We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Ran Rescue Operation
Mistral and I, along with Ruiseine. Yufilia, Nina, and Priscilla-chan. That’s not all. Warriors of the Mimicho race. And Gouo and his attendants.
The diverse group of races sped towards the spring where Ran was said to be sealed.
“Grant me power. I will clear the path with my arts.”
When the Bewildering Technique is converted, it apparently allows one to reach the destination by the shortest route. Following Yun-san’s instructions, we pour our power into it.
However, perhaps because Lyra is not here, Yun-san cannot exert his full power.
“Normally, I would reach the destination immediately.”
“But it’s faster than running directly through the forest!”
Rin-san is running at the forefront.
Rin-san hadn’t even told the Mimicho race where Ran was sealed. Therefore, we couldn’t reach it without Rin-san’s guidance.
Rin-san runs with all her might, her slender body moving with great effort. As we run alongside her, the scenery changes in rapid fragments. But our progress is slow.
“Elnea. Take Rin and the Mimicho to go ahead. We will follow with Yun and the Giant Tribe.”
“Okay, I understand!”
As expected, the speed differs between those who can use Spatial Jump, like me and the Mimicho, and those who run across the land, like the Giant Tribe. Gouo and his people joined us to defeat the Yōma, putting aside their inter-racial disputes, but aligning with their speed inevitably slowed us down.
“I can track Rin’s presence. Please proceed ahead.”
Nodding to Yun-san’s words, only those who can use Spatial Jump hurry forward. Rin-san, being called a sage, has an unparalleled Spatial Jump range. We Mimicho warriors desperately try to keep up with Rin-san. It seems Carly-san is the next fastest after Rin-san. She moves skillfully from branch to branch, more adeptly than even the Mimicho who live in the Great Forest.
Carly-san, a Mimicho from the Dragon Forest, came to rescue Ran without needing confirmation. And not only that. The Hiryuu Kishidan were also approaching from the sky. However, perhaps because Yun-san’s revised Guidance Spirit Arts were in action, they were invisible above us. They were likely flying at the same speed as Yun-san and the others to ensure we wouldn’t get lost.
At any rate, we had to rush forward with the forces that could immediately move and stop the Yōma Baridura’s movements.
Rin-san could also use Guidance Spirit Arts. This doubled the power consumed, in addition to what was directed to Yun-san, and further increased the distance from Mistral and the others, placing a considerable burden on me.
Ugh. At this rate, I might not be of any use in battle even if we get there. Ah, but that should be fine. It’s not just me now. Carly-san and the Mimicho warriors are here. It’s okay to rely on their strength, right? As we repeatedly use Spatial Jump, the scenery changes. At the same time, I begin to sense a dark presence.
“I have never felt such Yōki, not even in the west of the forest…”
Speaking of which, I wonder what the Mimicho people who live in the Great Forest think of the western side of the forest. Humans are progressing with development, but even though there are disturbances from monsters and Yōma, I’ve never heard of the Mimicho being obstructed. I should ask them about it once this matter with Ran is settled.
We descend a small hill, following a stream. Then, from beyond the trees, a darker and more disgusting presence than ever before drifts toward us.
“Be careful. They’re here!” Rin-san’s warning flies out. At the same time, tentacles writhe and reach out from the shadows of the trees to attack. The Mimicho warriors instantly scatter. Some ready their bows, while others wield Spirit Arts.
Even before the Mimicho could command spirits, they began to gather at this spot. It seems Ran is also beloved by spirits. The gathered spirits voluntarily attacked the grotesque tentacles, but it seemed to have little effect. Whirlwinds imbued with Spirit Power attempt to cut off the tentacles. The earth rises, and trees block the tentacles’ path. But none of them achieve a dramatic effect.
Could it be that they have strong resistance to spirit power? My bad premonition came true. The flames, winds, and ice that the Mimicho unleaguered launched with determination to defeat the Yōma on their own were all repelled by the Yōma’s surface. Although they looked like wriggling soft bodies, their surface seemed very hard and sturdy.
“In that case!” Carly-san ignores the approaching tentacles and disappears into the depths of the forest where the Yōma’s main body should be. We follow.
“It’s… it’s huge!” And then we saw the Great Yōma Baridura. This grotesque creature, hovering like a lid over a spring no smaller than average, had a bloated body with countless blue eyes, an indescribable form. Baridura instantly confirmed our location, having used Spatial Jump, with its multiple eyes. Then, it extended its tentacles.
“Uwah!”
“Be careful. If you get caught, you’ll be digested.”
“If you’re captured, you’ll be made into nutrients.”
“Hurry, or you’ll be contaminated!”
The spirits issued warnings one after another. The traces where the tentacles crawled had dried up all the soil and vegetation.
Does it absorb everything it touches as nourishment!? The Mimicho warriors, obeying the spirits’ warnings, refrain from directly attacking the tentacles with swords and spears. Having quickly judged that attacking the tentacles would only be repelled by their hard surface, the Mimicho warriors, moving swiftly through Spatial Jump, began to target the countless eyes that seemed to cover the Yōma’s main body with arrows and Spirit Arts. However, a hundred eyes were not for show. Even when we quickly used Spatial Jump, we were immediately located. Furthermore, it precisely aimed and took unexpected actions. With a squelchy, unpleasant sound, the eyes targeted by arrows and Spirit Arts sank deep into the body and disappeared. The surface of the main body was also hard, and the Mimicho’s attacks bounced off, rendering them meaningless.
“Ugh! Tough opponent.” Moreover, it seems to possess a cunning intellect. The tips of both its hands are scythes, but the Mimicho and spirits do not enter its attack range. Even when it tries to lash out with tentacles, they are avoided. Judging this, it began to swing its tentacles wildly. There are dozens of tentacles swinging erratically. We were unable to directly attack the Yōma’s main body and retreated to a distance.
“This is… We have to do something to restrain its movements!” Thanks to Rin-san reaching the destination, the burden on me from the Guidance Spirit Arts eased. However, since Yun-san was still guiding, I couldn’t exert my full power. Now, what should I do? I observed the Yōma anew. Even after we retreated, the Yōma cautiously moved its wriggling tentacles and the scythes on its hands. Also, it seems the tentacles were not only those directed at us. They were also extended towards the bottom of the spring it covered. The water that touched the tentacles became cloudy and emitted foul-smelling vapor.
“At this rate, Ran will…” Rin-san, who had guided us but could only watch without exerting power, stared at the depths of the spring with a pale face. I also focused my consciousness on the bottom of the spring. But I could not sense anything. It was a seal placed by Rin-san, who was praised as a sage by the Mimicho of the Great Forest. It might be so secure that it cannot be found with a mere probe. Surely, the other Mimicho warriors must not have sensed that Ran was sealed at the bottom of this spring at all. However, the Great Yōma Baridura found it. If we are negligent, we will be at a disadvantage. I drew my White Sword and the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword. However, with its ability to steal everything it touches, I cannot carelessly swing my swords, even if they are White Sword or the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword. So, a ranged attack? While channeling power into the gem embedded in the hilt of my White Sword, I danced the Dragon Sword Dance. The Mimicho warriors looked at me with doubt, wondering why I was performing a dance here. However, sensing the aura emanating from me and the murmuring of the spirits, no one uttered any unnecessary questions.
“Be careful. The Yōma has noticed our movements. It’s attacking!” Carly-san shouted. The Yōma, sensing my unusual presence, focused its hostility on me. More than ten tentacles simultaneously stretched towards us.
“Uwah!” Even though there was a distance from the Yōma, there was no time to idly dance the Dragon Sword Dance. The tentacles extended further than they looked, and despite the distance, they reached us. And again, it swung them without aiming. I escape using Spatial Jump. And continue the Dragon Sword Dance. But I can’t dance! As expected, the Yōma, which instantly grasps my location, mercilessly unleashes the remaining tentacles.
“Kuu, I can’t properly dance the Dragon Sword Dance like this!” Besides, I’m already dedicating power to Yun-san. If I don’t concentrate, I can’t even unleash Lightning Strike, let alone Storm Dragon Arts. This is it, change of plan! I sheathe both weapons at my waist and gather Dragon Energy directly into my hands. The Dragon Energy circulating through my body is released from my hands and transforms into a Dragon Lance. Once the Dragon Lance, formed from concentrated thick mist, was complete, I unleashed it at Baridura without hesitation. The Dragon Lance flies at high speed, leaving a green trail. However, Baridura, again, sensing my movements with its hundred eyes, quickly erects a wall of tentacles around its main body. The Dragon Lance collides forcefully with the tentacle wall. With a heavy resonance and simultaneously, a big explosion occurred.
“Elnea’s Dragon Arts are also being blocked…” Carly-san said with a bitter expression. I shook my head and continued to launch Dragon Lances at Baridura one after another.
“No, that’s not it. The priority right now isn’t defeating Baridura. We need to somehow pull Baridura away from above the spring!” That’s right, at this rate, Ran, who is sealed at the bottom of the spring, will be in danger. While engaging us in battle, the Yōma Baridura continues its encroachment on the spring. After receiving the barrage of Dragon Lances, Baridura’s body was washed away by the force of the explosions and the impact of the Dragon Lances themselves.
“I see! Everyone, concentrate your firepower in the same direction as Elnea!” Carly-san gave the order. The Mimicho warriors and spirits, who had been attacking from all directions in coordination, began to attack in unison with me.
“Giiiggggggggggggghhhhhh!” Baridura let out an unpleasant shriek from somewhere.
“Well done. It’s being moved. And at the same time, the tentacles are starting to float up from the spring!” Baridura was hovering, covering the spring. It was merely floating, not fixed anywhere. Because of this, by concentrating the attack on one point, Baridura’s body began to swim, threatening to be pulled away from the spring.
“At this rate…!?” Everyone thought we could completely pull it away from the spring if we pushed hard enough. But…! Baridura, which was floating in the air, extended tentacles other than those forming the wall to the ground. Planting them into the earth like wedges, it fixed its body.
“Tch. Cunning. You guys, attack the tentacles stuck in the ground!” The representative of the Mimicho warriors shouted. But a half-hearted attack wouldn’t work. What should we do!? The Mimicho warriors were unable to attack. We were panicked. Rin-san exuded a sense of despair. Then, a flash of light, close to silver-gold, flickered.
“Haa!” A woman, trailing a beautiful afterimage like a meteor, Mistral, mercilessly brought down her jet-black one-handed club onto Baridura’s tentacles. With a resounding crunch and a splash of body fluid, five of Baridura’s tentacles were crushed.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!”
“Ruiseine! And everyone else too!!” From deeper in the forest appeared everyone from the later group. They all confronted Baridura with fighting spirits. Mistral, who had arrived earlier, was pulverizing Baridura’s tentacles stuck in the ground with overwhelming destructive power.
“Uwaaaa…” This is a blow that could even crush the scales of the Ancient Dragon Species, Old Man Sleigsta. No matter how hard the Yōma’s surface was, it was meaningless before Mistral. Not only I, but also the Mimicho warriors and the Giant Tribe were stunned by the combat power of the Dragon Princess of the Dragon Race. Clicking the heart allows you to easily convey your support. (Login required) Support Those with an Account Login Learn more about the reading experience on Kakuyomu.
