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CHAPTER 267: THE GREAT LIBERATION BATTLE 9

 

—Aun’s Perspective—

Kinu’s azure flames and Drake’s tornado tore through the battlefield, while Nelfie’s magic arrows pierced only the members of Calvados with pinpoint accuracy.

But even among Calvados, there were those managing to fend off such fierce attacks. Judging by their characteristics, they must be the party called Gala—Nelfie did mention they were ranked number three.

Well, with Kinu and the others handling them, it shouldn’t be a problem.

That leaves me and Shinku free to go after the leader.

「Shinku, we’re charging in full force.」

「Understood.」

I activated both 【Thunder Drum】 and 【Gale Flash】 for dual reinforcement, while Shinku triggered 【Valiant Bravery】 and 【Sturdy】. We simultaneously kicked off the ground.

But before we could close the gap, someone shot past us and launched an attack on Garcia.

「Ciel, huh?」

「Sorry, Aun. I can’t let anyone else have Garcia.」

I see. Looks like there are things even Ciel and his team can’t yield.

「…You know, if you drag your feet, we might just take him out ourselves.」

「Yeah. Thanks.」

Finishing that brief exchange, Ciel gave a light jump, then charged straight toward Garcia once more.

Of course, Ambrosia moved to intercept him, but we weren’t about to let them.

「Sorry, but you’re dealing with us.」

「You people interfere in everything…」

「You were the ones who butted in first, weren’t you?」

「…Fine. Berion, take point. Maril, keep them occupied. Clarice, stick to healing and support like always. I’ll attack with magic while adjusting the field.」

Without a word, the three of them moved into action. Just watching them, it was immediately clear that the one giving the orders was their submaster, Steadman.

The coordinated movement to stop Ciel was certainly worthy of Wislo’s top-ranked party.

Still, we weren’t so kind as to sit back and match their pace.

I exchanged a glance with Shinku, and she stepped forward, transforming her massive battle axe, Dorenkoi, into its cleaver form as she moved toward Clarice, their healer. But right on cue, Berion, the tank and heavy warrior, blocked her path.

「Clarice, take five steps back. Maril, buy me three seconds by switching targets.」

While launching a fire spell at Shinku, Steadman issued his commands in a calm, steady tone.

In the blink of an eye, Maril shifted to my right, dual blades poised to strike—though she was leaking a bit too much killing intent.

I drew my blade—Shiranuemaru—in a sweeping arc, and just as the edge was about to touch her, Maril leapt back nimbly.

「Oho, you caught me~!」

No wonder they’re all SS-ranked adventurers. Not only did they perfectly execute their roles and Stedman’s concise commands, but their risk management was flawless as well.

「Maril, switch targets. Berion, cover her.」

Steadman’s voice rang out once more.

Man, this guy sure loves to give orders.

「You just do everything he says, huh? What is this, playing house?」

「I prefer to call it systematic and efficient.」

Their ability to handle sudden disruptions, their capacity to recalibrate the situation, the cold calculations they make to secure victory, the elaborate strategy they’ve constructed—in Wislo, these guys are clearly a cut above the rest.

…But you know what? That kind of dull battle makes me sick to my stomach.

Fighting at eighty percent capacity, calculating every move—it’s garbage.

It only feels good when you go all out, when you push yourself past your limits and let your instincts take over!!

And we, Seiha, are a team that can naturally synchronize even at one hundred and ten percent output.

「Shinku, go all out.」

「Understood, Aun-sama.」

With that, Shinku transformed her Dorenkoi into its great axe form and cloaked it in water magic.

She hadn’t used water reinforcement much up to now, but—

Ahh—I see what you’re doing!

She slammed the great axe into the ground, and the surge of water magic shattered the earth, sending up a misty spray that veiled the area in white.

A momentary blind.

Without missing a beat, I cloaked Shiranuemaru in lightning and kicked off the ground.

In the next instant, heavy footsteps rang out as Berion charged forward, exhaling like a beast, enormous shield raised, aiming for Shinku.

Solid as a fortress. He’s built entirely for defense. But—

「Pathetic. With movements like that, you’re defending nothing.」

A surge of magic poured from Shinku as she transformed Dorenkoi into its tower shield form and slammed it into Berion’s shield.

With a dull boom, Berion was lifted into the air for a moment, and water surged around him.

「One down. 【Black Thunder Spear】.」

Switching places with Shinku, I unleashed a composite magic of darkness and lightning at the airborne Berion.

「Aga-ga-gaaaahhh!!」

The black lightning pierced Berion’s soaked body, and with a death cry, his massive frame slowly collapsed to the ground.

But they still had a healer. If we hesitated, they’d revive him.

Time to finish this before they had the chance!

「【Matsuribayashi】!」

I stacked three buffs, massively boosting my stats.

My pulse pounded, my tension skyrocketed in tandem.

—Alright, time to show these guys a reality that exceeds all their predictions.

「【Thunder Step】!」

With a single step forward, I was instantly behind Maril.

「…Huh?」

I struck her neck with a single knife-hand blow, neatly knocking her unconscious.

「Kh… Clarice, cast an area heal!」

「Waiting for orders will always leave you too slow, you know?」

Turning around, I saw Shinku’s fist already buried in Clarice’s abdomen.

However, that too was part of Steadman’s plan. Judging the power gap in an instant, he’d used Clarice as bait to buy time to cast his spell.

A crest of flame floated above Steadman’s head as the surrounding air rapidly expanded.

「Hahaha!! Calvados will not know defeat!!」

The spell would likely affect a massive area, incinerating friend and foe alike. His thinking was simple: as long as I’m the last one standing, I win.

Well—if it goes off, that is.

「The moment you tried to predict us, you were already finished, Steadman.」

In the next instant, a fox beastkin descended lightly from the sky.

The peerless beauty known as 【Flame Princess】 extended her hand toward Steadman, and cracks ran through the crest above him as she cloaked the raging flames with her own azure fire.

The flames gradually took the shape of a dragon, rose into the sky, and after a few seconds, completely dissipated into mist.

「Y-You hijacked my magic…?!」

「Mhm. You should wait until you can control a spell like that before you try using it. Otherwise, you’re gonna burn more than just yourself.」

Hearing that, Steadman collapsed to his knees, his head hanging in defeat.

Looking around, the battle still raged on all sides.

In one corner, however, the clash was on an entirely different level, completely isolated from the rest.

—Garcia versus Ciel.

This one-on-one showdown between the clan masters of 【Calvados】 and 【Tekirana】 would ultimately determine the outcome of this entire large-scale liberation battle.