Chapter 1157 - 剣の乙女たち
The maps, areas, and fields existing in Arcadia can be divided into a small number of "Indestructible Terrain" and a vast majority of "Destructible Terrain."
Belonging to the former are environments within many Instance Dungeons or environments within the special "Territories" existing on the field—in other words, the normal areas belong to the latter.
The endless "world" that forms the [Garden of Divine Creation (Kakusei no Shinsouniwa)] allows for intentional fluctuations, just as players in the early days of the service were able to clear forests and establish [Safe Areas].
In short, there is a logic where "if you thrust a sword into the ground, the tip will be buried"—something that is natural in reality, but not natural by the standards of existing game common sense.
That is to say, it is only natural.
If a succession of giant towers rains down, the earth will naturally become riddled with holes.
"Hieee...???"
And yet... the hundred giant towers raining down, the roaring impact exploding with a power and intensity rivaling modern weaponry, the vortex of quicksand bursting and dispersing due to the violence of the dust clouds given form, and the hard bedrock being crushed and pierced as soon as it appeared—all of it was a familiar sight.
"...As I thought, it looks like it will be a good match."
In the very midst of that catastrophic power falling, right at the center.
Iris, holding the person in need of rescue who let out a dazed voice that wasn't quite a scream, smiled amidst the Tempest (Kenfuu Kago) she deployed to coincide with the arrival of the support fire.
So as not to be targeted by mistake, Nia, who was house-sitting while erasing her presence at the edge of the depression, watched the situation quietly and laughed with a lack of tension, "Uwahaa."
—And, just as a certain someone who is currently absent always, always says.
By now, for those who know full well that the girl is Arcadia's "leading bug character," that level of display is nothing to be surprised about.
Therefore,
"Ngh, Iris-san!"
"Fufu... It's okay! There's no need to hold back!"
Between the earth riddled with holes and the sky that made them, a communication of confirmation took place.
Yes, in other words, the fact that the previous attack was merely a probing feint—
"《Circle of Twin Swords (Elden Kreis)》"
If one knows her, they might be exasperated, but they would not be surprised.
" 'Sand Sword (Terra)'—'Flame Sword (Flamme)'—'Magic Sword Fusion (Integrate)' "
No need to hold back. Along with the Angel who obediently accepted the command from the Princess, landing upon the pommel of one of the towers she herself had thrust into the earth and singing.
"《First Tower of Divine Piercing (Sturm Riesig)》...—Limit Manifestation (Over-Grenze)!"
What appeared and stood ready was a brilliant heavenly sword.
Even as the battle situation changed along with the terrain, she remained at the center of the monster's territory—the place with the best view and convenience. While suppressing the [Dragon-Eating Worm of the Vortex (Goliath Ninerve)] which was raging with natural frenzy.
While feinting by cleaving through all the "tentacles" that appeared ceaselessly, passing through the holes (paths) in the bedrock that had existed in countless numbers even before Sora opened them—the "heads" that tried to head toward her and toward the girl identified as the source of the sudden "natural disaster."
Reflected in Iris's looking-up eyes was... a small sun shaped like a sword, or perhaps a giant sword shaped like a sun. A tower of golden flames, likely exceeding thirty meters in total length.
—Now then.
The four types of magic swords provided by Sora's Soul Instrument [Cradle (Kureido)] have characteristics that heavily inherit the nature of the magic that served as their "basis."
"Sand Sword (Terra)"—The first and fundamental, the primordial and versatile dust sword possesses the dual attributes of physical and magical, inheriting the power and nature of the sandstorm controlled by the material [Teardrop of Dust]... the Secret Raid Boss [Scion of Dust (Bastard)], master of the decayed eyes.
"Flame Sword (Flamme)"—Next, the second. The brilliant sword that is the incarnation of flaming heat possesses, in addition to simple high power according to its elemental tendency, a matter-penetration ability formed by its non-physical blade.
"Ice Sword (Glacies)"—Furthermore, the third. The snow-flower sword harboring extreme cold possesses the ability to create countless flakes like falling snow and freezing. It has status usurpation abilities that hinder movement through cold and steal the power of whatever it touches.
And... "Lightning Sword (Eclair)"—The new fourth. The flashing, shining lightning sword possesses "Vortex (Raiden Dou)," which grants the properties of electricity to itself and its master in a broad sense, and the "Anti-Magic Eraser (Mahou Mukouka Shoukyo)" ability, which seems to have inherited the properties of the Great Magic 《Disastor (Shiden Kousei)》 that Iris poured into it by twisting them.
In that case, what should be noted in this current situation is the characteristic of the second magic sword, "Flame Sword (Flamme)."
A non-physical magic sword formed of flame. The matter-penetration ability possessed by its blade, the lawless limit of penetration execution that slips through any shield or wall, is—none other than proportional to the total length of the blade.
In other words, the tip of the small sun exceeding thirty meters,
"—《Calamity of Melting Heavenly Flames (Laevateinn)》!!"
Easily penetrates through something like slightly thick bedrock to pierce the hermit.
Thus, a fraction of a second before impact. Iris, having fulfilled her roles as decoy, guard, and harasser, retreated in a single bound, while nearby Nia cleverly shielded both eyes with her arms—the next moment.
In the desolate rocky mountain region, a dazzling flame of the ultimate sun stood tall.
And for five seconds, ten seconds... while the exploded golden flames raged with explosive heat, and lava, the aftereffect of the power, scattered here and there. At the bottom of the large hole that had opened up in the center of the area—leaving one wondering if it would have reached even without "matter penetration"—
"............, ............!"
As expected of a calamity, it still had breath.
If one were to describe it, it was a grotesque monster that could be called a sea anemone made of rock that squirmed—and toward it, the next radiance fell.
A vivid blue-silver, no less brilliant than the previous gold,
"—《Boundless Heavenly Sword (Perfect Espada)》"
As the "sword" was swung, the curtain fell.
That's right. The orthodox strategy against Ninerve-kun is to work hard at digging a hole while slipping through its stupidly aggressive attacks and then beat up the main body, the sea anemone. Of course it's impossible for a single platoon.
By the way, the nickname "Immortal Worm (Fujimi Mizu)" took root during the era when its full nature wasn't clear and people asked, "How the hell do you kill that shitty boss?" and it continues to be passed down with affection even now that its true identity has been revealed. According to records, the first person to ever slay it was the Invincible Samurai of the East.
[Author's Note]