Chapter 1239 - The Star of the Battle's Start
—It wasn't a mild impact that could be described as a mere shaking (dot-emphasis: shaking).
Considering the fact that it was 'floating' just like the conventional Four Pillar stage confirmed earlier, it was a situation where the worst-case scenarios like 'crashing' or 'collapsing' naturally came to mind.
The moment a massive vibration that felt like it might damage the avatars through the ground rushed through. The players exposed to the unknown threat...
"What the hell?!"
"Oh, has it started!"
"This is easily a magnitude 10."
Those who shouted while being genuinely surprised but unable to hide their smiles, those who lightly brushed off the shockwaves and laughed, those who pretended to be calm while making jokes with half-smiles... in such a manner,
"......Y-You are all so calm..."
As far as the eye could see. At least... from the perspective of the girl (Sora) who had reflexively let out a small scream and was now slightly blushing, they looked like excessively reliable powerhouses.
Beside Sora, who was impressed despite having known it.
"Haha... well, they are all battle-hardened veterans, after all."
Kanata, who looked like a cute boy but was more than worthy of being counted among the 'battle-hardened' himself, pulled back the hand he had reflexively extended to support the stumbling girl.
And what was added was a gentlemanly "Excuse me," apologizing for the sudden contact. Since it was obviously a well-intentioned help with no reason to be offended or care, Sora brushed off the apology and smiled shyly, saying "Thank you"—even in the midst of that.
"Whoa, aftershock!"
"...Rather than an aftershock, it's shaking constantly."
The violent shaking was intermittent... no, running continuously (dot-emphasis: continuously).
Beside Sora and the others. The small and light bodies of Mi-na and Ri-na, which were bouncing (dot-emphasis: bouncing) even though they showed no sign of jumping themselves, were proof of that, and...
"......Underground."
Even without such a clue, probably everyone. Including the [Sword Saint] who quietly and gently walked over and muttered, completely unfazed by the vibration, everyone on this battlefield probably grasped it.
Of course, Sora too. Naturally—there was no way the various senses, which far exceeded the limits of the real world, would miss the appearance of such a massive presence (dot-emphasis: presence).
Something was there. Beneath this ground—however,
"It's the presence of a big one. ...Though it is a bit strange (dot-emphasis: a bit strange)."
As if the leisurely smile of the [Sword Saint], who still hadn't even put her hand on the hilt of her great sword, was the consensus of the place. Though a commotion occurred, no confusion arose.
Yes, just as she said. In terms of accumulated experience in a broad sense, even the girl who was inferior to anyone gathered here could feel the mismatched sense of discomfort.
It should undoubtedly be massive, yet it was somehow a strange presence.
In the midst of the excited three hundred or so people around, the epicenter (dot-emphasis: epicenter) coated in discomfort that Sora couldn't yet verbalize well—after scattering massive vibrations for dozens of seconds.
"—...Well, here it comes."
A murmur.
When Irori, who read the occurrence (dot-emphasis: occurrence) without even seeing its form, muttered, in an instant.
"────────────────"
A grand roar doubling what came before, and literally a maximum roar (dot-emphasis: maximum roar) howling loudly toward the night sky.
Thus... they must have anticipated and prepared, truly impressive.
Across the protective barriers of the mages who safely received the physical and acoustic shockwaves that would have caused more or less damage had they taken a direct hit this time.
The positional relationship was northeast from the fortress. A giant shadow that broke through the earth and appeared—
"......................What on earth is that?"
As if aiming for the zenith of the starry sky in the different space. Just the towering part alone was no less than a hundred meters long, an absurdly long body, and the daze let out by whoever it was was entirely appropriate.
A linear shape, clad in darkness.
To the point where there was no other way to describe it than completely featureless (dot-emphasis: completely featureless). Since it was 'howling' at a volume that couldn't even be heard properly, a mouth must exist, but even that couldn't be found.
Just a massive and immense existence. An bizarre state of being that could only be described as such.
"..., ......"
Overwhelmed by the visual pressure. No one would laugh at Sora, who had reflexively taken even just a single step back. —But, precisely because of that,
"......So, what do we do, Gossan? Shall we crush it for now?"
Sticking close to the bewildered Sora's back. Mi-na delivered (dot-emphasis: delivered) a relaxed voice as if to encourage her, and because it didn't seem out of place, the discomfort of the matter increased even more.
Yes, despite being such a massive existence.
Despite being an absurd monster that one should naturally be overwhelmed by—
"Ah, everyone, don't move. Standby as you are."
Faction-wide simultaneous telepathy communication. Even toward the instruction of the [Monarch (Goldow)] speaking clearly in her head... but still containing no sense of tension, no feeling of impatience arose.
"As you know. —We have plenty of vanguard slots covered, after all."
From the center point of the empty fortress position.
Even watching the star that shot up from the ground at a speed that left sound behind, using the cheerful joke as a signal—indeed, not a shred of anxiety arose.
"—Haru...!"
The girl... the partner simply, even if her voice didn't reach, tilted the "scales" along with her cheers.
Thus, counting less than thirty seconds since the manifestation of the monster.
A single tiny "star" approaching the massive one, high in the sky.
"—Shifu Itto, Second Strike Kai (dot-emphasis: Kai)."
Tearing through the night sky, carrying a emerald blade that trailed blue light like a comet in the darkness.
If swung, the blade flashed—
"
What was drawn was a perfect circle of water light.
A grand circular slash like a full moon that silently gushed and sparkled,
"────────────────
Without even knowing its full picture, as if there was no need to see it.
────────────────"
Slashed the giant tower of the monster, which kept the flickering darkness by its side, diagonally in two.
The Water Moon blade unleashed by the star.
Apparently, it is an ultra-long-range water cutter wheel saw created by Second Strike