Episode 25: VS Cyclops

Seriously, this weapon was insane.

That was my honest impression after spending ten minutes wrestling with Reima’s personal armaments, Noir and Blanc.

I’d initially pegged them as simple tools specialized for buffs and debuffs, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Having actually put them to use, I was currently at the mercy of their sheer absurdity.

Under normal circumstances, you’d want to keep buffs and debuffs active for as long as possible. It was easier that way, and far more efficient. However, these two handguns possessed a trait that placed an automatic time limit on any magic they fired, causing the debuffs to expire on their own.

The duration could be adjusted based on how hard I pulled the trigger, allowing for some rough control over the clock, but it was a nightmare to manage. What made it truly ridiculous was that even at full power, the effects only lasted three minutes at most.

In short, I had to constantly refresh every single debuff and support spell. There was simply too much to keep track of.

"Refreshing debuffs! Kaiser, take the lead!"

"Leave it to me!"

I could understand the logic to an extent. Short-duration debuffs saved mana. For the original Reima, who possessed no mana of his own and had to rely on magic stones for fuel, this was likely the most efficient solution. It was a pinnacle of tactical design he’d reached through necessity, and I had no intention of disparaging his work.

But this was a weapon built exclusively for Reima. Without my experience from the other world, I wouldn't have been able to even mimic his movements. This gear was designed solely to maximize his specific knowledge and experience; no matter how I looked at it, an ordinary person wouldn't stand a chance of wielding it.

"Your support precision is staggering, Reima! Are you truly an unknown!?"

"…I’ve still got a long way to go."

"Hmph. Humility is a virtue, but at this level, it starts to sound like a taunt."

He showered me with praise, but I couldn't bring myself to feel particularly pleased. This was only possible because I’d memorized Reima’s notes and possessed an abnormal amount of mana to supplement my movements. Based on Reima’s logic, he must have fought by perfectly reading the patterns of mindless monsters and providing support to counter them.

To put it simply, it was a combat style that relied on memorizing a monster’s behavior through raw experience, obstructing them, and maintaining a cycle of optimal debuff windows. It was a method of fighting that no one could truly understand without seeing the world through his eyes.

The Cyclops swung its greatsword in a massive arc. The moment it bore down on Kaiser, I deployed a shield with Blanc to intercept the blow, then used Noir to shot through the creature's legs to create an opening.

"Nice, Reima! I’ll follow your lead, sworn friend—take this!"

The Cyclops, its legs crippled by the debuff, collapsed forward, leaving itself completely exposed. Kaiser wasn't the type to miss such a chance. Perched atop his draconic partner’s back, he made his move.

"[Valdrago Spear]!"

Utilizing his overwhelming momentum, he drove a summoned spear into the creature, snuffing out its life with absolute certainty. The Cyclops dissolved into ash, leaving a magic stone behind. The remaining two variants grimaced, but only the archer began to move.

"Two left… Well, my friend, how do you read the situation?"

Kaiser returned to my side on dragonback, addressing me with a new level of familiarity. I felt a small spark of joy at being acknowledged, but I didn't have the luxury of savoring it. I accelerated my thoughts.

"The one in the back with the dual swords is the boss. It probably won't move until we take down the archer. Kaiser, your Valkyria is at a disadvantage against ranged attacks, so a direct assault will be tough."

"We are of one mind. It would be a different story if we had another heavy hitter, but there is no use wishing for what we lack. What is the plan?"

As we conferred, Asahi continued to provide us with buffs.

"Sorry, you guys. If only I could fight too…"

"What are you saying? Your buffs are incredible, Asahi. They’re the only reason we’re standing. Be proud of that."

"He’s right. You’re a huge help. Because of you, I can stop worrying about Kaiser’s buffs and focus entirely on my debuffs."

I wasn't lying. If Asahi hadn't been here, I would have reached my limit long ago. My old way of thinking wasn't enough to replicate Reima’s style; I was having to rebuild my combat logic from scratch. Being able to focus solely on the enemy was a godsend.

"Hey… can you entrust your partner to me for a bit?"

"…Ho? And what do you intend to do?"

"You handle the archer alone. I’ll take Valkyria and bring down the boss."

"…You believe someone other than myself can coordinate with Valkyria?"

"Let me try. It’s the only way."

Kaiser stared at me for a moment. That look in your eyes… it isn't a bluff. "Kuhahaha! Very well, I’m in! My friend, I entrust my partner to you. She should be able to withstand your support. But mark my words—if you show me something pathetic, I’ll kill you myself."

"Understood. I know the value of a [Summoned Beast] better than anyone. Leave it to me."

My true profession was a [Summoner]. When it came to supporting summons, I had the pride of knowing I was second to none. Besides, I had a dragon of my own. I wasn't about to provide subpar support to one. I knew how dragons fought—their skeletal structure, their habits, their strengths—it was all etched into my mind.

〔Is this really the [Middle Layer]?〕 〔This is getting way too hype.〕 〔Seriously, who is this guy? Even Kaiser is acknowledging him!〕 〔Wait, he’s lending out Val-sama? That’s unprecedented!〕 〔Hyakuma is gonna be so salty when he sees this.〕 〔He must have really proven himself in this fight.〕

Comments flickered across the dragon-shaped device hovering at the edge of my vision. Apparently, Kaiser acting like this was a rare sight. If people were expecting that much of me, I’d have to deliver. Besides, this encounter and the experience gained here would surely benefit Reima in the long run. It would be a solid connection for him to rely on after I was gone.

"Valkyria, was it? Don't worry about me. Just go all out—I’ll make sure I keep up!"

The mystical dragon gave a single nod and began her charge toward the boss. I ran alongside her, firing off a barrage of support spells in quick succession.

"[Breath Power Up], [Range Expansion], [Claw Attack Enhancement], [Speed & Attack Power Up], [Holy Attribute Doubling]!"

Duration: three minutes.

Given how the floor was already crumbling from the first encounter, this had to be a blitz. I would settle everything before these buffs expired.

The archer variant attempted to level its bow at Valkyria, but Kaiser was faster.

"Kuhah! Archer! Your opponent is I!"

Kaiser’s fist slammed into the creature, interrupting the shot and pinning it to the ground. He had things under control. I turned my attention back to the dual-wielding boss and charged.

"Finally decided to join the party, have you, Cyclops!?"

The boss opened with a massive horizontal sweep. Given its size, the blade moved with terrifying speed—far too fast to dodge normally. But I had my guns.

"[Speed Reduction], [Material Slowdown]!"

I hammered Noir’s trigger, slamming debuffs into the incoming blade. The weapon slowed just enough for me to slip past it. Simultaneously, I used Blanc to pile artificial weight onto the sword, dragging the boss off-balance.

"Breath! Now!"

The moment I gave the command, Valkyria unleashed the signature move of all dragons. She had already been charging it. The holy-imbued blast incinerated the boss’s flesh, dealing catastrophic damage.

The boss wasn't finished, however. Howling in rage, it fixed its glare on Valkyria—but I wasn't about to let it focus.

"Don't forget about me, you overgrown runt."

Valkyria wasn't the only one fighting. Each of my weapons had a high-tier attack spell engraved into them. They required a long charge time, but with the boss’s attention diverted, I had all the time I needed.

"Eat this. [Tonnerre Infernix]!"

A dual discharge of ultimate flame from Noir and ultimate lightning from Blanc. Reima’s finishing move erupted from the barrels, swallowing the Cyclops whole and snuffing out its life in a flash of blinding light.