“I can create a burn (to burn me and create).”
The first strike is Fiona. A lyrical incantation is being woven as if she is singing.
It’s still a language from another world that I don’t understand at all, but I have been taught its meaning before. So, I could only understand what she was saying. It felt like listening to a Western song whose lyrics I had memorized perfectly.
As I glanced at the golden fireball forming at the tip of Fiona’s beloved long staff, “Ainz Bloom,” I entered the final preparation for firing.
“If we’re going to shoot that big thing, using one shot isn’t a waste.”
“Yes, now is the perfect time, Master! Please, go ahead!”
In my hand, raised like receiving a glass, the chatty maid handed me a bullet with her tentacle. The bullet, crafted from Slowsgil’s fingers, has a twisted, knobby shape and should have the destructive power to be called a true breath. Just like the breath of Greedg that I shot at Ischia Castle, it has the same level of power.
That’s why this single shot is called not just “Charged Particle Cannon,” but “Charged Particle Dragon Cannon.”
If I use one shot here, there will be five shots left. Even if I shoot them all, I won’t be able to completely annihilate the golem. Well, since firing one shot will require cooling the barrel, I can’t fire consecutively anyway.
Right now, I focus solely on this one strike without thinking about what comes next.
I slowly and surely load the bullet I held into “The Greed.” Calmly, I recall the explanation I received from Regin.
With a mechanical sound, the thunder bullet was swallowed by the greedy heavy cannon. Loading complete.
“Super electromagnetic projectile loading confirmed! Twenty-four seconds until energy critical point!”
With Hitsugi’s announcement, “The Greed” let out a creaking sound resembling a growl. The purple lines running along the barrel began to flash rapidly in sync.
It seemed as if the Slowsgil skull housed within this bulky engine-like box was voicing its dissatisfaction at this limit-pushing magic power use. Even if it were truly such a grudge, I would demand further excessive use without caring. Just work.
“Here, with the sun created in my name.”
At the moment when the firing posture was about to reach its climax, Fiona’s magic was finally completed.
At the tip of the raised staff, a five-meter-diameter golden fireball, compressed and contained with immense heat, shone. When you see a real sun up close, it would surely shimmer like this, exuding an overwhelming presence.
I could feel the surrounding adventurers and Spada soldiers focusing their attention as if they were involuntarily captivated. However, for Fiona, those gazes were probably insignificant, or she might not even notice them.
“Now, Chrono-san, Lily-san, I’m going to shoot.”
Fiona asked for the final confirmation with her usual expressionless demeanor, showing no sign of pressure.
The decision on which target to aim for and when to shoot is left to her, the one in charge of the first strike. Lily and I just need to hit in succession to match her. Therefore, if she thinks it’s good, that’s more than enough.
Both Lily and I silently nodded in agreement.
“——’Golden Sun'”
“Stars shine and shatter, bringing destruction.”
Fiona threw the blazing sun while Lily began her incantation at the same time.
Everyone present, myself included, focused on the primal magic unleashed by Fiona that surpassed the advanced level. However, only Lily seemed to be fully aware of her role, timing her perfect follow-up strike.
Lily held the “Red Crystal Ball” with both hands as if in prayer. The brilliant wind blew fiercely, making her translucent golden hair and her dress with dark night hues flutter.
At that moment, Fiona’s desperate “Golden Sun” hit and exploded.
The target was the one of the ten lined up that was closest to our position on the northern left wing. In a straight line, it was about three hundred meters away.
The golden fireball floated through the air in a slow, parabolic arc, flying towards the heavy golem that was only moving forward with sluggish progress.
Until the very end, it showed no sign of dodging, and the ancient golem remained a massive target as the sun collided with it.
With a blast that could cause an avalanche, the mountains of Galahad echoed with a thunderous sound, and a storm of scorching winds and explosive blasts erupted.
In addition to the black smoke billowing like a mass, the thick layer of snow at our feet evaporated enough for the ground to become visible, creating pure white steam. The golem, concealed from both enemies and allies by the distraction of black and white.
However, it seemed that Lily had firmly locked onto the target.
“——’Star Fall'”
Suddenly, behind the smoke and steam, I caught a glimpse of the violently flashing multicolored light——and in that instant, another roar echoed through the mountains.
Another explosion, with the same intense heat. However, this was not a concentrated fiery heat but a massive light bomb with the mass of a meteoroid.
As the metallic masses collided, a high-pitched shock sound resonated like a screeching voice, and the great explosion of multi-colored light blew away the curtains of black smoke and steam.
“Wow… it’s beautifully damaged.”
In the view that cleared again due to the blast of “Star Fall,” the ancient golem had transformed into a mere scrap, having lost its head and both arms, its whole body charred black.
I thought there was probably no need for me to shoot anymore, but it staggered forward, puffing out black smoke. Indeed, a finishing blow was necessary.
“Chrono, there’s a person riding in the middle of its chest; that must be the pilot.”
From my perspective, all I could see was a half-destroyed golem that looked like the wreckage of a tower engulfed in flames, but Lily seemed to be able to tell.
“I see, so it’s really a giant robot, not a magical creature or autonomous weapon.”
If that’s the case, aiming for the cockpit would certainly result in a one-hit kill. It’s an obvious weak point, but where Lily pointed to was the thickest and most robust armor on its chest. Either way, I would need to deal enough damage to cause a massive break.
In any case, with that one entity, or if counting as a robot, that makes it one unit destroyed.
“——3, 2, 1! Energy critical point! Fire!”
“——’Charged Particle Dragon Cannon’ firing!”
The moment I pulled the trigger, I definitely saw the same flash as the purplish lightning that I witnessed at Ischia Castle.
The single-barreled “Thunder Cannon Form” opened wider with a sound as greedily as Greedg would when it opened its large mouth.
The purple line running down the center of the barrel opened and transformed into two rail-like structures in an exceptionally futuristic shape. There’s no way the principle of a railgun is actually being reconstructed like this. After all, a charged particle cannon is different from an electromagnetic projectile cannon.
Even so, the rail-type transformed barrel sparked with purple lightning, releasing a charged particle cannon that condensed thunder attribute magical power, akin to a powerful beam weapon seen in sci-fi works.
The dazzling release light almost blinded me. However, I continued to fix my aim and fired the beam of destruction toward the cockpit, as Lily had instructed me.
I was able to confirm with my own eyes the moment the streak of lightning pierced the golem’s massive body. The flash created at the moment of impact finally caused my vision to white out.
“—Gah!”
The reaction was greater than I expected, causing my arms, no, my whole body to shake. I felt as if my feet were lifting off the ground, ready to fly away.
Now I truly understand the feeling of Greedg as it drove iron stakes into the ground with its feet to anchor itself. I never imagined I would experience this recoil——as I regretted my own naivety, I focused on suppressing it with sheer force.
Thus, the firing time, which felt strangely long despite being only a few seconds, came to an end. In the final moments, reaching the limit of control, the thunder breath veered off toward the sky. However, it should have delivered enough power to finish off the half-dead golem.
“Hah… how’s that…”
Once the firing ended, the flash that had blocked my vision was just a momentary occurrence. My sight quickly recovered, revealing the remnants of the ancient golem as it teetered and fell onto the snow, its upper body further reduced.
With a particularly loud rumble, the steel giant sank into the ground. One unit destroyed.
“As expected, it seems you have to land three hits to take it down.”
“There’s no helping it; that thing is made of more than just steel, as its appearance suggests.”
It’s inferred that its armor is made of ancient metal that cannot be refined in modern times, combined with strengthening magic such as hardening. One of those golems might be harder than a poorly constructed fortress. It would be unusual for anyone to destroy it alone.
Even knowing that, Fiona and Lily talked about it calmly, without any particular excitement from defeating a giant ancient weapon. It was somewhat dry in tone. Meanwhile, I was secretly elated, thinking, “Wow, I really took it down!” How embarrassing.
“…So, what do we do next?”
I wanted to maintain a nonchalant atmosphere while coolly asking the two. By the way, I had no plan. The only primitive strategy that came to mind was to directly board the main body.
“Chrono-san, I have a good idea.”
Fiona raised her hand slightly, exuding an air of confidence from her expressionless face.
“If we continue like this, the remaining golems will reach the wall, right?”
So far, we’ve only managed to take down one golem. Facing the threat of the approaching giants, the castle walls are launching a considerable amount of counter-attacks, but… naturally, they are not stopping their advance.
The heavy footsteps continued without pause, and it was lucky if the body sustained only some scratches or scorch marks.
Without Fiona explicitly stating it, everyone here likely sensed the approach of the ancient golem.
“That’s right. Since they have no weapons, they’re probably planning to just punch and destroy everything.”
It’s a straightforward attack with no twist, but for something that size, even a simple punch could function like a battering ram. One should see it as having the destructive power to breach the castle walls.
“When the golem gets close enough to strike the wall, that’s our chance.”
“I see, so we draw it close to the brink. And then, what do we aim for?”
“Yes, I will jump onto the golem.”
“…And then?”
“After that, I’ll just do a tremendous blow, and the golem should topple over.”
What do you think, it’s a perfect plan, right? One could almost hear those inner words from Fiona, boasting with pride.
I couldn’t help but feel that sometimes Fiona was a bit of a musclehead. Isn’t it possible that she has a much greater quality of a berserker than I do?
“…Listen, Fiona, that’s not something you call a ‘good idea.’”
“I see, it should be called a brilliant strategy, then.”
“No, that’s not the direction I’m going with. It’s the opposite.”
Why did she think that she was being praised? Fine, I don’t have time right now to explain mutual misunderstanding to Fiona.
“Hey, Lily, what should we do? The golem will soon reach the castle wall.”
“Yes, but don’t worry. I have just thought of a good plan too.”
“Oh, as expected of Lily—”
Just as I praised her, a voice called out a halt. It was, needless to say, from the great witch.
“Uh, wait a minute, Chrono-san? What about my brilliant plan?”
“Sorry, Fiona, we’ll make that the last resort.”
“Why is that?”
“Just because.”
“I see, if you say that much, I suppose I have no choice.”
Fiona, misunderstanding that there was some deep reasoning behind it, retreated with a glimmer of expectation in her eyes toward me.
It’s strange how smoothly the conversation progressed in such an unusual place. I still have no idea what Fiona is thinking.
“So, what is Lily’s plan?”
Receiving my eager gaze, Lily wore a charming smile resembling a representative of beautiful girls from another world and replied.
“Well, I’m also planning to jump onto the golem.”
“What? You too, Lily?”
“Hehe, don’t worry, Chrono, there’s a proper continuation to this.”
“You’re not just going to do a tremendous blow haphazardly, right?”
“Of course not, I have a more reliable and concrete strategy. Unlike Fiona, I’m not the type to disappoint your expectations, Chrono.”
“How rude, Lily-san. When did I ever disappoint Chrono-san’s expectations?”
Continuing on unaffected, Lily spoke while Fiona pouted in dissatisfaction.
“Anyway, before I explain, shouldn’t you close your eyes and ears?”
“That’s a good idea.”
It’s a suggestion as if to do so just before a flashbang and sound grenade go off simultaneously, and like Fiona, I understood and agreed without needing much explanation.
“Ah, something big is about to go off soon.”
In fact, I had been sensing a tremendous amount of magical power tingling on my back just moments ago.
When I turned to look, there stood the massive keep of Galahad Fortress, with four defensive towers rising towards the heavens. The fierce flow of magic coiled like a tornado and gathered at the top of the tower.
In essence, the palace magicians of the Spada within the defensive tower were about to unleash a tremendous strike from there. This would likely be the Spada Army’s main offensive.
“Indeed, the real fortress is different—”
If only Arz Village had even one-tenth of this defensive capability. I pondered this futile thought while silently closing my eyes. I could feel an immense quantity of magical power about to explode in the sky.