Chapter 15: The Lost
The setting was an endless wasteland. Despite only being illuminated by moonlight and the starry sky, the visibility was surprisingly good.
From ahead, a sound reverberated through the air, a deep, resonant “bwooooon, bwooooon,” as if the atmosphere itself was trembling. I could feel the overwhelming presence of a powerful foe against my skin.
This is something else…
“This might be quite the challenge.”
The monster that appeared before us was a blade-wielding creature. Not just any blade, but one resembling a Holy Sword or a Demon Sword. A radiant Treasure Sword—this was the only fitting description for the weapon.
I glanced at my own weapon. The Six-Handed Demon was the finest piece I had.
Could I really fight that monster with this…? A flicker of anxiety washed over me.
Without breaking our combat stance, we remained vigilant, but the floating Treasure Sword mocked us with its “bwooooon, bwooooon” sounds, resonating louder and brighter, its light intensifying— it wouldn’t stop glowing—!?
“Eris!! Get behind me!”
Would I make it in time!? I had to!
“Angeee!! Mikaaa!! Move behind me—get in line with the enemy!! Hurry!! And put up the barrier to its limit!!”
Please, just listen to me! Damn it! It’s not enough! Not enough! Not enough!
Make it in time! Please, make it in time!
Shorten the incantation! Activate it at full speed!
As I desperately suppressed my panic and fear, the attack was unleashed.
From the floating Treasure Sword, an enormous laser shot forth.
—Oblivion—
A torrent of immense energy engulfed us.
This was the most perilous moment since diving into the Mirror Labyrinth.
I managed to activate Oblivion just in the nick of time. My ultimate technique, which blasts objects into another dimension—if I had been even a moment late, we would have been wiped out.
I felt Eris’s breath behind me. Keeping my focus forward, I searched for the presence of Mika and the others further back. I succeeded in covering them within the range of Oblivion, and they were safe.
“Yamadaaa! Hurry up and take down that junk!!”
Ignoring the banter, I kept my thoughts focused, but before I could catch my breath, a scream that resembled a wail came from Eris behind me.
“Master! The dungeon boss… it’s not just one…!?”
Emerging from behind the floating Treasure Sword was a swordsman made of dragon bones. Though constructed from dragon bones, his physique was comparable to mine, perhaps slightly larger, but not overwhelmingly so. Yet, the overwhelming aura of a true warrior emanating from him made me gasp.
I was forced to understand, whether I wanted to or not. The countless swords embedded in the wasteland were the mementos of fallen warriors—grave markers.
The Dragonbone Swordsman faced us, curling his fingers in a taunting gesture. I felt as if he smiled at us, though his expression was obscured.
“Dammit!” I shouted as I charged forward, but Eris tried to follow me.
“Master!! Wait! The sword boss…!!”
Just as we were about to strike the Dragonbone Swordsman together, the Treasure Sword began to transform with a “jaki, jaki, jaki” sound.
In an instant, it split into six blades, each moving as if they had a will of their own, hurtling towards me at terrifying speed like missiles.
In a split second, I cried out, “Ouch!” as I couldn’t evade in time, and a gash opened on my cheek. The six blades moved independently, coordinating their attacks, inflicting significant wounds upon me.
“Master! Leave the Dragonbone Swordsman to me!”
That’s right, we weren’t alone. Together, we could—
As I confirmed Eris leaping forward to confront the Dragonbone Swordsman, I kicked off the ground towards the six blades when a massive surge of mana erupted from behind.
With a thunderous “babababababa,” countless sparks and compressed Basic Magic (Flame) connected—bursting—connecting—like a serpent, they surged toward the Treasure Sword, intent on incinerating it.
It was one of Ange’s unique spells, Chain Flare from her collection, My World (The One).
“Did we do it!?”
“We did it! Hero-sama!”
“I won’t be outdone! I’ll serve Hero-sama! Oh, my shoulders are so stiff! Heal!”
“Oh, the stiffness is gone!”
This is bad! This is a complete flag!
And it’s the type that gets stronger afterward!!
As the flames cleared, the Treasure Sword reemerged. Its blade gleamed ominously. To my disbelief, it was completely unscathed. Ange’s explosive magic was powerful enough to obliterate most boss monsters in a single strike. Was it just a bad match against the six blades of the Treasure Sword? Or perhaps—
The six blades of the Treasure Sword glimmered for an instant. In that moment, I felt a piercing pain in my abdomen.
“Ughhh!”
The Treasure Sword glimmered again. With a sickening sensation, I felt—
“My left arm…!”
I had never taken such damage in a long time. Recently, I had only sustained wounds that could be managed with potions. After receiving the promised healing magic from Mika—my first dose—I leaped back into the fray.
In the past, I could fight even when battered and bruised. Mika had always been there to help me.
Dodging the attacks of the six blades while avoiding any fatal blows, I recalled Mika’s indifferent eyes directed at me earlier.
Just then, a voice rang out from Ange, “Get out of the way! Move away from there!”
“Narukami!!”
Light streaked across the night sky, accompanied by a deafening crackle that pierced the air.
Previously, when we had each other’s backs in the labyrinth, Ange had obliterated the boss monster, the Angel, in a single strike with this trump card.
However, the lightning that was supposed to relentlessly pursue the enemy until it perished or her mana ran out lost control of its spell and vanished into the void along with the cumulonimbus clouds, leaving the Treasure Sword’s presence intact.
“Aah,” a sigh escaped my lips unconsciously. Meanwhile, they were celebrating.
“I told you to just cast the spell as I said from the start, Ange!! I defeated it!! The strongest and worst boss is down!! Did you see that, Yamada! This is my power! The power of a Hero!”
“We did it, Hero-sama! Thanks to you!!”
This time, Narukami was insufficient. Why was the control of the spell so weak? Why didn’t Ange understand this now? The old her would never have let this happen—
It felt as if everything she had achieved through blood, sweat, and tears had been lost, and tears streamed down my cheeks.
Damn it…! Why…!?
And then, the moment I feared most occurred. The floating six blades of the Treasure Sword slowly turned their edges toward the Hero Party.
I had been desperately managing the hate to keep the blades from targeting them, but thanks to Ryuguin’s poor command, everything had gone to waste.
One of the blades glimmered.
In an instant, a crack appeared in Mika’s barrier protecting the three of them.
Two blades glimmered.
One of Mika’s multi-layer barriers shattered.
Now, all six blades glimmered in unison.
Mika’s barriers vanished without a trace.
The Treasure Sword continued to flicker ominously.
Bwooooon, bwooooon, bwooooon—
A crack ran through Ange’s Mille-Feuille.