Chapter 215 - A Passion that Scorches the Heart
Running away is easy. Giving up or abandoning hope is easy. In this situation, it would be the easiest thing to do.
In fact, it would be normal. Most people would choose to either escape or surrender.
But if we keep backing away from challenges, we’ll never be on the winning side.
If we always choose the easy way out, we’ll never experience true satisfaction.
Especially when we’re in a weaker position, we need the strong will to fight through. Otherwise, we’ll never rise.
Without the will and determination to face challenges, we’ll never become strong; we’ll remain losers. This is the reality for many people, especially women, in this world.
The Kikyo Society, and I, are different. We’ve always embodied this resolve. We’ve taken pride in it.
So, I ask myself:
Is it okay to run away?
Is it really okay to back down?
No matter how difficult, if we have the courage and determination, we can open up possibilities.
Even the highest hurdles can be cleared if we keep jumping.
A towering hurdle might not be easy to clear, but with determination, we might just make it.
Run away? Give up?
I refuse. I want to move forward and crush the obstacles.
I have no intention of dying. I have so many things I still want to do.
I’ll beat them, laugh, and enjoy the victory.
Except for bugs and undead, of course.
"Tired of running away, huh?"
"Yukarinowe-san, did you really mean that?"
"A genuine opportunity to face a human opponent is rare, isn’t it?"
The hesitant expressions on everyone’s faces had turned into smiles. Why, I wonder.
"That smile on your face, Onee-sama, is wonderful."
Ah, I see.
My smile must have inspired them.
If I were alone, I might have prioritized reason over emotion.
But I have reliable companions, strong allies who have my back.
That’s why I can make the decision to move forward. I can naturally embrace the resolve to fight.
I have the confidence to win.
The trust we place in each other, and the trust we receive, feels so comforting.
"I think we can win. Compared to the Skeleton Dragon, this will be nothing."
"Yeah, I agree. Do you think we’ll struggle more than that?"
"It won’t take as long. The army won’t fight to the death, so they’ll retreat at some point."
I nod in agreement with Graylease, Albert, and Verone.
The enemy doesn’t have the power or durability of the Golden Bone Dragon or the Ebony Evil Dragon. They only have numbers.
While that’s a challenge, they won’t fight to the bitter end. If we keep cutting them down, they’ll eventually retreat.
Historically, there are examples of small forces facing much larger ones.
For instance, Leonidas I of Sparta led a force of just three hundred against the Persian army, estimated at hundreds of thousands. While there were thousands more from other Greek city-states, the numerical disparity was still immense.
If it’s been done before, we can do it too.
"Let’s make a big impact! Let the Kikyo Society show our strength!"
"Yeah!"
With that, we immediately started planning.
First, we needed to buy enough time for the Crimson Knights to escape. We had to delay the enemy’s advance.
From our vantage point on the hill, the enemy looked endless.
They seemed like a wave of vehicles approaching.
"I’ll use long-range attacks from here to reduce their numbers. I’ll hit them one-sidedly."
"Then we’ll close the distance while you’re doing that. If your attacks alone aren’t enough, we’ll need to engage them more directly."
"Right. We need to create a battlefield away from the Crimson Knights to support their retreat."
"I’ll use mid-range magic, so the front lines are on you."
Liliane and Albert would likely use magic from mid-range.
I was the only one who could effectively attack from this extreme distance. The enemy probably couldn’t do the same.
There was no elaborate plan. We’d adapt to the situation and cause as much chaos as possible.
"Let’s go. Stay alive!"
"Die? We don’t have anyone that weak here, do we?"
Everyone, except the two young men, moved out confidently, their Kikyo Society cloaks fluttering in the wind, like a whale swallowing a school of sardines.
As usual, the young men would guard the vehicles and supplies. Enemy soldiers might retreat this way, and the vehicles were too valuable to be lost. They also needed to witness the outcome of the battle.
"Alright, let’s get started."
Watching the confident backs of my comrades, I expanded my Graphene Sheet magic.
The primary goal was to impede the enemy’s movement. If we could achieve that, the Crimson Knights wouldn’t be pursued.
However, destroying all the vehicles would be too difficult. There was a simpler method.
The enemy’s lead vehicles were about five kilometers away, heading our way.
I targeted a point about four kilometers ahead, creating a wall of rock about ten meters wide and the length of the visible area, reaching about three meters high.
This was my domain.
Immediately, I felt a magical interference. The enemy’s earth mages were trying to remove the rock, but it was impossible in my domain.
"Hmm... Oh!"
I easily countered the interference, but then the rock was blasted away by a different spell.
The rock wall, which had resembled the Great Wall of China, was quickly shattered.
"Impressive."
Even a simple rock wall, once created by me, was not easy to break.
I regenerated the rock wall. The enemy’s efforts were in vain.
To prevent the same tactic, I added a refinement.
Another shockwave spell hit the rock, but this time it dissipated.
"Rock mixed with Orichalcum isn’t that easy to break."
Orichalcum, with its powerful anti-magic properties, could easily deflect mid-level spells even if not pure.
Despite this, the enemy persisted with a barrage of spells.
A storm of attacks from a large group gradually wore down the rock.
It was a sound strategy.
"But it’s futile."
I immediately regenerated the rock wall. I had to stop the vehicles.
However, the enemy didn’t give up. They launched an even stronger attack.
A powerful magical reaction enveloped the rock wall.
It turned red, heated intensely. The temperature of the rock, even with Orichalcum, couldn’t be fully protected.
They couldn’t possibly be trying to melt the entire rock wall. What were they planning?
The heated rock suddenly cooled, and the spell dissipated without any visible effect.
"What was that?"
As I wondered, another powerful spell was cast.
"What are they doing now?"
Water rained down on the heated rock.
Steam rose, creating a white cloud, and a series of dull cracking sounds echoed. In some places, the rock exploded.
"Heat and cold, I see!"
The heat caused the rock to expand, and the sudden cooling caused it to contract, creating cracks and weakening the structure.
Another barrage of spells followed, and the rock wall, which I had carefully created, was easily destroyed.
"Impressive."
Their flexible and coordinated use of magic was remarkable, indicating a high level of training.
I could continue regenerating the rock wall, but if it was broken through, it wouldn’t serve its purpose. I needed a different approach.
Hmm, there’s no time for complicated tactics. Alright.
"Hellfire No. 1, it’s time for you to shine!"
I’ll need to step it up.
I created a super-hard, super-heavy magical mineral with a labradorite-like glow. Nova Ore.
Nova Ore, when subjected to extreme pressure, causes a massive explosion.
In the past, I used it against a horde of monsters, launching it and causing an explosion by colliding two pieces in mid-air. It created a destructive force comparable to a large-scale spell.
I’ve never used it against humans before, but with such a vast enemy force, half-measures won’t work. I’ll use it without hesitation.
A five-kilometer throw. It’s more difficult than before, but I’m not the same as before.
I took a deep breath and gripped the Nova Ore.
"...Go, Hellfire No. 1!"
I launched it in a high arc. On its own, it wouldn’t explode upon impact and could only destroy one vehicle.
I timed my second, more powerful throw.
"Hellfire No. 2, go!"
The second piece flew in a nearly straight line, like a cannonball.
A five-kilometer throw, and colliding two pieces in mid-air. It was a miraculous feat.
But I had no doubts.
The two pieces of Nova Ore collided at supersonic speed, creating a blinding flash and a deafening explosion.
However, something seemed off.
There was no expected dust cloud. It should have risen high into the air, but it didn’t.
When the thin smoke cleared,
The vehicles were still moving as if nothing had happened.
"What’s going on?"
They must have sensed something coming and used a defensive spell. But it shouldn’t have been able to stop such a powerful attack.
"Hellfire No. 1 and No. 2, again!"
I didn’t have time to analyze. Another attempt might reveal something.
I observed the enemy closely as I launched the Nova Ore.
Just before the massive explosion, I saw a transparent, slightly glowing barrier spread out.
"No way. No way, no way, no way!"
A transparent, slightly glowing barrier. It was strong enough to withstand the Nova Ore’s explosion.
There was no doubt.
"A barrier spell... and not from a magic tool."
A large-scale barrier spell over such a wide area would require a large-scale barrier tool, which is stationary. Vehicles can’t use such tools.
So, the barrier mage must be there in person.
A rare, highly valuable mage with exceptional magical aptitude, someone treated as a national treasure. Such a person would be present on the battlefield.
If there’s such a valuable mage, there must also be extremely powerful warriors to protect them.
There might even be other rare, powerful mages with abilities comparable to the barrier mage.
"...What is this? This is bad... Very bad, but exciting. Extremely exciting!"
Hehe, my excitement is rising.
The barrier held strong, and it wouldn’t run out of magical power for a few more attempts.
A single long-range attack wouldn’t be enough to stop them.
So, how about this!
"Hellfire No. 1 and No. 2, again!"
I knew the result would be the same.
So, I did more.
"And now, Hellfire No. 3, No. 4! While we’re at it, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, No. 8, and just one more, No. 9 and No. 10, go!"
If a direct hit wasn’t possible, this would definitely stop them.
The first explosion was blocked as usual.
But the subsequent explosions weren’t aimed directly at the enemy.
Instead, they targeted the ground ahead of the enemy. I would prevent their advance while forcing them to defend.
If I could hit them with all the explosions, it might drain their magical power. But if it failed, I’d choose the more certain option.
Large holes would open in the plain ahead, and they wouldn’t be easy to fill. I’d thoroughly obstruct their efforts.
As expected, the vehicles stopped. I had successfully delayed them.
Do you remember Hellfire from Chapter 8, “Long-Range Attack”?
It was the Nova Ore-based aerial explosion that defeated a horde of monsters and protected the camp.
And now, it’s finally back.
A barrier mage has appeared.
I’m planning to make this an extravagant and exciting sequence.
The next chapter, “A Heart Scorched by Fire,” will delve deeper into the madness.
This is where the real battle begins!