Chapter 444: O Dragon, O Dragon! Part 21

Author's Preface
This is my first post after getting dragged into the "whose perspective should I even be writing from" phenomenon, also known as an ensemble cast.

Damn you, Sasazushi...!!

『Order from individual named Mold. Executing snipe in five seconds.』

"...Understood."

She evaded the fangs and claws, delivering a steel low kick to the side of its face right as the five seconds elapsed. The bullet reaching from the ground to Siegwurm high in the sky struck with an explosive sound, scattering sparks off the golden scales—it wasn't entirely effective, but it wasn't exactly no-damage either.

From a purely damage-based perspective, it amounted to less than a scratch, but it accurately disrupted the starting points of Siegwurm's actions, making the flight of the Suzaku stand out all the more.
Though only based on a single encounter, information exchange with Sunraku and the others who had combat experience against it made it clear that Siegwurm's "horns" held some sort of significance. That was exactly why the crimson wings repeatedly executed hit-and-away tactics, steadily racking up attacks aimed directly at its head.

"...I knew this already, but he's tough."

『I see. "You lot" are the type who, though possessing considerable strength individually, merge it together to form an even greater power...!!』

"...I dunno, this evaluation is so high it's making me blush."

The dictionary-like metallic lump slid open, forming dual barrels and firing magic bullets. The bullets passed just a hairsbreadth away from Siegwurm's eyeball as he tried to activate "Shining Dragon King (Tupac Amaru)," and because he was a living creature, his head reflexively stiffened, allowing the bullets from Castor Pollux to land a direct hit.

"...As always, it's so much easier to fly when Mold is here."

If Rust was a bird, Mold was her tailwind. Pushing Rust's back and blowing away all the obstacles in her path to the enemy. Lately, the wind had increasingly been carrying along stuff like Rakugo performances and one-liner gags that rendered him utterly useless, but even so, there was still no overshadowing the sheer quality of Mold's support (when he wasn't currently broken from laughing).

"...Suzaku, drop altitude by ten meters."

『Understood.』

After a split-second of loading, a horizontal line was displayed across the scenery viewed through 【Lustrous Feather】.
It was an altitude indicator; while maintaining a favorable state of combat maneuvers against Siegwurm, Rust was making him chase her, slowly but surely dragging him down from the heights of the sky to the lower grounds of the earth.

『Ten minutes remaining until operation termination.』

"...Bring it on. By the way, if we go 'top speed,' how much does that shrink?"

『If the maximum output of this unit's unique function "Arahabataki" is maintained, approximately two minutes. Displaying details of said mechanism.』

"...Hmm, sounds fun."

Siegwurm's attacks, which utilized martial arts involving "fingers and hands" by virtue of his humanoid form, were actually on the easier side to fight for Rust, who was thoroughly versed in combat against humanoid mobile weapons. The wing-shaped waist boosters achieved flight by utilizing a combination of organic flapping and mechanical jet propulsion.
This was completely different from the Blue Dragon, who dashed through the sky as an extension of the earth, from the White Tiger, who danced through the air strictly as a byproduct of exhaust, and from the Black Tortoise, who possessed hovering simply as a means of transport for its sluggish frame. This was a true "Flight" permitted only to the Vermilion Bird, Suzaku.

That said, her opponent was the Unique Monster "Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign"; his durability was undoubtedly balanced around the premise of a multi-person raid. Even if Rust currently possessed the strength of ten men, she still lacked the necessary firepower.

"...Noir-lin."

『You, to mistake my name... I assume you are prepared to die in regret...?』

"...If you stress over the little things, your scales will go bald. Proposing a strategy."

『Bald... Hmph, let's hear it.』

While hammering Siegwurm with suppressing fire, Rust closed the distance to Noirlind's face and brought up a "talk."

"Akitsu Akane and I will draw Siegwurm's attention. In that opening, you smash Siegwurm down to the ground."

『Hoooh... Fine, I suppose. Do not fail.』

"...Who do you think you're talking to?"

"Um! What exactly should I be doing?!"

"............M-Maintain a high degree of flexibility and adapt to the situation as it demands..."

"So flying by the seat of my pants! That's my specialty!!"

Isn't our clan filled with people who are crazier the more they hide their face and head behind some animal motif...? This sudden thought popped into Rust's mind, but going by that logic, she herself—currently wearing a mechanical bird helmet—would be right next in line, so she immediately banished the thought from her memory.

"Saina, tell Mold. We're going to use Noir-lin to smash Siegwurm down."

『There is no need. Currently, a similar strategy has been proposed by the individual named Mold. The instruction is to make the "Humans" stand out and drop the "Dragon" from top to bottom.』

"...Nice operating. Saina's showing some Intelligence too."

『...Heh.』

A rapid succession of surface-to-air snipes assaulted Siegwurm; it seemed this was a response in gratitude for the praise.

"...Akitsu Akane, I'll carry you right up to Siegwurm. Can you mess with him a bit?"

"Leave it to me! Noirlind-san, I leave the attacking to you!!"

『Just try your hardest not to get shaken off!』

Rust caught Akitsu Akane as she leapt off Noirlind's back, holding her under the arms to keep her airborne body—which would otherwise have nowhere to go but down—suspended in the sky.

"...Akitsu Akane."

"Yes!"

"It's going to 'shake' quite a bit until I drop you on Siegwurm's back, so make sure you don't bite your tongue."

"Understoobyuuh!!?"

◆ 

"This unit (I) recognize that its Intelligence is exceptionally superior, but considers that returning gratitude for praise is not something to be withheld."

"Yeah, yeah, Intelligence, Intelligence."

I didn't know if Rust had praised her or something, but our piece of junk gets really annoying if you praise her too much, so I'd really appreciate it if they kept the feeding to a moderate level.
That being said, with support sniping from the ground added to the strongest player in NephHolo donning a Suzaku type similar to her beloved mech, it was basically giving an iron club to a demon—or rather, sprouting wings on a tiger.

"How're the other dragons doing?"

"Hmm... As expected, Dreadhowl is getting targeted the most. But since a good chunk of people shifted over to Bryreinyego, the subjugation speed has definitely dropped, I'd say?"

"Ah, breaking news. Looks like both the White and the Red have entered their enrage modes."

Dreadhowl was apparently rampaging around violently, spewing out jet flames from its entire body instead of just the protrusions scattered across it like before, while Bryreinyego had started eating the forest sea monsters hunted by its Small Dragons to spawn mutated Small Dragons corresponding to what it ate.
Hey, Bryreinyego, the Devouring Great Crimson Clad already did that exact same gimmick, so there's zero novelty here.

"Wait, that one was replacement, but in this case, is it reflection?"

Hmm... Compared to the Devouring Great Crimson Clad, which dyes the very terrain in its own colors, this just feels somehow... like a downgraded version. Wait, is this one actually the upgraded version?

"Dreadhowl or Bryreinyego... Either way, it feels like it's only a matter of time."

"Hmm... I wonder."

"You have some concerns? Or are you still hiding information? Spit it out, spit it out〜"

"Stop shaking me, stop shaking me."

What came to mind was the battle with the Genesis Kin (Raid Monster). When that thing was backed into a corner, it dove underground... and, if Vash's words were true, it "connected to its main body" and entered a mode you could call its final form.
Let's see... Primal Revolve? I remembered it because there was a system announcement, but...

"Wethermon's Clear Sky Great Conquest and Ctarrnid's Imaginative Form... If Unique Monsters have final forms, wouldn't the Color Dragons have something similar too?"

Sure enough, the answer became clear when Dreadhowl, having been forced into checkmate, displayed it for all to see.

『Dammit! Dammit! Dammit alllllll!! Die! You miserable maggots! Die together with meeeeee!!』

At that moment, a window popped up in front of every player present, and strings of text danced across the screen.

『The flesh of the Red Dragon Dreadhowl boils over at the crisis to its life.』

『Caution! Hazard Mode!!』

Cracks ran across Dreadhowl's entire body. Flames spilled out from the inside of its body visible through the fissures, and its frame swelled up massively as it let out a roar resembling a scream, almost as if it couldn't even withstand its own power.

"Self-destruct?!"

"No, that's...!!"

"It's a breath!!"

Dreadhowl's gaze was fixed straight onto Skull Azuchi. Whether it realized that Skull Azuchi was the root cause of getting mobbed, or if it saw through the fact that it was the players' main stronghold... the indisputable fact remained that Skull Azuchi was being targeted.

『Great Eruption of Grudge (Volkevil) uuuuaaaaaa?!!!』

Dreadhowl's body, which had swelled up so much it caused cracks to run all over it, rapidly contracted. Then, dark red flames tore through the sky from its mouth, incinerating the very atmosphere as they surged forward.

And so——