Chapter 238: You can't set a flag! Not even God can!
The designated location for intercepting the mobile fortress destroyer was a vast plain northwest of Axel.
At this moment, not only adventurers but also town residents had poured out, tirelessly setting up temporary barricades.
Adventurers belonging to creation-type professions were further ahead, busy deploying simple traps.
Although everyone knew deep down that these things wouldn't stop that steel monster for even a second.
And at the forefront of all defensive structures, Darkness stood alone, adamantly refusing to retreat a single step.
She plunged her newly forged greatsword deep into the ground, her hands clasped over the hilt, her posture like a statue, gazing in the direction from which the destroyer was about to appear.
"The battle plan is for Aqua to dispel the barrier, and then for Megumin and Wiz's Explosion Magic to destroy its legs."
Arthur, entrusted by his teammates, came to persuade the stubborn Crusader.
But he couldn't shake the feeling that Darkness's stance was eerily familiar, and a hint of helplessness entered his voice.
"The others are responsible for clearing out any remaining parts that the magic couldn't completely destroy. Darkness, standing here, you're just blocking the way and getting hit, you're of no use."
These blunt words made the previously silent Darkness tremble, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson.
"In your eyes, am I truly such a woman devoted to her own desires? Even in such a critical moment?"
Arthur glanced at her, a faint pale glow encircling his fingertips as he continued to feed the White Tiger, his tone firm.
"Yes."
That single word made Darkness freeze instantly.
She calmed her ragged breathing, straightened her back again, and explained word by word.
"Since you know my surname, you should understand that protecting the residents here is my responsibility."
Arthur raised an eyebrow: "Even if the Dustiness family is the lord of this land, what you're doing now..."
"I am a Knight," Darkness solemnly interrupted him, "Protecting the territory and its people is my duty, and even more so, my pride!"
"A Knight, huh?"
Arthur murmured, pacing to her side and stopping, shaking his head with a light chuckle.
"Alright then, I won't tell you to leave. In exchange, don't expect me to leave either."
Darkness's face was full of confusion: "Wait! You have no reason to stay here with me! With your strength, in the subsequent battle..."
"Of course I do."
Arthur drew durandal, its tip plunging into the ground with a 'clang,' standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
"Because, I am also a Knight."
...
Far behind the defensive structures, Kazuma squatted on the edge of the city wall, put away his farsight, and shrugged helplessly at the waiting crowd.
"It's over! Not only did Big Bro fail to persuade that perverted Knight, but he even went and stood at the very front with her!"
"Ah, this..."
The surrounding adventurers holding giant hammers exchanged glances; they had all heard that for golems, only blunt weapons were most effective.
[Attention adventurers, the mobile fortress destroyer is about to enter sight! Everyone, prepare for battle!]
Princess Luna's voice, amplified by a magic tool, echoed across the plain.
Before her words finished, a violent tremor came from the distant horizon, like the heartbeat of the earth.
Boom—!
Rocks flew, and a colossal golem, like an ancient spider, burst through the hills!
It appeared in everyone's sight with an unstoppable momentum, crushing everything in its path into dust with its steel body!
Eight monstrous giant spider legs rose and fell alternately, kicking up a sky full of dust, their speed so great that all adventurers felt an innate tremor!
"It's too big! And so fast! This thing is even more terrifying than we imagined!"
"Everyone, keep low! Absolutely do not run in front of the destroyer, you'll be trampled into a meat paste!"
"This... this is impossible to win! It's too much!"
"Hey! What's with the defeatist talk now!"
Kazuma, standing in the crowd, roared, pointing forward.
"Aqua! Do it!"
The goddess, standing on the city wall, was uncharacteristically solemn at this moment.
She raised her divine staff, and an unprecedented energy fluctuation gathered in the magic circle beneath her feet!
"Leave it to me! Now I'll show you the true power of Lady Goddess!"
Aqua's divine power surged forth, her light pink sacred feather robe danced without wind, making her appear ethereal!
"Sacred Spell Break!"
Five colossal magic circles, covering the entire city wall, burst open, sacred runes rotating and resonating, finally intertwining into a blue-white divine light that cleansed all things!
The moment the light beam touched the destroyer, layers of film-like shields appeared consecutively, yet they were as fragile as glass before the divine light, shattering one after another!
Crack—!
An incomparably crisp shattering sound echoed through heaven and earth, and the barrier that blocked all magic crumbled under the divine power's impact, turning into a sky full of light fragments!
At this moment, offense and defense were reversed!
Adventurers' faces were filled with wild joy as they all turned to look at the arrow tower on the city wall.
Megumin and Wiz stood on either side, and above their heads, two magic circles of distinct natures, yet both containing a torrent of Explosion Magic, had already spun to their maximum!
"Explosion!"
Amidst a deafening roar, two intertwined fiery meteorites tore through the sky, accurately striking the destroyer's legs!
Boom—!!!
The eight mechanical giant legs were completely engulfed by the flames, not a single one remaining!
The mobile fortress, suddenly losing power, crashed to the ground with a thunderous roar, its massive body sliding straight towards the town due to inertia!
The fragments of spider legs after the explosion turned into a steel rain, falling from the sky, and adventurers nervously watched the two figures blocking the very front!
Bang—!!!
A metallic thud, grating to the teeth, sounded!
The destroyer's unstoppable charge came to an abrupt halt before a single hand!
As the dust cleared, Arthur stood with one hand pressed against the destroyer's grotesque head, the ground beneath his feet cracked in a spiderweb pattern.
Seeing this shocking scene, the adventurers erupted in a thunderous cheer!
Arthur looked up at the colossal golem, billowing thick smoke, and turned his head to tease Darkness, who was gritting her teeth and holding on beside him.
"Are you satisfied now, Lalatina?"
Before Darkness could answer, Aqua on the city wall had already put her hands on her hips and started shouting, carried away by her triumph.
"What's the big deal? I thought the name mobile fortress destroyer meant something, but it's a huge disappointment! Alright, alright, let's go back and celebrate with a feast and drinks!"
"After all, it's a bounty target that wiped out a country, so the reward must be huge this time!"
Hearing this utterly standard flag, Kazuma, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, instantly turned pale. He abruptly turned his head and roared in exasperation.
"You idiotic goddess! Why do you always say things like that at times like this! You're trying to dig our graves! Don't you know..."
Buzz—!!!
Before Kazuma could finish, a low hum emanated from within the destroyer, which should have been silent.
The ground shook again, and this time the source was the motionless steel wreckage!
Everyone's cheers came to an abrupt halt, and a strong sense of unease gripped everyone's heart.
[Warning! Warning! This unit has ceased mobility! Unable to dissipate heat or consume motive energy! Crew members please evacuate this unit as quickly as possible! Repeat! This unit has...]
The mechanical voice from within the destroyer was cold and distorted.
Its compound eyes on its head began to flash with increasingly rapid, dangerous red light, like a heart about to explode!