264. VS Vanguard – Total War (Part 5)

Beld’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of reinforcements.

Not because reinforcements had appeared.

Not because those reinforcements were a skeleton rather than a human.

But because the magic sword held by that thing had “stopped” his spear.

He could not hide his surprise at that fact.

“……Arrogance? I see, so you are the collaborator in this world Randall mentioned…!”

“Haha, so you knew? But please, don’t. We were both fully intending to betray each other; calling me a ‘collaborator’ is far too familiar.”

“Tch…”

Arrogance parried Beld’s spear with his magic sword. Beld leaped back to create distance.

“……”

Ivar stood dazed. He likely couldn’t grasp the situation.

“How are you… why…?”

“Why have I resurrected, you mean? Well, this was unexpected even for me.”

Arrogance rattled his bones happily.

“—’Heroic Hymn.’ A rule-breaking skill that explosively raises the stats of party members and grants them unique skills. ……But to think its effect would extend even to ‘possessions’.”

“Wha…!?”

Indeed, Arrogance’s resurrection was entirely due to the influence of Kazuto’s “Heroic Hymn.”

The effects of “Heroic Hymn” are the granting of unique skills and an explosive increase in stats for party members.

And—the strengthening of ‘items’ in their possession.

It was no wonder Kazuto hadn’t noticed. After all, when he activated “Heroic Hymn,” the weapons he used were almost always those he had created via skills. There was also the fact that opportunities to use “Heroic Hymn” had been few to begin with.

“As a result of the magic sword being strengthened by Heroic Hymn, I regained my original form and power. Albeit temporarily. Once ‘Heroic Hymn’ wears off, I’ll return to being a mere magic sword.”

“Such a thing…”

“Is possible, which is why I am standing here now.”

This was unexpected for Kazuto, and for Arrogance himself.

“……Truthfully, I wouldn’t have minded fighting Randall alongside him, but I was asked to come here first as reinforcements. So, I’ve made the trip.”

“Is that so…”

In any case, reinforcements in this situation were a godsend for Ivar. He had heard of the skeleton’s power from Kazuto and Libera. There was no more reassuring presence to have as an ally.

“Now then, before the main event with Randall, let’s have a light warm-up. Originally, I was the one planned to defeat all of you anyway.”

“Big talk!”

“—’Fresh Blood Territory’.”

Arrogance activated “Fresh Blood Territory.” A sea of blood filled the surroundings in an instant.

“Hmm… it seems I can use my original unique skills without issue.”

Ripples spread across the sea of blood, transforming into countless slashes launched at Beld.

“Tch.”

Beld skillfully parried all of them with his spear-work.

“Don’t mock me! With just this level of—”

“Level of what?”

“Ts!?”

Before he realized it, Arrogance was closing in right before his eyes.

(The blood slashes were a decoy. But what speed—!)

Beld barely dodged Arrogance’s magic sword. However, his movement was exquisite. He drove a counterattack into the approaching Arrogance. The telescopic spear shrank to palm-size in an instant, then immediately extended to pierce Arrogance’s body.

“Ts… Impressive. If so—”

The spear penetrated through the gaps in his ribs. If it had been a few centimeters off, it would have pierced his heart—the magic stone. In that split second, Arrogance filled his hollow interior with blood generated from the Fresh Blood Territory.

“—Congeal.”

The blood solidified and compressed, fixing Beld’s spear within his own body. It prevented a follow-up attack while simultaneously robbing the spear of its freedom.

“Hah… quite the power…!”

Beld tried to pull the spear out, but it wouldn’t budge. While not on the level of Randall or Rialdo, he still boasted considerable physical strength. That it couldn’t be pulled out was a testament to the skill’s potency.

“If you want it that badly, you can have it.”

Beld let go of the spear and leaped back all at once. Naturally, Arrogance launched a pursuit with blood and his magic sword, gripping the spear that was firmly stuck in his body.

“—But I’ll be taking it back immediately.”

“Ts!?”

In the next moment, the spear that was supposed to be fixed in Arrogance’s body vanished and reappeared in Beld’s hand. Naturally, Beld’s spear was no ordinary weapon. In addition to being telescopic, it possessed the power to penetrate various objects and energies, as well as a teleportation ability to freely manipulate positions using the owner and the spear as points of origin. He could return the thrown spear to his hand or teleport himself to the tip of the thrown spear at will. It was an ability close to Libera’s monster-based position swapping. Before such power, being fixed by Arrogance’s blood was meaningless.

“……A troublesome spear.”

Arrogance understood this through that brief exchange of offense and defense. Judging from how it escaped the restraint of his skill, the only one capable of preventing that spear’s teleportation would likely be Sea King Shuram, who boasted absolute defensive capabilities. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for Beld to take the roundabout way of escaping the barrier through Goshogawara’s log.

(A telescopic spear with zero effective range limits. On top of that, overwhelming thrust speed and penetration power…)

High-level in both offense and defense, with no openings.

(……Though my power has returned to near its peak, it still doesn’t reach. As expected of the Vanguard. They truly are the pinnacle of the other world…)

Arrogance grasped the difference in their combat power. The conclusion reached was—defeat. At this rate, he would undoubtedly be the one to lose.

(Defeat. Yes, if things stay as they are…)

Katakata…

Arrogance rattled his bones as if forming a smile.

“……Then, to avoid losing, I simply need to obtain power.”

“Hah…? What are you talking about?”

“As it stands, I will lose. That is correct. Then I just need to become stronger than I am now.”

“……There’s no way you can do that. As if such a convenient miracle exists.”

“Miracle…? Haha, certainly. I have already obtained power. I have already obtained a name. And I have obtained the impossible miracle of standing on the same battlefield as him.”

Arrogance stared at his own skeletal hand.

“To wish for more would be far too ‘Arrogant’.”

That’s right.

This situation was already a miracle.

“—That is why I am ‘Arrogance’!”

Arrogance held his hand toward the heavens.

“Order! Accessing Chaos Frontier System Server from Arrogance!”

“What!?”

In that instant, Beld’s expression changed. Accessing the system server—that was a power possessed only by their leader, Randall.

“Rest easy. Mine is not a Master Key like your leader’s. I am merely obtaining the power to defeat you.”

≪——Za, zazazaza≫

≪Zaza——zazazazazaza——zazazazazaza-con——nect-nect-nect-zazazaza≫

“Now, answer me! Chaos Frontier!!”

It was a recreation of the situation where he had desired a name during his fight with Kazuto. Back then, a name was granted. What about this time? The answer would be revealed immediately.

≪Zazazaza——Connection——Connection——Failed≫

≪Subject individual does not——zaza——meet conditions——zaza-anomaly-zaza——≫

≪Negative——No-No-No———zazazaza——Connection——Connection——Success≫

≪Application accepted≫

≪Granting unique skill to subject individual ‘Arrogance’≫

≪Obtained Unique Skill ‘Demon King’s Praise’≫

At that announcement, Arrogance couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He rattled his bones, the flames in his eye sockets flickering, laughing as if he found it irresistibly amusing.

“……Good. Truly excellent. I cannot help but feel destiny between myself and him. ……Is this not a skill that acts as a pair to his ‘Heroic Hymn’!?”

Arrogance slowly held his hand forward.

The abnormality of it overwhelmed Beld, Ivar, and everyone else on the field. They couldn’t move. As if to say that at this moment, this battlefield revolved around Arrogance.

“Now, behold! My new power—‘Demon King’s Praise’!!”

Spreading his arms wide, Arrogance made his declaration. In that instant, a deep, jet-black darkness capable of erasing even the light of a hero covered everything.

End of 264