339 336. Stage.txt (1/2)

With each step Sera took as a wolf, the blood pooling on the stairs splattered in all directions.

Its four-legged strides far exceed those of a human, and it runs up the stairs in five flying strides. It is no longer running, but bouncing and flying repeatedly.

We parted from Snow in the middle of the castle and lost our cover from the stairwell.

We began to take the time to defeat the 'blood puppets' and 'blood something' that were standing in our way, but our speed up the stairs didn't slow down one bit.

The speed of the wolf 'beastman', Sera Raydiant, is the fastest on the continent.

I also heard that he competed with his father and liners who specialized in speed and won. There was no one who could catch up to her who was worthy of being called the fastest in that era.

She left the troublesome 'blood puppets' and 'blood something' behind.

We didn't deal with the enemy properly, but slipped by their side - we made our way through the castle to the twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, and twenty-seventh floors - and onward.

Of course, all the while, there was no interference from Fafner at all. Occasionally, the pool of blood on the staircase would bubble up, and arms like tree trunks constructed of blood would reach out and try to grab Sera's huge body.

''--Sera!　A little to the left!

However, he couldn't reach it. It was partly because his arm was slow compared to Sera's movements, but even more than that, the manipulator, Rustyala's skill was high. He predicted the timing and location where Fafner would be trapping and avoided it.

Sera trusted and moved without any doubt in that master's futuristic instructions. The power of the trust between the two of them as squires nullified all of Fafner's remote attacks from downstairs.

''Kook, -- Magic 《Bloodbane》!

Serra, straighten up!　I'll cut down the danger!

Sometimes, with magic, blood tentacles and blood arrows would attack them, but the two of them would be able to handle them as well.

By no means would there be a problem with the power or speed of Fafner's fresh blood magic.

It's simply because the distance between him and the surgeon is too great, and the activation speed (response) of fresh blood magic is slow anyway.

And with that slowness, Sera's speed and Rastiara's flexible response ability couldn't provide an effective strike against the opponent - and then proceeded beyond the thirty floors, thirty-one floors, thirty-two floors, thirty-three floors - and I go.

And then Fafner, who was numbed there, finally shouted loudly at one point.

'It's your turn!　Elmiraaddddddddddddd!

The moment his name was called, a multitude of colorful magic arose that filled his vision. I thought it was Fafner's magic again, but the attributes were obviously different.

Red, blue, green--.

Nine magic arrows of fire, water and wind, three each.

They fly in from the top of the stairs that run up, falling down.

The one who responds to it is Rustyala.

''--【Flame Arrow】!　Water Arrow!　WIND ALO!

The exact same magic was constructed by Rastiara and released to offset.

The construction time was only a few seconds or so, but successfully Rastiara prepared an equal number of the same power.

However, the moment those nine and nine collided, filling the staircase with a roar and impact - it (...) attacked from within the particles of magic power dancing in the air.

The size of it (...) is about two sizes larger than a person.

Its shape is similar to Sera's wolf, a quadrupedal beast. However, they are very different in kind. At first glance, what came to mind was not a monster, but a lion, an animal that had not been affected by the 'Devil's Poison'. Its characteristic mane was golden in color, and its lustrous fur shone as well.

The golden lion pounces and bites into one of Sera's front legs as she runs down the stairs.

I take the wound 'instead', but her movement stops temporarily.

''Sera!

Rastiara shouted out, paying off his sword from over Serah's back.

The golden lion lightly bounced away from it.

Then, on the upper stairs, the golden lion roars low and turns its twin eyes, lit by reason, to us downstairs.

''Shh, lion ......?　That means Elmirad Siddharq ....... Sounds like a hassle!

'Be careful. Probably the same as Glenn earlier: ......!

Rastiara and I checked each other for the threat of Elmirad waiting for us on the upper floor.

Imaata's attack, Sera and Rustyala were on high alert.

They had anticipated and prepared for the real attack, next to the magical arrows of the three attributes. But even so, Sera was still hit by Elmirad's attack.

Probably with the assistance of 'The One Who Steals the Truth of Blood', Elmirado was made to reach a realm beyond even the 'Demon Return', and his speed surpassed Sera and Rustyala.

''Please. ....... The most noble bloodline in the Hoosiers, Elmirad Siddharq. Honestly, it's even worse than that one, down there (・・・・・). You're already my--last, of all--'

We bit our teeth at the appearance of the new threat, but more than that, Fafner's voice arrived, which seemed to be troubled - it was interrupted in the middle.

At the same time, our vision shook dramatically.

After a tremor as if the castle itself had bounced, particles of magic power billowed up from the stairwell next to the stairs in a torrent.

''--?

The feeling of this magic is ......!

You can see that several large magic flashed below.

The attributes are fire and sacred, and no attributes (...). There is no blood magic mixed in.

From the power, I predict that it is Maria, Dia-san and Snow-san. It can be seen that Fafner has been cornered below and has no time to turn his attention to us. No, perhaps Fafner is on the verge of defeat - it's a rush of magic power that only makes me think so.

I can feel that the situation in the castle has greatly improved.

Perhaps this Elmirade is likely to be Fafner's last hand.

The moment I guessed that, my body started to move.

''Sera!　Rastiara!　We both need Elmirad, please!　Now is a good time!　I'm heading up!

'What?　No, wait a minute!　If you hide in the shadows over there, we'll take you down in a minute--!

Rastiara stopped her, but I got off Sera's back. At that moment, Elmirado also started to move and let out a beastly roar.

''--, ------ ----!

The entire staircase is filled with not only fire, water and wind, but also countless sacred and earth magic.

Their shapes are not only arrows, but also swords, hammers, ropes and nets.

In contrast, Rastiara also unleashes the same magic, not to be outdone.

''I'm still talking!　-- ”Ice Battling Rum,” ”Waterwire,” ”Flame Flamberge,” ”Wraith Wind,” ”Divine Arrow,” and ”Earthquake!

Nearly the same magic is smashed together with the same amount of power, offsetting everything - but that's the limit for Rastiala. There's no room to respond to Elmirade's subsequent rush.

However, the chase, which took advantage of the lion's huge body, was prevented by Sera, who was equally fast, getting in between to check it. The two beasts stared at each other and the battlefield stalled.

--It was still like this.

As I had predicted the moment Elmirado appeared, their styles of battle were too similar.

Rastiara and Elmirado. Both are versatile knights, with the same strengths and weaknesses. Both lack a decisive hand instead of being able to do anything.

If the two of them were to stop and engage in a magical battle, an offsetting battle was inevitable. And the lion's advantage that Elmirado has will be crushed by his squire, Sera.

At this rate, even if Elmirado doesn't lose to me, it will buy me a lot of time.

Hating that, I start to move, shouting.

''Rastiara!　I can't waste a second of the opportunity that you all below have created for me!　In this one, if I make it to the top floor, I win!　I'll have to go first!

I need to reach the 'top' of the castle before your father's magic stone is pulled out. I hurry and try to head up alone.

'So, but Nosfy ......!

''Due to the magical compatibility of 'The One Who Steals the Reason of the Stars' and 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Light', Ragne will never be able to stop me!　Definitely!　On the contrary, this Elmirad can only be held back by the two of you!

Convincing.

In this one day, Ragne specialized in killing and I specialized in not dying.

Assassins and immortals. It won't be easy to settle - but - in the extreme, I can ignore Ragne and walk away from him and just touch your father, and that will accomplish my goal. It's an excellent match.

Of course, the ideal ending to this raid would be 'multiple people surrounding and defeating Ragne with multiple people'.

Multiple people will reach the 'summit' and while one of us holds Ragne down for a few dozen seconds, I will revive your father with my real 'magic'. After that, it would be nice if we could slowly defeat Ragne - but ideals are ideals. Rastiara knows very well that reality doesn't go according to the ideal.