Chapter 41

“Khosrow!” ♦Current Status♦ > KHOSROW activated POWER CHARGE Hit DEATH STALKER G Inflicted CONFUSION status Moderate knockback DEATH STALKER G was STUNNED “Taaaaake thaaaaat!” “KYEEEE!” The instant Kozelka stepped aside, Khosrow came up from behind and brutally tackled the giant scorpion, blasting it backward. “This extra power… Was that you, Atobe…?” Khosrow asked incredulously. “Let’s boot it right out of here!” cried Elitia. “……!” Elitia and Theresia lunged for the scorpion and rained Slash Ripper and Azure Slash down upon it. Azure Slash had a fire attribute so the attack itself didn’t cause much damage, but Theresia activated it for the accompanying knockback effect, which sent the scorpion flying out of the building. “Elitia, Theresia, I’ve got you!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 1 > ELITIA activated SLASH RIPPER > THERESIA activated AZURE SLASH > DEATH STALKER G assumed DEVIL SCORPION STANCE Removed CONFUSION and STUN status ailments Defense against enemies directly facing DEATH STALKER G rose Defense against enemies directly behind DEATH STALKER G fell > DEATH STALKER G activated a counterattack What did it do…? We’re done for if it comes at us now…! “Once you get to District Five, you must never let a guaranteed chance to attack escape you!” ♦Current Status♦ > KOZELKA activated ACTIVE FEINT Target: DEATH STALKER G > DEATH STALKER G initiated counterattack Target: KOZELKA > KOZELKA activated WANDERING TARGET FLARE Evaded DEATH STALKER G’s counterattack Next counter will inflict double damage “What in the—?!” “—!!” The Death Stalker had been poised to strike Elitia and Theresia, but Kozelka forced it to direct its stinger at her instead. In a split second, she managed not only to draw the enemy’s fire to herself, but also to dodge that attack. “Don’t hog all the fun, Captain. Share the wealth!” “Follow after those two ladies, Khosrow.” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated OUTSIDE ASSIST and ATTACK SUPPORT 1 > KOZELKA activated SWORD RAIN 12 stages hit DEATH STALKER G Double damage inflicted 156 support damage > SLASH RIPPER hit DEATH STALKER G 13 support damage > ELITIA activated additional attack Hit DEATH STALKER G 13 support damage > AZURE SLASH hit DEATH STALKER G Slight knockback Consumed magic 13 support damage > KHOSROW activated SHOULDER BURST Hit DEATH STALKER G Removed DEATH STALKER G from battlefield 13 support damage Kozelka’s attack flowed as fast as a raging current. Her silver sword meted out a slew of slashes on the Death Stalker, piercing through its armor and slicing it to shreds. Elitia and Theresia doubled down with their own offensive and forced the enemy to lose its balance. Khosrow’s attack took a moment to activate, but his shoulder packed such an incredibly explosive punch that it sent the scorpion tumbling through the air. This was no normal knockback; the scorpion had been forcibly ejected from the battle entirely, if only for the moment. “Atobe, he’s not down just yet!” Khosrow shouted. “Leave this one to us; you guys head over to the eastern quadrant!” “We’ll regroup as soon as we’re able! If for some reason you run into the Named Monster, please do not test your fate!” “We may not have the luxury of choice, depending on how it goes… But we’ll do what we can! All right, everyone, let’s do this!” “““Okay!!””” We ran out the front doors of the Guild building and headed east past a group of Seekers and Guild Saviors in a fierce melee with several scorpions. The monsters’ Poison Blasters had melted away the outer walls of several buildings in the area, and their stingers had ripped up the stone pavements everywhere we looked. Some combatants failed to realize the significance of the Devil Scorpion Stance and paid the price when the monsters’ counterattacks sent them flying. Others fell in immediately after and pummeled the scorpions with concentrated gunfire from a distance until a veil of smoke rose from the ground. However, the giant creatures rendered the blasts near useless with their defense against attributed attacks and came leaping through the smoke to begin their violent onslaught once again. “““KYEEEEE…!!””” “C-can we really…make it out of this mess alive…?” asked Misaki, gasping for air as we ran. I couldn’t think of anything to say. We’d definitely seen some fierce action in the last stampede in District Eight, but this was on an entirely different level. Each and every single one of these foes boasted enough strength to bust through any defensive line, as well as iron-clad protection and the capability to attack from near or far. And they did not go down quietly, even when faced with the full might of an eight-person party. “Keep goin’ on down that street! They’re gonna break through to the residential district any minute at this rate!” shouted one of the Seekers in the brawl. “…All right! Good luck out there!” “Thanks…! How d’ya like this?!” Then it hit me: These people were technically in front of me, meaning I could support them on the fly with Outside Assist. Support those two men and that lady… Will it work…?! ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated OUTSIDE ASSIST > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FORCE SHOT (STUN) > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 1 > MARCUS activated HAMMER SWING Hit DEATH STALKER 22 Stunned DEATH STALKER 22 Inflicted concussion Combined attack stage 1 > KENJI activated DOUBLE KATATE HIRATSUKI 2 stages hit DEATH STALKER 22 Incapacitated state extended Combined attack stage 2 > REESE activated STALLING SNIPE Hit DEATH STALKER 22 Stall nullified Incapacitated state extended Combined attack stage 3 > Combined attack HAMMER, HIRATSUKI, STALLING Extended DEATH STALKER 22’s incapacitated state Intensified concussion “KYEEEE!!” A Guild Savior with a shaved head slammed the scorpion’s pincers with his war hammer, forcing them to swing up into the air. His comrade, a samurai with a straight sword katana, then hit the monster with a double attack, quickly followed by the bolt of a crossbow let loose by their third companion. The onslaught overwhelmed the scorpion and left it foaming toxic bubbles at the mouth as it teetered back and forth. “What the—?! D-dunno what happened there, but those were some killer moves… Freakin’ amazing…!” “Did someone give us a drive-by support boost…?! Thank you, whoever you are!” “E-either way, this is our chance… Don’t let up for a second!” My support extended the stun effects on the Death Stalker and would at least make sure the monster stayed immobile, even if it didn’t add much damage. The group’s remaining party members joined in with their own attacks and hit the scorpion with further status ailments, finally bringing their victory closer within reach. “Simply incredible, Mr. Atobe. How you managed to support them in such a short time leaves me at a loss for words…,” said Seraphina. “Well, I figured out from our last encounter that stun attacks work on them.” Still, Outside Assist really drained my magic. I struggled not to spill any of the potion I drank to replenish it as I ran. I started to think I might eventually need to acquire Back Order and have my friends split a bit of their magic with me. I glanced down at my license to check the District Five map—there was some kind of red dot up ahead, maybe a monster headed for the residential district? It moved so quickly, I couldn’t believe my eyes, and it would stop every once in a while to engage in some sort of battle, or perhaps attack innocent civilians. “We shall soon engage an enemy ourselves. How would you like us to proceed?” asked Seraphina. “I’m going to do whatever I can to stun it with one of Suzuna’s attacks before it can shoot that Poison Blaster at us. Vanguards, I want you to follow that up as usual and do what you do best. If it takes that Devil Scorpion stance, though, I’d like you to go after it with your shield, Seraphina. We should be able to avoid a counterattack that way and get around behind it. Looks like that skill strengthens its defenses against head-on attacks but leaves them pretty thin in the back.” “Understood…!” We hadn’t yet seen everything the Death Stalkers could do. That support attempt had gone off without a hitch, but I couldn’t let my guard down; proving our mettle in District Five was great, but I needed us all to get out of this alive. Theresia took the lead and picked up on something just as she was about to turn the corner at the next building. Her Scout Range Extension 1 clued her in to our enemy’s presence far before the rest of us had any idea. “……!!” “Theresia!” She knew running out ahead would set the Poison Blaster’s target squarely on her back. And yet, she ran into the fray without hesitation—she’d spotted two people trapped in the rubble of a building destroyed in the stampede. A middle-aged man lay hunched over his daughter in an attempt to protect her. My Hawk Eyes told me they had no easy escape route open to them, though I couldn’t see the monster just yet. But Theresia was looking up, not at the ground. Her eyes were focused on something farther back and to the right of the building that blocked my view. The scorpion was clinging to the top of the building’s facade. What do I do now that I can’t pinpoint the trajectory of its attack? Do I get Theresia to draw its fire? No, she might not make it in time even with one of her evasion skills if she tries covering for the two people in the rubble. There’s gotta be something we can do… Something! “Suzuna, play your flute! And use the magic stone!” “Okay!” Suzuna called back loud and clear. She took out her flute and began to play. Just then: ♦Current Status♦ > SUZUNA activated SONOROUS WAVER Target: All in mid-range Hit DEATH STALKER L Decreased speed > THERESIA activated ACCEL DASH > ELITIA activated SONIC RAID > DEATH STALKER L activated POISON BLASTER THERESIA evaded > CION activated EMERGENCY WITHDRAWAL Targets: CURT, FRAN “Eyes on me, you overgrown scorpion!” “……!!” “Bow! Bow!” Theresia and Elitia ran ahead to distract the enemy as well as give Cion the space she needed to swoop in and take the father and daughter to safety. The stagnation stone slowed down the Poison Blaster we had all seen coming so effectively that Theresia dodged it without activating any extra skills. But the stone’s special attack proved far too powerful. I was worried it had some equally dangerous risks we weren’t aware of, and my fears had unfortunately come true. “…Ah…” “Suzu!” Misaki cried out, catching Suzuna as her legs gave way. The move devastated her magic stores; it had gotten us out of this sticky situation, but I now knew for sure Suzuna would be able to use it only once until she managed to increase her maximum magic potential. ♦Current Status♦ > Speed reduction on DEATH STALKER L was lifted > DEATH STALKER L activated TRIANGULAR LEAP Target: THERESIA The stagnation stone’s effects wore off the moment the flute’s whistle faded. The scorpion bounded back to its original speed and without missing a beat doubled down in pursuit of the one who had evaded its attack: Theresia. There was nothing particularly strange about its movements. Just devastating, dizzying speed. Theresia wouldn’t even have the chance to lift up her shield in defense. Seraphina could never make it in time; I had to call on our secret weapon. “Ariadne!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 1 Target: THERESIA > ARIHITO requested temporary support from ARIADNE Target: THERESIA > ARIADNE activated TWIN GUARD ARM > DEATH STALKER L activated CRIMINAL PINCERS Target: THERESIA > Hit THERESIA Reduced damage Equipment withstood destruction THERESIA was captured “……!!” Ariadne’s Twin Guard Arms shot out and stopped the oncoming attack—but only from one of the scorpion’s two pincers. “…Ngh… Guh……!!” This was what it meant to fight in District Five—what a level-11 monster could do. The enemy’s overwhelming power came crashing down on me and left me staggering. It was Redface all over again; all the turmoil I’d felt at the sight of that senseless violence came rushing back with renewed strength. “Arihito, snap out of it!” “……!” Misaki’s shout pulled me back to my senses. I’d known—or should have known—all along that Guard Arm wasn’t foolproof. I needed to get Theresia out of there as soon as possible, but how? Stun the enemy and stop it in its tracks. We could save Theresia if we could just loosen its grip on her. “Let Theresia go…you monstrosity…!” “Hiyaaaaah!” “Release Ms. Theresia…at once…!” Elitia, Igarashi, and Seraphina all charged the scorpion in unison. We couldn’t afford to combine our attacks, or else we might end up hitting Theresia if we overshot the range. Our only option: Hit the scorpion over and over to stun it into submission. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FORCE SHOT (STUN) > ELITIA activated ARMOR BREAK Hit DEATH STALKER L LOWERED defenses DEATH STALKER L was STUNNED > ELITIA activated additional attack Hit DEATH STALKER L STUN state extended > KYOUKA activated DOUBLE ATTACK 2 stages hit DEATH STALKER L STUN state extended > SERAPHINA activated SHIELD SLAM Hit DEATH STALKER L STUN state extended “KYEEEE…!” ♦Current Status♦ > DEATH STALKER L assumed DEVIL SCORPION STANCE STUN state removed Defense against enemies directly facing DEATH STALKER L rose Defense against enemies directly behind DEATH STALKER L fell > DEATH STALKER L’s capture of THERESIA continued Inflicted damage on THERESIA “……Ah……!!” My heart began beating in slow motion. My vision turned black and white save for the blood dripping from Theresia’s mouth, which retained its crimson hue as she turned her face toward me, helplessly locked in the scorpion’s pincers. There was no time to waste. If I wanted to protect Theresia, I had to do what I alone was capable of. “Master, I shall aid you in your quest to save this faithful maiden.” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated REAR STANCE Target: THERESIA > MURAKUMO activated NORTHERN CROSS STRIKE 6 stages hit DEATH STALKER L “KYEAAAHHH!!” I didn’t unsheathe the sword from my back, nor deal the blow that followed—that Murakumo materialized to do herself. She thrust the naked sword powered by both my magic and her own at the scorpion faster than the eye could see, as if piercing new stars into the velvety night sky. But the scorpion’s strong defenses surrendered no purchase to her head-on attacks, and it began thrashing its stinger too quickly to follow. I screamed. She would know what to do, even if my voice failed to reach her. ♦Current Status♦ > DEATH STALKER L initiated counterattack Target: ARIHITO > ARIHITO activated REAR STANCE Target: DEATH STALKER L > SERAPHINA activated PROVOKE DEATH STALKER L’s hostility toward SERAPHINA increased I grasped Murakumo by the hilt and brought her with me around behind the scorpion. But that spot offered us no guaranteed safety from this enemy’s attacks. The scorpion could react in a split second and lash out behind it with its razor-sharp needle. Or rather, it could have, if Seraphina hadn’t been standing before it. Her Provoke had turned all its hostility—and its stinger—toward her. “Yaaaaaah!!” Seraphina’s cry rang out, and I once again requested Ariadne’s aid. “I grant thee, dear devotee, my protection. May these Stellar Mechanical God armaments shield you from all harm!” ♦Current Status♦ > SERAPHINA activated DEFENSIVE STANCE > SERAPHINA activated AURA SHIELD > ARIHITO requested temporary support from ARIADNE Target: SERAPHINA > ARIADNE activated GUARD VARIANT > DEATH STALKER activated HEART BREAK Hit SERAPHINA Physical attack reflected “KYEAAAAH!!” The scorpion let out an ear-piercing wail. It had struck at Seraphina’s shield too quickly to see, but we all saw how the stinger on its tail snapped off on impact and went spinning through the air until it sank into the wall behind it. “Master, this is our moment…!” “Make it count, Murakumo!” Murakumo stepped slightly in front of me while the scorpion attacked Seraphina. We were allowed only eight people per party, but Murakumo was no mere person; she was my trusty weapon and, therefore, eligible to receive my support. “Let’s gooooo!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FORCE SHOT (STUN) > MURAKUMO activated METEOR THRUST Hit DEATH STALKER L DEATH STALKER L was STUNNED > DEATH STALKER L released THERESIA > THERESIA lost blood Defensive armor damaged “……!!” “Awooooo!” The scorpion’s pincers loosened their grip, and Cion wasted no time dashing in to save Theresia from their clutches. “Cion!” Igarashi cried. “Master, retreat!” ♦Current Status♦ > DEATH STALKER L activated NOXIOUS FUMES OF DELUSION Hit CION and MURAKUMO Resistant to Poison “……!” The scorpion began secreting poisonous gas from every pore in its body. It was an attempt to injure us now that we had it cornered, revealing just how deep its vindictive nature ran. “Bow!” “This poison cannot hurt me. I don’t want to test my protection against anything stronger, but such petty fumes won’t even touch me.” I patted myself on the back for giving Cion the poison resistance amulet; she used Covering to protect Theresia from the attack and immediately activated Emergency Withdrawal to take her to safety. I directed my Recovery Support 1 in Theresia’s direction as she rode away. I wasn’t sure it would do more than ease her pain, but I wanted to help her recover in any way I could. “GYEE…GYEEGYEE…!” “You’re not going anywhere!” “C’mon, Kyouka… We’ve gotta join them!” “You know it!” Melissa saw her chance and took it before Elitia could begin her charge. She rushed at the scorpion with her butcher’s knife and swung the enormous blade down hard. ♦Current Status♦ > MELISSA activated KNIFE ARTISTRY Probability of partial destruction increased > MELISSA activated LOP OFF DEATH STALKER L dropped materials > KOTTO’S GAUNTLETS activated special effect Unleashed additional DOUBLE DOWN attack > ELITIA activated SLASH RIPPER Hit DEATH STALKER L > ELITIA activated additional attack Hit DEATH STALKER L > KYOUKA activated DOUBLE ATTACK 2 stages hit DEATH STALKER L > DEATH STALKER L activated NITRO BLOOD MORIBUND status was removed Slightly recovered vitality > DEATH STALKER L activated MORTAL FLIGHT Melissa’s knife sliced through a gap in the scorpion’s armor and lopped off half its tail. Elitia and Igarashi followed soon after with a set of coordinated attacks. The scorpion refused to go down, however, and started attempting to escape the battle. Melissa transferred the tail she’d harvested into her Repository and tried to go after the scorpion but stood no chance of catching up to the desperately fleeing arthropod. This must be why so few of them have been killed… Talk about a real pain in the ass…! “I cannot allow you to escape. We’ll work together and stop at least one of you…!” ♦Current Status♦ > SUZUNA activated AUTO-HIT Next two shots will automatically hit > SUZUNA activated STORM ARROW Hit DEATH STALKER L Suzuna’s Auto-Hit had one powerful thing going for it: It never failed to find its mark, no matter how quickly that mark was fleeing. “……” “Suzu…!” Storm Arrow drained another large chunk of Suzuna’s magic. She once again collapsed into Misaki’s arms from the strain, but her arrows had stopped the scorpion in its tracks. Even this mighty beast capable of resisting attacks of any attribution was no match for a powerful gale. ♦Current Status♦ > DEATH STALKER L activated NITRO BLOOD Activation failed It appeared the scorpion’s luck had run out; it couldn’t call on that skill to save it from the brink of death again so quickly. I cocked my sling and raised it, ready to support Elitia and Igarashi, who ran out in front of me. “GYEEE… GYEEEGYEEE…!!” The scorpion let out a screeching wail and lifted its pincers skyward. At that moment, the very air around us changed. Several beacons of light rose from behind the rooftops of the buildings lining the street, and another engulfed the Death Stalker we had just been fighting. ♦Current Status♦ > 8 DEATH STALKERS activated SACRIFICE > DEATH STALKER L became unable to fight Summoned THE CALAMITY The sky contorted. Then, almost as if crawling out of thin air, a gigantic scorpion covered in dark gray armor fell from the sky. It landed right on top of the Death Stalker that had its pincers raised toward the heavens in prayer, crushing it on impact and shattering the cobblestones where its legs dug in to support its staggering weight. ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY activated ALL HAIL THE QUEEN Devoured 8 DEATH STALKER souls > THE CALAMITY strengthened all capabilities Enabled special attack activation The seven shafts of light we’d seen rising up came falling down like shooting stars, straight into the gigantic scorpion’s gaping mouth. The faithful scorpion crushed beneath it soon transformed into particles of light and joined its brethren in the belly of the beast. “It ate their souls…and turned them into energy…” “This must be…the District Five Named Monster…!” The monster’s dark gray armor turned bone white. This was the Death Stalker Named Monster; it had the commanding presence of an armored tank and the regal poise of the highest nobility in equal measure. ♦Monster Encountered♦ THE CALAMITY Level 12 Hostile Resistant to Sudden Death Possesses All Possible Attributes Dropped Loot: ??? “GOHHH… OHHH…!!” Its cry rang out loud and clear: This monster very clearly ruled as queen above all the other scorpions, as the name of its skill implied. “Eeek! …I-it’s growing more tails…!” squealed Misaki. The one menacing stinger it already had split into nine separate tails. Each one was thinner than the ones on the ordinary Death Stalkers and didn’t seem to have the same function. “Heed my warning, dear devotee. You must distance yourself from this monster as much as possible and take shelter.” A hint of urgency rang through Ariadne’s usually dispassionate voice. I felt my blood run cold. The white scorpion began glowing with energy that surged down its body toward its tails. “Mr. Atobe, let’s use this mome—” “No! Everyone, take cover immediately! Anywhere you can!” Elitia and Igarashi stopped mid-charge as soon as I reined Seraphina in. Everyone had heard me. Even Cion would still make it to safety with Theresia on her back. The energy gathered at the tips of the white scorpion’s nine stingers. The scorpion queen lifted both pincers in the air, poised to unleash the sinister energy converging within. “My dear devotee, allow me to grant you at the very least my—” I understood what she meant. Things would not end well for us if that monster released its attack. “Everyone, run! I’ll stop this…!” Seraphina yelled. She wasn’t moving, let alone attempting to run. She’d realized she was the only thing standing between the white scorpion and the residential district just barely visible in the distance. I should’ve known this would happen, that the day might come when I wouldn’t be able to protect my party from a wide-range attack like this on my own. No, I can’t give up yet… Keep searching or you’ll never forgive yourself. Do whatever you can…! I had one chance to block The Calamity’s attack and save Seraphina’s life. And I went all in.