kscans

Chapter 802 - O Ye Who Have Waited Eagerly, Roar, Gallop, and Thus Conquer - Part 1

The number of personnel for the Green Connect raid is one hundred and twenty. This includes the twenty from the ten seats of the Western Faction (Vestol), who are the corresponding color and a special枠, plus the ten ranker slots from the other three factions, and an additional one hundred from the general pool.

And the breakdown of the total force, in other words, the team composition, is thirty-five groups.

The basic structure is ten ultra-elite tag teams of one artisan and one combat ranker each, plus twenty-five squads of the remaining hundred-ish general players in a 1:2:1 formation of transport, combat, and artisan roles.

The transport role is filled by players with the [Rider] skill and tamed Stardust Beasts… but during the previous Starry Paradise event, the second of its kind, the hardcore players were serious about taming, so this role is also effectively filled with elite combatants.

It goes without saying that these one hundred—no, seventy-five, excluding the twenty-five artisans from the West—were selected from the very cream of the crop of Arcadia's massive player base.

With just three of them, they could probably conquer any high-difficulty dungeon without issue, unless it's a raid-scale one or one of those few, famous exceptions.

And on top of that, if you bear the title of a ranker, even solo conquering is not a problem.

At the very least, those who were believed to be capable of it were selected—so all we have to do is steel our resolve with all our might internally, while putting on a cool face externally.

"Everyone, are you ready?"

And so, at the end of the constructed bridge.

Just before the edge of the shell, where crossing it would literally change the world, the standard-bearer asks. She turns, a smile she tried to make understandable for everyone on her face… and just like that time, she doesn't ask for a verbal response.

Not a single person has left or fallen behind. From the players who followed not behind—no, beside her, she silently received their wordless fighting spirit and excitement.

"Yes. Then…—Let's go."

She took a triumphant step, signaling the start of the battle.

And one hundred and nineteen pairs of legs followed. While not perfectly synchronized, the over-raid, with their spirit and will united, surged into the battle zone.

And so, the moment a person stepped onto its 'back'.

────────────────────────────.

It wasn't a voice, not even a breath.

It was the sound of an abnormal existence of an utterly outrageous scale quietly lifting its eyelids.

The body of Green Connect, Jehatreglie, which had shown no reaction at all, not just to people stepping on its back but even to them punching its face with all their might, certainly stirred—

"The raid begins."

With the princess's quiet voice as the trigger.

With an attitude that basically said, 'So what?', the festival-loving fools who sit at the top of the virtual world let out a war cry and started running.

In groups of four, some of three. Each team as a single unit, the moment they crossed the boundary line, a completely different scene spread out before them… and as they scattered across the open, treeless hills,

"""""────────"""""

With a silent battle cry, countless star-shadows overflowed.

All of them were big. Canines of all sorts, felines of all sorts, boars, deer, horses, even ostriches—a diverse lineup of tamed beasts stood ready.

And while their forms were varied, they all shared one common specialty.

"Ooh… hmm. Quite fast."

The sturdy legs that carried their respective riders and sped away all at once were so impressive that I couldn't help but let out a voice of admiration. They were truly worthy of being called 'transporters'.

—And with that.

"Haru, Natsume, and Nia. If anything happens, stick to the plan."

""Roger.""

"R-ro, roger…!"

After observing the distribution of the scattered raid and deciding on a course, we received the final confirmation from the princess. When my squadmates on either side and I responded, Ashe gave a faint smile…

"Later, then."

She effortlessly swept up the [Scorching Arm]-dono, who had been standing by as if to say 'whenever you're ready,' into a princess carry, dyed her dress blue, and dashed away.

Naturally, she was gone in an instant.

Seriously? And that's just a simple sprint, not [Shukuchi] or anything?

"Alright then, let's get going too."

"Counting on you, Gin—… He won't bite, will he? This guy."

And while I was watching the 'strongest' leave with seventy percent awe and thirty percent exasperation, the [Wolf Pack], who had naturally summoned his great wolf mount, took the [Crimson Arm]-dono and left.

"Alright, let's go, old man! Don't get thrown off!"

"Don't hold back! Let 'er rip, Tiger boy!"

The [Great Tiger], carrying the [Iron Extension]-dono with his invisible jaw-arms, kicked off the ground with a roar and flew away.

"Let me know if your back starts to hurt, old man!"

"Drive safely, please."

The [Big Spender]-dono, wrapped in a white mist… a 'cloud,' was carried away, gliding across the ground with a speed that made me a little worried, his white beard trailing behind him.

"Then let's go too, Tsugu-Tsugu!!!"

"………………"

This time, the [Origami]-dono, lifted by the 'wind,' was whisked away into the distance by the [Traveler].

And now, five teams remain.

"—'With might I conceal, is this body truly a coward's (fox's)?'"

The song that had been echoing quietly from earlier came to a close.

"[Your Realm]—… Well, good luck with the practice run."

"I'll be watching over you from the shadows, rising star!!!"

"Yes, sir!!"

Taking the hand of the [Vivid Beauty] standing beside him, Tetra activated his magic and sank into the shadows along with her. And as for the owner of the shadow, the rising star himself, Kanata…

"I'm off!"

The moment our eyes met, he shot off into the distance, full of spirit.

And then, four teams remain.

"Alright, then…—Come on out, Sapphire."

I summon my star-shadow, and on its back rides…

"I'm borrowing it."

"A tyrannosaurus riding a dragon…!"

The Irori and [Hit Maker]-dono pair.

"Shall we go?"

"Y-y-y-yes, ma'am…!"

The Ui-san and [Raindrop Koropokkuru]-dono pair.

And then,

"—Haru!"

"Well, let's both give it our all."

"Yeah."

My partner and my other partner bumped fists with me one after another. In other words, the riders were the three teams, excluding our three-man cell with me as the main member—

"I'm counting on you."

"──────"

There was no hesitation in the wings that took flight.

The one in control is the girl who is both my partner and close with Sapphire. Her dazzling golden hair scattering in the wind, Sora, piloting the dragon, glanced back at me one last time.

""…""

We exchanged a single smile.

The dragon soared into the sky, faster than anyone who had left before, and vanished.

—And so, only one team of three remains.

We who were left behind weren't taking it easy by any means.

"Natsume-senpai?"

"………………………………………………Okay. Reception is good, no problems."

We were simply waiting without interruption for her, the key to this Green Connect raid strategy, to finish her preparations. In other words, now that she's returned a smug look in place of a thumbs-up.

"Alright then, a little late to the party—let's blow past every single one of those front-runners!"

There is not a shred of apprehension in unleashing the legs we've been waiting for. Then, if you'll excuse us.

"Doesn't starting like this make us look infinitely less cool than everyone else…?"

"Touch me somewhere weird and I'll scratch you. Especially in that male form of yours."

"Yeah, yeah, complain all you want… alright, [Rocket]!!"

Course decided, straight up into the sky. The complaints coming from the flowers in my arms are just part of the charm.

Now then, let's triumphantly—challenge the endless wall (Colored Raid).

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It feels like it just started and then ended. I think I deserve praise for moving over a hundred people in three thousand characters.