Chapter 720 - The Selfish White Who Smiles on the Silver Screen, Part Four
In one corner of my mind, I was constantly copying and pasting water magic. Copy, paste, copy, paste. It was less like drawing a picture and more like dragging and dropping from my memory—an ultimate cheat that let me visualize the spell in an instant. This allowed me to create a literal curtain of raining bullets, while in the opposite corner of my mind, I traced the techniques of my senior, which were burned into my virtual brain. My left hand conducted the magic, my right manipulated the threads, and dead center, my combat focus was locked onto this delightfully hellish scene, constantly outputting the thoughts needed to tear into it—to put it simply,
"My head is going to split open…!!!"
"Hang in there! I know how you feel!"
I appreciated the encouraging voice from behind me, but this duet of unfamiliar performances was far too harsh on my brain. Unlike my cute partner, I don't possess some outrageous capacity for parallel processing. Just preparing and firing off a few dozen barrages was already a handful—or rather, a headful.
As usual, I was making the impossible happen by fully utilizing my 'talent,' my body moving on a semi-conscious, semi-automatic basis, but this was no good. To be blunt, I couldn't keep this up for long…!!
Forget the magic for a second, it's my right hand. My right hand!
At this point, I have nothing but respect for Natsume-senpai. How she manages to control dozens, even hundreds of times more threads than this with such a cool expression, all while chattering away… it's astounding.
My own 'thread' felt like it was about to snap in more ways than one. Which meant, about three minutes after the battle began, it was time to transition from the opening to the mid-game—
"…Hinayo-san!"
"Haru-kun!"
Should I call it a coincidence or perfect sync? We called out to each other at the exact same time. We instantly understood each other's intentions without needing another word.
Without even turning to look at each other,
"—[Bullet]!!"
"'The lantern's path, the burning tracks, let the curtain of searing heaven fill the horizon—'"
We both played a new card, ready to advance the scene.
◇◆◇◆◇
"Isn't that a little too murderous?!"
The mood changed, the hands changed, the rhythm changed, and the stage shifted.
Following the spirited cry, countless daggers manifested, all of them bound together. My partner, now being chased by threads whose lethality had been so simply and brutally amplified, couldn't help but scream.
On top of that, the [Scorching Gaze]… the incantation Hinayo was reciting. I was fairly familiar with my同期's tactics; chanting that meant she was planning to make a big move right here.
"…"
Silently, I didn't even have to think about what to do. Whether I liked it or not, now that the title of 'Ranker' had been forced upon me, I had no choice but to respond.
It wasn't that I was sulking.
I just thought there were countless others more suited for it.
It wasn't that I was angry.
I was just frustrated that they'd give an unworthy name to someone who never wanted it.
I came to this virtual world 'to spread my wings and be my true, unrestrained self,' only to end up being forced to show a side of me I never wanted anyone to see…
Just like in reality, things never go as planned. It was simply frustrating and painful.
"…—'The heaving mounds of earth pierce the heavens.'"
Watching the 'fun' heat up from the corner of my eye, the silver conductor sang her verse. The resentment was directed at myself—a half-baked person who couldn't stick to her own selfish desires and ended up stepping onto a stage like this.
"'The severed, layered veins; thus the sky is at my fingertips.'"
I was nothing like the [Sword Saint], who followed her own self-centered whims with such noble conviction. I, who had casually left and just as casually drifted back, couldn't even be compared to her.
"'Untouchable, incommunicable, though this longing may never be fulfilled.'"
Weak-willed, without conviction, lacking the spirit to see my selfishness through. I'm just immersed in this virtual world by inertia, simply because I can't find another escape from my escape from reality. And yet, to someone like that…
"'In innocence, I reach out my hand; show me the name of this pitiful, reckless fool.'"
Really, everyone—including that brilliant light in my line of sight.
I just want them to realize that I'm not worth such expectant eyes.
◇◆◇◆◇
That quiet, barely audible incantation was one I didn't quite recognize. I felt a chill wondering what kind of card she was playing, but I was already committed and couldn't stop my full-speed charge.
First, I had to take one of them down.
It didn't matter which one I aimed for; neither would go down without a fight. To truly change the situation, to ignite the all-out game I could enjoy from the bottom of my heart, I first had to force my senior to get serious.
No matter how things played out, showing my intent to close the distance was essential. So, if I may be so bold, the one I turn my eyes, my hands, and my blade to is—for now, the closer one.
Prepare yourself, Tonic-dono, the vanguard!!
"'The yearning drops vanish and fade, the sprouting buds all burn and scatter.'"
Listening to the song at my back, I whipped my creaking mind into high gear, telling it to hang on just a little longer.
While chasing Tonic-shi—who was simultaneously evading and causing a disturbance with a dexterity that was now simply admirable—with my threads, I unleashed water to counter his earth.
Between the two of them, if you asked me who was more trouble at the moment, I'd say it was him, by a long shot. He was the only one unaffected by [Screen]'s authority, maintaining his versatile fighting style as usual, and he casually dissipated my magic only to send it back at me twofold… but there was more to it than that.
First and foremost, his performance in a tag battle was simply perfect.
He's the man who, whether jokingly or not, professes his 'playstyle is to be a good neighbor.' His ability to read the mood and get along with people isn't limited to peacetime; his nature remains unchanged in battle.
He's the one in the vanguard receiving 'support' from the rear guard, but if you take a calm, objective look at the whole picture, he's the one who has been supporting and elevating [Screen] from the start.
In short, he's a master of coordination. The way he controls the tempo in both offense and defense, leading their two-person dance without ever making it obvious, is nothing short of brilliant. It is because he can remain himself, uninfluenced by anything, that he can form the best partnership with anyone.
As expected of one half of the runner-up tag team from the last Triangle Duo… His skill, embodying versatile dexterity in terms of teamwork, is truly impressive.
And that is precisely why—I would employ a merciless, utterly shocking strategy against him.
"'A life that births heat, a death that shines eternally, the arms that embrace are a merciful guide.'"
Thus, the song was woven.
"'The eyes reflect and copy the fire, drawing the sun upon the boundary that forms a circle!'—!"
"Tch…!"
"Ah, this is bad—"
Of the three on stage who heard the final verse, two let out a cry. I, in my unusually heavy avatar, leaped back with all my might, while Tonic-shi, who had been desperately fighting against the fierce assault of two from the Eastern Faction, saw his face twitch… and in that instant.
"[Soleil (Crimson Sun World)]"
It was a grand magic that took the total amount of heat generated by the caster during combat, amplified it manifold, and turned it into a destructive force. Centered on [Dispersion]—Tonic-shi, the sole vanguard who had been putting on a grand performance in the middle of the stage, dodging the pursuing threads, repelling the surging water, and scattering the clinging flames—it then swallowed [Screen]'s song and—
—it manifested as a searing inferno, likely several times larger than the pillar of fire that had incinerated the [Berumail].
—And then, in that same instant.
"[Epitel, Earth Binding]"
As my ears picked up the name delivered by the system, a great jaw of earth rose to stand beside the colossal tower of fire.
No, it didn't just stand beside it; its scale was so immense it looked as if it would devour even that. A 'total area attack,' far surpassing the grand technique of [Scorching Gaze], was unleashed. The rising field became a tidal wave of fangs… and in the brief moment of reprieve before it struck,
The response from [Screen]-dono, who had jumped past my expectations and gone straight for the kill from her very first move, caused a reflexive jolt of shock and surprise… I brushed them aside in a blink, exchanged a glance with my partner,
Received a smile, left a nod,
"Senten (Delicate Weave)—!!"
And wrapping myself in thread, I broke into a run.
The scale and range were on another level; evasion was impossible. However, that inescapable fact was based on the premise that our 'status' was sealed.
It would likely take several seconds for the jaws of earth to close completely. If I could secure some form of mobility by force, I could postpone the game-set. Therefore,
I manipulated the threads wrapped around my limbs, my entire avatar.
With an output of MID 700, it was decent enough… specifically, it generated enough horsepower to barely engage in a tug-of-war with a brute force of STR 600. I used it to forcibly propel my body—and leaped.
My HP plummeted at a tremendous rate from the movement that my physical stats couldn't handle, and the crown automatically appeared above my head from the self-damage limit, but I ignored it completely. I stepped into the air, and the thread I shot upward from my fingertips caught the tip of the earthen fang… and a few seconds later, just as predicted.
A deafening roar and an impact that erased all sound shook the space, and one life (HP) vanished from the stage.
As for which one it was—the answer was the sight of Tonic-shi, having survived the hell below, now heading toward me, who had escaped death through a reckless reverse bungee jump into the air.
Shining above his head was a crown, displaying his 'name' just like mine.
It was half-filled with color and half-empty—not translucent, but half-transparent. That was clearly the reason he had survived in the midst of that chaos.
And it was also blindingly obvious that he was now charging at me, putting his true all into it, aiming for the finishing blow—which is precisely why,
I instinctively reached for the hilt of the [Samidorizuki] at my waist, and—
"—You won't!!"
Natural movement surpasses brute force. As if to deny me any chance to counter or even struggle, the hand-blade of [Dispersion] cut through the shortest distance and pierced my chest.
And, at the same time as an effect like fresh blood colored the air.
"—Heh…?!"
"—Hah."
In response to his confusion, I offered a smile. Above my head, alongside the crown, a pair of 'ears' swayed.
[Stasis Rabbit] was already active, so the damage was frozen. He had been forced to activate his own crown and was rushing the fight due to the time limit, and on top of that, he fell for my bait when I pretended to be flustered and reached for my sword instead of magic or thread. That was his undoing.
Sorry, old-timer. I'm not letting you go.
"W-Wait—"
His arm, which should have been a fatal blow, was caught. In the next instant, he was wrapped up with me in thread, completely immobilized. Tonic-shi, his position reversed in a flash, cried out in a mixture of shock, astonishment, and utter disbelief… but of course.
"For my partner's revenge!!"
"Hey, that wasn't me—?!"
There, in mid-air. I had no hesitation in sentencing myself to death by water along with him.
Meanwhile, Yurayura-san, protecting herself from the aftershock, looks up in utter shock at the idiot who would unhesitatingly shred himself to pieces with a water saw along with his enemy.
They're all nuts.