Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 507

**Side: Reinhardt**

As I confirmed with a sideways glance that Yamato had defeated Ouroboros, Mako had defeated Phoenix, and Rex, Rosemary, and Muse, along with Saya, had vanquished Sleipnir, I found myself facing the M-W rank Monster, Flood Crane, with the support of Wing Crest.

The Flood Crane, a Catastrophe Species of Aqua Rock, possessed two pairs of wings totaling four, including wings formed from excess magic power. Its flight speed rivaled or surpassed that of the wind-attribute subspecies monster Rudra Foul, and its water-attribute magic accuracy was also high.

Furthermore, Catastrophe Species were considered two ranks higher, and being a W rank meant another rank equivalent. This placed the Flood Crane at an O-U rank or O-R rank equivalent monster.

Though I had reached level 77 after training with Asuka and Maoh, I wasn’t so conceited as to believe I could defeat an O-rank equivalent monster alone.

With Elis or Maruca, it might have been a different story, and with Ciel’s support, it would have been even easier. But since I had left all three of them on Float this time, wishing for them would be futile.

All three of them had also leveled up significantly. Maruca, who had recently given birth to Regina, was already level 68. Ciel had evolved into a level 43 High Rabity, and Elis had even evolved into a level 63 Ancient Elf.

While I was grateful for their progress, there was no doubt that their levels had risen rapidly. I believed it was necessary to increase hunting frequency and stay accustomed to the feel of battle around summer, when Maruca’s condition would likely have recovered.

For now, in place of those three, Mina, Lydia, Ludia, and Athena from Wing Crest were covering me. Those who had defeated Demise Species were also on their way, so even if I couldn’t defeat it, if I could hold it off for a while, everything else would fall into place.

However, my pride as a Hunter would not allow it.

While I had no intention of challenging a Demise Species personally, I was facing a Catastrophe Species, and I had the support of Wing Crest. Even if the monster was O-rank equivalent, I wanted to defeat this M-W rank Monster.

Multiple monsters had evolved into Demise Species due to the Celestial Emperor’s magic. However, oracles had predicted that other monsters also had the potential to evolve, and their habitats were unknown.

Consequently, the Federation Heavenly Empire had implemented a strict state of alert, and Float, where Amagi Castle was located, was no exception.

Although the oracle only mentioned Demise Species, it was natural to assume that An and Catastrophe Species were also increasing. Therefore, the dispatch of Ancient Classes would likely increase.

As the Celestial Emperor, I would not be the one dispatched. But precisely because of that, I believed that any monsters that threatened Float should be defeated by me.

I had been told to run if I could fight, but for an Ancient Class Celestial Emperor to flee from monsters could lead to the division of the Imperial Heavenly Empire. More importantly, I had no intention of doing so myself.

However, I had no experience defeating Catastrophe Species, though I had dealt with An.

That was precisely why I wanted to take this opportunity to defeat one.

“I apologize, but I’ll take that Flood Crane.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that, Your Majesty. Are you truly going to fight yourself?”

“Of course.”

I was fully aware that I would be causing trouble, but I had my reasons for not backing down.

“If you deem it dangerous, we will intervene. Is that acceptable?”

“Understood. Then I’m off!”

Mina and the others likely couldn’t condone letting the Celestial Emperor fight alone.

However, I was also an Ancient Elf, and my strength had increased after training with Asuka and Maoh.

Since Maruca had successfully given birth to Regina, I had been going on hunts at least once a week since early spring. My instincts would not have dulled.

The opponent was a W rank Catastrophe Species, so I had no intention of letting my guard down.

It was understandable if my approach seemed arrogant because I was facing it alone, but I was not going into this fight unprepared.

“Then, let’s go!”

I unleashed Lightning Reflection, a new Unique Magic I had created by fusing lightning-attribute magic, light-attribute magic, Barrier Magic, Supplication Magic, and Mirroring in Fusion Magic, towards the Flood Crane, which was flying erratically in the sky.

Lightning Reflection involved creating countless mirrors within a 50-meter radius barrier centered on me, reflecting light and lightning. Without Accelerating Magic’s thought acceleration, it would be impossible to use, and there would be a high risk of self-destruction.

It had only been completed for about two weeks, so my proficiency was not yet at its peak.

Therefore, I limited the reflected light and lightning to three beams.

The light and lightning, reflecting off the mirrors, pursued the Flood Crane. However, the Flood Crane used its four wings to fly at sharp angles, evading them continuously.

Its movements were incredible for a bird-like monster, but it was a Catastrophe Species, so this was within my expectations.

Thus, the barrier’s radius was gradually reduced, and it was now about 30 meters.

Moreover, since the barrier was infused with lightning-attribute magic, any attempt to escape would result in an electric shock, forcing a temporary halt in movement.

In fact, the Flood Crane seemed to have attempted to destroy the barrier with a charge imbued with water-attribute magic. However, the moment it collided, it was caught in a cage of lightning and writhed in pain.

Water conducts electricity, so a charge imbued with water-attribute magic was a terrible mistake. But perhaps monsters didn’t understand that.

Without missing a beat, I swung my lightning-infused blade and succeeded in severing one of its four wings.

It seemed to have no trouble flying with three wings, but its balance was undeniably disrupted, and its movements slowed noticeably.

Sensing an opportunity, I directed all the beams of Lightning Reflection towards the Flood Crane.

Not only from the front, but also from all directions by utilizing reflections.

Unlike before, the Flood Crane could no longer evade all of them. Once it took a direct hit, it was helpless.

After being struck by the light and lightning about five times, the Flood Crane weakly began to fall towards the ground.

I confirmed it was still moving and used my blade again, not to strike downwards, but to thrust forward.

The tip of my sword hit the Flood Crane’s neck, and at that moment, I swept it horizontally.

Blood poured from the Flood Crane’s neck, and as it crashed to the ground, its life was extinguished.

**Side: Wolf**

We, Lily Wish, were fighting the P-C rank Monster Cresthorn Pegasus while keeping an eye on the surrounding battle situation.

I understood that Yamato had defeated Ouroboros and Mako had defeated Phoenix by looking at their battle records. I had also heard about the weapons they were wielding, so I wasn’t particularly surprised.

However, I never expected Saya, the former leader of Lily Wish, to succeed in defeating Sleipnir, even with her husband and co-wives.

Saya’s husband is a Grand Order’s Master and, excluding Wing Crest, is the most powerful individual within Helios Orb. Therefore, if anyone outside of Wing Crest could achieve the subjugation of a Demise Species, the name Grand Order’s Master would come to mind first. In a way, it might not be so strange.

Saya and we ourselves had received training from Yamato’s parents. Thanks to that, we were even within sight of evolving into Ancient Classes.

In fact, Charlotte and I evolved into Ancient Ulfy and Ancient Dragonewt while fighting the S-I rank Monster Wyvern Overlord that we had just defeated.

Arco, a High Elf archer, couldn’t evolve yet, but considering his level, I had a feeling he would evolve once we finished annihilating the monsters here.

“Aizen!”

“You got it! Haaah!”

Aizen, an Ancient Dwarf who had succeeded Saya as the leader of Lily Wish, slammed the hammer part of his self-made combined axe and hammer weapon, Delight Axe Hammer, made of Blue-Gray Iron, onto the Cresthorn Pegasus, whose stance had been broken by Arco’s arrow, crushing its skull.

I heard he was referencing a drawing Yamato had, but that world of his is truly a terrifying place.

“Rimu, are you alright?”

“Sorry, Sliza. That horn is really troublesome.”

Sliza, a High Fairy and healer, used healing magic on Rimu, a High Human woman who had been injured by the Cresthorn Pegasus’s attack, to heal her wounds.

Rimu’s left arm had been hit by the horn on the Cresthorn Pegasus’s forehead, narrowly avoiding amputation. However, Rimu, who was also a Martial Artist, had managed to kick its trajectory off course at the last moment with a knee strike. So, while severely injured, it hadn’t been severed.

The wound was deep, but with Noble Healing from Sliza, she would likely return to the front lines soon.

“It’s far sharper than any mediocre sword. But it’s a bit too short for the tip of a sword or spear.”

“It’s not just Cresthorn Pegasus, monster materials are difficult to use for weapons, aren’t they?”

“They’re not entirely unusable, though.”

Indeed, monster materials were difficult to use for weapons, but now wasn’t the time to be discussing it.

“Let’s talk about that later. It’s a chaotic free-for-all everywhere.”

“His Majesty was also defeating a Flood Crane earlier.”

“Even with Wing Crest present, I never expected him to fight alone.”

Huh?

I hadn’t seen it, but His Majesty fought the Flood Crane alone?

“I didn’t see it either. Did he succeed in defeating it?”

“He did. And the Flood Crane His Majesty fought was a W rank.”

Seriously?

Well, it wasn’t impossible for His Majesty to try to fight alone, but he’s the Celestial Emperor. I think that’s something to be spared.

“If even we are struggling, Wing Crest must be having a terrible headache.”

“You can say that again.”

Wing Crest often hunts with His Majesty and his retinue, so they probably know his habits to some extent. But that might be precisely why they couldn’t stop him from fighting alone.

Well, even without Yamato, Prim, or Mako, their levels were higher than ours, so I didn’t think there was any risk.

“It’s finished, Rimu.”

“Thank you.”

“Alright, then shall we move on to the next one?”

“Let’s do that.”

With Rimu’s treatment completed, we began searching for our next prey. Monsters continued to attack relentlessly during this time.

However, the monsters that attacked were mostly Battle Horse types, Wyvern types, and even rare species of Aqua Rock types, which were easily defeated by us even while preoccupied.

It was proof that the Engraver father and son who trained us were truly monsters.

“Next… Hey, what do you think that is?”

“Whoa… another troublesome one…”

“That’s unlikely to be a familiar, is it?”

“If it were Yamato and the others, maybe, but those guys from Retisencia would be wiped out on contact.”

I felt the same way.

After all, Charlotte had found an A-C rank Monster, Hippogriff Grand Lord.

I never expected a Catastrophe Species Hippogriff, which Yamato and Prim had contracted with, to be born.

“We can’t let Yamato deal with that. We’ll handle it.”

“Roger that!”

“Understood!”

Since Yamato had a familiar contract with a Hippogriff, it would be difficult for him to fight, even if it was a Catastrophe Species.

“Then, let’s go!”

Arco imbued his arrows with wind-attribute Blading and fired them at the Hippogriff Grand Lord.

The Hippogriff Grand Lord easily dodged them, but Arco didn’t shoot to hit just yet.

“Here it comes! Don’t mess around!”

“Of course!”

Ignoring the Hippogriff Grand Lord charging at them after dodging the Blading, Rimu suddenly punched the ground.

Simultaneously, the ground rose, creating a massive wall in front of the Hippogriff Grand Lord.

She then blinded the wall and deployed a thundercloud.

Was this Rimu’s Unique Magic, Dark Mist Raider?

“Let’s continue!”

Charlotte then created an ice wall, covering the area behind the Hippogriff Grand Lord, cutting off its retreat.

At that moment, lightning descended like rain from Arco’s Unique Magic, Cloud Thunderbolt.

Even though they had grown up like siblings and I had seen it many times, it was still an unbelievably brutal magic.

The Hippogriff Grand Lord, which had been approaching at considerable speed, broke through Rimu’s wall but was slowed down after being caught in the waiting thundercloud. It was simultaneously hit by Arco’s Cloud Thunderbolt, exposing it to relentless lightning strikes.

Furthermore, Charlotte’s ice wall barrier was added, causing the lightning strikes to reflect and assault from all directions.

“Wolf!”

“I know!”

Then, Aizen and I, imbuing our weapons with Blading and using Accelerating Magic, charged in.

Just before we made contact, Charlotte, Rimu, and Arco released their spells, and the blows from Aizen and I intersected.

In an instant, a massive wound was gouged into the Hippogriff Grand Lord’s chest, and it plummeted to the ground, its life extinguished.

There are times when evolving can be confusing, but that’s the result of years of camaraderie and understanding each other’s tendencies. That’s why our coordination works.

Asuka and Maoh have also praised us for it.

Although, that exceptional coordination of ours was completely useless against those two.