Chapter 125: Holding the Lamp of Ambition, Part 11

The pure white divine sword is swung, and the blade concealing immense destructive power gouges the black wolf's flank. But even after receiving countless attacks, Lycaon does not fall. The heavily gouged wound closes in an instant, looking as if she hasn't taken any damage at all appearance-wise.

But because we've been fighting for so long, I know. Our attacks are certainly chipping away at Lycaon's resources. In fact, the number of clones Lycaon summons has decreased to one, and the AoE attacks generating shadow spears from the ground have blatantly decreased in number. Is there an upper limit to the amount of shadow usable in one appearance, or is there another reason? Estimating that would require a strategy guide, but unfortunately, no such thing exists here right now.

"Remaining count!"

"One more...!"

Lycaon's claw swing smashes the log, and Mana Shaker fired from behind collapses Lycaon's hind leg. Lycaon glares hatefully at Emul perched on my head, but the more she looks at us, the freer Rei-shi becomes.

We've stabilized from walking on a wire to walking on a tug-of-war rope, but several problems have still arisen.

"I'm sorry! I can't use [Cicada Shell] anymore!"

"OK, fall back!"

The "Blade Concealment Knowledge" Akitsu Akane uses apparently consumes items called "Substitution Logs" for the number of magic activations due to its nature. Akitsu Akane, who didn't expect to fight Lycaon, has run out of logs stored in her inventory.

A text string displayed at the edge of my vision... A time limit saying "Operating Limit Time, 1 Minute Remaining." Sadly, Non-Standard Ether Reactors are rechargeable; in other words, Suzaku has a limited operating time, and it is impending.

And not just Rei-shi, my own concentration is reaching its limit.

(One more hit until Rei-shi's trump card condition is met... When do I play my hand? Before? After?)

Two minutes remaining. Suzaku did well, but of all things, a giant cloud will overlap with the moon's orbit in a few minutes. If invisible clones are unlocked, it's a borderline call whether we can handle it.

Impatience rushes my body. I can say I've completely seen through Lycaon's movements. But this is a game where snakes spit shit at you; not knowing what becomes a flag to trigger special actions prevents me from taking the one step needed to switch to the offensive.

"Rei-shi! Next attack!"

"Give me one minute!"

Suzaku's limit is approaching. The multiple timers running in my head are getting tangled, and I'm about to lose track of which skills are on cooldown and which skills need to be activated.

Cheekily reading my movements and launching a bite attack preemptively at the position where I would land in a few seconds, I forcibly change my trajectory by stepping on air to escape the waiting jaws. Alright, Flit Float cooldown starts now.

"What to do... Heard that Rei-shi's trump card is hard to hit unless the target stops moving..."

Unfortunately, I don't have binding skills to stop movement, and Emul's Magic Chain lacks the output to be called a bind. Then aim for flinch motion. Stop Lycaon with the absolute providence that forcibly interrupts all Mob actions. In that case, playing my trump card at that timing is indeed the optimal solution, but... truth be told, the hidden ball I hold is also difficult to hit unless the opponent's movement stops. Not impossible, but difficult.

"How to hit... AoE? Normal attack? During clone activation...?"

Just hitting isn't enough. I have to drive her into the range of Rei-shi's trump card and induce a flinch. In other words, I have to land an attack while balancing flinch value control and positioning. What high difficulty; even I leak a dry laugh.

"Gather hate, dare to group up in one spot... No, if she sends out a clone, we fail. Must be simultaneous with the opponent's attack startup or it won't hit. How to force her actions? Action inducement where the main body definitely comes to kill... Damn."

Dodging a series of foreleg punches that are neither cute nor look cute to get hit by with steps, maintaining a position barely unaffected by the shockwaves from the forelegs slamming the ground. Moving my feet with momentum closer to running backwards than backstepping, I secure close range at the end of Lycaon's attack.

I've landed attacks several times myself, but as expected, unless it's an "Effective Hit" by Emul, I can't steal Lycaon's dizzyingly shifting hate. Not the amount of damage, but whether it works on Lycaon herself is probably the basis of her priority. Thinking that way, it makes sense that she ignored tanks and attacked the rear guard when SF-Zoo fought her. From her perspective, rather than tanks that are just somewhat tough, the rear guard who managed to restrain her, even if manageable, was more annoying. That's what it means.

"It's a dismissive reason, but frustratingly effective."

Accurately coming to reap the main ace. A monster performing player-like cunning. If easily executed, it's a trash boss; if not for the endgame-content-like element of being a Unique Monster, it would be a game balance breaker.

One and a half minutes left for Suzaku. The match won't end there, but at least the situation won't improve with the unlocking of transparent clones.

"Umm, can I just speak normally for this order..."

"Who are you talking to desu wa?"

"Birdie in the sky."

"Sunraku-san... Oh no, your head..."

I'll shake you off, you bastard.

Becoming naturally toxic, who do you take after............ Did you catch some bad bacteria from OiKatzo or Pencilgon? Yeah.

"Listen Suzaku, one job before bed. At my signal............"

This is the critical moment.

Sending the order to Suzaku, and quickly finishing the strategy meeting with other members, I change my weapon from Togetsu to Gilta Brille.

"Emul, match the timing!"

"Yes sir!"

"Sunraku-san, I can go!"

"OK... Alright come on Lycaon!"

Can't mess up, meticulous caution... Three, two, one, Now.

Putting the energy generated from twisting my hips into centrifugal force, a backfist with frame adjustment mixing relaxation and tension is slammed into Lycaon's foreleg.

Just before power fills the terrifying foreleg that could decapitate a human head with brute force, a Parry striking a momentary "looseness." A blank of just a few seconds, less than five. Into that, the jet-black knight screws her body and sword.

"Catastrophe...!!"

The greatsword slammed into the chin cleaves Lycaon's right eye. Although Lycaon flinches involuntarily, her face tilted straight up, the right eye tinged with inorganic quality like an unpainted mud doll for the moment it was damaged heals instantly, harboring golden glare again without shedding a drop of blood.

"Conditions met...!"

"Fire immediately!"

"Yes!"

The real deal starts here. Me, Emul, and Suzaku will bind this guy here completely...!

"Now, Suzaku!"

<<Roger. Incinerate: Slasher Mode, Activate.>>

The clockwork Suzaku nose-dives as a scorching meteor. Gathering all remaining output, deploying the long physical blade stored in its abdomen, propelling with wings in a straight line, the crimson tail feathers burn the atmosphere with a roar.

Suzaku, accelerating with gravity's push, aims for Lycaon's hind leg, piercing the "Leg" on which most mobility depends as long as it has a biological form. Naturally, Lycaon wouldn't fail to notice Suzaku falling with an explosion sound, and puts strength into the targeted hind leg to intercept by kicking up...

"Sorry, Lycaon."

Metaphorically speaking, this isn't poker but TCG, so I'll push through with a Barrage of trump cards.

"[Exceed Charge]!"

"Mana Shaker!"

"I am the one who reels in chaos...!"

Once the criteria for hate are known, a strategy can be formulated however one likes. Update of Threat Level judged by AI; the occurrence of sudden danger creates an opening same as flinching.

First, I, standing directly in front, played a trump card.

Second, Emul, waiting diagonally behind, launched an attack on the leg.

Third, Rei-shi, positioned behind me, entered the activation of her trump card.

Fourth danger. It's called "Checkmate" because there's nothing you can do even if you know. We know your AoE attack won't make it in time from now. Even if you seal one, the remaining trump cards will hit you. That's why the only option you can choose at this moment is just one.

"RNG is trash after all."

Only at times like this, the moonlight is obscured. In other words, the clone melts into the dark night, rendering its figure invisible. Four cards have already been played; dealing with the clone is impossible, and if She doesn't do something, it's a total collapse.

"Counting on you... Akitsu Akane!"

Author's Afterword
I intended to wrap it up by Part 10...

In the first place, what's so great about Legacy Weapons?
Weapon categories that cannot be created by normal smithing exist, like guns, guns, and guns.
Furthermore, they possess Functions (Skills) common to "Machine Gear," and to put it mildly, they are brokenly strong. However, there are demerits.