A test… Well, that's an extremely high passing grade.
He probably placed them there considering that other mythologies might attack, but it would be difficult to break through unless you have quite a group of experts. And the fact that Asuem refers to them as "mere" means he has the power to toy with the elites of every faction.
Well, even so—
"Is that so? Then, while we're at it, we'll smash those guys and stop you too. You better be ready!"
Asuem gave a fearless smile at my words.
"Heeh. Then, come to me. I'll fight you then. —I'll be waiting."
With just that, the image projected in the sky cut off.
—Bring it on.
This time, I will definitely defeat you. For now, I'll pay you back for all the past debts. And then, you'll tell me what you're plotting.
"Gwooooooooh!"
One of the colossal magical beasts let out a roar, glaring at us with its six eyes. It seems to have recognized us as enemies, and it started lumbering toward us, shaking the ground. Because of its sheer size, every step it took violently shook the earth. With fifty or more of them moving at once, it was practically an earthquake. A kaiju stampede.
"Interesting. I'll go first."
"Then, I'll follow the leader too."
Ah, Vali and Bikou went ahead! Vali soared away on his light wings, and Bikou sped forward on his Kintoun (Flying Nimbus)!
Those guys have no sense of teamwork!
But, if that's the case, we have no choice but to go too!
"Let's go, everyone!"
"We have to fight those huge things…"
"Well, since it's come to this, it can't be helped. Ravel-san, will you support Onii-chan?"
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
"Then, I shall assist my Master."
"Ha ha ha… I appreciate it, Dilmud-san."
After exchanging words, everyone headed toward the giant magical beasts.
Vali and his team, who had gone ahead, were already engaging in combat, and the sound of explosions began to boom.
Vali put on his armor, gathered dense magic power in his hand, and launched an attack. The density of his magic power had increased compared to before, making each shot more potent.
"Take this!"
Bikou also enlarged his staff and brought it down on the magical beast's head from above.
The surface of the beast exploded from their combined attacks… but the monster just spewed fire and swung its mighty arms as if to say the damage was negligible.
I also fired a few shots of Agni to respond. The torrent of red light swallowed the beast's arm, making it vanish. But just like with Vali and Bikou, the magical beast rushed straight toward us!
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Several magical beasts took flight! The monsters in the sky simultaneously spat out fireballs!
This attack is on par with the Super Beast Jabberwock!
I immediately switched my armor to the Heavenly Wing Aiōsu and launched my Feather Bits! I controlled the eight bits to deploy a defensive barrier above our heads!
The clear-red barrier clashed with the scorching spheres of fire!
"Tch…! Isn't this test difficulty a bit too high?! Ravel!"
"Yes!"
Ravel responded to my command, spreading her wings of flame and retaliating with a return volley of fireballs.
Thanks to her training, Ravel's power has drastically increased compared to before she became a member of the peerage. The fireballs she is currently firing possess considerable heat; anything they touch would be reduced to charcoal.
Yet, even after taking that inferno, the flying humanoid monsters continued to spew fire endlessly.
…Ravel's flame only scorched their surfaces?!
Then, Ravel shouted.
"Issei-sama! Look at that!"
The magical beast Ravel pointed to was the one whose arm I had blown away. Tentacles extended from the stump of its arm, regenerating the lost limb!
This beast has regeneration capabilities!
What's more troublesome is that these guys—
"Onii-chan, behind you!"
"I know!"
While absorbing the fire from the front, a magical beast was closing in from behind! These guys are attacking in a coordinated formation!
High offense and high defense. They also have speed, and regeneration!
"What troublesome creatures!"
Alice, clad in white lightning, blew the magical beast away from the side with a single strike full of destructive power!
To be thrown into such a fierce battle with these monsters so soon after entering the Underworld! Maybe I should have brought Tannin-ossan with me instead?! Tiamat is at Ajuka-san's place, and the timing is all wrong!
"Hyoudou Issei, what is that?"
"Huh?"
Told by Vali, I shifted my gaze in that direction.
Then, I saw something—a red swarm—heading toward us from the giant castle.
It was—
"They're my duplicates! How many are you throwing at us?! Are you a demon?!"
Yes, a massive horde of Duplicate Red Dragon Emperors was charging toward us! It wasn't just a hundred or two hundred! That guy really uses my power however he pleases!
Alright, I'm definitely going to punch him later!
To do that, we absolutely have to break through here! I didn't want to use it if I could help it, but desperate times call for desperate measures!
"Alice! I'm going to apologize beforehand! Sorry! I am really, really sorry!"
"Eh!? What!? What is it!?"
"I apologize now, so please don't punch me later!"
"What in the world are you planning to do?!"
I apologized for now! Since I apologized now, the Alice Punch won't come… I hope!
"Everyone, step back and duck down!"
"!!"
At my shout, everyone scrambled backward as if jumping away.
"I'm going to annihilate the enemy in front of us!"
Confirming their retreat, I summoned Ignis. I pointed the blade at the swarm of magical beasts and the horde of Duplicate Red Dragon Emperors before my eyes!
The Feather Bits attached themselves to the blade, transforming with a clank-clank and merging with Ignis!
"Longinus… RIIIIIIIIIIIIISER!!"
An enormous crimson aura radiated from the blade! The gigantic blade of crimson flame swallowed the enemies before us! I swung the crimson blade horizontally, pursuing the remaining enemies!
"Ooooooooooh!!"
With a beast-like roar, the light of Longinus Riser instantly wiped the colossal magical beasts and my duplicates from existence—
▽
"Hah… hah… ghh!"
As expected, I was completely lightheaded after firing the Longinus Riser. All the strength drained from my body, and my armor deactivated.
When I landed on the ground, everyone who had retreated rushed over.
Miwa wiped the sweat from my face with a towel and asked.
"Onii-chan, are you okay?"
"I'm… I'm not really… okay…"
Your big brother is already at his limit… Even though it's just the beginning, I used my full-power technique, and it completely drained my stamina.
"So, that was Hyoudou Issei's full power."
"Whoa, whoa, those guys were wiped out without a trace. What kind of technique is that?"
Vali and Bikou, having dispelled their armor, said while looking around.
The magical beasts were, of course, gone. Perhaps because I fired it close to the ground, the entire surrounding area had turned to ash. Incidentally, a section of the castle wall was also completely annihilated.
As expected of a technique that uses the full power of Ignis; even a seemingly sturdy wall was destroyed instantly.
…However, I also paid a corresponding price for it.
Alice sighed.
"You didn't have to use such a massive technique, did you? You're completely unsteady. …Well, dragging it out any longer would have been a problem, though."
If we had kept fighting as we were, it would have turned into a war of attrition. In that case, the side with fewer numbers, which was us, would certainly have suffered heavy casualties.
Even if we managed to break through, we wouldn't have been able to fight against Asuem and his servants who were waiting for us. He's not an opponent we can take lightly.
I thought it was best for me to bear the burden alone here.
Well, I do have healing potions, after all…
Alice asks.
"So? Why did you apologize to me earlier?"
"Ah, yeah… Um, could you come here for a moment? And you too, Miwa."
I took Miwa and Alice away from Vali and the others.
I asked Miwa to set up a space-blocking barrier so that our figures wouldn't be visible to the surroundings and our voices wouldn't be heard.
I glanced around nervously, then said one line to Alice.
"...Please let me suck your breasts."
A full-power Alice Punch slammed into my face.
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