Chapter 700 - A Single Exchange as a Greeting
What does it even mean to go 'all out'? For someone like me with far too many cards up my sleeve, drawing the line is difficult, but for now, I know which one I have to play.
"—If you insist, then by all means."
[Desperate Crimson] activated.
The [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart], which had returned to its usual hairstyle and glowed in its rightful place, released one of its powers. My avatar became clad in the crimson phosphorescence that was now widely known as my signature.
The battle had already begun with the manifestation of the black flames that glowed with the color of darkness. So naturally, the 'enemy's' response to me taking a battle stance was—
"No holding back, not even for a second!"
…a merciless, all-out assault.
Her threads, imbued with a dark glow, soared through the air, a sweeping attack from all directions. Normally, I might have a chance, but against those threads cloaked in black flame… an enchantment of the special Darkness Magic aptitude, touching them is a game over.
In other words, trying to parry them with a counter-attack like I did during the Four Pillar War is a bad move.
Therefore, I'll do this.
"Kesshiki Ittoryu, Sixth Strike—"
I summon a single blade.
[Matoi] & 《Rocket》 & 《Ignition》 & and a full parallel activation of all other mobility skills to create a pseudo-[Shukuchi]. With this power I've refined, including all the system assists, I unleash a drawing strike—
"《Ekou》."
A far-reaching, invisible slashing wave that uses the cleaved 'air' itself to parry the enemy.
The 'black flame' of the Darkness attribute is a plundering flame that devours and drinks dry all magic. That encroaching fire affects not only simple magic, but even the creations of Magic Crafters.
In other words, magic, the primary ranged option for players in Arcadia, is useless as a countermeasure… In fact, it would be instantly consumed, only increasing the enemy's firepower.
And even if I were to throw a weapon as a physical counter, if it were a masterpiece capable of resisting the [Thread-Weaver]'s threads, it would be swiftly devoured and become a non-returnable item.
This difficult-to-intercept weapon, with its endless supply and versatility, comes at you from all directions. It's a simple yet fiendishly powerful combination, but it's not without a solution.
And that is—to use a 'power' woven without magic, to slash them apart without touching them.
"Impressive."
"Thanks!"
Four flashes in a single breath. The blades of 《Ekou》, released in a square pattern, chewed through the black flame-clad threads with pure physical force, and the burnt cinders, their connection to their master severed, dissolved into the air.
However, this was no time to be grinning complacently at a senpai's praise. Even those scattered remnants were dangerous goods that would inflict a nasty burn if touched—that said,
…I don't have to strain myself to handle everything alone.
A light snap echoed.
The finger snap that rang out from behind me was obviously from her. I could practically envision her in that incredibly cool pose that must have sent her female fans, who adore her as their 'big sister,' into a frenzy.
In the center of the dancing dark flames, a brilliant crimson flame was born—
"—Baaang."
—further exciting the crowd and startling even me, her partner, with a playful quip. 'You're into that kind of thing, too!?' The crimson light burst, and a blast wave raged.
The heat generated by her Anima, the twin pistols [Nova Rescellerate, Mirror Illuminating Six Stars], is entirely magical. Therefore, by all rights, its crimson glow should not be able to overcome its natural enemy, the black flame—but she is the [Scorching Gaze], a ranker of the Eastern Faction.
Extinguishing the embers with a mere aftershock is something she does as a matter of course.
"Haru-kun!"
"Right behind you!"
《Eyes Oculus》 and 《Rocket》 activated. I broke through the massive hole in their lines before it could close. Following the attack predictions reported by the silver eyes (Oculus), I slipped past the hard-to-see threads that weren't cloaked in black flame and were mixed in, my goal a single point.
"You damn monsters… you Istians!"
A phantom of musical scales echoed in my head. Almost… no, exactly like playing a piano, her ten fingers danced lightly, manipulating countless threads—the form of the [Thread-Weaver].
Again, she is the nemesis of players who focus on mental stats. Thus, while I, with an MID of 1500, have a way to deal with her head-on, it would be fatal for Hina-san, a pure magic attacker who can only manage through tricky maneuvers, if she were to be targeted.
The black flame of darkness varies in power depending on the target's mana pool—which means it's no surprise if my Transformed Body would die instantly from a single graze. But so what?
If I get hit, it's over. That's business as usual for me!
And so, right before me, having slipped past the threads and other things, I was just one step away from reaching her on the floor. As I closed the distance to my senpai, who looked at me with a mix of astonishment and a resentful 'I knew it' expression—
"Don't you forget about m—"
"—Like hell I would!"
…I'd have to put that on hold for a moment. The troublesome fan who had been so diligently setting up obstacles in my path alongside her partner was, of course, expected.
Therefore, my expression in return was not 'You're here,' but 'Welcome.'
—Alright, instructor. Grit your teeth!—
"Eek…!?"
The domain that should have been filled with the sound of a soundless, sure-kill blast was empty. It took less than a moment for Rinne to realize her prey had escaped her grasp, but that was more than enough.
Letting out a rather rude shriek, she instinctively turned to follow the presence. With her impressive reaction speed, she solidified her defense with both arms plus the invisible sound armor that embodied her 'name,' [Bell-Mail].
Equip: [An=Ru Galta (Hypothesis: The Wedge-Armor that Sings of the Royal Road)]—and of course, the ammunition loading is complete.
"Sextuple."
A single flash of my left fist, and a roar tore through the air.
As if to say 'who cares about STR values,' my excessive AGI, which generates 'power' with a roar, unleashed itself with a host of skills, shaking the stage.
And the [Bell-Mail], sent flying like a ball at high speed, was—
"W-Wait—an instant kill!?"
"You're not dead, but I'm so sorrryyyyyy…!!!"
As I'd guessed from the feeling of hitting a resilient ball, she was completely unharmed. I regretted not going for a penetrating strike as I saw her off. I shouted an apology to my junior, who had instinctively opened a hole in the black flame encirclement to avoid burning her ally, as she flew away.
She flew off to the other side of the wall of darkness, letting out a cheerful scream.
With that, my plan was successfully and speedily completed. The reliable big sister over there will handle things somehow. Splitting them up for a one-on-one is a perfectly valid tag-team tactic.
Incidentally, Hina-san isn't a great match for Rinne either… but then again, the [Bell-Mail] is fundamentally without weakness, so it can't be helped.
That 'sound' power is just too damn versatile. Having a favorable matchup against most opponents and no unfavorable ones makes her the most broken character, ability-wise, next to Sora.
Anyway, setting the invincible, troublesome fan aside… I turned my gaze back to my opponent, and her yellow eyes, now locked with mine, twisted in a look of disgust. "Ugh."
"Well then, that's that."
"…, …………"
Don't look at me like that, senpai. This is what you wanted, isn't it?
"As you wished, I'll be coming at you with everything I've got."
"…A true one-on-one is, honestly, something I'd rather avoid."
Hahaha—that's something I feel pretty similarly about.
I had her sent away because the chances of an accident with Rinne's support were through the roof. Just because I've set up a one-on-one doesn't mean I have any guarantee of winning.
Again, and again, from the bottom of my heart.
"Agh, fine… I'm ready for you, you little brat…!"
"Heh, that's the spirit. As expected of you, Natsume-senpai."
"Don't call me Natsume-senpai!"
Against these dazzling predecessors, there was no way I could ever afford to underestimate them.
Because this protagonist, fundamentally, tends to admire brilliant people (heroes).