Elana rushed to Arisugawa’s aid.
I could see her four eyes burning with anger. It was none other than us who had made her this serious.
“Everyone scatter, I’ll hold it back.”
Following Elana’s instructions, her companions immediately moved away from their positions. Lauren and I slipped out of the opponent’s sight. The enraged Giant Centipede raised its four, veiny arms and charged towards Elana. She spread her wings, dodged the attack, and then hit it with a fireball.
A pillar of fire rose on the centipede’s back, but it didn’t falter and began to chase Elana again. No matter how fast she was, I didn’t know how long she could last against an opponent with such a huge body and speed. After all, with her physique, one hit would be the end.
“Gah, this attack isn’t enough. Ah, blast it!”
Just then, the centipede bent its tail to surround Elana as she dodged the attack. Trapped by the high walls, she was like a bird in a cage. Even if she tried to fly away, she couldn’t dodge attacks from above. Was there no way to help? That’s right, if Piyo could strike from behind, it might create a momentary opening.
“Hey, you! How long are you going to sleep? Wake up! Tomoe, I know you can hear me?!”
“It’s useless, she can’t fight anymore. We’ll handle it somehow.”
Nina and Sharin’s voices came from the other side. That’s right, Sharin was right. Tomoe couldn’t fight anymore. Elana struck as the centipede brought its head closer. Although it spat blood from its mouth with a hiss, the restraint was not undone; it didn’t seem to intend to let her escape.
“You thought you could become king with this? It’s laughable, Elana can still fight.”
“Hey, that’s rude. He’s fought enough too. We should focus on what we need to do.”
“Then tell me what we should do!”
To be quarreling at a time like this. If this is how it is, should I try to get between its legs and rescue her? The centipede, driven to desperation by the repeated attacks, continued its assault on Elana. She resisted by firing fireballs at the enemy trying to crush her. However, the centipede, having forgotten even pain, had grown accustomed to the attack.
Even as it was scorched by flames, its four fists smashed the ground where Elana had been.
“Elana!”
I couldn’t help but call out her name. From the rising smoke, Elana appeared, crawling along the centipede’s arm. She seemed to have dodged successfully. But before that relief could settle, a log-like arm struck her down. Without a sound, the slender Sphinx’s body slammed into the ground. Yet, it seemed she still had consciousness and was desperately trying to get up.
“Damn it, Elana! Get up quickly!”
I ran towards her. But before I could reach her, a huge body appeared in front of me and snatched Elana away.
“Tomoe, you’re up?!”
“Hah, hah, you insulted me enough. You think this guy is better? Nonsense, will I die from something like that? I don’t need to be king anymore, I have nowhere to return anyway. I’ll fight and die here.”
He said so, spreading his crumpled bat-like wings with a flap. Her feelings, too, did not reach her companions.
“Oh, you’ve finally arrived. But thank you for saving me, I must repay you.”
“Gah, you’re annoying. You little kitten, just watch the real fight from there.”
With those words, Tomoe ran up the centipede’s tail onto its back. Feeling pain on its back, the centipede reached out an arm towards the clinging nuisance. She stabbed the centipede’s poisonous tail stinger into its neck. In the moment of hesitation from the unexpected counterattack, she plunged her fangs into its neck.
“Impressive, I can’t afford to lose either. Pillon, strike with all our might from the side. That will bring that guy down to the ground.”
Elana, with a defiant smile, leaped from the centipede’s flank as she said. Just then, Piyo approached at tremendous speed. They met around the shoulder area.
With an explosion that seemed to shake the air, the giant centipede’s body swayed. It then fell to the ground, drawn by Tomoe’s weight.
“Goooooooh!!”
With a low roar, the fallen centipede’s body began to drag. A voice that vibrated like a heart, not losing to the explosion. Tomoe was swinging the centipede around while biting its neck. Even though it was an opponent far larger than herself. Meanwhile, the centipede that had been pulled down couldn’t get up easily due to the previous damage.
Seeing this, Elana spread her wings and soared high into the sky.
“Queen of Pride, you have my respect.”
