kscans

Chapter 377 - The White Karmic Journey, Entrusted with No Burdens - Part 1

If I haven't miscounted, it happened on the fifth cycle.

Without warning… at least, for us, it was sudden. Every player likely noticed the premonition of change that swept across the battlefield at the same time.

No, there was one exception here—

"Oh, crap…!?"

It was probably a system-based 'hunch,' unrelated to intuition. Before the silent notification that something was about to happen…

The ruby embedded in [Everquartz (Sky-Soaring White Crystal Sword)], which I held in my left hand, flashed and flickered as if in response to something. It was as if it was saying—'Brace yourself.'

——————!

I thought I heard someone's voice from far below.

Your concern is understandable… If I hadn't been startled by my suddenly glowing sword and braked beforehand, I wouldn't have been able to switch gears in time…!

I threw caution to the wind and, without hesitation, set my course straight down and activated `Rocket`. My vision was already starting to blur—a sign of a forced teleport, with only a little time left.

Since we're doing this on the fly, there's no answer to the question of what would happen if I got hit by the teleport (gimmick) while flying around in the air.

Would I just be dragged down to the ground without incident, or would I be thrown out into the air at random… In the worst-case scenario, I couldn't rule out being thrown to the ground while maintaining my inertia and becoming a human grater.

It's a forced improvisation with no test plays, and the fact that I can't just say 'I died in an accident, let's try again' is tough.

The way its 'learning' works is also unknown. It's possible that it could instantly react to the weirdo flying around in the sky and change the turret's targeting routine entirely.

An unreasonable one-shot setting, and the first forced attempt is supposedly the lowest difficulty… I'm sending an angry email, dammit.

"`Flood`!!"

While sheathing my beloved sword, I kicked off the void and at the same time, thrust my left hand straight ahead, towards the ground I was heading for. On the path of my avatar, which was hurtling towards a ground-stain route at high speed—water overflowed.

Water magic `Flood`, also known as Terra Aqua. And the description on some info site was a simple, single line.

'Never use in an enclosed space.'

Well, to put it simply—if I fire it off with my MID stats, it's about the size of a twenty-five-meter school swimming pool.

"—Gabo…!"

Control is impossible. My body, which had plunged into the magic that simply 'creates a large amount of water in an instant,' was caught in a very game-like and exaggerated load processing and rapidly decelerated.

Recoil damage is nothing—at almost the same time as I deployed Flood, I had already passed through the green light gate (Qualia Veil) that had appeared right in my path. Sora is God.

And so,

"—You reckless bastard, my heart skipped a beat."

"Gah, ugh… he, hehe…"

After slowing down as much as possible, I was caught by something incredibly rugged as I was thrown out near the ground. My apologies, your magnificent golden armor is soaking wet, along with everything else.

My own heart skipped a beat, but somehow, I made it in time.

Unfortunately, there's no time to say thanks, nor is there time to worry about the water damage around me. I jumped down from the embodiment of reliability's powerful arm, and a moment before,

In that single moment of猶予, our gazes met with the eyes that shone brightly behind the mask… I've gotten to the point where I can communicate with our [General Commander] with just a look.

I'm sure that if we had three more seconds, we would have said the exact same words.

Namely—this is where the real fight begins.

The disruption of the teleport (gimmick) that occurred at hundred-second intervals. And from the sky, the remaining turrets had vanished. As the information suggested, these were the precursors to it truly waking up.

My vision blurred, the world mixed, and

'——————————————————'

A roar sounded, and the next phase began.

My vision returned to my wide-open eyes—and a transformed battlefield spread out at once.

The massive body of the 'White Throne' had vanished from the center of the great crater.

And just like the forced teleports before, scattered among the players were… ten, small whites.

This is where the real fight begins, and

"Become my arms—[An=Ru Galta (Hypothesis: Wedge-Armor Singing of the King's Road)]!!"

"Gather, ice flowers—`Blade Road`…!"

"Get fired up, you lot!—`Golden Hour`!!"

"—`Truth Dream`."

"Alright, let's ramp it up!—`Zel-Ex Destra`!!"

The opening was bold, full throttle.

Though their voices couldn't reach each other, their fighting spirit and passion deepened on the battlefield.

As planned—[Peerless], [General Commander], [Twin Fists], [Adamant], and five other close-combat specialists, including me, donned their crowns and went all out without holding back.

The second phase against the 'White Throne,' a battle of annihilation against its ten split bodies.

Against the ultimate first-time killer that led to their defeat in the last challenge, this third time, the tactic we (the players) chose was—

" L e t ' e m h a v e i t ! ! ! "

To kick taking turns to the curb and go for a one-turn kill right after the phase transition.

The time limit of the reset forced teleport is our strategy's time limit. In other words—we'll beat them all, from one to ten, within a hundred seconds!!

"`Rocke—————"

In this phase, the role I've been given is interceptor.

Simply put, my area of activity is the entire battlefield. As long as I can reach it, I just have to run around and provide support from one end to the other!

"——————t`!!"

I 'memorized' the situation within my field of view. Well then, first, from the nearest one…!

I kicked the earth, shattered the void, and closed in on the first one. A split body of the 'White Throne'—its form was a miniature dragon that had undergone a dramatic shape-up, reducing its volume to a tenth of its original size.

Miniature, but still a dragon. Its caterpillar-like belly was gone, its legs were slender yet retained their strength, and its long tail was taut, but it was still huge.

While manifesting the crown of `Crown Crown`, which had once receded thanks to my partner's emergency heal, I instantly closed the distance between us, and my vision was filled with a sea of white.

…Now then, again, this phase is a first-time killer. In other words, it's the embodiment of the intent to catch the poor players off guard, reduce their numbers, and then wipe them out.

In that case, it's only natural that their first move would follow suit—with a speed that's on a different level from its previous sluggish movements, its forearms are already raised.

Alright, bring it on—I'm as fragile as paper when it comes to taking hits, but I'm confident in a brawl!

`Construction` followed by `Exchange Voltate`. I summoned the black and red heavy bomb (with a high-speed propulsion device attached)…!!

"————`Ignition`!!"

The white forearms, still like giant trees even after being miniaturized, and the [Gravidon], which roared as it accelerated using its master's life (HP) as fuel, collided head-on.

Stars scattered, and a dizzying impact shot through me at close range—

"Ha, just as the intel said…!"

—Barely, I was the one who won the push.

The split is a vicious gimmick that can be fatal, but the specs, including the brute force, of each individual body are significantly and appropriately lower. A tenth… or maybe even less.

In that case, it's possible—as long as we can deal with them across the entire battlefield in time, a complete victory is not a dream. Just as planned, we'll crush them without letting them do anything!

………………Oh, what's up, Lotta? You been well?

"I'm leaving the rest to you, [Insighter]!!"

"Leave it to me, [Haru the Acrobat]!!"

I jumped into a situation where my hands wouldn't have been enough, fired off some support, and immediately retreated.

After repelling the first blow and switching with the surrounding frontline warriors whose reactions had caught up, my job here was done for now. Auerin, the reliable big brother, was nearby; based on the distance I memorized, he should arrive as reinforcements in about five seconds—so, it's time for `Rocket`.

While exchanging a mental thumbs-up with my friend who was holding a sword despite being a pure healer, I kicked off. Next up is the one next to it. Hey, stop that hand, wait a minute!!

I switched weapons and threw my battle axe at the forearm that was about to swing sideways at a single 'dress-clad' figure who was trying to gain distance.

The [Giant's Hand Axe], which roared as it flew through the air, embedded its blade in its foot without missing—and at the same time, my left hand, which had arrived, caught the axe head in its palm.

Well then… Kesshiki Ittoryu, weaponless technique.

"`Shinden`!!"

As a final push, I activated `Rocket`, and the immense propulsive energy generated by my step was channeled without waste into the palm I had pressed against it, half by force, half by technique—

Along with an indescribable roar, the 'White's' forearm, into which the black blade had been pushed, was torn off from the estimated ankle up… wait a second, that's unexpected. An unexpected critical hit, to say the least. I need a second to process the situation.

There's no need to look around; even without doing so, I've etched the surrounding situation into my mind before I started running—ah, okay.

I have eight seconds flat, and with that much time, I can press the attack.

"—Hinayo-san!"

As it turned out, my command was completely unnecessary.

Without even turning around… a lustrous gardenia-colored dress was already dancing gracefully next to me.

"`Second Bullet, Opening Twin Eyes`."

A large red pistol, held straight. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to cover my ears—and the massive heat ray that was fired exploded into the white at almost point-blank range.

I reflexively almost covered my face with the [Twaibolt Mirari] on my right, but since it wasn't a graze like that one time, there was no damage.

In front of the 'older sister' who was holding up her Anima that radiated heat rays with a cool expression, I managed to suppress my urge to freak out—hey, you're late. You could have gotten here a second earlier.

Well then… ready, set!!

"First Strike."

"`Rinka`."

"—`Hisui`!!"

"—`Ittou`!!"

The moment the [Scorching Heat Gaze]'s second shot ended,

The jade blade I drew and the blue blade that lined up behind me flashed simultaneously, slicing through the neck of the 'White's' split body, which let out a roar that could clearly be described as a 'scream,' from the left and right.

…Damn it, it's frustrating, but I feel like my blade, which I forcefully recreated with the thrust of `Rocket`, didn't cut as deep. I won't lose next time, you hear me!

"Haru!"

"Haru-kun!"

"I know!!"

Reinforcements were gathering from all around, and this one's end was in sight.

In that case, there's no place for me here anymore. Without waiting for the command of my two seniors, my legs were already treading on the void—well then, next up is a no-brainer.

"`Rocket`!!"

To my partner, who was putting on a performance that was no less impressive than the rankers.