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Over the Infinite Chapter 22 Part 3

 

-3-

 

「This is… What’s happening… I’m genuinely surprised… I feel like I’ve taken a significant mental hit for the first time in a while.

…You guys really brought something outrageous. 」

Breath ragged, perhaps from the mental damage. Well, anyone would be surprised.

…This is bad. Sarges’ ((Flying Body Press)) did some damage, but we wasted our once-in-a-lifetime chance. Celebrating was a total waste.

It’s unlikely the same trick will work again. She’ll be on guard now.

Would full nudity have caused more mental damage?

Damn, should I have considered ((Full Purge)) in our tactics, even at the risk of Sarges getting arrested?

「The promised two minutes are up, let’s end this. 」

「Eh!? 」

 

―――― Action Skill ((Storm Formation)) ――

 

With a single sweep of her spear, a fierce wind whirls around Arsha.

The wind itself isn’t damaging, but it prevents approach.

Even bracing myself, I can’t move forward as if my feet are sewn to the ground. If I lose focus, I’ll be blown off the stage in no time.

I’ve seen this pattern a few times in videos… Arsha’s winning strategy.

「Yuki!! Sarges!! 」

Here comes ((Meteor Impact)) …

「Probably, you’ve prepared for this too, so try to resist. 」

Around Arsha, spears of light appear one after another.

Against giant monsters, she’d just let them loose, but in personal combat like this, she deploys ((Meteor Impact)) after making sure no one can get close.

Indeed, with this storm, approach is impossible. Guarding is the only option.

We’ve fallen right into the enemy’s trap, but this situation is within our expectations. It’s close to what we’ve practiced repeatedly.

In just these few seconds, countless spears of light have appeared around Arsha. Each one a deadly blade mimicking her crimson spear.

Yuki and Sarges, amidst the raging storm, managed to crawl to a position behind me. The effects of ((Purge)) seemed to have worn off, with Sarges’ suit returning to its original form.

「Yuki, it’s our turn. 」

「Got it. 」

 

―――― Action Skill ((Instant Equip: Grand Golem Hand)) ――

―――― Action Skill ((Instant Equip: Grand Golem Hand)) ――

 

Two massive shields are attached to my arms, accompanied by the sound of the earth trembling. These are super-large shields dropped by the Grand Golem on the 30th floor.

Although called shields, they are actually the Grand Golem’s hands themselves. Incidentally, both are right hands.

They’re too big and heavy to move once deployed, but they are the hardest shields we could prepare at this point.

The amount of weaponry we had to forego storing in the ((Item Box)) just to accommodate these is unimaginable.

Moreover, the unexpanded ((Item Box)) sold at the guild hall can’t contain them.

I doubt even the Dungeon Master foresaw this, but this slight difference is now saving us.

These two right hands, covering us like a half-dome, are our first countermeasure against ((Meteor Impact)).

 

――――Action Skill ((Meteor Impact)) ――

 

Countless spears of light, emitting a crimson glow, are launched.

With a speed no different from lasers, the spears of light shave off the stage around us, protected by the Grand Golem Hands, rapidly altering the terrain.

Even the sturdy Grand Golem Hands are not immune. The light spears intensely chip away at them, and finally, one of them explodes.

「Damn it!!! 」

The mass, too heavy to be moved by my strength, is being pressed in by numerous light spears.

Even with Sarges supporting from behind, the force is too much, and my arms holding the Grand Golem Hand are nearing their limit.

How long will this attack last?!

The second shield is also approaching its limit.

「Yuki!! Not yet!? 」

「……….. 」

Focused, Yuki doesn’t respond.

Though I can’t see from here, he must be remotely controlling his ((Clear Hand)) with his eyes closed.

I’ve learned two weaknesses of ((Meteor Impact)) from watching countless videos.

First, as Sarges said, the launched spears only fly in straight lines.

Second, Arsha can’t move while using this skill. Normally, the Griffin compensates for this weakness, but not this time.

So, we plan a decisive strike with Yuki’s ((Clear Hand)) from her complete blind spot, a strike she can’t dodge.

That’s our second countermeasure against ((Meteor Impact)).

Yuki, by shutting off his vision, slightly enhances his concentration, precisely controlling the ((Clear Hand)) with his heightened sensory organs.

But the Grand Golem Hand is near its limit. The impact transmitted to my arms tells me it’s about to collapse within seconds. The power of ((Meteor Impact)) is beyond our expectations.

「Damn it! 」

 

―――― Action Skill ((Instant Equip: Tower Shield)) ――

―――― Action Skill ((Instant Equip: Tower Shield)) ――

 

I briefly release my grip on the crumbling Grand Golem Hand to deploy additional shields.

They are much smaller and seem less reliable compared to the Grand Golem Hands, but they should buy us a few more seconds.

I support the uncontrolled Grand Golem Hand with these two newly equipped shields.

「Now!! 」

 

―――― Action Skill ((Poison Edge)) ――

 

As the second Grand Golem Hand completely collapses, a system message appears.

It indicates the impact of the ((Clear Hand)) launched from an unseen position.

But the crimson meteors still don’t cease. They continue to chip away at the endurance of the Tower Shields I’m holding.

「It’s not stopping… How… It hit her directly… 」

Does ((Meteor Impact)) not stop just from taking damage?

Or does the skill continue to activate until the end, regardless of the user’s condition?

It’s no use. The two additional shields won’t last much longer.

…Is this the end? Is there really nothing else we can do? Have I truly exhausted all options?

If I fall, the light spears will rain down on the two behind me, quickly depleting their HP.

I still have shields, but the light spears will pierce through me during the brief moments of switching ((Instant Equip)). Even if the switch is successful, the remaining shields won’t be enough to defend.

((Instant Equip)) won’t work. What else, is there any other way…

…No choice. If I shield them with my body for a few seconds, maybe the two can survive…

 

―――― Action Skill ((Castling)) ――

 

It was the moment when the endurance of the two Tower Shields was about to expire.

Just as I was about to throw myself in, I saw a familiar man standing in front of me. It was the back of the man who I was supposed to protect.

What’s that? I didn’t know such a skill existed.

Why are you standing in front of me?!

Multiple crimson lights pierced through Sarges, penetrating his body.

In the midst of this, he half-turned back to look at me. His eyes were not distorted with perverse pleasure but showed the sincerity of a true man.

Those eyes were probably not those of the pervert we always saw, but of a man who strove to be a hero in his past life.

『I leave the rest to you. 』

Just before completely vanishing due to total HP loss, I felt Sarges speaking to me.

 

-4-

 

Suddenly, the meteor shower ceased, and silence descended upon the stage.

「…Sarges. 」

Yuki’s stunned voice pierced my ears.

Surges had fallen. He had shielded us.

…Dying in such an unnecessarily cool way. It doesn’t suit him, damn it.

But we had no time to dwell in the aftermath.

I felt the light piercing from the center of the stage again. Turning back, I saw the figure of the crimson knight, surrounded by spears of light.

Stealing our few seconds of shock, Arsha was already preparing for her second ((Meteor Impact)).

I had no idea it could be fired consecutively.

「Yuki! Get up!! 」

「Yeah, okay! 」

This time was different. Either I misjudged the situation, or there was some condition, but she hadn’t launched the ((Storm Formation)) that immobilized us.

Now, we should be able to approach Arsha. Considering the charge time, we have enough time.

Before the second ((Meteor Impact)) is fired, close in on her. Don’t waste the opportunity Sarges created.

I sprinted across the stage with all my might. Yuki must be running too, though I can’t confirm.

Arsha seemed so far away.

While we hesitated, more and more light spears appeared, ready to be launched any moment.

「((Instant Equip)) oooh!! 」

A longsword materialized in my hand.

Arsha, who should have taken a direct hit from ((Poison Edge)), appeared unscathed.

How many more strikes with just this sword would it take to inflict damage?

But I had been entrusted with continuing the fight by Sarges. I had seen his last stand.

I won’t say the trial is irrelevant now. But even if it’s just one or two more strikes, I can’t settle down until I’ve exhausted all possibilities.

Faster. I need to run faster!

Let the same violent impulse that drove ((Starving Beast)) propel me to reach there!

『This is the end. 』

As I charged towards Arsha, surrounded by light spears, her lips seemed to mouth those words from an impossible distance.

Laughing at my resolve to close the gap, Arsha swung her spear, and the light spears moved into firing position.

The charging time was much shorter than before. The distance between her and me was still too far for my attack to reach.

Could she even control the timing of activation at will? How much more can she do?!

「Damn it!!! 」

Racing towards me, the second meteor shower of the day rained down.