kscans

Chapter 384 - The White Journey Unburdened, Part Eight

The moment he understood the situation around him, within the 'Boundary' that had transformed into what seemed to be the third phase of the raid, he honestly thought it was over.

There was the 'vermilion' monster, a mixture of 'white' and 'red,' which exuded an incomparably greater pressure than before as a result of its grotesque transformation.

In contrast, their side was a group of eleven that lacked any notable fighting power… and what's more, their balance was poor. They were a group skewed toward damage dealers, without a single support caster.

No, to be precise, there was one person who could be called 'notable fighting power' mixed in—but even though she had clearly demonstrated her strength on this battlefield, he couldn't immediately hail this girl, who was still a complete unknown, as their 'hope.'

—And so,

"—You two on the right, fall back! Heal up and get back in there immediately!"

""Understood!""

—And so, remembering a day long past, he thought.

"I'll take down the projectiles! Everyone in the rear, just keep layering your attacks on the main body!"

—Ah, perhaps I truly,

"Tank, hold on for another ten seconds!"

—had no eye for people at all.

"Leave it to me!"

With no hesitation or distrust, [Elephant Three] charged forward.

She wasn't just their linchpin; she was their core, holding together a desperate situation with insufficient forces. There was no other possible answer to the girl's command but 'yes.'

It was because of her that he, the sole tank, was able to properly fulfill his role.

It was because of her that the damage dealers, who would have had to prioritize their own survival and been utterly unable to do their jobs if they fought it head-on, were able to swing their weapons with all their might.

It was because of her that the rear guard, who would have been wiped out in an instant, unable to even flee if they were targeted, were able to chant their incantations with resounding voices.

She had taken on the roles of commanding the unit and protecting it all by herself, and had succeeded magnificently—without the partner of the infamous [Acrobat], none of this would have been possible.

Mace in one hand, shield in the other. He had switched from his former light warrior style, and this was now the steadfast defensive form he was familiar with.

However, this monster was a natural enemy for him.

Or rather, for any warrior who built their defense with a shield. Whether it was due to simple, overwhelming 'power' or some kind of ability, the 'red' tentacles, which were fragile when struck but boasted an unnatural attack power, had once easily pierced a hole in his prized shield.

That he was still on the battlefield was entirely thanks to her (Sora). When she had intervened at the last second and even healed his wounds with magic…

His jaw had dropped. That was the only way to describe it.

She had built up a track record worthy of trust in the blink of an eye. He may be an old man—but it would be a lie to say he didn't feel a fire light up inside him, kicking aside all sense of age.

"Come on, you monster…!"

Beneath the sky where the girl deftly handled the barrage of tentacles with her flying sand swords, the 'vermilion' one, its head still missing its upper half, took aim at the tiny shadow that had leaped out in front of it.

The giant body, tall enough to have to look up at, tensed, shaking both the ground and the space itself—and charged.

Just looking at the scene, it was a head-on clash that would make you doubt your sanity. For a title holder, perhaps, but for a warrior who prided himself on being a skilled fighter within the bounds of common sense, it was not a mass he could properly contend with.

Yes, that is, if he properly contended with it.

An effect of yellow, not yet gold, enveloped the shield he held aloft. With only a fraction of a second until impact—the warrior's face was filled only with faith in his weapon.

Though he wasn't a ranker, his specialty, as a man known as the 'Defense Captain,' was counter-tactics against former high-mobility warriors like himself, utilizing his own experience.

Therefore, no matter how fast an impossibly large body approached, seeing through its movements was not difficult. And if he could see it—

"[Primus Genus]!"

—then pushing back a reckless charge, with every ounce of his being, was not impossible.

The round shield, with its plain appearance relative to its performance, was often the subject of good-natured teasing, being called 'just like him' or 'resembling its meticulous owner,' but it was a prized 'Anima' that had never once betrayed its master in a crucial moment.

The Third Tier [Giant Elephant's Round Shield]—its hidden power was extremely simple.

It was a one-time use, perfect reflection ability.

『——————————』

The moment the 'vermilion' one's claw touched it, there was no impact on the arm holding the shield.

On the other side of the warrior who had met the charge without taking a single step back, the massive body that had been sent flying by its own attack was knocked back with a roar and collapsed—and then,

"The rest is up to you…!"

Taking no damage, but as a price, his right arm, its durability completely depleted, was blown away. As he fell to one knee, he looked ahead.

"[Vermeil Kreis]—!"

A flash of gold rushed past him, dancing… drawing a straight trajectory, running, and,

"Ah… honestly."

A laugh of disbelief escaped his lips.

Seeing the back that had gone from one person to two in the blink of an eye—

"You just can't get enough of them, can you? These protagonists."

His gentle eyes, watching the young people full of power, narrowed as if the sight was too bright.

◇◆◇◆◇

I knew you would come.

I knew you would make it in time.

I believed, without a shred of doubt, that it couldn't be any other way—and that's why I threw myself into doing something I was unused to, something beyond my station.

I was scared, I was terrified, I was embarrassed, I was hesitant… but still, I knew that you would,

""—[Crossing]!""

—come running to my side.

My partner appeared out of nowhere, like a whimsical gust of wind. As if telepathy were a given, he ran alongside me without a word, slipping his arm through the twin shields he had summoned and uttering the key phrase.

The connection was restored. [Scareless]—I wouldn't use it.

We were moments away from clashing with the 'vermilion' one, and without any discussion… our gazes met for an instant, and his seemed to say with amusement, 'It's your turn.'

So, the girl drew her 'staff.'

The [Staff of Dawning] released from the holster at her waist was a command staff, yet not a command staff. Because what she desired was not to be a mage, but—

""[Enchant]!""

—to be a swordswoman, fighting alongside someone.

'Light' and 'Water,' two magical powers that, while not strictly opposing, could not normally coexist.

However, there was the unidentifiable wood fragment gifted from the [Traveler], and the ancient wood obtained from the first boss she had defeated with her partner, which could 'convert magic into growth.'

The special staff created by the legendary [Playful Fire Crafter] by combining these two materials… could hardly be expected to have its performance confined to the realm of the ordinary.

The [Staff of Dawning]—its nature was the absorption and integration of limitless magic, regardless of attribute.

Devouring, mastering, and weaving together the magic poured into it, it would form… the proof of the swordswoman the girl wished to be.

With the magic generously poured in by two players with MID stats of 800 and 650, what ignited at the tip of the staff was—a great magic sword of 'Light' and 'Water.'

"Clear the way, please!"

"Ha, you've really learned to say that, haven't you—with pleasure!"

A flash of white and blue, a grin plastered across his face, kicked off the ground and soared through the air, carving through the 'red' that rained down.

As always, his movements were impossible to follow with the eyes. No matter how much I chased, it was a talent unique to him, one I had to accept I could never replicate.

And that's why I have to run, too.

To be by my proud partner's side—to earnestly give shape to my own unique talent, one he could never replicate.

………………Even so, I still think this name is a bad idea.

Even if I have no plans to announce it to the world,

Even if, considering the two attributes, it's not a completely off-the-mark name,

Even if the other member said, 'I don't think it's that bad,' giving it a passing grade—embarrassing is embarrassing.

Still, to meet the global standard of this virtual world,

"T-Tomoyori-no-Tsurugi—Ver. 1…!"

—one must declare their 'ultimate move' with all their might.

"————[Souten]!"

A single streak of light shot toward the 'vermilion' one's massive body, which had been pushed back by the shield of the warrior who had become a great citadel, its restraining barrage torn to shreds.

The brilliant sword of light, wreathed in water, cut through the tail unleashed in a counterattack after a moment's stalemate—

The girl, clad in her Azure Sky Raiment, landed silently on the 'vermilion' one's back.

And then, the master of the magic sword swung her staff. The next moment—

"————[Granschwärmer Neun]."

Nine blades of azure flame that had been gathering light in the sky rained down, piercing and skewering the massive body. With each tower of flame that rose, the dragon writhed in resistance, shaking the earth… and with the ninth.

The monster, illuminated by the flame swords that stood like grave markers,

『————, ————, ————————』

—let out two, three more inhuman cries before falling silent—

"……………………Ngh, …………haah…!!!"

As for the girl who had magnificently accomplished her 'great task,' she had reached her limit, and—atop the dragon that had become a 'corpse' for the second time, she collapsed with a soft thump.