Chapter 464
Defense Specialization and the Final Battle
Around the time when Maple and the others were about to besiege the outer wall, a barrage of spells flew at Mii, who was moving towards the enemy’s royal castle.
“That’s fast…!”
Because not everyone could fly, Mii’s guild members walked by foot to raid the castle.
Even if she reached the castle first, she’d just run out of strength. Thus, Mii lowered Ignis’ attitude and landed on the lava-covered earth, where smoke from the volcano was billowing.
What awaited them were players from several guilds. They were probably lying in wait in the unlikely event of a surprise attack.
Convinced of their advantage in teamfights, they advanced immediately. Some of the players kept an eye on the enemy’s backline.
“It turns out that my hunch is right. I wish I was just overthinking…”
“Buff, please.”
“Let’s keep some distance from Mii. If things get dangerous, I’ll protect Frederica.”
“Okay, okay…”
Frederica poised her wand. Specializing in long-range attacks, Frederica—who deftly applied buffs and debuffs, along with recovery and defense—was the center of the defense force.
After spreading buffs in succession, Frederica casted [Multi-Total Teleport] and left the battlefield immediately. As a result, she was able to take part in this defense. Worried for this exact development, she took some countermeasures.
“Let me through.”
“My barrier will stop the flames.”
Just like Lily, Frederica’s role was to buy time. If Mii couldn’t reach the royal castle, her efforts so far would be in vain.
“I got my hands full with Velvet, too…!”
After all, Payne sent her a short message saying that Velvet was traveling at high speed.
First, she had to deal with Mii, who was heading straight for the royal castle.
“Alright, everyone, let’s do it!”
“““Yeah!!!”””
After declaring so, Frederica unleashed her full combat skills.
“[Mana Ocean]!”
“[Scorching Flame]!”
A fierce wave of flame surged towards her, threatening to swallow her. In response, instead of the tower-shield users, Frederica was the one who stepped forward.
“[Super Multi-Barrier]! Knots [Amplification] [Singing Round]!”
A multitude of barriers was deployed.
If Mii’s fire could break through 10 layers of barriers, how about 100 of them?
After receiving Mii’s flame, Frederica’s barrier was very much intact.
“Good. Look, it’s still good, so just push through!”
“[Super Acceleration]!”
“[Roar of Battle]!”
Seeing that Frederica had deflected Mii’s attack, everyone advanced. As it was, Frederica could take care of the whole defense just fine.
“[Rain of Arrows]!”
“Hmph, [Super Multi-Barriers] [Super Multi-Flame Bullets]!”
After blocking the volley of arrows with barriers after barriers, she rapidly deployed one magic circle after another behind it.
The flame bullets, which had their strength doubled with Knots’ supports, attacked the enemy with a power that could rival Mii’s flame.
Even in close combat, Frederica’s barriers got in the way. Although the activation period of [Mana Ocean] was limited, her infinite MP caused her skills to have no cooldown. It went without saying that the inexhaustible barrier erased the meaning of damage trading.
“Mii!”
“This is tough!”
“None of my attacks did anything…”
Frederica’s magic was originally a one-off skill that fired a tremendous amount of damage.
This skill was extremely difficult to block, because it was similar to Payne and Sally’s combo, which exploited the gap in damage nullification skill.
“[Eruption]! We’re moving! Bear with me for a bit!”
“‘“Understood!”””
After pushing them away, Mii and the others started to withdraw to recover.
…As if Frederica and the others would let them.
“I’m curious about Velvet, though… Any thoughts?”
“I think it’s bad either way.”
“Your skill also has a time limit, right? Without it, it’ll be difficult to face Mii, no?”
“Okay, got it. Then, let’s go. [Super Multi-Acceleration]!”
With unified goals, they charged towards Mii together. The rumbling of thunder could be heard from a distance, but they didn’t let it get to them.
The distance made by the wall of flames was quickly closed by Frederica’s buff.
“I won’t let you escape!”
“…I was about to say the same.”
“…?”
However, unlike what they previously thought, Mii didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down. Frederica gripped her wand with a sense of unease.
“You’re right, Marx. No one knows.”
With the volcano in the background, flame swirled through Mii’s body. For some reason, alarm bells were blaring in Frederica’s head.
“[Inferno]!”
“[Super Multi-Barriers]!”
In order to counter Mii’s flame, Frederica deployed yet another instance of barriers. Unexpectedly, the destination of Mii’s flame was the ground.
Mii gripped the bursting flame and slammed them into the ground. The flames that were supposed to rampage along the surface of the earth sunk into the ground, and red flowing fissures spread over a wide area.
Then, a colossal pillar of fire rose up towards the sky, dying it red, mercilessly smashing Frederica’s barrier.
After the pillar of fire subsided, Mii manipulated the huge, raging flame. Like a dragon, it floated in the fire, and at its center was a fireball burning with the intensity of the sun.
“It took me a long time to get here.”
“What’s that…?”
“It’s a terrain effect that Marx found. You didn’t know that, did you?”
What set Marx apart from other players was the way he’d set traps. Apparently, he was also the one who realized the existence of this living flame.
The flame began to envelop the weapons of the enemy players. The blazing ground around Mii seemed to tell the extent of the area of influence.
“Haa… Everyone’s too messed up!”
“Haha, coming from you, Frederica?”
Because of the limited activation period, the [Kingdom of Flame Emperor] especially chose a country of water and nature to trigger that flame attack. It was a shame but they did what they could. No one should be able to complain if a flame of that degree took down the castle, right?
“As promised, I’ll push through.”
“If it doesn’t look good, go to Velvet!”
“Understood!”
Nothing was stupider than burning everyone. First, measure the threat level. While preparing another set of barriers, Frederica pondered about Mii’s next course of action.
“[Flame Emperor]!”
Mii spread her arms, manifesting a fireball in each of her palm. The flames undulated, and expanded several times, before descending upon Frederica. Her field of vision burned red.
“[Super Multi-Barriers]! Knots [Amplification]! [Singing Round]!”
Frederica’s role was to stop Mii. She deployed another wave of barriers, and the two meteorite-sized fireballs soon crashed onto them.
“[Blue Flame]!”
Blue flames were mixed with red flames, flying after the fireball.
“Hey, sorry, but please cover for me!”
“[Spirit of Light]! [Cover]!”
“Charge!”
Frederica couldn’t stop it, and the huge fireball burned the surroundings. Taking advantage of that, the [Kingdom of the Flame Emperor] turned on the offensive, wielding a weapon clad in flames, and slashed at Frederica.
“[Cover]!”
“[Flash Spear]!”
While protecting Frederica, the allied players also charged at the approaching enemy. Even so, the flame buff compensated for the status advantage Frederica had created, and the resulting match was unlike before.
“[Super Multi-Flame Bullets]!”
“[Scorching Flame]!”
Without losing momentum, Mii’s hellfire swallowed Frederica’s flame bullets.
It was like the volcano itself. The intensity of the raging flame was already that of a disaster.
The tower-shield users used the same [Cover Move] as Maple to move at high speed. Those who could run used [Super Acceleration] and grabbed Frederica, before retreating.
“She’s seriously bad news!”
“Frederica, can you do something about it!?”
“No way, no way, no way! You’re just asking for the impossible!”
Stopping here and trying to stop the advance wouldn’t buy much time either. Within a few more battles and defenses, the flames that strengthened the entire [Kingdom of Flame Emperor] would swallow them whole.
“Run to town! We still have to watch out for Velvet!”
“I know!”
The enemy’s attack was more severe than they’d expected, and Frederica and the others rushed to the town, promising that they’d never do a high-stake gamble or an assault with the resolve to crush the enemy.
Apparently, the enemy had been focusing on this one point—their last chance to win.
By the time they got back to town, the effects of [Mana Ocean] would probably wear off. She was worried about the defensive strength, but there was nothing she could do about it.
“I’ll just cast some buffs! I’ll do something about it! We have no other choice!”
“I’ll do as you say.”
“I’ll protect you until all the tower-shield users perish!”
Leaving aside Mii, who was exuding flame, Frederica’s buff could be used against the guild members of the [Flame Emperor] who received the buff.
“[Super Multi-Flame Bullets] [Super Multi-Wind Blades]!”
Frederica, who was carried on a certain player’s back, turned around and continued to fire a barrage of magic until [Mana Ocean] was worn off.
The flames used by Mii enhanced firepower, and didn’t increase defensive power. Her research paid off.
“Ugh, what a huge responsibility.”
“If we manage to protect it, I expect more than praise.”
“They better win!”
Frederica and the others retreated as flame pierced the sky. The enemy would never retreat no matter what.
As long as the throne was safe, it should be fine.
***
Velvet disappeared with some players, and Lily summoned the soldiers to fill in her place.
Even if a horde of them was laid to waste, another would just replace them, hindering Maple’s advance.
The biggest wall was literally the outer wall that protected the town. Not everyone could leap through it. If they open a large hole by destroying the area round the gate that had low durability, everyone might be able to rush in, but Lily would probably just cover it using her soldiers.
“[Holy Dragon’s Light Sword]!”
“[Puppet Wall]!”
When Payne attacked the wall, the summoned soldiers blocked it instead.
Although he could slay the soldiers, the wall itself remained intact.
In order to lower the firepower even a bit, Chrome waited for an opening while protecting Yui and the others from the enemy players. Some of the enemy were prepared to die, and charged relentlessly at their backline.
If possible, he wanted to deliver Yui safely to the wall.
Everyone began to feel a bit impatient. Behind, a tremendous pillar of fire pierced the sky. They could tell from a glance—
—That’s definitely Mii.
“Sally, what do you think?”
“It might be a bit bad…”
Knowing that the remaining players, led by Frederica, were in charge of the defense, she couldn’t say that they’d triumph over the large-scale attack of Mii’s flame and Velvet.
“What should I do!? Should I head back!?”
If it was Maple, there was a high chance they’d make it in time by using [Machine God] to fly through the sky, but…
“We have to proceed with the attack. Besides, everyone is supported by damage reduction and equipment.”
“Kanade…”
A huge black cylinder that Maple deployed. Her [Ancient Weapon], which regularly fired lasers forward, was indispensable for defeating the summoned soldiers.
“But, will they be alright?”
“Then, there’s one thing I want to ask you.”
Kanade took out a pure white book from the bookshelf.
“I can return by myself, but I can’t come back.”
In other words, Kanade was asking Maple, the guild master of [Maple Tree].
‘If I go back to buy us some time, can you win?’
“Leave it to me! I’ll do my best!”
“Okay, let’s do it. Actually, I’m also worried about them.”
Sally, who’d learned about Kanade’s skill, was also aware of it.
“As long as we can break down the wall, we can win.”
If an avalanche hit the town, their movement wouldn’t be so restricted anymore. The footholds wouldn’t function as well as they did now.
“Then, I’ll go back too. There has to be a way.”
Chrome couldn’t contribute much to the castle siege. Therefore, given the chance, he’d like to protect the base.
If they didn’t limit their options, there was always a way.
“I see, it has come to this, huh?”
“I’ll be fine.”
The six quickly exchanged opinions and called out to the tower-shield users nearby. Having decided how much risk they’d tolerate and what the final operation of the operation would be, the six immediately jumped into action.
There was no room for hesitation.
Overseeing the battlefield from above, Lily confirmed some suspicious movements from the [Maple Tree].
A white magic circle unfolded beneath Kanade, as players boarded the gigantic black sphere that Iz had taken out one by one.
“That’s…”
Lily couldn’t understand exactly what they were doing, but there was no doubt they were planning something.
Lily sent her soldiers, and the surrounding players also joined in and charged.
“Maple, stop them!”
“Of course! [Predator]!”
Iz was the first to evacuate into the group, while Maple and Sally protected Kanade, who was chanting. Chrome and the others joined onboard while Yui stood in front of them until the preparations were done.
“[Commence Attack]!”
“Haze [Shadow Clone]!”
“Kuh…!”
“Don’t falter!”
[Predator] pounced on the members of [Rapid Fire] who slipped through Maple’s line of fire.
Even if they escaped halfway, they wouldn’t win. In the first place, the objective was no longer to escape and survive.
Be it players receiving damage, or the crumbling summoned soldiers—all of them were used as shields to rush at Yui and Kanade from all directions.
If they set up a piercing attack and used [Dedicated Affection], they might be able to take out Maple.
However, the preparations of Kanade and Yui were completed just before that.
“Please win, Maple!”
“Leave it to me!”
“[Teleport]!”
Kanade vanished into the light.
Next to him was Yui, holding up a sledgehammer.
“Chrome, I leave it to you!”
She swung the sledgehammer right at the sphere prepared by Iz.
A roar, and then a shock. The sphere carrying the tower-shield users flew through the sky. The pile of buffs that were applied before the decisive action shook off everything and blew Chrome and the others into the sky.
Soon, all that was left behind was Yui, and players rushed towards her. Yui couldn’t deal against that many opponents, and if nothing was done, she’d surely be taken out.
Still, Yui had one responsibility left.
Tightening her grip around the sledgehammer, Yui turned her attention to the towering wall. Maple and Sally got her back. After weighing the remaining time, they decided to take advantage of a certain idea.
“[Ancient Weapon]!”
“[Flash Flood]!”
With a thud, Maple’s weapon changed form. Maximum firepower commensurate with energy consumption. After Maple blew away the soldiers in front, the water created by Sally toppled them, washing them away.
Only a brief delay until the next resummoning. However, as of the present, their path was certainly clear.
“[Weapon Throw]!”
Yui didn’t waste that opportunity, and channeled all her strength into her arms, before releasing eight iron balls along with the sledgehammer held by [Helping Hand].
Leaving a trail behind, the weapon slammed onto the outer wall in front of them, and at the same time, the blades of the enemy reached Yui, who chose to neither evade nor counterattack.
After that, was a roar that was incomparable to when Chrome and the others were launched into the sky.
The weapon Yui threw played the role of a battering ram with power that you wouldn’t expect from a single player.
The towering outer wall exploded from the front, and beyond the dancing sand smoke, was a townscape.
At last, the chance had arrived for Maple and the others to advance.
“Do your best!”
A step closer to victory. Seeing her allies defeating the soldiers before rushing into town over the broken outer wall, Yui disappeared in relief.