kscans

Chapter 828 - Because You Think of Me, I Am. Because I Wish It, the World Endures. Part Three.

"And that's fourth rank and unranked…?"

"S-Scary…"

"I'm more scared of the fact that I'm starting to get used to this…"

Ten seconds had passed since the [Acrobat], who had collapsed with a look of utter exhaustion, rebooted as if it were the most natural thing in the world and began a boisterous rampage with indescribable movements.

Watching him, then looking at the opposite side, a dinosaur let out a genuine, uncharacteristically serious voice. One girl trembled in fear, struck by the sheer violence unleashed by an ally who was far beyond her comprehension. And one girl in blue let out a small sigh.

Though they held official ranks, they were, first and foremost, players enjoying a game.

As people in the spotlight, they had a minimum sense of awareness and responsibility, but the artisans from the West, who had few opportunities to stand on the main stage, were fundamentally more like ordinary people.

It wasn't their fault for being bewildered on the battlefield or for being dazed in the heat of battle. That was normal, and if there was anyone qualified to give them a push from behind, it would be…

"Alright, you lot, let's get serious too."

"Don't just stand there spacing out. Fire yourselves up."

…only the very few oddballs who, even on the same stage, maintained a presence and composure befitting the name 'highest rank,' comparable to those of the other three factions.

One flame and one blaze were lit. Without even flinching at the impact of their own hands clapping together violently just moments before, the 'Flame-Player' and the [Crimson Arm] redeployed their formulas without hesitation.

"…Just as I thought."

"Yep. That is that."

As they re-engaged their respective targets, they glanced at the monstrous black mass that was steadily approaching and nodded to each other—the obstacles were gone.

Incomprehensible. Unfathomable. But there was no issue with the outcome. Now was not the time to ponder how or why this had happened.

It was obvious that the [Acrobat]'s manic energy was just a bluff to hide his exhaustion. The [Thread-Weaver] had likely accumulated more mental fatigue than anyone else in this raid, and even the abnormal 'unranked' player's power was by no means infinite.

"Balast, Shizuku-chan, I need your assistance. The unknown factor has jumped out into the open on its own. Let's start building the bypass at once—Kagura."

"I know. Leave paving the uncharted territory to me."

They couldn't afford to stop either; the only difference was whether it was their bodies or their formulas that were running. When it came to doing what needed to be done on this stage, there was no distinction between warriors and artisans.

"Aye, aye, sir!"

"I-I'll do my humble best…!"

Rain and rainbows then lined up alongside the clashing fires, and following them was…

"Nia, I'm leaving your specialty to you."

"You got it…!"

…the tranquil brilliance of a starry planetarium, seeing through memories and perceiving the unknown.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—So this thing really is that kind of enemy, isn't it?!"

I was desperately sprinting through time that had been stretched thin, but a limit is a limit, which means what lies beyond the limit is just a critical, ultra-limited limit.

I was walking a tightrope second by second, where it wouldn't be strange for the line controlling my avatar to snap at any moment. In complete contrast to me, whose focus was rapidly deteriorating, I screamed a genuine cry at the monster that was likely growing in size in sync with Sora's annihilation of the bosses.

Despite the thousand swords that were more than just 'support,' this thing was a true monster, not even flinching no matter how many times I slashed, beat, or shot it.

It was better when it occasionally dispersed 'fragments' like before, as that at least felt like something I could fight back against since I could deal with them. But the main body… honestly, I was at a loss.

Nothing I did felt like it was working.

It didn't so much as flinch… rather, it seemed merely annoyed. It might have been a different story if I could land a major technique, but unfortunately, I had no such energy left.

I was using my deepest, darkest ace to force out some output and stay in the fight, but with my skills, stamina, and willpower all empty, I was facing a critical resource shortage.

My exhausted senior was in the same boat, leaving only Sora to rely on. But she had her own problems. Her proxy, Ruby, could only control the basic form of the magic swords—meaning big moves like the giant swords from Optimize Alert were limited to Sora's direct control.

So could I ask her to 'switch'? Not a chance. The Sora over there was at her limit, too.

Well, of course she was. No matter how strong, invincible, and cute my partner was, she wasn't some perfect, infinite, lawless being. Just holding off a limitless horde of boss enemies by herself was a miracle.

So, really, truly… all I could wish for was one thing.

"ARE THE REINFORCEMENTS HERE YET?!!?!?"

"SERIOUSLY, WHERE ARE THEY?!!!!!!"

My heart in sync with the little cat, our prayers were not to a god, but to our seniors.

Two devoted juniors were fighting their hearts out, wearing their bodies and minds to a frazzle. Someone, anyone, please hurry up and get here— …Ah, there it is.

See? I told you. This is the limit.

"—, Haru?!"

Clunk. The strength drained from my avatar.

It happened in the instant I was stepping forward. The sudden stop saved me from wiping out due to my own speed, but it left me completely unable to evade any incoming threats.

As if on cue, a released 'fragment' took the form of a giant, eight-legged lion and made a beeline for its stationary prey. The little fox, cleverly sensing my predicament, put up a curtain of magic sword fire, but the separated bodies were numerous, and there were only so many resources to spare for holding them back.

Three seconds until the black lion's fangs, having broken through the interference, would crush not just my throat but my entire body. Of course, the 'thread' was pulling me, but a puppet being dragged along helplessly couldn't escape a boss-level monster in this virtual world.

…Well then. Yeah. Fine.

"Hah."

Can't be helped. This is it for me.

BUT I'M NOT GOING DOWN FOR FREE!

Recall—every last [Ruby Bullet] I had.

After extravagantly firing them all at the start, my MP had been drained by [Lightning Gale] and [Eyes Oculus], so I hadn't had time to replicate them. Only a mere four appeared.

But that was more than enough to take a stray cat down with me in the ensuing explosion. …And of course, I still had the grit to pull the trigger just once more!

"Come on, kitty. My senpai is a hundred times scarier than you…!!!"

I entrusted my back to the pulling 'thread.'

Leaving mid-battle is truly regrettable. It's easy to imagine she's just as exhausted as I am, and I'm not without guilt for pushing the rest onto my senior, but… well, you know.

Really, it can't be helped. I fought my absolute hardest.

Alright then, that's that.

"—!!"

Sorry, Sora. The rest is up to you.

…………Or so I thought.

I'd steeled my resolve, my finger on the trigger.

"…………Honestly, every single one of them…"

It's almost cliché how they pull off these artistically late hero moves.

—Faster than a blink, a biting cold rushed past me. What filled my vision next was a blindingly white wall of ice… and,

I wonder if even he was焦った in the face of this zero-leeway battlefield.

Including the countless magic swords flying about, the wave of white frost that magnificently stole the freedom of not only the lion closing in on me but all the other 'fragments' as well, was worthy of a shiver in two senses of the word.

And then,

"—Kesshiki Itto, the Fifteenth Strike."

The voice that next struck my ears completely robbed me of all tension.

"《Ryōran (Diamond Storm)》"

An unparalleled blade, flashing and surging, had arrived on the battlefield.