Book 5: Chapter 18 (2/2)

Dante started feeling weak-hearted.

「No! You lose when you let fear into your heart.」he pulled himself back together.

When the roar stopped, Dante removed his shield and looked at End Fang. It seemed displeased with the fact that Dante was not blown away from the roar.

「If I get scared… the timing will be off.」

There was an unfamiliar golden bangle on Dante’s left arm which was holding the large shield.

Two boxes about the size of a smartphone were attached to the metal bangle. Various circuits ran across the surface. Something like a button could be seen in the center of one side, and five spherical ores that shimmered blue slotted on the other side.

「Come on, dog!」

Forgetting that it was a cat, Dante shouted. End Fang began running lightly, and swung its forefoot towards Dante.

It was difficult for Dante to get a sense of the distance of the attack. It was simply too huge. Moreover, the forefoot gradually accelerated.

「Quickly!!」

It would’ve been bad if he hadn’t heard Mimino’s cry.

「A-Activate!!」

Holding his large shield, Dante pushed the button on his bangle at the very last second.

Had he been even a fraction of a second late, Dante would have been torn apart together with his shield.

A thin mana membrane appeared as if crawling across Dante’s body. The membrane enveloped his entire body and extended to the ground.

Immediately after the membrane was deployed, End Fang’s claw came into contact with the large shield.

「!?」

Witnessing what happened at that moment, Lark doubted her own eyes.

End Fang’s claws cracked, the mana enveloping its forefoot was torn, and its flesh was cut off along with the fur.

『GYAAAAAA!?』

End Fang pulled back without delay. It moved away purely by reflex.

「Fuuu… That seems to have worked smoothly.」

「Dante, turn it off quickly!」

「I-I know. It’s too rapid.」

The membrane which enveloped Dante was no longer there. He had already let go of the button on the bangle.

And one of the blue ores in the slot was charred and discolored. And the discoloration had progressed to about half of the second ore.

「W-What is that…?」Lark asked in a stunned tone.

「That is a “Heroic Gear”. It’s a magic tool we found.」Non answered, while still applying【Healing Magic】.

The truth of the matter was, Silver Balance did not escape from the Lev Magic Empire, but they were hidden in the heart of the Empire.

And they had already recovered the stolen “Heroic Gear” to prove their innocence.