Consecutive Battles

Against the three girls coming toward her, Marisia's first action was an Identify using principle magic.

Not just any Identify. It was an Identify imbued with high-level discernment abilities. And at the result, the valkyrie nearly clicked her tongue.

A Hero, a Divine Dragon Knight, and someone unable to be appraised.

A god, ancient dragon, or perhaps something even greater. No matter how much higher her level was compared to normal valkyries, Marisia wouldn't be able to oppose such a being.

If it were one-on-one, she might have a chance against the two her Identify could read. However, the Gifts those two possessed were beyond Marisia's imagination.

Immortal.

They would revive even if their hearts were pierced or their brains destroyed. While Marisia had means to nullify the Immortal Gift and kill her opponent, the problem was that there were two immortals.

If she tried to deal with one, the other would attack. This numerical difference was something Marisia couldn't overcome.

First, she deflected Mako's extending spear, dodged Lavi's clumsy war club attack, and parried Sei's katana.

The two black-haired girls aside, she could tell the white-haired girl wasn't accustomed to close combat. Her stats were likely high, but her technique lacked sharpness.

Marisia spread her wings from her back and flew into the air. She judged that attacks from a distance would be more effective than close combat.

The Hero girl extended the spear in her hand. A simple yet effective gimmick, but for that very reason, it was also easy to evade.

On the other hand, the Divine Dragon Knight girl challenged Marisia to aerial combat using her Gift of flight.

The spear attacks from the ground weren't that much of a threat. If she fought the knight in the air, she still had a chance at victory.

That's what Marisia thought, but the moment she glanced at the ground from the corner of her eye, she realized her mistake.

Lavi had revealed her true form.

"A white dragon!?"

As far as Marisia's knowledge went, only one white dragon existed in this world.

The Sky Dragon Laverna. The divine dragon of the Dragon Claw Continent who dwelled in the Labyrinth of the Celestial Corridor.

She knew that the Dragon Claw Continent had mostly fallen under the control of evil gods, but she hadn't known what happened after Laverna went missing.

To think that alongside the Great Demon King, Heroes, High Elf, and Great Sage, there was also a divine dragon.

It was like a gathering of the world's all-stars.

Marisia realized her defeat was unavoidable.

The enemy's forces were too great. Once they were dispersed by teleportation magic, it could be said their defeat was practically decided.

But there was still hope.

Siegfried.

That hopeless womanizer and rapist possessed an abnormal ability that could overturn any premise. So much so that even divine dragons avoided him.

Even Siegfried probably couldn't win against this group alone. No, rather, he was the kind of man who would flee from battles he couldn't win.

So what should she do?

Buying time.

Thinking that was about all she could do, she turned her eyes toward Alteisia, only to find the battle there had already ended.

Ars, who was restraining the unconscious Alteisia, turned his gaze toward her. Marisia dodged Sei's attacks in midair, searching for the right position.

To catch as many enemies in the blast as possible.

"Valkyrie's Spear"

Countless glowing throwing spears appeared around Marisia.

The greatest attack magic for valkyries. Marisia's version was powerful enough that a single hit could gouge the earth and create a crater.

Such spear attacks rained down on the ground like a downpour.

Sei, who took the Valkyrie's Spear attack in midair, created a magic barrier with all her might.

It was broken after just a few hits, and she desperately continued to deflect the spear rain falling like a Gatling gun with her katana.

Mako on the ground was protected as Lavi shielded her with her body. Even if they were called Valkyrie's Spears, they didn't have enough destructive power to pierce a divine dragon's reinforced scales.

"Reckless."

Ars had teleported several kilometers away while still carrying Alteisia. Sage and Quorfos had done the same.

When the valkyrie's magic ran out and the spear attacks ended, they teleported back. At the bottom of the crater, Marisia slumped over, exhausted.

"Oww…"

Sei, who would normally be dead from such injuries, also descended to the ground. Mako was unharmed. And Lavi had suffered slight damage to her scales.

"Quite impressive. As expected of the strongest valkyrie."

Even while saying this, Ars pinned Marisia to the ground with restraint magic.

Marisia was breathing heavily and had no magic left. She wouldn't be able to escape the restraints. With this, the enemy's forces were reduced by two.

Sei's injuries also rapidly regenerated at high speed. The problem was probably her armor rather than her body. The armor Ria made had self-restoration capabilities, but returning from an almost half-naked state to normal would certainly require considerable time.

"High-Speed Restoration"

But that too was restored with Sage's magic. Lavi's wounds were similarly healed.

"Well then, now that we've taken care of two, are you okay for consecutive battles?"

The question was directed mainly at Sei, who had taken the most damage, but Sei replied with a wry smile.

"Injuries of this degree, I've received them countless times during training with my master."

Rather, things only got serious after near-death experiences. Since this victory was due to Marisia running out of magic, Sei's own magic wasn't depleted that much. The magic needed to restore her body wasn't that much either.

"All right, then let's move on to the next one. Fortunately, it seems they haven't regrouped yet."

Ars called out to Sage. Just in case, Sage had set up barriers around Alteisia and Marisia.

It would most likely be fine, but there was also the possibility of being attacked by wild monsters. Though even in a restrained state, these two would be more than a match for ordinary monsters.

And so the group teleported.

Before them, two warriors who had been moving at high speed came to a halt.

The Black Knight Kars and the elf Keselkos.

"… What happened to our other companions? That fireball signal was Alteisia's."

Kars stepped forward and faced Ars. A one-handed sword and large shield—the proper warrior style. That all his equipment was black, including that, was because long ago he had said he admired and imitated the first Hero Thor.

"We neutralized them. They're not in life-threatening danger, and I think they'll wake up before long."

"Did you only neutralize Alteisia?"

"Alteisia and Marisia. Taking out the healers first is basic strategy, right?"

"Given your power, I'd think such trivial matters wouldn't mean anything."

Kars stood in a position to protect Kess. His large shield was made of an adamantite alloy. Equipment befitting one with the nickname "Iron Wall." Furthermore, Kars could use magic specialized in defensive enhancement.

Possessing both sword skill level and shield skill level at 9, he would normally be a formidable enemy. It would take both Sei and Mako working together to barely match him. An ordinary Hero would be helpless.

However, he was up against the wrong opponents.

"Multiple Acceleration"

Sage's magic was cast on Sei and Mako, and the two attacked Kars from the left and right.

Shields are unnecessary. That's what Ria had said.

With her level of attack power, not just shields but even armor, even dwarven masterpieces, became useless.

But that was only at an extremely high level, and at Sei's level, the performance of her equipment was very important.

He easily deflected Mako's spear with his shield and similarly parried Sei's katana with his one-handed sword.

As expected from someone with sword skill and shield skill both at level 9. Even in an accelerated state, the two of them still seemed insufficient.

Then what about something other than close combat?

Dragon-form Lavi's mouth opened. What overflowed from it was white light.

"A dragon!?"

Just before the light breath directly hit the jet-black shield, Kars changed its angle slightly.

"Amazing…"

It was such magnificent shield handling that Sei couldn't help but mutter. He had completely protected both himself and Kess behind him.

Even though she was young, perhaps this was the first time in recorded history that a human had withstood a divine dragon's breath.

Though in the first place, there would normally be no occasion for a divine dragon to unleash its breath on anyone.

"But well, that's your limit."

Ars watched with composure.

Behind Kars, Kess was trying to invoke Spirit arts with all his might.

But the spirits would start gathering, then scatter. With Quorfos's simple gestures, the spirits would waver and disappear.

Spirit arts level 9. But Quorfos's Spirit arts level was probably 10 or higher.

Kess's most proficient attack was completely sealed.

Kess stepped forward and stood alongside Kars.

Dual-wielding short swords in both hands. His sword skill level was high as well, but it was to a degree where Sei could somehow fight him one-on-one.

"I don't want to take too long. Sei, stop Kess. Unless we neutralize Kars, attacks won't get through to Kess."

So the remaining five would gang up on Kars.

That wasn't really a method the good guys should use, but in sentai shows, five people take on one monster, so Sei honestly nodded and headed toward Kess.

Kars, who tried to move his position slightly, found himself involuntarily jumping from that spot.

At the position he had occupied a moment before, Ars's sword was swinging down.

"Short-range teleportation?"

"That's right. I didn't think you'd dodge it on first sight."

As a warrior, Kars's combat instincts were second only to Siegfried's.

His crisis detection skill was also high, and he would likely dodge even surprise attacks.

But this attack from Ars wasn't aimed at Kars.

By Ars teleporting, Kars ended up sandwiched between Lavi and Ars.

Lavi's breath exploded, and Kars again blocked it with his large shield. And because Kars became a shield, the breath didn't reach Ars.

Ars's sword and Kars's sword crossed. Two-handed versus one-handed—simply due to the difference in power put into them, Kars was pushed back.

The moment the breath attack stopped, Kars readjusted his shield. However, that slight opening became an opportunity for Ars.

Kars blocked Ars's attacks many times. All defense. And then Mako swung her spear from the opposite direction.

Even he couldn't handle being sandwiched from front and back in time. His right arm was severed by Ars's sword, his right leg pierced by Mako's spear, and he lost his combat ability.

"All right, now let's take care of Kess."

Kess, who until then had been engaging Sei evenly in close combat, couldn't handle two more joining in.

Though he was dual-wielding, that wasn't his original combat style. He was fundamentally a rear guard who used Spirit arts.

Through 3000 years of accumulation, he had become quite capable in close combat, but even so, if Ars and Mako were deployed as combat forces, the situation would completely change.

He desperately swung his twin swords around, but focused too much on that and couldn't counter Quorfos's Spirit arts.

Assailed by the urge to sleep, he collapsed on the spot.

They reconnected Kars's severed arm and healed him to some degree.

After immobilizing the two with restraint magic, Ars let out a sigh.

"When it's been a while since actual combat, my movements are really dull."

If that was dull, Sei was astounded, but she didn't voice it. What she did voice was a warning.

"They're coming!"

"That was fast."

The point of light that appeared on Sei's Map immediately came before them.

Siegfried. Without stopping his momentum, he attacked Ars.

Ars's holy sword and Siegfried's demon sword clashed, creating a shockwave.

Having his opening strike blocked, Siegfried immediately retreated greatly.

"Sheesh, I'd have liked them to at least buy some time."

Siegfried's gaze turned toward Kars and Kess, but immediately turned back to Ars.

After a little time passed, Mika caught up. Apparently Siegfried had gone ahead alone. Even so, he hadn't made it in time.

"You were quite fast, Siegfried."

"Don't underestimate Zeke-sama of the Swift Wind."

Apparently he had arbitrarily added another title for himself.

Siegfried surveyed the group facing him anew.

"There are some cute girls here."

That slimy gaze was directed at Sei, and an unbearable feeling of revulsion ran down her spine.

"Divine dragons are beauties too. Why are all divine dragons beautiful without exception?"

Even in dragon form, Lavi twisted her body in disgust.

"Siegfried, from this situation, do you still think there's a chance to turn this around?"

Even at Ars's provocative words, Siegfried remained unfazed.

"I won't forgive anyone who lays a hand on my women."

With his sword shouldered, Siegfried bared his teeth.

"I'll take on Siegfried. Sage, provide support. The other four stop the Hero."

There were no unreasonable elements in Ars's words. Given the level difference between Siegfried and Ars, even factoring in skills, Ars would win. Especially with Sage's support as well.

But the reason Sei couldn't immediately nod was because of Siegfried's Gifts visible through her Identify.

Absolute Misfortune. She had already heard about that Gift, but there were other dangerous-looking Gifts as well.

Overcome Adversity. A combat power increase Gift that activated when the opponent's power was above one's own.

A level difference of over 100 would also appear in stat differences, but there wasn't as much numerical difference between the two as their level difference suggested.

"Um, this might be a strange thing to ask, but will you be okay?"

"I understand what you're trying to say. That man's very existence is unreasonable."

But, the Great Demon King continued.

"I haven't yet played my trump card. And if you force the Hero to return, that man will have no reason to fight. That man is a sex maniac, but not a battle maniac."

The Great Demon King-sama, while having already demonstrated more than enough strength, said he still had room to spare.

As expected of the man Ria relied on.

When Ars moved his position slightly, Siegfried went along with it and changed his stance.

"Mika, hold out somehow. I'll come right away once I'm done here."

The frivolous tone vanished from Siegfried's voice.

Hearing that, Sei thought that if Kukuri were here, he'd absolutely be excited. She'd like to tell him about what kind of battle this was later if possible, but she probably wouldn't have the leisure to watch.

The God-Slaying Hero versus the Divine Dragon-Slaying Great Demon King.

The Destruction Hero versus the Divine Dragon Knight, Hero, High Elf, and Divine Dragon.

A confrontation with such a luxurious cast began in a place with no spectators.