Chapter 422 - Proof of a Warrior
The Young Master, capable of activating Combat Body Transformation Magic, is the pinnacle of the Anastasia Union’s fighting force. If he falls, the stalemate will tip firmly in Gulgandi’s favor. The outcome is all but certain.
The idea of using the powerful undead Dromarius not as a combatant but as a suicide bomber is diabolically cunning.
"If someone is killed by Dromarius’s Cursed Fire, they become Dromarius, right?"
"That’s what I’ve heard."
If one is burned by Dromarius’s Cursed Fire and dies, they will resurrect as another Dromarius. We learned this from the researchers at the raided facility. If someone is burned by the Cursed Fire, they must be finished off before dying. Killing them will prevent them from becoming an undead. In theory, that’s simple, but putting it into practice is far from easy, especially for comrades.
Will those young ones have the resolve to do it? Or do they even know about this?
If they don’t, we’ll have to do it for them.
Imagine a warrior capable of Combat Body Transformation Magic turning into an undead. Not only would we lose his formidable combat prowess, but he would become even stronger as an undead. Better to avoid that risk and kill him while he’s still human.
"――――aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
With a scream that seems to rise from the depths of his soul, the Young Master begins to move, still burning from the Cursed Fire.
He swings his massive halberd, mowing down the black-armored skeletons. His attacks are more powerful than ever, fueled by his determination to fight to the bitter end. He unleashes a tempest of strikes, turning the tide back in favor of the Anastasia Union.
Gulgandi doesn’t just sit by and watch. Despite being pelted with projectiles and spells, the Young Master continues his frenzy, paying no heed to the pain.
It’s a god-like battle. His heroic stand will be remembered for ages to come.
We all watch in admiration, marveling at his determination and grit. Even in agony, his Combat Body Transformation Magic doesn’t waver, possibly due to his intense focus.
His attacks grow even more powerful, reducing the number of active enemies. Two more Dromarii approach, but the Young Master, unaffected by the Cursed Fire, continues to wield his halberd with ferocious intensity.
His weapon isn’t blessed or enchanted, so it likely can’t kill Dromarius, no matter how much he cuts into it. Still, his fighting spirit is beyond reproach.
How excruciating must the pain from the Cursed Fire be?
I’ve gained a newfound respect for him. I can understand why the Leader expected great things from him.
This is a true warrior, a worthy heir to the Anastasia Union’s legacy. He proves it in the face of death.
I’ll recognize his worth, no matter who else doesn’t. I’ll gladly give him the final blow. Die with pride, and be proud in hell.
"Ah, Onee-sama."
The Young Master’s frenzied movements suddenly slow down. His Combat Body Transformation Magic has faded, and the magical enhancement of his body has vanished.
It’s time. He’ll die soon, but I’ll give him the mercy of a quick death.
A warrior’s death deserves respect. I’ll end him with my own fists, not a thrown weapon or a spell. I’ll lose the advantage of hiding, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll be the only one to confront him, retaining some edge.
Just as I resolve to do so, I sense a powerful magical presence and freeze.
One of Gulgandi’s members has emerged from hiding, emitting a fiery aura and charging at the Young Master. It’s the powerful warrior Gradena was wary of.
The Young Master is struck by a horn-like weapon and hurled into a distant wall with tremendous force. He’s not dead yet, but his arms are shattered, and he’s barely holding on. He’s a tough one, though, and several Anastasia Union members rush to his aid.
Damn, I was going to give him the final blow myself. It’ll be tricky to interfere now. If worst comes to worst, I’ll have to kill him with a thrown weapon or a spell. These people can’t bring themselves to end his life.
But it’s odd. Why now?
Left alone, the Young Master would die soon. If he dies from the Cursed Fire, he’ll resurrect as Dromarius, providing Gulgandi with a new pawn. Why did they attack him?
The man with the horn weapon doesn’t stop after one strike. Realizing the Young Master isn’t dead, he launches a relentless assault.
Anastasia Union members stand their ground. Even against a superior opponent, they won’t back down.
They use their trump card, a protective magic item that creates a small barrier. It’s designed to repel attacks while allowing them to strike back. The barrier is a game-changer, blocking the attacker’s advance.
Even the strongest warrior can’t break through such a well-defended position. The Anastasia Union is fighting with everything they have. The attacker must stop to defend himself.
The situation is shifting, and it’s looking good for us.
The Young Master’s caretakers use something to extinguish the Cursed Fire. Only holy water could do that. We tried to get some but couldn’t procure it. Anastasia Union has connections, making it plausible they have holy water.
"What’s this? He might survive after all!"
The Cursed Fire is gone, and they follow up with a healing potion. His weak magical presence strengthens slightly, though he’s far from recovered. He remains unconscious and won’t rejoin the battle any time soon.
Time for us to make our move.
Anastasia Union has lost their top fighter, but Gulgandi’s forces are still intact, and many undead remain. If left alone, it would be a one-sided rout. We’ve figured out their capabilities and tactics, making this the perfect moment to intervene. There’s no point in waiting any longer.
I observe the ongoing resistance and address my team.
"Listen up. When the barrier breaks, we strike. Our goal is to catch Gulgandi off guard. Ignore the undead."
"What’s the plan, President?"
"I’ll take out the three farthest targets with thrown weapons. Focus on the rest. We might not get many with the surprise attack, but every bit helps."
Gulgandi’s members have been quiet, but we’ve observed them closely. We can execute our plan without issue, though we can’t take out all twenty with a surprise attack alone.
"We can’t get them all. The man with the horn weapon is particularly troublesome."
He’s a formidable opponent. Even if we catch him off guard, he might not go down easily. Our priority is to reduce their numbers.
I’ve noticed a significant fatigue among Gulgandi, especially the man with the horn weapon. They might still have some strength left, but they’re far from their peak. This gives us a better chance of success.
"I’ll take on the boss."
"Valeria, you’ve got him. Do your best to keep him from interfering. I’ll add a hit with my iron ball, and we’ll coordinate."
"After we deal with Gulgandi, it’s the undead, Yukari-san. But we still don’t know who controls them."
"I’ve heard the sound of a flute, but we’ll have to search after we defeat them."
From what we’ve seen, there’s no one hiding and playing a flute. It must be a magical device. We’ll figure it out after the battle.
"The barrier’s magic is weakening."
"The small barrier is designed for short-term use. It can’t hold up against prolonged, intense attacks. It’ll break soon."
Time to get serious.
"Listen up. This battle is a chance to make our mark in Belriza. We’re few, but we’ll leave a lasting impression on the young members of the Anastasia Union. We’ll crush them without giving them a chance to fight back. Understand?"
Though we can’t shout our resolve from hiding, my team nods in agreement.
The Young Master and his companions are the future leaders of the Anastasia Union. We’ll etch our presence into their minds, showing our fighting prowess and the strength of a true fighting force. We need to leave a strong impression to be recognized as equals in Belriza. The young ones must remember this moment.
I can’t afford to look weak. I’ll fight with grace and power, showing them what it means to be a true warrior. I’ll inspire any female members to join us, out of respect for our strength.
Our resolve solidifies, and we prepare to strike.
We watch the barrier, remaining vigilant of the overall situation. When the time comes, we won’t hesitate.
As the barrier reaches its limit, we strike with pinpoint precision. I hurl my iron ball three times, and the others release their weapons or spells simultaneously.
Valeria charges like an arrow, bypassing the undead to reach the man with the horn weapon from behind. I follow with another iron ball, and we achieve our goals in an instant.
Nearly ten Gulgandi members are either fatally wounded or killed outright. The man with the horn weapon avoids fatal injuries by sacrificing his left shoulder and limbs, barely surviving my iron ball and Valeria’s attack.
While this is happening, everyone else initiates their next actions.
The silent, high-speed attacks with iron balls are incredibly effective. I take out two more distant targets, and the others focus on follow-up attacks, ignoring the undead. More Gulgandi members are incapacitated or killed.
Everyone’s attention is drawn to the beautiful young girl who suddenly appears on the battlefield.
Valeria, radiating a fiery red mana, commands the battlefield with her overwhelming presence. Her power is on a different level from the Young Master’s Combat Body Transformation Magic. Her aura drowns out even the strong presence of the man with the horn weapon.
Her appearance serves as a decoy, drawing attention away from our surprise attacks.
For both Gulgandi and Anastasia Union, this is a sudden and terrifying intervention. They must be shocked by the unexpected arrival of such a strong force.
Objectively, the man with the horn weapon is formidable. He’s powerful, experienced, and can generate a mysterious presence that confuses even the most perceptive warriors. Gradena’s warning makes sense now.
However, he’s fatigued and has been observed extensively. We know his movements and tactics. We’ve already dealt him severe injuries, and we’re in a position to finish him.
Valeria initiates her attack at superhuman speed, activating Combat Body Transformation Magic just before striking. The man barely reacts in time, but he’s hit by my iron ball and Valeria’s assault, losing his left arm and shoulder. Despite his injuries, Valeria targets his unprotected areas, slicing into his body.
I’ll give him credit; he’s a capable warrior. Even with severe injuries, he avoids fatal blows, but it’s all he can do. He’s outmatched.
Though he may have some last-ditch abilities, the battle is already decided. We’ve executed a near-perfect surprise attack, and Valeria can finish him alone. The fight is as good as over, but we won’t stop until it’s done.
We’ll show the Anastasia Union the true strength of the Kikyo Society.
I keep my eye on Valeria’s battle while continuing to take out Gulgandi members.
The man controlling the undead must have been taken down, as the skeletons and Dromarii are no longer moving.
A surprise attack doesn’t take long, and we won’t give them a chance to regroup. We press our advantage—
"With my life, I will complete my mission... Farewell!"
The man with the horn weapon, further wounded by Valeria’s dagger, calls out to his comrades. His acceptance of his fate is eerie.
The injured members, who should be incapacitated, begin to channel their remaining mana, burning their last reserves for one final effort.
Human determination is terrifying. Even on the brink of death, they light their last flames for their mission. Their goal isn’t to defeat us but to complete their objective. We can’t let that happen.
Using life to fuel mana is a risky but viable last-resort tactic. Still, it’s not easy to control mana in a dying state. The attempt might only hasten their deaths.
While I recognize the foolishness of their actions, a sense of unease and danger grips me.
We can’t underestimate their final stand. Assuming their plan will succeed, we must do everything to stop it.
"Don’t let them!"
We emerge from cover, intensifying our assault on Gulgandi. We aim to end their lives, not just incapacitate them.
It’s a clash of determination. We won’t back down, but we’re facing elite operatives who will fight to the death. They won’t go down easily.
The undead, now moving as shields, protect Gulgandi, and a magical ritual begins.
The vast mana, fueled by their lives, converges on a point in the underground space through the ground. A spider web-like magic array has formed.
I use a spike spell to disrupt the energy flow, but the web-like routes make it impossible to stop completely.
A three-dimensional magic array appears behind the undead and quickly dissipates. A wave of mana spreads through the underground space.
Though there’s no overtly aggressive sign, something is happening.
This is their final spell, a last-ditch effort. It reminds me of Badoo Lot’s curse. If we can’t overcome this, we’ll lose. This is the ultimate test.
I won’t die here. I’ll win and crush their resolve.
Reflecting on our journey, I know obstacles make us stronger. Chasing is harder than fleeing, but it’s what we do.
I’m far from my best, weakened by fatigue and the curse, but I feel no fear.
I have a strong team, and I thrive in adversity. A easy fight wouldn’t ignite the fire within me.
Show me your pride, your determination, and your grit. Let’s see who’s truly superior.
This is the final showdown.