kscans

Chapter 909 - The Azure Star Dancing in the Fiery Banquet, Part 6

In Arcadia, those who benefit from the Partner System are rare.

This is relative to the total player population, of course. If you were to group all the partnered players together, the number would be quite large. But still, it remains a rarity.

One reason is the irrevocability of the contract—there is no way to break it—which leads many to hesitate at the real-world-like 'confession.' But more than anything else…

It's because the 'Intimacy' hurdle required to receive the system's official seal of approval is astronomically high.

The shortest time previously recorded for two players who had just met to become eligible for a contract was approximately four months. Excluding pairs who were already connected in the real world and could form a contract the moment the system was unlocked by clearing the [Trial Spheres of Partition], it was four months.

Even that single case held a massive lead over the second-place record, which only served to amplify the special significance players attached to the 'Partner' status.

In other words, if, for example, a pair were to appear who were recognized by the system the very moment they broke through the trial spheres together, less than a month after meeting…

"I wonder… should I just stop thinking and call it amazing…?"

"They are the holders of a record that is, quite literally, in a league of its own, after all…"

Faced with a display of otherworldly telepathy, the prevailing emotion was one of understanding.

Ren mused, and Shoh answered. While serving as the guardian of his ever-smiling, cheerful sister, the two exchanged words, their gazes fixed on the current record holders.

They were like the 'stars' in the sky above, moving in concert with time, guided by reason.

Without the slightest hint of awkwardness, as if it were the most natural thing in the world—or rather, as if to ask what could possibly be strange about it—they moved with an almost frightening synchronicity.

Against a living, raging flame, two stars of the azure sky, embodying their name, danced.

Shoh and the others watched them with the same exasperated look, while the barrage from the [Twin Fists], who had seemingly cast aside all restraint, served as a lively BGM… or perhaps, like the high waves that play with the stars reflected on the water's surface. Receiving support from one who should rightfully be the main star—

""—————!""

Needing no words was a given.

They no longer even needed to meet each other's gaze.

Were they reading each other's thoughts? Were they sensing each other's breaths? Or perhaps, was it a certain telepathic connection of hearts, one that kicked aside all such logic?

A perfect synchronicity that was breathtaking to behold, a coordination so seamless it was utterly terrifying.

A spring breeze, flying about freely with an intensity that threatened to swallow even the roaring waves of fists that were delivered without a second thought, out of pure trust. And beside it, a golden gleam scattered the flames.

One, with a beaming smile.

The other, with demure grace.

Wearing expressions that were nothing alike, yet were so hopelessly well-suited for each other, the partners' hearts danced with the thrill of an all-out adventure… and watching them—

Only one thought came to mind.

"…They look like they're having fun."

"…And that's what matters."

"Fufu…"

With the cheerful smile of their sister as a conclusion, the three of the Law Faction ceased their idle chatter and simply watched.

Wondering just how many seconds were left until the inevitable conclusion.

◇◆◇◆◇

—One and a bit of a health bar left. We've been on high alert for any change in its attack pattern, but there's been no sign of one. We've been hammering away at this rampaging demon with our superior exceptional-player-tier brute force for several minutes now.

Gen-san, Sora, and me. That's effectively the onslaught of three rankers. It's no surprise that even a powerful boss that appears every ten floors can't withstand it.

Frankly, if it could, the game would be far too unwelcoming for general players. It would be a matter of 'game balance, where are you?' so this outcome is to be expected.

I have a feeling we've already deviated from the general balance, but that's just…

…the usual Arcadia thing. We probably just happened to pick the most difficult of the literally countless strategies that exist for each boss. Something like that.

Well, anyway.

"Take—"

"—this!"

An ill-mannered dropkick and a well-mannered, beautiful sword flash.

The sole of my [An=Vo Galta (God-Wedge Flashing Leg)] slammed into its nose, and the tip of a sword from One of a Thousand Swords (Nel Wiedersch) pierced its gut. Struck by both direct hits, the [Volkidun, Fire Demon] was sent flying for what felt like the dozenth time, its fiery body scattering—and naturally, something else scattered with it.

Its health bar vanished, leaving only the final one.

And so, what came next was the final, desperate struggle of a powerful boss, something that surely had to exist…

—or so one would think.

"Alright, let's seal this thing completely!"

"Yes!"

What came next was a furious checkmate, made possible by joining hands with my invincible partner.

"—————————!!!"

Our gazes met. The demon, slammed against the wall for the umpteenth time, let out a roar and erupted into a great pillar of crimson flame.

[Trance (Transformation)] and [Trance (Adornment)], activate.

""'Everless Diamond (The Eternal Bond of Hearts Connecting Heaven and Earth)!'""

Stacking the enhancement effect of [Perdia Eternity (The Earth-Sworn Star that Dreams of the Azure Sky)], activate.

And on top of that,

"[Erde Kreis (Ice Sword Ring)]!"

A storm of ice flowers bloomed from the void, gathering and weaving together, their destination: me.

Mana, charging.

[Hellgread Ignis (Crimson Red Hellfire Seed)] awakened form—Cradle Alter: Glacies (Sword-Principle Bestowal: Ice Sword).

""Ready, set—!!""

A pale blue ice-light glowed at the end of my swaying white hair; four white and four black tails swayed, combining to form the eight tails of a fox. Lined up together, the three of us—including my partner's tamed little fox—began to manipulate the magic swords.

Against the great pillar of fire scattering intense heat, we unleashed a raging blizzard of swords to invade it with extreme cold.

—In this world, the relationship between 'fire' and 'ice' is slightly different from the 'rock-paper-scissors' rule applied in many games.

A good example from our Eastern Faction would be Irori (Peerless) and Hina-san (Scorching Gaze).

It's not that 'fire,' which melts 'ice,' has the advantage… The basic principle in Arcadia is that they are polar opposites, each manipulating a conflicting 'heat.'

In other words, they are equals, each other's natural enemy.

When these two attributes clash, only one factor determines the victor—

—the amount of output, and nothing more.

The stalemate, where the inferno of countless sword-blossoms forming an even larger flower of ice and the fiery banquet gushing endlessly from the depths of the demon clashed and stole each other's heat, continued for over ten seconds.

And then, twenty seconds.

Thirty seconds.

A 'final desperate struggle'… in other words, a limit-breaking action performed by literally burning its life away. We met this head-on with our own righteous and unreasonable power for thirty seconds.

That was, most likely, its time limit.

The wavering stalemate was instantly shattered, and what stole everything from the enemy was—

◇You have defeated [Ifrit, Fire Demon].◇

◇Conquest of the 60th layer has been confirmed.◇
・A reward will be granted—You have obtained [Verdant Gem of Covenant].

◇Defeat of [Unknown Wedge: Volkidun, Fire Demon] has been confirmed.◇
・A reward will be granted—You have obtained [Fire Demon's Treasured Drop: Magic Gift].

—a limitless storm that silently swallowed the fading pillar of fire, along with its light.