Chapter 413 - More Than Expected Defense
Six rapid magic attacks are hurtling toward our position with pinpoint accuracy.
That’s why it’s so clear, and thanks to Valeria’s warning, we’re not caught completely off guard.
However, by any normal standard, this is an incredibly formidable assault. Six devastating attacks coming simultaneously from multiple directions at high speed.
Under ordinary circumstances, we’d be dead before we even realized what hit us. It’s a ruthless and decisive trap. This alone should make it clear just how dangerous the enemy is.
Of course, if they want to take down our Kikyo Society, they need to pull out all the stops. They know us well enough to realize we’re not to be underestimated. They’re finally taking us seriously as a threat, and that’s a good start. But they still don’t understand just how formidable we are.
Don’t think you can measure us by conventional standards. You should recognize who you’re dealing with.
Instant judgment and action.
In response to the call for defense, I weave and unleash my magic. I’m not the only one who can do this.
Everyone else is already taking action without being told.
Some are setting up multiple defensive barriers, while others are launching counter-magic.
Against such large-scale magic, our impromptu spells might not have much effect. But thanks to the immense mana we possess, our spells are abnormally powerful. Even a minor reduction in the enemy’s attack strength can make a difference. Small contributions add up.
Our members, well-trained in such scenarios, understand their roles and act without hesitation.
Roberta, equipped with a special magic item, activates it without being told.
The enemy’s large-scale magic barely penetrates our defenses but still manages to break through, engulfing us.
A series of violent tremors assault us as one unit, yet we emerge unscathed.
This is the defensive power of the barrier magic Roberta activated. A few large-scale attacks with reduced power aren’t enough to break through.
“Counterattack!”
When they hit us, we hit back. Swiftly.
Everyone transitions from defense to offense with remarkable speed.
If we keep our distance and just observe, they’ll use their large-scale magic again. We need to close in and force them to stop. Even if they have multiple bases, if we can take one of them, they’ll be hesitant to attack recklessly for fear of friendly fire.
Targeting the most valuable warehouse, we all rush forward, with Valeria leading the charge.
Naturally, the enemy won’t let us approach without a fight. They consider us a significant threat and are desperate to eliminate us after we managed to defend against their multiple large-scale magic attacks.
They can’t unleash large-scale magic in rapid succession, but they still bombard us with weaker spells in a relentless wave. The sheer number is unusual given the enemy’s estimated numbers, but we can’t afford to dwell on that now. The dense magic attacks are a serious threat.
“Scatter! From here on, move in pairs and adapt as needed!”
“Aye!”
It’s a tough situation to stay together, and if that’s the enemy’s plan, they’re formidable indeed.
But each of us is a match for a thousand, and there’s no need to worry overprotectively. To be more efficient in wiping them out, it might be better to disperse.
We can’t afford to worry about collateral damage to the surrounding warehouses. If the enemy attacks with abandon, we have to ignore the damage and take them down quickly.
Even now, we see no one at the enemy base. Cowards hiding and attacking from a distance.
Just dodging isn’t enough; we need to strike back.
I use the Active Armor to automatically deflect the incoming spells, switching the super-hard bat to my left hand and gripping an iron ball in my right.
Squeezing the iron ball tightly, I take a quick step and throw it with the force of a cannonball. I expected it to punch a hole in the enemy’s outer wall, but a faint light glows upon impact, deflecting the ball.
A bad feeling rises as I quickly release more iron balls in rapid succession toward the enemy hideout.
“Hmm, all of them have barrier magic. Their preparations are too thorough.”
The enemy base is well-equipped, so it’s not surprising they have barrier magic. Still, it’s impressive that each warehouse is individually protected.
We’ve all seen that light, so we know they’re using barrier magic. But our next move is the same.
We’ll pound away, wearing down their mana, and aiming for energy depletion. There’s no other way to win.
Moving through the debris-strewn warehouse district, we face continuous attacks from multiple enemy strongholds. Barrier magic is not only difficult to break but also allows them to attack freely from inside. It’s practically cheating.
The real question is how long their barrier magic will hold. With such a fortified defense, they must have a sufficient supply of high-purity mana stones. Even with our exceptional attack power, we might not break through in a day of continuous assault.
Instead of wasting time and energy, it’s wiser to go for a decisive breakthrough.
I’d rather not reveal my trump card to anyone watching, but there’s no choice.
The barrier magic must be broken. Multiple warehouses are protected by separate barrier magic, forming a formidable defense. We need to launch a significant attack.
“...I’m concerned about the strain, but there’s no choice.”
I remember a method that should work. No need to hold back. I’ll show them what I can do, even with this cursed body.
“I’m Shinogami. Here comes the big one. You don’t need to dodge.”
“—Understood!”
I warn them via communication, not intending to harm anyone. The target is the barrier magic alone.
The starting point is a nearby three-story warehouse, about fifty meters above it.
The shape I imagine is a massive iron block, simple and efficient. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just extremely large. To overwhelm the barrier magic and ensure it breaks, I’ll put everything I have into it.
Pouring in absurd amounts of mana, I create a colossal iron block that casts a shadow over the entire warehouse district. The intense fatigue I feel, something I didn’t experience before the curse, is ignored.
I can’t form it instantly. It grows gradually but quickly, becoming denser and larger. Everyone will see it and feel its overwhelming mass.
The area is already a pile of rubble, so there’s no need to be careful. It’s easy.
To reinforce the image, I chant the spell aloud, something I don’t usually do.
[Iron will and iron body, manifest and descend. Bring down the hammer of steel upon all that touches your form and soul.]
The surge of imagery drains my mana.
Ignoring the splitting headache, I pour all my will into the final word.
[Great Fall]
The massive iron block, weighing more than can be imagined, begins its free fall.
Even in the darkness, the object’s shadow is hard to miss. But if you don’t look up, you might not notice it in time.
No one is so oblivious as to miss the overwhelming mana presence of the spell. The enemy’s magic attacks, which were aimed at us, now target the falling iron block, but they scatter uselessly against its immense mass.
Even I, the one who cast the spell, feel a twinge of fear standing under it. The onlookers are likely paralyzed with terror, bracing for death or abandoning all thought.
From just a few dozen meters above, the time it takes to fall is minimal. The impact is immediate.
The tremendous iron block crashes onto the multiple barrier magics, inflicting unprecedented damage.
Even the powerful barrier magic can’t hold for more than a few seconds and shatters.
The sudden intense strain likely caused the magic item to suffer severe damage, not just a depletion of energy.
The iron block, having served its purpose, vanishes as if it were a dream or illusion. It’s a feat only I can manage.
A perfect result. I damaged the enemy’s barrier magic without harming anything else.
Yes, perfect. I’ve done something similar before, so it wasn’t particularly difficult, aside from the intense strain.
“Ha... ha...”
The real issue is the cost of casting such a powerful spell with the curse. I expected it, but the intense headache, shortness of breath, and nausea require some time to recover.
But a few gulps of super-composite recovery potion and my mana is partially restored. The potion’s effectiveness is almost cheating. While the discomfort from the curse can’t be cured, it will improve gradually if I endure.
With their barriers lost, the enemy has stopped their attacks. Our members, who had dispersed, now converge and launch their assault like a fire.
To be caught off guard during a battle is an amateur mistake, especially for elite fighters. It’s fatal.
Rushing forward, everyone casts spells and smashes into the walls of different warehouses with ferocity. However, the walls, reinforced for fortress-like defense, are not easily breached.
Realizing the futility of breaking walls, everyone quickly shifts to smashing the front and back doors.
“Milady, we’re heading this way!”
My condition hasn’t fully recovered, but I can bear it. Rejoining Valeria, we run toward the warehouse we consider the main target, although I would have preferred to avoid splitting up. We can’t let the enemy escape. Trusting the others, I’ll take out the enemy quickly and head to support them.
Ignoring the sporadic magic attacks, we reach the warehouse entrance.
There’s no time for careful lockpicking. I plan to break in by force. As I do, I sense mana nearby.
“—This is Gradena, Gradena here. Yukari, it’s urgent.”
“What is it? Now’s a critical moment.”
It’s frustrating, but I have no choice.
I leave the door to Valeria and listen to Gradena.
“We’re facing the enemy right now. They say they have hostages in their hideout and have taken some of ours too.”
“Hostages? Who?”
“Some big shots or rich people, I guess. There’s a woman hostage in front of me.”
Hmm, seems they’re not connected to us.
I don’t know when they brought hostages into this hideout, and I haven’t heard anything from Intelligence. If they’re not important, the Intelligence Department wouldn’t have warned us. They would have mentioned any significant hostages.
It’s a waste of time. As mercenaries from another country, dealing with hostages held by criminals is pointless and could hinder our future operations. Ignoring it is the only option.
“Do they expect us to negotiate? It’s none of our business.”
“Right? I was surprised they’d try such a stupid thing, like negotiating with us.”
“What kind of elites? Pathetic. We’ll finish this quickly.”
“See you later.”
The communication ends. By the time I turn, Valeria has already broken the reinforced door and entered.
There might be hostages in the warehouse, but it doesn’t matter. Our top priority is eliminating the enemy. Everything else is secondary.
Everyone understands this. Hostages are not uncommon, and we trust everyone to handle it appropriately.
“Let’s go.”
Even if the enemy resorts to hostages, we won’t underestimate them.
It’s unsettling not knowing how many combatants are inside, given the barriers that block mana sensing.
About thirty elite enemies came by ship, with half likely entering this hideout. However, the number of attacks we faced was much higher.
We must consider that more personnel were hiding in the hideout before we arrived, and we’re fighting in a location that gives them a significant advantage.
“Finally, things are getting interesting.”
If I can’t enjoy the threat, I can’t continue in this line of work. Bring it on.
The enemy hideout is eerily quiet, and I can’t sense any mana inside. The communication magic likely doesn’t function well in here either.
We haven’t engaged in combat yet. The leader of the enemy elite, whom Gradena considers a formidable opponent, is inside, and while we successfully assassinated some of his subordinates, this is now a battle on enemy territory.
It’s been a while. This tense feeling spreading inside me is familiar.
Entering the enemy hideout, ready to face a foe worthy of the title, is exhilarating. The chance to use my silver super-hard bat is valuable. If it weren’t for the curse, it would be even more enjoyable. It’s incredibly frustrating.
I step into the hideout, destroying the surveillance magic item on the ceiling with an iron ball. The freedom to cause chaos and destruction without repercussions is liberating. Perfect for stress relief.
“Haha... here I come!”
A smile spreads on my face as I toss the iron ball and smash nearby supplies with my bat.
Let them face the full force of my wrath. I’ll make the most of this opportunity.