Chapter 1241 - Forces at Full Strength
"—...!"
Just as always, I am swept along. I have no way of knowing the background or circumstances of this war, and it is unclear if they even exist, but now that things have come this far, I can at least understand the flow of the situation (phase).
The opening of a path.
The rushing "enemies" are not from beyond the horizon, but from underground at an exquisite distance.
Yes, an exquisite distance. Including the one that already started discharging the 'Legion' a step ahead right beneath me at the northeastern position where the excavators had already perished, the large holes opened in the battlefield are at equal intervals of about one kilometer from the fortress.
Too close.
The tsunami of footsteps pounding the ground and drawing near, for those things that are far faster than automobiles, it is a distance just right for a run-up. And for the players being approached, it is a distance just right to slowly act as a psychological threat... and a distance where it is only natural to rush to respond.
This is not good. A situation completely advantageous to the attacking side—
'Kid, standby.'
Then, reflexively. A calm voice over the telepathic link stops my legs, which were indeed about to rush.
It is not as if my back was kicked by some ridiculous conceit like 'I have to do something about this.' But in reality, I had started to move to try and do something about it myself on the spur of the moment.
In that regard, as expected, my vision of the battlefield still hasn't caught up.
"Okay, I'll leave it to you."
While lightly laughing at myself for basically still being unable to get rid of my headlong rushes, I convey to the general-dono that I will obediently follow his instructions, and as I reply—now, the instant I look out over the hellish current situation.
'''—
As if it were a replay video of what I had done just moments ago.
—'''
Three giant towers. In the blink of an eye, they were cut in half and collapsed.
◇◆◇◆◇
Thus, in three directions, two katanas and one sword.
The monsters that appeared following the first one, or rather the first tower, almost simultaneously, three of them. The ones who ran to each and cut them down were the [Sword Saint] and the [Peerless]—and the [Sword Queen].
"Helena."
Thus, the breakdown of almost simultaneous. Because she was the only one who rushed from the very center of the fortress, Iris, whose execution was actually slightly delayed due to distance issues, calls out.
The reply from the other end of the telepathic link is, of course.
'No problem. Leaving them alone was not an option.'
The voice of the [Lady-in-Waiting], her right hand, who weaves unquestionable trust.
'Even if we had left them there, they possess an extreme lack of durability that does not match that giant body. If so, it is not hard to imagine that next, they themselves would be excavated to open a path.'
"...I wonder what kind of ecology they have."
'It is doubtful whether they even have an ecology.'
The words exchanged are those of people who look down on the situation with utter calmness.
The [Lady-in-Waiting] Helena, who had issued the order to "eliminate" without hesitation in the previous instant, and the [Sword Queen] Iris, who immediately agreed with that command, nod to each other from a distance where their actual voices cannot reach.
Including here, following the preceding northeast, the command is complete. While staring at the remains of the monsters dissolving and disappearing into a torrent of ridiculous death effects in three directions—
'Now, please return.'
"Understood."
The princess, who was floating softly in the air, kicked the sky forcefully once again.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—A strange sensation... It was as if I was made to cut through tofu."
Southwest. While skillfully sheathing an odachi that exceeded her own height, having cut down a soft target that wouldn't have been strange to collapse under its own weight.
The [Sword Saint], who felt exactly as much effort as her words implied, quietly mutters her impressions to herself.
Indeed, even without using "skills" to compensate for a blade length that was utterly insufficient... it was to the point of making one suspect that if the blade merely touched them, they would die on their own.
While Ui tilts her head at the monster that departed in a manner that was far too disappointing.
"General (Goldow)-san. What shall we do next?"
Without shame, establishing her proper form, she stands majestically.
The [Sword Saint], knowing that she possesses neither the 'talent to come up with tactics' nor the 'eye to assess the battlefield,' simply embodies "power"—the 'katana'—which is more than enough to compensate for them,
and honestly asks another for her destination.
'Yeah. Sorry to make you turn right back, but return immediately.'
"Understood."
That is indeed the current [Sword Saint], who has also gradually improved her "party play."
◇◆◇◆◇
"—It's over, I'm returning. ...That's fine, right?"
'You catch on too fast, you're not cute at all. The kid (Haru) is just about right, you know?'
"Keep talking."
Southeast. While sheathing his dual blades and immediately turning on his heel, the [Peerless] quickly runs along the path to the fortress while confirming the easily anticipated command.
And yet, it goes without saying whether he has talent or not, he simply dislikes taking direct command. The words spoken by the honor student, whose rare combat sense takes the lead, allowing him to move as commanded without a command, are—
"Is there a need to stall them?"
'None. Leave the timing to them.'
"To whom?"
'Of course, to themselves.'
"...Thank you for that anxiety-inducing assertion."
Indeed, an uncute, forward-reading dialogue. However, Goldow, who holds the reins entrusted to him, is also used to it, and even if the general laughing over the telepathic link from the Irori talks nonsense, he does not voice any complaints.
"Well, whatever. Understood."
A distance of a little over one kilometer is nothing more than a stone's throw—just enough to exchange a couple of words—for a ranked player specializing in close combat. Thus, the samurai, who quickly reached the wall of the fortress,
"As intended, I'll stand by just in case."
'That's why I'm telling you to let me command, it makes me look bad, doesn't it?'
Indeed, just as ordered by the [Grand General], whose forward-reading is understood through trust.
Placing his hands on the sheaths of his dual blades once again and looking back—he smiled as he stared at the bustling Pandemonium rushing and overflowing from the large holes like a surging wave.
And, in a straight line from the entrances opened in all four directions.
The destination of the "Legion"... the horde of "beasts" clad in a dark mist, making it difficult to read their details, sharing the same atmosphere as the monsters of the giant towers that had vanished without a trace over time.
To the fortress, which in the blink of an eye had a siege formation shaped around it, and in the blink of an eye literally became the center of the battlefield.
"《Schwert Kreis》"
Within it.
"《Turm Riesig》"
Thrusting up is the sword tower.
Next, the zenith of that watchtower. Onto the bottom of the pommel, which was located at the very top and was sufficient as a foothold, two small shadows, snatched and carried by a "star" soaring through the sky, landed...
" 'One' " " 'Two' " " 'Three' " " 'Four' "
" 'Linking them' " " 'Piling them' "
""—'Weaving the truth'""
Like idols standing on a stage, they began to sing a song clearly and melodiously.
I wouldn't want to attack a fortress like this.