High School Hack and Slash Chapter 70 Part 1
Missing Ziggurat
―― ※ Countdown: 00:00:59:59 ――
◇ ◇
Breaking into the Demon Face Cave, we push forward through the corridor as we mow down the monsters.
The monster, no longer bothered by the monster-repellant talismans, are pouring out and rushing wildly (stampede) toward the exit.
There is a clear sense of directionality to their mass stampede.
Needless to say, it’s probably an order from the dungeon boss.
Even though there is a time limit, if we don’t whittle down the monsters as much as possible, the burden on the Senpais protecting the base will end up increasing.
「If we dally around like this, we’ll never be able to make it in time, will we?」
The chamber at the end of the first stratum of the dungeon is congested with monsters pouring out of the stratum gate.
The route to our destination is like running backwards along the route where the monsters gather.
They may be small fry, but their sheer number ends up holding us back.
「That’s why, you see… Leave this place to me and go on ahead. My magic is the most suitable to crush such small fry, right?」
「Then me too.」
「Seiichi, see… Don’t you have things to do? That’s why, you have to go, right.」
Mai, grinning widely, holds up her brand new magic rod.
「So you say, but it’s too much for a single rear guard, isn’t it? I’m going to stay too.」
「Eeh~, Otchan-senpai is on the contrary making me worry, though.」
「Mai-chaan?」
I guess Mai must have also felt that the worried Seiichi is being overprotective.
It is necessary to have an opportunity to test and train yourself to see how far you can go.
The same goes for Otoha-senpai, who has developed a clumsy girl acting style, as long as she doesn’t get herself into trouble, her prowess is the real deal.
「I’ll pave the way to the gate, okay… Here comes the second of my special moves!」
As Mai raises her right hand, the ruby ring on her middle finger glints.
◇ ◇
―― ※ Countdown: 00:00:49:59 ――
◇ ◇
「… Two salamanders Popping from the west gate.」
「O, one large monster coming from the front.」
「The elimination of the monsters sticking to the ramparts is complete.」
Although 『Armed Golem』 had weakness in speed and mobility, they exhibited unparalleled power in the interception battle of the base.
In addition to the performance sector, the fact that they could be operated as a stand-alone unit was also a huge plus.
The main bodies, which were their weak points.
In other words the Craftsmen could control the Armed Golems from a safe zone.
Of course, the linkage would break if the distance was too great, but if the distance was simply from the rooftop of the tower to the perimeter of the ramparts, it was well within the coverage range.
From time to time, there were also monsters with swift movement that got past the defense line and reached the ramparts.
Most of these lightweight monsters were blown off by some mysterious red explosives thrown from inside the ramparts.
「Crushing their mobility is the main priority, after all. I suppose there’s no need to force ourselves to defeat them.」
The sharing of information through the 『Guild』 enabled these girls, who were not used to fighting, to work together in a coordinated manner like an army.
As they formed a circle on the rooftop, they closed their eyes, synchronizing their senses with the Armed Golems.
The only one with her eyes open as she overlooked the battlefield was Rinko, who was acting as the commander.
「Momo-chan, go around the front, and Anzu-chan, give support to the west gate.」
「Y, yes. I’ll be there in 20 seconds.」
「Roger.」
Outside the ramparts, the roars and screams of the monsters as well as the sounds of the driving force of the powerful Armed Golems were raising a roar.
◇ ◇
―― ※ Countdown: 00:00:34:59 ――
◇ ◇
「These guys are obviously waiting for us!」
Tetsuro-senpai, wielding his twin swords, is crushing the limbs of the lava giants (lava golems).
To be able to accomplish that in the state of losing most of his class power, I wonder if he’s embodying the 『sword of truth』 that Saki once said.
I have a feeling that I can now understand the words Saki was so excitedly praising during the morning training.
It’s a 『strength』 that lies outside of doping such as speed and power.
「They’re just right for my training partner.」
I wonder if she has been inspired.
Saki, licking her lips, steps out to the front of the army of lava giants (lava golems) swarming at the stratum gate of the fourth stratum.
The outer shell of the lava giants (lava golems) is harder than rock, and the lava circulating in their bodies burns steel.
It could be said that they are the worst match for a weapon called a katana.
They are monsters that should be crushed with a blunt weapon such as a mace or hammer.
「We’ll also.」
「Stay behind.」
Miharu and Natsumi, their eyebrows furrowed, step forward.
However, neither of them is of combat class.
Their abilities are ones specialized in support.
「Touma-san, please trust those girls more.」
I realize as I’m being told by Shizuka.
I guess that means I can’t laugh at Seiichi either.
Wielding the Water Tiger King Katana in her right hand and the White Beard Cutter in her left, Saki steps forward.
「Setting out to mow them down!」
「Summon.」
「Crystal Fortress.」
◇ ◇
―― ※ Countdown: 00:00:14:59 ――
◇ ◇
「T, that’s….!」
Doggy-senpai raises her voice with her fur standing on end.
The deepest reached part of the dungeon.
In the bottom of the sixth stratum, there is not the slightest trace of destruction, nor is there the petrified figure of Kaoru-senpai.
Instead, a huge body with its back facing the stratum gate is sitting there, laughing.
「The heck, is that… Is it a patchwork of a Frankenstein or something?」
Disgust is laced in Seiichi’s voice that is spat out in annoyance.
The Divine Guardian 『HUWAWA』 which is floating a hideous look on its face, from the neck down, as if any available materials have been wrenched together, it’s composed of patching parts from the monsters in the dungeon.
Based on what I can see through the Interface, let alone five parts of the body, every part on its whole body is attached with SP.
Rather than a chimera, it’s more of a poor taste imitation.
However, it looks like it’s going to take some time to tear down the deployed Divine Gear, Brilliance of Praise (Dingil Meram) and kill all of them.
「Talk about a persistent monster. This time I’m going to cut it down until patchwork can’t be done to it anymore!」
Tetsuro-senpai, smiling fearlessly, tightly clenches both swords in his hands.
「Tetsu-kun!」
「Go on ahead first, Prez. I’ll follow right behind you. Well, besides…」
Huwawa, which shouts 「Baaaa」, raises its fist toward Tetsuro-senpai.
「That guy, looks like it’s cheekily asking for me… Right, you monster! Remember when I chopped off your head?」
He slashes down the fist, which is akin to a hammer of destruction, with his sword.
The tip of the sword, which appears to move slowly as if it were stroking it, parries the violence that raises a roar as it’s being swung.
I can’t even imagine how he manages to accomplish such a thing, it’s just that the phrase 『the soft overcomes the hard』 comes to mind.
Unlike the facade power known as class, it’s the original potential (skill) of human beings.
◇
Name: 『Tajima Tetsuro』
Race, Human
Attribute, None (+Now Copying)
Rank, 10+0+0+0+1e (+NowCopying)
Abilities, 『Human』, 『Fighter ※Lost』, 『Warrior ※Lost』, 『Martial Artist (Sword Master) ※Lost』, 『God Slayer Apprentice (Judas Jr.)』
Existence Level, ☆★
「A male student from the second year dragon group of Toyoashihara Academy.」
◇
Currently, Tetsuro-senpai’s potential is no different from that of a student who has just enrolled in the academy.
But strangely enough, it’s hard to imagine Senpai losing.
Besides, a mysterious skill called 『Mirror Image Source (Doppel Buff)』 that is being deployed next to the ▼ bar has been activated.
「Now! Bring it on!」
◇ ◇
―― ※ Countdown: 00:00:09:59 ――
◇ ◇
「Hii, the east gate has been breached!」
「The west gate can’t handle the increasing number of monsters!」
「Fire Drake 2, no, 3…. more are coming out of the dungeon entrance.」
The desolate land they overlooked below them was jam packed with countless monsters.
In addition to the monsters that come out of the demon face cave, the entrance of the dungeon, the monsters that directly Popped on the above grounds were marching on them from all directions.
Rinko clenched her fists at the aggression, which seemed to be saying that playtime was over.
In addition to the slippery sensation in her palms, cold sweat was running down her face and back.
「Argh….」
*Thud* Even as Kakine collapsed and plopped down to the ground, no one had the leeway to lend her a hand.
Anzu, Ichiko, and Meiron had already lost consciousness.
It was due to mental shock as they had synchronized their consciousness with the Armed Golems that were seriously damaged until the very last moment.
Even as they knew that it would turn out like this, they did not run away and continued to support the frontline until the end.
That made Rinko both proud and frustrated.
It was not that Rinko, who was handling the feedback damage control of the Guild, was not shouldering any burden.
However, the frustration was more intense than that pain.
Right now, the final defense line of the interception was about to be breached.
They had had the inside of the ramparts invaded, and the lodging house destroyed.
They had already transferred the comatose Black Honey members to the main building tower, but it was only a matter of time before this place wound up being captured.
They were most likely incapable of fending off the fire drakes, military warfare (raid) class monsters, which were marching in packs from the front of the dungeon.
Even so, Goliath, who had been fighting in front of the interception base since the beginning, was grasping the hammer tightly as he stood imposingly in spite of his battered condition.
「I’ll, never lose.」
「Mikan-chan….」
Holding her left shoulder at the feedback transmitted from Goliath’s bitten off left arm, Mikan raised her face.
「I mean, we made a promise, after all. Moreover… this is our home!」
Softly, her messy hair fluttered in the air.
Gently, she felt as if she was being patted on the head by a small hand.
It was as if they were praising a baby child.
「Fue…?」
As she turned around reflexively, at the edge of her vision, she felt as though she saw something white.
And then, a strange 「Ihyou」 voice echoed from somewhere.
「Huh?」
Noticing the unusual phenomenon, Rinko looked up to the sky.
The perpetually never changing starry sky of the white night.
However, before she knew it, the sky was now shrouded by black clouds.
In the sky above the interception base, they were swirling and profoundly stacked in a multitude of layers.
Looking up, she saw a familiar looking tiger-patterned beast running across the sky, using the clouds as a foothold.
On its back, someone was quietly sitting on it.
「— Ihyoooo! Ooo! Ooo!!」
As the beast let out a war cry as if singing, the flash and thunderous roar of a hundred thunderbolts dyed the surroundings white.
◇ ◇
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
High School Hack and Slash
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 70 hours
Tftc