"Hmph. I leave the targeting and selection to you, Ea!"
Protecting Fou, the King of Heroes opened fire. Three hundred portals—double the number of spirits. He assigned two weapons to each spirit, piercing their cores and heads with pinpoint accuracy. As the swarm expanded, he increased the count by a hundred at a time.
"Look one second into the future! No matter how they flock, only ten percent are actually in a position to strike! With your eyes, you can read it!"
—Yes!
Visualizing the "position of the Galula Spirits one second ahead," Ea continued a barrage of extreme precision. The swarm was systematically dismantled, spirits misting away into the dark.
"Hmph. Leave the warmth to me!"
CasGil used his staff to maintain the ambient temperature, preventing frostbite and lung failure by stabilizing their survival environment.
"Whoa, hey! I have to make sure I don't get blown away!"
(Honestly...)
Fou circled Ishtar, shielding her from the wind. If she were taken out now, all their previous efforts would be for naught.
As a team, they resisted the tyranny of the Goddess.
"Impudent! Did you think you could resist me in my own realm?!"
The violence intensified. Spears rained from all directions, all of them locked onto Rikka.
"Senpai!"
[—!]
Rikka hardened the mud-like shroud around her body, reinforcing her defenses to ensure no spear could pierce her flesh.
Countless spears slashed, thrust, and carved into her. Though they couldn't reach her vital organs, the areas they struck began to freeze over instantly.
[Fuuh...!!]
She ignited blue flames, breathing fire to stave off the freezing. She solidified the mud, crossing her arms and folding her wings to endure the onslaught of the spear-storm.
"Senpai!"
[I'm fine, I'm fine...! Come on, hit me with more... more, Ereshkigal!]
"How dare you...!"
The spear-cage tightened, relentless in its quest to claim Rikka and Rikka alone.
[Ugh... gah—!]
"I will have you! I won't give you to anyone! I won't let you be hurt anymore...!"
Responding to Ereshkigal's emotions, the intensity surged. As the spears cut her body, Rikka cast single-target healing spells on herself, healing even as she was being torn apart.
"If you stay here, you can have eternal peace! No one will ever hurt you! And yet—and yet—!"
Ereshkigal couldn't hide her shock as Rikka gritted her teeth and endured.
"Why won't you submit?! Why do you keep fighting?!"
The power of the spears increased. Mash held the cold at bay, Archer Gil dealt with the spirits, and the Wise King... he was watching. Waiting for the moment.
"Enough! It's enough! You don't have to be hurt anymore... just become mine... become—"
Finally, she unleashed a total omnidirectional strike.
"—BECOME MINE!!"
Rikka wrapped herself completely in her wings.
Lightning flashed. Dust billowed. The earth groaned.
"...How? Why are you..."
[—That's obvious.]
The wings unfurled—revealing a Black Dragon.
[Because this is how I live!]
The signal for the counterattack was raised.
"Hmph. Your spear could never capture this one's soul, nor could it ever pierce it."
The King of Heroes, having finished off the Galula Spirits, thrust the truth at Ereshkigal.
"...Why?! We are in the Underworld! Why do my spears have no effect? Why?!"
—That's because...
"It is simple. ...Your spears are far too kind. They are spears of consideration, born of a desire to think of others and protect them. —Against these scales, their edge is far too blunt."
[...Compared to the blades of words I've faced, this is nothing!]
Despite the countless cuts and the cracks in her armor, Rikka stood whole, staring Ereshkigal down.
"Rikka... have you become so accustomed to being hurt? So much so that..."
Ereshkigal froze.
[—Now, it's our turn!!]
"Rikka! Sorry to keep you waiting! Let's go!"
Olga Marie, having perfectly mapped the local phase, gave the signal.
"Ereshkigal! I shall show you the pinnacle of magecraft, something you who have been shut away in this abyss could never know! Humanity has reached the point where we can grasp 'The World' itself in our own hands!"
Prana surged. Blizzards howled, dark clouds gathered, and the texture of the world began to erode.
"What?! Wait, what do you mean—"
"Now, I shall gift this withered Underworld a brilliant flower! —Fire!! Olga Marie!!"
Responding to the King's command—
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