Chapter 71 Blast Off!!
My unique battle technique――[Skywalk Rapid Flash]
I kick the void and run through the sky.
Just straightforward, high up, to the limits of the sky bound by [Four-Square Boundary Disruption]. The ceiling created by the barrier.
I will reach the point where it shines brightly, half-transparent, and drive myself up with all my might.
And I can't waste any time during that process.
Because after reaching the top, I don't have time to practice my technique from the start.
So, I resonate.
Hummmm――!!
――and, a clear, ringing sound like a bell echoes.
It's the sound produced by the aura that's constantly being poured into "Black-White".
I pour the aura into "Black-White" to its maximum capacity, accepting its current state.
And then, several hundred meters above the ground.
The ceiling of [Four-Square Boundary Disruption] is finally within reach.
Inside the labyrinth, the space is distorted, so the distance from the upper layer to the ground is longer than it seems. It seems there's a limit to how far I can go, but the massive barrier [Four-Square Boundary Disruption] has activated without a hitch, so I shouldn't reach that limit even at several hundred meters.
Even though I've been ascending almost vertically, the movement speed is different between running on the ground and climbing vertically through space. The influence of gravity shortens the distance I can move with [Skywalk Rapid Flash].
The barrier's ceiling is just a little farther.
I use my last [Skywalk Rapid Flash] and jump up to the point where I'm almost touching the ceiling.
My jumping power and gravity clash, and I pause for an instant.
It's taken around 20 seconds to get this far.
Looking down, the enormous Nord looks like a small bean, and the Garon surrounding it are even smaller. But it seems I've successfully restrained Nord's massive body as planned.
Then, the final touches are my job.
As the stagnation turned into a downfall, I held "Black-White" high above my head.
I stopped pouring in the magical energy and dyed everything black with my aura.
The moment the entire sword was dyed black, I struck my aura with all my might.
The amount of aura I was pouring in was already beyond what Black Radiance could handle, and it would have shattered the sword before I could even use the technique.
But I still kept pouring in my aura. I needed to completely bind Nord until he was defeated, and this wasn't enough.
――You should understand by now.
What I'm about to use is my ultimate technique.
However, this ultimate technique is completely different from the one I used before. I developed it specifically for this mission to bind the Unique Individual Nord.
It's not just based on the heavy properties of "Black-White".
This ultimate technique requires "Black-White" itself to be used.
It's so limited in its usage that I might not be able to use it again after this mission is over――it's that kind of technique.
Falling, falling, falling, down to the ground.
Pouring, pouring, pouring, pouring in my aura.
No matter how much aura I poured in, "Black-White" didn't make a discordant sound like a scream, but instead rang out with a clear, bell-like tone.
There was no sword that could withstand my ultimate technique until now.
But "Black-White" is different. By completely dyeing the entire sword black with my aura, it can transform into a sword that can withstand the massive burden of aura in that state.
However, it's not very easy to use.
That's because if I dye the entire sword black, it becomes extremely heavy, making it impossible to swing or slash horizontally.
On top of that, using "Black-White" inevitably imbues the aura with heavy properties. I don't want to do it, but...
Because of that, I can only unleash my ultimate technique by swinging it up high, dyeing it black, and then swinging it down. Moreover, if I'm standing on the ground, I can't keep my sword at the upper level, so I have to swing it down quickly. That way, the amount of aura I can infuse also decreases.
So, to infuse a large amount of aura, I had to jump high into the air and infuse it while falling.
But in exchange, it can imbue a large amount of aura that is impossible with Black Radiance.
And finally, I can activate it.
[Giant Blade][Flying Blade][Continuous Blade][Aura Blade]――I combined these 4 sword techniques into one, and by dyeing it with heavy properties, I completed my new ultimate technique.
"――WoooooOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
I aimed at the approaching Nord on the ground with incredible speed and swung my sword down.
My ultimate technique――[Giant Heavy Dragon Scale Spear]
A massive amount of aura was released in an instant.
The dark aura transformed into a gigantic spear, piercing through Nord's head and still having plenty of room to spare, with a simple shape like a rod with a pointed tip.
The massive spear accelerated due to the force of its fall, the force of my swung sword, and the released aura, and charged towards the ground at an incredible speed.
Right after unleashing my ultimate technique, I stored "Black-White" in my Storage Ring. If I were on the ground, it would just hit the ground, but since I was in mid-air, the weight of it would surely make the handle slip out of my hand.
At the same time, I spread my arms and legs wide to stop my rotating body from spinning out of control.
Then, I checked on the Nord below me.
Immediately after...
――BANG!
A massive impact sound echoed, even audible to me in mid-air.
The spear had precisely pierced Nord, deeply stabbing into the ground. The shockwave spread out in a circle from that point, and I could see it clearly from above, with snow dancing in the air due to the impact.
But I still haven't let go of the control over the Aura Spear.
I confirmed that I had pierced Nord exactly as I aimed, and I started the final touches.
"――Blast off!!"
I shouted, transforming the Aura Spear's aura.
From here, it's not clearly visible, but I could see a massive amount of fresh blood gushing out from Nord's body.
What I did was simple.
I transformed the Aura Spear that had pierced Nord and stuck into the ground, growing countless thorns from Nord's body.
The thorns that grew broke through Nord's skin and fixed the spear in place, making it impossible to pull out. At the same time, the same thing happened underground, and the thorns became wedges, fixing the spear in place and making it impossible to move.
With this, Nord was completely restrained.
This spear, the [Giant Spear Heavy Fang], was made to withstand even destruction by lightning, because the surface of the [Giant Heavy Dragon Scale Spear] is covered with [Dragon Scale], just as its name suggests.
It should be able to withstand Nord's lightning and the magic flames that Io and the others are planning to use. In fact, if the target of the spear isn't someone with extraordinary regenerative abilities and a strong body like Nord, the repulsive force of the [Dragon Scale] would tear their body apart from the inside.
At the very least, until the Aura I poured into the spear is consumed and it can no longer be maintained, he won't be able to move from that spot for several minutes.
And from here on, it's Io's turn.
* * *
"Amazing, there's no other way to put it...!!"
As Garon and the Restraint Squad surrounded Nord, Io and the Magic Squad members also approached Nord.
To be exact, they had started moving before Garon's group surrounded him.
That's why, when "that" fell from the sky like a meteor, they were able to witness it up close while running to get away from the shockwave.
What fell was a single, enormous black spear.
It had pierced Nord's right shoulder and was sticking out, slightly tilted because Nord's body was twisted. Not only that, but the spear had also dug deep into the ground.
And in the next instant, what was more like a simple rod than a spear grew several "thorns".
Countless "thorns" pierced through Nord's body from the inside out, bursting out of his skin.
Like a waterfall, fresh blood gushed out of Nord's entire body.
"~~~~~!!?"
Nord contorted his face in agony, letting out a loud, piercing scream.
He tried to struggle, but of course, Nord was fixed in place by the massive spear and countless "thorns", unable to move an inch.
Just like before, he tried to wrap himself in lightning and destroy the spear that pierced him.
But even with an enormous amount of lightning that made his eyes dizzy, the spear this time refused to disappear.
It wouldn't disappear, no matter what――Io knew that.
In reality, before this operation, it was only natural that the durability of that spear had been tested by the Magic Squad. After all, Nord was about to be engulfed in flames by Io's magic. If the spear couldn't withstand even that, the operation would need to be fundamentally revised.
And through a prior confirmation test, Io and the others knew that the spear possessed an incredible amount of durability. Even with their full-powered magic, they couldn't destroy it.
――However.
Whether they could really restrain the abnormal Nord or not was still unknown. Since not all of Nord's abilities were clear, this operation was based on predictions.
But Aaron and the others managed to accomplish this extremely difficult task with flying colors.
Words of admiration slipped out unintentionally.
When Nord realized he couldn't move at all, he released a indiscriminate lightning attack towards the surrounding enemies――Io and the others――in an attempt to eliminate them. But even that...
"Garon and the others, you're amazing."
Right after the black giant spear came crashing down, Garon and the others, who had been holding Nord down, took a step back and surrounded him in a circle once again.
The lightning attack changed its trajectory, as if being sucked towards Garon and the others.
If Nord couldn't move, the next problem would be a wide-range attack using magic. However, if it's just magic, Garon and the others could completely defend against it.
They've finally made it this far, and they can finally take down Nord.
Outside the circle of Garon's group, Io and the Magic Squad formed a circle at equal intervals. They were prepared in case Nord's magic got past Garon's group's defenses. If they were clustered in one spot, there was a possibility they could be wiped out in an instant.
Since they were spaced out at a considerable distance from each other, they had to use Wind Magic to communicate. But at this point, there was no need to exchange words.
All Io did was give the starting signal using [Remote Voice].
"――Magic activation!!"
Including Io, all 11 magicians were Expert Explorers. They had constructed their magic formulas in advance and had the technique to maintain them――delayed magic.
In other words, when they surrounded Nord, all they had to do was activate the formulas they had already constructed.
The 11 magicians each activated their magic.
However, there were only 2 types.
Fire Magic――[Inferno Flame]
Storm Magic――[Gale Storm]
Group magic - [Fiery Deathstorm]
The flames and wind emerged almost simultaneously.
In an instant, the wind engulfed the flames, transforming into a massive flame tornado that engulfed Nord.
With a deafening roar, a towering flame pillar shot up into the sky.
The flames gathered air from the surroundings, becoming a cold, strong wind that buffeted Garon and Io's group. Despite this, they didn't feel the cold at all.
The reason was simple.
The [Inferno Flame], already known for its high temperature, was supplied with a fierce wind, causing the temperature to rapidly rise. The massive flame tornado radiated heat that felt like it was burning their skin just by being near it.
This magic was incredibly powerful, but for Io and the others, it wasn't even their maximum firepower. They had enough leeway to maintain it for over 10 minutes if they wanted to.
Even so, there were no lightning bolts flying from Nord anymore.
It wasn't that he was dead, but rather that he had no remaining strength. Nord had converted his magical energy into aura and was using it to defend against the flames of hell, circulating the aura around his body and donning an aura armor to protect himself.
It wasn't possible to completely block out all the heat, but Nord's plan was succeeding.
Probably, even with [Fiery Deathstorm], it would be impossible to defeat Nord unless Aaron's spear disappeared.
But――that was already taken into account from the start.
By the time Io and the others formed a circle around Nord, they had already closed in on him.
The next instant, a fiery arrow imbued with intense light shot towards Nord.
The 'Spirit Archer' unique skill――[Fire Spirit Arrow].
It pierced through the flames, causing a massive explosion on the surface of Nord's aura armor.
Glancing in the direction the arrow came from, there was Glen, a beautiful woman in male attire, clad in a radiant light armor and holding a silver bow.
The flashy attack from Unique Jobs 'Spirit Archer' was the signal, and the simultaneous attack began.
It was a simultaneous attack from the 16 members of Cutting Squad.
Aura blades, aura spears, aura arrows, rock spears, water spears, and various other attacks pierced Nord's body.
Everyone here was an elite explorer, and no one was weak enough to be wiped out by [Fiery Deathstorm]'s flames. All the attacks reached Nord, who was engulfed in flames, and quickly eroded his aura armor.
Including Io's magic, it was a concentrated attack from 27 people. Before such overwhelming might, even the thick aura armor couldn't last long.
Nord's body, exposed directly to the flames, began to rot, and Glen's attack started to destroy his physical body.
The severed or blown-off body parts wouldn't regenerate in the flames. The continuous damage from being constantly burned exceeded the amount of recovery from regeneration.
The strategy was proceeding too smoothly.
But there was no room for complacency on Io's face.
Until Nord's restraint is released――they have to kill him within that time limit.
If they fail, Nord will unfairly regenerate.
Since everyone understands that, even when victory is within sight, no one's hand will slacken in attack――.
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