Chapter 3[แก้ไข]
Part 1[แก้ไข]
---[Underwood], Foot of the Great Tree
At the appearance of the huge dragon, large quantities of Demonic Beasts started to appear on the ground.
Five-headed Hydras that had venom dripping from their fangs, fire salamanders that had heat radiating from their back ridges and many hundreds of different Demonic Beast species crawling out of the Earth and clawing their way to the surface to cover the entire Plains of [Underwood].
The only fortunate thing to rejoice about was the lack of unity or teamwork amongst them that made them just a disorganized bunch.
The [No Name]s and [Draco Greif] Alliance had retreated to the foot of [Underwood]’s Great Tree to set up their final line of defense there.
Riding on Deen’s shoulder, Asuka and Deen continuously pounded Demonic Beasts to dust. And between them and Sala, Deen’s strong arms would grapple the Demonic Beasts while Sala released flames she gathered in her palms to burn the Beasts to ash.
Back facing the City while using their bodies to block the charge of the Demonic Beasts. For no other strategies would have been effective. Since the huge dragon had appeared, it would mean that the battle would not end until the invading group cleared the Game.
Fighting shoulder to shoulder, Asuka and Sala worked seamlessly with their synchronized attacks but it was just a matter of time before their strength would give up on them.
Sala who had defeated twenty Demonic Beasts used the back of her hand to wipe off the sweat that beaded her forehead as she looked up at the skies.
In the next moment, the huge dragon started its rapid descent from the thunderclouds and was rushing towards the Plains.
“---The Dragon is descending! Everyone, grab onto something to anchor yourself now!”
Sala desperately shouted her warning while the alarms at the watch post had also started to toll frantically.
The huge Dragon swooped with its long and large body that would have easily exceeded the circumference of a mountain range while giving out a loud roar as it skimmed across the top of [Underwood].
「——GYEEEEEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaEEEEEEEEEEEEYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa!」
The draft whipped up by its passing did not send only those of the [Draco Greif] Alliance air borne, but also caused many of the Demonic Beasts to be sent into the skies like insignificant garbage in its way.
But that wasn’t a reason to rejoice for the Game had clearly resumed.
And following the swoop of the huge dragon, all the other natural disasters such as violent wind, storm and lightning, earthquakes started to occur one after another, leading [Underwood] to ruin.
The endless flow of Demonic Beasts and the huge Dragon that shook the Heavens with just its passing.
Realizing that this was much worse than they could handle, Sala shouted at Asuka who stood by her in the battle with the huge scorpions.
“……Asuka! You guys should also leave [Underwood] together with the other Participants---”
“How can I escape at this time?”
Deen caught the tail of the scorpion and twisted it off while stomping on the rest of its body. Asuka gave a pointed glance at Sala---
“Izayoi-san and the others are still fighting. The reason for the huge Dragon starting to rampage again is definitely due to that. So how can you expect me to flee?! You aren’t the only one whom I’ve promised to protect [Underwood]!”
Asuka shouted in a way that seemed to be a morale boost for herself as well as a defiant cry against the threat that swooped in the skies.
And Sala knew that there was no use in continuing to press Asuka to leave now.
“……Sorry about that, Asuka……!”
Sala had just lowered her gaze while apologizing when she noticed a group of Salamanders pouncing towards them at the same time.
Asuka immediately raised the gem embedded gauntlet on her left hand to release a jet of water from the seeds of the Water Tree. Following up with the attack, Deen stomped on all the Salamanders that were knocked back on the ground by the blast of water.
Then, a sound of something cracking came from Asuka’s gemmed gauntlet.
“……what?! I’ve only used it thrice!”
Asuka stared at the gems on her gauntlets as she grinded her teeth in frustration. Even so, she chose not to retreat as she and Deen worked together to protect the last line of defense around [Underwood].
Only Kuro Usagi who was at the crown of the Great Tree, recovering from the blunt impact, observed and received information about the crack on the gem on the gauntlet. And she grimaced slightly while nodding in understanding.
The heightening of the Spiritual powers must have shaved off quite a bit of the Gift’s durability. If it were made of Rare Sacred Iron with the techniques of the gods, the weapon wouldn’t have this side effect but mere shavings of the Dragon Horn and seeds of the Water Tree wouldn’t be able to stand the pressure of such a sudden injection of power.
Although that was surely a great talent, the weakness was just as clear as the talent. Gifts that might withstand Asuka’s power might only be a piece of Dragon Horn or weapons of that class.
If only there’s some weapon that can at least match up to the level of [Vajra Replica], Asuka-san’s talent wouldn’t be suppressed to this extent……
At this moment, Kuro Usagi felt disquieted but she who knew the battle situation more than anyone else still held onto a strand of hope.
Gazing up to the skies, she sent a quiet prayer for her comrades who continued to battle in the skies.
Izayoi-san……Yō –san…… If you can hear me, please clear the Game as fast as you can!
The situation had progressed to the stage where every minute and second counted to the saving of lives and just a moment’s difference could lead to the downfall of [Underwood].
Bringing to bear the torment of being powerless, Kuro Usagi desperately prayed for her comrades’ success.