Chapter 738 - The Magic-Devouring Sakura
One of the two top artisans from Mirage Workshop, one of the two major artisan clans in the virtual world.
The information regarding the “Sacrament,” the Artificial Divine Instrument that Approaches Divine Artifice (αtiomart) born from the Clan Master [Crimson Arm] Enra and Sub Master [Playful Fireman] Kagura, has been laid bare for the world to see since that day.
This included, of course, the absurdly steep price of stealing the user’s time—a cost that would hit home for anyone with even a modicum of passion for Arcadia.
It also included the numerous, overwhelmingly wicked strengths that more than made up for the cost, as well as the handful of weaknesses that certainly existed. Everything was revealed, clear and correct.
And the final verdict given was “broken”… which was unavoidable. If mastered, a single weapon could almost completely neutralize magic. That kind of performance, regardless of whether it was against monsters or players, was hard to justify for a single piece of gear.
To reiterate, it does have its weaknesses.
For example, the ridiculously high activation requirement of “MID: 1000 or more,” which, when you think about it calmly, results in the user having a very amusing set of stats.
Or the fact that simply activating it isn’t enough; it will on its own enter a state of re-dormancy in less than ten seconds.
Or how the blades of the special mechanism, Chaos Bloom, that unfolds by devouring magic, naturally have a hitbox against the user, meaning if you use it carelessly, you’ll be mercilessly diced by the countless blades you yourself scattered.
And while the claim of “devouring all magic” is not false, it doesn’t mean it’s “absolutely invincible against all magic”… and so on. Its user-unfriendliness is undeniable, with weaknesses that can be listed off with relative ease.
But that’s that.
As its direct user, if I were to give my overall assessment after accepting its numerous demerits… then no matter how I try to justify it, its evaluation can only be this.
I have my complaints, but it’s “broken”—now, bloom to your heart’s content, you massive problem child.
“[αtiomart -Sakura=Memento-].”
The thin chain unwound from the head I grasped, and the ‘Sakura,’ its colors and the wall of time stripped away, began to remember from within its cradle. After a blink, the light of the sacred cherry blossom manifested in my left hand.
It devours magic, feeding on its master’s time. Without a hint of its true nature, which resembles some clichéd cursed holy sword, the spiritual double-edged sword scatters an elegant light like a shower of petals from a cherry tree in full bloom.
Its base form is an orthodox, one-handed straight sword that fits comfortably in my hand. Its lack of any weight whatsoever feels slightly unreliable as a weapon, but if you understand its hidden capabilities, you have no room to complain.
…Anyway, putting all that aside, there’s one essential task I need to do right away.
“Hinayo-san.”
“Understood.”
Of course, my partner is also well aware of this thing’s capabilities. Her response to my call was immediate. Gazing at the Sakura Memento that had materialized in my hand, she snapped her fingers.
With that, a massive explosion of flames erupted directly above us, like a small sun, and…
“Well then… time to eat.”
Shielded by the perfect immunity granted by [Hellgread Ignis (Crimson Red Hellfire Seed)], I plunged into the flames without hesitation and swung my sword… or rather, I didn’t even need to. The Sakura Sword, which began its “meal” the moment it touched the fire, devoured it in an instant, and the radiance of its blade intensified as if to say it was satisfied.
One feast right after awakening. This should last for about thirty seconds. The inconvenience of not being able to pay the upkeep cost with my own MP is no problem at all with a partner by my side.
Now then,
“—Here I come, great senior runts.”
“—Hah! Bring it on!!!”
“—!”
Their fighting spirit as our eyes met was excellent. All the more reason to show no mercy as my feet pushed off the air.
[Rocket] activated. Rushing flames, pouring lightning, pushing winds… I felt like there were various things blocking my path, but I broke through them all with the cheat I held out in front of me.
And with that, it was over. Just as many in the audience probably instantly imagined the outcome, the “Sakura,” which grew brighter as it tore through the miracles that stood in its way, finally reached them, and…
“—I thought that might happen!”
The blade of the Sakura Memento, which I swung without hesitation, was stopped by the same barrier of light as all my other weapons. Not surprising, and exactly as expected.
Unlike me, who knows this sword inside and out, they were likely operating on a hypothesis without certainty. Seeing their absolute defensive line successfully thwart my killing blow, the red one’s expression was a mix of awe and smugness, while the blue one’s impassive face wavered slightly as our eyes met… for an instant.
And then came not another multicolored barrage of magic bullets, but…
a swarm of dazzling jewels that rained down on me, as if to push me away. I retreated reflexively for an emergency evasion—but it seems they have no intention of giving me the leeway for another reset.
An endless variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. But the great swarm of brilliance, each gem granted a vicious homing capability, began to converge on me—the one who had drawn the ‘sword’—from all directions.
In response to that, the option I can take is…
“You could at least act a little more scared, you know!”
“We are!”
“Scared, that is…!”
…none other than to flee.
The spiritual sword of the Sakura Memento devours all ‘magic.’ That is no lie.
However, just as with people, just as with all creatures that possess an ‘appetite,’ this wicked ‘Sakura’ also requires time to chew its food.
To put it simply, earth or ground attribute magic, which manifests as a tangible object despite being magic, is a weak point for the Sakura Memento.
It’s a different story for special cases like the sand of Sora’s first magic sword from [Cradle of Sword-Craft], which is half-physical and half-magical. But high-density rocks and minerals require a bit of a lag to decompose.
Of course, the fact that it still works means I have an overwhelming advantage. However, if my opponents are monsters who can casually throw this level of astonishing quantity at me…
“I’m relieved, in a way, but also in a ‘give me a break’ way—ngh?!”
The [αtiomart -Sakura=Memento-] is not a lawless irregular.
It is ultimately confined to being merely ‘a weapon that can resist the lawless.’