Chapter 24 ...Did You See That?
I walked towards the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ with my sword at the ready in my right hand.
As the distance between us narrowed to about 200 meters (≈656 feet), the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ reacted, quietly entering combat mode.
The massive tree trunk was like a giant tower, with numerous ripples appearing on its surface.
It was like the ripples that form when you throw a small stone into the water.
Immediately after, something emerged from the center of the circular ripples, slowly rising to the surface like a face emerging from the water.
Its shape was humanoid.
It took the form of a beautiful woman, equipped with various weapons and light armor, with 2 pairs of 4 wings sprouting from its back.
――It was the ≪Ice Golem Valkyrie≫.
The 24 Valkyries, completely manifesting from the trunk of the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫, floated in mid-air before falling to the ground, their wings beating rapidly to defy gravity.
Instead of voices, the sound of their wings rubbing against each other echoed, a clear and crisp tone, as they accelerated with a swift, bee-like movement, closing in on me.
And just as the Valkyries had moved away from my side, the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ activated its magic.
Ice and Snow magic――[Blizzard Storm]
The wind roared, swirling and picking up speed, whipping up snow. The ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫'s figure was hidden within the white whirlwind, like a tornado.
Inside the white wind, countless pebbles flew at high speed, rapidly draining the temperature of everything, turning it into a realm of death.
"Well..."
I muttered, standing still, deeply bending my knees on the spot.
Looking at the Valkyries, they were already circling above me, their arms stretched out towards me, with magical energy gathering at their fingertips. It was clear that multiple magic spells would be cast at me in the next instant.
Just before that.
I kicked the ground.
My unique battle technique――[Rapid Flash]
The aura on the soles of my feet exploded, and I jumped high into the air with great force.
Right up until the last moment, I was at a place pierced by countless ice spears ―― Ice and Snow magic [Ice Lance]. I barely dodged it. But the Valkyries in the air didn't even flinch, showing no signs of disturbance, and only reacted with cold, efficient movements like insects.
They're about to release their next attack magic, aiming their palms at me as I jumped into the air with [Rapid Flash]. Or they might rotate around and attack me from behind or the sides with their weapons.
My wooden sword already has enough aura infused into it, so I can unleash a sword technique in an instant. If I use [Raging Continuous Blade], I can take down several Valkyries without a problem.
However, there's no point in using sword techniques to take down the Valkyries.
The moment I defeat them, the next Valkyrie will immediately replace them.
So, it's better to avoid the Valkyries' attacks and quickly close the distance to the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫.
I've already gathered aura on the soles of my feet. I'll explode the gathered aura and use the reaction to activate a battle technique that lets me move through the air.
My unique battle technique [Skywalk] - no, not that.
[Skywalk] can move me through the air, but it's not enough against the highly mobile Valkyries. I'll be caught up and surrounded soon. So, I'll use a different technique.
My unique battle technique [Skywalk] [Rapid Flash] ―― combined technique [Skywalk Rapid Flash].
I kick the empty air.
With that action, 2 types of explosions with different properties occurred on the soles of my feet.
The concentrated explosion of [Rapid Flash] and the widely dispersing explosion of [Skywalk].
A deafening roar echoes.
The 2 explosions create a powerful reaction, propelling my body forward like an arrow shot from a strong bow.
Super high-speed movement in mid-air.
I break through the Valkyries surrounding me and fly even further ahead.
Magical energy detection.
As if chasing after me, who broke through the encirclement, the magical energy of 8 Valkyries is approaching me. The remaining 16 seem to have gone to attack Fiona and Logan.
The speed at which the 8 Valkyries fly is fast.
However, for a short time, I was even faster.
――[Skywalk Rapid Flash]
――[Skywalk Rapid Flash]
I used 2 consecutive explosions to blast away the Valkyries behind me and flew forward.
I covered a distance of 200 meters (≈656 feet) in an instant and reached the top of the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫.
During my free fall, I looked down from high above.
There, I saw a gigantic crystal-like tree shining brightly, surrounded by a raging Blizzard of Death. But from directly above, it was empty.
I was about to dive into the center of the whirlpool, exposed and defenseless.
Just before that, a cool, high-pitched sound shook my eardrums.
From the trunk of the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫, 4 additional Valkyries appeared, flying towards me at high speed.
Few people have seen it, but when the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ senses danger, it releases additional Valkyries, even if the previous ones haven't been defeated.
However, there's a limit to the number it can produce in a short time, and it can't release dozens at once.
And with only 4, there's no need to bother fighting them.
I controlled my posture in mid-air.
I turned my head downwards, my feet towards the sky, and activated my final [Skywalk Rapid Flash].
My vision blurred at high speed, and I slipped past the Valkyries approaching from the side.
The transparent tree's canopy spread out before my eyes――,
My unique battle technique――[Aura Armor]
I wrapped my body in an aura armor and fell, piercing through the canopy.
The force of my fall rapidly decreased. Using the brief time before I hit the ground, I did a half-turn in mid-air, pointing my feet towards the ground, and released [Skywalk] to neutralize the force of my fall.
Even so, I landed on the roots of the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫, killing the impact with a beast-like stance.
――Bang!
The blizzard raged on, and the giant tree's branches creaked.
But there was no time to waste.
As I stood up and looked up at the giant tree, I saw that the Valkyries' upper bodies had already emerged from its trunk. They were flapping their wings slightly, preparing to take flight at any moment.
The time I had to attack the "Ice Elemental Treant" without being bothered by the Valkyries was extremely limited. If I could land just one hit, it would be enough... but after that, the Valkyries would definitely get in the way.
Still...
"I don't care if anyone sees me, one hit is all I need...!!"
I held my sword up high.
A massive amount of aura had been building up inside me since before the battle started.
――Hummmmmm!
The Black Radiance, enveloped in a blindingly bright aura, let out a sound like an insect's chirp.
It wasn't like the Flash Blade, where aura clashed with aura, but rather the scream of an overly condensed aura.
This was my ultimate technique, forged from my experience of struggling against Lich and nearly dying.
A "combined technique" that merged 2 sword skills into one, and then went even further...
It was a single, powerful strike that combined 3 or more sword skills, amplified by a massive amount of aura.
I wouldn't have used it if I wasn't certain that there were no "enemies" among our exploration team. But since we were surrounded by the blizzard and couldn't see a thing, I didn't have to worry about anyone seeing me.
I merged my unique sword techniques ―― Giant Blade, Heavy Blade, and Flash Blade ―― into one.
My ultimate technique ―― [Absolute Flash Blade].
Before the Valkyries could fully emerge from the trunk, I swung my sword down.
The massive aura blade that extended from my sword sliced through the "Ice Elemental Treant"'s tower-like trunk with incredible speed.
Immediately after, the clear, ringing sound came to a sudden stop.
Z...tt, a single crack ran diagonally through the "Ice Elemental Treant"'s trunk, and the giant tree began to lean.
The upper part of the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ slid down to the ground like it was slipping. At the same time, the [Blizzard Storm] that had been deployed around me disappeared, and the snow that had been blown up slowly fell back down due to gravity. I confirmed that the magical energy reactions from the Valkyries nearby had also vanished, and then I looked at my right hand.
"Guess it broke after all..."
There was nothing in my hand.
The Black Radiance I was supposed to be holding had shattered into dust like it was made of sand when I used the [Absolute Flash Blade]. Only a few remaining fragments were scattered on the snow.
The extreme technique that condensed a massive aura and combined multiple attributes into one had put too much internal pressure on the sword, causing it to break.
Black Radiance was supposed to have a durability that surpassed ordinary metal swords, but it ended up like this.
I've tried using various swords, but so far, I haven't found a material that can withstand the extreme technique.
I think it would be better to not use a sword and just release the aura, but at this level, I can't maintain the aura without a medium like a sword.
"Well, at least I have the Storage Ring now, so it's not a problem."
I took out a new Black Radiance from the Storage Ring and sheathed it in my sword belt. Being able to easily prepare a replacement is one of the advantages of using a wooden sword.
Then, to avoid any trouble, I covered the remaining fragments of Black Radiance with snow using my foot, hiding the evidence.
"That's good... oh, and it looks like the 'Ice Elemental Treant's Core' has dropped!"
The massive ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ reverted back to magical energy and disappeared, revealing a staircase that continued downward.
At the same time, a magic stone, a normal drop, and the rare drop 'Ice Elemental Treant's Core' were lying on the ground. I stored them in my Storage Ring and then turned around to head back and regroup with Fiona and the others.
Of course, Fiona and the others, who were supposed to have been attacked by the Valkyries, were all unharmed.
"Ho, really, you defeated it all by yourself..."
"He, he's not human, is he... ."
As we merged, Eva and the non-combat members looked at me with stunned faces.
On the other hand, Fiona and Logan were their usual selves, but for some reason, Garon was kneeling on the snow, staring blankly at the spot where the "Ice Elemental Treant" had disappeared.
"I-I mean, it took us almost a whole day to take it down..."
"Leader, stay strong!"
"Hey, we're all shield-type Jobs, after all!"
"We didn't do much work this time, did we?"
"Shh! Be quiet The leader might get hurt!"
It seemed like they were in shock, but the party members were comforting each other with familiar gestures, so it seemed okay.
* * *
Aaron flew off into the empty air with incredible force.
After that, the Valkyries that had been attacking the group simultaneously fell to the ground, stopping in their tracks, and we realized that the "Ice Elemental Treant" had been defeated.
From the time Aaron flew off to the moment the "Ice Elemental Treant" fell, it probably didn't take even 20 seconds.
Logan couldn't help but look up and see the "Ice Elemental Treant", and the massive blizzard that had been swirling around it was disappearing, with the broken remains of the "Ice Elemental Treant" being restored to magical energy and vanishing.
But he managed to confirm it just before it completely disappeared.
From the time it took to fall, he had predicted that it would be a one-hit kill. The sharp, broken surface of the massive trunk proved that his prediction was correct.
"Logan... did you see that?"
Ail, who was beside him, asked, and Logan replied without turning his face.
"Yeah... I saw it."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
It was because what he had seen was too unbelievable.
More than 10 years ago, before Logan and the others retired from active duty, they had thought of doing the same thing as Aaron.
That is, to fly above the [Blizzard Storm] and directly attack the "Ice Elemental Treant" to shorten the battle time.
But it was only half successful, and half failed.
In Logan's party, there was a magician woman who could fly in the air, and Logan himself could move through the air using the [Sky Drive] skill he had acquired as a "Saint Sword" Job.
It's hard to say which is superior, Aaron's True Identity skill with unknown abilities or Logan's [Sky Drive].
In terms of speed, Aaron gets the upper hand, but considering the amount of aura consumed, Logan's [Sky Drive] seems to consume significantly less, and it's likely to surpass Aaron in terms of agility as well. Therefore, it's not impossible to say that [Sky Drive] is a more refined skill.
However, Logan couldn't reach the inside of [Blizzard Storm] like Aaron did on his own.
With the help of his friends, he managed to reach the inside of [Blizzard Storm] by holding off the Valkyries that were closing in.
There, Logan tried to take down the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ with his strongest skill, thinking he could do it in one hit. He thought it wouldn't be a problem ―― no, he was certain he could do it. He didn't have any doubts.
That's because whenever he defeated the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ that had lost its magical energy, Logan could finish it off with one hit.
So he didn't know. Probably no one knew. It's likely that every explorer who had defeated the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ had only attacked it when it was out of magical energy.
No one knew that the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ was using its own magical energy to greatly enhance its durability.
――It's tough.
The ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ with remaining magical energy was incredibly sturdy, and even Logan's strongest hit could only cut through about a third of its massive trunk.
Of course, that one hit did manage to significantly reduce its magical energy, but in the end, new Valkyries were born, and he had to deal with them.
It probably took around 30 minutes to defeat the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫.
Even so, it was an extremely short battle time. There's no one who accurately kept track, but it's likely a record for the ≪Ice Elemental Treant≫ battle.
And he's confident that he has become stronger than he was back then.
But, even if he's asked if he can take it down with one hit――the answer is no.
"What the...?! This is getting way too real, isn't it...!!"
The absurd urban legend.
The being who solo-killed a Catastrophe-class monster, the "core" of last year's Stampede――≪Extreme Sword≫
Logan can no longer deny it. Because he's seen a Swordsman who can actually make it possible.
Only a handful of people, including Io and Ail, are aware of this fact. The others may understand it as an incredible feat, but they don't recognize it as an impossible abnormality.
"......"
Logan wore a ferocious grin, as if he'd lost his mind, and thought to himself.
His serious self, and Aaron's serious self.
Can he really win if they fight?
No, the question is, how can he win?
If it actually comes down to a fight to the death, how should he approach it, how should he structure the battle? His mind was racing with these thoughts.
His heart was pounding.
It was an exhilaration that surpassed even the thrill of his first love. The joy of finding the one he's been searching for.
Logan struggled to compose himself before Aaron returned.
"......"
Ail gazed at Logan's state with unreadable, emotionless eyes.
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