kscans

Chapter 639 - III < I ?

—The moment the “water” was unleashed, two ‘options’ flashed through my mind.

First, a full-scale retreat.

Since I’m no longer a newcomer but a proper ‘Ranker,’ it would be unthinkable to refuse a fight on the stage of the Four Pillars, a stage that can’t be separated from its role as a spectacle. Especially for us in the Istia faction, who started this whole thing by picking a fight in the first place, it would be beyond uncool.

Back when I first joined the ranks, before my first Four Pillar War, Gossan told me, “There’s no shame in running,” but that was only permissible because I was a green newcomer.

After that, I went wild, did whatever I wanted, and made a name for myself. If I were to tuck my tail between my legs and choose a timid retreat now? I can just imagine the public’s disappointment.

So, I at least responded to the initial clash. That is, I showed my will to fight back and demonstrated the fact that I could, just barely, ‘hold my own.’

That means if I retreat now, I can justify it as a strategic choice.

Whether I’m actually crying inside, thinking, ‘This is impossible, I want to run away before I get minced,’ is irrelevant. In the end, what matters is how it looks to the spectators.

Second, I could force an Engage and punch a hole through their encirclement.

Engage is a special skill granted to Rankers exclusively during the Four Pillar War. By declaring it against a Ranker from another faction within ten meters, it instantly deploys a field that prevents any outside interference.

If I deploy it, the barrier separating the inside from the outside will completely shut out the [Long Legs]’s barrage. Since his [Endless, Doll of Atonement] continuously summons magic once activated, buying time with an invincibility barrier would be extremely effective.

And I have no intention of allowing my opponent to use Break to escape my Engage. Furthermore, since I’m confident I can successfully land an Engage, this option seems safe and reliable…—or it would, if not for one massive problem.

There is one player here who I absolutely must not target with Engage, and it’s likely by design. Even if I don't directly Engage her, if I manage a one-on-one with either of the other two, she could just use Interrupt and the result would be the same.

The [Knight], Aika. The moment I’m trapped inside that barrier one-on-one with her, my Eleventh Four Pillar War will likely be over. To be precise, if my seniors don't come to my rescue, it’s not hard to imagine I’d be pinned down right here.

I’ll say it plainly. I have no intention of losing to her—

—but I have not a shred of confidence that I could finish her off.

In the end, the presence of the [Knight] is what’s robbing me of all my ‘options.’

I’m holding back against her, who has yet to show her true power… or rather, her true nature, largely because I’m afraid of her getting serious.

This three-on-one situation, formed by a mix of whim and circumstance, is actually protecting me. The current state of affairs is a product of my three seniors showing ‘interest’ and ‘goodwill’ towards me, and taking advantage of that is likely my only hope.

Thus, the conclusion is—I have no ‘options,’ only one ‘path.’

[Eyes Oculus] activated. I closed my left eye and opened my right. Steeling myself for an all-out resistance, I unhesitatingly unleashed my golden eye, which dragged my consciousness into a world of doubled thought acceleration.

Even in this slowed-down view, pellets of water, large and small, closed in at tremendous speed. Faced with a multitude of spells approaching like a tidal wave, I called for only one thing.

With a powerful swing of my right arm, shadow threads reeled in the wreckage of the [Demon Horn Spear: Crimson Valor] that had been left lying on the floor… No. Even with its blade shattered, that spear was not dead.

The life it had devoured from the [Great Tiger] earlier was minuscule, and thus the converted magic power was also scant. The crimson cloth indicating its ‘gauge’ was therefore unreliably small, but if it exists, I can call it.

“Rise—[Red Air]!”

The twin crimson blades lit at the spear’s tip, scattering demonic light and swaying like a ‘rabbit’s ears.’

This ‘blade’ is neither physical nor magical; it is an incorporeal blade that cannot touch life (HP). However, the third ability of the [Demon Horn Spear: Crimson Valor], which has had no chance to shine until now, is—

“Witness this, seniors…!”

—the ability to punch hostile magic.

The hairpin flashed and twinkled, activating Desperate Crimson. Wielding the crimson-bladed spear and clad in red light, I ignited my now excessive AGI, which had been augmented by referencing my magic stat. My thought speed, already accelerated by my skills, was left in the dust as I bid farewell to the ground and charged at the great spear of water that was closest.

It was likely a grand spell from that unfamiliar long chant. I swung the blade horizontally at the crushing pressure that made a one-hit kill easy to imagine, and the blade—connected.

Normally, without enchanting a weapon with an element other than the target’s own to aim for its ‘core,’ physical attacks cannot interfere with magic. The best you can do is block it with a shield or wall that exceeds the magic’s diameter.

However, with this thing that wavers between the physical and the magical,

“You’ve gotta be kidding me, are you crazy!?”

“Haha… Now that’s unexpected.”

“Something new again…!”

It can forcefully interfere with the crystallized magic and even knock it down.

The words of praise from the [Thread-Weaver], [Long Legs], and [Knight] were music to my ears—but unfortunately, I had no time to spare. The incorporeal blade, formed from meager resources, was already beginning to fade.

My own [Water Enchant] can't intercept the magic of Record-shi, who shares the same element. Therefore, I need to open a path in the brief time before this [Red Air] dissipates.

And my target is only one person.

Not the [Thread-Weaver] or the [Long Legs] protected by the [Knight], but the [Knight] herself, who grants them absolute protection. If I don’t take her down, there is no victory.

Leaping through the air, I knocked down, parried, and sent flying the enemy’s magic, which was also a move to create a diversion and keep them in check. They couldn’t possibly react instantly to the unknown sensation of ‘having their magic punched back at them,’ even if they couldn't have their control wrested away.

They should be at their limit just trying to divert their own magic so it doesn't hit their allies. My assumption proved correct, and I slipped through the momentary ‘gap’ that appeared.

“Hmph… You’re insane, truly!”

“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be here right now…!!!”

While Stella’s autonomous function forcibly cut through the threads of a perfectly timed follow-up, I dove in and slammed my fist into the ‘shield.’

As we exchanged playful banter—[Frezon Revolver] fully loaded & [Ignition] & [Rocket] & Matoi and Mawari at maximum output!

Kesshiki Ittoryu Unarmed Style, `Shinden`… revised, Prototype Unarmed Style.

“`Tsuzumi`.”

One strike, two, three, four, five. In a single instant, I drove in a series of escalating blows that resonated, mixed together, and became an explosive ‘force’ that shot straight through the enemy’s core.

And its power was,

“—Ka, hah…!?”

Whether it received a blade or a fist, the [Knight]’s HP, which had remained completely undamaged until now, was taken down by thirty percent right through her shield—a ridiculous amount of damage.

It’s a technique I魔改造d from a direct-contact, penetration attack taught by my master that ignores simple defense. No matter how incredible that shield is, it couldn’t possibly deflect it head-on before its release!

And then,

“Hmph…—Manif—”

“Not happening.”

Frankly, the fact that she stopped it at only about thirty percent damage is what’s truly surprising, but it seems even that guardian couldn’t escape the super-massive impact effect.

Was it an instinctual reaction, or a pre-set action anticipating a crisis? As she struggled, able only to move her mouth, I pressed forward. My right hand, having just delivered its blow, summoned a massive bomb of pure mass.

“————h…”

Was she about to spin her next words, or did she reflexively start to say something else…? Well, now that she’s been flattened in an instant under the great warhammer [Gravidon], I’ll never know.

And I have neither the time nor the luxury to listen leisurely. So, pardon me,

—“[Ignition]!”

My finger, pulling the trigger, felt not the slightest mercy or hesitation.