kscans

Chapter 307 - The Wedge Sword-King Enshrines a God, The World Records the Heroic Tale of Two - Part 3

Besides [Arcadia], the only true full-dive VR game, there are countless other 'games' out there.

Among them, the ones I gravitated towards most, especially since starting middle school, were works centered around 'combat.' I'm a guy, so it's only natural.

My point is, I've experienced a fair number of 'boss battles' across various genres—RPGs, action games, simulations, you name it.

There are bosses that go full-power from the start.

Bosses that hold back at first and get serious later.

Bosses that get stronger by transforming.

Bosses that start as a group and then merge to get serious.

Bosses that get unceremoniously crushed by the true final boss, revealing they were just the opening act, and so on—

I could go on forever… but in any case, the 'boss battles' in games almost always follow a pattern where the enemy gets stronger partway through.

Not all of them, but when you're facing a formidable or important opponent, it's pretty much a 'rule' that they'll have some kind of power-up gimmick.

However—I've certainly never faced a boss enemy that follows that 'rule' in this particular way.

Its rush, a combination of twin swords and magic swords, is parried by my armored arms and shield while I thrust my white sword in to create a break.

When it countered my once-one-sided circular throwing strategy by deploying 'trap' magic swords, I left them behind and charged its main body for an infight.

When it revealed its second form, making even its twin swords float with some mysterious power for a 'bare-knuckle & six floating swords' style, I ran for my life and peppered it with [Parabellum Bullets] from a distance—

I had been maintaining the upper hand by constantly adapting to its changes.

"—Ngh… guh?!"

But that advantage lasted for less than ten minutes from the start of the battle.

Just now, a magic sword, fired with full knowledge of my movements, tore through my upper arm as if mocking my desperate evasion.

The knight's remaining HP is at four bars—meanwhile, my own HP bar, of which I only have one, has already been depleted by nearly thirty percent.

"Dammit…! This game is seriously insane…!"

Give me a break already… this is awesome—in what world is there an AI-controlled enemy that learns and gets stronger in the middle of a fight?

Right here, apparently.

Seriously, this is pure Arcadia. All hail ridiculously advanced technology…!

'— — — — — —'

"If this thing could talk, it'd basically be real…!"

The silent armored knight, seeing me lose my balance in mid-air after an evasion, charges in for a relentless follow-up—complete with a preparatory volley of magic swords. I could cry.

…I didn't really want to use this, but I have no choice.

"Ngh—, — — — — — —"

Shut out all unnecessary thoughts.

I can't do it completely, but I push the noise to the 'outside' as much as possible.

All that exists now is my vision. I take in the world I see before me—

—and perceive it as a 'game,' inputting 'commands.'

[Construction]—deploy [Giant's Hand Axe]. I crudely block the line of fire of the magic swords and slap the empty air with my outstretched right hand.

Another blade comes for my avatar, which is now tilted to the left. I kick out with my right leg, pushing off the air as if stepping on it.

My vision spins. Outside of it, I sense the real threat approaching my back. After looking one way, I twist my neck, and in my line of sight are twin blades crossing, aiming to take my head.

Still upside-down, I slam my left hand against the air—and what bursts forth is a torrent of 'water,' born from magic.

Water magic, [Aqua]—and then,

"Second Strike."

'—, — — — — —'

The remaining left foot catches the void—and becomes one part of a 'flying' wing.

[Rocket], activate.

"[Striking Iron]."

I detonated the [Aqua] spell by pumping it full of MP.

My left leg, caught in that resistance, managed to graze the air—and the extreme acceleration skill, outputting the power I intended, reproduces the [Sword Saint]'s strike with the force of 'Shukuchi.'

The second strike, [Striking Iron], a sword of mighty force that can shatter even steel.

Whether you're a super-tough boss or whatever—

'— — — — — —! '

—you'd better go flying, or I won't forgive you!

"Grraaaah!!"

It wasn't something as gentle as 'striking iron.'

With an ear-splitting roar that seemed to crack the very space around us, the [Samidorizuki], drawn and swung in the same motion, sends the blue knight flying spectacularly.

Major hit—I got its right arm—

"Guh…!"

A clear result, but the price was just as instant.

A violent numbness that makes me feel 'pain' even in this painless virtual world shoots through my head, and I fall in a heap, unable to even break my fall.

This is why I didn't want to do it… even though Ui-san showed me how and I can barely use it, it's not like I've mastered it yet—

"H-Hyuh…?!"

In that instant, a massive shape of 'white' and 'sand' shot across my vision as I stared at the ceiling.

As I froze, holding my breath in surprise, the white knight went flying into the distance as if swept away by a tower-like giant sword.

"—Haru! Are you alright?!"

And in the next instant, a brilliant gold fills my vision.

My partner, a look of half-surprise and half-worry on her face, is standing beside me, offering a hand.

"Haha… nice follow-up. As expected of you, Sora-san."

"You were obviously looking at me for help before you did something so reckless… honestly!"

That part, too, is 'as expected' from the bottom of my heart… I can't believe she noticed when all I did was glance at her for a split second while doing acrobatics.

I gratefully take her hand and let her pull me up, my health fully restored by her thoughtful [Qualia Veil]. Man, she really is the best partner I could ask for, no complaints….

And speaking of partners,

"—Looks like those two over there are getting along pretty well, too."

"I don't know about getting along… weren't they originally one being?"

We both look over to see the 'White' knight supporting the 'Blue' one, whose right arm had been severed by my strike. Their remaining HP is similar, around seventy percent.

"I'm a mess, as you can see, but it looks like you're doing well."

"I was watching, you know… aren't you holding back too much, Haru? You had me on the edge of my seat."

"Well… most of what you could call my trump cards are basically self-destruct moves, so…"

Considering the possibility of a long battle, I can't help but be cautious….

As I receive her adorable scolding along with a sidelong glance during this break in the action, the head-splitting pain gradually subsides.

…Yeah, I really shouldn't push myself too hard. I should probably seal the combined use of [Hare Real] and [Rocket] for a while.

"Are you okay… really?"

"Sorry, you don't need to worry. I'll refrain from being reckless and strive to be merely outrageous."

"…I'd rather you refrain from both, if possible."

She laughs, looking troubled, but her eyes are no longer on me—

"But I suppose we don't have that luxury, do we?"

"Probably not…"

—they were fixed on the twin knights, which had begun to change.