Chapter 76

□【Shadow Stalker】Mary Adler

It was right after Franklin had abducted Eri-chan.

When Eri-chan and Franklin disappeared from the arena, I immediately leaped out of my box seat.

The reason, of course, was to chase after Franklin.

And to rescue Eri-chan.

With my full speed, the supersonic mobility of my AGI-type super-class job, Mary Adler, I raced through the arena's corridors.

I quickly reached the exit and tried to go outside, but I was blocked by a barrier.

It's not surprising that a barrier was set up around the arena.

If the operation that trapped Figaro and Hayabusa was possible, then this kind of thing could be done as well.

Above all, Franklin is the type who excels at defying common sense, starting with his specialized monster creation.

...Well, super-classes, in general, are people who, to varying degrees, defy common sense.

In any case, since this barrier restricting entry and exit from the arena was Franklin's doing, I immediately guessed what he was aiming for.

To reveal the powerlessness of the kingdom's <Masters>.

Eri-chan might also be one of the materials to create that situation.

I can't predict exactly how he will "use" her, but it won't be anything good.

Yes, if something happens to Eri-chan while I'm sitting in this cage, it would be unbearable.

That's why I quickly escaped from the Central Arena.

How did I escape?

In principle, it's the same as how Hayabusa's <True Fire True Light Dragon Tyrant> broke the barrier on the ceiling.

<True Fire True Light Dragon Tyrant> is the ultimate technique of the super-class [Corpse Immortal].

From this, I could predict that the ultimate techniques of super-classes could surpass the barrier's performance.

Therefore, I used the ultimate technique of my stealth-type super-class [Shadow Stalker] to break through the barrier.

The ultimate technique of [Shadow Stalker] is not as powerful as <True Fire True Light Dragon Tyrant>, but it is more suitable for such situations.

Admittedly, it cost me about half of my SP.

Once I was out in the city, I used the <Concealment> skill extensively on myself and simultaneously used the <Concealment Perception> skill to search for Franklin.

While doing so, I spotted a suspicious eel-like creature floating in the sky, so I launched a surprise attack.

I jumped from the roof of a building, used my shadow clone as a stepping stone in mid-air, and launched a surprise attack on the eel-like creature.

As expected, Franklin was there, so I slit his throat and then delivered a lethal dose of Alcanshelle's explosive penetration bullets.

Next, I fired explosive bullets at the eel-like vehicle and flew down with Eri-chan in my arms.

And now, with Eri-chan on my back, I am racing through the streets of Gideon.

◇◆

□ Duel City Gideon, 9th Street

Elisabeth woke up to a faint vibration she felt through her body.

It was a familiar sensation, the same trembling she felt yesterday.

The feeling of being carried on someone's back while moving, the softness she felt, and the scent that tickled her nose were the same as yesterday.

“M, Mary?”

“Yes, it's me, Eri-chan.”

She asked with a slightly slurred voice, and the person carrying her, Mary Adler, responded.

“I'm so happy to see you. But why...”

“For now, we're running to a safe place, so let's talk later!”

As she said this, Mary continued to run.

Elisabeth, being carried, didn't realize the speed, but it was well over several hundred kilometers per hour.

Mary, a <Super-Class Killer> specialized in AGI and concealment skills, could easily run this fast even while carrying someone.

Her current destination was the Central Arena.

There, many high-level <Masters> were still present.

The barrier prevented high-level outsiders from entering.

When Mary used the ultimate technique of [Shadow Stalker] to escape the Central Arena, there were still monsters rampaging inside.

But she assumed that the <Masters> gathered there would have taken care of them.

...Most importantly, there was someone capable of easily handling the situation inside.

“Mary, if we're running, take this.”

Elisabeth said this and handed over the terminal she had been holding even while unconscious.

“This is... Ah, very convenient.”

Mary immediately understood the map and moved to avoid the red dots.

Like when she launched the surprise attack, she was using multiple concealment skills, so her dot didn't appear on the map.

However, it was easy to grasp her current position by comparing the map with the scenery.

“By the way, do you understand the meaning of these card-like marks?”

“Yes, the diamond is Franklin, and the hearts and clubs are his subordinates.”

“I see...”

At that moment, Mary felt an urge to curse.

“...He's still alive, huh?”

She muttered this in a low, hateful voice.

Despite dealing damage nearly ten times Franklin's maximum HP and confirming that no substitution accessory was activated, the diamond mark hadn't disappeared.

(This isn't just <Casting>; he's using <Life Link> as well. In that case, I can't kill him until I eliminate all the monsters in his capacity.)

<Life Link>.

A skill that "shares" HP with the monsters you own.

Theoretically, it's a powerful skill that allows you to continue fighting without reducing your numbers until you're almost wiped out, but it has many restrictions.

It only works with monsters stored in your subordinate capacity and not with monsters that use party slots.

Most importantly, the monsters must be deeply bonded and prioritize their owner over themselves.

This bond usually takes a long time to build, which is why there weren't many users of <Life Link>.

(But for someone like Franklin, it's a perfect fit.)

Franklin creates monsters.

By creating monsters with extreme loyalty from the start, he can maintain as many additional HP tanks as he wants.

Moreover, if these monsters have no combat ability and only excessive HP, it's not wasteful in terms of capacity.

(But if he's still alive... This is bad.)

The opponent is a super-class, and the same trick won't work twice.

As long as he's alive and hostile, there's a risk he'll use unpredictable methods to eliminate her.

Mary, who has faced and defeated super-classes, knows this.

(I need to get Eri-chan to the Central Arena as quickly as possible...!)

The current Central Arena is a safe zone where the kingdom's <Masters> who couldn't leave the arena have gathered.

But the biggest reason Mary is heading there is...

(There... that person is there. If that person is who I think they are... they won't lose to Franklin.)

With this thought in mind, Mary headed for the Central Arena.

Along the way, monsters occasionally appeared as if by accident, but she easily blew them away with explosive homing bullets and continued to run.

Finally, she could see the exterior of the Central Arena.

“Alright, just a little more, Eri-chan!”

“Okay, Mary.”

『---For now, I'll take the princess back.』

A voice came from the terminal.

Immediately after, the weight and breathing of Elisabeth on Mary's back disappeared.

When Mary checked behind her, she saw the same bird-like monster she had seen in the arena.

And Elisabeth was nowhere to be found.

Understanding what had happened, Mary cursed and cut down the bird.

“I thought I was out of <Casting>'s effective range...”

『Ah, I placed monitoring monsters throughout the city and used <Casting> in succession. It's like a bucket relay.』

Mary wanted to ask about the recast time and MP consumption, but the opponent was at the pinnacle of monster creation, even among <Masters> and Tians.

She realized it would be futile to ask.

『Still, you did a great job, <Super-Class Killer>. I thought I was going to die.』

Franklin's throat, which Mary had slit earlier, was now smooth and unscarred, which irritated her.

“I intended to at least make you suffer a penalty.”

『A penalty at the very least? That's scary.』

“I'm going to kill you again now. And I'll get Eri-chan back.”

『Ahahaha, really scary.』

Franklin showed a slight hint of fear in his voice but continued to laugh.

『Since I'm scared... can you do something about it, Club?』

At that moment, Mary's <Danger Perception> skill sounded its maximum alarm.

Using her agility as a [Shadow Stalker], she evacuated at supersonic speed.

The scene she saw after barely escaping was the space where she had just been "collapsing."

The roads, buildings, and even trees... everything with form was shattered and reduced to dust.

『I'll leave you to him. I originally placed him to deal with exceptions like you.』

With that, the terminal self-destructed, likely to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

But Mary had no time to worry about such changes.

“Damn...”

What was a street corner in Gideon a moment ago was now a desert-like landscape.

In the distance, a group of strange figures stood.

A man wearing a bird-faced hat and waving a baton.

A centaur playing a stringed instrument.

A kishi blowing a wind instrument.

A kobold striking a percussion instrument.

Mary realized she had seen this combination somewhere before.

Trying to remember where, she recalled the street performers in the central square yesterday.

But it was different.

If asked what was different... it was the appearance of the centaur, kishi, and kobold.

The ones she saw yesterday were adorable and well-received by the audience.

But now, their fur was gone, replaced by a steel surface.

Mechanical performers.

Performers and instruments in one.

To Mary, they now looked like killing machines, not an adorable band.

And there was no audience around them.

Everything around them was shattered, spreading a desert of destruction.

“I thought they were a good band... If they're here now, I guess they're my enemies, right?”

Mary asked with certainty.

Her perception skills and her intuition as a seasoned <Master> told her that they were formidable opponents.

『Affirmative.』

It wasn't a voice.

Their performance, like words, flowed to Mary.

“May I ask your name?”

『The club on the board. [Conductor King] Beldorbel.』

“I see.”

Club was one of Franklin's trusted subordinates in Gideon.

Not a local conscript or a turncoat, but a pure <Triangle of Wisdom> force.

And the job [Conductor King]... like Mary's [Shadow Stalker], it was a super-class.

(...This will be tough.)

Mary speculated that their <Embryo> rank was probably similar.

And she couldn't avoid this opponent to reach Franklin.

(Even if I could reach him, it would mean being caught between this one and that one. That's impossible. Ah, what a nuisance.)

Mary sighed and readied her <Embryo>, Alcanshelle.

“---Since you're in the way, die quickly.”

『---Don't be hasty, audience. Listen to the requiem and depart slowly.』

Beldorbel raised his baton in response—explosive sounds and the sound of destruction intersected.

One of the most intense battles of the night began.

The battle between [Shadow Stalker] Mary Adler and [Conductor King] Beldorbel.

To be continued

The next post will be at 21:00 tomorrow.