Chapter 624 – Techniques and Determination

In a space that appeared completely empty, Sheila’s figure flickered in and out of existence moment by moment.

Sheila’s target was the Chameleon, but perhaps the enemy side had noticed something in her movements, as the Chameleon was now coming straight at her.

Its appearance began to change. Rather than altering its body color, the black garments it wore became transparent, allowing the scenery behind to show through. It was unclear whether this was clothing similar to Sheila’s coat, an inherent ability of the Chameleon itself, or some kind of Technique.

Both vanished from sight, clashing in mid-air.

Perhaps detecting each other’s movements through scent, sound, or presence, the Pearl Sword and the blade held in the Chameleon’s reverse grip clashed with metallic sounds and scattered sparks.

Only upon landing for a brief moment did they both become visible, immediately leaping away again. The sounds of Slash Attacks colliding echoed numerous times among the randomly erected ice towers, with Sheila and the Chameleon leaving fleeting afterimages here and there.

The Chameleon appeared in empty space, thrusting both hands into its garments, then releasing a volley of Daggers held between its fingers.

The thrown Daggers contained faint Fighting Spirit, each with different speeds and trajectories. The blades aimed to block Sheila’s path were fast, while those targeting her current position were slow – yet these contained the most powerful Fighting Spirit.

Sheila responded by releasing spider threads. As if catching the incoming rain of Daggers in a net, the spider threads then wrapped themselves in Fighting Spirit. With a movement of Sheila’s hands, the net tightened, flexing like a whip and hurling the entangled Daggers back at the Chameleon.

The Chameleon’s independently moving eyes tracked the approaching bladed adhesive whip. Evading and leaping aside, it then placed a hand on its black mask.

“SHAAAA!”

From its wide-open mouth, a long tongue whip shot straight toward Sheila. Sheila performed a Form Shift at the last moment to dodge it, and the tongue shattered the surface of an ice pillar behind her. The moment it seemed to break, the tongue was already back inside the Chameleon’s mouth.

“Hmm. Interesting.”

Sheila murmured softly upon seeing this. Keeping the Chameleon – excellent in phantom abilities and Close Combat – away from the Rearguard was Sheila’s job. But beyond that, this was an opponent with much to learn from, whether in Martial Arts or throwing techniques.

The other enemy shadows approaching Sheila – the Tears – couldn’t get close to the two’s combat area. Irmhild’s signaling arrows collectively disrupted the Tears’ attempts at aerial control toward Sheila, while a curtain of projectiles rained down upon them.

As a result, Sheila could concentrate on her fight with the Chameleon without worrying about the rear or surroundings.

Sheila, who had appeared for just a moment, exchanged glances with Irmhild who continued providing covering fire from behind, smiles appearing on both their lips.

Rearguard – around the defensive position, they continued relentlessly dealing with the approaching horde of Tears.

Taking cover behind obstacles to evade the projectile-type Tears’ barrage while luring the close-combat types into choke points.

Dullahan leaped out from behind ice cover, sweeping through a group of Tears with its Greatsword. As the Tears tried to immediately counterattack, ice vines released by Lavigne entangled them, preventing coordinated movements. Dullahan ran up into the air, performing a Form Shift with its horse. The moment the Tears noticed Dullahan’s movement – Belius charged in. Crushing Tears with his bite, he retreated with enough force to shatter ice pillars. Spinning through the air, he flew around the ice cave while firing streams of flame toward other groups of Tears still far away.

The ice walls and pillars destroyed in combat were instantly repaired by Ashley. And then – within the ice, sound carried. Occasionally Lavigne and Belius would roar, sending information through the echoes.

“He went around to the upper right!”

“Understood!”

Various information coming from Lavigne flying around inside the fortress. And Seraphina using the echoes to detect enemy positions. The two of them grasped the enemies’ movements, approximate locations, and scale. After luring in a certain number of close-combat types, they altered the terrain to control and suppress the enemies’ invasion speed and direction.

It was truly a living ice fortress. Ashley herself, closing her eyes in extreme concentration, was defenseless – but around her, Marlene’s phantoms and Saucers, along with Pietro’s clones, stood guard.

Using information from Eclair, they blocked passages that should normally be accessible with phantom ice, concealing the location and appearance of Ashley and the others deep in the fortress.

Pietro’s clones, and the phantoms of those clones, attracted the Tears, further dispersing their attacks.

Helvorte also moved as if following this tactic. It would teleport to positions visible to the Tears, draw their attacks, then vanish as if mocking them.

Though Helvorte’s movements were deceptive, its goal was clear: prioritizing the destruction of Bone Troopers.

Bone Troopers who could fire Crystal Lances from a distance, literally threading them through needle holes, were troublesome opponents. While performing diversion and feints against the Tears, its true focus was on the Bone Troopers’ movements.

A Bone Trooper that stepped into the ice – was suddenly swallowed by expanding dark space. This was the work of Shade, the dark spirit employed by Marlene.

It had no Attack Power, merely blocking vision. But that was enough.

After the darkness passed – black thorns had entangled the Bone Trooper’s limbs, sealing its movements. These were released from the Staff in Claudia’s hand.

“–Helvorte.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Helvorte didn’t miss this opportunity. Responding to Claudia’s words, a quiet voice echoed from the void, and the next moment the Bone Trooper was impaled by Valkyrie’s spear.

Starlight – one might call it. Spheres of solidified light floated around the Star Saucerer’s body.

These were the Star Saucerer’s Weapon, and also its Armor. The meteors for attack pierced approaching enemies like bullets. The satellites orbiting around the Star Saucerer’s body were for Defense.

The magician floating in mid-air, wielding a Staff to control the stars, had the air of an orchestra conductor.

The Star Saucerer, capable of three-dimensional, multi-faceted, wide-area simultaneous attacks, was another opponent that must not be allowed to reach the Rearguard.

Even while simultaneously facing Ignis and Rosemary, the Star Saucerer didn’t retreat a single step.

Responding to the Staff’s movements, meteors danced. As Ignis charged forward, kicking off its Shield to fly sideways, a meteor embedded itself in the ice pillar behind it. Immediately, the meteor emerged from the impact point and flew toward Ignis.

Meteors continuously flew toward Rosemary too, who was providing covering fire from a slight distance. Rosemary avoided them by jumping.

Since she supported Ignis, she had also trained in Close Combat and aerial mobility. Rosemary and Ignis flew around, alternating between Defense with Shields and evasion using Air Blast for rapid acceleration.

Sending Ignis on Charges, drawing enemy fire while returning shots. Even while flying around dizzyingly, Rosemary grasped the characteristics of the Star Saucerer’s techniques.

“The power decreases as you get further from the main body–. I see.”

Conversely, this meant that Ignis, who had to engage the enemy closely, would be exposed to the maximum power of both meteors and satellites.

Judging from previous impressions, taking a direct hit wouldn’t destroy Ignis’s Armor – but it had enough power to stop its movements.

If Ignis was sent flying by a direct hit, it would be showered with concentrated meteor fire as Pursuit.

That would indeed be dangerous, Rosemary estimated. For example, if joints in the limbs were affected, that alone would make victory more distant.

She should also refrain from enhancing Ignis with Puppet Strings at this point. Since attacks could come from the sides or rear while ignoring the frontal Ignis, not only would Ignis fail to serve as Rosemary’s Shield, but the closer they got, the more both power and speed would increase.

Keeping a certain distance from the Star Saucerer herself, ideally Rosemary would support Ignis with Magic, explosive rounds, and accompanying Magic Slaves while gradually wearing down the Star Saucerer’s control ability and Spirit.

If Rosemary were to advance, it would be either after determining the Star Saucerer’s limits, or when its control ability ceased functioning.

Ignis dodged the incoming meteor shower while selecting one to strike with its War Hammer.

It precisely shattered the targeted meteor, but the Star Saucerer, seeing this, thrust an arm into its hooded face and produced a new star as if to replace it. The new star floated in the air and joined the attacks against Ignis.

Destroyed stars became non-functional, but additional ones could be created. It was unclear how much this would deplete it, but Rosemary frowned, thinking it seemed strong in prolonged battles.

Magical Shooting was also intercepted by the satellites. The satellites never left the Star Saucerer’s vicinity. They were expected to have considerable strength.

Continuing like this – letting Ignis handle the opponent and keeping the Star Saucerer distracted – might be an effective approach.

“How foolish.”

Rosemary smiled thinly and dismissed this as an unwise strategy.

If they crushed the Star Saucerer, they could support their allies. There was no other path, and that was also the answer to the comrades who had created this one-on-one combat situation.

So, how to defeat it–.

Incoming meteors. The Star Saucerer showed a movement it hadn’t displayed before. It strongly clenched the palm it had directed toward Rosemary.

Following the chill running down her spine, Rosemary leaped backward. The meteor coming toward her glowed, and the next moment transformed into a Fireball large enough to fill one’s embrace.

Feeling the scorching heat wave, Rosemary deployed a large Magic Circle, and the Star Saucerer turned toward her. Then–.

“–Go.”

Through Puppet Strings from the Magic Slave, Magical Power was channeled into Ignis, enhancing its output as it charged with greater speed than ever before.

The satellites and meteors formed a wall to block Ignis’s movement. Unconcerned, it smashed its War Hammer, shattering several of the stars but failing to break through.

Blocked by the wall of stars, Ignis was sent flying backward. The Star Saucerer kept its gaze fixed on Rosemary, ready to handle anything that might come flying.

Then, whether the Midguard and Rearguard had missed one, a shooting-type Tears came flying. As if to support the Star Saucerer, it positioned itself nearby.

The–next moment. Rosemary smiled thinly.

“Do you think my comrades–would miss their shots?”

The Tears that had approached near the Star Saucerer smashed two flasks together in its hands. The mixed chemicals spread green flames, setting both the Tears and the Star Saucerer ablaze.

“KOOOOOOOOO!”

The Star Saucerer, wrapped in flames and emitting a strange scream, twisted its body.

This was originally a Tears that had been shot down and was falling. Rosemary’s Magic Slave had attached to its back, and by sending Puppet Strings while in close contact, she had placed it under her control. Forcing Ignis to charge recklessly and deploying the Magic Circle were merely to divert attention.

Rosemary’s magic fire flask also affected spell formula control. The movements of the meteors and satellites visibly became disordered. Then–Rosemary’s Technique activated.

“HAAAAA!”

With a spirited shout, she unleashed magic as if swinging overhead. Countless Magic Threads extended from both arms. Not toward the Star Saucerer, but toward the Magic Slave connected to Ignis via Puppet Strings.

From Rosemary to the Magic Slave. From the Magic Slave to Ignis. The relayed Magical Power explosively enhanced Ignis’s power. Kicking off its Shield, it stepped in with tremendous speed. Scattering aside the stars that still tried to interfere, it closed in. Amid the burning Robe turning to ash and scattering, Rosemary glimpsed a red star pulsating like a heart at the center of the starry sky.

“There!”

Following Rosemary’s command, Ignis thrust in its Claws. Hooking and tearing out the red star, it raised it overhead–and with a deafening roar, the Pile Bunker detonated.

As the metal stake pierced the red star, the Star Saucerer’s strange scream grew faint.

The starry sky spread across the Robe’s lining also converged toward a single point, eventually disappearing. The floating meteors and satellites simultaneously shattered. All that remained was the pierced red star and the Staff the Star Saucerer had been holding.

“Well, not bad, I suppose.”

Perhaps because she had expanded the scale of her Puppet Strings and released Magical Power all at once, Rosemary laughed while experiencing a sensation similar to dizziness.

“–I’ll use Magic too.”

Sheila’s eyes widened slightly at the variety in the Chameleon’s arsenal.

As the Chameleon flashed a Magic Circle, countless thin pillars of fire rose around Sheila. Jumping left and right to scatter the fire pillars closing in from all directions, Sheila leaped out through an opening. There, the Chameleon’s tongue whip was deployed. Twisting her body to barely evade it while adding a Lightning Strike, the Chameleon shrieked strangely and flashed another Magic Circle.

The pursuing fire pillars from behind collided and exploded, but Sheila was already outside the blast zone. She had delivered the Lightning Strike and immediately retreated. Behind her, the surrounding ice was shattered, melted, with only hazy mist-like steam rising.

The battle between Sheila and the Chameleon took on the aspect of technique versus technique, hidden weapons versus hidden weapons, a mutual game of reading and deceiving each other’s Techniques. In terms of proper Swordsmanship skill, they were nearly equal.

Equivalent Martial Arts. Equivalent camouflage and Stealth abilities meant they lacked decisive moves.

Since they couldn’t clearly see each other’s forms, they couldn’t step into killing range.

If one were to force their way in, they would have a trump card prepared. In Sheila’s case–for example, the Invisible Blade of the Invisible Ripper concealed in her elbows or legs. But the fact that the opponent wasn’t forcing an attack meant they anticipated the existence of such a trump card. Probably the opponent had prepared a similar trump card too. Hence, the reading and deceiving.

The tongue whip’s speed was indeed threatening, but she had seen it once. Knowing it was in the opponent’s arsenal, preparing for it or countering wasn’t impossible with Sheila’s reflexes. But it was an attack that flew with such speed that even Sheila’s dynamic visual acuity couldn’t track it. It was certainly a card she’d prefer not to be used against her. So, she had used one card – the Lightning Strike – to deter the tongue whip. She had shown it.

So what’s the next move? The Chameleon had also shown its cards.

It seemed the Magic Circle couldn’t be made transparent. Even when invisible, it still glowed.

Then using magic would only make its position more clearly defined. If it cast another spell the same way, it wouldn’t be impossible to counterattack faster than the technique’s activation.

What would I do? What would my opponent do? Appearing and disappearing while evading the wind-cutting blades, wielding the Pearl Sword. Kicking off ice pillars to engage in three-dimensional combat, deflecting and being deflected, Sheila pondered.

The moment the chameleon twisted its body—she saw a Magic Circle flash. Magic activation. The pattern was the same as before. While considering the Magic Circle camouflage methods she’d heard about from Theodore, Sheila flew forward without hesitation while fading from view.

Sheila charged toward the glowing Magic Circle along the shortest path.

Pillars of fire rose from all directions, but Sheila had already leaped outside the technique’s range and was closing in on the Magic Circle. With the Pearl Sword, she slashed through as she passed by—!

But the chameleon wasn’t there. There was only one faintly glowing small Magic Slave. As if to slice through Sheila’s flank as she completed her swing, the chameleon appeared from empty space and delivered a Slash Attack.

The chameleon grinned.

But—that grin froze. Because the expected sensation of cutting through flesh felt wrong. Sheila’s body lost its form, turning into shapeless water that drenched the chameleon.

The next moment, a Lightning Strike pouring down from above struck the water-soaked chameleon’s body, burning it.

Yes. Sheila had already demonstrated that using a card you’ve shown once before is a poor move.

If they were going to show the same card again despite that, it meant either carelessness or an invitation. If it were me, I’d use a card I’d shown once before to set a trap—based on that judgment, Sheila hadn’t gone straight in.

A water doll clone created through an application of Create Golem. That was Sheila’s new Weapon that drew out the Pearl Sword’s abilities. A byproduct of Theodore’s improved Golem production technology, it paired well with both the Pearl Sword and Lightning Strike.

The Lightning Strike contracted muscles, immobilizing its target. Sheila descended from directly above, kicking off a Shield. She delivered the Pearl Sword wreathed in a vortex as she passed by.

“Is this one real?”

Tilting her head, Sheila leaped back to create distance from the chameleon that had fallen to the ground, just to be safe—but the chameleon remained collapsed spread-eagled on the ice, not getting up.

A Centaur Knight with its large body and horse half. But that didn’t mean its Defense was weak. Because its humanoid upper body could rotate all the way from the waist to directly behind.

The responsiveness unique to a Golem. Grace, who had circled behind, exchanged Slash Attacks while Sprinting. They slammed their Weapons against each other, letting the recoil from being deflected create distance. With a large Jump, only the upper body kept facing Grace while the horse half rotated completely around. Then it Charged forward in that state.

Slash Attacks crossed. After several exchanges of blows while passing each other, Grace and the Centaur Knight eventually ran parallel to each other while slamming their respective Weapons against one another.

Though Grace appeared quite small and slender compared to the Centaur Knight with roughly twice her physique, she was not inferior at all in raw strength and explosive power.

They raced across the corridor floor, walls, and ceiling without concern, slamming Slash Attacks against each other. Just when it seemed she’d unleashed a Strike with her war-ring staff, the opposite end bounced up as if rebounding.

Grace performed a Form Shift to Dodge. Stepping in and using the Spin’s momentum to drive an Axe strike, the Centaur Knight intercepted the Slash Attack with its staff’s shaft.

Not resisting the force of the slammed Slash Attack, the Centaur Knight leaped sideways.

The pale glowing war-rings detached from both ends of the staff and closed in on Grace. She deflected the two war-rings that approached as if with a will of their own using her Dual Axes. By that time, the Centaur Knight had already regained its posture, swinging its heavy-looking metal staff like a windmill as it stepped forward.

She caught the Strike coming from a High Stance with a spinning motion. Grace, having caught it, slid underneath the Centaur Knight using that same momentum. The Centaur Knight bent its knees as if to crush her with its massive body.

There wasn’t enough space to swing an Axe with proper force. But with a Strike, it was different. Channeling vast amounts of Fighting Spirit into a Palm Strike, she delivered it upward from directly below.

With a heavy impact sound, the Centaur Knight’s massive body was sent flying upward. But even then, it showed no sign of being affected, flipping in midair. While manipulating its war-rings as if to prevent a Pursuit, a Magic Circle deployed around the Centaur Knight’s forehead.

Grace twisted her body to avoid it at almost the same moment the light projectile was fired. A white beam pierced through the spot where Grace had been until just before.

“The armor won’t give way to Strikes—?!”

While avoiding the light projectile that stabbed down from directly above, Grace immediately leaped. The Centaur Knight also kicked off the ceiling in response. One war-ring attached to the staff while the other danced through the air.

The staff with the attached war-ring had its reach extended accordingly, changing its properties somewhat to resemble a Spear or long sword. Utilizing the extended reach, it unleashed countless Thrusts while manipulating the other war-ring to deliver a Slash Attack from the side against Grace. She responded to attacks from both front and side with her Dual Axes.

Matching the motion of the war-ring staff being pulled back, Grace concentrated Fighting Spirit in her feet and stepped forward with explosive speed. She delivered a Slash Attack as she passed by.

Moment by moment, at key points, Grace’s speed and reading of movements surpassed her opponent’s. Those movements came from thoroughly understanding the motions of long-handled Weapons. Only possible from closely observing Theodore’s movements.

Grace and the Centaur Knight slid across the floor, facing each other from positions where they’d moved apart.

The Centaur Knight’s chest armor—had been sliced open by a Slash Attack. But it was shallow. Grace kept her eyes fixed on the damaged armor section as she took a Stance with her Axes.

If she could strike the exact same spot without the slightest deviation, that would decide the outcome. And Grace didn’t consider that impossible. But—.

With a metallic clang, the external armor covering the Centaur Knight’s body detached and rolled across the floor. The war-rings attached to both ends of the staff.

Beneath the horse’s front legs that seemed to scrape the floor and its thick hind legs—a Magic Circle floated, and pale Magical Power lines ran across the Centaur Knight’s body. The Magical Power that had been allocated to structural Enhancement of the armor became surplus energy, scattering sparks across its entire body.

“—So you’re challenging me to a decisive match, is that it?”

If it was being outmaneuvered in every exchange. If staff martial arts and spearmanship weren’t effective. Then it would simply discard clever tricks and challenge to a head-on match with its ultimate Technique.

Grace understood that feeling well. She would do the same if forced into such a situation. Though she didn’t know to what extent the Centaur Knight possessed self-awareness, its appearance and fighting style made Grace feel something akin to empathy. Therefore.

—I accept your challenge.

From Grace’s entire body, her crimson eyes wide open, an enormous amount of Fighting Spirit erupted. Purple electricity ran across Grace’s limbs.

With half-hearted Techniques, she wouldn’t be able to withstand or return the attack. She too—would respond with her ultimate strike.

While raising their Fighting Spirit and Magical Power as they faced each other—the moment came. As if by mutual agreement, they simultaneously kicked off the floor. Purple and blue flashes that stepped forward with speeds leaving not even shadows crossed in midair.

The Centaur Knight that unleashed a pale, cannonball-like Charge, and Grace who released her Fighting Spirit at the moment of crossing and swung her Axes with both arms to their limits. They landed back-to-back on the ground.

“—gh”

Blood sprayed from Grace’s flank as she let out a small sound. One end of the Centaur Knight’s war-ring had sliced through Grace’s side.

Slightly delayed, the Centaur Knight’s war-ring staff and its upper body were cleanly cross-sectioned together as they crumbled apart.

“They say ‘allow them to cut your flesh so you may break their bones’… That was close. Impressive.”

Looking at the motionless Centaur Knight, Grace pressed her hand against her flank and furrowed her brow. Since she had cut through it along with its Weapon, it wasn’t a deep wound. The wound would close soon enough and regenerate.

But having squeezed out all her Fighting Spirit into that one strike left her with a sense of exhaustion. There were still many Tears remaining. Before dealing with them, she decided to take just a little rest, Grace letting out a small sigh.