Chapter 126: Holding the Lamp of Ambition, Part 12

When humans must do something, it is unavoidable no matter how they struggle. It could be when receiving the final baton as the anchor, rolling a hexagonal pencil for a question you just don't know, or this very moment.

"Ceecrue-san! Let's do it, it's a big job!!"

"While Emul is showing Vorpal Soul, I cannot face my father if I lose my nerve-de gozaru!"

By some coincidence, the game seniors she reunited with in Shangri-La Frontier. It's not even a relationship close enough to be called friendship, but if she can help them overcome difficulties, wanting to do so is human nature for Akitsu Akane.

The invisible attack of Lycaon she heard about; its weakness is said to be "Light."

---Most likely, now that the main body's movement is stopped, she should aim for a breakthrough using clones. Or rather, I hope so.

"I'm getting fired up...!!"

Sunraku probably spoke to Akitsu Akane hoping for Ceecrue's combat power to stop the clones, not hers. She has no complaints about that; she came this far entrusting most of the combat to Ceecrue and Emul just for the uncertain prediction that he might be the same kind player who humored her selfishness in Berserk Online Passion.

With the effect of the accessory on her neck, her level has hardly risen, and she knows full well she is the biggest burden here. But even so, realizing that "Light" is needed for Ceecrue to see through the invisible clones, Akitsu Akane declared, "Leave it to me."

"Really can only hear footsteps... Can't see them, but they're there!"

"Akitsu Akane-dono! I am ready to depart anytime-ni gozaru!"

"I think you've already departed though? Well whatever, here goes!!"

Akitsu Akane covers her face... More than hiding the "Marking" carved by that golden dragon, she shifts the fox mask she wears to hide her Actual Real Face, which she put in out of excitement from buying ShanFro, exposing her bare face.

The red X-mark pattern carved largely on her face with her left eye as the intersection distorts along with the change in Akitsu Akane's expression.

"Blade Concealment Knowledge, Secret Art!"

Extremely rare for Magic (Ninpo), this skill's power is directly linked to the player's Lung Capacity. Of course, for Akitsu Akane who hasn't even surpassed Level 50, mimicking the appearance is the limit, and the power itself is very poor.

In the final stage of acquiring the job "Ninja," the "Retired Ninja Kasumi," who imposes various training quests as a master to apprentice ninjas, gives a secret scroll with ninjutsu written on it as a farewell gift to graduating novice ninjas.

In the final quest reward called "Non-rerollable Ninjutsu Gacha" among players, the Secret Art (Jackpot) Akitsu Akane drew is a Ninja Secret Mystery mimicking the dragon's breath that remains strongly in memory.

And the only dragon Akitsu Akane encountered in less than a month since starting the game is just one.

"Suuuuuuu... [Dragon Breath]! Waaaaaaaaah-------!!!"

Completing the hand seal movements she worked hard to learn, along with a loud voice unnecessary for the skill, mimicking only the appearance of the breath of one of the Seven Colossi, "Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign," a massive heat wave that turned into a beam surpassing fire brought brilliant light to the dark night sky.

The breath released by Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign is not fire, but intense light; even if power drops, its luminosity is sufficient.

Considering the original breath easily collapses fortresses, what is released from the circle deployed in front of Akitsu Akane's mouth has a difference like a giant tree and a toothpick. But even if it doesn't reach the high heat of the sun substitute released by the Golden Dragon King, it can raise the light intensity limited to this place.

"Aaaaaah... Ah, I'm sorrrryyyyyyy——!!"

"Pyii!?"

Her voice, about to cut off, regained momentum by apologizing for the breath grazing the wings of Suzaku executing a nose dive. And the rabbit holding a single-edged sword, the main force against the clones, had already started running.

"My Mind's Eye has certainly seen through it-de gozaru!"

There is still time until dawn, but with the night darkness driven away from the grassland illuminated by the mimic breath released by Akitsu Akane, the invisible wolf's form was exposed to a translucent level. Its claws and fangs aim for Sunraku, but the rabbit who drew his katana jumped between the human and the wolf.

"Behold! My [Bamboo Thunder]!!"

The drawn blade heads not for Lycaon's clone, but the ground directly beneath Ceecrue. Polygons indicating visualized power flow from the thrust blade into the earth. And the next moment, from the feet of the invisible Lycaon approaching right before Ceecrue's eyes, numerous "Bamboos" standing tall pushing aside soil and grass stopped and pierced the clone's advance like a wall of spears, a lattice, or an iron wall.

"Uumu, not enough to erase the phantom wolf in one blow-de gozaru ka..."

"Keff, cough... Ceecrue-san, I've been wondering for a while, but why does bamboo grow when you stab the katana into the ground...?"

"The result of training-ni gozaru."

If I train, will I be able to grow crystals or bamboo too?

The self-proclaimed beginner capable of firing dragon breath from her mouth watched the figures of her seniors fighting to settle things with Lycaon.

A blockbuster game where you can fire dragon breath from your mouth, that is Shangri-La Frontier.

No no no, what was that, that was crazy. That was clearly a laser you see in robot games just now. But the invisible Lycaon's form was exposed, and the clone was sealed by the... magic? ...that Ceecrue used, creating a strangely Green-Green wall. Now is the time to slam in our trump card.

"Let's settle it here!"

Lycaon stares at me. Is it just because I happened to be nearby, or is he looking at me whom he cursed?

But That Eye is very satisfying to look at.

"Smash him!!"

<<Point Marking. Initiating Attack.>>

Lycaon's hind leg attacked by Emul. Although it regenerates instantly, it is a universal truth that regenerating parts are fragile. No matter how strong an enemy who tormented the protagonist is, once they become a regenerating monster, they die in one punch.

No, that's irrelevant. What's important now is that the blade of Suzaku, who launched a dive attack, pierced the hind leg made unstable by Emul, sealing its movement as if serving as a wedge. Suzaku, reaching its activity limit, had already powered down just before the attack, but the movement of the accelerated machine does not stop. Truly self-sacrificing dedication; is oil okay for a reward?

And dare I say it, that line which is cliché enough to be a cliché in this kind of development...!

"I've been waiting for this moment!!"

To tell the truth, the function of the right fist has been used throughout this battle. It is one half of the functions built into the right fist; in other words, it has two abilities as an item. First is the ability as a "Right Fist," the ability to charge magic power worth one Crystal Bullet in five minutes by exposing it to moonlight. Clearing the clouds with Suzaku was to perfect the right fist's ability through combat in addition to the purpose of sealing the invisible clones.

And the other one, this is the ability of the weapon itself called Brilliant Scorpion Gauntlets (Gilta Brille). It converts all charged magic power into Destructive Power (Damage) and discharges it—an extremely simple damage boost. What is most terrifying is this accumulated damage............ There is no magic accumulation upper limit. Looking only at that, it seems invincible, but the Wholesaler (Devs) won't allow that. Exceed Charge has demerits just for slamming out idiotic firepower.

First, naturally, to activate Exceed Charge, you must skimp on Magic Power (Energy). A special parameter is displayed, and you can check how much energy is charged, but naturally, accumulation doesn't progress if you use Crystal Bullets.

Next, recoil. The description of Exceed Charge says "User and armament receive extremely immense recoil damage." From the words "extremely immense," if you get carried away and charge too much, it could worst-case misfire and blow away the surroundings. Even if I, who withstand recoil damage/self-harm damage with 1 HP guaranteed, don't die, the weapon will vanish and the surroundings will vanish.

And finally, once Exceed Charge is used, the cooldown time until it can be used next is a whopping one week later. Saying "Make it a weekly pleasure," huh?

Although Exceed Charge should be called a trump card including everything, if not played now, when? I have an urge to blow everything away and slam in enough firepower to snatch the title of "Attack Holder (Maximum Firepower)," but I can't be that reckless in a skirmish that isn't even a Scenario EX. Besides, I am merely the preliminary stage to pass the baton to the main act, just a jab to make the opponent flinch.

Including the first energy problem and the second recoil problem, this time I'll fire at "80% Accumulation" also as a test. It won't be reusable until a week later, but surely I won't need this so urgently again. My body won't hold if I have apocalyptic bloody battles so regularly.

"If you avoid the moon, I'll slam the moon into you."

Parts of the right fist slide, and the built-in golden crystal increases its brilliance further. The moonlight pours into the heart of the Goldy Scorpion I fought to the death on the crystal cliff that day... the Life Crystal Core of the Golden Scorpion, converting energy into destructive power along with a roar as if the internal mechanism is creaking and screaming.

Lycaon has no means of escape. As long as the sleeping Suzaku seals the hind leg, she cannot choose the option of evasion. Then interception? No.

"I am faster!!"

My positioning, her face position, timing, advantage of startup frames, confusion of hate. Everything connects and sticks together, and a spider web named "Strategy" binds Lycaon tightly.

Now, hors d'oeuvres before the main dish. Please don't get Full (Near Death) just from this, okay?

"This is thanks for that night. Take this... [Reject]!!"

Gold devoured jet black, and exploded.

Author's Afterword
Bamboo-Mikazuchi (whisper)

Exceed Charge: Reject
Among the several types of "Machine Gear," an Exceed Charge specialized in destructive power, simple is best.
Overheating the energy hidden in the materials used to create enormous destructive power, a super-firepower attack that half-includes the meaning of "self-destruction."
By the way, in the case of Brilliant Scorpion Gauntlets (Gilta Brille), the setting is quite nasty: "Stab the needle hidden in the right fist into the enemy, pour in 'Crystallization' energy, and cause a massive explosion from the inside."
No matter how sturdy the armor or how strong the muscles, the poured energy converts the material composing the enemy into "Crystal" and explodes it. In short, the effect of Gilta Brille's Exceed Charge is: Super Massive Damage + Armor Piercing Effect + Extremely Immense Recoil.
Other "Reject" types have different additional effect parts.