Restless Assault

Chapter 127 - Restless Assault

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"Go on full throttle, I'll handle its attacks!" I commanded.

"Got it!" Seia nodded.

I swiftly consumed a Mana Potion, maintaining pace beside Seia as we braced for Khione's relentless assault. The creature before us, creates another familiar blue light, materializing to its front. Aware of the incoming pattern, Seia and I locked onto the unfolding threat, fully aware of the potential danger. As advent as we may be, it wasn't something that can be dodge with ease.

"It's coming...!" I warned. However, Khione wouldn't let us out in easily. In addition, Khione sends out pulsating waves, disrupting our mobility, halting our movements. "This is—?!"

"Our movements—?!" We were being abruptly pulled toward Khione, akin to a black hole dragging us in. Moreover, "Ugh! The laser beam is coming...!"

I tried to use my Grappling Hook, but it was proved futile, as it too was pulled into Khione.

Sai! Seia!" Astra shouted.

"Master!" Luna's concern echoes.

I quickly grabbed Seia, shoving her into my chest. As I balance myself of a quivering pile of snow, keenly focused on every detailed movement of the materializing beam. Watch the timing, watch the timing, Sai...!"

"Guh—!" Cold sweat formed my face as I gritted my teeth in dread. Just a slight movement between Khione's formed beam, my instinct and muscle memory immediately fired-off,

⟨⟨Voiding⟩⟩

Khione blasted its disintegrating frosted beam. In the narrow gap between Khione's forming beam, I instantly vanished, reappearing sideways from our previous location.

But Khione's onslaught of attacks persisted. Several Ice spikes instantly erupted from the ground, prompting an Immediate shift to my 『Serpent's Edge』, followed by instinct.

⟨⟨Sword Technique: Offensive⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Spinning Slash⟩⟩

I threw Seia upward and leaped with a spin, my sword already unsheathe. Using the momentum, I followed with a slash that cuts the erupted number of spikes in half.

"Eugh!" However, it wasn't enough to be able to fend everything. Despite my efforts, a handful of icicles found their mark, piercing my body. It hurts, but I pressed on.

Bam! Bam! Bam! As the onslaught continued, a barrage of bullets intercepted the incoming icicles. In addition, Luna and Astra rushed to my aid, slicing through the projectiles and pulling me away from the bombardment.

Its mind was corrupted as it may, Khione didn't let us three out easily. Before the three of us took our escape, another series of pulsating waves, compromised our movements. This time, rather than the laser beam, Khione summoned a massive Snow Serpent, fiercely emerging under the surface.

"—?! Get away there, you three!" Seia stormed Khione with bullets, attempting to divert its attention. Her efforts failed, however. "Kuh! It's just one after another...!"

"It's going to eat us!" Astra remarked as the Snow Serpent lunged toward us, mouth wide open.

I raised my palm, directly aimed at the rushing serpent.

⟨⟨Glistening Dark⟩⟩

Several chains of gleaming darkness emerged from the ground, attempting to encage the serpentine menace. Regrettably, the serpentine adversary proved too formidable to impede its movements. However, the fleeting moment of constraint provided me with an opening to embed my Hook. Despite the pulsating wave's interference, I successfully executed the maneuver, pulling Luna and Astra along in a narrow escape.

"Within hair's breadth, huh." Astra remarked. "That's the Four Elementals for you. It's strength really lives-up to its name."

"Master...!" Luna called with concern.

"I'm fine, Luna. Thank you," I assured. The black chain had already worn-out, giving the time for the serpent to regain its complete momentum. With that in mind, I leaped back into the battlefield. "I'll leave our backs to both of you, guys!"

The natural law of this world is tampering my movements with my game knowledge. The techniques I could do in the game without minding the laws of reality is starting to bite me off.

Khione's shivering chunk of body stood still at the center of the field. Seia engaged the immobile Khione, swiftly darting in the field as she gracefully dodges all the icicles, while also storming Khione with water bullets. Despite the overwhelming situation, Seia didn't faze one bit.

[Elemental of Snow, 『Khione』 (C̸̣̼̜̦̩̭̞̩̓̾̂̈́ǫ̵̤̦̖̩̻͈͔̊̉͂̔̎͠ȓ̴̟͕̂̄r̴̢̘̰̞̱͉̟̟̮͛û̴̢̢̠͈͖̭͙̰̏͋͆̍̓͒̒͒p̴̱̜̦͈̤̟͂̌́̈͂̾̉̽͜͝ẗ̶͉̠͖͔̹͍̰̰́͠è̸̝̺̹͙̾͋͗̿͝͠d̶͍̺͓͔͔͇͍̜̝̽̇́͒͂͘̕͠): 55,836/86,400]

Damn! She already shredded it that much?! Look how much you've grown Seia. You've just became of what you've promised. None would ever believe you were once a timid and unduly anxious girl before.

Finishing a drink of Healing Potion, I leaped structure to structure, "Well now, looks like I have to step-up my game, am I?"

Sensing my imminent presence, the Snow Serpent drove itself towards me. Further Impediment, the pulsating waves added more to the obstacle. Nonetheless, I took a stance.

⟨⟨Adrenaline⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Battōjutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Lightning Thrust⟩⟩

My mana completely drained. However, my strength surged intensely. Putting all my strength from my feet, I propelled towards the rushing Snow Serpent, unsheathing my sword at once.

Boom! The Serpent's mouth and my blade collided. Tough as the Serpent look, its icy fangs didn't stand against my propelling blade, completely penetrated its long body against my propelling body in a lopsided victory.

I stepped another leap, pushing towards the unwearied Khione. In response, Khione formed another Serpent, added with legion of icicles starting to materialize. It's a lot, but it's feasible.

⟨⟨Glistening Dark⟩⟩

⟨⟨Aerial Blast⟩⟩

"—?!" The incomplete Snow Serpent was ensnared by chains of darkness, while the forming icicles were blasted away. Soon, a barrage of blasts exploded towards Khione, shrouding it in thick smoke. "If that's the case...!"

⟨⟨Battōjutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Multiple⟩⟩

Landing directly in front of Khione, I quickly draw by blade, unleashing a rapid myriad of slashes. I'm positioned opposite of the explosions hence, giving me a safety spot. Without hesitation, I kept on cleaving, not wasting any second of opportunity those girls gave me. Get shredded you bastard!

[Elemental of Snow, 『Khione』 (C̸̣̼̜̦̩̭̞̩̓̾̂̈́ǫ̵̤̦̖̩̻͈͔̊̉͂̔̎͠ȓ̴̟͕̂̄r̴̢̘̰̞̱͉̟̟̮͛û̴̢̢̠͈͖̭͙̰̏͋͆̍̓͒̒͒p̴̱̜̦͈̤̟͂̌́̈͂̾̉̽͜͝ẗ̶͉̠͖͔̹͍̰̰́͠è̸̝̺̹͙̾͋͗̿͝͠d̶͍̺͓͔͔͇͍̜̝̽̇́͒͂͘̕͠): 51,840/86,400]

The blue orb, forming as Khione's body, cracked fairly, eventually falling out of its levitation. The several chunks of ice, intended to protect its body, didn't do anything against it. Khione shifting to its next form, I grappled behind, retreating for a breath and preparation. After all, it's finally time.

Moreover, it's also time to greet those who helped me.

"Sigh~! Took you guys long enough," Seia, pausing in her movements, remarked with a hint of playful annoyance. "Still, it was thanks to you that Sai was able to find some opening. I guess it wasn't bad at all..."

So, Seia saw the opening, huh. Jeez, she's growing too fast.

Standing atop the now-destroyed structure were three figures: Lily, Akari, and Lemuen. The rear of the formation had finally joined the fray. They're finally here...

"Lily, Akari, Everyone!" Astra exclaimed with delight. "You girls were finally here!"

"I'm sorry! Our location was pretty far than we expect," Lily reasoned. "Anyhow, I'm glad everyone seems to be doing fine but, ugh! What's with the blizzard... "

"We came to help, Aruji-sama," Akari remarked, but the moment she noticed the bloodstains within my body, "Aruji-sama! Are you okay?!"

"Yeah, I'm fine, Akari," I assured. "Anyhow, as much as I want to celebrate you guys coming here, how about we first focus on what's in front of us,"

Khione, finally regained its strength went back into the air, levitating. Still, currently, the blue sphere both acting as its core and body were almost had its surface cracked. Khione's outward appearance emphasize that its already on its Third Phase.

Eh? Could I just have attacked Khione while it was still uneven? Of course, I can, if it's possible that is. Unfortunately, Khione would turn invulnerable while it's in its forming phase. We can't cheat our way sadly...

I advanced swiftly toward the smoke-shrouded Khione. Granted, my ⟨⟨Adrenaline⟩⟩ still has remaining time. "Be vigilant, everyone! Back me up."

The pair followed suit. Luna and Astra sprinted behind me, advancing towards the same target. "The girls are finally here. With someone I can trust my back with, fighting close wasn't really frightening anymore." Astra explained.

"Same here," Luna added.

Khione formed another legion of icicles. As if aware of the looming situation, the emerging icicles were bigger than before. Did it make its icicles bigger so that Lily's ⟨⟨Aerial Blast⟩⟩ wouldn't be able to blast it off?

Nevertheless, it's the phase where Khione was susceptibly unstable. We're going to take advantage out of its weakened state.

"Luna, Astra, no matter what happened, don't stop attacking, trust me!" I urgently informed.

Luna and Astra paused momentarily before firmly answering, "Yes!"

Finally, Khione's fully-formed massive ice surged toward us. In response, Luna and Astra swiftly unsheathed their swords. However,

"Eh?!" Luna reacted. Despite its massive size, the icicles passed over us, and so the rest of the icicles blasted. It was hardly accurate.

"Did Khione just miss...?" Astra followed, bewildered likewise.

I knew it! It was fortunate that it played out similarly to the game. At any rate, I'm starting to doubt my knowledge in the game, huh. Barely anything went according to the game anymore...

With its projectiles completely missing, Khione followed up by summoning a pair of Snow Serpents. As planned, the three of us advanced toward Khione without hesitation.

Moreover, she wouldn't allow these serpentine adversaries to approach us.

⟨⟨Glistening Dark⟩⟩

The next thing we knew, the pair of Snow Serpents were both ensnared with glimmering darkness. We dashed past them and towards the unstable deity.

"Let's give it a flurry of our attacks," I instructed. "Don't let it breath even for a second."

⟨⟨Battōjutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Multiple⟩⟩

⟨⟨Battōjutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Multiple⟩⟩

⟨⟨Iaijutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Multiple⟩⟩

Blades unsheathed; our breaths synchronized. Without any doubt or hesitation, we unleashed a devastating flurry of slashes, further disintegrating Khione's physical form.

[Elemental of Snow, 『Khione』 (C̸̣̼̜̦̩̭̞̩̓̾̂̈́ǫ̵̤̦̖̩̻͈͔̊̉͂̔̎͠ȓ̴̟͕̂̄r̴̢̘̰̞̱͉̟̟̮͛û̴̢̢̠͈͖̭͙̰̏͋͆̍̓͒̒͒p̴̱̜̦͈̤̟͂̌́̈͂̾̉̽͜͝ẗ̶͉̠͖͔̹͍̰̰́͠è̸̝̺̹͙̾͋͗̿͝͠d̶͍̺͓͔͔͇͍̜̝̽̇́͒͂͘̕͠): 48,307/86,400]

Lily, Seia, and Lemuen joined the fray. Lily fired a volley of energy arrows, Seia contributed with a storm of water bullets. Slightly delayed, Lemuen followed with a bombardment of explosions. There was hardly a chance for Khione to find an opening; we were tearing it apart.

Until,

[Elemental of Snow, 『Khione』 (C̸̣̼̜̦̩̭̞̩̓̾̂̈́ǫ̵̤̦̖̩̻͈͔̊̉͂̔̎͠ȓ̴̟͕̂̄r̴̢̘̰̞̱͉̟̟̮͛û̴̢̢̠͈͖̭͙̰̏͋͆̍̓͒̒͒p̴̱̜̦͈̤̟͂̌́̈͂̾̉̽͜͝ẗ̶͉̠͖͔̹͍̰̰́͠è̸̝̺̹͙̾͋͗̿͝͠d̶͍̺͓͔͔͇͍̜̝̽̇́͒͂͘̕͠): 43,200/86,400]

"Alright!" I celebrated. Khione was finally down to 50%. It was about to enter another phase. "Let's back-off every—"

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in our heads, forcing me to halt my words. "Everyone, not good!"

"Mikael? What's wrong?" I asked.

"There's a thousand of monsters coming!" Mikael replied, fear evident in his trembling voice. "It's a stampede!"

"Stampede, you—Ugh?!" Abruptly, all of us were assaulted with a sudden shivering blast, knocking us away. Now of all times...

At the forefront stood a blue-haired girl, her eyes closed. Slowly raising her hands, an unsettling aura enveloped the air around her. Finally, she opened her eyes, revealing a black cornea, followed by an utterance of words,

⟨⟨Absolute Zero Zone⟩⟩