261. VS Vanguard – Total War (Part 2)

It’s been a very long time. Resuming updates.

Previous Synopsis:

Kazuto activated Heroic Hymn.

——Within the Third Barrier.

“Hey! Orion! Let me out! Let me out of here, damn it!”

“Hiee… S-sorry, I’m sorry… I can’t. I’m so sorry…”

Libera was trapped inside a giant sphere.

“Your ability is as annoying as ever…”

“Please just stay like this for a little longer. I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

“If you’re going to apologize, then don’t seal me in the first place!”

Clicking her tongue, Libera glared at the three surrounding her.

Orion the “Holy Ark,” Lizzie the “Barrier Master,” and Narus the “Sealer.”

These were the three Libera had previously mentioned would definitely be chosen for the Vanguard.

Their role: to use every ounce of their being to seal Libera.

That was all.

But the effect was absolute.

To them, Libera was the only true threat; they believed that if she were sealed, the rest would pose no danger.

“Uraaaaa! Let me out! Get me out of here!”

However, this was within Libera’s expectations.

Though she was acting out a flashy fit of rage and irritation, her mind was calm.

(…Now then, how do I deal with these three?)

In truth, she had already finished analyzing the seal.

If Libera wanted to move, she could break it and act at any time.

However, what came after was the problem.

(I could probably take down one at most… the other two would escape…)

The three here were specialists in barrier and sealing arts in the other world.

They had likely finished analyzing Shuram’s barrier as well.

If they put their minds to it, breaking it was possible.

(The one thing I can’t allow is for Shuram’s barrier to be broken…)

The worst-case scenario for Kazuto and the others is for the Vanguard to regroup with Randall.

If that happens, no matter how much Libera helps, there will be no chance of victory.

That was why Libera had intentionally accepted their seal—to keep their eyes fixed on her.

To wait for the perfect opening to wipe out all three at once.

(Excluding Randall, there are seven combatants left…)

Shuri and Glen were incapacitated in the opening clash.

Kazuto is monitoring Randall.

Orion, Lizzie, and Narus are focused on sealing and monitoring her.

As for the remaining four—Beld the spearman is engaging his brother Ivar.

Gashmash and Rialdo are engaging Nishino’s group.

And over by the Sword Saint named Boa, some unknown woman has rushed in as reinforcements.

(Ivar is still alive… but the log old man is in bad shape…)

Goshogawara’s finishing move, “Log Drop,” seemed to have dealt significant damage to Beld, but Goshogawara took a fatal wound in exchange.

He isn’t dead yet, but if left alone, he’ll die within minutes.

(The only ones on this battlefield who can treat that wound are me or Shuram…)

But she couldn’t move from here, and Shuram was too heavily wounded to act.

(How frustrating…)

If possible, she didn’t want to leave him to die.

But if she moved now, it would undoubtedly lead to even more casualties.

If Libera were the type to simply write it off as a necessary sacrifice, she wouldn’t have cooperated with Kazuto and the others in the first place.

(Is there no way…? Some move to change this situation…)

As Libera desperately racked her brains, a massive burst of light erupted a short distance away, interrupting her thoughts.

“That is…”

≪Activating skill: Heroic Hymn. Unique skills for all party members have been unlocked.≫

Further announcements flowed into my brain.

≪Party member Momo: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Jet Black Breakthrough’.≫

≪Party member Kiki: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Reflective Armor’.≫

≪Party member Aka: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Perfect Mimicry’.≫

≪Party member Ichinose Natsu: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Meteor Impact’.≫

≪Party member Sora: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Azure Scale Dragon King’.≫

≪Party member Shiro: Obtained Unique Skill ‘White Dragon Princess’.≫

≪Party member Sui: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Verdant Emperor Territory’.≫

Announcements heralded the acquisition of unique skills for every party member.

Simultaneously, my stats surged. An overwhelming sense of omnipotence dominated my body.

Sensing the change in me, Randall’s expression shifted.

“…Hoh, you’ve increased your power considerably. You were hiding a skill of this caliber?”

Despite that, Randall’s composure didn’t crumble.

To him, it was likely still just “at that level.”

But that was fine. This wasn’t a skill meant to “defeat” him.

『…So you finally used it. As I thought, it’s a power that’s vexing just to remember.』

“Oh, you were awake?”

『I was numb the whole time because of your Lightning Style! Honestly, what do you think I am?』

What? A weapon, obviously.

Regardless, that doesn’t matter.

If Nishino-kun’s plan goes as expected, another announcement should follow.

≪There is a party member application.≫

≪There is a party member application.≫

≪There is a party member application.≫

…

≪There is a party member application—≫

—They’re here.

Another massive wave of announcements.

From here on, it’s a gamble.

If this succeeds, the situation will flip in an instant.

(Momo, Kiki, Aka… sorry.)

I remove Momo and the others from the party.

Next, I add Nishino-kun, Rikka-chan, and Ohno-kun, whose applications had arrived, to the party.

—In that instant, the announcement played once more.

I couldn’t help but smirk.

It looks like the first gamble was a success.

Within the Second Barrier—

≪Party member application has been accepted.≫

≪Party member Aisaka Rikka: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Rakshasa Maiden’.≫

≪Party member Nishino Kyoya: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Absolute Obedience’.≫

≪Party member Ohno Keita: Obtained Unique Skill ‘Degenerate Deadly Sin’.≫

Hearing those announcements, they smiled.

In the next moment, overflowing energy enveloped their bodies.

A torrent of overwhelming power that felt like pure omnipotence.

“Whoa! Unique skills are amazing! Power is just gushing out of me!”

“W-wow… Incredible. I feel like I can use other Deadly Sin skills too.”

“Is this the power of Heroic Hymn…? To think it was this much…”

“Heroic Hymn” grants unique skills to Kazuto’s party members and explosively boosts their stats.

Yes—it grants unique skills to “party members.”

Meaning, if Kazuto swaps party members while “Heroic Hymn” is active, the newly joined members will be granted unique skills appropriate for them.

——However, Kazuto had never tested whether this was truly possible until now.

The reason was the high risk of “Heroic Hymn” and its long cooldown.

Once activated, “Heroic Hymn” cannot be canceled, and it requires a three-day interval before it can be used again. Furthermore, after it ends, Kazuto is forced into a state of unconsciousness for over half a day due to extreme fatigue and muscle pain.

Originally, they planned to verify if member swapping was possible—and what unique skills would manifest for each person—after their training with Libera showed some progress.

This was something that couldn’t be looked up even using Kazuto’s “Right to Question,” and even Libera didn’t know which unique skill would manifest for whom.

But to prevent any more sacrifices, Kazuto made his choice.

At this point, Kazuto’s “Heroic Hymn” duration is forty minutes.

Coincidentally, that is almost the exact same amount of time remaining until the barriers dissolve.

(The problem is the timing… I have to gauge the battle situation in each barrier and distribute the power of Kazuto-san’s ‘Heroic Hymn’…)

Currently, strength is concentrated here—in the Second Barrier—but as the timing dictates, he will need to grant “Unique Skills” to members in other barriers as well.

(There are seven slots for party members other than Kazuto-san… Since Kazuto-san cannot move, I will become his eyes and judge the battlefield!)

Nishino has no combat power.

But his ability as a “Commander” to issue orders to his comrades is first-rate.

With everything on the line, the final forty-minute struggle began.

End of 261