kscans

Chapter 380 - The White Journey Unburdened, Part Four

"————…Can we call this smooth sailing, I wonder."

"On the surface, at least…"

The two of them surveyed the battle, stopping to exchange words.

To Hinayo's murmur as she lowered the barrel of her gun, still shimmering with heat haze… Irori, who was striving to remain calm, replied with a nod as he dispelled the white blade in his hand into the air.

Including the one he had successfully decapitated with his junior's assistance, the total kill count was already eight. The remaining two were being handled by the [Sword Queen], backed by the support of surrounding players, and the tag team of Goldow & Genkotsu, who were moving in for the kill.

There was likely no need to rush to either's aid.

The second phase, which they had challenged with the intent of a full-power blitz, was coming to a surprisingly smooth end.

Yes, it was going very well—on the surface.

The biggest challenge of this phase, where they had suffered a narrow defeat in their attempt a year ago, was that the forced teleportation would activate while the ten split 'white' ones continued their rampage, making it impossible to avoid an immediate 'accident,' no matter how hard they tried.

This wasn't just limited to the general players; the same held true for the rankers. Just as Hinayo had found herself in a perilous situation moments ago, the more rounds they went through, the higher the probability that their own forces would be whittled down.

Hence, the all-out blitz.

They disregarded exhaustion. By suppressing the avatars at top speed, they would blow past the phase without letting it do anything—and indeed, their plan had succeeded.

But it came at the cost of significant fatigue among their core members and a portion of their trump cards.

Following the white blade that vanished from his left hand like melting snow, the ice crown that had manifested above his head shattered with a crack.

The disappearance was due to his Anima and the enhancement effect of his unique title reaching their time limit.

In Irori's case, he could use it again once the cooldown was over, but several trump cards, including a certain someone's 'ultimate move,' were one-use only.

It was the price they had paid to instantly annihilate the avatars that should have been running wild.

He wanted to believe it was better than losing numbers. After all,

"From here on out…"

"Yes… it's uncharted territory."

In the distance, the last two collapsed with a rumble, almost simultaneously—meaning, with all ten defeated, no one yet knew what awaited them.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—Isn't getting three kills a bit much?"

"You took down two yourself."

"Nah, I had plenty of support."

"If you're going to say that, then I received a lot of help myself."

Seeing one of the clones being pummeled by the four fists of the [General Commander] and [Twin Fists], I had rushed over to the 'Princess' who had been bravely fighting a giant on her own, but… well, I knew this side didn't need any help either.

The last one collapsed the moment I arrived. Ashe stood before its 'corpse' with a cool expression, showing no signs of fatigue as she smiled.

As expected, I suppose… to be honest, while I wasn't about to collapse, I was already starting to feel a bit out of breath.

—Anyway,

"Well then… what's next?"

"I don't know."

Voicing our questions and uncertainties, our gazes—the gazes of every player here—were fixed on one single point.

None other than—the ten white corpses that had been slashed, beaten, and crushed, yet remained on the battlefield without disappearing even after they had stopped moving.

If I could be greedy, I'd appreciate a short break right about now… but it seemed that wasn't going to be the case.

A faint jiji sound, and again, my vision—the world—began to blur and waver slightly.

A completely different kind of tension from what we had experienced so far, where we were allowed to prepare, began to rise. An indescribable tingling sensation ran up my spine, while heat and cold churned in the back of my mind.

The third stage of the [Tsarkalv of the White Throne], something no one in the world had yet seen.

As the challengers held their breath in preparation, a ground-shaking tremor that seemed to cling to their bodies from the ground up began… and It started to move.

"……, …………"

"What is that, what's going on…"

The avatars of 'white,' which could only be described as 'corpses,' had ceased all activity.

Their severed legs and tails remained as they were.

Their decapitated heads remained as they were.

With movements that could hardly be called biological… as if being pulled by something, the torsos of the massive bodies that had been lying on the ground began to rise.

Watching the eerie spectacle, the word 'strings' came to mind—namely, the same kind of 'puppet strings' I needed to replicate my master's techniques.

As I, having envisioned the 'strings' attached to the corpses, reflexively looked up, Ashe, who stood beside me, was staring straight at the center of the 'white' ones.

More precisely—

"………………Something,"

Beyond it—inside it.

"—Something is inside."

Just as she muttered those words and gripped her 'sword' tighter, the moment arrived.

The backs of the 'white' ones split open, and 'red' overflowed like fresh blood.

All ten corpses. Those with crushed heads, those with severed necks, those missing limbs—as the overflowing 'red' coursed over their surfaces, infecting them, the grotesquely convulsing bodies began to swell.

"……………………Ngh… seriously… Arcadia, come on…!"

It was, in short, a horror movie. Simply grotesque.

Oh, come on… I thought, glancing into the distance. Just as I expected, I could faintly see Sora-san watching the event unfold, her face pale with terror.

She's gained some experience and developed a certain tolerance, so I don't think she'll react like she did before… but it's not just my partner who's looking pale.

"…You okay?"

"…………Y-Yeah, I'm fine."

Oh man, that's the first time I've ever heard Ashe stutter.

Well, yeah, I get it. A few of the guys around us are making faces like 'ugh,' and even for me, who has a decent tolerance for gore and horror, this is a bit much.

Isn't this the kind of thing that should have its age rating bumped up? And what makes it so nasty is…

"Sorry, but you'll have to steel yourself, Princess… this looks seriously bad…!"

"I know…!"

We are currently in the middle of a one-shot raid attempt.

That means losing our will to fight or calling for a 'time-out' is not an option—no matter how scary or disgusting it is, we have no choice but to brace ourselves and face it…!

My vision blurs.

Static runs through my senses.

It's the precursor to a forced teleportation, a raid mechanic I've experienced many times now. So what's it going to be? A simple powered-up version of the second phase, or a hardcore mode with a mountain of additional mechanics?

While we can't avoid improvising on this first encounter, we're not foolish enough to tackle it without a plan. We've devised and shared strategies for every conceivable pattern, and I'm prepared to push through the exhaustion and run around again.

If I could be selfish, I'd wish for the good fortune of being teleported right next to Sora on the first jump. I don't know if I'll have the time, but I could at least offer a word of encouragement—

"——————"

A snap, like something popping at the back of my neck.

It was obvious the situation was completely incomprehensible. Why was 'red' gushing out from inside 'white'? There was no time to ponder that question.

The time until the forced teleportation mechanic activates is probably short. The world's distortion is increasing…………………………………………………………No, wait a second.

This… this might be bad.

"Ngh————!"

"Hah—ah…?!"

Whether it was instinct or borrowing from a thought that hadn't even fully formed, my body kicked off the ground on its own… but by then, it was probably too late.

Right now, what's distorting and wavering isn't our vision—that is, not our avatars. It's the space surrounding the monster, that fusion of 'white' and 'red.'

I was so stunned by the bizarre sight that my mind wasn't working properly. It was probably the same for Ashe, who let out a cry of alarm the moment I changed direction.

This is a precursor to something different from the forced teleportations we've experienced so far.

[Tsarkalv of the White Throne] governs 'Boundaries'—and 'teleportation' isn't the only trial one would expect from a being that manipulates space.

And yet, a step too late, I reached out a frustrated hand. I felt like my eyes met my distant partner's… in that instant.

A strange sound, like something shattering, echoed across the battlefield.

With each of the ten avatars as a focal point, cliffs of pure white space rose up.