33 - Chapter 29: Furry Fan VS Divine Bird
When there is distance between them. Geoglyph > Marianne > Unsurpassable Wall > Later. When there is no distance. Later > Unsurpassable Wall > Marianne > Geoglyph. When unable to move. Marianne > Unsurpassable Wall > Geoglyph > Later.
Now, I would like to talk about the strength of the Three Idiots.
If one were to ask who is the strongest in this world, it is certain that these Three Idiots would not be mentioned. However, if asked to name the top 30 strongest people in this world, they have grown to the point where they would undoubtedly be included, even if they are not widely known.
This is because magical power is always involved in the superiority of strength in this world, and it serves as an unwavering center of gravity.
On modern Earth, the primary indicator of strength is the physical body. But that alone does not determine superiority. Even a world champion in martial arts cannot dodge a bullet. Perhaps it would be possible if they were facing the shooter or if the shooter announced they were going to fire, but in a real fight to the death, physical superiority can be overturned by a single weapon.
However, in this world, by enveloping the body in a membrane of magical power, one can block bullets, and by enhancing dynamic vision, one can even see the moment the trigger is pulled and evade it.
Physical abilities like those of Superman, which everyone admires at least once, can be reproduced by something like an absurd particle or a cheat element called magical power.
Therefore, in terms of strength in this world, having a blessed physique does not have that much of an impact. Of course, it is not nonexistent, and if the amount of magical power is small and one is not used to handling it, a simple physical difference becomes difficult to overturn.
Now, returning to the topic, assuming the Three Idiots are around the 30th rank in the world, what happens if the Three Idiots fight each other?
Geoglyph, who possesses overwhelming magical power and number of attacks. Marianne, who commands 72 shadow beasts through summoning and contracts. Later, who wields super-enhanced physical abilities using magical power and versatile weapons via the Holy Scripture.
The conclusion reached by the Three Idiots after revealing their tricks and combat styles was a theory of a three-way deadlock.
Later cannot escape the area suppression caused by the overwhelming barrage taken from Geoglyph's storage magic, but he can slip through something like Marianne's 72 beasts. He cannot evade a single-point breakthrough via Later's super-enhancement, but the shadow beasts can forcibly break through Geoglyph's area suppression because they each possess their own magical power independently, even without being supplied by Marianne.
Geoglyph is super firepower through magic. Later is breakthrough power through physical enhancement. Marianne is the number of attacks and the toughness of each individual shadow beast.
Geoglyph is strong against Later, Later is strong against Marianne, and Marianne is strong against Geoglyph.
The power relationship of the Three Idiots is basically based on this three-way deadlock, but... there is only one exception.
That is when the battle begins face-to-face and at close range. Because Later immediately closes the distance, neither Geoglyph nor Marianne can keep their distance, and they are pushed back on the defensive from the very start.
That is the true meaning of Geoglyph's line, "If it's a ready-set-go while facing each other, he's far stronger than us."
Therefore.
"...Raaah!!"
"Kokeeee!!"
Against GrimEdda, who is hailed as a Divine Bird, Later was fighting an equal battle with his bare hands.
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"Oh?"
"Oh, how cute."
As the Serious Breakers party watched the fight while eating lunch, almost as if they were spectators, several yellow chicks approached them. A short distance away, a flock of hens were fluttering their wings in a panic, as if telling them to hurry up and run back here.
It seemed that the curious chicks, lured by the Serious Breakers' lunch, had come over while stealing away from their parents' eyes.
"Hmm... do you want some?"
Because they were staring at the sandwiches and rice balls with sparkling, round eyes, Geoglyph thought, "Feeding wild birds is a flame-worthy case, but well, it's another world, so it's fine," and instinctively tore off some pieces to give to them. The chicks began to eat greedily, like malnourished children.
"Now, parents, please eat as well."
When Marianne called out to the hens, who had collapsed in despair, they came over while shaking their heads as if saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's my child," and began to eat hesitantly. Among them were individuals who made the pieces even smaller so the chicks could eat easily, and individuals who did not eat but shared with the chicks.
They are communicating with the clan of the Divine Bird...!?
The individuals themselves felt like they were simply feeding wild animals, but to Latia and the others, it looked as if they were communicating with a flock led by a spirit beast.
"Looking at them like this, they're not so much chickens as they are cute chicks... There, there, eat a lot and grow big."
"Look, your leader is doing her best. We have to cheer her on and say, 'Do your best!'"
To the two idiots who said such things while stroking a chick with their fingertips, Lilitia hesitantly raised an objection.
"Um, Marie-oneesama? Shouldn't we be cheering for our party member, for now?"
"T-that's right! Later-sama is fighting desperately right now!?"
"Does that look like it?"
Kazuha also complained, but where Geoglyph pointed with his chin, two shadows were colliding at high speed. Occasionally they would separate and glare at each other, but...
"If anything, they look like they're having fun."
Latia saw that the corners of the mouth of one human and one bird were loosening.
"It's because there was no one of equal level in close-quarters combat. With magical power, it's said he's already surpassed 'Jinrai (Gold Rank)', and there actually hasn't been an opponent Later could go all out against until now."
"Eh? Equal level, then Geoglyph-sama and Marianne-sama are...?"
Close-quarters combat against that is a hard pass.
At Kazuha's words, the two idiots rejected the idea, the highlights disappearing from their eyes.
As mentioned before, if they keep their distance, there are advantages and disadvantages, but there is a chance of winning. Even Marianne, who has a disadvantageous compatibility, has a relatively high win rate. From a distance, she can almost unilaterally strike, so it's possible to win easily. But in a state of close contact, it's no good. Because he comes to decide the match before they can even deploy their hands.
Therefore, as was the case at Mahora, even during morning practice, close-quarters combat is handled by Geoglyph and Marianne.
"Unless it's an army of over ten thousand or a fighting style that grinds down stamina, you can't defeat Later."
"Even if you rely solely on numbers, that man would probably laugh and say, 'I can win if I do one-on-one ten thousand times! I'll use the advantage of the terrain!'
He would definitely say that, even Kazuha thought.
"So well, at least it won't be a pathetic result. Probably."
Geoglyph said this while letting the full-bellied chicks perch on the members' heads and shoulders.
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"...Shi...!"
"Ke...!"
During the several-th crossing, Later was thinking this.
What a feel! I want to fluff those feathers more!! ...Wait, that's wrong! Damn, is this some new kind of mental attack!?
It was simply a sexual preference.
But what evasion ability for this size. Is the fluff acting as a sensor? What kind of points is he gaining with those grazes!
He evaded an approaching kick at the last moment and thrust his fist toward the torso as a counter, but it was blocked by feathers. He did touch them. But the moment he touched the hair, he was evaded at an incredible speed. He didn't know how many centimeters there were from the feathers to the actual body, but the evasion action was taken before the fist reached, and furthermore, it was in time.
He had expected it to become a slugfest, but he didn't think the bird's characteristics would be put forward so fully.
Birds that can fly are basically hollow inside. It's standard that they're unexpectedly weak to impact, but...!
If so, the weakness should correspond to that, which was Later's view. And that was mostly correct, but...
"Kooo-keee...!"
A frontal charge from GrimEdda. It swung down its raised right leg like a heel drop. However, as soon as it saw Later lean back to evade, the trajectory of the kick changed. The vertical kick near the torso changed into a horizontal sweep, catching Later's leg as he was half-turned. There was no power because the trajectory changed suddenly, but instead, the leg sweep succeeded.
As it was, it touched the ground, and the upward swing of the left leg that leaped out as if switching places hit Later directly. He barely defended, but to kill the impact, Later had to launch himself backward.
A brief moment in the air. The legs of the draconic-type did not miss him in his defenseless state. Circling behind Later with a momentum that even left afterimages.
"Kekekekekekeke!!"
It unleashed a barrage of strikes.
Starting moves that are fast and even have breaking balls, plus this combo firepower...! A paper-armor speed-combo-firepower specialist, he's got the technical performance of a chuunibyou character!!
While parrying all the approaching kicks, Later was smiling, contrary to his tone. As a fighting game gamer, when he saw interesting character performance, he couldn't help but be excited to build a counter-strategy.
This human male... is too used to one-on-ones!
On the other hand, GrimEdda, who should have been pressing the advantage, was inwardly impressed.
GrimEdda's kicks are enhanced by magical power at the start and upon impact. It is designed to increase speed at the start and power upon impact. For that reason, the speed is god-like, and the power can easily crush rock, but... since it is a physical attack using the body, it is impossible to do area suppression like magic. Each strike must be aimed and guided by oneself to hit directly.
Because of that, if it can be seen through, it can be dodged, and it's also possible to intercept and shoot it down. But for that, at least magical-power-enhanced dynamic vision is necessary, and a body that can follow what is seen is also needed.
Later possessed all of that and was even turning it into a counterattack.
With a strong slap to repel the kick (parry), Later dove into GrimEdda's chest. The stepping speed at this moment was enough to close in on GrimEdda.
A shaking foot that seemed to pierce the earth. With that impact, pebbles and dust danced, and cracks formed in a radial pattern. The power and magical power twisted up in both legs, waist, shoulders, arms, and the right fist swirled and approached GrimEdda.
Later's counter certainly caught GrimEdda.
How terrifying each of these strikes is...!
However, GrimEdda twisted its body and evaded by a mere skin's breadth. It ended with the fist just burying into the feathers.
If I defend, I lose...! Attack!!
At this point, GrimEdda made up its mind.
By nature, it did not possess robustness as a species. It was a peaky specification where it had to confuse with speed, overwhelm with the number of attacks, and lose if it wasn't unscathed. For GrimEdda, who had survived with a fighting style like playing a shooting game with only one life, a defensive posture did not suit it from the start.
That is why it stepped forward strongly...
"Koke...!?"
"Tch! He read me...!"
With a shudder, it took distance based on the warning from the combat intuition cultivated over many years.
"Kooo..."
To GrimEdda, who was wary of what he intended to do, Later smiled fearlessly.
"It's fine to keep fighting like this, but it's also true that we're not getting anywhere. Now, what should I do..."
GrimEdda pondered for a while, and then opened its mouth.
Then, let us decide it with the next strike, human male.
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After a moment's pause at the sudden baritone voice that seemed to be GrimEdda.
Kyaaaaa it spokeaaaaa--!?
The Three Idiots went for the gag.
"No, it's different, it sent its will by loading it onto magical power!"
"Is this the 'directly into the brain' type!?"
"It's a Divine Bird, after all. It's said to have lived for hundreds of years, so it wouldn't be strange for it to have mastered a common language. Even elves learn other languages."
"It's the same rank as Kureha-sama. That much is natural."
"There was a description in the Bible that GrimEdda communicated by grasping human words."
To the previous-life group who were greatly excited, the other-world group had a perfectly normal reaction. The temperature difference was severe.
"Heh... I was a bit bewildered because I didn't think it would speak, but fine. I've already decided my move. I'll wrap this up with the next one."
Then I shall face you with my secret technique...!
As soon as it spoke, GrimEdda spread both wings and soared high into the sky.
"A-that is!"
"N-no way!"
While following GrimEdda, who flew up with the sun at its back, the two idiots shuddered.
"Do you know it!? Geoglyph-sama! Marianne-sama!"
Kazuha, who understood that it was trying to unleash some kind of big move, asked anxiously and flustered, and the two idiots nodded.
"That is the protagonist's move, used sometimes by cyborgs and sometimes by Zaku-gods!"
"That is the special move permitted to heroes!"
With the sun at its back, using gravity as an ally, now... the lethal.
Meteor Leg...!
Like a meteor, GrimEdda accelerated toward Later.
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"Phew..."
Facing the direct kick of a Meteor Drive (Lightning Kick) from above, Later did not evade but took a welcoming posture. Right hand down, left hand up. Closing his eyes, he concentrated his consciousness. Facing that speed, reacting by seeing with eyes would be too slow. Just as GrimEdda used feathers as sensors to avoid danger, Later spread magical power around him to use as a sensor.
What was required was a timing game where even a 1-frame shift was not permitted.
Not yet, not yet, not yet, measuring the timing... and the magical sensor felt it.
"...!"
Snapping his eyelids open, he grabbed the claws of GrimEdda, which were already approaching his eyes, with both hands. However, he did not stop it. This was not defense, but attack. Later knew this because he enjoyed fighting games. Against an opponent superior in speed, what is useful is carefully discerning the movement and countering from a just-guard or landing a grab.
Considering the possibility of being grazed by feathers again, Later chose the latter, of course.
"...Cheeei!!"
And then, as if performing a shoulder throw, he flung it backward, and GrimEdda was slammed into the earth.
To be continued tomorrow.