I gave Liza’s question some thought. I heard something from an adventurer when we first saw the Divine Beast. The Divine Beast was supposed to be an even match against the treelike monster, the high-ranking bark demon.
“…No, we should stay here and defeat the low-rank demons.”
“Watch out!”
Tama’s hairs were standing on edge as she grabbed Nana’s arm and pointed in the direction of where the high-ranking demon was.
“…Fortress.”
The simplified version of the Fortress system installed in Nana’s silver armor was deployed in an emergency. In the next moment, an enormous beam of light swept through the forest, cutting down the trees, and collided with the Fortress barrier, unleashing flashes of light and a deafening roar.
“It is close to its limit, I declare.”
Oh no.
The outside layer of the fortress crumbled, causing the inner layers to crack.
“Deracinator!”
My Deracinator spell deployed outside the barrier was obliterated in an instant. With a sharp cracking sound, Nana’s feet, which were supposed to be anchored by dimensional stakes, slid backward. The force was so overwhelming that the dimensional stakes couldn’t hold. Nana, having lost her anchors, was pushed back along with the Fortress barrier. It seemed that even the barrier, which was supposed to be fixed in place, could no longer withstand the force.
“Liza!”
“““Phalanx”””
“Sir!”
The disposable defensive shields, Phalanx, installed in Nana’s armor, deployed three layers of barriers inside the Fortress she was holding up. I also reinforced the Fortress from within using Deracinator.
“Hitting its limit, I declare—‘Flexible Shield’!”
The Fortress finally broke, the three layers of the Phalanx broke down, and Nana used all her magic, her greatshield, and her skills to deflect the destructive beam upward.
—Gah.
Nana’s feet were torn from the ground, and we were all blown backward. In my spinning, swirling vision, I caught a glimpse of the eggshell-like outer wall, newly split open.
“We somehow managed to stop it.”
“It was hard, I declare.”
I noticed Nana was frowning slightly. Usually, she was expressionless. It seemed the attack just now wounded her ego.
“No surprise there. That attack was on the level of a demon lord’s, after all.”
“If they keep throwing hits like that, won’t even the Divine Beast struggle with it?”
I think they’re evenly matched for now, since I can see trees flying through the air and dust clouds rising in the distance.
“No need to worry about that, human girl.”
I heard a voice come from the sky. I looked up and saw a sorceress with a heavily decorated staff floating down. She was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a luxurious black robe, with slender legs peeking out from the hem, seemingly clad in flying boots.
“Ah, are we finally seeing the Great Sorceress? Or should I refer to you as the Great Sorceress’s pupil?” I called out to the Great Sorceress Arcatia, who was hiding her face behind her wide hat.
“This is why I don’t like reincarnated folks or heroes. Concealing myself, disguises, and everything else doesn’t work on you.”
Judging from her tone of voice, she had moved from Great Sorceress mode back into pupil mode as she shrugged her shoulders.
“Found an opening!”
“Time to get rid of the small fry!”
A lower-class demon, which had possessed a small insect to sneak closer, launched a surprise attack.
“What opening?”
“Agh, if you’re gonna do a surprise attack, try to remove your miasma before doing it.”
My Deracinator blocked the charge of the lower-class demon, and Tia’s Earth Magic, Toss Beryl, pierced through the demon, turning it into a black mist.
“Yes, sir. He didn’t hide his miasma, sir.”
“Oui, ouuui.”
Pochi’s and Tama’s Magic Swords vanquished the lower-class demon, along with the insect it had possessed.
“““Attack together!”””
Realizing their ambush had failed, the lower-class demons dispelled their possessions and attacked all at once.
“… Kyuubouchou Balloon.”
“Unleash chaos, fire!”
Mia’s Water Magic sent the lower-ranking demons up into the sky, with Lulu’s continuous fire hitting them in their weak points.
“Skywalking—‘Helix Spear Attack’!”
“‘Dimension Slasher’!”
The two tenacious ones that survived were finished off by Liza’s special move, which she unleashed while soaring through the sky, and with help from my Space Magic.
“I wonder if that’s it?”
The Great Sorceress looked around as she spoke.
“Not yet.”
Tama responded.
“Hmm, miasma.”
Mia spoke, pointing in the direction of the torn-off turtle shell. With a clattering sound, scattering debris around, a sludge-like shadow rose from the ground.
“Gooooooootttt yooooou.”
The face of the old necromancer appeared on the sludge-like torso. There was also the face of a middle-aged necromancer with hollow eyes, who seemed to be a companion. The place where a face should normally be was a featureless, smooth surface, with long horns growing where the forehead would be. It was around level 50 and seemed to be both undead and demon-like.
“…Zanzasansa, what the hell are you doing?”
“Uaaghhhhh, Tiiiaaaaa.”
He called out the Great Sorceress’s name. It seemed like he knew her.
“Shall I leave the rest to you?”
“Sorry about this. I might be completely tied up for a bit, so can I leave the support for the Divine Beast to you?”
“It’s fine. You’ll just owe me one.”
“Got it. I’ll pay you back.”
The Great Sorceress pulled down her wide-brimmed hat with a sharp motion and held her long staff like a spear.
“I’ll be off, Zanzasansa. Don’t wait too long for a hug!”
“Uaaaghhhhh, Tiiiiiaaaaa.”
Countless green pillars emerged from beneath the mid-level demon, mercilessly piercing its body. There was no sign of chanting, so I figured that staff must be some kind of artifact.
“Protect the Great Sorceress!”
“Show them the real strength of a golden lion rank!”
The adventurers became a shield to protect the Great Sorceress. The sorceress who controls the spring can use abundant magic power, and with the adventurers providing protection, I figured they’d be fine.
“All right, everyone, let’s go!”
We headed toward the first Teleportation point.