Chapter 227 - Chapter 25: The Demon Lord's Cave ④
While the [Fire Storm] released by Beatrix dyed the surroundings red, Wilson-san, his profile illuminated by the flames, began his incantation.
About fifty paces ahead of his outstretched hands stood the Headmistress, Marcelo-san, Harris-sama, the Archbishop of Nakanohara, his secretary, Jennifer-sensei, and the rest of us priests, along with Lewis-san and his adjutant. Beside them was Flora's basket, with her face peeking out from the flower.
Wilson-san's mouth moved greatly as if shouting. He had spoken.
The magic he released bounced off the Headmistress's [Magic Reflection] at a right angle and hit the rock temple in front perfectly, creating huge cracks one after another. It was the ultra-high-level magic [Crevasse]. If released toward the ground, a massive fissure would occur.
"As expected of our secret weapon."
"Indeed. Since he's a Revenant, he can fire off many shots without getting out of breath."
"That's amazing."
From our perspective, it was nothing, but the front of Wilson-san was covered by [Camouflage] and the Headmistress's [Magic Reflection]. From the front, it should look like a mere cliff.
"The next one is coming!"
I called out to the Headmistress and Harris-sama, who were looking on leisurely.
After all, they were taking ultra-high-level magic head-on. I thought it would be fine, but there was always a chance.
This time it was the ultra-high-level magic [Colossus Collapse] (T/N: 'Kyozou Kuzushi', a spell named after the destruction of a giant statue in ancient times). It's a spell with a history, said to be named after an incident where a giant stone statue in a certain town was demolished with this magic back when magic could still be used on the continent. The scarred temple, subjected to localized earthquakes, quickly turned into a pile of rubble.
"They're coming! From the sky!"
The Archbishop, who had [Sense Living] active, shouted. For him, this was the long-awaited stage. He seemed quite energized, and I reflexively wanted to cast [Recovery] on him.
"At first, I'll leave it to Harris and Kevin."
"Understood."
Harris-sama and Kevin-sama rolled up their sleeves. I went behind them and tied their sleeves behind their backs.
"Sorry, Jeanne. Make sure to illuminate them well."
"Yes."
Answering the two, I sent out four Fireflies and illuminated the front of the temple grandly.
Descending the tower, in front was a giant temple... no, a temple-like structure made by carving the tip of a rock the size of a hill. That temple was attached to the rock, and the back of the temple was like a maze with intricate alleys carved into the rock.
Immediately after leaving the tower, the seven hero candidates vanished and hid somewhere.
Eleanor-sama immediately solidified the dug-up earth to create two high platforms; one was taken by the mages led by Eleanor-sama, and the other by the priests led by the Headmistress. At their feet, the three vanguards of the Class of 175 led by Henry-sama, along with three knights accompanying Gladys-sama, stood firm with Robinson-san, and several invisible bowls were floating in the sky.
We were protected by the Headmistress's simple barrier and [Magic Reflection], acting as decoys with our [Light]. The others were hiding themselves with [Camouflage] and [Magic Reflection].
The plan was to strike down the monsters that gathered seeing the [Light]. The monsters would be subjected to attacks from invisible humans.
First was the declaration of war by Wilson-san. By collapsing the temple, the "moths to a flame" strategy for the fourth layer conquest began.
"Upper right, a Wyvern and a Griffon."
"Roger!"
When the two bandits pointed the muzzles of the Anti-Air Ballistae, the Wyvern and the four-legged eagle monster we had fought before emerged in the darkness.
Many beams of [Holy] light sliced through the darkness, and they crashed.
Henry-sama and the others seemed to have delivered the finishing blows immediately, as they stopped moving, blood spurting from their throats.
Seeing several arrows stuck in them, it seems the archers like Bonnie were also flying.
"Oh dear. The aerial team took them."
"Damn it," Harris-sama cursed, and Kevin-sama consoled him with a "Now, now."
"Straight ahead. There are many. They're coming over the pile of rubble."
"It's a Chat-Palu. On top of the rubble."
A giant mountain cat standing on the rubble had its fur standing on end. It opened its mouth wide, showing its fangs.
However, it suddenly closed its mouth and quietly did an about-face.
Robinson-san had manipulated it.
Our allies increased by seven.
Robinson-san, clad in Eleanor's armor, stood behind the vanguard.
"They were taken again."
Harris-san seemed dissatisfied again.
"Newcomers have arrived beyond the rubble."
The giant mountain cats pounced.
I didn't know what had come, but they were apparently fighting. Fierce shouting could be heard, but since I couldn't see them, it was frustrating not being able to provide support.
"Several are coming up."
When the illuminator lit up the top of the rubble, several Fenrirs were standing there. Sounds could still be heard from beyond the rubble, suggesting they were still fighting.
"They're coming. It's lightning!"
Flora shouted, but it was easily reflected. Even if it flew toward the vanguard, it would be fine. Everyone was clad in Eleanor's armor.
Suddenly, two fire tornadoes formed on top of the pile of rubble. It was Beatrix and Lyudmila. Without missing their aim, the two beasts, turned into balls of fire, tumbled down from the rubble. They were still alive, but we could ignore them until the fire went out.
One Fenrir howled, and several others pounced simultaneously.
Jennifer-sensei raised her right hand high. One of the Fireflies was illuminating us from above. It was visible to the monsters, of course, but it also served as a signal to allies.
Suddenly, the one that howled took many arrows to its body and fell. The Fenrirs, having lost their magic defense, had their movements momentarily stopped by a sudden [Favorable Wind], and were hit by several well-aimed [Holy] spells, then finished off by the vanguard.
"Finally, one. But it's still D-rank. I'm not asking for B, but I'd at least like a C-rank to come."
Harris-sama, if you say things like that, they really will come.
"They're here. Above, straight ahead. They're big."
"It's a Wyrm. Um, there are five of them."
See, what did I tell you?
"Five? That's a lot."
"Is it [Over Flow]?"
When I asked the Headmistress, she said it was impossible. It would deal great damage, but the simple barrier would also be destroyed. In other words, we had to stop them from crashing into us.
When Jennifer-sensei waved her hand, Wilson-san seemed to have started his incantation.
Marcelo-san grabbed his arm.
"They're here."
"Not yet. Once they're stopped, fire all at once."
When they were close at hand, Marcelo-san and Wilson-san vanished.
BOOM!
They appeared right beside the flying Wyrms and released [Tempest] with a sideways blow. The Wyrms that were hit had their trajectories bent at right angles and crashed into the ground. Several had their necks bent at strange angles. Far from just stopping them, they were almost annihilated.
Harris-sama and Kevin-sama were delivering finishing blows to the ones that were still twitching. Immediately behind them, Marcelo-san and Wilson-san, who had vanished before landing on the ground, jumped back.
"You do good work."
"It is because I am following Eleanor-sama's instructions."
In response to Harris-sama's words, the person who could reuse a whole fortress as stone material if he felt like it gave a humble reply and returned to the platform where the mages were hiding.
"We cannot afford to lose either."
"Indeed. At this rate, all the good parts will be taken."
The Bishops are quite bellicose, aren't they? Kevin-sama was nodding too.
While they were talking, they came one after another.
Nastily, they launched wave attacks in groups of about ten at most, or five or six at least, with intervals. They were clearly aiming for us to run out of magic.
The monsters that came were all D-rank at first, but gradually C-ranks like Wyrms, Cockatrices, Cerberuses, and Orthruses started mixing in, so Robinson-san couldn't manipulate them. Since the simple barrier would be broken if they pounced, Priest Williams created a wind barrier with [Wind Curtain], and Paul-san manipulated [Wind Barrier] like a wooden door from the side, preparing to repel them at any time.
In particular, since it's said you turn to stone if you catch a Cockatrice's gaze, I illuminated their faces with full-power Fireflies while being told by Flora, who was looking in a hand mirror, along with the bandits. Apparently, we won the light beam battle, and the mages delivered finishing blows while they averted their eyes.
The Cerberuses and Orthruses, despite being magical beasts weak to fire, breathed fire from their mouths, but we aimed for the moment they opened their mouths and repelled it with [Wind Barrier].
As soon as the first one opened its mouth, we deployed it in front of the vanguard and easily repelled it. Conversely, it was hit by [Glacio] and became encased in ice. It was immediately released and tumbled away.
When a monster deployed magic defense, the aerial team delivered the finishing blow. Since the bowls frequently changed positions, there was no worry of being discovered. Eleanor-sama blocked long-range attacks on the vanguard with [Wind Barrier]. Attacks consisted of Wilson-san's ultra-high-level magic, other mages' mid-level or high-level magic with invisible trajectories, and the priests' [Holy] magic. That functioned well, and we were repelling them, but there were too many.
The number of times Beatrix and Lyudmila bought time with [Fire Wall] increased.
Kevin-sama had already switched to basic [Holy]. The mages' attacks also saw ultra-high-level magic recede, replaced by a barrage of high-level or mid-level magic. They could use it if they wanted to, but they had to save some strength.
The burden on the vanguard increased accordingly, and they began to breathe heavily.
"It's coming soon."
Once the monsters' offensive temporarily ceased, the Headmistress spoke.
"What is coming?"
"B-rank, Behemoth. It's not like the ones in the myths of the continent, though. Even so, it's the strongest magical beast-type monster that drove the main force of the group before us to the brink of annihilation last time."
A higher-tier version of Fenrir?
The Headmistress deactivated the [Magic Reflection] and the simple magic circle.
Noticing this, Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san jumped over via Marcelo-san's [Teleport].
"Catherine. You're doing it, aren't you?"
"Yeah. Let's decide it in one shot. After that, it's for these kids' practice."
"Understood. Everyone, [Holy] magic, please."
I noticed the surroundings had fallen silent. No monster roars... no, no sound at all.
"St-Straight ahead. It's big..."
"It-It's climbing the rubble!"
The voices of the Archbishop and Flora were strained.
When the two bandits pointed the illuminators... a giant cow-like thing, about the same size as the pile of rubble, was standing there.
With sharp eyes with white markings and a body with bristling fur that seemed to drift with pale blue flames. The area around its neck was red. The horns extending from the sides of its head curved in the middle to face forward.
Its two large fangs were probably longer than a human's height.
"Simultaneous attack. Jeanne, you can turn off the [Light], but release an amplified [Holy] when I give the signal."
"Ah, yes."
The two bandits were pointing the illuminators. I began my incantation as told by the Headmistress.
I saw that the mages had also all begun their incantations. The only ones silent were the Headmistress and Jennifer-sensei.
"GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The Behemoth, its face turned toward the ceiling, roared.
Just as I was about to lose consciousness, the Headmistress slapped my bottom, and I came to my senses.
"S-Sorry."
"It's alright. Calm down and aim well."
"Y-Yes."
Flora's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed. I left her care to Jennifer-sensei.
It leaped from the rubble and landed with a thud that shook the earth. It swung its head up and down vigorously.
The vanguard braced themselves with their shields facing forward.
The monster cow, scratching the ground with its left front leg, lowered its head. It intended to charge.
Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san knelt on one knee, and the Headmistress, standing behind them, pointed both hands forward. Harris-sama, Kevin-sama, Marcelo-san, and I lined up to the left and right of the Headmistress.
"[Prominence]!"
Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san released their magic. It was the full extent of what they could release with both hands. Two fire dragons, dyeing the surroundings orange, flew as if twisting around each other.
"Now! Aim for the [Prominence]!"
All the priests except Jennifer-sensei, following the Headmistress, released [Holy] all at once.
The white light was released as if piercing through the flames of [Prominence], and the flames changed to yellow and then to a whitish color.
As it was, it engulfed the Behemoth.
"GUOOOOOOOOOOO!"
What had been about to pounce on the vanguard was now rolling around as a ball of fire.
"[Holy]! Keep it up!"
Following the Headmistress, who was firing off log-sized [Holy] spells, we hammered it with everything we had. When silver arrows and [Holy] were also released from the aerial team, its movements became sluggish.
Marcelo-san, who had been releasing [Holy], switched to [Teleport] and brought Beatrix, Lyudmila, and Mary.
Beatrix and Lyudmila released a follow-up [Fire Storm]. They released more [Holy]. By the time the fire tornado subsided, it seemed completely unable to stand. I could tell it was breathing heavily.
"Mary. Now."
"Yes! [Glacio]!"
[Glacio] was released toward the water Eleanor-sama had sent. An iceberg fell and crushed the Behemoth's body. However, it was immediately released, and the vanguard rushed in to deliver the finishing blow.