The Grellverelka Empire
The Giant Race is a race of giant demi-human monsters. Even though they are giant, there are differences between individuals. Generally, even the smallest ones exceed two meters in height. Their massive bodies are a threat in themselves, and this is also true for adventurers. Many are designated as B-class monsters, individuals who simply boast about their strength are no match for them, no matter how many they team up with.
From this point on, the information will not be publicly disclosed. The Military Nation of Trisen has confirmed that the highest-ranking individuals within the Giant Race possess a unique skill. This ability is called “Form Release,” and it causes all previously sustained external injuries to fully recover, temporarily elevating their existence to a higher level. This power, which can be interpreted as a pseudo-evolution, cannot be used again for several days after a single use and places a significant burden on the body.
(–However, during Form Release, physical abilities improve significantly. Furthermore, new powers may be granted. …Was that it? Perhaps that doctor, despite being a demon, also has giant blood in him? Oh well. Either way, it’s known from investigating the King of Giants that there’s a slight opening during the transition to Form Release. To miss this opening would be foolish.)
As Shutra lightly tugged on a thread from her pinky finger, the guards on either side of her simultaneously readied their Gatling Guns.
“The target is the old man’s three eyes. Commence concentrated fire!”
Shutra had not missed that Vegalzelld, who had charged in, had defended his face with his arm during the first volley of shots. Shutra, unaware of any convention that one should not attack during transformation, mercilessly fired Gatling guns, targeting Vegalzelld’s eyeballs. The immobilized Vegalzelld made no move to block the path of the magical barrage and instead bore the brunt of the attack.
– Gagagagagagaga!
No matter how much Vegalzelld boasted of his steel-like skin, the eyes of a living creature are like exposed brains and are uniformly fragile. The remaining 19 guards accurately shot their targets, inflicting clear damage.
“Shall we take away his mobility while we’re at it?”
Colette seized the opportunity as well. The Mystic Cougar, which had been running swiftly, bit through the demon’s leg tendons as it passed and then tried to put distance between them again.
“–That’s good, that strength. That ruthlessness. Truly like a demon. You’ll become good friends with the young lady!”
For a moment, the light emanating from Vegalzelld subsided. Visually, there was no particular change. Perhaps his hands were faintly glowing. Perhaps it was because Shutra had timed her attack after his transformation, but the damage to his three eyes and leg tendons did not seem to have healed.
“But you know, I’m a doctor, after all? Now that I’ve undergone Form Release, I can do things like this.”
Vegalzelld, breaking through the several layers of restraints by force, placed his right arm near his eyes and his left arm near his feet. As a soft white light, as if enveloping, leaked from his palms, the next moment the wounds that should have been fatal had been completely healed. His three eyes, glowing once again, shone eerily as if they had never been destroyed.
Next, Vegalzelld touched Shutra’s restraining threads. A light, different from before, melted the threads one by one, freeing him from his bonds. It was similar to the White Magic wielded by Melfina. Shutra did not rashly charge forward, instead holding back to fire a warning shot, analyzing the phenomenon unfolding before her.
“I can’t use magic, you know. In this state, I can imitate White Magic. I use it when I encounter critically injured patients that my medical skills alone can’t handle. It can even release magic-based restraints. If you know Lady Sera well, explaining it as a cursed fist user turned inside out would be easier to understand, right?”
“Well, yes.”
Possessing impenetrable defense and capable of immediately healing damage to vital points, Shutra knew of a dragon within her circle of allies who used similar rough techniques, and therefore understood its troublesome nature perfectly. In this situation, a prolonged battle where damage accumulates would be disadvantageous. The only options were to end it with a single blow that disperses the consciousness or to create a situation where healing is impossible.
“Also, you there, priest. Your plan to target me after my transformation at the same time as Shutra was good, but getting too close was a mistake. Your leg, I got it.”
“–!”
As Vegalzelld opened his large hand, there was a fragment of stone, the leg of the Ancient Cougar. At the same time that the Ancient Cougar bit through its leg tendons, Vegalzelld had also crushed its leg.
“Your reaction is slow! I’m returning it!”
A blazing fast pitch thrown with an overhand motion. Combined with his massive physique and long arms, the fragment of stone, thrown from an impossibly high altitude, shot straight towards Colette.
“Kuh!”
Unavoidable. Colette, with this deadly projectile before her, exerted her full summoning power. She summoned the Angel Statue, Engestatu, summoning it before her as if to use it as a shield. Colette had carefully prepared a barrier for Engestatu beforehand, always keeping in mind to summon it when in a desperate situation. Perhaps due to her daily practice, it was an act of self-defense close to unconsciousness.
Of the three barriers surrounding Engestatu, the first, which took the direct hit of the projectile, was completely destroyed. The second was penetrated, and it was only with the third barrier that it finally stopped, though cracks had formed. Despite the suddenness of the event, Colette felt an immense cold sweat on her back during this time.
“Oh, you did well!”
The voice was heard nearby. Vegalzelld appeared before Engestatu. The giant demon swung a horizontal chop and blew off the statue angel’s head along with the remaining barrier. One of the unlucky guards was struck in the abdomen by the flying head and its torso was pulverized.
“But, you’re finished now.”
Without missing a beat, the two arms opposite to the one that had delivered the chop lunged towards Colette.
“Shutra-chan!”
“Yeah, I know!”
Shutra would not stand idly by and watch this. The remaining 18 guards charged at Vegalzelld with full force, firing Gatling guns and thrusting with lances. Furthermore, they expelled threads from the gaps in their knightly armor. These threads, forming a tsunami, aimed to neutralize their target.
“That’s why it’s useless!”
The light residing in his swinging fist extinguished the tsunami of threads. It was clear that no restraining effect could be expected, and the guards’ attacks only served to buy a minuscule amount of time. However, it was enough time.
“Go!”
Colette leaped from the Mystic Cougar, and the stone lion bravely pounced on Vegalzelld. Partly hidden by the surrounding guards, the king’s fangs, clad in the strongest spear, deeply pierced Vegalzelld’s head.
“……Haha!”
With its fangs still in his head, the Mystic Cougar, grasped by a giant hand, was crushed. It wasn’t enough to stop Vegalzelld yet. He, completely exhilarated, did not notice that the red moonlight had been obscured by shadow.
“Huh?”
“A finishing touch, excuse me!”
With the moonlight at his back, Shutra, riding Georgius, took flight. He (or rather, it?), too large to be called a bear, unleashed a double sledgehammer, slamming its clasped hands onto Vegalzelld’s head. Strictly speaking, it was an attack in the form of clasped hands as it only had claws, but its arms, like the lion’s fangs, were imbued with the power of the Sacred Temple Divine Realm.
(Ugh, even twice… No, the finishing touch is yet to come…!)
Mustering her last bit of magic power, Colette performed a summoning. The target was above Vegalzelld, in a position to attack simultaneously with Georgius.
“I’m counting on you, Commander Cliff…”
“Leave it to me!”
Emerging from the magic circle was Cliff Strogaff, clad in the armor of a Holy Knight. The sword strike of the commander of the Holy Knights, a pride of Delamis, and the strike of Shutra’s ultimate firepower, Georgius, overlapped and were driven into the top of Vegalzelld’s head, where the fangs were already embedded.
“……Nngh!”
“It worked, it worked… If my level were even a little higher, I might have lost.”
The wounds healed as if being rewound. Furthermore, Cliff and Georgius, who were falling, were caught by Vegalzelld’s arms.
“An oversight…!”
“Phew, I didn’t expect him to be this durable…”
“Yeah, I’m surprised myself. Well, with this, all your plans are exhausted, right? For now, just go to sleep obediently.”
“……Hmm, maybe not all is lost, perhaps? If I do this, it’s like admitting defeat…”
“Huh?”
Shutra took a deep breath.
“–Mel (Sister), help me—!”
Vegalzelld’s eyes widened at the unexpected cry. Before he knew it, Melfina, who had been eating her lunchbox on a seat, stood right there holding a spear.
“Yes, yes, you did well against an opponent of Demon King-class and above. I’ll give you a gold star.”
“What was that, is it your sister’s turn now? Ugo—!?”
The butt of the Sacred Spear, delivered to the top of his head at a speed the Four Heavenly Kings of Demon couldn’t react to, struck Vegalzelld. Vegalzelld, who was knocked to the ground as if it were a joke, had the light vanish from his hands and eyes, and instead, he was rolling his eyes.
