Chapter 207 - No Need for Unrest or Anxiety
"—Yeah, four blocks from there… right. I doubt he'll be taken down, but get there as fast as you can. I'll send reinforcements after you."
At the Eastern Faction's war-time base, outdoors.
At the center of the established command post, Goldow leaned over a battlefield map spread across a table, refusing to be swept away by the changing tides of the battle.
The great golden-haired man, the [General Commander] himself, was firing off a rapid succession of orders to the rankers and the squad leaders of the regular players.
While his mouth never rested from sending instructions via the [Telepathy] skill, he used his gaze and gestures to relay information to the aides surrounding the table.
They deciphered his intent, placing new pieces and sticking notes on the board one after another. In the blink of an eye, the map, handcrafted by an Observer, transformed from a simple maze into a true war diagram.
"Alright… for now, just hurry. I'll send further orders later—sorry to keep you waiting, Hinayo. What's the situation?"
He was the very picture of a commander… a far cry from his usual self, who always seemed to have an opening and a strange sort of charm.
So much so that even the normally brash fourth-ranked member carefully waited for the right moment to speak.
"How's it looking?"
As he paused for breath, Mi-na peeked over from his side. A large hand descended from above, ruffling her hair as if calming a grandchild.
"How's it looking? Helena came at us more directly than I ever expected."
With his free hand, he pointed to three locations on the map where large, crown-shaped pieces were placed.
"Irori, Genkotsu, Hinayo—she's hitting all three at once. And she's being generous, too, sending two rank-holders to each of them."
While also patting Ri-na, who had peeked out from the opposite side, Goldow explained the situation. The Eastern Wings both wore grim expressions.
"Ugh… Irorin and Gen-chan aside, is Hina-chan okay?"
"If she's up against a close-range pair, it could be dangerous."
In a one-on-one, there would be little cause for concern. But against multiple opponents, especially in a situation forcing close-quarters combat… even for an Istia ranker, the mid-to-long-range specialist Hinayo would be at a disadvantage—
"Nah, if anything, Hinayo's the one we don't have to worry about at all. She's got a nearby allied unit acting as a wall while she pummels them to bits, apparently."
"Oh…"
"Amen…"
One had to wonder if the two pairs of small, prayerfully clasped hands were for the Istia players being forced to act as a 'wall,' or for the Northern and Southern rankers being made into 'targets' for her [Heat Gaze]…
"Genkotsu… well, he'll be fine even if we leave him alone. I've sent backup to Irori, too—so I guess, if there's any cause for concern…"
Goldow's finger pointed to a spot near the center of the maze area, where a large game piece shaped like a winged boot, representing a runner, drew everyone's attention.
"Haru, what's your status—"
◇◆◇◆◇
"—I'm a little busy right now!!!"
The call from the General Commander came through, but I honestly didn't have the time or the composure to respond with any sort of formality.
I swatted away an approaching fire arrow with the [Revolving Aegis] on my right hand, then slammed a roundhouse kick wrapped in [Whirlwind] into the presence closing in from behind.
I felt the solid impact through my leg, but there was no time to confirm the results of my counterattack. When I looked up, my vision was filled with a multicolored hailstorm.
This is Homing Magic.
Estimated projectile count: a lot.
Mental lock-on alert—at maximum volume, constantly!
"Could you guys maybe learn the meaning of moderation…?!"
"Look who's talking, you bastard!"
"It's the Acrobat! Take him down!"
"Shoot him down! Shoot him dooooown!!"
"Stop flying around like you own the place!"
"I'm pretty sure doing mid-air jumps by yourself is a crime!"
"What the hell is your relationship with Nia-chan, you bastard!!!"
It was an overwhelming mob…!!
"Hey Haru, are you alrigh—"
"Alrigh—t… I guess I am, bu—whoaah?!"
No, this is bad, this is bad, this is bad! A single, powerful ranker is one thing, but being surrounded and dogpiled by a huge number of elites from the Four Pillar selection is a whole other level of awful!
"Goldow-san, sorry! I'm listen—guah! I'm listening! Just, uh, state your busine—ss…!!"
"Die!!"
"—State your business, pleaseeeagh!!"
I brought my heel down on the head of a light warrior who leaped at me, then summoned [An-ri Galta (Prologue: The Wedge-Fragment that Sings of Eternity)] and the [Giant's Hand Axe] on the spot and, without grabbing them, just left them there.
As the several-hundred-kilogram weapons chased after the falling warrior, making a sickening CRUNCH! on impact, I used the opening to swat down another volley of countless fire arrows with my right shield—and finally, you bastards… my time to strike back has come!
"Revolve and Bloom—[Luna Atiara]!!"
"What the heck is that!?"
"Whoa, that's so cool!!"
"Where'd you get that!?"
"Player-made, maybe!?"
"If you can, introduce me to the artisan—"
"Daaaaaaamn it, shut up! You're making me lose my focus!!"
I slammed the small shield, brimming with its maximum count, into my chest, and dramatically donned a suit of shining armor—only for the Northern and Southern players, my supposed enemies, to erupt in cheers.
—Seriously, you know?
It's not just that they're all skilled fighters who keep me on my toes…
"Here I come, you damn veterans—it's time for a trampling, you bastards!!"
"""Bring it on, you son of a biiiiiiitch!!"""
They're all just so into it that I can't help but get pumped up myself, right!?
Gripping the Bullets I summoned in both hands, I unhesitatingly leaped towards the elite squad that had naturally formed a battle line against me, a single player.
So I'm the boss enemy, huh?
—Fine by me! I'll give you a rampage worthy of your expectations!
I activated [Breath Moment]. They fired a barrage at my front, sides, and above my head, but I slipped through it with a delivery skill that, in my personal opinion, has both feet firmly planted in the 'cheating' category. I sliced the stunned light warrior in front of me into three pieces as I passed.
My weapons, their purpose served, were flung to my left and right. They flew true, striking the torsos of the two players on either side who had stopped short to change direction.
"Exploding Bullet!!"
Then, drawing as I moved—I slammed the [Rabbit Dagger, Parabellum] in my right hand against my left fist… Shatter, resonance, explosion.
One of them had their HP bar completely blown away by the massive impact of the dagger embedded in their stomach exploding, while the other was rendered immobile by a forced stun. Having carved a path through the vanguard's wall, I saw the rearguard unit, their cheeks twitching but valiantly casting support magic.
Let's see, about ten meters away?
Too bad for you. For me, that's just a single step.
'Matoi'—with this abnormal technique that grants additional acceleration after kicking off, my avatar instantly crushed the short distance…
\nA few minutes later.
"Um, sorry. I've taken care of things, so could you start from the beginning…?"
"………………"
Silence descended upon the waterway, where I was now the only one left standing. The other side of the [Telepathy] link, which should have still been connected, was just as quiet.
For a long while, the only reply I received was a silence thick with utter exasperation.
Alas... (resignation)