That was enough to break the dam over Nick’s heart, and his emotions came bursting out. “A little rest won’t do anything, Karan. You’re staying here,” he said. “Nick…” “There’s no quick cure for this. You’re not gonna jump outta bed and be back to your old self anytime soon. You need to consider retirement.” “No.” “That’s the wrong answer. I won’t let you pretend you forgot what I said to you and Daffodil.” Karan fell silent. No one else said a word, either. “…Why didn’t you tell me?” Nick asked. “I…um…,” Karan stuttered. “You knew exactly what was going to happen. You predicted that he would use Eishu as a decoy and attack the gem directly. You’re so much more amazing than Eishu, Garos, or any other demon-god worshipper. But we lost. Completely. Did you think I couldn’t beat Garos? Is that why you kept quiet?” Nick pressed. Karan flinched, startled. “Nick, that’s enough…,” Tiana said, reaching weakly for Nick’s back, but he moved away stubbornly. “Did you think he would kill me because I felt sorry for him?” Nick asked. “S-sorr—” Karan began, but Nick interrupted her. “Don’t apologize! Blame me for being weak!” “That’s not it! I…didn’t want you to get hurt.” “So it was okay for you to be in danger, but not me?! Do you think we’re happy you got hurt?! Did you not think of Daffodil and your nephew?! What about your family back home?! You’re the last person who should’ve put themselves at risk like that! I would’ve been the better choice!” “Don’t say that! I—” Karan tried to get out of bed but didn’t have the strength. Her body wouldn’t obey her, no matter how hard she tried to make it. “Hey, what’re you doing?!” Nick gasped, instinctively grabbing Karan and stopping her from getting up. He felt a chill when he did. She had gotten obviously lighter. The stark evidence of her failing health cleared his head and forced him to see how much he had hurt her. “…Sorry. I went too far.” “No… You didn’t. I don’t know if I did the right thing, either,” Karan said. Silent tears began to roll down her cheeks. “Forgive me. It was my fault. I couldn’t do anything. I don’t want you to be unhappy,” Nick said. Karan was like an infant in his arms, crying and unable to shake herself free. She couldn’t even argue without tiring herself out, and the realization weighed heavily on the Survivors’ hearts. Zem, Tiana, and Bond couldn’t blame Nick for his outburst. They were all devastated by the undeniable truth that Karan would never be able to fight with the party again. Diamond led the Survivors to another room, each of them feeling like they were heading to their execution. It was the room of Karan’s physician. “Both magical and medicinal treatments have been ineffective. Her life is not presently in danger…but I do not see her recovering,” the female priest said. She appeared to be in her forties, and the sense of futility showed on her face. Nick took a moment to digest her words. “…Okay,” he said. “Please know that while I will do all I can to help her live comfortably, I will not be able to cure her. She is the first cursed patient I have ever treated,” the physician said. “Is it truly incurable?” Zem asked, looking troubled. The physician glanced at Diamond as if she was unsure, too. “I promise, it is. Also…did you notice it, Tiana?” Diamond asked. “Yeah,” Tiana replied with a nod. “Notice what, Tiana?” Zem asked. “I used Magic Search to check her mana. What I sensed should have been impossible. It was as if there was no one there,” she said. “What d’you mean? She was right in front of us,” Nick said, not hiding his irritation. “I didn’t understand it, either! I’m just saying that’s how it felt,” Tiana said. “Calm down. Her mana has simply dwindled to the minimum amount required to maintain her body. She will get better once that improves,” Bond said. Diamond nodded. “We’ve just been calling it a curse so far, but specifically, she was inflicted with the star curse.” “The star curse…?” Nick repeated, unsettled. “The old gods—or rather, the people from the super-ancient civilization who we call the Originators—were not from this land. They lost their original home to a calamity and created this planet, which we call the Land of Sacred Fire. Have you heard that before, Nick? It’s one of the foundational stories of our mythos.” “Yeah, of course. The Originators lost their home to some war and ended up here. Then the gods that are worshipped now left for the heavens with the last of the Originators in the Rueful Departure, which started the era of humanity.” “The reason I’m bringing it up is because this planet is not suitable for the Originators or their descendants,” Diamond continued. “What does that mean?” “The composition of the atmosphere, the length of the days and the resulting sleep cycles, and a variety of other things are slightly off from the Originators’ first home. The gravity here—the weight that presses down on our bodies—is also considerably lighter than what they were used to. Living on this world without protection would have caused them to develop osteoporosis from diminished bone mass and suffer deteriorated eyesight from the change in pressure on their skulls and eyes.” “Wouldn’t healing magic be able to fix issues like that?” Nick argued. Zem shook his head sadly. “No. Most healing spells rely on the recipient having mana. They do very little or are entirely ineffective on people without mana.” “That’s right. Everyone in this world is born with mana. You need a certain amount to perform magic, but everyone has the minimal amount required to maintain their health and recover from the use of healing spells,” Diamond added. “…And that mana is currently missing from Karan’s body?” Nick asked. “Yes. I would guess that Curse Stake is a three-pronged attack. First, it fires the steel stake at the target with great speed and inflicts physical damage. If the impact doesn’t kill them, it incapacitates the target by stealing their mana. Finally, it triggers chronic impaired coordination resulting from that loss of mana. It’s a detestable, heretical spell that specializes in inflicting pain,” Diamond explained. She spoke matter-of-factly, but there was an air of hopelessness in her voice. “Eishu’s alive, right? Doesn’t he know a lot about curses?” Nick asked. Eishu was a demon-god worshipper the Survivors had captured. Garos had used him as a sacrificial pawn in his plan to obstruct the Jewelry Production Concert, but Nick and Zem saved him from the brink of death with a barrage of healing magic. “No… He’s just a talisman maker. I doubt he’s familiar with the logic behind inducing curses. He’s not even an expert on magic, so I’ll bet he had a teacher. I do want to question him when he recovers, though,” Diamond said. “Sounds like the fastest method of curing Karan really is defeating the person who inflicted the curse,” Nick speculated. “There could be other ways, but most likely, yes.” The Survivors looked relieved. However, they all sensed that defeating the one who had inflicted the curse would be a difficult task; otherwise, Diamond wouldn’t be wearing such a somber expression. “I’m considering a number of other methods…but we do need a fundamental solution,” Diamond said. “You said we have to defeat the Sword of Tasuki, right?” Nick asked, determination welling up as he said the name. Diamond nodded, and shock flashed across Bond’s face. “The Sword of Tasuki?” said Bond. “Was he not destroyed?” “You’ve heard of him?” Nick asked. “I’m aware of his official catalog specs. My knowledge is limited beyond that, however. We were forbidden from interacting with each other, so he was essentially a stranger.” “The Sword of Tasuki was created for the final battle with the demon god, so everything about him was kept highly secret,” added Diamond. “Why did he curse Karan?” Nick asked. “He wasn’t after Karan. He was after me,” Diamond said. “I’m not mad at you for that. We took on the job of defending you, so it would be wrong to hold it against you when one of us got hurt. The reason I’m mad is because you didn’t say anything,” Nick said. His party members clenched their fists, frustrated by their sense of powerlessness. “This isn’t your fight anymore. It’s ours. Tell us everything you know.” “I can’t.” “…This isn’t the time for jokes.” Nick glared at Diamond, but her expression remained cool. “I’m not joking. You guys are adventurers. Tracking down someone so you can fight them would make you no better than outlaws. Karan faced the Sword of Tasuki as an adventurer and was defeated. It’s my duty to treat her.” “Where are you going with this?” “I’m giving you an order as your client. I’ll tell you everything I’m allowed to say, and I’ll continue to protect Karan, too. I don’t mind if you fight—just make sure you return.” In other words, Diamond wouldn’t tolerate anybody acting on their own or going against her wishes. But if they stayed in line, she would continue to provide the Survivors with her support. “I won’t let you put yourself in danger by rushing blindly after the Sword of Tasuki. Or do you want me to tear up our contract now? Should I go ahead and charge you for your legal fees?” she said threateningly. Nick almost retorted angrily but caught himself and took a breath. There was no scorn in Diamond’s voice—she sounded more like a parent admonishing a child. “…No. I got ahead of myself. Thank you for the legal help and for arranging things with this hospital. And…sorry,” Nick said. “It’s my duty to listen to the complaints of my subordinates and workers and to give what help I can. Listen to what Karan has to say. Giving her a self-serving apology without giving her a chance to speak will only hurt her,” Diamond said. There was no hint of blame in her voice, which only made her words cut more deeply. “…But you know she won’t give up, right?” Nick said. Karan would never stop fighting, no matter the circumstances. That was exactly why Nick had needed to intervene. It was also why neither Tiana nor Zem nor Bond had kept him from arguing with her. “You can’t use that as an excuse to run off and put yourself in danger! What if she loses the will to continue her treatment because of you?!” Diamond said fiercely. Nick couldn’t argue. He knew she was right. “I know you don’t want Karan to get hurt, and I want to respect that feeling. Karan should have listened to you. That’s why I didn’t stop you back there. You all noticed how Nick felt, too, right?” Diamond asked. “I guess so… Honestly, I was also shocked to learn that Karan acted without us, but I don’t want to hound her for that decision now. We all feel that way,” Tiana said, her shoulders slumping as she spoke for the group. “I’ll do what I can for Karan. All I ask is that you watch over her for a little longer. And please, try not to worry yourself about this too much,” Diamond said. “But—” Nick started to argue, but Diamond put her hands on his shoulders. “I’m not against you all putting yourselves in danger to save her. In fact, I wish I could ask you to do just that… But you can’t forget about yourselves. Karan’s just as worried about you all as you are about her. That’s why she wants so badly to recover,” she said. “I…guess so…” “I want you all to be motivated by a desire to help your friend, not by anger and a desire for revenge. The average adventurer would’ve already given up or gone into a blind rage and gotten themselves killed by someone stronger than them. You are all made of much greater moral fiber, which sets you apart. That’s why so many people care about you. Don’t forget that.” “…You think awfully highly of us. Have you seen what we’re into on our days off?” Nick said with a wry smile. He looked more relaxed than before. “Hey, what are you trying to say about being an idol fan? I’m right here,” Diamond said. “Oh shoot, I made the sergeant mad.” That had lightened the mood a little. “…Back to the topic at hand. We were talking about what I know,” Diamond said. “Please, tell us everything you can,” responded Nick. “I’ll start with the Sword of Tasuki’s ability. First, do you know about White Mask…or rather, holy armor?” “It gives you endurance and skills to explore incredibly difficult labyrinths, right?” “Exactly. Holy armor has the ability to store the skills and personalities of its users. The Sword of Tasuki can do the same thing and then use them to perform Integration.” That word caught the Survivors’ attention. “Is that different from Union?” Nick asked. “It’s another ancient ritual spell, but the way it works is quite different. Integration gathers power and gives it to one person. Putting it unkindly, there’s a hierarchy between the person who absorbs the power and the people it is taken from, which makes it easy to control,” Diamond explained. Bond scoffed loudly. “Integration cannot achieve the same power as Union. Being easier to control sounds convenient, but it is a violent spell that plunders the strength and skills of the ritual participants and wholly ignores the state of their souls.” “You know about it, Bond?” Nick asked. “I saw the ability once at a test site. It was astounding to watch the Sword of Tasuki’s wielder absorb the strength of twelve people and instantly become a hero. However…” Bond trailed off, looking reluctant to continue. Nick listened nervously. “The wielder was a rather unsavory person.” “Is that relevant?” Nick said, sounding exasperated. Bond’s expression, however, was serious. “I am not just insulting them. How can I describe this…? It felt like the Sword of Tasuki’s power gave its user a greater feeling of omnipotence and intoxication than the other holy swords.” Diamond cocked her head. “Are you sure about that? The Sword of Tasuki should have been perfectly safe. It’s understandable that a hero chosen to fight the demon god would face a lot of stress in their life…” “Hmm… Well, it would be nice if it was just my imagination,” Bond said. Tiana looked confused. “You two don’t seem to know as much about the sword as I would have expected. Weren’t you active at the same time?” “We were, but I fell out of the picture in the middle of the war. I ended up sleeping for a long time after the Teran Distortion Agency was destroyed. I know more than modern people, though,” Diamond said. “I and the Sword of Evolution were both isolated underground before the operation to slay the demon god. The only swords that would know the details of the final battle would be the Sword of Tasuki…and the Sword of Might,” Bond added. “Oh yeah, you guys have already met Olivia. What’s she doing now?” Diamond asked. “She said something about exposing White Mask’s identity and disappeared. You know her, too?” Nick said. “We have a kind of alliance… But we try not to interfere with each other too much. I suspect she’s up to something in secret. What the heck is she doing working as an occult magazine editor anyway? That’s so weird,” Diamond said. “We’re in agreement there,” chimed in Nick. “Anyway, five holy swords were forged during the war against the demon god,” Diamond continued. “I was developed to strengthen human strongholds. Olivia was developed as a backup plan and with an eye on the postwar future. Bond, the Sword of Evolution, and the Sword of Tasuki were developed for defeating the demon god, and in the end, the Sword of Tasuki was chosen for the task.” “The Sword of Tasuki was supposed to have been destroyed after sealing the demon god. If he turned on humanity and has been gathering power in secret with Integration, that would be quite bad. Even if he has been selective with his targets, it would not be surprising if he has gathered the strength of hundreds of A- and S-rank adventurers,” Bond said gravely. “Argh… Would we even stand a chance against that?” Tiana asked. “White Mask was formidable enough. We cannot possibly imagine his strength,” Zem said. Given their previous experience fighting holy swords, the prospect of doing so again made them nervous. Nick reacted differently. “Why’re we already assuming he’s unbeatable?” Zem and Tiana looked at him with surprise. “If he was, then why would he be hiding and ordering people around from behind the scenes? You say he defeated the demon god, but if he’s really that strong, the adventurers and Sun Knights of Labyrinth City should be nothing to him,” Nick continued. That was sound reasoning, but he also just didn’t want to let go of the best method they had of saving their friend. “You’re right,” Diamond said, sounding convinced. “That is a mystery. He’s undoubtedly a fearsome opponent, yet his current actions prove he has a weakness to hide.” “Yeah. He’s being cautious about something,” Nick agreed. “There are other questions, too, like why the Sword of Tasuki is operating under the name Callios,” Diamond mused. The room grew gloomy at these words. Callios was the name of a man in Karan’s past who had deceived her and stolen her dragon king gem, a precious family heirloom. According to Leon, he was a major magic item broker who led a band of thieves. “…Oh yeah. Holy swords are bound by their name. That would explain why he’s been using the same name for all his criminal activities,” Tiana surmised. Diamond and Bond nodded in agreement. “Karan said that name before he attacked her,” said Diamond. “I’m having Hector trace him through history under the assumption that he’s lived for an incredibly long time. It’s likely that Karan’s deceiver, White Mask’s employer, and the Sword of Tasuki are one and the same. He’s been lurking in the shadows of Labyrinth City while using White Mask to collect magic items and kill people who inconvenienced him. We need to proceed with caution and be certain of his plans and weaknesses before we act. For Karan’s sake.” Nick digested her words as emotions welled up within him. “I usually try not to let any anger show, but…we cannot let him get away with what he’s done,” Zem said, his voice brimming with anger. It sounded strange coming from him. “Calm down, man. Diamond just told us we have to be careful,” Nick chided him, but he felt the same way. He was burning inside, but he did his best to keep his emotions in check. He couldn’t wait to pay that bastard back for what he did to Karan. “Either way, you bet your ass we’re gonna save Karan,” he said. The rest of them nodded. The group split up, unable to do anything now except wait for information. Ten days later, however, no progress had been made. Diamond and Hector were working behind the scenes, and there were signs that Alice and her team were investigating something, but nothing major happened. Nick and the rest of the Survivors were taking a break and had not even set foot into a guild. They were unsure at first if they should visit Karan, but Diamond told them that if they weren’t sure, they didn’t need to go, and they ended up spending the ten days doing very little. That night, Nick went out with Bond to get some food. Normally, Karan would have been there with them. Karan was very popular at the inn where the three of them lived. She was always using her strength to help others, doing things like helping the innkeeper fix doors that fit poorly in their frame or carrying heavy objects such as bags of wheat for people. When Nick wasn’t with her, other residents would often say some version of “How’s Karan doing?” “Are you her boyfriend? You’d better not make her cry,” or “Karan’s not with you? Lame.” Nick thought the other residents would be sad to learn what had happened to her. He had no idea his life would feel so hard after getting out of prison. “Hey, Nick… Should we get something quick and head back?” Bond asked, sounding lonely. “…Yeah,” Nick responded hoarsely. He felt like the reality of Karan’s absence as an adventurer hadn’t hit him until he left the hospital. He wanted information. He wanted to do something. He wanted to throw himself into mortal danger right this instant. That near-suicidal death wish was about to be granted. “Bond. Return to your sword form, now,” Nick said telepathically. “Wh-why? I don’t sense anything near us, aside from maybe a rat on the roof…” “Hurry, damn it!” Bond hurriedly assumed his sword form, and Nick took him in hand. Less than a second later, a volley of arrows raced quickly toward Nick. “Crap!” He deflected the arrows with the Sword of Bonds before they could pierce his skull and heart. A sword then swung down from above him, and he spun and blocked that, too. The sword was surprisingly light; it looked like a greatsword, yet its wielder used it with the quick precision of a rapier without sacrificing any strength from its blows. Nick realized with a chill that the blade would cut right through him if he let it make contact. The assailant was clearly an expert swordsman, and Nick had to struggle to protect himself. “…You fended off my attack. You’ve clearly continued your training after I kicked you out.” A tall, dark-skinned man stood before him. Signs of age on his face made him look somewhere between forty and fifty, and he was holding a giant two-handed sword. He had a bow, too, but had tossed it to the ground, likely because he had spent all his arrows. The most intimidating thing about him wasn’t his dangerous weapons, however—it was his huge muscular frame. He looked like a traditional warrior whose presence alone could make a street or an inn feel like a battlefield. “…Argus!” Nick shouted. He’d tried to post a bounty to find this man, but Argus had just come to him. “Long time no see, Nick.” “…Garos is dead.” “Seems that way,” Argus replied dully. His disinterest only poured oil on Nick’s inner fire. “An old comrade of ours just died. I might as well have killed him myself. Why are you acting like you don’t care?” “The only death on your mind right now should be your own. You don’t have time to worry about an old coworker.” “You always said that adventurers need to value their party members above all else. That a leader should protect his party and receive full loyalty in return. What happened to that? Have you gone senile and forgotten everything you taught me?” “…I believe I also taught you to never hesitate when you pick up your blade.” “Why’re you trying to kill me? Because I embarrassed you by defeating White Mask?” “Don’t get a big head, Nick. You are not nearly skilled enough to have accomplished anything of great importance.” “You would know. A backwater style of swordsmanship like Combat Masters is nothing to be proud of.” Nick spoke with hostility, as if intending his words to sever the relationship with his old master for good. “You’re right. No one should take pride in this style… And yes, I may have lost some edge with my old age,” Argus said, quietly agreeing with Nick’s jabs. The younger man looked surprised. “Combat Masters is a school designed for assassination. It’s not meant for adventurers. Garos was closer to the ideal practitioner than you are.” “What…?” Nick responded, astonished. He wanted to reject Argus’s words, but the cooler part of his head knew it was true. His rational mind screamed to accept that all his worst hunches were right. “…Was that true of our other party members, too?” “We were a collection of criminals, assassins, and military janitors. Garos purged traitors in the military until he was scouted by demon-god worshippers for his skill. The others had similar stories… You were the only one who joined Combat Masters as an adventurer.” “…Then why did you always lecture me to act more like an adventurer? I respected you. Was that all a lie?” “I was just keeping up appearances. We couldn’t have you growing suspicious of us.” “What?!” As Nick’s glare intensified, Argus went on as if he was bored. “We could not have been a convincing adventurers’ party without members. A party was also a perfect source of fodder for the Sword of Tasuki.” Nick felt a wave of horror at those words, and not just because of their ominous nature; he knew exactly what they implied. “Argus, don’t tell me… Are you really the Sword of Tasuki’s wielder?” Considering what Nick had just learned about the Sword of Tasuki’s ability, the “fodder” Argus spoke of was likely the abilities of assassins and adventurers he had fed to the sword. That would explain Argus’s impossible strength. His holy sword was the secret to how he had managed to master every weapon and martial arts style and acquire the strength to overpower any person or monster—despite having no sense for magic. He might not have created his unbeatable Combat Masters style by personally mastering all manner of martial arts. It now seemed likely that he had used the holy sword to steal that mastery from others. “That’s right,” said Argus. It was becoming harder for Nick to deny that the person he had respected as a father was a corrupt monster beyond his wildest imagination. His heart burned with fear and anger. “Argus…did your strength come entirely from Integration? Did you obtain none of it through your own training?” “Imagine whatever you like. All that matters now is that I am a blade pressed against your neck. I might spare you depending on how you answer my next question. Choose your words carefully.” Nick repressed his anger before it consumed him, and he spoke to Bond telepathically. “Bond, call Tiana. We’re using Union.” “I already have. What is with this man…? I can process visual and auditory information from him, and yet I can barely sense his presence! He is not using a trick like Nargava, either.” “I was baffled by that, too, but I just figured it out… He’s using Light Body.” “He is still too quiet, though. I can understand silent footsteps, but even the creaking of the roof was barely audible.” “He’s mastered his gait and breathing. He’s also trained his body not to make any unnecessary movements, and that extends to his muscles and bones. When he does move, though, he does so with the ferocity of a beast.” “Hmm… He may be a tougher opponent than someone who simply erases their presence with a phantom king orb.” “He’s the top adventurer in Labyrinth City in terms of raw strength. Common sense won’t apply here.” Just then, Argus swung his sword down with such force, it felt as if he were cleaving the world in half. Nick dodged… “You were using Telepathy, weren’t you? You must be confident if you think you can have a chat right in front of me.” …But Argus guessed which way he would go and kicked him in the ribs with a leg the size of a tree trunk. “Argh…!” Nick grunted, flying backward. He quickly used Light Body and sprang off a wall to land on a nearby roof. “I’ll say this again—choose your words carefully. Where is the mirror?” Argus asked. “Mirror? What mirror?” “The mirror you used to speak to the one you called your teacher.” “What the hell are you talking about? You really are going senile,” Nick sneered. But he genuinely had no clue what Argus meant. In response to the jab, Argus rushed at Nick. “Then you leave me no choice… It’s time to give you the same fate as your parents.” “Huh?” Argus was on him and swinging down with his greatsword before Nick could ask what he meant. He moved his great bulk with impossible speed; his proficiency with Light Body far surpassed Nick’s and Garos’s. His agility reminded Nick of when Olivia carried him through the city on her back. He was painfully aware that the shadow of death was near. “Ngh!” But at the moment, Nick had the locational advantage. They were near the inn where he lived, and he knew where he could put his full weight on the rooftops and where he couldn’t. He used this knowledge to flee, jumping from roof to roof with all his strength. “Hold out for five more seconds! She’s almost here,” came Bond’s voice. “Got it!” Swordsmanship was no different from magic once a certain level of mastery was reached. An attack that should be out of range would reach farther than the opponent expected and cut through skin. A firmly planted foot could move without warning and shift into your blind spot, causing you to lose track of your opponent completely. Argus moved faster than Nick could sense, meaning he could dodge his attacks only with intuition. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer—Argus was learning his habits and would soon catch him. His blade was about to reach Nick’s neck when… ““Union!”” …Tiana had made it just in time. ““Flowers, scatter your petals! Dragons, take to your slumber! Spirits of the old stars, ring the bell that bids farewell to white autumn! Ice Age!”” Snow began to fall. Tiana had sprinted as fast as she could until she was close enough for them to use Union. Once she and Nick had combined, she immediately cast a spell to temporarily summon a severe winter. The temperature plunged below zero in a wide radius, causing snow clouds and freezing wind. Residents of the area noticed the bizarre weather and tried to go outside, but their windows and doors had frozen. ““Sorry, everyone. This’ll be over soon,”” Nick/Tiana said. “We can’t last against him for long. What should we do?” Bond asked. ““We have no chance of beating him in close combat. Ranged combat won’t work, either, though. He’ll read our eyes to dodge or deflect any spells. Let’s use Steal Heat to lower his body temperature.”” “Are you sure? Using that at full strength will kill a warm-blooded mammal in this environment.” ““…We’ll die if we hold back. We shouldn’t need to tell you that.”” “That is true… Huh?” Bond seemed to realize that something was off. The weather in the surrounding area had already surpassed the limits of what an ordinary person could survive. People who were indoors or far from here would be fine, but around Nick/Tiana, it was cold enough for the moisture in a person’s breath to freeze and their lungs to be damaged. Leon, the last person they used Ice Age on, had survived because of his incredible healing ability, but Argus should have lacked such protection. And yet he simply put on a coat and walked calmly toward them with sword in hand. “This is bad… That is a Kaso Cloak. Wearing it shields one from extreme heat or cold. It also blocks offensive spells such as quick lightning strikes.” ““No freaking way!”” “Relax, it is not invincible. It can withstand strong spells but only lasts for a few seconds. It is meant to be used as a consumable item.” ““…He’s using that small amount of time efficiently. He’ll use it to take the impact of our next attack and then rely on his skill to dodge the rest. That’ll let him get the maximum effect from it while using as little strength as possible.”” “…I suppose to a skilled fighter, it is a perfect shield rather than a consumable.” ““But we can break it if we know how it works… We just need an attack that nothing can escape, not even an ant! Brinicle!”” Nick/Tiana yelled, as Tiana’s mind saw victory. “Ngh…!” Argus grunted. The Sword of Bonds produced a ring of light, which swelled and spread outward. The cold air solidified, freezing even the wind and sound, and frozen streetlamps were pushed to the ground. ““Aww, what’s the holdup? Too cold to move?”” Nick/Tiana taunted. Argus had stopped moving. The air was so cold that not even his Kaso Cloak could withstand it, and he was clearly suffering. His eyes, however, still contained a murderous glare even colder than the air around him. Nick/Tiana should have had a massive advantage, but their intuition told them Argus still had the upper hand. “Whoa there, Argus. Rare to see you in such a bind. Need any help?” said a man’s voice. He didn’t sound like an ally. An arrow raced for Nick/Tiana’s neck like a ray of light. ““Ngh…!”” they grunted, dodging it. The arrow did not come from the direction of the voice, which meant multiple new opponents had arrived. Cold sweat formed on their neck. “…Don’t interfere,” Argus said. “Don’t say that. They have a holy sword—that makes this my fight. If anything, you should get out of my way,” the man responded. “You’ve never shown an interest in holy swords other than yourself,” replied Argus. The owner of the voice walked into view on the street. He was a blond man with a calm expression, and he wore a longsword, though he hadn’t drawn it. His manner was as casual as if he were simply walking to the nearby Adventurers Guild. Nick/Tiana probably wouldn’t have noticed him if he hadn’t strolled directly into their freezing barrier. His conversation with Argus and the presence of the armored guards behind him made it clear who he was, however. ““F-five White Masks… If he brought them to save Argus, that must mean…,”” Nick/Tiana trailed off. The guards wore black full-body armor and white crystalline masks exactly like the holy armor the Survivors and Olivia had destroyed after defeating White Mask. Their weapons set them apart, however. The previous White Mask had wielded an aura blade, but one of these White Masks had a bow, another had a shield and hammer, and another, a katana. The other two held the staffs of a mage and a cleric. The weapons had to conceal great power. “There is no doubt… He is Callios, the Sword of Tasuki!” Bond finished. It should not have been surprising to see him, given that they were already fighting Argus. Even so, Nick/Tiana and Bond couldn’t help but shudder. “Long time no see, Sword of Bonds… Though I suppose we never spoke that much to begin with. Looks like you found a good wielder. Your soul is shining bright. Congratulations,” Callios said. “How dare you say that as you try to kill us! You truly have become depraved!” “Come now, there’s no need to be so angry. I’m after your wielder, not you. I have no desire to destroy you. If you want, I’ll even help you find someone new to hold you.” “Wh-what…?” Bond stammered, too shocked to even retort. ““…Where’d that bow come from?”” Nick/Tiana asked. “It’s a fine weapon, isn’t it? It’s a magic bow called Grasshopper. It was named that because it can be used to fire an arrow four hundred kilometers over a grassy field and accurately pierce its tar—”
Chapter 80
30 min read