Even after knowing the past of the other, it would not change the fact that they were fighting as comrades in arms. And those were the words said by the honest gaze from Asuka.
“……Yahoho. Mhm. Of course. If I use this look to say ‘Trick or Treat’, children would surely be scared to the verge of tears. I guess I should just spare myself from those situations.”
“That’s right. The pumpkin head really looks many times better than the current you.”
Yahoho, Jack gave a laugh that was a much deeper tone than the usual.
He also seemed to be a little shy and it is definitely not an illusion.
“Okay……It’s our turn to do this, Alma! Let’s go beat those rude little baddies!”
{“Understood. My master.”}
Almathea reverted from her fortress form to her mountain goat form while Asuka retrieved four Gemstone orbs from her Gift Card which she then proceeded to inject with her Speech.
“ ‘Float like the Clouds, Shower like a hailstorm, and Rampage wildly like a bolt of thunder—
O’Mountain Goat who runs in the skies, I beseech thee to transform into a formless fortress to mete justice upon thy enemies.’
"—Go, Almathea!”[12]
The words of Asuka had caused the gemstone orbs to have mock Divinities residing within them.
Her God’s bestowment (Speech) is a reinforcing Gift but if it were to be used in its current form, they would shatter instantly; hence, these four gemstone orbs were given to Almathea to crush between her teeth, where they would be absorbed as Gifts.
In an instant, the spiritual status of Almathea started to bloat enormously.
(Asuka-san…… Finally she’s going to use that.)
Almathea, who had just ingested the four Mock Divinities, started to release fierce sparks of electricity that ran along her woolly body and she gave a loud bellow. The Iron body had also started to melt from the heat and gradually turned into a fluid that seemed like Mercury.
Almathea—Her real identity is the Goddess of Harvest who nurtured the main God of the Greek mythologies. Her horn is able to bless fertile soils and bring forth much fruit for harvest, and her woolen hide is covered by a layer of Adamantium; hence, she is able to become the Strongest Shield of the Greek Gods that can defend from any attacks—[Shield of Aegis][13].
Jack had used the combination of Adamantium on Almathea to create a mock [Aegis Shield]. But the method to activate this Shield would require an indispensable Gift. And that would be the Divinity from the Heavens.
Like the clouds, hail and thunder that protects her master to mete justice upon the enemies.
[Shield of Aegis] is still a symbol of power for Zeus, God of the skies.
(To make up for that shortcoming, Asuka-san had used the method of injecting Mock Divinity into those four orbs to be given to Almathea. And if this works……)
Having her former Divinity returned to her, Almathea gave a loud bellow.
Stomping her hooves that ran with rivulets of energy that coursed throughout her body, she waited for the orders from her master.
{“Please give the next order, my master.”}
“The order’s been given already. Just like the clouds that float in the skies, the hail that rains down upon the lands and the thunder that strikes in a pronged fork—Almathea!”
The sound of an explosion came shortly as the air around her underwent a rapid thermal expansion.
Following the explosion, fresh blood had also spurted out from the chest of Graiya.
Almathea who had moved with a sonic boom had pierced Graiya’s chest like an arrow. The speed was completely incomparable to that of before and it could be said to be the epitome of a lightning fast strike that sparked as it struck its target.
“Gu, uh—!!”
As Graiya toppled backwards from the momentum of the horn that pierced his right chest, the two beasts fell in a straight line to crash through the structures within the Corridor of Displays and all the way into the Commercial Districts, causing them to collapse along the way.
However, this opportunity was not let up by the Demon Lord of Confusion as he immediately launched a fireball towards Asuka who stood without her usual protectors.
“You’re full of loopholes, ojou-chan!”
“Ara, A maiden’s defense is really sturdy you know?”
— *Hing Ling* The sound of the flute that had suddenly appeared in Asuka’s hands from nowhere resonated in the air. Perhaps it was a customized version of a flute for a simple movement of the wrist had already been able to generate the sound from the flute.
But the problem was not with that movement.
Seeming to have heard this sound, Almathea had traveled at light speed to protect Asuka.
(Guh, that’s fast!)
Coming down like a torrential rain of scatter shots, she had transformed into an Iron Wall of defense. As for Graiya, who had been knocked away with her just a little while earlier, he was still kneeling over the rubble as he gripped the right of his chest to staunch the flow of blood. It really is an incredible speed.
(Tch! This girl also possess some problematic tricks as well huh……?)
The Demon Lord of Confusion had a cunning glint in his eyes, which was really unimaginable to have come from a young girl, as he assessed the situation.
Although Jack was said to be a Sixth Digit person, he was in the possession of an [Authority of Host Master] and in addition to that was Asuka who controlled The Fortress—Almathea. Graiya had also been severely injured and the enemies were still holding back on their hidden moves.
The situation sure is bleak.
He gave a shrug. “Although it is a pity, but I guess it’s about time. FuFu, it’s time for us to take our leaves.”
“…… Are you trying to run? As long as my [Authority of Host Master] is still activated, you will never be able to escape out of [Kouen City].”
Jack raised his dagger while lowering his hips into a crouch.
But the Demon Lord of Confusion only gave a leisurely smile as he retrieved another reel of scroll[14].
“What~’s the matter?! It’s just for us to regroup a little. Well, during that time, you will just have to make do with playing with the Titans!”
He unreeled the scroll and some Chinese characters floated from the surface.
虚度光阴—The curse that stops the sense of time within the radius of the caster.
Up to the point where their vision started to become a monochrome, Asuka and Jack were able to grasp the situation but it was only up to that point for the figure of the Demon Lord of Confusion had suddenly disappeared before their eyes.
“You must be joking? He really disappeared!”
{“Although it’s just for a moment, I’m sure that the characters of 虚度光阴 had appeared. I speculate that this must be the curse that controls the sense of time. And as long he has that card in his hand, we won’t be able to catch him”}
“But I’ve already activated the [Authority of Host Master] on him. If he attempts to flee the city—“
Just then, the sound of something collapsing from the outer wall section of the city echoed loudly.
The stationed troops along the City walls must have been breached.
Asuka and Jack gritted their teeth in frustration as they assessed the next step they should take.
“Let’s go. If the Demonified Titans were to swamp in the City would be wasted even if we were to win the Game.”
{“That’s right. But what makes me worried is Smith Jack. If he continues to battle, he would also fall prey to the curse of fatigue and lose his strength right?”}
“Oh, Oh this…… It’s nothing, don’t worry! Due to a lot of reasons, this curse will not have any effect on me!”
{“Hm? Oh is that so? Then let’s take action before it’s too late.”}
Asuka rode upon Almathea, who had changed back to her mountain goat form, as they hurried over to the breached Outer Walls.
But at this time, they should have noticed.
The Dragon Horn of the Dragon of the Sea of Stars that Sandra carries around had not once, been used by the Demon Lord of Confusion.