Chapter 480 - The White Star Wears Red, The Blue Star Wears Black, Part Six
I felt like I heard a scream from somewhere, but the overall battle situation was going extremely well. So well, in fact, that aside from the problem of the massive amount of scattered loot getting in the way, I could probably call the current situation perfect.
The HP of all members, including the party fighting the tiger boss, was completely stable. Of course, my support was one factor, but a bigger reason was that everyone was fighting with high morale.
Motivation is what influences a player’s performance the most… I think a certain deputy representative said something like that. I completely agree.
—However,
“...Is this it?”
I stopped in my tracks, and the words that slipped out were undeniably those of someone feeling let down.
The overall battle situation was extremely favorable. It was so stable that I could stop and mutter to myself without a care in the world—what I’m trying to say is,
“It’s lukewarm, isn’t it? I mean, we’re still having a tough time, but…”
The one who caught my mutter nearby was the boar tamer and great-hammer user, Rizenon-shi. In a temporary safe zone that had opened up thanks to my relentless sword-swinging, he was taking a short break, using his heavy weapon as a makeshift staff.
And I completely, totally agreed with his words.
My Trance body’s MP was gone and I’d lost control of my right arm, but since I was satisfied with the exchange rate of resources for battle results, I didn’t feel particularly exhausted.
Besides, I’m not good at dual-wielding anyway. Not being able to use one arm isn’t that much of a handicap.
Putting that aside, the follow-up attacks have been too weak. The supposed “leader” seems to be using a strategy, but… in reality, all it’s done so far is feed in forces piecemeal. It hasn’t even managed to make me run around in circles like it did this morning.
—I couldn’t help but think that I might have overestimated it.
But the moment that thought crossed my mind, I became aware of the smile that had simultaneously appeared on my face, and a mix of exasperation and other emotions turned it into a wry grin.
Ah, I really do trust this game, Arcadia, from the bottom of my heart.
Like with many other games, I have my complaints from time to time. But unlike many other mediocre games, this world—absolutely, under no circumstances, tolerates boredom.
From a distance, I could hear the high-pitched sound of hooves.
“...Well, here it comes.”
“...Here what comes?”
“Something.”
Leaving Rizenon-shi, whose face perfectly expressed the phrase ‘I have a bad feeling about this,’ with a smile, I turned on my heel and ran vertically up the watchtower that stood in the center of the battlefield.
I reached the top and turned my head three hundred and sixty degrees.
The anti-boss unit was struggling against the great tiger that controlled a mysterious barrier, but they were maintaining a solid strategy that didn’t feel risky. The other squads dealing with the horde also seemed to have some breathing room thanks to my enthusiastic thinning of the ranks.
In other words, I, the key piece, was conveniently free. Whether that was a coincidence or someone’s intention, I had no way of knowing—
“There you are, new type.”
As if to say, ‘Now what will you do?’ a new starlit shadow appeared, bursting through the darkness of the forest and leaping onto the battlefield with great force.
Its body wasn’t massive… but that was only in comparison to the “Boar,” the “Snake,” or the “Dragon.” From a player’s perspective, it was plenty large.
The tenth in the Zodiac series. The “Horse,” which appeared while making a light sound that seemed impossible for running on soft earth, galloped swiftly, scattering stardust from its flowing mane.
Its eight legs were headed straight for the center of the base. Its purpose and abilities were completely unknown—so naturally, the only option for me was to kill the unknown on sight.
“This is the end of the road…!”
The time lag between my step and making contact was half a second. The flash of my jade blade, swung without hesitation, raced toward the “Horse’s” neck without missing its mark, and—
“—Huh? What?”
—it raced through, and passed right through.
Zero feedback, zero damage effect. The starlit steed ignored the transparent slash and, without even glancing at me as I let out a stupid sound, continued straight ahead.
“Hey wait, that’s bad—… you’ve got to be kidding!”
It showed no signs of stopping its charge toward the center of the base, where the non-combatants were.
I canceled [Water Enchant]. Suspecting a ‘magic nullification’ effect, I chased after it and swung my sword again, but just like the first time, my weapon passed right through.
No, wait, calm down. Enchant magic is both physical and magical—which is even worse, does that mean it’s completely immune to both physical and magical attacks? You’ve got to be joking! Hey, Arcadia, is this what I get the moment I praise you…?
“Damn it…! —Sapphire!”
My jade blade, rabbit daggers, star sword, and even my gauntlets—all my attacks passed through it as I ran alongside. A final option flashed through my mind, and I called out in a panic.
In the direction the “Horse” and I, who was desperately clinging to it, were headed, a massive starry sky spread its wings on a wooden roof. I heard another scream, but this was an emergency, so forgive me, partner!
The speed of the “Dragon” that flew in response to my call was, even in its weakened state, equal to or greater than that of an average light warrior. The “Horse” seemed slightly faster in terms of simple running speed, but its massive body was more than enough to block the path of its oncoming opponent.
In the next moment, the newcomer, which still showed no signs of stopping, and my loyal servant collided—
“Tch… Hah, good job, Sapphie.”
I praised my [Star] for brilliantly slamming the steed, which had charged forward as if it didn't know the concept of ‘turning,’ to the ground with its leg.
—No, this is seriously dangerous!
I don’t know what it was planning to do, but an intangible enemy breaking through the defense line and making a beeline for a critical point is the one thing you absolutely can’t let happen in a tower defense game… huh?
Before I could calm my mind, which was reeling from the unexpected and shocking ability, my body stiffened at the next “anomaly” that occurred, and I spun my thoughts, searching for an answer.
Two options were calculated in a fraction of a second—should I defeat it here, or should I move it away… However, it seemed this event had no intention of giving me time to think.
Faster than I could give an order, faster than Sapphire could move on its own.
“Ah, crap…”
The starry sky that seeped out from the eight-legged “Horse” instantly spread out at our feet, with an intensity that seemed to fill half the battlefield—and within the belly of the raid that was fighting off the assault from the perimeter…
The countless shimmering and squirming specks of stardust overflowed, taking the form of beasts.