Ch.400Fighting the Mountain NPC. (6)

“Now!!! Charge!!!”

The moment my unwanted knowledge increased, Mr. Devil, noticing that phase two was complete, began leading 500 cavalry and adventurers dispatched from Ponia toward the Behemoth’s still-intact leg.

Realistically, fewer than ten people including Mr. Devil could actually inflict damage, but they could still help by opening wounds and preventing recovery. Above all, we’ve only managed to remove one leg and partially restrict its movement, so we need to quickly destroy another leg to completely immobilize it. Well, we do have a phase three plan prepared for that. Having too many cards to play is never a bad thing. So then.

“Luxuria, Avaritia.”

“Yes?”

“What? I’m going to Bill now.”

“Cut the crap and stay hidden. If the Pope, who can evade even our detection, is hiding somewhere on the Behemoth’s body, that would truly be the second coming of Aigram’s destruction. I told you from the beginning that you two are the only ones who can perfectly block his first strike if he ambushes us.”

There’s no reason to stupidly lose our Seven Deadly Sins allies by getting counter-ambushed by an enemy we know is coming. After telling the two demons to stay properly hidden, I start running. First…!

“Hup!!”

-WHAM!!!

[GOUU⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯!]

“Is this working or not?”

I kicked with all my might hoping it would break, but I’m bewildered to see the monster’s leg doesn’t even budge, let alone break. My level is now 600, and my stats should be equivalent to someone at max level with full equipment, but I’m not sure if this is effective or… Yes!!

-CRASH!!!

[⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯?!]

“Did that work?”

“Ooh!! That’s amazing… look!!!”

-SLASH!!

“Mr. Devil!”

As Mr. Devil rushes in and slices with his sword at the leg I’ve managed to dent, blood finally begins to flow. Wait, does that mean they couldn’t even pierce the skin before my attack? It’s truly chilling to think that not even one person, including Mr. Devil, had been able to damage the Behemoth.

Shit, does this mean even if all 3,000 people behind us charged in, they wouldn’t be able to inflict any damage? More importantly, has nothing except Ragni’s attack been counted as damage?!

“HAAAA!!”

-CRASH!!!

[⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯!!!]

“Don’t weaken now!!! This opportunity was created by someone’s wife, how could I show weakness here!!!”

“””OOOOH?!!”””

With my whole-body telegraph punch, I finally feel like the beast is letting out a proper scream. Of course, there’s still no sense that the leg is breaking or bending, but anyone can see it’s much more damaged than before. Yes, my fists are definitely inflicting damage!

“Guild Master!! I need to move to issue the phase three orders!! I’m counting on you next!!”

“Leave it to me!! Men!! Unless you want an adventurer to take all the materials, cut harder!!!”

“”””WAAAAAAAH!!!!””””

Perhaps it’s because my punches are working, or because the Guild Master’s sword is gradually creating wounds on the monster’s leg. The knights and adventurers, with renewed vigor, begin swinging their weapons with all their might. Seeing this, I start running.

Though there’s still no sign of the Pope or recovery through holy power, we need to subdue the Behemoth quickly. For that, it makes absolute sense for all of us to attack together.

‘But the phase three operation isn’t something I can leave to others.’

Let’s use all our strategies and, together with my companions, target the monster’s legs one by one to bring it down for sure. With this plan in mind, I moved around to the Behemoth’s back, to a spot where I could see Neati’s mountain, and…

-Whoosh! ⎯⎯⎯⎯ Bang!!

I threw a flare into the sky with all my might as a signal. With this, the final phase three operation will be complete.

*

“Jack’s signaling!”

“To actually trap that monster in a trap, isn’t the first part amazing?”

“Sis! Forget that and hurry!! Jack just gave the signal!!”

“Ah~ Alright.”

At Miho’s urging, I pluck a hair from my tail, create a sword, and move deep into the mountain. The method proposed by Jack and that woman Ragni. When we told them we had received weapons from the Spirit King and gained new abilities, the blue-haired woman immediately came up with this plan. Jack promptly designated this mountain as suitable. Really, their teamwork was impressively seamless.

“So, shall I go first?”

“Yes. Begin.”

In front of an “artificial cave” on the highest and steepest part of the mountain overlooking Neati, Miho puts on the spirit gauntlet and begins jumping quickly, climbing trees. When she reaches the highest point, she kicks off from the treetop and falls at a speed that looks like she’ll crash into the ground.

“[Beast Transformation]! [Sharp Claws]!! [Preemptive Strike]!!!”

-CRASH!!!!

As her impact strike lands, shaking the entire mountain, a massive stream of water bursts from the gauntlet, beginning to collapse the mountain.

“[Fox Spirit Sword]! [Fox Spirit Phantom Sword]!! [First Strike Victory]!!!”

-SLASH!!!

And into the collapsing artificial cave, I add a wave that causes the water we had already filled it with to completely explode with pressure.

The tall, steep mountain begins to completely erode, now shaking as if in an earthquake. No, like when that Behemoth moved…

-CRASH!!!

The water we forcibly stuffed into the cave completely shatters the mountain as it erupts. An artificial landslide begins. The cave that Rey created by cutting through the mountain with swordsmanship starts to completely collapse the mountain, flowing toward the fallen Behemoth’s rear.

“[Swift Sword]! [Wind Riding Form 3: Bezier’s Wind]!”

Finally, her wind creates a path guiding the collapsing debris and water. With this…

[GU⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯?!]

“Ahaha! Look at it!! It’s panicking! Panicking! Did it never imagine it would be submerged in water in the middle of the continent?”

“…Sis, I didn’t know something like this was possible by human hands until we prepared for it.”

“Hehe. Your swords and gauntlets were very helpful. A normal mage would have taken three months to fill this much water, but we did it in just two days.”

The operation to cause a landslide on the Behemoth’s hind legs after its front leg was removed, further restricting its movement, seems to be a success. Unlike when its front leg first got stuck, the monster started continuously letting out what sounded like irritated roars. After completing phase three, we also descended, avoiding the landslide area.

“Miho!! Chikuyo!! You two take the hind leg with Siltra’s forces coming this way!! Rey and I will go for the right leg!! As I explained at the beginning…”

“Sure~!!”

“Leave it to us!!”

Jack, who had been watching the landslide, gives us instructions while strongly kicking something protruding from a safe position. Ah, I wanted to properly show Jack how much we’ve grown…

“But really, it’s amazing. The Spirit King making swords and gauntlets for you. That never happened in my past life. And both are tier 1,100 weapons. Their performance and effects are like end-game equipment from the game. As you two get stronger, even more abilities will unlock than what you have now.”

“Really?!”

“Huh, right now it just creates waves, but there’s more than this?”

“Actually, your levels still can’t keep up with the equipment, so you’re only seeing the basic attack effects.”

Jack, saying that if this were a game we wouldn’t even be able to equip them, placed his hands on my and Miho’s shoulders with a serious look. Thump?

“Miho, Chikuyo. This creature’s minimum level is 950. You two are in the late 500s. Honestly, anything it hits will be a critical wound. The plan is important, but make absolutely sure you don’t get hit by its attacks. If its tail or hind legs move to attack, that’s expected, but if something happens that I haven’t explained…”

Run away no matter what. Saying that, Jack gripped our shoulders firmly yet gently, with an expression that showed genuine concern, making Miho and me feel that thumping sensation again. Ah, really!!

“Jack! Don’t worry!! Both Miho and I…!!”

“We won’t die before having all six of Jack’s children!!”

“…Right, once this is all over, I’ll really try to grant all your wishes as much as possible. Just stay safe.”

Jack’s face as he said that with a slight smile seemed to contain half worry and half expectation. And at that profound gaze and expression.

-Thump♥

“Is that a promise?! After we defeat the Behemoth, children…!!”

“Hu, huhuhuh! There’s no way we can die now♡ Hey, Jack~?”

“…Uh, yes?”

“Wasn’t the original plan to join with the Elder and the 3,000 troops, then just wound the hind legs enough to immobilize it?”

“Y-yes?”

Thump thump!♡

-Shing!

-Crackle…!!

“Grrrr!! Sis, we don’t need to wait for that, right?!”

“Wait, that’s Pleg…!!”

“We’ll cut it down ourselves before the Elder arrives!!! [Fox Spirit Phantom Sword] [Fox Spirit Sword – Tidal Wave]!!”

“[Beast Transformation] [Flawless Combo Strike – Mountain-Piercing Water Stream]!!”

Brushing aside Jack’s concerned touch, we immediately charge in and concentrate all our power on one point of the monster’s leg. Cut it! Cut it down!!

“Pierce through!!!”

-Crash crash crash crash!! Splash splash!! CRASH!!!

Golem priority!! Child-bearing priority!! Completely fired up, Miho and I continued our concentrated attack on the monster’s leg, and…

-SLASH!! CRASH!!!

“In-insane. Is this for real? But I said… after everything is over, not after the Behemoth battle…”

Jack’s voice trails off, sounding surprised that a small piece of the monster’s flesh has been torn away, and that Miho’s fist and water stream have managed to knock off a tiny bit of flesh. Of course…

“…Um! I didn’t mean after the Behemoth battle…”

As he continues his explanation, my sister and I pretend not to hear him and keep swinging our sword and fist.