... Hajime, leave the left and behind to me."
"Ah, I will leave it to you. Shia, Tio, you control the boat."
"Roger!"
"Mhm, leave it to this one. How about ass spanking as a reward?"
Ignoring Tio's perverted remark that could neither be taken as joke nor real, Hajime and Yue were back to back diagonally on the boat. Then, crowd of Magma Bats could be seen.
It was not an exaggeration to call them as one living creature. The numerous Magma Bats were moving as one big mass, like a group perfectly ordered birds. Their appearance was just like a dragon if seen from the side. It might be more accurate to call it a fire dragon because each of its wings was cladded in blazing magma.
The mass of Magma Bats approaching Hajime's party divided into two on their way, creating pincer attack from the front and behind. No matter how weak they were alone, the numerous them were moving as one huge creature and normally would overwhelm anyone with their number.
However, the party here were a group of cheat-like individuals. The demonic beasts that became fertilizer on the ground near the town of Ul were the proof the party wouldn't be so weak being overwhelmed by just number.
Hajime took out Metzelei from "Treasure Box," set it beside his waist and pulled the monster's trigger.
BAAANNNG
With the ringing of the peculiar shooting sound, the storm of death exhibited its undoubtable might and one rapid fire pierced through various targets. The bullets crushed the wall of the cave in the distance while the Magma Bats were killed and fell into the ground without being able to resist.
Furthermore, Hajime took out Orkan using the other free hand, placed it on his shoulder, and mercilessly fired it. Spark created, and the rockets flew and pierced into the middle of Magma Bats who were grouping due to Metzelei's barrage, scattering violent impacts along with roaring sounds.
The result was clear. The crowd of Magma Bats were crushed and falling just like a short squall.
Similar thing happened to the Magma Bats attacking from the rear.
""Storm Dragon.""
Yue's right hand thrust straight, and the moment she muttered that, a green sphere of wind was created. Following that, the sphere transformed, forming a dragon in less than no time. The wind dragon, who was a compilation of green-colored wind and called "Storm Dragon," glared at the crowd of Magma Bats once, and it opened its jaws, moving to devour its preys.
Naturally, the Magma Bats shot flame bullets towards "Storm Dragon," then they divided into two again to dodge the dragon. However, all of Yue's "dragons" were a compound of gravity magic and other element. Naturally, "Storm Dragon" was not just composed of normal wind; it was composed of wind blades that were pulled by gravity to create a dragon. Once it moved, it would be difficult for the prey to escape.
Magma Bats, just like the other demonic beasts that became the food of "Thunder Dragon" and "Azure Dragon," couldn't resist from being pulled towards "Storm Dragon." Thus the body cladded by wind blades cut the demonic beasts' bodies to pieces, scattering flesh and blood. It should be noted that the reasons Yue didn't use "Thunder Dragon" or "Azure Dragon" was because the Magma Bats were strong against heat and Yue judged it was enough to just cut their wings.
In the end, "Storm Dragon" came within the crowd and released the million wind blades formed its body in all direction, completely annihilating the Magma Bats.
"Um~, Master and Yue's annihilating force art fearful no matter how many times I has't seen i."
"Indeed~."
While controlling the boat on the rapid current, Tio and Shia were praising them with awkward feeling. Shrugging his shoulders as he put out Metzelei and Orkan into "Treasure Box," Hajime lightly touched the Yue's cheek with his chest then returned to look at the front. Yue, after narrowing her eyes in happiness from being touched, returned to look at the surrounding with caution.
Hajme and Yue who casually took the chance to flirt made Shia exuded aura that expressed, Shia is lonely! Hold me!, which Tio took advantage of. Making slightly troubled expression after thinking it couldn't be helped, Hajime lightly stroked Shia's rabbit ear then pinched Tio's cheek. Hajime was troubled such things could make the two raised joyed expressions.
Hajime's party were considerably composed even though they were attacked by demonic beasts as they descended the rapid, magma's sky road. However, as if to take down their composure, the descending magma up until now suddenly began to ascend.
After climbing several tens of meters with tremendous speed, they could see light ahead of them. It was the exit of the tunnel. However, the problematic thing was the magma was cut off for real this time.
"Hold on tight!"
With Hajime's command, Yue and the girls once again clung to the small boat. Having ridden on the magma rapid's speed, the small boat was thrown outside with tremendous momentum.
While having his dantian attacked by the feeling of being in mid-air, Hajime quickly confirmed the condition of the surrounding. The space Hajime's party falling into was similar to the room where the last trial of «Raisen Great Dungeon» took place; a vast space.
However, it wasn't spherical like the room in «Raisen Great Dungeon». It has distorted shape which made it impossible to completely understand how vast the space was, but it was at least more than three kilometers. Almost all part of the ground was filled with magma, but the boulders appeared in some places and created footholds. On the surrounding walls were protruding places and conversely, there were also shaved off places. In the air was as expected, numerous rivers of intersecting magmas, and disappearing below, into the ocean of magma.
Flare-like pillars of fire spouted from the boiling, scorching ocean. If there was something called boiler of hell, it must be looked like this. That was the impression Hajime's party got.
However, the most noticeable thing was the small island in the center of the ocean of magma. The island was raised around 10 meters above the magma's surface, an island or rock. If it was only that, then it would just become a foothold big enough for them, but the island was covered by dome of magma. The spherical magma was just like a small version of sun, but the thing in the middle of the island was enough to catch the attention of Hajime's party.
""O' wind.""
The small boat turned over by the momentum was fixed by Tio in the air, then each of them returned to their own duty as they once again boarded the small boat. Yue used "Soar" to adjust the boat's falling speed. The boat softly landed on the ocean of magma, and the party maximized their vigilance because this place was obviously different from the ones they had seen.
"... Is that the dwelling?"
Yue muttered as she took a look at the middle of the magma-domed island.
"From the depth, I think it is okay to think so... but, if it really is..."
"There should be the last guardian of some sort... right, Master?"
"We used something similar to shortcut, so is it too farfetched to say we have passed the test, Hajime-san?"
Hajime's thought was confirmed by Tio, who was looking at the surrounding with sharp gaze, made her not to be thought as a perverted masochist if some small accidents were overlooked. Even seeing their tightened expression, Shia muttered optimist words while looking at a certain direction.
Tracing Shia's gaze, Hajime could see a staircase beyond the large foothold. The staircase continued into the wall made him think that perhaps they would've come from that staircase if they used the proper route.
Even so, no matter how impossible it was for someone to use magma's sky road, it was too much of an optimist to think the shortcut even passed through the last trial room. It'd be nice if it really is~, Shia said, but her cautious look expressed that even she couldn't believe that.
It was correct for them to be cautious because immediately, bullet-like magma shot out from the magma flowing in the air.
"Hmph, leave it to this one!"
Tio shouted as she activated her magic, thus masses of flame shot out from the ocean of magma, countering magma approaching from above.
However, that attack was only the beginning signal. Immediately after Tio countered the incoming blazing masses and scattered them, more blazing masses were shot out from the ocean of magma like a machinegun.
"Tch, scatter!"