"…[All-Ability Rise: Status Up][Septuple Layer]"
First, I apply the maximum buff I can currently handle to myself.
Then, as Oliver prepares to swing his sword for the third time, I activate [Reflective Wall] beneath his feet.
Immediately after, Oliver leaps about three meters into the air.
Confirming that, I grip my beloved sword Schwarzhase and position myself directly below him.
"[Magic Sword Unity: Ortration]—[Type III: Mont Trois]!"
I transform Schwarzhase into a magic sword. Then I expand its mana to form a greatsword.
"—!!"
I swing the now-greatsword Schwarzhase upward with full force.
Oliver blocks it easily with his sword, but this time I'm wielding a magic sword.
In retaliation, I layer [Instant Capability Super Rise: Impact] onto the slash. It shatters Oliver's sword into fragments and sends him flying even higher.
(I'll pin him in the air like this!)
There are two reasons I chose aerial combat.
First, continuing on the ground would cause collateral damage to the surroundings, just like before.
Inside a labyrinth, I wouldn't need to worry about the environment, but this is the middle of the city.
I want to minimize destruction.
Second, Oliver has no means of free movement in the air.
I've never seen him create impromptu footholds with [Mana Convergence], and even if he could, I doubt the current Oliver is capable of it.
With no weapon left, he has no way to counter me.
In the air, this becomes my domain.
—or so I thought.
I kick off the ground to close the distance and pursue him.
Just as I move in for a follow-up attack, the golden aura emanating from the airborne Oliver begins to writhe.
It gathers at his back and transforms into golden mana wings.
"—What!?"
The wings aren't just for show—they clearly allow free aerial movement—as he suddenly dives straight toward me.
"—!"
I activate [Reflective Wall]. Oliver touches it and bounces straight upward.
While the blown-away Oliver stabilizes in midair, I rise to the same altitude and stand on a foothold created with [Mana Convergence].
Now Oliver and I face each other high above the city.
"What the hell happened to you, Oliver? What's been done to you?"
"…"
I know he won't answer, but I can't help calling out.
Oliver and I ended up walking different paths.
But that wasn't a parting.
He's still my best friend.
That's exactly why I'm so sad to see him doing this—and why I absolutely have to stop him.
"…I don't want to believe you're destroying the city of your own free will. If you can't stop yourself, then I'll stop you. —[Type I: Mont Eins]"
I revert Schwarzhase from greatsword to longsword form.
Previously, [Magic Sword Unity: Ortration] had a time limit.
But I've overcome that.
The current version has no duration restriction.
After the battle with "Amuntzaas" ended, I spent every spare moment—even sacrificing sleep—improving [Magic Sword Unity: Ortration].
As a result, it was completed before the festival began.
Unlike before, when it lasted only an instant, I can now maintain the magic sword form throughout combat.
Of course, sustaining it requires periodic recasting like buff refreshes, so it's not truly permanent.
In terms of aerial mobility, Oliver—with free movement—has the advantage over me, who can only move in straight lines.
But unarmed Oliver can't deal proper damage to me now!
I kick off the foothold, disperse its mana for extra propulsion, and charge Oliver at high speed.
"—!"
Entering sword range, I sweep Schwarzhase horizontally.
Oliver wraps his wings around himself to defend his body.
Taking my slash head-on, he's sent flying like a pinball.
"[Thunder Arrow]!"
I fire five lightning arrows in pursuit.
To pierce his wings, I layer [Instant Capability Super Rise: Impact] onto them—but the wings block it.
(Even pierced black dragon scales… How tough are those things…)
While stunned by the wings' durability, Oliver suddenly vanishes from sight—then reappears directly above me.
"—!?"
He swings his right fist downward.
I barely dodge, but a wing slams into me.
"Guh"
I'm knocked horizontally several meters before regaining control.
"This is seriously bad…"
Cold sweat won't stop at Oliver's abnormal strength.
As if mocking me, Oliver evolves further.
Mana gathers in both his hands, forming massive beast-like claws.
"Seriously, give me a break."
I mutter a complaint, then refocus.
One moment of carelessness and I'm done. From here on, I can't drop concentration even for an instant.
"[Flash]!"
Closing distance, I generate intense light right in front of Oliver's eyes.
(While he's blinded—!)
I circle to his flank and sweep Schwarzhase horizontally.
But before it reaches him, the wings block it.
(Even visual disruption gets countered…)
Oliver's right arm rises in a sword-uppercut motion.
"[Reflective Wall]!"
(If I deflect this attack, I'll create a clear opening—!?)
[Reflective Wall] had repelled black dragon flame bullets at point-blank range without issue.
But Oliver's claws tear through it effortlessly.
The claw slash reaches me.
"…!"
Fortunately, I avoid a vital hit.
Four deep gashes pour blood, but I retreat from Oliver.
I immediately cast [Ex-Heal] on myself.
While I recover, three mana-formed tails appear around Oliver's waist.
They lash toward me in whipping arcs.
"! [Type II: Mont Zwei]!"
I split the magic sword's mana into two shortswords and intercept the incoming tails.
While parrying the omnidirectional tail attacks with two shortswords, I sense mana gathering in Oliver's raised right hand.
"Shit!"
Pinned in place by the tails, Oliver swings his glowing golden right hand downward.
Five golden slashes assault me.
"[Type V: Mont Fünf]!"
I manifest a shield larger than my body between us.
At contact, I activate [Instant Capability Super Rise: Impact] and barely hold.
—but I can't relax.
The shield is directly in front of me.
The tails attack from all directions—this shield can't block them.
"[Type II: Mont Zwei]!"
I instantly revert to two shortswords and parry the side and rear tail strikes.
◇
After that, we exchanged blows for what felt like an eternity.
In reality, only about fifteen minutes passed, but it felt several times longer.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
"…"
I still haven't landed a decisive blow, while Oliver has struck me multiple times.
I heal external wounds with recovery magic, so no lasting injury—but my uniform, unrepairable, is in tatters.
(Continuing like this yields no chance of victory. I need to change tactics.)
While thinking how to proceed,
『This is Selma Claudel of "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky". I'm speaking to every explorer currently in Tsutorail. This is due to my ability. I know this is sudden and shocking, but please listen to my words—』
Selma-san's voice echoed in my mind.
Does it reach Oliver too? His movements stop.
I don't know why he stopped, but it gives me a moment to rest.
Thanks, Selma-san.
Her message continues.
『You've probably noticed that Orun from our clan is currently fighting Oliver from the hero party high above the city. I'll skip the details, but Oliver began destroying the city, and Orun is trying to stop him.』
We're fighting quite high up, but naturally people below have noticed.
With all that golden and black mana flying around, anyone who watched the finals would recognize us.
『I'd love to ask everyone to help Orun, but that's not the main point. Just moments ago, monster overflow was confirmed from all five labyrinths surrounding Tsutorail.』
(Monster overflow!?)
Monster overflow is when massive numbers of monsters pour out from a labyrinth onto the surface.
Normally, labyrinth monsters don't exit or move between layers.
Crystal barriers at entrances and between floors prevent it.
But very rarely, monsters break through even those crystals.
The cause remains unknown.
When overflow occurs, the nearest city to the labyrinth is almost always attacked.
Cities contain not only large populations but also vast quantities of magic tools—meaning magic stones.
Monsters naturally head straight for cities.
(Oliver goes berserk, and simultaneously five labyrinths overflow? Too coincidental. This incident is almost certainly artificial. Oliver is just being used.)
『The guild is currently transporting massive quantities of magic stones to the four gates in the east, west, south, and north of the city. The east gate will be handled by us "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky". Everyone else, please head to one of the other three gates to halt the monster advance. The guild is handling assignments. B-rank and above parties, follow guild instructions and go to your assigned gate. C-rank parties, cooperate with the military to guide civilian evacuation. This is our city. We will protect it!』
Probably hearing Selma-san's voice, confused murmurs rise from below.
『Orun, sorry we can't assist. Leave Oliver to you.』
I can't tell if this was only to me.
Maybe other explorers heard it too.
But my reply remains the same.
『Leave Oliver to me. Handle the monsters!』
If Oliver's been caught in some injustice, that makes it even more my responsibility.
No matter how unreasonable the situation, I will protect what's important to Oliver—that's my vow.
No matter the disadvantage, I'll overcome it!
I ready Schwarzhase again and close in on Oliver once more.
(End of chapter)