The sound of destruction, passing through the barrier, began to interfere with matter, and the arena itself was in a precarious state. The jutting high towers collapsed, crashing into the spectator seats. The destruction triggered a chain reaction, causing more cracks to spread. This could also be said for Ange.
“~~!”
Ange’s hand, gripping my arm, fell away powerlessly. Could Ange’s ability to go through anything not cope with the sheer volume of the explosion? Or would the outcome have been different if it hadn’t been a surprise attack? In any case, Boga’s breath attack at point-blank range, imbued with a stunning effect, had left Ange’s body numb and rigid. If you take a direct hit like this, it’s tough regardless of your durability. Ange probably couldn’t hear properly right now. But I couldn’t stop attacking here. This was a rare, greatest chance. I shifted the scythe back to my shoulder with one hand.
This was the first time I’d used this in a real fight since battling Touya and the others. It was an application of magic and martial arts, barely mimicking what I could do by borrowing Sera’s “Martial Arts.” Though nowhere near my master’s level, I could now shape it with my own strength. I imbued my fist with the wind power of green magic, instantly stabilizing it. I unleashed it quickly before it could scatter.
“Kuh, ugh…!”
The uppercut I unleashed pierced Ange’s abdomen, and the multi-stage shock I had set up continued to deliver impacts repeatedly inside. Perhaps because I had condensed this magic, which normally covered a wide area, into a compact form, its power was also concentrated, resulting in significant pressure on her internal organs. With this one blow and the subsequent impact, Ange floated up into the air.
“Boga, no need to hold back! Go all out!”
Of course, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to let this chance end here. Ahead of where Ange was heading, Boga was waiting. More specifically, Boga was doing a mid-air flip, preparing to slam down his robust and resilient rocky tail.
“Guaa!”
A mountain of rock rapidly approached Ange, striking her with a dull thud from below. Yeah, it seemed like I felt the impact. Boga had become quite agile, hadn’t he? Was this also the result of Gerard’s training? He was good at teaching, so you never know. Well, Ange, who was falling at high speed, still hadn’t moved. If this continued, she’d crash directly onto the ground littered with the arena’s debris. Shall I go for the next move?
“Melfina, can you do it?”
“A foolish question. You and I are one. This is the perfect timing.”
Just as Ange was about to collide with the ground, Melfina and Baal had also moved their battle to the ground. Should I say Melfina guided them well, or Baal was on one knee, trying to regain his posture?
“Thorns of the Ice Empress.”
When Melfina struck the ground with the butt of the Sacred Spear Luminari, a countless number of ice thorns began to consume the arena, starting from that point. Is “consume” the right word? The collapsing building was temporarily repaired by the power of the thorns and the freezing effect.
“Wh-What…! How can a mere golem possess such power…!?”
“…”
It wasn’t just the arena that was swallowed. Baal, lying on the ground, and Ange, who had fallen, were also caught. The multiplying thorns of the Ice Empress entangled Baal’s blue leg and enveloped Ange’s entire body, rendering her motionless. These were infinitely multiplying thorns that caused damage on contact. Removing them was nearly impossible.
“Hm, come to think of it, Celsius, the name of the Ice Empress’s Thorns, is the same as our family name. Hmm, should I make it the design motif for our family crest? Thorns and stuff—”
“Yes! We absolutely should! Please!”
“Oh, okay…”
I said it casually, but Melfina pushed me intensely. Do I need to seriously consider this… I’ll have to ask everyone else’s opinion later.
“I want to be with you then. Don’t die, Ange.”
This time, I summoned Mudoph. With this, I, Boga, and Mudoph formed a triangle in the air above Ange and Baal, maintaining our positioning.
“Mudoph, after this, it’s Efil’s special treat festival. Do your best, every last bit. Boga, you can have unlimited refills for your next meal too.”
“Gwon!? Gwo, gwo!”
“Goagoa!”
Their fighting spirit was high. Efil’s home cooking was the quickest way to get them to use their powers to their full potential. You gluttons.
“Your Highness, what about me!? Unlimited refills—!?”
Quick, indeed. But this gluttonous goddess… Your food expenses are making our household’s Engel coefficient terrible. But well, if it gets you motivated, I’ll allow it for the next meal!
“Whatever it is, concentrate on maintaining the thorns! Telepathy doesn’t mean time has stopped!”
“Fufufu, it seems the time has come to show my true power.”
Ah, it feels like a devil’s contract for a promise with a goddess…! But with this, Ange and the others’ restraint is ironclad. Once Melfina retreated out of range—I unleashed it!
The ultimate slash emanating from the Great Wind Demon God Scythe, Mudoph’s multicolored breath, and Boga’s high-volume breath rained down. Now, what will you do?
“Wh-… Don’t mess with us—!”
Baal moved. A mechanical whirring sound emanated from her blue leg, and pale blue lines glowed from her armor. To my surprise, the thorns that had captured Baal’s legs then shattered with a “bakin” sound.
“Blue Wind Devouring Slash!”
Baal’s blue slashes were unleashed twice from her blue leg towards the sky. Each drew a crescent moon, and they combined into an ‘X’ shape, further increasing their momentum. It didn’t take long before they collided with our combined attack. The blow from the Great Wind Demon God Scythe tore through Baal’s attack, succeeding in breaking through. However, the breath attack from the dragon immediately weakened upon collision with the vanishing blue slash, and they crossed each other, disappearing.
“Tch! It’s incompatible with that. Assassin, how long are you going to sleep? That slash is coming down.”
“…”
“Ah, honestly! Grit your teeth a little. Dilute the ice thorns and status ailments—”
“—Not needed.”
As a single word, barely a whisper, left Ange’s lips, she slowly sat up from within the Ice Empress’s Thorns. The power of penetration. It seemed Boga’s stun effect had worn off. However, judging by her appearance, she had taken considerable damage—
“—Ahaha.”
“…!?”
Ange, with a pleasant smile, was suddenly close by. Impossible, Ange had only just gotten up. The speed at which she kicked off the sky was incomparable to before. Could it be that she was holding back until now? Even as Boga and I launched our counterattacks, she paid us no mind with her phasing ability and monstrous evasion speed. She was injured, wasn’t she, Ange!? I’m starting to like her even more!
Ange didn’t seem interested in the dragons and came straight towards me. Perhaps carried away by her momentum, she passed right by me.
“Tsk…!”
Even so, she definitely landed an attack. My left arm was sliced open by the Dagger Knife, and it burned. What was inside that exterior? I received one kunai coated with poison to my abdomen. I mentally complimented her for throwing so many at once. I couldn’t dodge them even with the Wind God’s Foot enhancement.
“Well, Kelvin. Shall we end this now?!”
After passing me, Ange instantly changed direction with Heavenly Walk. With godspeed, she returned to me once more.
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