Chapter 373 - The White Lingering Dream, Swaying in Slumber - Part 2
The first forced teleport—and the White Throne's second gimmick activates.
Ignoring the other players, who were hit with a random shuffle and forced into a split-second environmental check and situational assessment, a change occurred in the 'dragon' as it let out a roar reminiscent of a whale's call.
A white dot separated from its body, like a droplet of water being flicked away. However, it only looked like a dot because the White Throne's body was just that enormous.
I couldn't tell the exact size of the thing floating up into the sky, but from a distance, I could tell it had enough mass to crush a player.
And there were dozens of such 'dots'… in other words, a countless number.
Their true nature: turrets of its separated body that fire an aberrant barrage.
—And as it happens, they're the targets of our role.
"Crush 'em!"
I didn't need the General's voice kicking me in the back.
"[Rocket]."
Casting aside all hesitation, I went full throttle from the get-go. Scattering my own HP and a spray of water, I soared straight into the sky.
The turrets floating above the White Throne's head have a tendency to target the closest player and unleash a concentrated barrage.
In that case, with a rule-breaker like me who can simply fly through the sky now in the mix—
"Bring it on—if you think you can catch me!"
…depending on how I perform, my comrades below can completely ignore one of the most annoying gimmicks. The trade-off, of course, is that I'm in for a hell of a time.
Unleashed in unison from the floating white fragments was a swarm of 'tentacles' like a curtain of bullets.
These were no gentle things meant to entangle and restrain an enemy; they were hundreds of merciless spears meant to pierce and impale. Getting caught means certain death—so I just have to not get caught!
With no obstacles and infinite space, you'd think this would be [Rocket]'s time to shine, but unfortunately, I can't just fly around and escape as I please.
My role is purely that of a decoy. To draw the fire of every single turret, I have to remain the closest player to all of them.
Furthermore, the order from Goldow just now wasn't 'distract them' but 'crush them'. So my role is the decoy, but our role is—
"Lux-san!"
"Okay, let's do this!"
""[Sword Circle (Schwert Kreis)]—""
The time limit is one hundred seconds. We have to destroy every last one of those things each time the teleport and turret-spread cycle repeats—so I don't get dragged down by the forced teleport and the tentacle spears don't rain down on the raid members with scattered aggro.
"[Two Thousand Strikes (Zwei Tausend)]!"
"[Continuous Volley (Fly, lots of you~)]!"
Two rings of power activated, and a cloud of 'sand dust' far outnumbering the 'White's' forces surged into the sky.
Two thousand sand swords, controlled by Sora, soaring freely through the air.
And from Lux, who had tailored the copied [Cradle of Sword-Craft] from his [Remniel Traveler] to his own style, a rising rain of unending, hyper-continuous sniper fire.
My, my, a truly magnificent sight—not that I have a single millimeter of time to be thinking such carefree thoughts!
"[Fatal Leak]—…Tch!"
Having boasted beforehand that 'friendly fire is a non-issue,' getting clipped by mistake and crashing down would be too uncool for words.
As for MP consumption, that's not a concern this time—no holding back. I'll just keep it active the whole time… wait, hold on a second.
"Tch, yeah, I know! Stop thrashing around, will you…!"
Dodging incoming tentacles, weaving through flying magic swords, and spamming [Rocket] in rapid succession. My head was already fried from trying to control both the skill and my posture.
If I lose my concentration in a state like this, I'm on a one-way trip to an accidental death. I gripped the hilt of my beloved sword, which had started to act up in its scabbard at my right hip, with my left hand, calming it down. Easy there, partner.
Don't you worry.
—Did you really think your master would be satisfied with just running around?
Whether my thoughts got through to it or not, the unruly blade fell silent, and an involuntary grin spread across my face… no, I'd been grinning for a while now, hadn't I?
Ah, this is fun—well then, shall we make it even more fun?
"Sora!"
My voice doesn't reach her, but it does.
My request is transmitted through the bond woven by the chains connecting our shields. And in response, my partner's answer was surely returned to me.
Seven sand swords broke away from their task of targeting the White Throne's turrets and carving through their tentacles. I snatched one of them with my shield-bearing right hand.
It's a bit cumbersome, but not impossible to wield. But I don't need to swing it as a weapon. Because this is just an antenna—a rein for the vassal, bestowed by the master of the magic swords.
"The decoy act is over. Follow me…!"
The attack prediction lines from [Fatal Leak] and a quick calculation of my own breakthrough power tell me the same thing—no need for fancy tricks, a single point breakthrough will be more than enough!
"[Rocket]!"
I kicked off the empty air, full throttle. The six magic swords linked to the one I held followed me at super speed, spiraling in a way that defied even the limits of Sora's skill.
No need to evade. As my entourage of blades cut down every tentacle in my path… I couldn't really see it, but the timing was now.
In the instant I passed by one of the turrets, a target I had committed to memory—I drew my sword and sliced it in two.
"—————Hah…!"
There was no resistance, nothing. It wasn't there.
Seeing as how dozens of magic swords were assaulting each turret, their individual durability must be considerable.
And yet, this.
It truly felt like I had just cut through empty air.
"You're in a pretty good mood, aren't you—let's go on a rampage, partner!"
Whether it was my imagination or not, the sword's blade seemed to emit a faint light, shining a brilliant white that rivaled the 'White' itself—and [Everquartz, Soaring White Crystal Sword], released from its scabbard, seemed unable to contain its excitement for its long-awaited grand stage.
Flashing the blade that once devoured the remnants of white, it carved a dazzling trail across the azure sky.
[Everquartz, Soaring White Crystal Sword] Anima: Straight Sword/Ring
Its steel remembers the karma of defying the messenger.
Its blade remembers the honor of sinking its fangs into the pillar.
This sword will not forget—the heroic figure of its master, who soared without yielding to divine might.
・Special Effect: 'He Who Aims for the White Throne'
Bonus effectiveness against [Tsarkalv of the White Throne] and its kin.