Chapter 28: VS the Magic Beast of the Land

The thing that crawled out of the magic circle was far too large to be called a mere animal.

No... it was a monster in the truest sense—a living disaster given flesh and bone.

Even from a distance, I estimated the thing stood well over twenty-five meters tall. Then, the existence roared.

「GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」

The sound hit us like a physical wall. It was a shockwave that threatened to burst my eardrums and made my entire body vibrate.

We weren't blown away, but that roar alone was enough to tell me just how far outside the realm of common sense this thing was.

In the midst of the noise, I found myself reflecting on my time in the other world—specifically, an absolute truth I had learned there.

「It’s coming! Stay close to me if you want to live!」

That truth was simple: being big is, in and of itself, a form of absolute strength.

A massive arm swung toward us. It wasn't a calculated strike, just a simple swipe, but it pulverized everything in its path as it bore down on us.

「Ngh—[Aegis]!」

I threw up the highest-grade defensive spell in my repertoire.

I managed to catch the blow, but the sheer, overwhelming force of the impact shattered the magic instantly.

Great. In terms of raw power, this thing is Demon Lord Class. While I felt a surge of self-deprecating irony, I also realized that letting this thing reach the surface would be a catastrophe.

The second strike approached—another simple swing—but the others had already grasped the level of threat we were facing and moved into action.

「Shiki-dono!」

「Leave it to me! [Strength Increase], [Attack Power Increase], [Durability Increase]!」

「Let's coordinate, Kagura! Valkyria, finishing move!」

「...I'll handle the reinforcements.」

Ayane conjured a wall of ice while Shiki dumped every buff he had onto Kagura and Kaiser. In response, the two of them prepared what were undoubtedly their ultimate techniques.

Mana swirled around them, the power manifesting so intensely it was visible to the naked eye.

「Kamisari-ryu Secret Art—Mumyou Tokoyodachi!」

「Eat our ultimate technique! [Valkyria Catastrophe]!」

The twin attacks slammed into the beast’s arm, wounding it deeply and repelling the limb. But that was the problem—that was all they did.

「Ngh, only a parry? That was my secret art... I’m actually a bit depressed now.」

「Repelling it is better than nothing! Besides, doing this every time is going to be a nightmare!」

「We’re going to run out of mana at this rate anyway.」

I sent out mental commands to Luna and the others, but the opponent’s skin was so thick that their magic didn't seem to be getting through. Normally, Lycoris would be the best fit for this, but...

「It has poison resistance. And based on the vibe, its own poison is a different breed than mine.」

Lycoris, who had shifted back into her human form without me noticing, gave her report. The situation was officially garbage. I made my decision.

「Kaiser, Kagura... and you, the Freezing Girl Group. Get out of here. I’ll buy you some time.」

This was apparently being broadcast, and there was a chance I’d need to bring out more Summoned Beasts to handle this guy. It had been a long time since I’d fought something at this level; I wasn't sure how far I’d have to go.

The monster was pure, simple violence. I could probably kill it, but I wouldn't be able to hold back. I couldn't risk catching Ayane and the others in the crossfire.

I told them as much, but they threw the idea back in my face.

「Are you an idiot, Black Robe?」

「I know you’re strong, but you’re severely underestimating us.」

「I know your type—you’re the kind to do something reckless. Besides, we’re plenty strong ourselves. We can’t let this thing reach the surface, right?」

「Leaving it to you is probably the logical move... but I figured they’d say that. Hey, Black Robe. Based on that tone of yours... do you actually have a way to kill this thing?」

They spoke without a trace of fear.

It was as if they refused to let me shoulder the burden alone. More than that, they were wearing bellicose smiles, looking almost excited by the threat.

「Maybe. But the opening I need is huge, and if it fails, we’re all dead.」

「Good enough for me. Change of plans, everyone! We’re buying him time!」

「Understood. If it can bleed, I can fight it.」

「My affinity is bad here, so I’ll stick to support. I should probably help that silver wolf.」

「I shall provide a distraction from the air. Looking at its movements, it doesn't even seem to recognize us as threats yet. How annoying.」

「...Are you really going to trust the word of some guy in a suspicious black robe?」

The question slipped out before I could stop it.

I couldn't understand them. They didn't look at me with skepticism for trying to take this thing on alone; they just chose to believe me.

「Of course. You don't seem like an enemy... and more importantly, you didn't try to run.」

「Black Robe-dono is the kind of massive idiot who chooses self-sacrifice without hesitation. You couldn't be a bad person if you tried.」

「As a fellow Summoner, how could I not trust someone so beloved by his own Summoned Beasts? Besides, your aesthetic is to my liking.」

「............You guys are total idiots.」

I muttered the words under my breath and made up my mind.

We were going to survive this. I was going to put this thing down.

「[Weapon Summon]—Laevateinn.」

I called forth my favorite staff. While watching the Behemoth lumber toward the surface, I laid out the plan.

「This is a one-shot deal. I’m going to use the most powerful God-Slaying Magic this weapon can handle. Between gathering mana and the incantation, I need five minutes. Buy me that time. And if you can stop it from moving, that’d be great.」

「That’s a big ask... but I guess it’s our only shot.」

「Shall I just take its legs off, then?」

「I’ll use ice walls to slow it down. I need more mobility, though... can I ride the silver wolf?」

「Fine. Luna, take care of her.」

Luna looked incredibly annoyed by the request, but she knew the stakes. She gave a reluctant nod.

「By the way... who’s the beautiful girl just hanging out?」

「That’s the Hydra. It’s just her human form. Obviously.」

「I feel like my common sense is going to melt if I keep talking to you, so I’m going to stop asking questions.」

「Um...?」

I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but we didn't have time to chat. We began the operation.

「We’re winning this!」 Shiki shouted.

The life-or-death struggle began.

「[Toujin Shura-yadoshi]—it’s been a while since I had to use this.」

「[Full Body Dragonification]. That’s only natural; adventures like this don't happen often.」

Red patterns etched themselves across Kagura’s skin, while Kaiser transformed his body into a dragon.

「They’re both going all out. Luna-chan, please look after me?」

「............Hmph.」

I hope those two are going to be okay.

I pushed the thought aside and began kneading my mana, focusing entirely on the preparations to destroy the Behemoth.

Ayane and the others charged.

They threw everything they had at the beast to halt its progress. At first, the monster just tried to push through, but eventually, the irritation of the constant attacks got to it. It stopped and began gathering mana.

「It’s coming!」

A mass of energy condensed in its maw, aimed directly at Kaiser. I instinctively started to weave a defensive spell, but—

「Unnecessary! Concentrate, Black Robe!」

Kaiser’s shout stopped me. I let the spell dissipate and watched him.

The Behemoth spat a tracking magic bullet that screamed toward Kaiser. High in the air, he maneuvered Valkyria with expert precision, staying just ahead of the projectile.

「Kagura! Now!」

「Leave it to me. I’ll settle this.」

The beast was wide open after its attack. Kagura didn't miss the window. She took her stance at the creature's feet, her katana humming with power.

「Kamisari-ryu Secret Art—Ittou Senpuu Amatsu!」

She unleashed a storm of slashes, a whirlwind of overwhelming mana designed to rend that massive hide.

The attack was perfect. It severed the beast’s legs, sending its gargantuan body crashing into the dirt.

「Black Robe!」

「I’ve got it. [Existence Release].」

I had spent the entire time they bought me accumulating a massive reservoir of mana. Now, I wove the words to let it all out at once.

「Scorching sky, falling world, let all return to ash. This is the blade that sunders the earth—the sword of Surtr.」

The moment the incantation ended, the flames of the apocalypse flooded the world.

This strike was a reproduction of the giant sword used by Surtr, a being that had rampaged through the other world I once called home. It was an attack capable of erasing an entire kingdom in a single blow.

And now, I unleashed it on the thing in front of me.

「—Muspelheim Laevateinn!」