kscans

Chapter 906 - The Azure Star Dancing in the Fiery Banquet, Part 3

A tremor ran through the ground beneath my feet.

"Alright then, let's leave the estimated DPS check to my partner."

A shudder traveled up my skin.

"If this is how things are starting, I'm getting a strong vibe this is going to be one of those bosses that's a pain from start to finish… So for the opening of Take Two, are we all good with focusing on a blitz attack?"

[Eintzi Hedate (Earth-Roaring Hundred Towers)]—a technique for annihilating large swarms of enemies or pulverizing giant foes with a wild dance of one hundred greatswords of sand. With it, the angel painted a picture of hell.

And in response, the coming impact was deflected by a "mirror," and the falling rain of fire was swept away by a "sword."

Like a heartbeat, a massive shockwave of flames erupted again and again… a sign that the required damage threshold had been met. I watched the [Ifrit, Fire Demon] continue to unleash these blasts like a racing pulse, and I watched the demonic sword towers pummel the motionless monster into oblivion.

"……………………Y-yes. Whatever you say…"

"We'll leave it to you… is all we can say…"

The brothers' reactions had finally reached a state of resignation.

And why wouldn't they? On this matter, it was Sayaka-san, with her perpetual smile, who was a little off. Anyone who had the sheer absurdity of my partner's power properly drilled into their brain would react like this, to a greater or lesser extent.

From here on out, it was just a matter of adapting. For renowned rankers like you two, that should be easy.

"Okay, then we'll stick with the plan we discussed at the start. Gen-san, no matter what that behemoth turns into, just keep hammering it into the dust for us."

Though they were trembling, there was no need to give them orders. My senpais were already perfectly and reliably carrying out their duties. I should leave them to it.

Because, you see…

"Hh… [Ende (Final Act)]!"

It seems it all ended, smoothly and at lightning speed.

"Hammer it… you sure?"

At that, even Gen-san's characteristically terse words transformed into a language of swift communication. It was simply up to the listener to correctly interpret his meaning.

In essence, he was asking, 'If I just keep indiscriminately hammering it with fire support from the rear, won't I get in the way of you vanguards?' To which I replied—

"Not a problem. I'll read your support, and Sora will read me."

I returned his question with a cheeky grin, and he offered a clumsy smile of his own. "I see." I'm sure the brothers were tilting their heads, wondering what on earth we were talking about, but…

"No problem, right?"

When I called out for her opinion, my partner, who had turned to look back, blinked her large, amber eyes a few times before silently facing forward again… As for the crucial answer, the bashful expression that had graced her cheek just before she turned away, as if to say 'I have no idea,' said it all.

Our telepathic link was alive and well. Which meant we could pull off any impromptu coordination.

—And so, just as we finished.

Beyond the hundred towers that had dissolved into the void at their master's command, what appeared before our eyes was the [Ifrit, Fire Demon], which had endured the full brunt of the sandy onslaught.

It was the same sight we'd witnessed upon entering its domain. The small pilot light flickering in the center of the hall… but now, it danced with a slightly different, almost joyful air.

As if inviting us, all over again.

"Gen-san."

Then there was nothing for it. In response to the offered hand—

"Leave it to me."

—I returned only a tightly clenched fist.

And thus, the full force of a blow that made space itself creak and groan was unleashed.

"——————————Hee hee…!"

The resulting form stood just over two meters tall.

Having shrunk down considerably, the [Ifrit, Fire Demon]—now renamed [Volkidun, Fire Demon]—showed us a rather smug face… as it crushed the attack with a single outstretched hand.

"Bring it on, you bastard."

My unconscious mutter, paired with a smile, was the signal that truly began the battle.

However, the first and second to charge were not me, but…

"Nngh…!"

Right, then left. The twin fists he unleashed were like a testament to the power of his title, their sheer force becoming visible as they shattered even the screams of the sundered space and soared through the air.

And so, the target of those roaring fists, their destination, was right before Volkidun, who still stood with an unsettling, faint smile, brimming with confidence—…

"—————Seriously? You idiot."

The observer who sneered back was me, having taken a single step to float above the demon's head. And as I overtook the second of the [Twin Fists]'s blows, while still in my run-up right in front of the enemy, I continued,

"Don't you dare underestimate my senpai from the Eastern Faction."

What came surging next was a myriad of roaring cannons, a continuation of the previous blow. Why the surprised look? Those are his normal attacks. Of course he can fire off a wild, chaotic barrage of them as much as he wants.

"Hee, hee…————"

In that instant, it scattered flames and took flight.

Its flippant and creepy smirk never faded. However, the torrent of fist-cannons that surpassed ten, then twenty, and aimed for a hundred was apparently too much to block even with both hands.

"[Water Enchant]."

"————,"

And then, on the other side. The two of us, having made a friendly race to the wall of the great hall, were separated. One was slammed against the wall with a deafening roar, while the other stood before him, making his other fist shine.

Left arm equipped: [An=Ru Galta (Hypothesis: The Wedge-Armor that Sings of the Royal Road)]—and now, let's go full bullet loading!

"D'raaaaaaaaaah!!"

[Volcanate]—a three-hundred-shot barrage focused into my left arm, plus [Water Enchant], plus all the thrust from my skills and techniques combined. An immediate follow-up the moment it was pinned to the wall; there was no way it could dodge.

My left fist slammed into its face, distorting its inexplicably smug grin, and then—

"Shot."

—a follow-up with my right arm. The point of my [Alv Stella, True White Star Sword] pierced its solar plexus.

And with that, I disengaged with a [Rocket].

"[Schwert Kreis (Sword Circle)]—"

The scales tipped once more.

"—[Sturm Riesig (God-Piercing Single Tower)]!"

The True White Star Sword had pierced the chest of Volkidun, the Fire Demon. In other words, it served as the head of a nail, which was then…

…driven home by a colossal sword-tower, easily exceeding thirty meters in length, that flew in accompanied by a shriek like the world's own scream. Such an outlandish mass ground all mercy and compassion into dust as it struck.

---

A morning greeting. Rest assured, the opponent will get a turn. Probably.