Chapter 212
Chapter 212
When the sun had not yet set……
On my way to find the remaining members of the Heroic Sword, I found two men .
Based on their outward features, one of them was Nana Tout .
The other one——- turned out to be one of the strongest members, Satsuki .
Naturally, I had no intention of going head-to head with him——–
Making use of a surprise attack, I entangled the two of them .
As a result, Nana Tout, who was under <Berserk>, was cut down by Satsuki .
Incidentally, at that time, Satsuki was already under my <Poison> .
I also added <Berserk> to that Satsuki .
Next, I used <Berserk>’s <Awareness Target Designation> . (T/N: It was just called Target Designation before, but
I established the target of his consciousness and guided Satsuki with it .
To where exactly?
Of course, it’s back to the others .
The “Final Blade”, Satsuki, is considered as one of the two strongest swordsmen in the world .
However, before I could understand the meaning of his second name, he fell under the influence of my spell .
However, his reputation really precedes him, as I understood that he was extraordinarily strong .
If I had fought him head on, I would have been no match for him .
He was far superior to Civit’s cronies, the Five Dragon Warriors .
However, that’s only……
“If I fought him head on . ”
If he were caught in the spider’s sticky web—— He will end up like the others .
As long as you get caught in my plan, it wouldn’t matter how strong he is .
Satsuki and the others seemed to have underestimated the pressure that I, who had been lurking nearby, was releasing .
They probably sensed the presence of Pigimaru, who was with me, and thought that the people lurking around were just really insignificant opponents .
People wouldn’t always be wary of just any people, they would only be wary of more powerful opponents .
It would be different if it was a weaker opponent whose strength is approaching his .
It’s rare for a strong person to be wary of someone with a significantly weaker strength than him .
The higher the ability to estimate the opponent’s strength, the more powerful he or she is——
—-and that’s the kind of opponent I fought against .
I started guiding Satsuki’s berserked body along while making sure that Slei was following us from far back just as I instructed .
Eventually, we reached the place where I think the other members of the Heroic Sword were .
The plan was to have Satsuki charge at them and divert away their caution .
If their friend who was under <Berserk> attack, they would be shaken—— and an opening I could take advantage of would open up .
While slipping into the darkness, I will round up the rest of the members who are bewildered by Satsuki’s charge .
I would also make a surprise attack from a distance using my combination technique with Pigimaru .
That’s what I had originally planned .
However, that plan turned out to be foiled .
They had built some sort of protective wall .
Moreover, there was something unnatural about that wall .
I’m sure that wall wasn’t made from wood or stone .
How should I say this……
It was as if the image of a white sandstorm was being projected onto a large set of extremely thin LCDs .
Perhaps, this wall was due to the power of a magic tool .
The plan that I had initially prepared——– because of that wall, it went awry .
The Abnormal State Skill that I was planning to use during my combination technique with Pigimaru……
Its activation condition includes “Visibility of the Target” .
Only the skill <Slow> is exempted from that condition .
This “visibility” doesn’t necessarily have to be the “whole body” though .
What is important is whether I have recognition of the target or not .
If the rate of my recognition of my target is low, there’s a large possibility that the skill won’t work .
What is certain is to get as much visual information about the target as possible .
And at this position, it was unlikely that I would be able to get enough recognition to trigger my skill .
There were some gaps in the wall, and I could see that there were people inside .
However,even if I waited, it was unlikely that I would be able to secure what could be called reliable recognition .
Their sense of caution is unusually strong .
It’s as if they were frightened about having their figures being caught in sight……
However, that’s where one question arose .
“Do these people know the condition for activating my Abnormal State Skills?”
No——– That is unlikely .
I immediately denied that possibility .
It’s because there would be inconsistencies that would appear if they knew about my existence or my skills in advance .
If they knew, Toad would have been able to pinpoint what was done to him .
However, Toad didn’t seem to have any idea why his body wasn’t able to move .
Nana Tout and Satsuki would have also been cautious if they had known about it .
That means, they don’t even know that my Abnormal State Skills exist .
Which means——–
“That wall is simply used as a barrier in case of a surprise attack from arrows or other long-range weapons . ”
Now, I’m hiding from a distance and trying to understand the situation……
Was having that kind of thought good?
Then, the battle is still in my favor .
They still didn’t know what kind of attack I would use .
I decided to arrange the task of clearing this .
In the meantime, Satsuki noticed the presence of the remaining members of the Heroic Sword .
Turning towards them, I saw that Satsuki was already running towards their defensive wall .
At this distance, if I just move poorly, I’ll let them know my position .
The distance between the other members of the Heroic Sword is also far .
At this distance, <Awareness Target Designation>——– is also out of range .
I don’t have any choice but to give up on controlling Satsuki here .
So, I let him go by himself .
Eventually, I heard confused squawkings .
While they did that, I started to arrange the task of clearing this again…… .
My first goal is to get close to one of those gaps .
In this situation, the usual “keep them at bay” won’t be enough to clear this .
This time, it’s all about a matter of “visibility” .
However, if I can peek through one of those gaps, I will be able to have a great amount of information on them .
It’s almost certain that I will be able to reach a level of recognition that I will be able to use my Abnormal State Skill .
The risk of failing to activate my Skills for the first time is particularly high for these kinds of opponents .
Therefore, this time, I want to set up the conditions that will increase the certainty of activation as much as possible .
Most of all, if I can get in front of that wall and peek through a gap, I should be able to cast my skill in all of them at the same time……
[……………………]
The question is, how do I get that close?
I heard the word “Ruin” being shouted by someone among their ruckus .
That should mean that one of the people inside that wall is the the other one of the strongest members of the Heroic Sword, Ruin Seal .
Now that Satsuki has appeared in that state, they will be more cautious .
I need to create an opening so that I can approach……
The difficulty of this is quite high .
I took a step backwards .
Then, I gave an order to Slei, who has been waiting in standby beside me .
[Use your eight legs and run like there are two horses running around . ]
Immediately after we parted from Seras and the others, I had already made Slei take her third form .
While I’m pouring magic power into the half-sphere at the back of her neck, it would emit light .
That light could be seen by others, showing our location to others .
So, I let her transform beforehand .
Why did I bring Slei with me this time?
It’s simple .
Slei’s presence greatly expands the scope of my strategy .
Pigimaru .
Slei .
For creating an opening on the enemies——- their existence are really great help .
[——-Take this route . I want you to maintain a good distance from them . Be extra vigilant about any arrows or any long-ranged attack they send to you . ]
[Bururuuuu . ]
[And, as for Pigimaru——–]
[Pigiii . ]
[After Slei gives you a ride around, I want you to go over there and get as huge as you can . Once you get huge, you can go right back to your original size——— The purpose of being huge is to make your presence known to them . ]
I look back once in the direction of Ruin and his group before I continue .
[After a few seconds or so after you start moving, I’ll go call out to them once and choose the right words . My voice should grab their attention for a second . ]
At that moment, their attention would turn away from the moving Pigimaru and Slei .
Diverting away their awareness…
I then removed the Gem of Voice Amplification from my Fly King mask .
[After showing your presence through Gigantification———]
I handed the Gem of Voice of Amplification to Pigimaru .
Dexterously using his protrusion, Pigimaru held it in his embrace .
[Squeal as loud as you can . ]
[Pii~~!]
The sound of Slei’s footsteps .
The sudden appearance of a humongous slime .
And then——– its deafeningly loud cry shaking the air .
With these three factors, an opening will be created .
Meanwhile, I will go as close as I can to that defensive wall .
[Your life may be at risk on this mission . If you’re afraid, you can go back to where Seras and the others are…… Rest assured, I won’t blame you . ]
Whether it’s Pigimaru……
Or Slei……
Neither of them slightly moved .
“What’s the point of telling that to us now?”
—or so their expressions seem to tell me .
Even though I’m feeling thankful, I couldn’t help but chuckle .
[When this is over…… If something that looks good comes out of the magic leather bag, I’ll give you guys my share . ]
[Puyuu♪]
[Pakyuu♪]
I silently nodded once .
With that gesture, Pigimaru and Slei responded .
Standing up, I put on my Fly King mask .
And that——— is the signal for the start of the operation .
▽
The whole operation was going on as planned .
[PIIGGGGGGGGGGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII——————-!!!!!!]
Pigimaru, who had returned to his original size after becoming a giant, let out a cry as we had discussed .
As for what’s left——-
[——— <Slow> ———–]
As I started running, I activated <Slow> .
Pigimaru’s squeal drowns out my voice when I activate it .
<Slow> is a skill that makes all the targets within range slow except for me .
For the opponents that are within range, it may look like I’m moving at super speed .
But in reality, it was just my opponents that are slow .
In a slow world, where everything is slow——– they would become sluggish .
Yes .
Even their reflexes .
For me whose basic abilities are inferior to Ruin Seal, this is the way I could “get close” to him .
This moment——– This is the kind of situation where I need to use it .
I need to hurry .
Both Slei and Pigimaru…
As long as they’re not concealing their presence and emitting those sounds, they would be their targets .
If the enemy has a means to attack them from long-range, they immediately attack them .
I need to hurry——– However, I must remain calm .
Keep calm until the last moment, until I’ve finally killed them .
Make sure that my presence remains hidden .
Quickly stepping on the grass and soil, I run .
During the course of the operation, the Heroic Sword began throwing balls of light everywhere .
Perhaps, they are some sort of magic tool .
My figure is also illuminated by that light and is exposed .
However, their attention has been completely stolen away by Pigimaru at the moment .
———I finally closed in on the protective wall .
They’re now within the range of the world of slowness .
And then, after I reached the end of my goal……
Audaciously and discreetly……
[———————–]
Target distance——— Reached .
Immediately after, I deactivated <Slow> .
I can see them .
All four of them .
I have recognition of all of them .
My arms have already been thrust forward .
And then……
[ < Para——– lyze > ]
That’s when I noticed……
There’s one of them……
That person turned around and looked over his shoulder, and his eyes caught me .
However……
[You———-]
It’s already too late .
[Since when have you been theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeee—————————!?]
This is……
[Well then———]
——-the end of the line for all of you .
[How about we get started?]