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Chapter 283 – All-Heaven Festival Contest Final Stage “Demon King Castle Bloody Field” (5) / The Spirit Trio

283 – All-Heaven Festival Contest Final Stage “Demon King Castle Bloody Field” (5) / The Spirit Trio

For the time being, our four parties had a strategy meeting of sorts before starting.

And I say it was “of sorts” because it actually wasn’t a proper meeting exactly.

Our allies alone consisted of a total of twenty people, and each of them has their own individual characteristics.

And our opponents were ten legendary people – plus Panacea – so this wasn’t going to be easy.

If this were a raid battle, where each Floor of a Dungeon would have its own characteristics, we would have come up with some sort of strategy for overcoming it, but…

In the end, I was only able to give a rough estimate of how things would unfold.

Thankfully, we all agreed on this point.

And basically each of our parties would move according to their own judgment.

「Heroes, won’t you share the prey with us?」, said the Demon King.

Without waiting for a reply, the Demon King’s party begins to move.

It seems that the current Demon King’s forces would clash with the former Demon King’s.

This would mean that the parties would be divided into three and one, but there was no way to avoid that development.

Besides, the Demon King has that.

「My lady, I am sorry you had to come all the way here, but you are not strong enough to make us yield.」said the first-generation Furcus.

The Demon King laughed.

「Balam, crush him underfoot.」

The Transparent-like Demon raised his giant leg at the Demon King’s command and attacked the first-generation Furcus.

「Hmph, it seems that the tomboy hasn’t changed one bit. Fine, I, Furcus, shall keep you company for a bit.」

The first-generation duo of Furcus and Valac were ready to attack.

「Who said you’re the one we’re crushing?」

Balam’s body had already become transparent with his magic.

As if the sky itself were roaring, the giant Balam’s movements cause the surrounding area to be filled with a low, dull sound.

And if the person he’s trying to trample isn’t the first-generation Furcus…

…Master!

「Oh no, princess. To try to trample your sleeping grandfather is a cruel thing to do… And very bizarre too~」

The Slime Girl Dantalion puffed up her cheeks and raised her right arm to the sky.

At that moment, her right arm became huge, and a dull sound of bones colliding against each other echoed loudly.

Did she just transform her right arm into that of a giant’s at the moment she lifted it, and actually hit Balam’s leg even after he had become invisible?!

「Ah, you didn’t fall~」

Dantalion’s arm is already back to normal.

It seemed that there was no need to worry about Balam falling, as he was being supported by Ipos, who also was a giant like him.

Master hadn’t reacted to any of that at all, and his eyes were still closed.

There, the shadow of a small Demon King approaches.

The “Time Demon” Agares had used his “Space Transfer” to skip over to the Demon King.

「That was an elegant leap, princess, but the king is currently sleeping.」

「Move.」

The “True Vampire” Bifrons, who stood in her way with his long hair fluttering as if carried by the wind, was attacked by the Demon King’s backhand blow.

Immediately after that, the sheer amount of power from that blow caused Bifrons’ body to be scattered all over the place as if it had exploded.

「What a wonderfully powerful punch you have inherited from the king.」

However, in the next moment, Bifrons’ body and costume were completely regenerated, and he smiled gracefully before attacking the Demon King with a blade made of blood.

「Tch… hey, look at me, you damned old geezer!」

「Shhh… No, princess. It’s up to the king to decide if the world is worth waking up to.」said Bifrons, putting the index finger of his free hand in front of his lips.

「…Then you are the one who should not get in the way… Because I am the current king.」

「…I don’t remember ever acknowledging that.」

「That has nothing to do with me!」

Just as there were many things quickly starting to happen on the side of the Demon King’s forces, the big battle was progressing here as well.

「Ah!」

That sudden gasp had come from the archer of the Altreed Party, the Silver Bow Orion.

As he fixed an arrow to the string of his bow, the space at the tip of the arrow was distorted. This distortion works as a warp gate of sorts, which is linked to a different location. By firing arrows into this gate, his arrows can hit enemies from anywhere in the surrounding area.

His first shot was fired towards… behind me, aimed at the back of my head.

Strengthening his own physical abilities, the White Sorcerer Josh grabbed the arrow mid-flight, putting an end to its trajectory.

「Thank you, Josh.」

「No, I just barely made it.」

Cold sweat was running down Josh’s forehead.

I’m currently being protected by the Miner Melania, so if someone wants to fire an arrow at me, they would either have to go for curved shots – which kill an arrow’s speed – or rely on Magic Tools. So Orion’s move hadn’t been all that hard to read.

But on top of that, it is also true that Orion rarely misses his shots.

「They saw it coming…but that’s not all, is it?」

Orion’s discomfort was immediately made evident.

「…You’re being slowed down.」the Paladin Maximillian pointed out.

「Oh, so, is that the rumored Best Black Sorcerer? Amazing, how exciting! Still, it seems like they were able to block it.」

Orion seemed to have realized that he was being slowed down, and as a result, his excitement leaked out of his body in the shape of a smile.

「The enemy… probably understands as well…」

Apparently they think the same as us.

As long as the White Sorcerer Panacea is there, the enemy will not be defeated.

That’s why we have to take down Panacea first.

And if we can’t do that quickly, then we’ll have to do whatever we can to hinder her efforts as much as possible.

And for them, as long as the Black Sorcerer Lem is here, they will not be able to do their thing in the most optimal conditions.

Which is why the enemy will want to take me out first.

I don’t think there’s any Adventurer left who sees me in the same way as they used to during my Fenix Party days.

There would be no way anyone that naive would be able to stand here in this place today.

That’s why I also have to see my own ability for what it is.

I am the enemy’s worst obstacle.

「That’s right, it’s embarrassing that I couldn’t take him down just now.」said Orion.

As Maximillian and Orion exchanged such words, they were suddenly attacked by the Hunter elf Lily’s Godspeed.

Orion hid behind Maximillian’s shield, and the Great Saint Panacea escaped the threat of Lily’s arrows with the help of the Good Witch Rogestilla’s Wind Magic.

I could hear Lily’s grunt of frustration, but her efforts did manage to keep all four of them in that place for a few seconds.

Our other companions could make their move in the meantime.

And I also used Black Magic.

「Oh, it’s getting so lively around here… And look at that amazing Black Magic. Can I ask you to take care of it, Pana?」

Panacea smiled in response to Rogestilla, who had placed her hand on her cheek as if she was troubled by something.

「Of course… I’ll imitate you, Lem.」

A huge amount of Magical Energy began to circulate around Orion, Maximillian, Rogestilla, and Panacea.

No, it was invisible, but it was actually White Magic.

This is the Full Resist that I showed at this tournament. It’s a spell that protects the body more efficiently than Resist – which consumes a huge amount of Magical Energy instantly – by circulating invisible Black Magic before activation.

It was a reproduction of the battle with the Rainbow Wizard Leslie from the world’s 8th-ranked party.

A first-class Wizard would probably be able to imitate it, but Leslie is a person who specializes in offensive magic rather than White Magic and Black Magic. So his imitation was only temporary.

However, it made sense that Panacea, who is the world’s best White Sorcerer, would be able to produce an almost perfect copy and keep it going for a long time.

I’d have to put in quite a bit of Magical Energy myself in order to surpass her Full Resist.

But that’s fine. She can’t generate Magical Energy infinitely. Being forced to put up measures against my Black Magic will drain her Magical Energy, which will reduce the maximum number of times she can use her divine Healing Magic to help her allies.

The four of them are now confined within the range of Panacea’s Full Resist.

If they take a step outside of that range, they will instantly become prey to my Black Magic.

And they know that it’s unrealistic to try to run all the way here while enduring my Black Magic in order to defeat me.

Right now, at this moment, I’m restraining the enemy’s movements just by existing.

And Panacea is doing the same to us.

If we don’t take her out soon, even the most fatal wounds could be healed instantly, just like how Bifrons regenerated in the blink of an eye just a few moments ago.

Behind the flashy battles of the main attackers, there is also a battle going on right here between us supporters.

The way this big battle will go is going to depend on which of us, Panacea or I, are taken out first.

Precisely because we understand that, both of us are throwing everything they have at their enemies.

All in order to break through the enemy’s defenses and crush either the Great Saint or the Black Sorcerer.

The Flame Hero Fenix, the Storm Hero Aerial, and the Water Hero Wraith started running at the same time the moment the match started… and so did the Unyielding Hero Altreed.

The Frost Hero Bella and the Gale Hero Ewan, the two young heroes, were weaving their Magical Energy at a position where they can offer their support to the rest.

「Al?」

「I’m fine like this…!」

「Okaaay.」

Did Rogestilla just try to support Altreed with her Magic for a moment there?

But the Unyielding Hero refused her offer.

It seems that he intends to clash head-on with all three of the Four Great Spirit Contractors.

As a result, Rogestilla is currently free, and the Crimson Wizard Michel is casting her spells while being cautious of her surroundings. Her sheer firepower was a big threat for those who stood against her.

「I’ve never seen a day as wonderful as today! To be able to enjoy such an exciting battle at my age! Oh, I’m so happy!」clamored Altreed.

With Fenix’s「I’m honored」, Aerial’s「Agreed」, and Wraith’s「you’re getting way too excited, old man!」, the three of them pulled out their Holy Swords.

「I may have not been blessed with the divine protection of Spirits, a Holy Sword, or any special talent! But that’s all! Great companions! Fierce battles! To do everything for my beloved family! For my lifelong friends! Isn’t that enough? The title of the strongest is trivial!」

Saying that, Altreed pulled out his own sword. It is no Holy Sword, but it still is his most trusted partner, which has supported him in many battles.

Then, he clamored once again.

「But today, I shall receive that title…!!」

I can’t see their expressions from here, but I’m sure that all three of the Four Great Spirit Contractors are smiling.

There’s no way they have any other kind of expression on their faces right now.

「Come now…! You who have been chosen by the Spirits!!」

As the four of them finally get at a sword’s length from each other…

「Salamander!!」

「Sylpheed!!」

「Undine!!」

A surge of flames, storming winds, and a water stream jumped on the Unyielding Hero.