256. Isolation

The situation is at its worst.

The main forces, Schwarz and the Sea King, are incapacitated, and Libera-san is significantly fatigued.

Additionally, Igarashi-san has withdrawn. It seems she took considerable damage from the battle’s aftermath. She is currently undergoing treatment at the base within the Safe Zone. While Schwarz and the Sea King’s return is unlikely, I was told that Igarashi-san might make it in time.

I also exhausted myself quite a bit in the fight with Shuri, and more than anything, using one of my trump cards, the “Healing Orb,” stings.

While my other trump card, “Heroic Hymn,” remains, I’ve used the “Healing Orb”—capable of curing any wound—in this opening stage.

And there are still eight Vanguard members left.

“……Well, no point in just whining, I guess.”

“Indeed.”

“Wan!”

“Kyuu!”

“……(vibrate vibrate)”

I was at the next position along with Ichinose-san, Momo, Kiki, Aka, and Shiro.

Ichinose-san looked at me with a worried gaze.

“Kudo-san, are you really alright? Shouldn’t you rest your body even a little?”

“I’m fine. Besides, I can rest while doing this. Right, Shiro?”

『Yeah, Shiro will make Kazuto feel better~』

Shiro fluttered around me, emitting a faint light.

Receiving that light, I felt my fatigue gradually being soothed.

It’s the skill “Healing” that Shiro learned recently.

Its effect is literally to heal wounds and fatigue.

Since she just learned it, the effect is still low, but thanks to Shiro’s devotion, my body feels much better.

(It’s a huge help that it removes fatigue as well as healing wounds…)

Shiro’s “Healing” is better at soothing mental damage and fatigue than physical wounds.

In this situation where we can’t let our guard down, it’s a truly precious skill.

“……If we have Shiro-chan, I feel like I could easily play online games for three days straight without sleep…”

“Please don’t.”

In the first place, you couldn’t even play online games in the current world.

“Hehe, I’m joking. ……About half of it.”

“Half.”

“Kyuun?”

“Kyuu?”

Momo and Kiki tilted their heads as if they didn’t quite understand.

Yeah, you don’t have to understand. Please stay pure-hearted as you are.

Now then, while we were having such a trivial conversation, we were currently on the rooftop of a building right next to the barrier the Sea King had erected.

Ichinose-san observed the town through her scope.

“Hmm…… as expected, at this distance, I can’t see the Vanguard.”

“We can tell their positions to some extent by their presences, but the buildings are in the blind spots.”

The barrier the Sea King erected is a massive thing covering an entire town.

It’s impressive that he can maintain such a barrier even while incapacitated.

“You can tell even at this distance? Kudo-san, your search range has really expanded. Isn’t it wider than the ‘En’ of the Royal Guard?”

“Ah, that Chimera Ant thing. Well, certainly, it might be around that level.”

I’m having a relatively relaxed conversation with Ichinose-san, but I’m not being careless.

This way allows me to focus much better on searching the surroundings than if I were oddly tense.

When I was hit by Shuri, I was so shaken I couldn’t focus on anything else.

Because of that, I blundered twice. It was honestly too pathetic.

“According to Libera-san, there’s about fifteen minutes until the next operation, right?”

“Yes.”

The next plan is already decided.

That’s why we came here.

≪You have received an email.≫

The announcement echoed in my head.

I checked the email immediately.

“Ah, it looks like Nishino-kun and the other members are in position.”

“Understood.”

In that case, it should start soon.

“Ichinose-san.”

“Yes.”

Ichinose-san and I prepared for the impact.

We stood by, adding Momo’s shadow, Aka’s defense, and Kiki’s buff.

From far behind us, I felt a presence approaching at a furious speed.

In the next moment—the front exploded.

Along with a thunderous explosion, a massive amount of dust flew up.

It didn’t end with just one.

The explosions continued over and over, and eventually, the barrier the Sea King had erected was completely covered in smoke.

“……Wow, even if I say so myself, that’s some incredible power.”

Ichinose-san stared at the scene in front of her, looking slightly put off.

Yes, what was unfolding before us was the same as during the Peony battle: carpet-bombing from long range by the Self-Defense Force.

A massive amount of gunpowder weapons, improved and mass-produced by Ichinose-san’s occupation “Weapon Crafter,” were being launched at the Vanguard inside the barrier.

—You can’t get out from the inside, but you can enter and exit freely from the outside.

Apparently, the Sea King’s barrier is structured that way.

Originally, the plan was to use this barrier from the start to attack unilaterally from a distance.

However, because Shuri and Glen had slipped out before the barrier could envelop them, we couldn’t use it until they were defeated. Especially since Glen is a fire user. If it had ignited poorly, there was a risk the Safe Zone would have been turned into a scorched field.

“With this, the Vanguard won’t get off easy, will they? Don’t underestimate Earth; this is fantasy.”

“No……”

I shook my head at the excited Ichinose-san.

“Despite taking this much bombing, the presences of the Vanguard inside the barrier haven’t wavered in the slightest. They’re likely using defensive-type skills.”

According to Libera-san’s information, the individuals called “Barrier Master” Lizzie and “Holy Ark” Orion can use powerful defensive skills.

“Remaining unharmed was within expectations. The issue is how much we can ‘shave down’ their MP.”

In short, this bombing is meant to drain the power of those two with defensive skills.

Setting the “Barrier Master” aside, Libera-san was extremely wary of the individual called “Holy Ark” Orion.

“Well, yeah, I know that but… You see, as someone who worked hard to mass-produce these, I have a slight feeling of ‘I don’t want it to end with just that’… uuu…”

“I understand. You really did work hard on the mass-production, Ichinose-san.”

“Yep, yep.”

Ichinose-san had been mass-producing various weapons with “Weapon Crafter” as much as time allowed.

Even so, we were only able to prepare less than a tenth of the original plan.

Well, this isn’t just because the Vanguard arrived early, but also because it relates to another secret plan Ichinose-san was working on…

—The carpet-bombing by the SDF continued for about twenty minutes and finally went quiet.

Now, it’s our turn.

“The presences… there are two that have grown weaker than before. Those are likely the ‘Barrier Master’ and the ‘Holy Ark.’ The others haven’t changed.”

“Are you serious? Even though I shot every bullet I made into them…”

Despite being within expectations, Ichinose-san looked dejected.

But in the next moment, she switched her mindset and wore a serious expression.

I also tightened my resolve.

“Shiro, you’re good now. Hide in the shadow.”

『Hm? Okay~』

The fatigue had been healed.

As Shiro entered the shadow, a change occurred in the barrier the Sea King had erected.

The dome-shaped barrier sagged and took on a pumpkin-like shape.

From there, light ran like threads in an instant, and the barrier split into eight.

In each of the eight separated barriers, I felt the presence of the Vanguard.

“One, one, two, three, one… is it. I wanted to split them up completely if possible.”

“Things don’t go that smoothly.”

Nonetheless, they were scattered to some extent.

This was the next phase of the operation following the carpet-bombing—division of forces via the Sea King’s barrier.

If they came at us as a group, we wouldn’t have a one-in-a-million chance of winning.

So, we divide them. Simple, but the basic of basics.

Ideally, we wanted to bomb them after dividing them, but the skills of the “Barrier Master” and the “Holy Ark” were in the way. As long as those two could use their skills, we couldn’t divide the Vanguard.

That’s why we bombed from the outside first, forcing them to maintain their barriers and drain their MP, then aimed for the split-second opening when the bombing ended and they released their barriers.

“It’s a race against time from here.”

There’s less than an hour left before the Sea King’s barrier dissolves.

In that time, we must defeat the Vanguard members individually. It’s a speed-focused operation.

First the three isolated ones, then the group of two, and finally the group of three.

Originally, we planned to do this with a team including Schwarz and the Sea King.

But they can no longer fight. We have to carry out the mission ourselves.

We headed toward the nearest isolated barrier.

As we approached, the presence of the Vanguard member inside became clearer.

“You’ve come…”

That person was looking at us calmly despite being isolated inside the barrier.

He was a young man with flowing long blond hair.

A ceremonial sword decorated with gold and jewels was tucked at his waist, and he wore a white cloak.

He was a person one could tell was of noble birth at a glance.

While understanding the situation they were placed in, his presence hadn’t wavered in the slightest.

“Division, huh… Well, I thought it might happen, but to think someone other than Libera herself would come. I’ve been quite underestimated.”

“You are…”

The blond young man gave a refreshing smile and bowed elegantly.

“I am the Vanguard leader, Randall von Albert. Nice to meet you, Owner of ‘Early Maturity,’ Kudo Kazuto.”

Original Plan for the Battle Against the Vanguard:

1. Activate the Sea King’s barrier and keep them on the spot.

2. Start carpet-bombing. This forces healers and tanks to act without rest, fatiguing them. (Ideally, bombing for seven days or more.)

3. After confirming the fatigue of healers and tanks, divide the barrier and forcibly isolate the Vanguard inside.

4. After isolation, resume bombing toward each individual barrier. Further weaken them with chemical weapons and poisons.

5. Deploy a superiority field via Sui. Further weaken them with curses and items.

6. Libera, Schwarz, Shuram, and Kazuto team up to defeat the Vanguard individually.

   (If possible, secure other Six Kings, Blade Beasts, and Unique Skill holders to ask for cooperation.)

…It was originally something like that.

End of 256