Chapter 41 - 041_Lake Bottom Temple Capture Battle
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041_Lake Bottom Temple Capture Battle
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As the Lake Bottom Temple drew closer, the number of sea people increased. It seemed they had caught wind of Rodney and the others' scent like sharks.
"Well, well, it's been a while since I last fought. My blood boils!"
Sage Daguldor was cheerfully blowing away sea people, but the sea people weren't just letting themselves be killed. Water spheres shot out from the tips of their tridents and came flying at them.
However, Sage Daguldor used magic, not root power, to block these attacks and scatter the sea people.
Perhaps inspired by the sight of the slender, relatively small, and elderly Sage Daguldor fighting, Roxwell, Endever, and the territorial soldiers joined the battle.
"These are well-trained soldiers."
"Thanks to the guidance of the attendants, O-shishou-sama."
"Hmm. It's good that you understand that. Not everything is Rodney's power. It is power that exists because there are those who help you. Never forget that."
"Yes. Thank you for your words, O-shishou-sama."
Even Sage Daguldor had almost given up in the past. It is because of those who supported him and his comrades that Sage Daguldor exists today. Those words come from that experience.
"But those 'Fluid Explosion Bullets' and 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullets' are wonderful. Release-type root power doesn't exhibit much power in water, but these two root powers have extraordinary power."
As Sage Daguldor exclaimed, Roxwell and the others' 'Fluid Explosion Bullets' and 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullets' were extremely powerful even underwater.
"There are nobles who make their soldiers learn 'Underwater Adaptation', but they don't make them learn release-type root power. Because it's almost meaningless. Rodney has obtained great power in underwater combat. Stupid people will envy it, so be careful about when and where you use it."
"I'll keep that in mind, O-shishou-sama."
When the lake bottom changed from sand to rock, that's when the real battle began.
After advancing a bit over the rocky area, over 200 sea people came from the direction of the Lake Bottom Temple. An overwhelming number.
"This part is for us."
"Please conserve your strength, Rodney-sama."
"I'm counting on you. Roxwell, Endever."
"Understood!"
Roxwell and Endever led the territorial soldiers forward. Underwater combat differed from ground combat; just guarding front, back, left, and right was insufficient. They also had to guard above and below. They formed a formation that could watch in three dimensions with 12 men.
"Prepare 'Fluid Explosion Bullets'!"
"Sir!"
Roxwell took charge of attack commands. In contrast, Endever handled defense. Since the sea people numbered several hundred, the two had thought and thought, trained and trained, and as a result achieved this kind of cooperation.
"Fire!"
The 'Fluid Explosion Bullets' were fired simultaneously, hitting the sea people. With so many, it was a state where just firing would hit the sea people.
The fluid metal that had stuck with a wet sound exploded, even catching the surrounding sea people. The explosion generated a huge amount of bubbles, blocking visibility. But Roxwell didn't care.
"Next volley, fire!"
Even if visibility was blocked by bubbles, there were still a large number of sea people beyond them. Even if he couldn't see them, it was a state where firing would hit.
At the same time as an explosion occurred beyond the bubbles, Roxwell ordered a descent.
As Roxwell had thought, the sea people were scattered. With a smirk, raising the corner of his mouth at the result being as intended, Roxwell ordered the 'Fluid Explosion Bullets' to be fired again.
The territorial soldiers moved seamlessly, just as Roxwell had commanded. With the sea people having overwhelming numbers, if the soldiers' training had been poor, they wouldn't have been able to return alive. They shared that understanding and had trained desperately.
Roxwell skillfully moved the unit, parrying the sea people's attacks while launching his own.
The sea people were numerous. Moreover, even after the battle began, reinforcements came from the Lake Bottom Temple. Even if Roxwell moved the unit skillfully, the difference in numbers could not be filled.
"Above, 30 of them! Intercepting!"
Endever fired a 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' upward. The bullet, traveling through the water at overwhelming speed, struck one sea person and scattered countless blades around it.
The 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet', which boasted the greatest attack range as far as Rodney knew, shredded 30 sea people in an instant.
Without paying attention to the Life Light Stones falling like rain, Endever kept his awareness on all directions without letting his guard down.
"Good, fall back!"
Roxwell tried to take distance from the sea people while harassing them.
The sea people advanced, trying not to let him gain distance.
But Roxwell deployed the unit in a semicircle and showered concentrated fire on about 30 sea people that had advanced forward.
"That fellow is quite a skilled tactician."
"Thanks to him, we can take it easy."
"But taking it too easy is no good."
"I understand, O-shishou-sama."
After that as well, Roxwell skillfully operated the unit and managed to defeat nearly 300 sea people that had attacked.
As expected, the territorial soldiers were severely exhausted, so Rodney decided to move them to the rear.
"From here on, we proceed without the soldiers' support. Emilia, Yulin. Understood?"
"Leave it to me, Big Brother!"
"Victory for Rodney-sama!"
Yulin's tone had returned to that of an attendant, and she added '-sama' to Rodney. That was how nervous she was.
"We will accompany you as far as we can."
"Leave the vanguard clearing to us!"
Roxwell and Endever could still move. Rodney thought they had wonderful mental strength and felt reassured.
"Please don't overdo it, O-shishou-sama."
"Who do you think you're talking to! It's 100 years too early for you to worry about me!"
Sage Daguldor, whose blood boiled at the first real battle in a while. The mental strength and stamina that had overcome countless crises remained robust despite his age.
"Advance!"
With Rodney's command, everyone advanced. Several hundred sea people still guarded the Lake Bottom Temple. However, their numbers seemed to have decreased considerably.
"Water Cyclone!"
The first to move was Sage Daguldor. He turned about 20 sea people into Life Light Stones.
"'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet'!"
Roxwell and Endever fired 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullets' simultaneously, and another 50 or so turned into Life Light Stones.
"I can't lose either. 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet'!"
With Emilia's 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet', 30 sea people turned into Life Light Stones.
"I will mow down everything that gets in Lord Rodney's way!"
The 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullet' activated by Yulin's strong will shredded 60 densely packed sea people.
"Yulin, not bad at all."
"To be praised by you, Kenja-sama, is the highest honor."
"But that stiff way of speaking is no good. It's a sign that you have no leeway in your heart. Calm your mind."
"...Thank you very much."
Receiving the Sage's words, Yulin noticed that she had tension in her shoulders.
"Hahaha. Looks like the tension left your shoulders. Hmm, it's a good thing to be honest."
Sage Daguldor, casting magic even while talking, exhibited his true ability worthy of his title.
Rodney also consecutively fired 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullets', slaughtering the sea people.
The swarm of sea people had decreased considerably, and now they attacked as individuals or in small groups rather than as a horde. At this point, the 'High-speed Rotating Scatter Bullets' were inefficient. He drew his White True Steel Sword and began cutting down the sea people.
"Hahaha. Rodney, battle is fun, isn't it?"
"Only the strong like you, O-shishou-sama, can think that."
"What are you saying? You're also among the strong."
The two slaughtered the approaching sea people while talking. Rodney used his White True Steel Sword, while Sage Daguldor, seeming skilled in hand-to-hand combat, beat the sea people to death.
"O-shishou-sama. Please don't overdo it. I believe your wife told you not to get too excited, right?"
"Shut up! This isn't even a warm-up!"
The Lake Bottom Temple gradually drew closer. From its solemn appearance, it looked like a temple to Rodney, but it was probably a treasury.
Rodney and the others advanced to approach the Lake Bottom Temple. Then a large shadow appeared before them.
"An Ojin!"
Roxwell's voice rang out.
"What is that gross guy?"
A snake-like Selvanui with the face of a greasy middle-aged man. It was a monster that could move at a speed unfitting for its massive body underwater.
"Rodney. Leave that one to me and go ahead."
"But..."
"Something like that is a piece of cake for me. You go open the key to the Lake Bottom Temple."
"...Understood. I'll leave it to you."
"We will support Kenja-sama!"
Roxwell and Endever said they would stay to support Sage Daguldor. Rodney nodded and decided to leave Ojin to the two and Sage Daguldor.
"Emilia, Yulin, let's go."
"Yes!"
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