Chapter 76: Nero's First Victory

『[Light, Distort, Vanguard of Refraction, Invisible]!』

With a smooth suu, Jewel Moon’s figure disappeared once again.

I’m telling you, it’s useless!

“Asterisk!”

『Kuh?!』

The two Asterisks flew out and attacked Jewel Moon, which was trying to circle around to my back.

She seemed to have blocked one, but took the other on her shoulder, slightly damaging Jewel Moon’s armor.

“Asterisk, [Barrel Mode]!”

『Tch, [Ice Wall]!』

Dan! Jewel Moon stomped the ground with its foot, and a wall of ice instantly appeared from that spot.

Blocked by that wall, all of the Asterisks’ magic bullets were warded off.

Incantationless…! The moment the magic activated, the crystalline lens on the instep of its foot glowed blue.

As I thought, those crystals on various parts of that machine seem to be the key to its magic.

Is it something like a magic tool that can instantly unleash magic? Those kinds of things usually have a limit on the number of uses, though…

I jumped over the Ice Wall and pursued further with the Asterisks.

However, that too was blocked by walls of ice created in rapid succession.

As expected, any more than this and the Asterisks’ magic power will run out. I returned the two Asterisks to my waist to replenish their magic power, and slashed at Jewel Moon with my Kodachi in hand.

『[Light, Pierce, Shining Holy Spear, Shining Javelin]!』

A spear of light falls from the heavens. Kuh…!

I made Lucifer do a sharp turn and somehow dodged that spear of light. Light magic is fast, so the way I dodge it inevitably ends up being at the very last second.

『[Ice, Entangle, Freezing Curse, Ice Bind]!』

Just as I lost my balance from dodging the spear of light, a wave of ice closed in as if running along the ground.

Instantly, Lucifer from the knees down was entangled by the ice, sealing its movements.

Crap! A Bind-type magic!

I smashed the hilt of my Kodachi into the ice to escape the restraint.

Only then did I realize that purple light was gathering on both shoulders of Jewel Moon, which had taken distance.

That’s…! This is bad! I’ve seen something similar to that before!

『[Lunatic Ray]!』

“[Zero Gravity]!”

Just a few seconds. Lucifer, whose weight had become zero, was able to barely avoid the unleashed cannon of purple light thanks to the acceleration of its fully opened thrusters.

That was way too cloooooose?!

An extremely thick beam of light, similar to Pearl’s [Holy Ray], had completely erased a part of the rocky area without a trace. If that had hit, I definitely would have been done for!

『Impossible! Dodging that just now, what kind of speed is that?!』

Towards the shouting Jewel Moon, I charged in with [Zero Gravity] still active.

With that kind of power, I reckon it can’t be rapid-fired. In that case, I’ll attack while I have the chance!

『Kuh… [Ice Wall]!』

Dan! As Jewel Moon stomped its foot, a wall of ice was generated from the ground once again. I sheathed the Kodachi in one hand and drew the Adamantite dagger from my back waist.

“[Zero Impact]!”

The tip of the Adamantite blade transferred the momentum of [Zero Gravity]’s acceleration to the ice wall, smashing it to smithereens.

『No way…!』

Jewel Moon, having its ice wall shattered right in front of its eyes, hastily tried to retreat backwards. I won’t let you escape!

“Bushin Style – ‘Heaven-Piercing Rupture’ (Tengen Reppa)!”

I unleashed it with the Adamantite dagger, instead of punching as originally intended. The moment the sure-kill blow with an added twist was about to pierce the cockpit, the multiple arms extending from its flank crossed to catch it.

『[Force Shield]!』

A barrier of light appeared instantaneously, blocking my thrust-out Adamantite dagger.

The one-time absolute defense wall completely blocked my attack and easily shattered with a parin.

Damn it, she blocked it!

However, she shouldn’t be able to rapid-fire this [Force Shield] either. If she could, it would be a perfect shield with no weaknesses.

With the hand opposite to the one holding the Adamantite dagger, I swung the Kodachi in a horizontal sweep.

Just as I read, the [Force Shield] did not appear again, and Jewel Moon jumped backward.

The tip of the swung Kodachi only barely grazed the cockpit, letting Jewel Moon escape.

Tch…!

『[Ice, Surround, Great Icicles, Ice Pillar]!』

“Whoa?!”

Suddenly, numerous pillars of ice extended from the ground, blocking my path.

“You…!”

I slashed with my Kodachi, but the ice was too hard to cut or destroy.

Even during that time, Jewel Moon was putting distance between us.

Kuh, if it comes to this, from above…!

I fired the thrusters and flew up into the sky.

Jewel Moon is… there! Hm?

The Jewel Moon I found had both staves aimed this way simultaneously, taking aim. Kuh, she read my moves…?!

The magic power of Light and Water combined, condensing in front of the staves. Wait…?! Don’t tell me that’s Composite Magic?!

『[Ice and Light, Come Forth, Piercing Seven Colors, Prisma Rainbow]!』

A rainbow of light shining in seven colors was unleashed towards Lucifer, who was in midair. Kuh… What’s with this girl, one thing after another!

“[Zero Gravity]!”

I didn’t want to use it consecutively, but I couldn’t dodge this without doing so.

I dodged the flying torrent of rainbows by a hair’s breadth once again, and charged towards Jewel Moon on the ground with that same momentum.

However, even if I attack as is, there’s a high probability it will probably be blocked by [Force Shield] again.

『[Force Shield]!』

Just as I expected, she put up a [Force Shield]. In that case…!

I threw the Adamantite dagger in my hand at the deployed [Force Shield].

Taking the dagger’s attack, the [Force Shield] shattered with a parin.

『Wha…?!』

“Yaaaaaaaaah!”

Holding the Kodachi in both hands, I swung down and severed Jewel Moon’s right arm, which was raised to block.

『[Ice Wa-]…!』

“Like I’d let you!”

Before she could stomp her right foot to deploy an [Ice Wall], I made Lucifer step even further forward, reducing the distance to Jewel Moon to zero.

Aiming for the opponent’s cockpit, this time for sure I hammered in a sure-kill blow. It was blocked earlier, but she shouldn’t be able to put out a [Force Shield] consecutively.

“Bushin Style – ‘Heaven-Piercing Rupture’ (Tengen Reppa)!”

The Kodachi in my hand pierced the cockpit. Because there was too much momentum, it penetrated straight through, and my arm sunk into Jewel Moon’s chest up to the elbow.

『Guh…』

When I pulled out the piercing arm, Jewel Moon collapsed backwards with a dogashat.

At that moment, an electronic sound Pi────t! echoed throughout the cockpit.

『’Academy’ side, player Nero Silhoueska, has defeated ‘School’ side, player Mariette Lily. Map data will be released.』

“Yes!”

At the referee’s announcement, I instinctively clenched my fist inside the cockpit.

The Flashy Guy got away, but this time I won! My first victory! Alright! —Just as I was feeling elated, the referee’s announcement flowed my way once again.

『’School’ side, player Lobelia tel Panaches, has defeated ‘Academy’ side, player Rizlet Frau Mismede. Map data will be released.』

“Eh?!”

Rizlet lost?! What are you doing, our rank number one?!

I hurriedly connected a transmission to our ‘Commander’, Carrol.

“Carrol! What’s happening on the South route?!”

『Yeah, Rizlet lost. But she also dealt considerable damage to their rank number two, heavily damaging it. The opponent is retreating. Pearl and Hatoba are still doing their best, so let’s believe in those two here.』

It seems it was a very close match. Victory and defeat are matters of luck. I guess this can’t be helped…

With this, we’ve lost two people, Carrol and Rizlet, leaving us with effectively seven people.

The other side lost three people: Mariette whom I defeated, Shion whom Carrol tied with, and Quadra whom Lirisha defeated, leaving them with effectively six people. We are still ahead by one person.

Excluding the ‘Guardians’ on both sides, the ones who can move freely are probably six and five.

If things go poorly, the South route might be broken through. If that’s the case, all the more reason I have to defend this North route to the death and launch an invasion in reverse!

The map data for my victory and Rizlet’s defeat are released.

Rizlet’s share is on this side of the North route… In other words, right next to where I am now. Safe. There is nothing there.

And the map data I released is…

“A dud, huh…”

The data on the bottom right was released. It’s the innermost part of the South route. There is nothing there.

The map data currently opened is

□■□ □■■

■■■ □■■

■■■ ■■□

Like this. The left is the ‘Academy’ and the right is the ‘School’s’ territory.

Our ‘Crown’ is at the very back of the Central route, with the ‘Home Base’ situated right in front of it.

Now that it’s come to this, placing the ‘Home Base’ in front of the ‘Crown’ might have been a good idea. We can deal with them no matter where they invade from.

“Whoops, this is no time to be doing this.”

Having defeated Jewel Moon, I hurried to reinforce Koto, who was fighting Kojuro. I had taken quite a bit of distance, but after hurrying a little, I soon caught sight of the two machines.

However, what I saw was Koto’s Tsukuyomi on its knees, and Kojuro’s Kusanagi standing in front of it, about to swing its katana down onto its head.

“?! Asterisk, [Shield Mode]!”

The Asterisk that separated from Lucifer’s waist interrupted between the two machines while deploying an invisible shield.

The Asterisk made it just in the nick of time, and Kusanagi’s katana was repelled by the invisible shield.

That was way too close?! Seriously just in time!

It felt like I barely blocked it with the very edge of the shield.

“Asterisk, [Barrel Mode]!”

The Asterisk that blocked the katana raised its gun barrels and rained down magic bullets towards Kusanagi.

Jumping backward, Kusanagi dodged them. During that time, I inserted Lucifer in front of Tsukuyomi.

“Koto, can you move?”

『Barely… but there’s a malfunction in the leg’s drive system.』

As far as I can see on the monitor, it doesn’t look like she was defeated, but is it a breakdown due to operational strain?

If a Lightning Frame can’t move perfectly, its strength is halved.

From what I can see, the other side looks perfectly fine, but… there are two of us here. It’s two-on-one. Can we do this?