We hashed out a plan to send the Silver Arm back to the Outer World.
The main obstacle, as expected, was the way it neutralized our attacks. It was even more of a headache than the Abomination Soldiers. I had tried striking it from afar with a Shredding Storm, but the Silver Arm hadn't even flinched. Well, perhaps "unfazed" wasn't the right word. It had flown into a rage and birthed a massive swarm of Abomination Soldiers, which turned into quite an ordeal.
『With a mass that large, it likely possesses multiple cores,』 was Garna’s theory. 『It may even be necessary to destroy them all at once. Furthermore, if the cores are buried deep within its frame, your attacks still lack the necessary firepower.』
Firepower aside, her point about the simultaneous destruction of the cores was a possibility. It was certainly true that my attacks were insufficient. With Shredding Storm, I could only manage to slash its outer surface. If my attacks couldn't reach the vitals, there was no room for my Great Luck to do its work.
"Is it even beyond Tort’s reach...?" Lowell muttered, crossing his arms. Everyone’s expressions grew a shade darker.
They were probably struggling to find a way to take it down, but I actually had an idea in mind.
"My attacks might not work, but couldn't Halfa do it?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. I think your Shock Voice would be effective."
"Oh!"
Shock Voice sends vibrations that penetrate through physical obstacles to deal damage. I figured it was the perfect spell for the Silver Arm and the other abominations.
I tested the theory by luring out a few Abomination Soldiers. It definitely dealt damage, but it wasn't without its problems. When facing a large group, it could only take out the front few at once. While we could eventually annihilate a swarm by firing it two or three times, the power drop-off was much steeper than I expected. It had never been this ineffective before, so it was likely another trait unique to these abominations.
"Once we're close to the arm, it won't be able to use its soldiers as shields to dampen the impact, but if the arm itself shares that same trait, the spell's current power won't be enough," Lowell analyzed.
"You're right."
Lowell’s assessment was likely on the mark. It was hard to imagine that the Silver Arm, the source of all these abominations, didn't have even stronger defensive characteristics. Given its massive size, the shock probably wouldn't penetrate deep enough to reach the cores, even if Halfa fired it at point-blank range.
"Can't we just amplify the sound like we did before?" Spira suggested. "Remember what we did in Aingurna?"
"Hmm. But if I use Shock Voice, the Golem might break," Halfa worried.
"Ah, that’s a point."
Spira’s idea was solid. If we used a Golem capable of voice mimicry as a megaphone like we did in Aingurna, we should be able to amplify the Shock Voice. The issue, as Halfa said, was whether a Golem could withstand the physical stress of the impact.
"I have the perfect material... but I can't process it myself."
I reached into my storage and pulled out a lump of Orichalcum. I had secured it back when an evil cultist plot had sent me tumbling into the deep floors of a dungeon. It was incredibly durable, so I figured a Golem made from this could handle the vibrations of a Shock Voice.
The catch was the difficulty of processing it. An ordinary blacksmith wouldn't even be able to scratch it. I had tried to reshape it with Create Golem before, but the mana consumption was so astronomical I'd been forced to give up.
『If that’s the problem, we’ll lend a hand,』 Ren-kun called out. 『You guys will help too, right?』
『Of course,』 one goddess replied. 『Considering the circumstances.』
『Excessive interference in the affairs of the inner world is forbidden, but this is a matter of repelling an invader from the outside. The other gods won't complain about this much.』
『It would hinder mortal growth if the gods lent their strength too readily... but I suppose we can't be stingy now.』
The other gods responded to Ren-kun’s call. As each deity reached out and touched the lump of Orichalcum, it began to glow brighter and brighter, eventually becoming shrouded in an iridescent light.
『There, that should make it easier to work with. Give it a try.』
Following Ren-kun’s lead, I cast Create Golem on the Orichalcum.
Unlike my previous attempt, the mana flowed through the metal with ease. Just like the Earth Golems I usually made, the material shifted into exactly the form I envisioned: a Megaphone Golem. It looked just like a standard megaphone with a sturdy handle.
"This is a Golem?"
"Another strange shape..."
"W-well, it is Tort-kun we're talking about."
『It’s business as usual for him,』 Shiroru added.
For some reason, everyone's feedback was a bit harsh. I thought I’d done a great job making it exactly the shape I wanted.
At any rate, it was time for the real deal.
The plan was simple: mount a giant-sized Shiroru to charge the Silver Arm, while Halfa unleashed a Shock Voice amplified by the Megaphone Golem. Spira, Lowell, and I would handle the abominations that tried to interfere.
"Alright, we're moving out. Ready?"
"Yeah! Leave it to me!"
『I'm good to go!』
Once I confirmed everyone was set, I returned the Golem that had been acting as our barricade back into soil. The Silver Arm reacted immediately, preparing to summon more Abomination Soldiers, but Shiroru bolted forward before it could finish.
The distance closed in an instant. However, Abomination Soldiers began to manifest in our path. Shiroru simply lowered his head and plowed through the enemies in front. I unleashed a Shredding Storm to the left and right, creating a Storm Wall to keep the swarms at bay.
Spira and Lowell handled the abominations that managed to get close.
Spira grew Ice Vines from her own body, snagging the Abomination Soldiers and hurling them away. She was aiming for the Shredding Storm, thinning their numbers by tossing them into my vortex.
Lowell was wielding a Tree Attribute Magic Sword. The moment he cut into an abomination, he forced vines to crawl through its body, preventing the pieces from reattaching. He seemed to be making them erode from the inside out; several of the soldiers simply crumbled into sand.
Amidst the chaos, we finally reached the Silver Arm. Halfa raised the Megaphone Golem and—
"Eek!?"
"Halfa!?"
Just as she was about to release the Shock Voice, the Silver Arm went berserk. It slammed its palm into the ground with enough force to gouge the earth, sending a spray of stone fragments flying in every direction. One of them flew straight at Halfa. She dodged it instinctively, but the sudden movement caused her to lose her balance and tumble off Shiroru’s back.
I saw her fall and immediately jumped down after her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah! But..."
Abomination Soldiers began to swarm us, but they weren't the real threat. My attacks worked fine on them, and Halfa could fend them off with her own Shock Voice.
The problem was the rampaging Silver Arm. Dealing with the incoming Stone Projectiles was a chore, and its constant movement made it impossible to aim. I needed to stop it in its tracks, but we were both occupied with the endless waves of soldiers.
"We'll hold off the abominations! Tort, stop that thing!"
"Lowell! Right, on it!"
Lowell and the others rushed to our side to neutralize the swarm. Shiroru also shrunk back to his normal size to join the defense. With them covering our backs, I could finally focus on restraining the arm.
The magic of choice was, naturally, Create Golem. I would match the Silver Arm’s strength with a Giant Golem.
The Silver Arm was incredibly powerful; even my Giant Golem was smashed to pieces within seconds. But I didn't stop. I simply created more Golems, one after another, overwhelming it with sheer numbers.
Golems were born and destroyed in a violent cycle, leaving the surrounding ground cratered and broken. Finally, I managed to pin the Silver Arm down using three Golems at once.
"Now, Halfa!"
"Got it!"
This was the ultimate chance.
Halfa took a deep breath, braced the megaphone, and screamed.
"JUST GO HOME ALREADYYYYYY!!"
Her voice erupted like a thunderclap, shaking the very air. Even though I was outside the direct path of the spell, I could feel the atmosphere vibrating with terrifying intensity.
『Gwaah!? My ears are ringing!』
I could hear Shiroru’s muffled shout, and the others seemed to be yelling something too, but I couldn't make out a word. The sheer volume of the roar had left me momentarily deafened.
The destructive power was overwhelming. It was more than even the Silver Arm could withstand.
I jerked my head up just in time to see fine silver sand scattering into the wind, vanishing into nothingness.