Each Their Own Operation (2)
The soldiers on the frontline stood fully armed and ready for battle. They had hauled in everything capable of damaging a massive target—catapults, cannons, and more—and waited in position.
From a hill that commanded a clear view of every movement, the Holy Spear Hero Karna, his companion mage Sharti, and members of the frontline command staff watched it all unfold.
“Hero Karna, preparations are nearly complete.”
“…Has any other Hero answered the request yet?”
“No, regrettably… none have.”
“…They need to understand that Heroes are not weapons owned by the nation.”
Karna spoke with a sigh. A staff officer answered him.
“We wanted to call in Heroes as well, but…”
“That was already decided against, wasn’t it?”
In the earlier battle against the Legion Commander of Oblivion, two Heroes had been confirmed as traitors, and the frontline had nearly suffered a catastrophe because of it. Afterward they had begun rooting out spies among the Heroes and across the ranks in general, yet… not every verification was finished.
That was why Albrecht, who had proposed this operation, had ordered Hero involvement completely blocked. Considering a fight might break out, the Heroes’ combat power would certainly help, but from the standpoint of Albrecht and his companions—who had already been burned once—it was better to eliminate every uncertain element.
Command had disagreed on the point, yet Albrecht had persuaded them by revealing both the new combat strength he had gained and a certain “weapon” he himself now possessed.
“Yes, that’s right… Though I do wonder whether that gentleman’s new weapon will actually work against monsters.”
“It will work. Power like that isn’t something even a monster can ignore.”
Considering it was pure magic power, any monster without solid magic resistance would die in droves.
“At the very least we can expect results far superior to ordinary cannons.”
“…Then let’s review the operation one more time.”
Vice Commander Calver spoke.
“Albrecht of Hero Erinn’s party will dispel the magic cast on that invisible monster. The moment its form is revealed, we concentrate every scrap of firepower and bring it down. That is the best objective. If it proves impossible, we switch the purpose to simply stopping the monster.”
“Correct.”
“There’s no flaw in the plan, but thinking it over again, Hero Karna’s party and Saintess Freya along with her companions will have to shoulder a heavy burden…”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Karna raised his Holy Spear.
“Heroes exist to take on the more dangerous work and fight on the front lines in exchange for receiving power greater than others.”
“….”
Calver fell silent for a moment at Karna’s words. Just then a soldier came running.
“Vice Commander, word from the Saintess’s side—their preparations are complete.”
“…I see.”
Calver nodded and looked at Karna. Karna gripped the Holy Spear tightly.
“Begin.”
“Understood. All forces!”
When Calver’s booming voice rang out, the officers who heard it snapped the soldiers to full alertness.
“Commence the operation!!”
With Calver’s declaration, Karna turned to Sharti.
“Sharti, prepare wide-area magic here. In case of any unexpected assault.”
“Yes, Karna. Be careful.”
“Yeah.”
Gripping the Holy Spear, Karna lightly leaped and headed for the front lines.
Spotting him, Albrecht spoke to the companions gathered around him.
“Everyone ready?”
“Yes, of course.”
“No problem.”
“I’ll give it my all, Benefactor.”
Freya, Caesius, and Mersius all confirmed they were prepared. One person, however, did not answer.
“Letisia? Not ready?”
Albrecht felt a flicker of puzzlement and turned his head. Then he understood why she had stayed silent.
Crack!
“Haa, this hand feel…♥ I really can’t quit this…”
“….”
Letisia had drawn her whip and was menacing her spirits. Of course, contrary to appearances, it was not a threat but a buff…
“Fufu… everyone’s ready, right? I’ll diligently hand out ‘rewards,’ so wring out every scrap of strength you have—even the strength you don’t!”
“…….”
Albrecht decided to pretend he had never seen that spine-chilling spectacle. He had confirmed they were ready, after all.
“Good. Then let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Albrecht lightly raised his magic power, formed a flame, and flung it skyward so that it burst in a small explosion—a signal for headquarters.
Seeing the signal, Vice Commander Calver immediately ordered the soldiers.
“Fire!!”
Boom!! Boom!!!
Cannons belched flame and hurled shells toward the position of the giant monster inferred from the movement of the clouds, firing as far as they could reach.
There was a reason they had given the fire order even before the magic was dispelled. If they could inflict damage without first stripping the spell, there was no reason to halt the bombardment from the start; it was an experiment.
But soon Karna, who had leaped down from the hill toward the front, fired a red signal flare. Meaning it was not working.
“As expected. Looks like protective magic is layered on it as well.”
“Dual magic, then… As expected of the Magic Legion Commander. Casting two support spells on a single entity and activating them simultaneously is no ordinary feat.”
The easiest method never worked. Albrecht let out a small sigh.
“Caesius, Mersius. You two stay here with Letisia and stand by for fire support.”
“Got it.”
“Yes, Benefactor!”
“Come back safely.”
“Freya, come with me as we planned.”
“Yes, Albrecht.”
Freya answered and at once clasped her hands, offering a prayer.
"O merciful God of Life,
bestow your grace upon these little lambs."
Saintess Freya activates [Divine Protection]
Divine power flowed from Freya and wrapped Albrecht’s entire body, as though he had donned armor of exceptional toughness.
“Good. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Albrecht and Freya pushed past the army’s vanguard and pressed farther forward. Judging by where the clouds were parting, the giant monster was just now crossing the Covenant of Fanaticism.
Near the covenant lingered remnants of the Oblivion Legion that had not yet been cleared, along with monsters that had newly crossed. It was obvious they would have to deal with those first if they hoped to dispel the Magic Legion Commander’s spell without interference.
Albrecht and Freya, who had dashed ahead, soon joined Karna. Their agility was far slower than a Hero’s, so Karna—who had started from behind—had simply matched their pace.
The moment he linked up with the two of them, Karna raised magic power in his spear.
“Open the way.”
“Leave it to me!”
Freya clapped her hands together.
"Lord. Your faithful servant prays—
grant me the spear of light to judge evil."
Saintess Freya activates [Holy Spear of Judgment]
The prayer completed, and Freya’s divine power soared skyward. That vast holy force tore open the clouds as though a hole had been punched through the heavens.
The powerful, brilliant spear of light that had once threatened even Caesius’s life revealed itself. Sensing instinctive danger, the monsters began to flee.
But if they meant to escape, they should have fled long before the prayer finished.
“Too late.”
Freya raised her hand and brought it down in a sharp motion. The spear of light that had appeared through the parted clouds plummeted like a bolt.
Kwaaaaaaaaaang───────!!
With a thunderous roar the monsters blocking the path were swept away all at once. Albrecht watched and thought to himself,
…Aside from Erinn, Freya really does have the best pure firepower in the party.
Unless she summoned the Spirit King, even Letisia with only the Four Great Spirits seemed a step below Freya. It was something ordinary clergy could never achieve, yet possible because she was the Saintess chosen by the God of Life Vita.
The path open, Karna spoke at once.
“No time to delay.”
“Ah—yes. Let’s go.”
Albrecht immediately ran forward with Karna. Even though his stats had been rising steadily of late, he still could not match a Hero’s speed.
That, however, was not a problem. Monsters that had luckily survived Freya’s holy technique were already gathering for a counterattack.
Karna headed for them first and cleaned them up. Having raised magic power a moment earlier, he spun the spear into a reverse grip.
Hero Karna activates [Divine Spear — Wave Resonance]
He thrust. Magic power spread outward in rapid circular waves.
Chwaaaaak!!!
Despite its ordinary appearance, the density of that magic was extreme; the moment it touched a monster, the creature burst and died. Albrecht closed his mouth a little as blood sprayed in every direction.
No special reason—he simply did not want to swallow any of it.
“We’re here!”
Having finished the monsters, Karna leaped forward once more and shouted. This was precisely why Albrecht had chosen to move with him.
Unlike the others who could only guess the monster’s position from the parting clouds, Karna could see it clearly. Albrecht stopped at once.
“Alright—now I’ll concentrate!”
“I’ll assist, Albrecht!”
Seeing Freya who had already caught up, Albrecht nodded in relief and raised his magic power to the fullest.
Watching Karna thrust the Holy Spear toward the place where the monster stood, he gauged the exact location and moved his own power.
You generate [Magic Condensation]!
The magic Albrecht had drawn began to pull other magic toward it. He spoke without looking up.
“I need time!”
Yet even as the power was drawn in, the connection of the force—perhaps because it belonged to the Magic Legion Commander—refused to snap easily. The spell continued to function.
Karna shouted.
“I’ll buy you time—concentrate!”
He loaded magic into the Holy Spear once more. Stopping the advance of a monster this size would not be easy, yet it had to be done.
Even in Karna’s judgment, this was the most effective method. While Albrecht grunted and strained to unravel the spell, Karna made his choice.
He prepared a strike that might catch Albrecht and Freya in its wake. Having no intention of harming them, he first gave Freya an order.
“Saintess—protect him.”
“!”
Blue flame coiled around Karna’s spear. Freya immediately recited a prayer and wrapped both Albrecht and herself in a barrier.
“Blaze.”
The flames wrapping the Holy Spear surged as though exploding, then gathered to a single point at the tip.
“Blue flame that shall burn the enemy.”
Hero Karna activates [Spear of Blue Flame]
He thrust. The blue fire that had condensed to a point shot forward like a single ray of light and slammed into the giant monster’s leg.
Kwaaaaaang!!
Something astonishing happened. Karna’s strike struck true, and its power was enough to momentarily disrupt even the protective magic around the monster.
Because of that, the colossal creature was forced to halt for an instant. The magic had been shaken, and the shock transmitted directly into its body.
Ordinarily such an impact would never have reached it, yet Albrecht’s magic was already binding the spell cast upon the monster, and that made all the difference.
“It stopped for a moment! Now!”
“Just a bit more…!!”
Albrecht drew out still more power and finally forced the organic structure of the magic apart.
[Magic Condensation] activates!
“Hup…!”
Albrecht deliberately forced his own magic into every single circuit that formed the force. And then—
“…Done!”
“You did it?!”
He had completely separated the magic. Separating the force meant the spell had been dispelled, and at last they could look upon the enemy with their own eyes.
“…What…”
“…There was a reason Hero Karna said he wanted to believe he was seeing things…”
A monster so enormous that its head and shoulders scraped the sky—something that, at a glance, resembled an elephant.