Chapter 639 - III < I ?
—The moment the 'water' was unleashed, two 'choices' flashed through my mind.
First, a full-speed escape.
As a 'Ranker' who is no longer a newcomer, it's unthinkable to refuse a fight that's been offered on the Four Pillars' stage, a place that cannot be separated from its role as a spectacle. Especially for us in the Istia faction, who started this whole thing by picking a fight in the first place, it would be beyond uncool.
Back when I first joined the ranks, as I was nervously awaiting my first Four Pillar War, Goldow told me, "There's no shame in running." But that was only permissible because I was a greenhorn rookie.
If I, after going on a rampage and making a name for myself, were to turn tail and make a cowardly escape now? I can just imagine the public's disappointment.
Which is why I at least responded to the initial engagement. In other words, I showed my willingness to fight, and I also demonstrated, albeit by a narrow margin, that I could indeed 'hold my own.'
This means that, at this point, an escape can be justified as a strategic choice.
Whether or not I'm internally whining, 'This is impossible, I want to run away before I get minced,' doesn't matter. In the end, what's important is how it looks to the audience.
Second, forcefully initiate an `[Engage]` to punch a hole in their encirclement.
`[Engage]` is a special skill granted exclusively to Rankers during the Four Pillar War. By declaring it against a Ranker from another faction within ten meters, it instantly deploys a field that prevents any outside interference.
If I deploy this, the barrier separating the inside from the outside would completely shut out [Long Legs]'s barrage. Since his `[Endless, Doll of Atonement]` seems to be a fire-and-forget skill that endlessly throws out magic once activated, buying time with an invincibility barrier is extremely effective.
And I have no intention of allowing my opponent to use `[Break]` once I've trapped them with `[Engage]`. Furthermore, I have the utmost confidence that my own `[Engage]` will connect without fail, making this option the safest and most certain...—or so it should be, but there's one massive problem.
On this battlefield, there is one player who I absolutely must not choose as my `[Engage]` opponent, and her presence is likely by design. Even if I don't directly `[Engage]` her, if I manage a one-on-one with either of the other two, it's the same thing if she uses `[Interrupt]`.
[Knight] Aika. The moment a situation arises where I'm trapped inside the barrier one-on-one with her, my Eleventh Four Pillar War will probably be over. To be precise, if my seniors don't come to my rescue, it's not hard to imagine I'll be pinned down here.
Let me be clear. I don't intend to lose to her, but—
I have not a shred of confidence that I can finish her off.
In the end, the presence of that [Knight] is robbing me of all my 'choices.'
The reason I'm struggling against her, even though she has yet to get serious... or rather, show her 'true potential,' is largely because I'm afraid of her doing just that.
This three-on-one formation, born from whim and momentum, might actually be protecting me. The current situation is only possible because my three seniors are showing 'interest' and 'goodwill' towards me, and taking advantage of that is my only ray of hope.
Therefore, the conclusion—there are no 'choices,' only a single 'path.'
`[Eyes Oculus]`, activate. I close my left eye and open my right. Having resolved myself to an all-out resistance, my golden eye unhesitatingly activates, dragging my consciousness into a world of doubled thought acceleration.
Even in the slowed scenery, the projectiles of 'water'—large, medium, and small—close in at tremendous speed. Faced with a multitude of spells approaching like a tidal wave, there is only one thing I call for.
I swing my right arm forcefully, and shadow threads reel in the remains of the [Demon Horn Spear: Crimson Valor] that had been left rolling on the floor... No. Even with its blade shattered, this spear is not dead.
It had only consumed a sliver of life from the [Great Tiger] earlier, and the magic it converted was just as meager. Thus, the crimson cloth indicating its 'gauge' is unreliably small, but if it exists, I can call upon it.
"Arise—`[Crimson Blade (Red Air)]`!"
The twin crimson blades light up at the spear's tip, flickering like a 'rabbit's ears' as demonic light scatters from them.
This 'blade' is neither physical nor magical; it is an incorporeal blade that cannot touch life (HP). However, the third ability of the [Demon Horn Spear: Crimson Valor], which has had no chance to shine until now—
"Witness this, seniors...!"
—is that you can punch enemy magic with it.
My hairpin flashes, activating `Desperate Crimson`. Wielding the crimson-bladed spear and cloaked in red light, I ignite my excessive AGI, which has been boosted by my magic stat. My thought speed, already accelerated by my skills, is left in the dust as I bid farewell to the ground and charge at the great spear of water that was closest.
It's probably the grand magic from that unfamiliar long incantation. Facing a pressure that makes a one-shot kill easy to imagine, I swing the blade in a wide arc, and—it hits.
Normally, you can't interfere with magic physically unless you imbue a weapon with an attribute other than the same one and aim for the 'core.' The best you can do is block it with a shield or wall larger than the spell's diameter.
However, with this thing that wavers between the physical and magical,
"No way, are you insane!?"
"Haha... That's unexpected, I must say!"
"Something new again...!"
It's possible to forcefully interfere with the crystal of magic and knock it down.
The 'words of praise' from the [Thread-Weaver], [Long Legs], and [Knight] are a symphony to my ears—but unfortunately, I have no time to spare. The incorporeal blade, formed from meager resources, is already beginning to fade.
My [Water Enchant] can't intercept the magic of Record-shi, who shares the same attribute. That's why I need to break through in the short time before this `[Crimson Blade (Red Air)]` disappears.
And my target is just one person.
Not the [Thread-Weaver] or [Long Legs] being protected by the [Knight], but the [Knight] herself, who is providing absolute protection to the other two. If I don't take her down, there's no victory.
The enemy's magic, which I leap through the air to knock down, parry, and send flying, is also a diversionary and restraining tactic. I can't seize control of it, but there's no way they can react instantly to the unfamiliar sensation of 'having their magic punched.'
They should be preoccupied with deflecting their own magic as it's knocked back, lest it hit their allies. My guess proves correct, and I race through the fleeting 'gap' that appears.
"Tch... You're truly absurd, aren't you!"
"Wouldn't be here now if I weren't...!"
While Stella's autonomous function forcibly cuts through the 'threads' of support that crept in at the perfect moment, I dive in and slam my fist into the 'shield.'
As we exchange playful banter—`[Frezon Revolver]` fully loaded & `[Ignition]` & `[Rocket]` & Matoi and Kai at maximum output!
Kesshiki Ittoryu Unarmed Style: [Shinden]... or rather, my prototype unarmed style.
"[Tsuzumi]."
One strike, two, three, four, five. The output, driven in instantaneously and progressively, resonates and mixes, becoming an explosive 'force' that races straight through the enemy's core.
And its power is...
"—Kah, hah...!?"
Whether taking a blade or a fist, the [Knight], who had maintained a genuine no-damage record until now, had her HP gouged by thirty percent from over her shield—an absurdly powerful blow.
It's a technique I魔改造 from my master's own, a contact-penetration attack that simple defense cannot block. No matter how incredible that shield is, it couldn't have just blocked it head-on before it was released!
And so,
"Tch...— Manif—"
"I don't think so."
Frankly, the fact that she stopped it at only thirty percent damage is what's truly shocking, but it seems that even the great guardian cannot escape the immense impact effect.
Was it a reflex, or a predetermined action anticipating a crisis? As she was barely able to even move her mouth, I pressed in further, and in the right hand that had just delivered its blow, I summoned a massive bomb of pure mass.
"—..."
Was she about to continue her words, or did she reflexively start to say something else...? Well, now that she's been crushed under the Great War Hammer `[Gravidon]`, I'll never know.
And I have neither the time nor the luxury to leisurely find out. Therefore, my apologies,
"—`[Ignition]`!"
As my finger squeezed the trigger, I felt not a single shred of mercy or hesitation.