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High School Hack and Slash Chapter 148 Part 2

「Energy charging rate 60% … 65% … yes! This is going to work!」

「As simulated, I suppose? Well then, with each of us remaining taking an anti-shock stance, let’s continue with the energy convergence.」

At the head of the golem army that has formed a scrum, red phosphorescence is beginning to leak out.

That side seems to be going well, so this side too, let’s continue intercepting these monsters.

The ant-man army continues to gush out from the center of the crater.

According to Natsumi’s search, the realm gate should be located in the center of the crater.

In other words, we are currently in the middle of a battle against the guardians of the realm gate (gatekeeper).

「T, these guys… They look like small fry, but they are strong.」

「Toma-sama and the others are beating them so easily, but each one of them is plainly boss-class.」

「Whoa. Something just flew over, Shinobu-chan.」

「Maybe it’s formic acid… Huh, awawa. The rock melted, Nodoka-chan!」

Although the quartet have come to be able to fight, ultimately they have only just reached the third step class.

We’re sending monsters toward them one at a time.

It takes some time, but they’re able to subjugate them properly.

「There’s no end to it. More extras are still springing up, you know.」

「Geko.」

Otoha-senpai, riding on Peperon, looks around the battlefield.

They’re in charge of escorting the Craftsman group, but only a few monsters make it out that far.

Even those ones are swallowed up by Peperon, who looks strangely bulky, in one gulp.

Or rather, round.

He’s as round and bulky as a thickly-clad Shizuka-san.

「… Touma-san?」

「Mm. Looks like the preparations will be soon complete. Saki!」

Turning my face away from Shizuka, who is giving me the stink eye, I call back Saki, who has been mowing the monsters in the front line.

After a trajectory that shines in gold passes by, the shells slide as if there was a discrepancy and turn to dust.

The katana-sword forged in one golden color is Saki’s new partner, the 『Lion God Katana』.

It’s the top-ranked katana forged by Mikan-senpai.

What served as the material was Lion-kun that suddenly appeared in the tournament’s waiting room.

I strangled it down following 『How to Defeat Wild Animals』, but it seemed to a monster of a rank high enough to be used to forge a divine katana.

And then, there’s one more katana strapped to her waist.

It’s the 『Water Dragon Divine Katana』, a reforge of the 『Water Tiger Lord Katana』 that cut down Hercules.

This one too seems to have ranked up and had its name changed after being re-forged by Mikan-senpai.

According to Rinko-senpai, its existence level must have risen as it got spiritually tempered through cutting the flesh and blood of Hercules, who was a high-level boss.

「I’m back! This child may be a wild horse, but they seem to be a good child!」

Clad in the『Right Arm of The Champion (Hercules Arms)』 that has turned into a gauntlet as it gets awakened, Saki lightly swings the golden oodachi around.

The golden katana certainly gives off a tremendous power, but what’s really dangerous is the one she’s strapping to her waist, I guess.

It gives off a presence that makes my skin crawl.

「… Energy charge rate 120%, it has accumulated about that much, guys! Ah, but I think we can go a little further.」

「No, no, no. There’s no need to fire it at the output limit, I suppose.」

A red light is beginning to leak from Goliath-kun’s chest.

This one feels dangerous too.

「Yikes… Just how much magical energy are you charging there? Senpai-chans.」

「Looks like we’d better get back to the trenches too.」

Seiichi proposes to take a shelter to Mai, who is taken aback.

I thought they were going to replicate the firedrake’s breath attack, but it doesn’t seem quite right, this one.

「T, then, it’s fine even if we shoot it out, I suppose? The target scope is, err, where did I put it away, again…?」

「Forget about that. Everyone, anti-shock anti-flash defense. Now, Mikan-chan. Let’s fire.」

「Y, yes. Firedrake roar cannon (Favnirnova), fire!」

Right after Mikan-senpai’s cute signal, a ringing and a distant roar echo in the back of my ears.

A band of light, which can only be described as a red beam, crosses the center of the crater as if it were licking it.

The beam, irradiated from Goliath-kun’s chest, vaporizes the myrmidon army that is at the point of passage.

The point of impact, dyed in the color of heated iron, is engulfed in a massive explosion after a momentary pause.

Amazing.

I can see the shockwave running our way through the ground.

「T, take shelter~!」

Following the Senpais, everyone jumps into the trench.

Mixed in with the shattered rocks, what looks like molten lava is also blown over our heads.

As expected, the golems remain as they are, but they have thick armor, so they should be fine.

◇ ◇ ◇

「There is no sign of the monster in the surrounding area.」

「The realm gate is, safe?」

Even if they tilt their head in wonder, I’m at a loss for a response.

However, if Miharu had not promptly covered the top of the trench with barriers, there might have been some secondary damage.

That shows just how much the surrounding terrain has changed.

「Eww~….」

Mai, who has crawled out of the trench, is creeped out by the newly created crater.

Well, I understand how she feels.

I mean, the bottom is still dyed red, and it’s kind of muddy and melty.

Fortunately, though, the realm gate was unharmed.

A stone circle-like door is floating in the air of the crater, which has turned into a lava pond.

Regardless of whether the swarms of ant-men (myrmidon) were the guardians of the realm gate, or if there was some other main boss.

Either way, they had all evaporated.

I’m not sure if I’m one to say, it doesn’t seem to be an attack that should be used in a normal dungeon battle.

I think it’s a special move, as the saying goes.

「It takes a long time to activate, and after firing one shot, it sucks up so much energy that we can’t even maintain our golems, huh.」

Rinko-senpai looks slightly pale, but there seems to be no feedback damage.

Not only Rinko-senpai, but the other Craftsman members also seem to be worn out.

Mikan-senpai alone seems to have fainted, but she’s mumbling away with a satisfied look on her face, so I guess she’ll be fine.

「Senpai. I believe this one should be sealed.」

Rinko-senpai, nodding at Shizuka’s words, smiles wryly.

「Yeah, I guess so… But this will be our 『final trump card (last resort), I suppose.」

That gaze of hers is directed at something else, something that’s not the realm gate.

◇ ◇ ◇

　As far as the result went, the conquest of the 24th stratum was safely completed.

We passed through the realm gate and stepped into the 25th stratum.

The lava did not cool down after we took a break for lunch, so I carried everyone through the door on the floaty hyper cloud.

The 25th stratum, which we peeked into briefly, was also a chaotic labyrinth of psychedelic colors.

In a way, the floor design concept has been consistent since we crossed the New World.

A world of madness that chips away at your SAN value, I should say.

But, in terms of difficulty, there’s nothing worth mentioning.

Although they’re being strengthened little by little, we end up normally defeating all monsters that appear.

Rather than the monsters, the floor routes that change with each dungeon dive and the increasing distance to the realm gates are more problematic.

At the very least, navigation by means of 『Officer』 class is indispensable.

After that, terrain-wise, there are also places where you have to ascend vertical passages or go through routes with no footholds.

It may be possible to force your way through with physical ability and skills, but making use of 『Craftsman』 type craft skills is safer and easier.

As long as you have such support classes other than the combat classes with you, you’ll be able to conquer the stratums without problems.

On the other hand, if they are lacking, there will definitely be scenes where you get stuck.

Even if they have no combat-oriented skills, I don’t think they’re useless, and I won’t let anyone say so.