Chapter 467 – Intense Battle in the Secret Garden

Irmhild’s whistling arrows and everyone’s barrage of projectiles shot down the Pumpkin Heads one after another. They responded with counter-fire from fireballs and interception with their scissors, but their numbers steadily decreased. In a shooting battle, we had the advantage with our defensive position.

That said, anyone who tried to charge into the barrage was blocked by the Defense Field and knocked down by Pietro’s clones.

But—just as we were about to eliminate most of the pumpkins, flames erupted from the eyes and mouths of those who had fallen to the ground and stopped moving, drawing a Magic Array in midair.

Summoning Magic. From within the fiery array, an especially massive Pumpkin Head—a Huge Pumpkin—slowly emerged. According to Claudia, this was an individual called the Gardener Head. It seemed that when a certain number of pumpkins were defeated within a short time, it was summoned through Contract Magic.

“Go—!”

The one who immediately headed toward it was Ignis, following Rosemary’s command. The giant pumpkin split its large scissors, gripping one in each hand to counter Ignis, who accelerated with an Air Blast by kicking off its Shield.

It caught Ignis’s charging War Hammer and countered with the large scissors in its free hand. Ignis deflected it with its claws, and from there, both began swinging their respective weapons with ferocious speed, vertically and horizontally.

Its movements were agile, unimaginable from its large, unbalanced appearance. It let out a cackling laugh while the clang of metal echoed from their clashes.

It spewed hellfire from its mouth, but that kind of attack didn’t work on Ignis. Ignis broke through the hellfire and delivered a sweeping strike with its War Hammer toward the pumpkin. The giant pumpkin leaped upward, aiming a scissor strike at the back of Ignis’s head.

Without even turning to face it, Ignis caught the scissors with its claws. Its upper body rotated along with its waist. It avoided the spinning War Hammer strike that came scooping upward as if it were turning along with the flow. It gave the impression of accepting movements impossible for a living creature as they were and dealing with them naturally. Without the slightest hesitation, they continued to clash their weapons.

Its lower body followed the upper body’s rotation. Ignis turned its entire body toward the pumpkin as if nothing had happened and resumed their fierce exchange.

Ignis’s mechanical gimmicks didn’t work as surprise attacks, and the Huge Pumpkin’s flames were ineffective. In that case, the next move from Ignis’s side would be to break the equilibrium through coordination with Rosemary—but the pumpkin was imbuing its scissors with Fighting Spirit.

Was it preparing to smash through the armor, or did it intend to destroy the internal structure with shockwaves even if it couldn’t penetrate the armor? Whether it was possible or not, it was clear that its trump card relied on Power.

And—through shooting, the surrounding Pumpkin retinue was nearly annihilated; their total destruction was only a matter of time. It was also about time for Rosemary to make her move.

“I’m going.”

Immediate decision. Saying that, she glanced at everyone and nodded before leaping out of the Defense Field. Fireballs were launched from the surviving pumpkins as if they had been waiting, but they didn’t reach Rosemary. Marlene’s Saucers were dancing around her, protecting her body.

Irmhild’s covering fire. Even weaving through that, a Pumpkin Head leaped at Rosemary, but it was bitten by the Guardian Beast controlled by Seraphina’s flute, immobilized, and then shot down by a Light Arrow.

Rosemary allowed a faint smile to touch her lips for just a moment—then, paying no attention to her surroundings, she reached the rear of Ignis, who continued to fight.

Seeing Rosemary’s reinforcement, the Huge Pumpkin slammed its crossed weapons down on Ignis in an intersecting trajectory. As they were repelled and distance opened between them, the Huge Pumpkin summoned other pumpkins. Three of them. The flames in the small pumpkins’ eyes blazed fiercely, and they began circling around the Huge Pumpkin.

Their movements were mechanical—different from the pumpkins’ previous actions. It was more accurate to say they were equipped as turrets through subordination rather than simply being reinforcements.

Meanwhile, the Magic Threads released from Rosemary’s hands connected to Ignis’s limbs. Supplying Magical Power to Ignis. Furthermore, one, two, three Magic Slaves floated around Ignis and Rosemary.

“…I can feel the Labyrinth’s Enhancement. Well—”

Rosemary murmured, and after a pause of several seconds—they charged simultaneously from both sides. Ignis rushed in, defending against the Huge Pumpkin’s approaching fireballs with floating Magic Shields. Collision. Magical Power and Fighting Spirit interfered, scattering Sparks. An exchange of Slash Attacks and barrages. Weaving through the gaps, Light Bullets were fired from the Wand in Rosemary’s hand. They struck the Huge Pumpkin’s head directly—but it showed no sign of being affected. It was enhanced with Fighting Spirit. Beneath the blast, its blazing eyes peered out.

Explosions from the Wand weren’t decisive. In the end, it was force against force. They slammed their weapons together with ferocious momentum, ringing with metallic clangs. Fighting Spirit and Magical Power. Consuming each other while leaving afterimages in the void, they danced through the sky. Clashing and rebounding, instantly reversing to slam their weapons again.

While exchanging blows, the Huge Pumpkin forcibly closed the distance. Crossing its separated scissors, it pinned Ignis down as if body-slamming it. Synchronized with that movement, the subordinated Pumpkin Heads flew far away.

Deploying to a distance and pausing for a moment, they charged toward Rosemary, who was positioned behind Ignis, burning fiercely at tremendous speed. It was a suicide charge that could be called a Rampage. Moreover, each altered its charging angle. It wasn’t a speed or timing that could be avoided—.

But—the burning Pumpkin Heads pierced through empty space and overshot. The Rosemary waiting behind Ignis was an illusion. Nothing more than Pietro’s clone wearing Rosemary’s skin.

Pietro’s clone, the Mirage Body Magic Tool. Combined with Marlene’s Lantern, they misdirected the very location of Rosemary’s presence.

A Puppet String extended from one of the hovering Saucers, entangling one of the charging Pumpkin Heads. Since the subordinated Pumpkin Heads lacked free will, they were easily dominated by Rosemary through direct control.

Drawing a large arc, it charged from the side toward the Huge Pumpkin that had initiated the suicide attack. The moment they collided, the Pumpkin Head exploded. A self-destruct attack. The shockwave sent the Huge Pumpkin’s body flying violently.

Ignis, who had been pinned down in a tangle, was also buffeted by the blast, pulling Rosemary along via the Puppet String—but that was all.

“—Farewell.”

Pulled along like driftwood swallowed by a whirlpool, Rosemary smiled thinly, utterly unconcerned. The Puppet String shone with intense light.

Though buffeted by the blast, the Huge Pumpkin had been relentlessly thrusting its scissors into the gaps in the armor, prying them open—but the distance was point-blank. That was also Ignis’s range. Though its armor was being scarred, it too paid no mind as claws hooked into its lower jaw, releasing the concealed weapon.

A metal stake shot out with an explosive sound. A blast jet from Ignis’s rear.

Power concentrated into a single point, an instant, easily pierced through the head that should have been enhanced with Fighting Spirit, then expanded inside, releasing ice Spears in all directions.

The giant pumpkin’s body, which should have been blazing inside—lost all strength as ice Spears burst from its eyes, mouth, and the back of its head, slowly falling.

And—the moment the Pile Bunker was fired, Rosemary severed the Puppet String herself and regained her stance.

“…My, my. I’d heard it was quite something, but…to think it could damage Ignis’s armor. From now on, when facing major opponents in the Deep Floors, repairs are going to be troublesome.”

—Sprint. Dullahan and the Grim Reaper sprinted down a straight passage at ferocious speed, clashing Greatsword and Scythe.

Dullahan drove its horse to block the Grim Reaper as it tried to circle around to the Rearguard—resulting in them running parallel while exchanging blows. The Grim Reaper, seemingly frustrated at being unable to reach the rearguard as it wished, slammed its Scythe toward Dullahan. But in the instant the thought formed, the tattered cloth swirled and gathered into a single point, shrinking and moving at high speed. The Grim Reaper manifested again behind Dullahan.

Faster than it could turn, the Greatsword was swung, and their weapons clashed violently behind Dullahan’s back, ringing with a heavy metallic sound.

The moment their weapons rebounded, Dullahan reversed its body along with the horse, turning toward the Grim Reaper while leaving hoofprints gouged into the ground. Immediately kicking off the ground, it charged. The Grim Reaper also rushed toward Dullahan in response.

Dullahan held its sword horizontally to the ground, while the Grim Reaper made a motion as if scooping upward with its Scythe. However, the Grim Reaper, which originally had no physical form, sank half its body into the ground to evade the Slash Attack, then delivered an upward scooping strike along a trajectory that seemed to slice open the horse’s belly.

Jump. Leaping up with the horse, it barely avoided the impossible trajectory of the Slash Attack. The Grim Reaper, seeing an opening, tried to head toward the Rearguard, but Dullahan instantly reversed, turning sideways with the horse while sprinting, and slashed downward toward the Grim Reaper.

A Scythe Slash Attack erupted from the ground. The Greatsword tore through the earth without hesitation, scattering soil and sand while the clang of blades resounded.

It seemed it couldn’t dive deep into the ground. They resumed running parallel, exchanging Slash Attacks repeatedly.

A momentary retreat, then a Stab with the Greatsword. As the tip of the Greatsword deeply pierced the ground, the Grim Reaper, its shoulder torn, burst from the earth. Spinning its Scythe like a windmill, it closed in on Dullahan, who had deeply impaled its sword into the ground.

Releasing its sword and dismounting from the horse, Dullahan flew toward the Grim Reaper. Stepping in as if slipping inside the Scythe’s blade, it grabbed at the Grim Reaper. The moment it seized the Grim Reaper’s wrist, an abnormality occurred. Phosphorescent light was being sucked from the Grim Reaper toward Dullahan.

Energy Drain. The Grim Reaper rattled joyfully, its shoulders shaking. The wound it had received from Dullahan earlier was healing—but Dullahan acted as if it didn’t care, pinning the Grim Reaper down. Then—.

A dull sound echoed. The horse’s hind leg had struck the back of the Grim Reaper’s head. Even so, the Grim Reaper didn’t stop the Energy Drain, but its body wavered. With its arm seized, it seemed it couldn’t shrink and escape as before.

Taking advantage of the flinch, it was swung around with brute force. What lay ahead was—the Greatsword still impaled in the ground. Slammed directly into the thick blade, the Grim Reaper was separated, its upper and lower halves torn apart.

And—Dullahan, still gripping the wrist, made a motion as if pulling something out of the Grim Reaper. Glowing red in Dullahan’s hand…was it the Grim Reaper’s soul?

But, without needing to be taken by Dullahan, it vanished like ashes scattered to the wind. Its manner of disappearance was perhaps because it was a Labyrinth Monster—. Scattered in the Labyrinth, returned to the Labyrinth. All that remained was the Grim Reaper’s body and Scythe, wrapped in tattered cloth.

“Shhaaa!”

The Amphisbaena’s upper half hissed a snake’s warning sound while raising its claws and circling toward Sheila. The gleam of Fighting Spirit drew a large arc as it was swung. Sheila leaned her upper body aside, dodging the claw strike. As they passed, she delivered a Slash Attack, but it was caught by the other claw, and it overshot. Sheila immediately pursued it. Chasing and engaging it in combat.

The woman who was the upper half, being originally part of the Amphisbaena, far surpassed Sheila in terms of weight and overall physical strength. It attacked with claw Slash Attacks using its entire body’s strength, literally swinging its tail. If hit by a Sweeping Strike using its entire tail, even engaging in combat would be difficult.

Sheila—skillfully handled this with her innate Martial Arts while aggressively pressing her own attacks. If they could defeat the Amphisbaena’s upper half, due to its massive size, the Magical Beast side wouldn’t be able to withstand Grace’s attacks and couldn’t endure a single blow from her Axe.

Therefore—the Amphisbaena didn’t stop. Sheila also continued to attack. If she distanced herself, it would use Magic against Sheila as well.

At the moment their Slash Attacks crossed, she channeled a Lightning Strike, robbing it of freedom of movement for an instant. Immediately, the Magical Beast side swung its tail and disengaged. The next time it circled around, it recovered due to its Magical Beast Toughness and immediately countered. Spider threads too—if carelessly attached, her entire body would likely be swung around.

“Not bad.”

Sheila muttered softly at the Amphisbaena’s movements.

And the lower half. The Magical Beast Amphisbaena stood on its hind legs, attacking Grace with its forelegs and large jaws. Both sides gleamed with Fighting Spirit. However, Grace surpassed it in both quality and quantity of Fighting Spirit. Only by combining its Magical Beast bulk and weight could it barely match her.

Axe and beast clashed, repelling each other, and an ice barrage spread to compensate. Form Shift, Form Shift. Ice bullets pierced through the space Grace occupied, while the Magical Beast’s fiery breath swept across. Circling through the air, she shattered unavoidable ice bullets with her Axe and charged at the beast.

The Magical Beast side seemed intent on landing a single blow to break the equilibrium. It launched strikes as if to drive Grace away to create distance, preparing to scatter bullets.

They exchanged blows several times, repelling each other, avoiding projectiles. Each of Grace’s strikes left wounds on the Amphisbaena’s head and forelegs, but they regenerated visibly. A war of attrition, relying on its acknowledged Toughness.

“This—is getting nowhere.”

Hovering in the air, Grace steadied her breathing slightly while raising her Fighting Spirit. The Amphisbaena also responded with a roar, swelling its body with Fighting Spirit.

And for an instant—Sheila and Grace’s gazes met. As if synchronizing their breath, they charged, and the Amphisbaena met them.

Grace’s Axe and the beast’s claws collided violently. Sparks scattered from the clash of Fighting Spirits. A fiery Bless. She fanned with her Axe as if scattering it with a fan, cutting through, then leaping diagonally upward to avoid the following jaw strike.

Weaving through the gaps between Shooting and claws. Grace’s Axe was thrown. The target wasn’t the beast, but the woman on the upper half. The Magical Beast interposed its body in the trajectory, deflecting the Axe. In that instant—a massive sound and blinding flash erupted, simultaneously burning the vision and hearing of both Amphisbaena halves where they intersected.

The one who launched the attack was Sheila. An improved Stun Grenade—crafted by Alfred, using Seraphina’s Magic Stones.

Amphisbaena rampaged wildly, scattering ice projectiles in all directions while spewing flames. Grace and Sheila leaped back.

Its sense of smell still seemed to be functioning—the moment the magical beast opened its massive jaws to pursue Grace—

“Now—!”

An enormous mass of fighting spirit swelled in Grace’s right hand, compressed densely into her palm. As the magical beast Amphisbaena approached with its maw wide open, she drove her fist forward as if thrusting it directly into the creature’s oral cavity. A fighting spirit bullet—no, a fighting spirit cannon. A dazzling flash shot through Amphisbaena’s mouth and pierced out the back of its skull.

“Ggh—!?”

There was no time even to scream. In that same moment, leaving behind a trail of fighting spirit and the gleam of her pearl sword, Sheila’s strike swept past, slicing through the woman’s neck.

Even so—Amphisbaena moved. The magical beast turned its head as if searching for Grace—but it was already too late.

Directly above Amphisbaena—Grace unleashed a purple discharge of fighting spirit, holding her axe in a high stance with both hands, and descended straight toward the creature’s torso.

“Haaaah!”

With a spirited cry, she swung down. The blow, transformed into a massive slash attack by her fighting spirit, cleaved Amphisbaena’s body in two and carved a great fissure into the floor of the Star Sphere Garden.