kscans

Chapter 256 - The Actors Are Assembled, and Then

Chapter 182: The Actors Are Assembled, and Then

Pure white scales, like a suit of armor, adorned with brilliant decorations of blue and gold.

Reflecting the false moonlight, the Dragonewt slightly lowered the tip of its spear.

Grrr...

It's coming...!

We lunged at nearly the same instant, shattering the exposed earth beneath our feet as we charged the enemy.

I knocked down the spear tip aimed at my face with my sword, only for the spear to retract at a terrifying speed and unleash a second strike.

I deflected the platinum blade hurtling toward my heart with my own steel-colored one. Immediately after, a third strike gouged into my side.

"Ngh...!"

It's fine, it's shallow. The breastplate absorbed some of the impact. Don't freak out!

The Dragonewt wasn't in perfect condition either. The fact that we could even clash like this was proof of that.

I blocked the spear's butt end with my gauntlet, using the recoil to parry the horizontally sweeping spearhead with my sword. The impact resonated through my bones, but it wasn't unbearable.

As the Dragonewt stepped in for a follow-up, Blanc swung its battle axe from the side.

The one-handed slash was deflected by a flick of its tail. Without a moment's pause, the Dragonewt's claws tore through my helmet.

A white helmet cracked, throwing off sparks. It raised its spear for a finishing blow, but I slid in and caught it.

"Guh!"

The impact drove my feet into the ground. Before Blanc could move behind me, the Dragonewt's tail swung out in a wide arc.

Its long tail sent us both flying. I bounced several times before landing on my left hand. A few meters away, the silver knight tumbled across the ground.

Blanc was already at its limit. In the corner of my eye, I saw Ukon and Sakon try to stand, only for their legs to shatter.

Even so, Mia-san's lances of ice rained down on the Dragonewt. Faced with dozens of blades, the creature casually lifted its head and opened its jaws.

ROOOOAR—!

A torrent of white flame became a canopy, enveloping the area.

The rain of spears melted in an instant. The Dragonewt then whipped its neck around, unleashing the flames toward me.

"Don't underestimate me!"

I swung my sword in an upward scoop and simultaneously released a blast of wind, blowing away the flames that threatened me and Blanc.

As my vision was flooded with white, a pair of wings sprouted from the Dragonewt's back.

Rainbow-hued patterns appeared on the leathery membranes as a spell activated. Its feet left the ground. The white monster leaped up, turned its back to me, and flew away.

No way, is it trying to escape...!?

I stomped on the ground with all my might, leaping and accelerating into flight. A golden ripple burst forth as I chased after it.

The Flügel's output was unstable. Of course it was. A quarter of it had been blown off; the fact that it was still working at all was the strange part.

But even if it means breaking it completely, I can't let that thing get away...!

My Spirit Eye sensed the dungeon's atmosphere churning. This wasn't the same teleportation magic that brought us here. The flow was converging on the creature itself.

It's trying to regenerate. To rebuild that massive dragon's 'exterior.'

That Dragonewt itself is nothing more than a 'drop item.' And often, with the exception of a few functions, the outer monster is stronger than the core magic tool.

The single blow that had wiped out the adventurers had been an all-or-nothing gambit for it, too. A desperate attack launched even at the cost of hastening its own demise.

If that's the case...!

"RAAAAAAGH!"

Grrr...!

I closed the distance and slashed at the Dragonewt's back.

It parried with a backward thrust of its spear, but I ignored it, readied my sword, and charged again. I couldn't let it create any distance. I had no idea when the Flügel would give out.

—GUOOOOOOOOH!!

Just then, the roars of monsters echoed from far away. I didn't even have to think to know what it was. The Sachs and Wyverns from the upper floors were flooding into this area.

"Aira-san!"

'Don't worry about us! Focus on your own fight!'

"Y-Yes, ma'am!"

I parried a thrust with the pommel of my sword, using the force to push myself to the left. I followed up with a burst of wind to spin horizontally, unleashing a slash aimed at the Dragonewt's neck.

The flame-wreathed blade, however, was blocked by the spear's shaft. Immediately, its tail slammed into my side.

I couldn't even scream. A hoarse sound escaped my throat as I was sent flying.

As my vision spun, I could see the adventurers fighting in the half-destroyed alabaster city below.

And from the direction of the stairs, the sound of cannon fire. The Professor was snapping a Sachs's neck with her bow and crushing another's skull with a kick. Ariadne seemed to be holding the Wyverns at bay with its handgun and cannon fire.

No one had the leeway to help me. Mia-san was exhausted, too. At this altitude...

At the very least, I have to knock it to the ground!

"HYAAAAAAA!"

ROAR!

I used Concept Interference to stomp on the wind, steadying myself for just a moment. Then I bent my knees, using my leg strength and the wind to charge the Dragonewt at top speed.

My diagonal slash was parried by its spear, but as we passed each other, I immediately reversed course and got behind it. I barrel-rolled to evade its sweeping tail, circled underneath, and swung my sword at its right leg.

But a kick sent its sharp claws deflecting my blade's tip. I took the following downward spear thrust with my breastplate, twisting my body to make the spearhead slide off before it could pierce through.

Amidst the sparks and impact, I kept my body facing it as I flew backward and upward, getting in front of it.

I won't let you escape. Absolutely not.

Grrr...

Growling in frustration, the Dragonewt performed a lance charge. The patterns on its wings glowed brighter as it thrust its couched spear forward.

If I dodged, it would get past me. I gripped the blade with my left hand in a half-sword stance and met the spearhead.

As the impact pushed me back, I cranked the Flügel to full power. A creaking, groaning sound filled the air. Was it coming from my arm, or my sword?

Sparks flew violently as the spearhead slid upward, the shaft clashing against the flat of my sword. The Dragonewt, now at point-blank range, opened its mouth, gathering mana in its throat.

I immediately released my hand from the blade, swung my sword upward, and caught the blade on the spear's decorative guard, yanking it upward. At the same time, I bent at the waist, dodging the breath attack that passed over my head.

In that instant, a knee covered in white scales slammed into my stomach. My breastplate caved in, and the contents of my stomach surged up my throat.

No time to vomit. I gritted my teeth and slammed my left iron fist into the Dragonewt's side.

Grrr!?

We were both knocked back, then closed the distance again in an arc.

I slammed my sword into the side of its thrusting spear to deflect it, sliding my blade down the long shaft to aim for its fingers.

But its right arm shot out toward me first. Its fingers were held straight in a spear-hand, its claws glinting menacingly.

Before it could pierce my skull, I managed to get my left arm in the way. My gauntlet shattered, pieces of broken armor flying into the air. I was thrown back, recoiling from the impact.

It's this strong, even weakened...!?

ROOOAR—!

As I lost my balance, the Dragonewt raised its spear, now gripped with both hands. It brought it down like a club, and I responded again with a half-sword, catching the spearhead on my blade.

It was heavy. I was being pushed back, the platinum blade digging into my right shoulder. Blood spurted out, and the intense pain blurred my vision with tears.

This was getting bad. I folded my right leg, wedged it between us, and delivered a front kick.

I felt it connect with hard scales and the flesh beneath. The Dragonewt gritted its teeth and, without a moment's delay, lashed out with its tail.

The impact struck my side. My breastplate finally shattered, and my internal organs were violently shaken.

"Gah...!"

My vision flickered. My helmet hadn't had time to reconstruct, and my breastplate was destroyed. The next hit would be fatal.

The Dragonewt was above me, raising its spear for the final blow. Gripping it in a reverse hold, it thrust the spearhead down with lethal intent.

Not through thought, but instinct, I jammed my sword's crossguard into its path. With a fierce clang of metal, the thrust was deflected, merely gouging my right arm.

"Gah, aaah!"

I reached out with my left hand and grabbed its leg. I blasted fire from the back of my hand, using the force to spin my body and hurl it downward.

The Dragonewt immediately righted itself, spreading its wings with the city below as a backdrop. In response, I readied my sword.

Once again, we charged, intent on finishing each other off. Just as spearhead and blade were about to clash, a pale blue light shot up from the ground and pierced the Dragonewt's back.

GRRRAH!?

It was a spear of ice. My Spirit Eye caught sight of Blanc, arm outstretched from its throw, and Mia-san standing beside it.

I absolutely cannot let this chance slip away!

"HRAAAAAAAAH!"

GRRRAH!

I batted aside its now-sluggish spear, using the momentum to swing my sword up again as I approached diagonally.

'Serpentine Slash.' An application of it. This was my first time trying it in the air, but I'd make it count.

I dodged the spear shaft as it moved to defend, and my sword bit into the Dragonewt's wing. Then, with a blast of wind and fire, I forced the blade deeper.

"Oooooooh...!"

GRRR!

At this range, it couldn't swing its spear. The Dragonewt thrust its spear-hand through my left side, twisting it deeper.

Which would come first? My heart being ripped out, or its wing being severed?

With a roar, I poured mana into the bracelet. Pushed beyond its limits, it began to glow red-hot, but Shizuku-san's creation answered my call.

Crimson flames burned through the white wing. The force of the follow-through created distance between us, and the arm that had been nearing my heart was pulled free.

I couldn't feel any pain. My brain was flooded with an abnormal amount of endorphins.

Perhaps because of that, my thoughts were hazy, but I noticed the Dragonewt opening its jaws just before it began to fall.

Mana gathered. A moment later, a beam of white heat shot toward me.

"Tch!"

I couldn't dodge in time. I used the Flügel as a shield to block it.

After such a fierce battle, the steel-forged mantle had also reached its limit. The point of impact melted away, and the slightly weakened heat ray burned my right arm.

"Gah, aaaaaah!?"

My dulled sense of pain returned at the worst possible moment. A scream tore from my throat, and the mana maintaining my flight wavered.

As a result, I began to plummet to the ground along with the Dragonewt.

In the mere dozen or so seconds it took to fall to the alabaster city, the Dragonewt swung its spear at me, pulled by gravity.

I responded with my regenerated right arm. I parried the spearhead with my battered sword and, with a returning stroke, aimed for its neck.

It blocked with the shaft, and the butt end shot toward my side. I kicked to fend off the scooping attack.

I couldn't intercept the sharp thrust that followed in time, and it gouged my left shoulder. The Dragonewt then swung its spear around, and I instinctively let go of my sword and grabbed the shaft with my right hand to stop the wound from widening.

Thwip. Right after a full rotation, the spearhead pulled free, and I was thrown forcefully downward. I smashed back-first into a stone roof, crashed through the ceiling, and broke through the floor below.

I was dropped all the way to the first floor of what must have been a four- or five-story building, and all the air was forced from my lungs.

"Hh... aah...!"

Somehow, I managed to stand, reconstructing the sword inside its sheath. There was no time to fix my armor. I leaped out of the building just as a tremendous impact struck from behind.

I rolled onto a wide road, getting to one knee as I looked back. The building I'd fallen through, a temple-like apartment adorned in white and blue, was now literally half-destroyed, a mountain of rubble.

Slowly, the Dragonewt emerged from the rising dust, spear in hand.

Faced with a monster that, aside from its severed wing, had no visible injuries, I desperately tried to steady my ragged breath, drew my sword, and stood up.

I can't maintain my focus. The wounds I'd sustained in this fierce battle had already healed. But my brain was still misinterpreting it as being injured.

My functions as a human couldn't keep up with this unnatural regeneration. Phantom pain seared my nerves, and my vision flickered.

While I could barely stand, the Dragonewt leveled its spear at me.

An attack was coming. I forced my wavering body to hold steady and readied my sword. I had to hold it off, for every second I could.

'—Hang in there a little longer, Kyou-chan-kun!'

The voice echoed from my earring.

'Reinforcements are arriving!'

"Rein...force...?"

As I muttered the word, the Dragonewt shattered the stone pavement beneath its feet. It lunged forward with tremendous acceleration, thrusting its spear.

I raised my sword to block it, and in that instant...

A deafening explosion engulfed the area.

"Tch!?"

GRR!?

Both the Dragonewt and I instinctively leaped to the side to evade the impact. Amidst the flying debris, my Spirit Eye caught sight of the object that had smashed through the building and passed by.

—A shuriken?

Immediately after the massive, tornado-wreathed shuriken passed, a silver shadow shot out from the dust.

It was a knight clad in white armor. But its left arm and leg were exposed from the elbow and knee down, revealing a black main frame.

Though its armor was covered in cracks, the knight swung its longsword in a smooth, reverse diagonal slash.

Grrr...H!

The Dragonewt's reaction was a fraction of a second too late, and the blade slashed through its left eye.

Half a moment later, blood sprayed through the air. The monster roared and swung its spear in a wide arc. The knight, with mechanical calmness, blocked the attack with its blade and used the impact to leap backward without resisting.

Another knight was there. A one-armed golem with a silver helmet and torso, but with limbs painted blue. Blanc.

Which means, the one standing next to it is—

"Byaku...ren?"

The knight, while keeping its sword warily at the ready with its right hand...

gave me a thumbs-up with its left, its brand-new frame exposed to the air.

"Hey, hey, hey! Sorry to keep you waiting, Kyou-chan! Senpai!"

A boisterously cheerful voice called down from the rooftop of an apartment that had somehow avoided collapse.

"It took a while to swap out the parts and figure out where we were! But!"

Her black cape fluttered, revealing the white kimono she wore beneath.

At the same time, a magic-user holding a staff dispelled the dust and walked across the stone pavement.

"That was a pretty great entrance, wasn't it?! Don't you think?!"

"You're late, you self-proclaimed ninja...!"

I replied to her vibrant smile with a grumble. Even so, I couldn't suppress the smile forming on my own lips.

In response, the Dragonewt turned its right side toward us and readied its spear. A stance that protected its blind left side. Still, I saw no openings.

Two golems flanked me, each readying a longsword and a battle axe.

We were by no means in perfect condition. Neither Byakuren nor Blanc could likely perform at their full capacity.

And yet.

"Fuuu..."

Sword still at the ready, I took a single deep breath. The searing pain that had been burning my brain had, at some point, stopped.

Everyone was battered and broken. Our opponent was injured too, and though we had to worry about our own dwindling mana, we were far from having the upper hand.

But despite all that...

"Let's show 'em what the Invisible Ninjas can do!"

"We are absolutely changing that name when we get back."

"Please focus on the battle for now, both of you."

I didn't feel like we could lose.