Chapter

arc1 · 035-ch35

Episode 35: Tokyo Skyscraper Dungeon ③

CLANG!

The Flame Wolf's fangs clashed with Hanazono's daggers. A sharp metallic ring echoed through the air, speaking to the sheer force behind the impact.

"It's strong! And hot!"

The Flame Wolf's fangs and claws were imbued with the fire attribute. Just being near it was enough to feel the searing heat—a direct hit wouldn't leave you with mere burns. Sure enough, Hanazono's figure on camera shimmered as if seen through a mirage.

Meanwhile, Toomi-san, who was facing the Aqua Wolf, seemed to be struggling as well. The Aqua Wolf wasn't specialized in attack power or agility, but it still possessed strength befitting its C-rank status.

On top of that, even if you managed to wound it, the injuries healed almost immediately. The longer the fight dragged on, the more disadvantageous things became. Perhaps aware of this, Toomi-san seemed slightly impatient, trying to bring it down quickly.

Ah—she went for a big thrust, and now it's targeting her opening! This is my moment! The Aqua Wolf had dodged Toomi-san's thrust and was lunging to bite her as she stumbled. I sent the drone cutting right across its field of vision.

"Thanks!"

The Aqua Wolf froze for an instant. In that brief window, Toomi-san managed to steady herself. That was close, but hearing her thank me put a little smile on my face.

Still, no matter how hard I tried, surprise tactics like this were about all I could manage. And once they were on guard, the same trick wouldn't work a second time. On top of that, the Aqua Wolf's warning howl seemed to have alerted the Flame Wolf as well.

This was my limit. I could only hope the four of them could pull through on their own.

Hanazono was fighting well against the Flame Wolf. As expected, she was the strongest among the four. Toomi-san, on the other hand, was in rough shape. She seemed to be fighting the Aqua Wolf on even terms, but in reality, her wounds kept piling up.

Not only that, but in terms of stamina, the Aqua Wolf had the advantage, and Toomi-san was visibly being pushed back. Kurokage-san was increasingly stepping in to support her, but even two-on-one seemed a bit much.

Akatsuki-san was desperately providing suppression fire with her magic, but naturally, the two wolves with their fire resistance paid it no mind and kept pressing their attacks. Akatsuki-san's frustrated expression was—pardon the thought—beautiful.

"Rin, I'll hold on here a bit longer—go take down the Flame with Hanazono! Kureha, cover them!"

Perhaps realizing they were fighting a losing battle of attrition, Toomi-san made a bold gamble. She shifted Kurokage-san away from supporting her own disadvantaged position and redirected her to Hanazono's side, where things were going better, switching to a strategy of finishing off the Flame Wolf first.

"Hanazono, let's go all out."

"Understood!"

As if Toomi-san's resolve had reached them, Kurokage-san and Hanazono threw caution to the wind and launched an all-out assault on the Flame Wolf.

"Gyaaaah!"

"Ngh—this is rough!?"

But the enemy was no pushover. Even driven to the corner by their coordinated attacks, at the critical moment it unleashed a powerful blow, refusing to allow any follow-up.

"Kyah!"

I could hear Toomi-san's scream from behind. I swung the camera toward her, fearing the worst—but Akatsuki-san's Fire Wall had served as a blind screen, and she'd somehow managed to escape the danger.

Come on, Hyakka Ryouran—hang in there!

"There!"

Though Hanazono had been overwhelmed by the Flame Wolf's raw power, she seized the opening when it lunged after Kurokage-san and slipped inside its guard. Her body spun like a top, twin swords carving into the enemy.

"Gyaaaaah!"

The Flame Wolf, high in attack power but correspondingly low in defense, couldn't endure the onslaught and collapsed.

"Kaoru-san, I'm heading over no—wha!?"

Having defeated the Flame Wolf, Hanazono had started running to help Toomi-san—then stopped dead.

"A M-Mithril Golem!?"

Beyond Toomi-san and the Aqua Wolf, a golem shimmering with silver light stood in the passage. There'd been no sound of it approaching. Which meant it had just spawned here, right now. What timing.

"GRAAAAOOOH!"

God knows where the sound was coming from, but a thundering war cry echoed from the Mithril Golem—a creature that shouldn't even have a mouth.

"Everyone, run!"

Toomi-san shouted, but the person herself was locked in combat with the Aqua Wolf and couldn't break away. Seeing this, Hanazono charged at the Aqua Wolf. The Aqua Wolf seemed just as bewildered by the Mithril Golem's appearance, and in that moment of hesitation, Hanazono's twin swords severed the ice-blue wolf's head from its body.

But immediately after, the Mithril Golem's fist came crashing down toward Hanazono.

"Kyah!"

Toomi-san dove in and threw her arms around Hanazono. The direct hit was avoided, but the shockwave sent both of them flying.

"O spear of flame, manifest and smite my enemy—Fire Arrow!"

Akatsuki-san immediately launched a Fire Arrow, but against the Mithril Golem's high magic resistance, it had absolutely no effect.

SKREEEE!

Kurokage-san darted in close to the Mithril Golem and slashed at its knee with her dagger, but only managed to leave a shallow scratch.

"It's hard."

I could read the whisper from Kurokage-san's lip movements. Still, she'd actually managed to wound a body clad in mithril—that was impressive. Maybe the joints were slightly weaker than other parts.

SMACK!

But the B-rank Mithril Golem, despite its massive frame, moved with surprising speed and swatted Kurokage-san aside with a backhanded blow.

Slammed against the cave wall, Kurokage-san stopped moving.

"UWOOOOOOH!"

This time, Toomi-san got to her feet and charged with a war cry. She extended her arm to its full length, thrusting her spear into the wound on the knee that Kurokage-san had made.

CRACK!

But even that desperate attack only managed to widen the gash slightly.

THUD!

As if returning the favor, the Mithril Golem kicked Toomi-san away. She flew through the air like a soccer ball, tracing an arc before slamming into the ground.

"UWAAAAAAAAH!"

Seeing that, Hanazono snapped. Blood streamed from her head as she broke into a full sprint straight toward the Mithril Golem.

(This timing is bad!)

But my camera caught it—along with Hanazono's reckless charge, I could see the Mithril Golem winding up a counter punch.

(This is the only thing I can do!)

If things stayed as they were, Hanazono would die. Thinking that, I pushed the drone to maximum speed and sent it hurtling into the Mithril Golem's knee.

CRACK!

My drone stabbed into the knee before the Mithril Golem's fist could reach Hanazono. The sickening sound of metal snapping reverberated through my skull. My drone was caught in the gash of the Mithril Golem's knee and crushed to pieces with a series of horrifying crunches.

But it was worth it—I could see the Mithril Golem's fist sail past Hanazono as it lost its balance.

"AAAAAAAAH!"

And then Hanazono's flurry of strikes gouged into the Mithril Golem's head. The golem crumpled to the ground with its head destroyed, and at that moment, the drone's feed cut out.

And then it happened—

【You have defeated the Mithril Golem】

【Level up】

【You have reached Level 5. Drone Pilot skills have been unlocked】

【Call acquired】

【Small Drone unlocked】

【Drone summon count increased by 1】

A mysterious voice echoed through my mind.

End of Arc 1