kscans

Chapter 207 - No Need for Unrest or Anxiety

“—Yeah, four blocks from there… right. I doubt he’ll be taken down, but get there as fast as you can. I’ll send another unit after you.”

Outside the Eastern wartime base.

At the center of the established command post, Goldow leaned over a battle map spread across a table. Unwilling to be swept away by the changing situation, the golden stalwart, the [General Commander], was rapidly firing off orders to his rankers and the leaders of the regular player units.

While his mouth never stopped sending instructions via the Telepathy skill, he used his gaze and hand gestures to relay information to the adjutants also gathered around the table.

Reading his intent, they successively placed tokens and stuck notes on the map. The map, handmade by a [Loremaster], was rapidly transforming from a simple maze diagram into a strategic battle chart.

“Alright… head there for now, I’ll send further orders later. —Sorry for the wait, Hinayo. What’s the situation?”

His appearance was, in every sense, that of a commander. He seemed like a different person from his usual self, who was somewhat goofy and oddly charming.

So much so that even the usually impertinent fourth-ranked member was cautiously waiting for the right moment to speak.

“How’s it looking?”

As he took a breath, she popped her head up from beside him. A large hand came down from above and ruffled Mi-na’s hair as if stroking a grandchild.

“How’s it looking, you ask… Helena’s coming at us more directly than I expected.”

As he spoke, his free hand pointed to three locations on the map where large, crown-shaped tokens were placed.

“Irori, Genkotsu, Hinayo—a simultaneous three-pronged attack. And to top it off, they’ve sent two rankers after each of them. They’re really pulling out all the stops.”

While also patting Ri-na, who had appeared on the other side, Goldow explained the situation. The Eastern Wings both wore grim expressions.

“Ugh… Irorin and Gen-chan aside, is Hina-chan okay?”

“If she’s up against a close-range pair, it could be dangerous.”

In a one-on-one, there would be little cause for concern. But if there were multiple opponents and she was forced into close combat… even for an Istia ranker, the mid-to-long-range specialist Hinayo would be at a disadvantage—

“No, if anything, Hinayo is the one we don’t need to worry about at all. She’s got an allied unit acting as a wall for her and is apparently blasting them to smithereens.”

“Ah…”

“Rest in peace…”

Were the two pairs of small, clasped hands directed at the Istia players being forced to act as a 'wall,' or at the North and South rankers being made into targets for her [Scorching Gaze]…?

“Genkotsu… well, he’ll probably be fine on his own. I’ve sent backup to Irori as well. —So if there’s any cause for concern, it would be…”

Goldow’s finger pointed, and all eyes gathered on a spot near the center of the maze area. A large token of a boot with a feather ornament, representing a runner.

“Haru, what’s the situation—”

◇◆◇◆◇

“—I’m a little busy right now!!”

The call from the General Commander came through, but I truly apologize, I have neither the time nor the luxury to respond formally.

I knocked away a fire arrow that was closing in with my right hand, equipped with the [Revolving Shield of Transmigration], and slammed a roundhouse kick with my Whirlwind-wreathed left leg at the presence closing in from behind.

The impact—no, the kick-pact—was solid. But I couldn't afford to check the results of my counterattack. Look, my entire field of vision was filled with a multicolored hailstorm.

This is homing magic.

Estimated number of projectiles: a lot.

My internal lock-on alert—is at max volume, constantly!!

“Could you all maybe learn the meaning of moderation?!”

“Look who’s talking, get him!!”

“It’s the Acrobat!! Take him down!!”

“Shoot him down! Shoot him dooown!!”

“Stop flying around like you own the place!!”

“I think being the only one who can air jump is a crime!!”

“What’s your relationship with Nia-chan, you bastard!!”

An overwhelming, riotous mob…!!

Hey Haru, are you alrigh—

“I’m, alrigh…t, for the most part, but—whoooa!!”

No, this is tough, this is tough, this is tough!! There may not be any powerful individuals like the rankers, but being ganged up on by a large number of elite players from the Four Pillar selection is just not fair!!

“Goldow, sorry! I’m listen—ingaaaaah!! I’m listening, so, just, state your business…!!”

“Die!!”

“—State your business, pleaaaase!!”

I brought a heel down on the head of a light warrior who had leaped at me, then summoned the [Prologue: Wedge Fragment Singing of Eternity (Angalta)] and the [Giant’s Hand Axe] on the spot, leaving them there without grabbing them.

Ignoring the gruesome GOSHA!! sound the hundreds of kilograms of heavy weapons made as they fell and followed the light warrior down, I knocked away the countless fire arrows that had been fired at me again, taking advantage of the opening. Finally, you bastards… the time for my counterattack has come!!

“Revolve and open—[Shield Flower, Water Moon]!!”

“What’s that?!”

“Whoa, that’s cool!!”

“Where did you get that?!”

“Is it player-made?!”

“If so, could you introduce me to the crafter—”

“Daaaaaamn it, shut up!! You’re making me lose focus!!”

I slammed the small shield, filled to its maximum count, into my chest. As I dramatically donned a suit of light armor, the players from the North and South, who should have been my enemies, went wild with excitement.

—No, really.

It’s not just that they’re a group of strong players who never let me relax…

“Here I come, you veteran bastards—it’s time for a rampage!!”

“““Bring it on, you son of a biiiiitch!!”””

They’re just the best when it comes to getting hyped up, so I can’t help but get fired up too, you know!?

Gripping the Bullets I had summoned in both hands, I unhesitatingly leaped toward the elite unit that had naturally formed a battle line against me, a single person.

So, ranker equals boss enemy, huh?

—Very well, I shall live up to your expectations and rampage to my heart's content!!

[Breath Moment] activated. The barrage of attacks aimed at my front, sides, and above me—I slipped through them all with a delivery skill that, in my personal opinion, has both feet firmly planted in 'cheating' territory. I passed by a light warrior who was staring at me with a shocked expression and sliced him into three pieces.

My weapons, having served their purpose, I threw them to the left and right. They landed squarely in the torsos of two players on either side who had stopped abruptly to change direction.

“Exploding Rabbit!!”

And as I drew from the sheath at my waist—I slammed the [Parabellum Bullet] in my right hand and my left fist together… A shatter, a sharp sound, an explosion.

The daggers embedded in their stomachs exploded with a massive impact, one losing all his HP, the other rendered immobile by a forced stun. Having broken through the front line, I now faced the rear guard, who were diligently preparing their support magic despite their twitching cheeks.

I’d estimate the distance at about ten meters.

Sorry, but for me, that’s just a single step.

Matoi—a freakish technique that adds speed after you’ve already started moving. My avatar crushed the small distance in an instant…

A few minutes later.

“Um, sorry. It’s taken care of now, so could you start from the beginning…?”

“………………”

The waterway, where I was now the only one left, fell silent. The other side of the Telepathy link, which should still have been connected, was just as quiet.

For a short while, the only reply I received was a silence filled with what could only be described as utter exasperation.