Chương 176: Chapter 56: “Threat Level: Scorched Earth 3”

The arrow of light released reached the Baragion in the blink of an eye, leaving sound behind, and hit one of the secondary cannons equipped on its knee. It flew in as if sucked into the muzzle, piercing through the knee with its momentum. I hope this did a little damage... Super-high-tier light magic. A lethal attack that would easily blow away a human body with change to spare. But against a machine easily exceeding a hundred meters, it felt like nothing more than a prick with a thin needle.

No obvious damage seemed to have occurred. However, for just a moment, it stopped moving completely. Anyway, it seems this greeting had some effect. 《Flight Magic》 I immediately fly up into the sky. I intended to fly all the way to the armored vehicle Lilna was riding on in one breath. Except for stopping slightly, Baragion did nothing else and was already trying to resume the action of standing up with its knees. Because its body is so huge, just standing up takes a visible amount of time.

But once its posture is ready, it will likely resume annihilation activities immediately. I have to stall it at least until I join up with Lilna. Not yet. Go. 《Arllivine》 While ascending, I fire two more shots in succession. This magic had a ridiculous mana consumption that took away 80% of my total mana with just one shot back then. As a result of repeated improvements, I have reduced the consumption to about one-fifth without lowering the power at all.

Even considering that the mana tolerance of this world is considerably low. Considering that my potential mana handling has risen considerably since then, and the effect of 《Tolerance Limit Break》, I can still shoot more than a dozen shots. Though I don't intend to use it all up with just this magic. The target this time was the head. Unlike normal Natura, it seems to move fine even with a large hole in its chest. But maybe I can defeat it if I crush its head. That's what I thought.

However, it wasn't so sweet as to let attacks pass through easily twice. A vivid purple barrier covered Baragion's head. The two arrows of light that hit the purple light wall scattered and vanished there. That guy, does it have defensive measures against magic? Maybe because it originally came from the outside world, it has proper countermeasures against magic not found in this world. It didn't cover its whole body just now. Did it not do so because it wasn't necessary, or can it not do that much?

Either way, it remains troublesome. I feel cold sweat on my back. But I never stop moving. Slightly faster than Baragion stood up, I arrived next to Lilna. I cut 《Flight Magic》 and transform into a man.

"I'm back. Lilna." Lilna, and everyone else, was paying close attention to Baragion's movements. But they were just paying attention. The scale of the enemy in front of them was too overwhelming. And thanks to Baragion, Lenks, and Will doing huge things first, they seemed unable to move. Seeing me return safely, she showed a relieved face. But she immediately tightened her expression and said.

"I'll pretend I didn't see you flying normally just now."

"Ahaha..."

"More importantly, what is happening? Just when I thought we were about to be killed instantly, your companion... Lenks, right? He appeared and..." She hesitated, stumbling over her words. She must be being considerate of me. Lenks died, but he didn't really die. When I nodded with my eyes saying it's okay, she nodded back slightly and continued.

"Also, what is that man who appeared suddenly? It was a life response of too terrifying strength..." She, who had never flinched before any opponent until now, clearly revealed an emotion of fear. Not towards Baragion, but towards Will. She has the power to sense life responses. It would be no wonder if she felt that tremendous mass of energy directly at first sight. Compared to me back then, who could only tremble miserably before overwhelming power enough to literally erase the world.

Even with a face colored in fear, she standing firmly on her own two feet seemed much more stout-hearted. Of course, I don't have time to explain in detail, so I answer simply. I talked a little about it when explaining my abilities, so this should get through.

"That's him. The worst acquaintance I was talking about."

"Truly the worst..." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"But, for now, we can leave him alone. I made him promise not to do anything."

"He didn't look like the type of guy who would keep such a verbal promise, though." You're right. I know that too. Either way, if he gets serious, the world ends in an instant. Meteorites, falling moons. Just like he did in that world, he must be able to do anything he can think of. He can end it much more clearly than Baragion. Since such a guy promised to do nothing for the time being and is watching as he said. For now, I have no card but to believe and move. It's frustrating, though.

"We have no choice but to leave him alone for now. More importantly—it's coming." Startled, Lilna returns her gaze to the front. Baragion had finally stood up completely. It is clearly staring at us. One wing blown off, a large wind hole in its chest—a pitiful appearance to behold. Even so, it remains an overwhelming threat. From here on is the real thing.

"I will issue the order to start combat immediately." I restrained Lilna, who held the communicator in her hand.

"Before that. I'll use my ability."

"... You're doing it, huh."

"Yeah." There was an outrageous attack suddenly, and the plan went quite awry, but. It seems my ability is strongly related to the 'Heart' after all. It's invisible to the eye, but the human heart is certainly part of the elements that make up the world. I have the foundation to accept that as it is. I could already sense the hearts of everyone in this place to some extent if I was conscious of it. The World of Heart is highly activated. Usually pitch black, it's like that time now.

It is about to be wrapped in a sky full of brilliance, like scattered white stars. If I use this consciously. I can exercise power far greater than 《Mind Burst》, which releases only my own heart's power to the outside world. In principle, yes. My ability also has the potential not to lose to other FabLs. The rest is whether my mind can withstand it. Lenks. Watch me. I'll show you I can do it.

'I'll support you with all my might too. So that your reason doesn't melt away by mixing together like last time.'

'Yeah. Let's do our best together.' When I entered the World of Heart,"Me" was waiting there with a look of determination. I reach out my left hand, and"Me" reaches out her right hand. Two hands are firmly tied. Concentrate the mind. Brace myself with a strong will. Here we go. Connect the hearts. 《Mind Linker》 In an instant, enormous external world information flowed in at once. Almost all events since coming to this world run through my head.

At first, I felt a shock like my head splitting, but soon it passed that too, just soaking into me without resistance. Things coming with it. Everyone's fighting spirit. Hatred. Anger. Sadness. Fear. Various emotions mixed together, piercing through my bare heart as they are. They shook my heart violently, trying to push away my reason. Ah. It's the same as that time again. Tremendous power wells up. Instead, my ego melts and becomes ambiguous. The boundary of Me (Me) blurs. Why is it? It's helplessly cold.

But warm, and comfortable. If I leave myself like this, how much can I do? Everything of Me (Me) connects and becomes on—"Stay strong. Don't forget. You are Yu." Can... I... hear...?"" Lil... na...?"" The ego that was almost fading is suddenly called back. Unbelievably, Lilna stood in front of me. Is this inside the 'World of Heart'...? Why...? She stares straight at me. And reaches out her hand.

"Let's go. You want to save everyone, don't you?" When my hand was forcibly taken, I finally understood. I see. You came in this far for me. 【God-Vessel】 can accept anything and everything. That wasn't an exception even for "people themselves." But to think another person could enter such a place. Such a thing... Anyway, I was saved thanks to her. I held out at the last moment. Stopped just before all elements of the World of Heart connected and blew away my reason completely.

"Me", who was about to become one again, also separated from me and returned to normal.

"Me" nods at me. I squeezed Lilna's hand back strongly. Guided as it was, I go out to the real world.

"Are you okay? Can you fight?" When I noticed, Lilna was peering into my face worriedly. Our hands are still firmly connected. Before I knew it, wiping the cold sweat that had burst out. I answered firmly.

"Yeah. Somehow."

'Are you okay too?'

'Somehow here too.' It seems"Me" is safe too.

'Sorry. In the end, I couldn't hold it back.'

'It's okay. This is my responsibility.' In the end, it means it's still impossible alone, huh.

"Lilna. Thank you."

"You like to say thanks, don't you. It's fine. The hard part starts now."

"I know." It seems I was able to control the ability to some extent. A wonderful power rivaling when Lenks cast 《Tolerance Limit Break》 effectively wrapped my body. It must be at least dozens of times what it was when I came to this world. Maybe more. It's not just my power. On top of"Me"'s help, Lilna seems to be cooperating too. Three of us are holding it down together. And I see. It's as Lilna says. I understood because I can keep my reason this time.

Certainly, everyone has the same strengthening effect applied. From the transmitted emotions, I could see signs of confusion at the power that suddenly welled up. —With this, we can surely do it. It felt like a long time, but in the real world, it seemed to be only an instant. Baragion is still trying to enter an attack stance. I don't know what kind of attack it will launch, but it surely won't be anything good. Like hell I'll let you.

In this state where tolerance and physical ability have increased so much, I should be able to use it without danger. This ability taught by Inea-sensei's master, Jilph Arise -san. Now is the time to use it. 【Secret of Qi】 —Release. The Qi of all Humites in this place, including myself, rises rapidly further. Lilna and the other Natura or machines can't receive the benefit of this ability directly, but. By granting Qi reinforcement as objects, I enhance their abilities indirectly.

Baragion stopped trying to move and turned to observe. Come to think of it, that guy seems to have the ability to sense life energy too. Did it sense this abnormality and become wary? With this, probably at least several hundred times. I was able to add up the power of everyone here and share it with everyone. Is this how to use my ability? I finally understand a little. Baragion. I won't lose so easily this time. Just watching someone die in this world again. I hate it. I won't let you kill.

Baragion finally started moving. Emitting flames like a boost from its remaining wing, it dives towards us at a dizzying speed.

"Here it comes."

"It's okay." I thrust my right hand straight out and held it still. Qi that overturned logic by 【Secret of Qi】 no longer considers distance a problem. The original meaning put into the name of this technique. Finally, I can use it in the form it should be. The heightened wave of Qi severs the sky. 《Qi Severing Palm》 An invisible shockwave attacks the enemy instantly. By the time the roar DON! occurred. Baragion's mountain-like giant body was pushed back and further knocked backward.

Immediately, I fire repeatedly from my thrust-out right hand. Two shots. Three shots. Four shots. Five shots. As I drive 《Qi Severing Palm》 one after another, the sound of metal denting echoes each time, and its giant body is pushed back little by little. Power exceeding the enemy's propulsion forces it to retreat. Once I succeeded in breaking its posture significantly, I stopped the technique and created a Qi sword. It emits an intense brilliance like I've rarely seen before.

When I put more Qi into it, the white Qi sword changes to a dazzling pale blue. Readying the sword again. Swing down, and release. 《Senkraze》 A sword flash occurred. It becomes a tremendous blade tearing the atmosphere, heading towards Baragion at a speed not inferior to an arrow of light. It also deploys a powerful barrier to counter. But, perhaps deciding it was a bad move immediately, it moved its body to dodge. It's a terrifying speed that doesn't make you feel its huge body at all. But—a little too late.

Even with instantaneous judgment, it couldn't dodge completely. By the time the sword flash split the earth and disappeared at the end of the field of vision— Its left arm was shaved off vertically by about a quarter by estimation. Furthermore, several of the secondary cannons equipped there were completely destroyed.

"I put everyone's power into it. You can't block it so easily." Probably, there is no way it has emotions, but... Somehow, I felt like it regarded us as true enemies for the first time. At least, it might have felt a sense of crisis. The atmosphere it wore clearly changed. From here on, it will likely come at us desperately without sparing anything. I had such a premonition. Lilna calls out to everyone with the communicator in hand.

"Let's go! Piling on!" With the signal of the Digridders firing their giant beam rifles, the general attack began.