◇ ◇ ◇

“So what you’re saying Orn, is that there’s a chance a Black Dragon can make more than ten of those haze tendrils appear at the same time?”

　Selma had asked when I expressed my thoughts at the meeting for the Black Dragon battle.

“Yeah, I think there’s a non-zero chance. I have a similar mana interference ability like the Black Dragons, so I get it. I don’t know if humans and demonic beasts have the same  senses, but in my case, if I focus only on [Magic Convergence], I can interfere with mana more than usual. If it goes as we’ve planned in the meetings so far, I think it’’ll become a one-sided battle. If that happens, and if what I’ve just hypothesised applies to the Black Dragon, I think there’s enough of a chance that the Black Dragon will focus everything at the cost of everything else on manipulating haze.”

　I’d fought one twice, and also from checking the past battle records of other explorers, there hadn’t been any precedent of Black Dragons manifesting more than ten haze tendrils. 

　However, just because there was no precedent doesn’t mean that it’s a hundred percent impossible. 

　If you conduct this many detailed meetings, it’d be good to also pay attention to what you’d originally dismissed as impossible. 

　With such comprehensive meetings, it might conversely turn out that when something unexpected happens, you become even more confused and unable to cope.

“If there’s gonna be a hundred of them, we’re in deep.”

　Will muttered jokingly.

“If that happens, Will’s sword will eat them all, so it’ll be alright!”

“You think I can do that! I can’t get beyond a certain distance from the front of the Black Dragon, and even if I could, hundred’s impossible, physically speaking.”

“That’s, well! With spirit!”

“Don’t say nonsense……”

“Ahaha. But, okay a hundred is too much, still, it’s definitely dangerous to assume only ten can come out. What if more than ten appear, what do we do?”

“If I use my final resort, I can attack a wide area faster than Lain’s attack magic, but it’s still in the testing stage, so I can’t guarantee I can bring them all down.”

“Your [Magic Sword Unification], you’re referring to? You showed me that yesterday, but I’m still wondering how exactly matter can be transformed into mana? I’ve never heard of such a thing.” 

　Lain asked.

　Speaking of which, I did show her how Schwarzhase could transform into pitch black mana, but I didn’t explain. 

　I didn’t have time for that because I had other business to attend to right afterwards.

“Schwarzhase is made from Black Dragon scales and deep layer ores mixed with Hide Turtle blood. I’ll leave out the specific details, but essentially, the formula for [Magic Sword Unification] acts as an intermediary that transforms Schwarzhase in response to the converged mana.”

　Hide Turtles are turtle demonic beasts found all throughout the lower layers.

　The unique characteristic of the Hide Turtle is their ability to adapt to the surrounding mana and transform to… melt into their surroundings. 

　In other words, that trait has been incorporated into Schwarzhase, a normally sharp physical sword, that can also adapt to mana via a special formula to transform into a fluid mass of mana. 

“Hoh~, I get it, or maybe I don’t get it……. Anyhow, with that, the [Heavenly Flash] that needs time before it’s unleashed can now fire several shots right away, right!”

“No, it’s impossible to release many shots at once. The total amount of mana is fixed, so every time I release a [Heavenly Flash], the mana is consumed. Being able to immediately fire off an [Heavenly Flash] is in the end, just a bonus. The intended way to use it–“

　As I explained the original purpose of [Magic Sword Unification], Will has a blank look.

“Hey, hey, Will? I don’t know much about the martial arts? That explorers learn, but this isn’t something just, anyone can, do, is it?”

“……Obviously. Martial arts ain’t so easy that greedy guys can master everything. Or, that’s what I wanna say, but this past month, I’ve been watching how Orn fights, and it does look like he isn’t just skilled in a general kind of swordsmanship……. I’ve caught him mixing in various kinds of martial arts. Besides that, in Orn’s case, he can raise his physical abilities to a monstrous level, and he also has got that ridiculous magic called [Impact]. With that included, I end up thinking he might just be able to pull it off…… Lucre, seriously, don’t take this guy as the norm. This guy’s more crazy than I thought. From the bottom of my heart, I’m really glad you’re on my side.”

　Don’t just say whatever you like……

　The person you’re talking about is right in front of you……

　Well, I get that this might be blasphemy to those who wholeheartedly devote themselves to a single martial art, but what I need is to win, to survive. I don’t care about the means or the process. 

“Ahem, I know this is off topic, but you have no problem even if the Black Dragon produces more than ten haze tendrils and aims all of them at you all in the Vanguard, right?”

　Selma brought us back on track. 

“I’ve got no problem.”

“I’m fine too.”

“In that case, that just leaves what happens if it comes at us in the Rearguard, I guess. In that case, I’ll–“

　Selma began to speak about the countermeasure she’d thought of

　Yeah, if that’s what she’ll do, it doesn’t sound like there’d be any issue. 

　　◇ ◇ ◇

　Countless needles fly toward the three Rearguard.

　And then — they slip through the bodies of those three.

　This is Selma’s original magic, [Phantom].

　From the beginning of the battle, Selma had cast the support magic [Hide] on the three Rearguard members, obscuring their presence and then projecting an illusion of those three in a completely different location.

　In other words, the Black Dragon was attacking the wrong place.

“Let me know what ya think about us acting shocked. You thought you turned the tables? Naive! The only thing you’re gonna be doing today is staying put and being our sandbag!”

　While the Black Dragon’s attention was focused on the three phantoms, Will, right in front of it, slashes the Black Dragon’s jaw with a blade clad in chaotic mana.

　Face blown upward and head bent back, the Black Dragon catches me in its sight.

　I’m already stationed directly above the Black Dragon.

“……[Model Four]”

　I mutter while manipulating the long sword shaped pitch black mana in my right hand.

　Then, the black mana changes from a long sword to a spear. 

“It’s convenient that this specific one is so impatient. I didn’t think that it would really spend everything on manipulating haze. Thanks for giving me a clear opening. This is the end!”

　I aim at a certain point and throw the spear-form Schwarzhase.

　That point is where Lain has been concentrating her attacks all this while.

　The scales on that spot are tattered.

　And it’s also near where the Black Dragon’s heart is.

　The spear I throw penetrates the body of the Black Dragon.

　–And the course of the spear even pierces the heart.

　The Black Dragon screams and turns into lack mist.

　Only a large magic stone, some scales, and a claw remain in the place where the Black Dragon was, and Schwarzhase, returning to its original long sword form, is stuck into the ground.

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