Chapter 42

CHAPTER 4 The District Five Crucible Part I: Calamity “Aaaaaah!!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated REAR STANCE Target: SERAPHINA “Mr. Atobe…?!” “Seraphina, let me be your shield, too…!” “…Okay!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO acquired DEFENSE SUPPORT 2 Consumed 2 skill points > SERAPHINA activated DEFENSE FORCE > SERAPHINA activated AURA SHIELD > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 2 Support Types: DEFENSE FORCE, AURA SHIELD Defense Support 2: a skill that manifests my defensive abilities as a protective barrier to shield my friends from harm. My capacity to defend myself lay somewhere on the lower end of the spectrum, but by placing my hand over Seraphina’s, I could guarantee her defenses would cover me, too. And that meant… ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY activated STING RAY Target: Indiscriminate, all directions > STING RAY hit SERAPHINA Reduced damage Hellish laser beams shot out of the white scorpion’s tail in every possible direction. Seraphina’s shield and the replicate I used my new skill to create and expand combined forces and repelled the ray that came our way; it pushed Seraphina back with its overwhelming force as it refracted and dispersed into the air, but she held strong through it all. “Ugh…!!” “Seraphina, are you okay?!” “Yes, are you…? Just how…?” The laser beams had indiscriminately hit everything in their path, blasting open holes in the stone walls of those unlucky buildings that took their wrath head-on. The very structure of the town would get an unwanted remodeling if this kept up for too much longer. “Atobe, Seraphina! Thank goodness you’re both okay…!” cried Igarashi. “This would’ve gone a lot differently if you hadn’t made that call, Arihito… You honestly never cease to amaze me…,” added Elitia. Borrowing Seraphina’s defensive abilities had given me the key to creating a protective barrier exponentially stronger than what I could activate with Defense Support 1. The protection she provided by raising her large shield, further expanded in range with Defense Force and buffed with Aura Shield, had fended off the searing beams. “……” “Mr. Atobe… As I feared, you’ve consumed too much magic…” Taking Back Order was no longer an option since I’d acquired Defense Support 2. I had nothing left but the mana potion to replenish my magic, and there was a limit to how many times I could use it in a row. I can still exchange vitality for magic with the Scholar’s Ankh. But we can’t afford to get too close to that monster with the Sting Ray threat hanging over us… What are we gonna do…?! ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY overheated Initiated cool-down period until STING RAY can be reactivated > THE CALAMITY activated ANNIHILATION ATTIRE THE CALAMITY assumed close combat configuration Area effect: Morale Deflation The Calamity switched gears to protect itself in the aftermath of Sting Ray. The white, almost elegant armored plates covering its body blackened, and its pincers extended into pointed spears. Theresia’s injured and Suzuna’s almost out of magic… Do we even stand a chance against this thing…? “Arihito, take everyone and run! I’ll buy us some time!” Elitia’s voice reverberated through the streets. She’d lost almost none of her vitality or magic, but I could not in good conscience go along with her plan. “If we retreat, we retreat together! Elitia, don’t do anything rash—” “I can’t bear to see anyone else get hurt!” “Ellie!” cried Suzuna. ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA activated SONIC RAID > ELITIA activated AIR RAID > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 1 > THE CALAMITY attacked Hit ELITIA It was just an ordinary attack. The Calamity activated no additional skills, but its natural speed was enough to capture Elitia at full sprint. Red droplets splattered on the ground, spelling out just how deeply Elitia had committed to her charge. “Aaaaaaaaaahh!” Elitia’s blood initiated her Berserk mode and stained her eyes deep crimson; her Red Eye had activated. The moment I heard her bloodthirsty cry, I realized there was only one thing I could do. “Elitia…I’ll support you…!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 1 > ELITIA activated BLOSSOM BLADE > SCARLET DANCE increased offense and decreased defense > 24 stages hit THE CALAMITY 312 support damage > ELITIA activated additional attack 16 stages hit THE CALAMITY 208 support damage > THE CALAMITY activated IMMORTAL SOVEREIGN Reduced damage by half Gradually recovered vitality and magic “GOHHH… OHHH…!!” “Why…? Why isn’t it working…?!” exclaimed Elitia, exasperated. The Calamity endured all of Elitia’s attacks without so much as flinching, though they had, in fact, caused real damage. The monster simply chose to heal itself afterward, and the slashes on its armored plates began fading. Elitia’s Berserk-fueled attacks had broken us out of every crisis thus far, but even they failed to impose the slightest damper on The Calamity’s movements. “Elitia, Run! You need to fall back and reset!” I yelled. “I’m not…done yet…!” ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY activated JAVELIN DIGGER The Calamity dug its spear-shaped claws into the ground and plowed through the cobblestones, charging at Elitia. And yet, in spite of the bulldozer barreling toward her, Elitia showed no signs of giving up any ground. “—!!” ♦Current Status♦ > THERESIA activated ACCEL DASH > THERESIA activated ACTIVE STEALTH That’s when an unexpected figure jumped into the fray: Theresia, still heavily wounded. She rammed into Elitia and pushed her out of the path of the incoming collision then immediately sprinted out of The Calamity’s way herself and activated her suit’s camouflage powers to blend into her surroundings. The Calamity paid no heed to the fact that there was no enemy in its path and continued barreling toward a nearby building, one that was sure to crumble upon contact. We had to make sure it didn’t get to that. “D-don’t—don’t forget about me!!” Misaki shouted nervously. She stood safely out of the destructive path and had the perfect position to strike at The Calamity from the side. Misaki’s got the Jester’s Wildcards on her… That’s right—! “C’mon, cards, do your worst…!” ♦Current Status♦ > MISAKI activated ICE JOKER Angered THE CALAMITY Inflicted THE CALAMITY with ice attribute weakness Misaki’s steel card flashed a brilliant blue as she whipped it at the monster. Affixing the hollow rune to her deck had transformed them into a named weapon—the Jester’s Wildcards. Their special skill: angering whatever enemy they hit and carving out a new weak spot in its defenses. “Stopppp!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated FORCE SHOT (FREEZE) Hit THE CALAMITY Weak spot attack THE CALAMITY was FROZEN “GOH… OHHHH…!!” The Calamity’s legs immediately froze over, but even that wasn’t enough to kill the momentum it had built. The scorpion queen crashed into the building with an intensity so great, it shook the earth. ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY activated MIST STEAM Unleashed wide-range superheated vapor attack Reduced duration of FROZEN state Extended cooldown period until STING RAY can be reactivated > THE CALAMITY activated ABSOLUTE DOMINION Will conduct preemptive strike against any enemies within a given radius The Calamity started unleashing steam from every crevice in its body in an attempt to melt the ice that had stuck; the move assured we wouldn’t have to worry about a shortened cooldown period, but I had no doubt the queen would start attacking once again in no time. My bullets hadn’t frozen its lance-like arms, and anyone who got close enough would be guaranteed to suffer under their preemptive blows. The Scholar’s Ankh is replenishing a little of my magic every time Recovery Support activates…but it hasn’t started converting any of my vitality to magic yet. What should we do next…? “I—I have to do this myself…!” “Ellie, we got this far as a team! There’d be no point if we don’t stay together… So please…!” Suzuna’s pleas reached Elitia just as she was about to begin another round of attacks against The Calamity. ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA’s RED EYE was lifted Red Eye, which consumed both vitality and magic for its entire duration, finally deactivated, and the red flames in her gaze gave way to its usual lucid luster. But she was still in Berserk mode, and it was only a matter of time before she lost the strength to control her impulses. This monster will burn through ice attacks so quickly… And if that Immortal Sovereign move can slowly take this thing all the way back up to full vitality…then we don’t have any moves to defeat it on our own. The word retreat flashed through my head. No one asked us to take down the Named Monster. But I knew the moment we pulled back, nothing would stand between The Calamity and the devastation its name promised to wreak upon the city. Our mission was to stall this beast as long as we could—however. “Mr. Atobe, reinforcements are coming in from the west… They’re saying we should keep proceeding due east!” The latest orders flashed on Seraphina’s license. The next moment, a massive, spear-shaped something came racing toward us from the west: a vehicle equipped with a battering ram. Two enormous, armor-plated horses pulled the ram between them with a familiar figure holding the reins: Khosrow. Seated at his side were Kozelka and one more woman dressed in a military uniform with a beret covering her violet hair; I deduced she must be another member of the Guild Savior forces. “I hate to ask this, Atobe…but we need ya to lead this asshole into one of those corridors! We’ll follow right behind and cut off its exit with this battering ram!” “Khosrow, they’re exhausted from battle. We can take over from here—” “No can do, Third-Class Captain. A quick hop, skip, and a jump over our car and we’ll lose the beast. But I’d bet anything it won’t be able to resist going after Atobe and his group following that intense fight…” “Third-Class Captain Kozelka, we can assure they will not be driven to the very end of the corridor if we utilize the equipment installed at the far back. Allow me to operate and time the firing of our weapon. It’s the very reason I have accompanied you on this mission.” “Ms. Nayuta…,” began Kozelka. “Understood, please proceed accordingly. Mr. Atobe, you hear that?!” “Yes, I did! But about this corridor—” The Calamity turned its attention toward Khosrow and the two ladies. I shuddered violently at the thought of what could’ve happened if its Sting Ray had been active. “Mr. Atobe, the buildings in this vicinity have been positioned to form a corridor between them… Lead the monster to the end of the corridor, and we can send it to the specialized weapon we have installed in the city!” explained Kozelka. “That we can do!” I had a few ideas. One was to leave the job with our fighters who excelled at drawing and running from enemy fire, but after seeing how dizzyingly fast The Calamity could run, I knew it would be too much to ask of Igarashi or anybody else in the vanguard. Then we make a run for it together… That’s right, we’ve done this before… Back in our battle against the Paradox Beetle, I used Rearguard General and brought up the rear to ensure the skill would strengthen all my other capabilities. “This is no escape; it is a charge toward victory. Master, do you require my aid?” I heard Alphecca say. It was a promising option; with her speed on our side, we might manage to outpace The Calamity. No one could hope to outrun the Sting Ray’s beams that raced along at the speed of light, however. It looked like they could track their targets to some extent as well, meaning we’d have to do more than dodge their trajectory to truly evade them. “Seraphina, will you lend me your shield once more? I’m afraid it’ll try to attack us again as we run. If that time comes…” Seraphina nodded before I could finish. I knew I was asking for the moon and had a feeling I wasn’t doing a great job of hiding it behind my terrible poker face, but she never wavered. “It is yours to use for however long it can serve you. That is precisely why I am here.” I nodded back. Theresia dropped her camouflage and appeared at my side; she was ready to fight, too. “Arihito, you’re not gonna try and say I should find my own way out of this mess, are you?” Misaki asked coyly. “Ellie will be fine, Arihito. I’ll be with her at all times,” added Suzuna. Elitia was in no state to say anything, but I knew she would never defy us. “All right… Listen up, we’re going to be riding over capacity, but I want you guys to jump on Alphecca. Seraphina and I will catch a ride on Cion and run right behind you.” “…Atobe…” “It’ll be okay, Igarashi. There’s no time… Let’s defeat that Named Monster and end this stampede once and for all.” “In the name of mine Hidden God Ariadne, we shall lead her beloved devotee. We are Alphecca…the incarnation of Arianrhod.” Alphecca materialized, let the others board her chariot, and was off, racing full speed toward the corridor. Seraphina and I also took our spots on Cion’s back. We had to sit awkwardly facing her rear in order to protect the group should The Calamity strike out again, but the discomfort lasted only a second. Soon enough, I felt right at home and completely balanced. ♦Current Status♦ > SERAPHINA used WOLF RIDER “This is Wolf Rider, a skill to use when riding a guard dog into battle.” “I see… Thanks, Cion. Can you show me how fast you can go?” “Bow!” “Arihitooo! Kozelka’s team’s gaining on us!” shouted Misaki. “Okay… Let’s go, guys!” Alphecca shot off, Cion hot on her wheels. The moment Seraphina, who sat in front of me, saw the ice burst off The Calamity’s legs, she let out a cry so sharp, it pierced through my soul: “The Calamity… Eyes on me!” ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY’s FROZEN status was lifted > SERAPHINA activated PROVOKE THE CALAMITY’s hostility toward SERAPHINA increased “GOHHH… OHHH…!” The Calamity raised its pincers and furiously set off after us. It caught up to Cion in a flash and got so close, we could almost touch it. ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY attacked CION dodged > THE CALAMITY attacked CION dodged Every time the monster brought those spears down to attack, Cion leaped with everything she had and dodged their reach by a hair. The lances smashed into the cobblestone street and sent the stones flying in their wake. In no time at all, The Calamity managed to close the gap between it and Cion once more and unleash yet another relentless attack. “Cion!” Igarashi screamed. I whipped my head around and realized why she was yelling the second I saw what awaited Cion up ahead. The corridor was about to send us down a right-angled turn. We’d have to lose speed to clear that corner. The Calamity must’ve figured it would be the perfect moment to strike and lowered its pincers in anticipation. I couldn’t use my Morale Discharge since I hadn’t taken any damage yet. I started to think we had no choice but to combine Defense Support 2 and Seraphina’s shield to deflect, when— “O valiant wolf, take mine hand as we fly over this battlefield!” ♦Current Status♦ > ALPHECCA activated BANISH BURST Speed increased and broke through limit Added FLOATING SPECTER > CION activated WOLF RUSH Accelerated to match ALPHECCA’s speed > KYOUKA’s WOLF PACK activated reciprocal effect CION’s speed increased “Awooooo!” Cion howled loudly. I felt a sudden jolt as she picked up just enough speed to narrowly evade The Calamity’s arms. Cion turned the corner and sprinted even faster down the street. The others chasing the monster in the battering ram vehicle made it safely past the corner, too. We had the enemy sandwiched in on both sides, but we needed to keep pressing on. “I—I see another super-sharp corner coming up…!” yelled Misaki. “You sure this thing’s not gonna send us down a dead end…?!” “Do not fear! We have a specialist riding in the vehicle behind us who can activate the special interceptor!” If only we can keep this up, then maybe… But as soon the thought crossed my mind, I knew it was too good to be true. ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY can now activate STING RAY Luminescent energy once again began surging down The Calamity’s body and into its nine stingers. “Mr. Atobe!” “Seraphina, we will stop that beam. Please, lend me your shield once more.” Seraphina turned around and looked me straight in the eye. Without a word, she took my hand and placed it over her own that gripped her shield. “Your wish to protect all you hold dear is now mine as well. This is the feeling you inspire in me…!” “GOHHH… OHHHH!” The scorpion queen belted out a deafening roar—but it was no longer the only queen in town. Alphecca had appeared, adorned with her crown of thorns. Part II: The Interceptor We turned another sharp corner, only to find a brick wall marking a very dead end, just as Misaki had suspected. That meant the secret weapon must be hidden somewhere around here. “I entrust my safety to you, Master,” said Alphecca. “And now, once more…together with our Hidden God, we shall fortify your almighty shield…!” added Murakumo. Blinding beams exploded out from the nine tips of The Calamity’s stingers. In that split second, I could have sworn I caught a glimpse of a young woman, her head bowed in prayer deep within the Sanctuary of that fateful labyrinth. “Just try and get past me…!” The Calamity had its sights set not on Alphecca or Seraphina. It had recognized a single person as its true threat then focused every modicum of malice gathering at the ends of its nine stingers on that one target: me. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated REARGUARD GENERAL Stats improved based on current number of party members > THE CALAMITY activated STING RAY Target: All lasers on ARIHITO The laser beams barreled straight toward me and cut in from the sides. I was surrounded, robbed of all possible avenues of escape. “My dear devotee. While I admonish your recklessness…I take pride in your valiant courage.” I knew all my friends were praying we’d make it through this in one piece. Their hopes ran through me and bolstered the shield Seraphina and I had joined forces to create. “Haaaaaaaaaah!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO requested temporary aid from ARIADNE Target: ARIHITO > ARIADNE activated GUARD VARIANT > SERAPHINA activated DEFENSE FORCE > SERAPHINA activated AURA SHIELD > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 2 Support Types: DEFENSE FORCE, AURA SHIELD > REARGUARD GENERAL strengthened AURA SHIELD Converted to AURA SCUTUM I activated Rearguard General and supported the weight of Seraphina’s shield with her. Then, drawing once more from her skills, I used Defense Support 2 to forge an invisible protective barrier. All nine laser beams The Calamity sent surging toward us bore straight down into the barrier—but then. ♦Current Status ♦ > ARIHITO and SERAPHINA deflected 9 laser beams > AURA SCUTUM strengthened reflected attack Every single one of the beams ricocheted off my Defense Support 2 protective barrier without leaving so much as a dent—and headed straight back toward The Calamity as it rushed madly toward us. “GYOHHHH! …OHHH!!” The deflected beams hit their maker with even greater force than they’d had to start and pierced through the monster’s near-impenetrable armor, forcing The Calamity to give up real speed for the first time yet. “Both of you, brace yourselves for impact!” Kozelka called out to the two huge horses pulling the battering ram vehicle as it barreled into The Calamity; the monster initially held its ground as the horses hurled themselves at it, but it stumbled forward after additional rounds of attack. Just then: “Captain Kozelka…do it now!” “Khosrow!” “You got it, Cap!” Khosrow hurled Kozelka through the air, literally—she shot forward like a speeding bullet, briefly landed on the wall to the right of The Calamity, and with lightning-fast swiftness, propelled herself all the way up to reach a lever positioned around three stories above the ground. “Fall to your doom!” ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY fell into trap door The instant The Calamity set foot on a strip of the street we’d passed just a moment before without issue, the cobblestones beneath its feet caved under its weight and went crumbling down with the monster into the gaping hole. Then: “Fire!” ♦Current Status♦ > NAYUTA used ACTIVATE TRAP Fired MAGICAL BEAST BINDING CANNON > 6 stages hit THE CALAMITY Chains failed to capture THE CALAMITY “GOHHH… OHHHH!!” “Shit, it’s not enough! Nayuta, fire the other cannon!” “…Activate Trap isn’t meant for one person to use in such quick succession…” “You sayin’ you can’t do it…? Well, we better do somethin’, or that cockroach’s gonna bolt!” ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY activated HOMING NEEDLE Target: KOZELKA > KOZELKA activated SHADOW STEP > KOZELKA dodged HOMING NEEDLE THE CALAMITY resisted Charm “Urgh!” There was another lever on the opposite side of the street. Kozelka tried to jump over to release it, but The Calamity refused to let her go that easily and struck out from the bottom of the pit. Elitia and Cion are the only ones in my party who can get that high in a single bound… Wait, no. Maybe that’s not what matters here… I’d seen the skills Nayuta and Kozelka had used in action before. That’s right—Theresia had both those skills. These may be incredibly high-ranking Guild Saviors, but at the end of the day, they were just putting skills they already knew to good use. Before I could even say anything, Theresia hopped off Alphecca’s chariot, walked over to the wall to the left of The Calamity, and gazed upward. She was in no condition to fight, but she stood tall on her own two feet. She’s always been like that. Theresia has never once backed down from an enemy, no matter how strong or terrifying… None of us has. That’s exactly what’s brought us this far…! Theresia knew Nayuta had used Activate Trap. She didn’t need me or my license to tell her that. I felt a wave of pride come over me for choosing her as my first-ever party member in the Labyrinth Country. “Theresia.” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated REAR STANCE Target: THERESIA “I’ll support you!” “……!” ♦Current Status♦ > THERESIA activated ACTIVATE TRAP Fired MAGICAL BEAST BINDING CANNON > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: BLADE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH Insufficient magic > SCHOLAR’S ANKH activated Converted vitality into magic “Stopppppp!” Theresia’s skill fired the weapon built into the corridor. Huge spears trailed by strings of steel chains fired out one after the other and drove down onto The Calamity. “I may not have the power to expend my master’s life force…but woe unto those who discount the Stellar Sword!” ♦Current Status♦ > 6 stages hit THE CALAMITY Chains captured THE CALAMITY Partially destroyed armor BLADE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH activated 6 times I heard Murakumo’s war cry just before the six spears pierced through The Calamity’s armor. Murakumo added to the onslaught and struck the monster furiously with her Blade of Heaven and Earth. “GYOHHHH! …OHHH!!” The tenor of the monster’s cry took a marked turn—we were finally doing some real damage. Cracks began to creep over the once impenetrable armor from wherever the spears and the Blade of Heaven and Earth had met their marks. “Mr. Atobe!” yelled Kozelka. I had to hand it to her; even amid all the chaos, she never lost her dutiful concern for others. “……!” “I’ll be okay… I’ve still got one more trick up my sleeve… Ariadne!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIADNE converted ARIHITO’s Devotion into magic ““Hiiiiyaaaaah!!”” Elitia and Igarashi leaped into the fray with Melissa following close behind. We had The Calamity completely bound, but it still tried putting up a final fight. This time, however, we knew its nine tails wouldn’t be able to summon magical energy again so soon after activating Sting Ray. “Cooperation Support…Double Fire!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated OUTSIDE ASSIST > ARIHITO activated COOPERATION SUPPORT 1 and ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FORCE SHOT (FREEZE) > KYOUKA activated DOUBLE ATTACK 2 stages hit THE CALAMITY Combined attack stage 1 > KOZELKA activated SWORD RAIN 12 stages hit THE CALAMITY Combined attack stage 2 > NAYUTA activated DANCING WHIP 8 stages hit THE CALAMITY Combined attack stage 3 > MELISSA activated KNIFE ARTISTRY Probability of partial destruction increased > MELISSA activated LOP OFF THE CALAMITY dropped materials Combined attack stage 4 > KOTTO’S GAUNTLETS activated special effect Unleashed additional DOUBLE DOWN attack “GYOH…OHHH!!” The fierce blitz lasted only a matter of seconds and ended decisively with one final charge by none other than the strongest attacker on our team: Elitia. Her eyes burned red as she raised her scarlet sword overhead and chanted: “Icy flowers, freeze over and scatter. Blossom Blade!” ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA activated RED EYE Increased attack and mobility Initiated magic consumption > ELITIA activated BLOSSOM BLADE > SCARLET DANCE increased offense and decreased defense > 24 stages hit THE CALAMITY Combined attack stage 5 > ELITIA activated additional attack 6 stages hit THE CALAMITY > Combined attack LOP, BLOSSOM, FIERCE DANCE, EARLY SUMMER RAIN Partially destroyed additional areas of THE CALAMITY’s armor > Broke through ATTACK SUPPORT 2 limit FORCE SHOT (FREEZE) activated 54 times Weak spot attack Elitia unleashed a deluge of strikes that rained down upon the behemoth scorpion like petals in a storm. Their ice attribute snaked in through the cracks in The Calamity’s damaged armor, growing in strength and plunging the surrounding air into arctic temperatures as they expanded. “…GYOH…OH…” The Calamity flailed as the ice ravaged its body. Slowly but surely, the scorpion queen was trapped in a frozen prison and could no longer move. ♦Current Status♦ > THE CALAMITY progressed to third-degree Freeze Fell into FROZEN PRISON state > FROZEN PRISON state rendered THE CALAMITY incapable of fighting Defeated 1 THE CALAMITY > All DEATH STALKERS under THE CALAMITY’s command lost the will to fight The far-off clamor of battle and destruction instantaneously died out. “……” Theresia looked over at me. Recovery Support had activated the entire time she stood in front of me, and her wounds were already looking a little less severe. “Yeah… It’s over. We won…” “Arihito!! …Ahhh, I thought this time we were goners for suuuure!” Misaki exclaimed as she dove straight in for a hug before anyone else could even get close. There wasn’t a shadow of a doubt in my mind that Misaki had cracked the door with her Jester’s Wildcards and given us the opening we needed to defeat The Calamity. I decided that, just this once, I’d let her cling to me as long as she liked. ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA’s BERSERK and RED EYE have terminated with the end of combat > Elitia’s stats were temporarily reduced “……!” “Ellie!” “…Great job. You really are crazy strong.” Igarashi and Melissa raced over to Elitia and caught her just as she was about to lose her balance. “…You’re all…so…hurt…” “Ellie…?” Suzuna went over to check on Elitia, but Theresia cut in before she could get there. “…Theresia…” “……” Theresia reached out and patted Elitia’s shoulder a few times. Elitia placed her trembling hand over Theresia’s and held it tightly, then said: “I…I’m nowhere near as strong as you. You’re always right there by Arihito’s side, protecting him, and us…” Theresia said nothing. The little we could see of her face beneath the mask betrayed no expression. But I knew she cared for Elitia. As if to prove it, she took Elitia’s hand between both of hers and squeezed it back in return. “…Snff…hic…” Elitia buried her face in those hands and wept. We’d won, and all lived to tell the tale. Only this time, we had the battle scars to prove it. We had skipped over District Six and come directly to District Five. The Guild Saviors and the weapon they’d set up in the foundations of the city helped us bring the monster to its knees, but The Calamity had destroyed the walls and streets of the corridor as it fell into the pit, ensuring it could never be used again. “Arihito, it dropped a box!” I took that to mean we really had defeated the scorpion, even if it was just suspended in ice. A small Black Box lay on the ground close to the lip of the pit. Misaki picked it up and brought it over. “That’s an amazing find, but we didn’t bring this one down on our own. Let’s talk it over with Kozelka and her team and decide what to do.” “You betcha! Oh, looks like they’re comin’ over right now.” Khosrow hopped off the battering ram as Kozelka and their third companion—a woman called Nayuta, according to my license—walked over to meet us. “Mr. Atobe, we must proceed to exterminate the remaining Death Stalkers. You and your team did us a great service. That said, I imagine you must all be exhausted.” “My name is Nayuta Houjou. I’m a Third-Class Dragon Captain assigned to the District Five Guild Saviors regimen. Allow me to escort you through the city to a safer location in order to avoid any active battle sites.” “Thank you, that would be a tremendous help,” I said. “I’d like to keep assisting with the mission, but I can’t deny that we’re all quite spent…” Her introduction complete, Nayuta cast a scrutinizing eye at Theresia. She must have realized Theresia had used a skill they shared. “I alone could not have operated both of those weapons at once… We would never have subdued The Calamity without this young woman’s assistance. You have my most sincere thanks.” “I’m sure Theresia is thrilled to hear you say so. She’s a valiant Seeker; I’m very proud to call her my friend.” Nayuta nodded and held out her right hand. I shook it, and a warm smile spread across her face. She looked surprisingly mature for someone I felt had to be younger than me. “…Ms. Elitia, that sword of yours should only be used once all the proper conditions have been met. It’s a wonder you so much as contend with its power at your level… To wield it to such devastating effect requires an exceptionally rare level of mastery.” “…But…it’s all I have…” “Ellie knows what she’s doing. She’s saved us time and again with this sword… It may be a dreadful weapon, but she has it under control…!” I didn’t believe Elitia was only “contending” with the power of her sword. Suzuna felt exactly the same and told Kozelka so in no uncertain terms. Kozelka drew her hand up to the hilt of her own sword and appeared to consider something for a moment, then she bowed her head toward Elitia and said: “I apologize; I should not have admonished you based on my own assumptions. You’ve all made it thus far by vanquishing your foes as we witnessed mere moments ago. And once again, your contributions here today secured victory against The Calamity.” “This here Named Monster’s frozen to the bone… What’s it gonna be?” asked Khosrow. “Doubt it’d manage to get too far even if the ice did melt, but you won’t have to worry about that with it in this Frozen Prison status.” “We didn’t defeat it on our own; we had your help and used the interceptor, too. I wanted to ask your thoughts about how to share the loot, this box here included,” I replied. We’d harvest a real bounty from The Calamity, frozen as it was, not to mention the Black Box. At least that’s what I’d thought, but Kozelka simply shook her head. And then, she did something I almost never saw her do: She smiled. I hadn’t expected her to have such a gentle side. It lasted only for a second, though, and the piercing gaze I’d grown accustomed to soon returned to her eyes. “You have accomplished a great feat mere hours after stepping foot in District Five. Not only that, you exceeded all the precedents set by any Advanced Seekers before you. I hope you take due pride in that. That’s what I intend to do myself, with your permission.” “I haven’t seen one of those Black Boxes in ages, and I gotta tell ya, it’s givin’ me quite the rush. But it’s all yours. And don’t be shy; take all the materials you want.” “…Sure, we’ll take them,” said Melissa. “I get the feeling this one monster’s gonna fill up my entire Repository.” She looked to me for permission, but there seemed to be no need for reserve; Kozelka had nodded, and Khosrow was giving us a big thumbs-up. I signaled it was okay, and Melissa pressed the Repository key against the frozen behemoth, teleporting it away. “If defeating The Calamity weakened all the remaining Death Stalkers, your party will be awarded a predetermined amount of additional contribution points toward the monsters other Seekers eliminate as well,” Kozelka explained. “Please be aware these will only be calculated after all the fighting has ceased… If you’ll excuse us. Khosrow, it’s time we took our leave.” “Roger that. Atobe, let’s grab a drink one of these days. I’ve got a feeling I’m gonna like shootin’ the you-know-what with you,” said Khosrow in parting, then together with Kozelka, he climbed aboard the battering ram vehicle. He maneuvered it through a quick U-turn and went speeding out the way they’d come. “Master, I shall transport you all to safety. O valiant wolf, do you have strength in you yet to carry your companions?” “Bow!” “Great job earlier, Cion. You really helped us out back there.” Cion sat in anticipation as I walked over to her. Igarashi joined me and started petting her. I decided it’d be best to leave Igarashi and Seraphina with Cion. Worst-case scenario, Seraphina would be able to deflect any oncoming attacks with her shield. “Now then, Mr. Atobe…I’ve set your license to track my location. I’ll guide you through the city, so please follow my lead,” Nayuta told me. “Hah!” ♦Current Status♦ > NAYUTA activated ROPE ACTION Nayuta cracked the taloned whip she had hung around her waist and leaped into action. Over and over again, she threw the whip ahead to propel her forward, the picture of a circus acrobat alight in midair. “Y’know, I kinda figured she might’ve been some sorta performer after I saw the whip, but…what do you think?” asked Misaki. “Whips, huh…?” mused Igarashi. “I guess you do see lion tamers using them in their shows.” “I’ve only met Captain Nayuta once before, but I believe she did, in fact, belong to a circus troupe pre-reincarnation. Excellent deduction, Ms. Misaki,” said Seraphina. We set off after Nayuta as we chatted. Theresia decided all on her own to sit on my lap; I didn’t have a problem with that in itself since she needed my Recovery Support, but it was a little awkward, given how badly her suit had been damaged. A huge gash in the fabric had left her shoulder completely exposed. “……” Perhaps unaware of the state she was in, Theresia offhandedly turned around to face me. I wondered whether we could get her Hide and Seek repaired—or at least that’s what I tried focusing on to get my mind off how dangerously close her body suit was coming to revealing something I definitely should not be looking at. “I-it’s best if you sit still. I know this may be a bit too warm, but just bear with me…” I draped my jacket over her shoulders, kicking myself for not thinking of this sooner. “……” “Hee-hee… You’re really swimming in Atobe’s jacket, Theresia.” “You’re one to talk, Kyouka. I wish you’d put something over that suuuper racy look you’ve got going for you,” teased Misaki. “W-well…there’s not much point getting self-conscious about that now…,” Igarashi protested. “Arihito, do you think we can get Theresia’s clothing mended?” Suzuna asked with concern. As Alphecca began picking up speed, I wondered if we could find a professional in District Five to do it for us—but that’s when I got a message on my license from Madoka back at the Guild Savior base. Dear Arihito, one of the Guild Saviors just let me know you all made it out okay. I’m so relieved. I also heard Theresia was injured. How is she doing? Kozelka must have written to Madoka on her way to the next site. I mentally thanked her for thinking ahead and opened the next message: We’ve officially been granted leave to stay in District Five for a while thanks to all your great contributions in battle. This means we can ask merchants from other districts to come here, too. In that case, I figured I’d better have Ceres and Steiner come up and meet us. Maybe I could ask Luca from Boutique Corleone to join us after he finished my suit, too. It would be great if Falma could help us out with the Black Box, but I guessed that would depend on what was going on with her kids. But more important—most important, actually—this permission to stay meant one thing. “Elitia, let’s talk this over again later. It’s time we rescued your friend.” “…All right. But for now…I just want you all to rest. Theresia, you really…” “……” Elitia had lost her best friend, left the Brigade where she once belonged, and been dubbed the “Death Sword.” Yet, she never abandoned her quest to save Rury. And now we had all made it here. But it was still too soon for her to celebrate. For one thing, we didn’t know if we’d even be allowed to venture into the labyrinths of District Five. All labyrinths were ranked in stars, and we were supposed to raid only those with up to three. “We’ve already defeated one Named Monster… I’m sure they’ll let us into the labyrinths here. We’ll get your friend back, Ellie. I promise.” “Thank you, Kyouka.” Elitia’s resolve was as strong as ever, but I could see her begin to waver. Perhaps all the memories of losing her friend and the desperate battle against The Calamity had planted seeds of doubt in her mind. If so, I wanted to say something—anything—that might comfort her. But as I looked at Elitia gazing off in the distance, not a single word came to mind.