CH 67

Matching Lain’s magic, I also launch intermediate offensive magic.

Additionally, I set [Raise Repeat] in the path of activation.

The haze dextrously intercepts our attack magic, but there isn’t enough. 

Gradually, offensive magic begins to strike the Black Dragon.

The Black Dragon tries to move, but due to Will’s exquisite positioning and assault, it can’t get out from that spot.

<Interval! Five seconds to resume attack!>

Lain’s voice echoes in my head.

Hearing that, I switch to close combat.

I cast [Sharpness Up] on Schwarzhase and close in on the back left leg.

Once entering the space for my sword, I slash at the same spot several times in an instant from various directions.

The sword I’d used in the previous battle against a Black Dragon was, for better or worse, simply an ordinary one.  

With an ordinary sword, being able to shatter those hard scales and inflict shallow wounds was already more than enough. 

But the sword I have this time is made and optimised for me.

Moreover, the difference in quality of the materials used is like the difference between heaven and earth. 

If Schwarzhase’s performance is further enhanced by my support magic — it’s even possible to slice off the legs of a tough Black Dragon.

Following a number of black afterimages flashing at high speed in front of my eyes, the rear left leg of the Black Dragon is finally severed. 

The Black Dragon screams.

Three remaining haze tendrils attack me.

By the way, Will had already erased a second tendril earlier. 

I easily avoid it, and as I’m about to take distance from it, Lain’s interval ends just in time.

The attack magic rained down again from above the Black Dragon.

Having lost a hind leg, the Black Dragon makes ten haze tendrils appear as its balance collapses. 

In this battle, ten has been the maximum number so far.

The pace is fast.

Haze receives Lain’s magic and prevents her attack.

From behind, I also launch [Thunder Arrow] mixed with [Impact].

Lightning type attack magic has better penetrating power than other elements.

[Thunder Arrow] pierces the Black Dragon’s body and inflicts damage.

(I see. This much power can penetrate through the scales as though they aren’t there, huh?)

Lain reenters her interval, so I try to press in again.

–However, before that, several tendrils come at me, so I give up on the attack and concentrate and take further distance while dodging them. 

While our attacks pause, one of the haze tendrils coils around the Black Dragon’s left hind leg and takes the place of a foot.

(You can use it like that, huh? Interesting.)

Unlike the previous Black Dragon fight, I still have a lot of energy left, so I could afford to let myself be honestly impressed by the versatility of that haze. 

The Black Dragon shifts its centre of gravity forward.

<Tail attack incoming!>

Immediately anticipating the Black Draogn’s next move, I alert everyone. 

The tail that would be impossible to react to without buffs targets Will. 

“Won’t let myself eat that attack twice!!”

Will cries out as he parries the tail attack with his double-bladed sword.

–And he doesn’t stop with that, again, he extends that chaotic mana and thrusts his blade into the tail. 

In conjunction with Will’s attack, I activate [Impact].

The blade, with greatly increased power, slashes the tail and pins it to the ground.

After confirming the tail is fixed, I approach near the base and swing Schwarzhase.

Just before the blade touches the ground, I activate [Impact] on this as well, cutting the tail with a single sword strike.

The Black Dragon lets out a roar of either anger or a shriek.

<Flame bullet’s coming!>

Selma’s voice rings through my head.

Hearing this, I move to a position where I can see the Black Dragon’s face.

I see flames leaking out from inside the Black Dragon’s mouth.

After a moment, the Black Dragon attempts to shoot a fireball.

At the same time, I activate the [Reflective Barrier] near its face.

The fireball shot out of the Black Dragon’s mouth immediately returns as though heading backwards, and the fireball explodes in the Black Dragon’s mouth.

◇

From there on, a one-sided battle continues.

Will takes all of the Black Dragon’s attention and keeps parrying.

When Will receives damage, Lucre immediately heals him.

Lucre isn’t participating in the offence this time, she’s devoting herself to healing allies.

This is possible because Lain is slamming high powered magic into the Black Dragon within short intervals. 

Selma is concentrating on managing everyone’s buffs and on the movement of the Black Dragon.

Will and I, who are relatively close to the Black Dragon, can’t keep all of this huge Black Dragon in sight.

In other words, we have a lot of blind spots, but since Selma keeps us informed of every moment of the situation, we can deal with the Black Dragon’s attacks without any problems.

The four of them have been simulating this battle against a Black Dragon for the past year.

Even after I joined the team, they’ve kept discussing it for a long time.

The result is this.

The Black Dragon can’t move hand or foot in front of us. 

To begin with, this party was already capable of defeating a Black Dragon. 

We had also considered all possible patterns and developed ways to address them.

–We weren’t careless.

◇

The Black Dragon makes…. twenty haze tendrils appear.

“Huh!?”

Will shouts in surprise.

It’s only natural.

I’ve fought against a Black Dragon twice, the 1st Unit has fought against a Black Dragon once, but up to now, there’s never been a case where more than ten tendrils have appeared.

Even in the Guild’s records, there’s no precedent of any Black Dragon producing more than ten tendrils. 

Of the twenty, five each attack me and Will.

And the remaining ten transform into countless tiny needles, shooting out all at once at the location where the three Rearguard members are.

(Damn it! This isn’t the time to hold back!)

With that many attacks raining down on the Rearguard, even if the three of them deploy a magic barrier, it won’t be able to withstand.

I build a formula while dodging the tendrils coming at me.

“[Magic Sword Unification]!”

After the formula construction is finished, I activate the new function of my storage magic tool.

I activate this magic for the first time by channelling mana into the constructed magic formula. 

And my storage magic tool proceeds to absorb mana from the surroundings and directs it into the formula…… mana flows and my imperfect original magic is activated. 

That mana and Schwarzhase become one.

The black sword loses its form and takes on an inky appearance that oscillates between the look of a gas, liquid and solid sword. 

“[Heavenly Flash]…..!”

The mana has already converged on Schwarzhase.

There’s no need to spend time on converging mana to release [Heavenly Flash].

I release [Heavenly Flash] against those countless needles and obliterate most of them with a shockwave.

However, I can’t get rid of them all. 

Some of the rest fly toward the three Rearguard. 

I take action for my next move.