Chapter 84: The Dark Knight was (LOL) not that strong
ㅤ”It’s over, adventurer!”
ㅤ
ㅤThe dark sword, raised high above his head, comes swinging down towards me.
ㅤ
ㅤAt that moment, I spot something moving in the corner of my vision.
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ㅤAn arrow.
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ㅤThe suddenly released arrow flies sharply towards Cretias from the entrance of the water sphere room.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Guh…”
ㅤ
ㅤThe arrow, seemingly aimed at Cretias’s neck, slightly misses and lodges itself into the gap in the shoulder armor of Cretias.
ㅤ
ㅤCretias, clutching his shoulder, turns around.
ㅤ
ㅤThere, a single knight, holding a bow.
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ㅤ”Heh heh, how about that? I’m better with a bow.”
ㅤ
ㅤThe knight said that proudly, but――
ㅤ
ㅤ（Um, who?）
ㅤ
ㅤI seriously thought that for a moment.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Heinlein! Are you alright!?”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san’s words, while still being supported by me, remind me.
ㅤ
ㅤ（It’s the knight who was on lookout duty! Wasn’t he cut down by Cretias?）
ㅤ
ㅤThe knight grinned and said,
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ㅤ”I was cut down, but these guys saved me.”
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ㅤ”Leave the healing to us-chi!”
ㅤ
ㅤTwo Undines showed their faces from behind the knight.
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ㅤCretias glares hatefully at the knight and the Undines.
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ㅤ”Water spirits… Damn it, I should have sliced you all to pieces on the way…”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Water spirits don’t die that easily-chi.”
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ㅤ”We pretended to be dead and made him lower his guard-chi.”
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ㅤThe boy and girl Undine said proudly, puffing out their chests.
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ㅤ（I see. They pretended to be dead to get past Cretias, saved the knight-san, and then launched a surprise attack.）
ㅤ
ㅤQuite resourceful spirits.
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ㅤ”How dare you get in my way――”
ㅤ
ㅤAs Cretias, still holding his shoulder, moved unsteadily,
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ether Shot!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Tch!”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias swings the dark sword with one hand, blocking my magic.
ㅤ
ㅤ””Take this! Dechi!””
ㅤ
ㅤThe two Undines also release streams of water towards Cretias.
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ㅤ”Such trifles!”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias positions his sword diagonally, deflecting the water streams while retreating backward.
ㅤ
ㅤTaking advantage of the opening, I put away the Black Steel Sword and switch to the Wand of Regret.
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ㅤ”Pillars of Purple Lightning, rage and burn my enemy to ashes!”
ㅤ
ㅤAmplifying the Ether with the wand, I create multiple pillars of lightning.
ㅤThe pillars advance towards Cretias, tracing erratic paths.
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ㅤ”Sword of Wrath, transform my anger into power!”
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ㅤCretias roars and slices through one of the lightning pillars.
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ㅤ”Oops, don’t forget about me!”
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ㅤWith a playful tone, the knight at the entrance fires an arrow at Cretias.
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ㅤ”Tch!”
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ㅤCretias deflects the arrow with the hilt of his sword, but in that instant, the lightning pillars I created engulf the left half of Cretias’s body.
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ㅤ”Guuu… GAAAAAH!”
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ㅤCretias screams, suppressing a shriek.
ㅤAlong with his scream, dark flames envelop Cretias’s left arm, shattering my lightning pillars.
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ㅤ”Ahaha, the utility poles are gone!”
ㅤ
ㅤThis technique, which I secretly nicknamed “Utility Poles,” was one of my trump cards.
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ㅤBut, the damage to Cretias isn’t insignificant.
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ㅤ”Then――Countless bullets of Ether, become a ceaseless magical downpour, and crush my enemy until they are reduced to dust! Gatling Turret!”
ㅤ
ㅤGripping the Wand of Regret, I create countless Ether Shots simultaneously.
ㅤThe number easily exceeds one hundred.
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ㅤ”Wh――”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias is rendered speechless, sensing my technique.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Go!”
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ㅤThe magical bullets rain down.
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ㅤ”Nu, UOOOOOH!”
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ㅤCretias swings his sword and left hand, deflecting the bullets, but his movements lack their previous sharpness.
ㅤThe arrow that hit his shoulder and the damage from the utility poles have definitely dulled Cretias’s movements.
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ㅤSeveral bullets strike Cretias’s body.
ㅤThe Ether Shots are scattered on the surface of his armor, but the impact of the hits hasn’t been negated. Cretias is slowly being pushed back.
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ㅤEven so, it seems Cretias will be able to withstand the barrage of Ether bullets.
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ㅤBut,
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ㅤ”――Gatling Turret, reload!”
ㅤ
ㅤI create the next round of bullets without chanting.
ㅤOf course, it’s the same as before, over a hundred bullets.
ㅤ
ㅤ”What!?”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias’s face visibly pales.
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ㅤ（For humans, reinforcements arriving right when you think you’ve weathered the storm is the most demoralizing thing, you know.）
ㅤ
ㅤIn a game, this would definitely be a crappy game, but I have no problem with Cretias’s life becoming a crappy game!
ㅤThough his life is already a pretty crappy game, this guy.
ㅤ
ㅤTo explain the trick behind this magic, it’s simple.
ㅤInstead of creating the Ether Shots themselves, I created many Ether Shot firing devices in the air, made of Ether.
ㅤTo replenish the bullets, all I need to do is pour Ether into the turrets, so there’s no need for chanting after the first time.
ㅤIt’s a rather complex technique, so the drawback is that I can’t activate it without the wand right now.
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ㅤ”Ahahaha! I can do this as many times as I want! How long can you hold out!?”
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ㅤ”Damn it!”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias, his face flushed with anger, takes a surprisingly calm action.
ㅤ
ㅤHe runs away.
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ㅤ”UOOOOOH!”
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ㅤIgnoring the Ether Shots hitting his entire body, deflecting only those aimed at vital points, Cretias dashes towards the entrance of the water sphere room.
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ㅤ”Wha, huh!?”
ㅤ
ㅤThe knight standing at the entrance seems to have been in the middle of nocking an arrow and can’t react.
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ㅤ””D-Don’t come closer-chi!””
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ㅤThe two Undines release streams of water, but Cretias accelerates even further.
ㅤHe slips through the gap between the two streams of water,
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ㅤ”Out of my way, die!”
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ㅤ”Guoh!?”
ㅤ
ㅤCretias extends his left hand, enveloped in dark flames, and the knight-san dodges it and tumbles down.
ㅤCretias jumps over the fallen knight and escapes through the entrance.
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ㅤ””W-Wait-chi!””
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ㅤThe two Undines fire streams of water at his back.
ㅤI couldn’t see it, but the attacks seem to have missed.
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ㅤAs for me, I couldn’t move because I was holding Sherry-san.
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ㅤI mutter,
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ㅤ”…We let a troublesome one escape.”
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ㅤMoreover, he saw two of my trump card magic.
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ㅤ”Sherry-san, are you alright!?”
ㅤ
ㅤI ask Sherry-san, whom I’m still holding.
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ㅤ”U-Ugh… What is this… The surge of emotions has passed, but something feels burnt and tight…”
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ㅤSherry-san is pale and covered in a cold sweat.
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ㅤ”We’ll show you-chi.”
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ㅤThe Undine girl approaches and says.