Chapter 644 - Meanwhile, the Former Nova
By cross-referencing my memory with the pillars of light from when the Pillars appeared just before the battle, and the smoke signals from the ones Kanata and I destroyed, I have a rough idea of where the remaining ten or so are.
So, despite being hit with a bunch of events, I’m good to get back to running.
And so, making full use of my absurdly broken ‘gift,’ I took a brief rest and set off toward my next target. It’s been a quick thirty seconds since—
“This is fan service, right?! Right?!”
“I would be honored to die by your hand, so I shall draw closer!”
“It’s a battlefield, so this is all legal, right?!”
“I watch the arena archives every day!!!!!!!!!!”
“A glance!!! Can I get a glance this way?!!!”
“Hey Haru, got a sec?”
“Ahhhhhh he’s moving the real deal is amazzzzzzzing…!!!”
—And that’s how it was.
I was in a section of the maze near the Northern Faction base. Staring, completely put off, at the mob of crazed regular players I’d finally encountered as they surged toward me.
What is that, it’s creepy. Stay away.
“…Recall.”
I summon the crimson cylinder, and my hesitation on the trigger is truly zero.
“Get… lost, you morons!”
The mana-light that kindled on the flintlock struck the pan, and the crystal-caked barrel burst apart as it fired a massive, brilliant round. I wanted this trump card specifically for crowd control, so situationally, this was the absolute perfect chance to use it, but—
Being famous is tough, or maybe it’s an unavoidable weakness.
Since it was a trump card I’d already revealed, there was no way the elite, top-tier players who’d made it into the Four Pillar War wouldn’t have a counter for it.
I’d been suspicious of their slow approach despite their hyped-up charge, and it turned out to be nothing complicated—they were simply running in a tight group, matching their pace with the person in front.
My vision spun wildly from the recoil, and as I slid backward, I caught sight of a warrior, likely a durability-focused tank with low agility, raising his shield with an expression that just screamed, I knew it.
Then another spin and a moment later, what I saw next was a barrier of light expanding from the shield, catching the reactive warhead of the [Ruby Rabbit Bullet].
An explosion, a roar—and the result was,
“Hah, not bad, my predecessors…!”
No scattered bodies in sight. Not only am I known and watched, I’ve been studied. It’s not just that my tricks are exposed; from my perspective, with my still-lacking knowledge, many of the techniques these veterans use are new to me.
What the hell is that light shield? I’ve never seen it. So, the information advantage is, needless to say, a landslide victory for the enemy. The complete first-time-kill tactics from last time won’t work.
Then again, last time I was in a state of hopeless ignorance that surpassed even my current self, so what was ‘first-time vs first-time’ has now become ‘mostly-known vs somewhat-first-time’…
Well, if that’s the case, then that’s the case.
“—[Frezon Revolver].”
I’ll just have to show them the skills I’ve built up, mixed with a little bit of the unknown that I have left.
Braking and battle readiness were simultaneous. I didn’t pass a weapon to my readied fists; I loaded them with bullets. Alright, time to make good on that promise from before—this is how you punch someone from a distance.
“So—… yah!”
Six flashes in an instant. The fist-bullets fired straight from my alternately swinging fists…
“Guh!” “Bu—” “beh,” “ba,” “obwah?!”
…struck the chins of five advancing enemies in a row, flawlessly halting their advance. I gave the shield-bearer who’d blocked my Ruby Bullet and was wearing a smug look two extra shots, but that’s because he looked tough, not because I was annoyed or anything.
The last person in the rear was unscathed, but the five in front of him were blocking his path, so it should be fine. That aside, my next move is this.
“[Aqua].”
Did you think I didn’t notice? The melee group’s charge served as a wall for a quiet incantation, and now, from behind them, a barrage of ranged firepower shot up—I’d estimate five people’s worth.
Synchronized magic barrages are technically quite difficult. To prevent power diffusion from interference with adjacent spells, it’s standard practice to unify the element of the squad if possible.
In other words, it was only natural that all the incoming magic was ‘fire’… As I did the other day, what happens when fire and water meet in Arcadia is—
[Rocket] ignition. I swung my right hand, scattering an amount of ‘water’ just shy of a Tera Aqua. The resulting steam explosion from its contact with the leading greatspear of fire sent me flying backward.
Then another [Rocket] ignition, and I drew my rabbit dagger with [Water Enchant].
Kesshiki Itto, Fifth Strike.
“[Karehomura].”
Pseudo-`Shukuchi` activation.
I cut through the steam smokescreen, weaved through the approaching magic, and brushed past the six vanguard members who, despite being punched in the jaw and having an explosion go off in front of them, were still showing the will to advance—then, I turned around with a triple spin.
From the enemy’s rear, I channeled all my forward momentum into the spin and, while braking, unleashed three consecutive killing blows aimed at their necks from their blind spot—the neck-reaping sword of maximum murderous intent, the Fifth Strike.
It was the cause of my death in my first match with the [Sword Saint], a three-hit combo that bypasses the death-negation of the Crimson Rabbit Hairpin—plus,
the combined technique of [Water Enchant] extending my range based on my swing speed.
Don’t you complain that I’m using [Water Enchant] with a move called ‘Withered Flame’. As long as it’s strong and it cuts, it’s fine—an instant six-kill was pretty impressive, wasn’t it?
Alright, then…
“Ah.”
“Hey, melee group…”
“Aren’t you embarrassed that only Don-chan got a moment in the spotlight?”
“Won’t that be us in the future???”
“YES, he definitely just made eye contact with me! I win!!!”
“He’s selecting his prey, no doubt about it.”
Let’s go, rear guard. No need to ask if you’re ready, is there?
And then, six seconds later.
“—So, what’s up, Goldow?”
“You can hear me, can’t you? Answer me.”
“Sorry, was a little preoccupied dealing with the mob of perverts…”
“Huh? What nonsense are you spouting?”
My bad. I’ll listen properly now, so please forgive me.
It feels like no matter what he does, it just ends up being a reward for them.