The Time is Ripe
It's been a few hours since our fight with Black Dragon started.
We've been replenishing our mana, and stamina with potions and meals but our accumulated fatigue is nearing its limit.
"Hikaru, I'm running out of potions on hand...!"
"Lend your item bag for a sec! I'll stuff it directly with Item Screen."
"Ah, geez, how long do we hafta keep this on! I'm about to drop dead from exhaustion!"
『Cluck! Cluuck!』
That makes the two of us. I'm tired, starved, fed up with this never ending fight too. Don't you give me, 'Me too, me too!', Hiyoko.
We've been managing to keep the status quo thanks to Menu but that doesn't really stave off the sense of helplessness.
"Just a bit more, a little bit more!"
"How long is this 'bit more' anyway!? You've been saying that for several hours now--"
"Hold it! Look at Black Dragon!"
"Eh, what about... it...!?"
I pacified the half-snapped Reina and pointed at Black Dragon.
Looking up, you could an immeasurable amount of mana converging above us, inside Black Dragon's mouth.
<<That is the start-up move of 'Charging Dragon Breath'. Nine seconds until discharge.>>
<<It is recommended to hinder and divert the breath's trajectory. If the breath remains at its current course, there will be an enormous amount of casualty on a continental scale.>>
"Oh crap! Stop it! We gotta stop that or this continent's a toast!"
"Eh!?"
"Blast it aaaaall!!"
"Kajikawa-san!?"
I raised my Attributes to maximum with Energy Control buff and lunged at Black Dragon!
The me now is able to raise my Status by 15 times for about 10 seconds if I use up all of my energy!
Oh crap, my Stamina is gonna get used up in four more seconds! Convert from mana, wait this one's less than half full too!
I don't have enough to buff myself and stop Black Dragon, what do!?
Use potions to restore energy, no, the breath won't wait that long! I won't make it!
『GWOOOOOOOOOOOOO...!!』
Five second left. I concentrate all my energy into my right arm, no, Dragon Scale is gonna stop it.
There's no point if I don't have any means to attack after breaking through Dragon Scale.
I lack that kinda of firepower right n...!
...!!!
~~~~~~~~Baredorai's POV~~~~~~~~~~
"Baredo, fall back...! Run...!"
"Shut it! Just keep quiet and drink your potion!"
『Gyujurururururu...』
I'm facing off against a swarm of giant locust magic beast created by demon's Forbidden Magic.
There's actually only one beast, but that thing seems to be a Unique Monster with a Unique Skill that can create dozens of its clones.
Dunno if that consumes lots of fuel or the beast is inherently ravenous, the swarm is eating everything up, from grass to magic beast dead bodies.
This thing can probably devour an average magic beast forest clean in a matter of days.
They don't seem to be picky and will attack and eat anything that moves.
『Gyajaaaaaa!!』
"Blast it aaaaall!!"
I pointed the spear I got from Kajikawa (monster) at the locust swarm.
High powered light balls shot out of the spear but the locusts' exterior repelled the attack.
These fakers are as durable as the real thing...!
『Gaja』『Gija!』『Gishaa!!』
"Gugigigi...!!"
Around ten locusts rushed at me in response.
Each and every single one is monstrously strong...! Even my lowest estimate would put them among lesser S-rank beasts.
I'd want nothing more but to run, but I can't do it.
Behind me is Rasfi who got seriously injured by the locust ambush.
Trying to move her carelessly might prove fatal. We gotta wait till the potion kicks in and heals her.
Can't expect backup. Can't run either. My only choice is to exterminate 'em all!
"Stop it! Forget about me and get away! If you keep this on, you will..."
"I told ya to shut it! Just get some rest there! You ain't moving anywhere with those wounds!"
"I don't want to! How could I take it easy while you're dying in front of me!"
"You dumbarse!! I'mma take my own life if my partner ended up dying cuz I made her do the unreasonable!"
"Why would you go so far...!"
『Gibyaja!』
"!?"
The locusts went for Rasfi while we were having a squabble.
"The hell yer' tryina' pull you bastaaaards!!!"
『Vajaa!?』
I activated another internal mechanism of the spear as I shouted out loud.
In that moment, the spear pierced through the attacking locusts with the sound coming later.
"Ga, a...!!"
My muscles screamed with pain from the recoil. The bones in my whole body creaked. Blood spurted out of my nose.
This mechanism expels a powerful burst of mana from the end tip of the spear to enable high speed movement beyond Ground Shrink by propelling its user.
A hit is powerful enough to break through these locusts' defense, but I didn't expect this level of load...!
Can't use this mechanism to propel thrown spear likely due to center of gravity issues, so you gotta get flung alongside the spear.
That probably ain't no sweat for that monster of a man, but this stuff is beyond me.
"Baredo, quit pushing yourself...! You're, at your limit too...!"
"Ha, this ain't nuthin'...!"
Yeah, this is nothing.
...This pain can't compare to the pain I felt from my blunder of letting Rasfin get hurt.
『Gichiii...!!』
"What now, ya gonna throw a temper tantrum like a kid?"
『Gijiiiiiiii!!』
"Baredo, I'm begging you----"
My angry shout drowned out Rasfin.
"Ya got nothing on my rage you damned inseeeects!! I'mma make you regret for hurting the woman I fell for!!!"
"!?"
...Ah, what a cliched line.
Rasfin's not gonna let me hear the end of it later.
If there's later, that is.
『Gyabyashaaaaaaaaa!!!』
The swarm of locusts jumped at me altogether.
They flew up high and swooped down while flapping their wings noisily.
I can't get a good aim with them splitting up. That earlier trick ain't gonna work no more.
Fine then, I'll take ten, twenty of you down with me!
Go ahead and tear off my limbs, I ain't letting any of ya touch Rasfi!!
"No! Don't die! Don't die, Bare-------"
Sound disappeared altogether before Rasfi could finish shouting.
My eyes were focusing on the incoming locusts but my vision has now turned white, nothing else is visible.
Ah, did, I get killed off...?
That thought lasted for an instant, interrupted by a loud explosive sound.
『Gaju...』
The locusts burned down, no got evaporated one after another.
Every single locusts in the sky disappeared without a trace.
All of them got swallowed in that torrent of light.
....Huh?
What's, going on?
"U, oooooo!!?"
My thought froze for several seconds before coming back to my sense and crouching down.
The light might swallow us whole if we stood up.
We kept the posture for around a minute, by the time we stood back up all the locusts were gone.
Not a single cloud in the sky. Coulda sworn I saw lots just now.
Is this also due to that mysterious light?
"Baredo..."
"...We're alive, aren't we."
"...Seems, like it."
Our brains got no capacity left to rejoice for our survival. All we could manage was standing still in shock.
What was that all about...?
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
~~~~~~~~Alma's POV~~~~~~~~
『Gagyaaaa...!!?』
Blood gushed out of Black Dragon's mouth, where the broken fang is.
The dragon made a confused sound, I'm not sure if it's from pain or astonishment.
"D-did, he, make it? What, happened?"
"I, I'm alive... We'd all be done for if that breath was shot here...!"
『Cluuck.』
"Umu, I am glad you're all safe and sound. I too found myself in a life or death crisis before I even realized what was going on."
As it looks like, the Black Dragon's breath was shot into the far horizon instead.
Reina and Hiyoko voiced out their relief too.
"That must have been a powered up breath. The sheer firepower contained within was unthinkable."
"How're even supposed to block that. We'd turn straight into vapor if that hit us."
『Cluuck.』
"Did Hikaru stop it?"
"Umu, that's my customer for you. Pulling that off during that brief juncture was simply superb, fuhaha!"
"But he couldn't even make a dent earlier, just how...?"
"The answer to that question is naturally thanks to my magnum opus. Did you perhaps miss that moment?"
Hold up.
Hold, it right there.
A familiar man has been joining our conversation like it's the most natural thing.
"...Why are you even here, Julian-san."
"Umu, I had finally managed to finish the final weapon. Just when I was thinking of delivering it to my customer, I found myself standing here. This world sure is full of mysteries fuhahahaha!"
Julian is acting the same as ever.
When did he...? Why, or rather, how...?
Did Hikaru call Julian here with Fast Travel?
"It is clear that was quite a close call and I am happy we managed to overcome it. His new partner has more than proved its worth."
"New, partner?"
"Umu! That is precisely my ultimate magnum opus, humanity's strongest men final weapon, 'Dragon Buster (Temp)'!!"
Julian pointed at Hikaru holding a hammer with a far smaller head than the one he had before.
The jet black hammer head is rectangular shape like a box, adorned with curious or rather sinister looking objects.
The grip is lustrous emerald colored, probably made of orichalcum. That should be quite hard to break.
Hikaru responded to the excited Julian with a wry smile.
"...That name's kinda lame though. And 'Temp', really?"
"It has yet to bust a dragon! You go and bust that dragon and it shall be thereafter truly called 'Dragon Buster'!"
"Well, this thing can easily do that yeah. I mean, I just hit him on the spur of the moment with and that alone dealt some major damage."
It's true. The dragon that was nigh impervious to all our attack is bleeding from its face.
If that was a spur-of-moment hit, then he should be able to draw out more power with proper use.
...I kinda wanna see it, and kinda don't...
"Fuhahaha! Swing it as freely as you will! I bid you good sleep now! I'm so sleepy I could di-zzzzzz."
"Uwaah, this man just up and went to la-la land!"
"...He must be really overworked."
...I bet Julian has been working on that hammer up until this point. He lied down on the ground and fell asleep.
I kept thinking 'So slow or is not done yet' while we were fighting Black Dragon. But Julian really was working on it all that time.
"Umumu, munyamunya..."
"Girls, time for a new round! Don't let Julian's sacrifice go in vain!"
"No uh, he's not dead you know!?"
"Ufuhahaha... Grandmother is doing laundry at the opposite bank... Ah, peach, the peach...!"
"You probably don't wanna cross that river. Like, you absolutely don't!"
...What kind of dream is he watching.
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