Chapter 52

"Is this the area...?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Right."

A large wine-red crack extends across the ground at the source of the wave, from which monsters are pouring out in droves.

"Huh?"

Upon closer inspection, a fish-like creature lies there, with a white, vicious-looking face, red eyes, a large mouth, and fangs, wrapped in white cloth. It’s already dead, but this must be one of the big catches from the wave. It looks ghostly... like a monster that might be immune to physical attacks.

"A fish?"

"What is this...?"

"Hmm... This seems like a tough enemy for us to fight."

"Is that so?"

"Regular attacks won’t work. It looks like only magic will be effective."

With my experience in online games, I know that certain monsters can only be defeated with elemental weapons or magic.

"Then I can fight, Filo!"

"Huh? Kicking won’t work, you know?"

"Yeah. Filo can use attack magic too?"

"Use it from the start!"

"Ugh, kicking is stronger than using magic."

Sigh... I still don’t know how many spells Filo can use. When I ask her, she gives vague answers that are hard to understand.

"Didn’t they defeat the boss?"

"Where are they?"

Looking around, I hear the sound of clashing metal.

"Over there?"

"Yeah. Let’s go that way."

Filo also hears the sound, and we run in that direction.

"Wheel Dance Zero Form: Reverse Style Snow Moon Flower!"

Despite it being daytime, the sky, stained wine-red, glows red. Looking up, a blood-red moon seems to respond to the enemy’s words, shining brightly. Then, a red flash in a circle pierces through the humanoid figures.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

We arrived just as this happened. Genkou, Ren, Itsuki, and their companions were simultaneously thrown back by something like a tornado and fell to the ground.

"Ugh!"

What’s going on here? Judging from the situation, they must have taken a massive hit from the enemy’s magic or something. But no, they are well-versed in this world and should be at a high level. They shouldn’t lose so easily. What’s going on?

Genkou and the others were blown over to our side.

"It should have been a critical hit with the Meteor Spear..."

Ren mutters, in sync with Genkou.

"It should have been a critical hit with the Meteor Sword..."

Itsuki adds.

"It should have been a critical hit with the Meteor Bow..."

What?

"Is this... a trend? That?"

After saying this, the heroes present fainted. They fainted, I think they’re not dead. Is ‘Meteor’ trending?

"Newcomers?"

As the tornado subsides, a figure appears at its center. She is wearing a kimono, black in color, with silver embroidery, similar to the high-quality funeral attire worn by relatives in my world. She looks like a beautiful girl, with a face that rivals Raphatalia’s in beauty. She seems serious, with long hair. However, she occasionally becomes slightly translucent, like a ghost, making her background visible. Her weapon is an iron fan, which she holds in both hands, moving as if she’s dancing. This woman seems to be the victor here.

"The heroes of this world were quite disappointing."

The woman in the kimono turns to us and says.

"Master, she’s probably very strong."

Filo, with her feathers bristling, tells me.

"Yes, I can feel a powerful pressure just being near her. She’s much stronger than regular monsters."

Raphatalia, trying to keep her tail from bristling, also warns.

"Did you defeat these guys?"

I ask, stepping on the face of the unconscious woman who was blown over.

"Hmm... How dare you treat your comrades like this?"

The woman in the kimono seems displeased with my attitude.

"Comrades? Unfortunately, they’re not."

I stomp on her face a few times, which slightly eases my anger, though it hasn’t fully subsided. Serves her right.

"Regardless, what you’re doing is cruel."

"It’s fine, they’ve done worse. I have a strong grudge against them."

"Master, you sound like a villain."

"Shut up."

"There’s no retort to a righteous argument from the enemy..."

Raphatalia mutters, sounding exasperated. The audience is getting annoying.

"Can I copy that, Filo?"

Filo raises her foot toward Genkou.

"Stop, you’ll kill them."

"Okay."

The enemy also seems exasperated by our attitude.

"...Even if they’re not comrades, your actions are still outside the bounds of human decency."

"Say what you want."

"Anyway, as a representative of this world, I cannot afford to lose."

She readies her iron fan and charges at us. She’s fast! I quickly raise my shield.

Clang!

Gah... It’s incredibly heavy. The weight of her attack is far beyond that of a Dragon Zombie. If her iron fan can deliver such a heavy attack, Raphatalia and Filo would be in danger if they were hit.

"Raphatalia, Filo! Be careful, she’s... strong."

"Understood!"

"Got it!"

‘The Shield Hero commands the source of power. Reinterpret the logic and protect us!’

"Fast Guard!"

The support spell is cast on both of them and me, and the battle begins. The enemy seems to understand my intentions and changes her position. We follow her. The other heroes and their companions are in the way. The reason the boss-like enemy was lying there is probably due to this. Her iron fan’s attacks are so heavy that even I, with my shield, take painful injuries. I use Fast Heal to heal my wounds when I have a moment, but it’s tough. Her attacks are fierce and fast. Once she realizes I’m not an easy target, she tries to switch her focus to Raphatalia and Filo.

"Not a chance!"

So, I grapple her and pull her down to hinder her.

"Ugh... Let go!"

But my grip isn’t that easy to break.

"Same combat style... This is more troublesome than the others."

She remains calm even after taking a Snake Fang (Mid) attack. Indeed, she focuses on defense, as evident from how she deflects Raphatalia and Filo’s attacks with her iron fan. Everything is heavy. The fact that she defeated the other heroes speaks volumes.

"Master, watch my magic!"

Filo, crossing her hands, charges at the enemy.

"Here I go!"

For a moment, just a moment, Filo seemed to blur. Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud! The shock waves from her attacks reverberate through the air and reach me.

"Ugh...!"

The enemy shows a pained expression for the first time.

"Wow... She’s so tough. Filo’s attack didn’t even knock her back."

"How... heavy... Her combo... It’s as strong as a hero’s sword attack. She kicked me eight times in that instant..."

What? This enemy could see Filo’s attack?

"Filo, one more time!"

"Ugh... Can’t, I’m out of mana and need time to recharge."

So, that was Filo’s ultimate attack.

"Take this!"

Raphatalia takes advantage of the opening.

"Too slow!"

She slips her sword through the gap in the iron fan.

Crack!

"What—"

Raphatalia’s sword breaks!?

How strong is she? The iron fan has a sword-breaking property, but to use it so effectively...

I can barely hold her off with Fast Guard and the strongest part of my shield. The only decisive blow left is from Filo.

"Ugh..."

Raphatalia steps back and draws her backup sword. Is there no other way...?

"Pant, pant... Quite impressive."

No, there might be a chance if we can drag this into a war of attrition. She’s been fighting the other three heroes before us, and she’s not invincible.

"This ends now."

Her entire body glows. This is bad! It’s the same attack she used to defeat the others!

"Raphatalia, Filo!"

She starts a high-speed rotation, like a tornado. We take the opportunity to hide behind me, as planned, though we only have a few steps to move.

"Shield Prison!"

The target is myself. A magical shield cage surrounds us.

"Wheel Dance Zero Form: Reverse Style Snow Moon Flower!"

A powerful storm and iron fan attack sweep through the shield.

"Ugh..."

It’s a devastating attack. The fact that I can take this much damage shows how the other heroes were no match for her.

"Are you both okay?"

"Hardly."

"It hurts..."

They’ve taken significant damage. I apply healing ointment to my wounds. The skill’s effect heals their wounds as well, gradually.

"Hmm... To withstand my trump card... Your defense is quite impressive."

The tornado subsides, and the enemy approaches us.

"I’m honored by your praise."

We’re pretty beat up, but we’re not defeated yet. However, we lack a decisive blow.

"Ugh!"

Filo is dealing small amounts of damage to the enemy with her speed, but this will turn into a prolonged battle. It’s uncertain if we can win.

What should we do...?

There’s one, just one way to turn the tide.

"Raphatalia."

I grab Raphatalia’s hand as she retreats.

"What is it?"

"Give me your strength..."

Raphatalia understands what I want.

"Yes. I am Naofumi’s sword. I will follow you, no matter what hell we face."

"...Understood."

She trusts me. There’s a fear that I might betray that trust, but if I lose here, Raphatalia and Filo will... die. I don’t want that. I must protect them. I swear, I won’t let anger consume me.

I place my hand on the shield.

Rage Shield!

Growth from the Corrupted Dragon’s Core!

Curse Series, Rage Shield’s ability upgrade!

Rage Shield II

Ability Unlocked... Equipment Bonus, Skills "Change Shield (Offense)" and "Iron Maiden"

Special Effect: Self-Curse Burning, Strength Increase, Dragon’s Rage, Roar, Follower Rampage

What—

Is this the last memory of the dragon whose core I used for the shield? It shows a scene where a hero with a sword pierces its chest and forehead, and its consciousness abruptly cuts off. The anger at that moment is unimaginable. The humiliation of being defeated by a human is something I can now understand. Growth...!

The shield’s shape changes from one adorned with flames to one with a red dragon. The Barbarian Armor +1 also changes, influenced by the shield. What is this... Is it because of the Corrupted Dragon’s Core? The rider suit has transformed into black dragon-themed armor.

As a trade-off, a black shadow is trying to stain my vision...

A character similar to this one appeared somewhere, and I used this character as a model for the other.