple-san?! Apple-saaaan!” Fresa screamed.
The spot where she struck me was instantly crushed. Fruit juice leaked from my wounds, and only a thin piece of red skin was keeping my two halves together.
Wow, and I can still see just fine. Apples are amazing.
“F-Furutsu! Stay with me!” Grida yelled.
Grida, I’ll be fine. I’ve got the blessing card by my side. I’ll be back to normal in no time.
“Waaaaah! Nooooo! Did you die?!”
Huh? Can you not hear me? Am I not alive anymore?
“Furutsu! Furutsuuuuu! Waaaah!”
Am I dead? Did I just die? Oh, okay. I’m sorry for making you cry, Grida. I couldn’t keep my promise to let you out of that card.
My vision is getting darker...
I can’t...
See...
Anything...