Chapter 230. Path Forward (5)
At her resolute tone, Enoch turned back to the front and calmly accelerated his thoughts.
"First, we close in. We need to confirm the target."
Visibility here was poor. Above all, properly identifying the enemy took priority.
Exchanging glances in silence, Enoch moved together with the two girls.
Circling the forest around to a place where Indiviltal would be clearly visible, they arrived at a spot that — even at a distance — was as unobstructed by trees as possible.
Watching the enemy revealing itself between the wall of trees, Alicia murmured quietly beside him.
"So that's what it looks like…"
It was his first time seeing Indiviltal, a Monarch Class, but Enoch intuitively understood it was unmistakably the thing.
Though he'd thought it would be huge, looking at it properly, excluding its tall legs, it was less than thirty meters on each side.
Rough estimate aside, among the magical beasts classified as Monarch Class, it seemed to just barely qualify.
Even compared with other Monarch Class like Anarchilon, its form looked noticeably smaller and frailer — which exactly matched the information Shepherd had provided earlier.
What stood out most was the bulging body wrapped in a transparent membrane, like glass.
Its translucent belly, visible clear through, shone only with a brilliant green light instead of internal organs.
Its entire body looked as taut as a balloon inflated into two scooped halves, resembling more a green-glowing walnut or a human brain than any biological body.
And from that thin, membrane-like body, four pairs of slender legs extended like a spider's.
On top of that, there was further clear evidence that it was indeed Indiviltal.
Thanks to Enoch having continuously sharpened his senses to the keenest edge through successive battles, he'd noticed something.
The mana in this whole area, picked up by his sense of mana, was stirring in a deeply unsettling manner.
Enoch raised his head and looked up at the sky.
And in spite of himself, he was briefly at a loss for words.
"……"
In the air, a brilliant web of light had spread out.
The green mana, distinct even through the rain, stretched up over Indiviltal's body like a tree woven from slender threads, spreading into the sky over the entire forest.
Tens of thousands of threads of green-light mana, interwoven like a spider's web, spread outward and covered the entire forest like an enormous dome.
Even the sky above the far-off Outsourcing District, protected by a steel wall — all of it.
Enoch tightened his grip on the cloth bag to keep from losing his composure.
He instinctively understood.
This was it.
That intricate web of mana was the cause of Indiviltal cutting off communications across the Outsourcing District and weaving a vision-blocking magic over the entire forest.
Suddenly, realizing that the whole enormous web of light was a kind of magic formation, a chill ran down Enoch's spine.
"……"
Thinking about it, no matter how much he had concentrated his senses until now, he hadn't been able to see the threads of mana stretching across the sky.
Apparently, the enemy was processing and handling mana far more finely than any ordinary mage — enough that the trace of mana grew faint as one moved away from the source, Indiviltal.
Even with the senses he had inherited from the Empire's Last Sword Saint, he had barely been able to detect it — so fine were the threads of mana being spread outward to deploy the magic.
Leaving the scale aside, just considering that, the level of mana control rivaled that of the 10th Rank-or-higher mages Enoch had encountered so far.
Was this really the same type as the Experimental Subjects Tantalus had displayed until now? The thought struck him.
Just then, Alicia beside him urgently grabbed Enoch's sleeve and pointed somewhere.
"Wa, wait, please! What is that thing above its head?"
"Head?"
Tracing the direction of her gesture back to where the beast's head should be, he noticed a head that was, compared to the body, significantly small.
But that wasn't all.
Above that head — from which dozens of green eyes lined up in a row shone with light — several meters above it, a large halo formed of green light had settled.
Unlike the halos meant to float above the heads of angels or saints in myth, this one was dramatically different, a crown of light with spikes jutting out in many places.
Seeing it, Enoch unconsciously murmured.
"Wait. That halo…"
"Hmm. It looks like a halo of mana…? I don't really know what it is either."
Alicia shook her head, looking genuinely lost.
But Enoch hadn't been asking her.
Because he already knew for certain. In the original story, he had seen a similar halo of light through magic.
"……Telepathy-type Unique Magic?"
"Huh?"
Telepathy — literally 'thought-speech,' a kind of magic related to communication.
A relatively common branch of magic called 'Communication Magic,' used by some of the Elsyde combat mages as a substitute for communication devices during operations, but…
Enoch coldly muttered to himself.
"I see. So that was how it was controlling every one of the two thousand magical beasts here."
When manifested strongly enough by someone wielding Telepathy-type magic — approaching the Unique Magic domain — it could, within limits, control the target's will.
And when those who possessed Unique Magic of the Telepathy type activated their magic, the mana took the form of…
Enoch, gazing at the crown of spikes formed from green light, tilted his head.
"A magical beast wielding 10th Rank, or at the very least magic close to that level."
Looking back on it, there had been precursors.
Shepherd had mentioned that the infantry troops who had engaged Indiviltal had all shown mental symptoms. Probably lower-Rank mages were affected just by drawing near to that Telepathy-type magic.
But even so, something about this was off.
In the original story too, experimental magical beasts had used magic approaching Unique Magic.
But those specimens hadn't been Monarch Class — only Tyrant Class, the far stronger tier, had typically been shown wielding such magic.
If that was the case, then — this was Ixion's doing.
Given that the Experimental Subjects here had already been modified far beyond the original, that was the most reasonable conclusion.
Since Enoch had interfered with the flow of Official History — killing Tantalus — the butterfly effect from that might have created unforeseen variables like this.
Just then, feeling a nudge behind him, he glanced back to see Alicia silently urging with her eyes that they should move now.
Enoch gave a small nod to both Lien and Alicia following him, then looped wide around the forest to approach closer to Indiviltal.
Even as they used massive trees and rocks as cover to steadily close the distance stealthily, thoughts kept chasing one another in Enoch's mind.
There was no need to say that this place was the stronghold of the Monarch Class, Anarchilon, which had appeared on the battlefield previously. If they were spotted and surrounded, the trouble would be far worse than mere inconvenience.
The muddy path made his feet sink in deeply, and it felt like he might fall. Without Enoch's transcendent physical ability, the conditions were such that someone might have long since collapsed from exhaustion.
The fact that they were in such dire conditions where one mistake led directly to death rose sharply in his mind.
Enoch stared ahead, expressionless.
But having come this far, there was no choice but to press on.
Looping wide around the forest and safely drawing close to Indiviltal, the angle of Enoch's neck as he looked up grew steeper and steeper.
A strange, deep sound, as if from respiration, came from its contracting body. And from Indiviltal's body, radiating green light and generating high heat in the rain, a sizzle of steam rose along with white vapor.
He was reminded once more of what a truly enormous magical beast it was.
"Direct Lineage, what do we do from here? I think we've gathered a rough picture of the surroundings."
Alicia's whisper came from beside him. Thanks to that, Enoch — now fully back on track — nodded slowly.
Focusing on the immediate target was the top priority.
Fortunately, seeing the enemy up close like this had given him a clear sense of how to engage.
"The target has legs, but its body is horribly bloated compared to how weak the lower body is. You could even call it deformed."
Alicia nodded in agreement.
"Yes. In that form, no matter how agile it tries to be, fast movement has to be impossible."
"From its body type, it also has no carapace, and the skin looks very thin. Its defense is probably low, and it likely can't put up much physically in one-on-one combat either."
Enoch stared coolly at the distant target.
"What's left, then, is whether it can use magic as an offensive means like Anarchilon. That, we won't know until we strike."
"Magic…"
Alicia nodded quietly.
"That's true. We'll have to be cautious with the operation."
Above all, it had been barely a week since the unprecedented phenomenon of a magical beast using high-tier attack magic had first emerged.
If, like its fellow leader Anarchilon, it could also unleash direct firepower through magic beyond vision-blocking and Telepathy-type spells, they were in trouble.
So this was the right answer. Enoch shifted his gaze to Alicia beside him and spoke.
"So, Alicia. You and I will launch a combined attack."
"Wh, what? You and me, a combined attack?!"
Alicia whipped around to face him and, with startled eyes, leaned her upper body back slightly.
Without even noticing the way her long ash-brown hair tangled, she stared at him in astonishment, and Enoch nodded at her.
"Yes. Each of us moves to the opposite side and strikes it. To bring it down for sure, we should hit it with the greatest possible force."
"Opposite sides, so we coordinate timing by feel? The target's so big, if we approach from opposite directions, won't it be hard to see each other?"
"Yes. That's also why it's less likely the enemy will notice us, with each of us approaching alone from different directions."
This 'opposite-direction' coordination was the key.
That way, even if Enoch used his sword, no one would see it.
To ensure the success of this operation, Enoch had no confidence that Alicia's force alone would be enough. If so, he had to add his own.
Conveniently, Enoch had the form he had inherited from the Sword Saint of the Waves — Lethal Strike — a sword technique that drove impact into the interior of its target, tearing up its insides without harming the exterior.
The same technique that had broken the dump-truck-sized chimera Ixion had summoned in the previous mining town through internal shock transmission, despite its hard carapace — a form with that kind of force.
Even if the target was a leader-class magical beast larger than that one, with a level of power that decisive, it was sure to land a telling blow.
But beside him, Alicia kept watching Enoch with a concerned expression.
"E, even if that's my intention — are you really going with me, Direct Lineage, the squad commander?"
"Yes. But if we're coordinating, it's meaningless if we hit from the same side."
To a somewhat surprised Alicia, Enoch nodded and glanced over at Indiviltal.
"If we're struck by a wide-area spell, both of us going down at once is the worst outcome."
"R, right. That's true."
Leaving Alicia — nodding with a flinch — behind, Enoch quietly averted his eyes without anyone noticing. As far as excuses went, this was a well-enough reason.
"You can do it, right, Alicia?"
"Yes! The target is huge, after all. Absolutely possible!"
From the tactical pouch at her skirt's side, Alicia drew out a special round.
On its jet-black surface, a cartridge inscribed with the white Victoria crest and initial came into view.
Gripping the special round — inscribed with Aslin's initial in an elegant script — Alicia clenched it firmly as if solidifying her resolve, and snapped her head up.
"Then, let's go!"
Enoch nodded. Then he glanced over at the silver-haired maid who had silently come to stand beside him at some point.
As their gazes met, Lien lowered her lashes slightly and took one polite step back.
"Then, I shall prepare a retreat route so that the two of you can move safely."
Lien said so succinctly and turned around wordlessly, walking off somewhere.
Having already heard the plan and realized a retreat route needed to be prepared after the strike, she had moved on her own accord with such natural ease that Enoch couldn't help but be impressed.
He'd thought she might worry about him being in danger while striking the enemy.
At the very least, her willing preparation of a retreat route meant he had earned that much trust from her up to now.
Of course, if she had confidence that he wouldn't die before striking the enemy, cutting a path ahead in advance was also far safer and more efficient.
Loading the special round into the lance and silently checking the chamber, Alicia advanced alongside Enoch.
As they moved, the full view of the enemy's main force, arrayed throughout the forest, unfolded plainly before their eyes.
A flying-type Experimental Subject, one wing torn off — perhaps from wounds sustained fighting Victoria's infantry and the freelancers — was stumbling its way along far in the distance.
Looking more closely, other Experimental Subjects were also missing legs or had arms torn off, showing that their condition was far from intact.
Every one of them had penetrating wounds in their heads, or cracked heart carapaces leaking liquid that glowed green.
Perhaps their brains or hearts had been partially damaged in battle, impairing the regeneration effect.
Though they had overwhelming numerical superiority, the Experimental Subjects' army was, in fact, not fighting in its best condition either.
If the magical beasts in this area were in such a state, it would clearly be easier to break through the encirclement and escape.
"Direct Lineage. I'm trembling a little."
Just then, a clear voice, out of place in this setting, whispered. It was the girl in the Dragoon uniform walking beside him — Alicia.
"Aren't you, Direct Lineage?"
"Well, I don't think that would be helpful."
"Ahaha. Yes, of course you wouldn't be, Direct Lineage."
Glancing over, Alicia's side profile was flushed slightly red. She smiled with a trace of relief and looked up at him intently.
"Still, somehow, knowing you're joining the attack with me, Direct Lineage, I feel we can definitely succeed."
"That's a relief."
Just then, a nearby Experimental Subject sensed their presence.
Exchanging glances wordlessly, Enoch and Alicia walked forward side by side through the rain. Enoch calmly, Alicia with her uniform skirt fluttering.
The two, having walked forward together, now swung wide in opposite directions around Indiviltal's massive body, beyond the curtain of forest.
As the distance grew and they could no longer see one another, at a certain moment they each halted on instinct.
Lifting his head in silence, Enoch fixed his gaze on the enormous enemy filling his field of view.
Even though he couldn't see Alicia, somehow he knew. That across from him — positions where they could not see each other — she and he were standing face to face, with Indiviltal between them.
Enoch slowly took a step forward. At the same time, he sensed Alicia, too, taking a step toward the enemy on the opposite side.
The steps of one who had made up their mind, no longer hiding.
His heart pounded and pounded.
He had to finish it in a single strike.
Enoch's Explosive Sword and Fire Wheel forms, based on mana-triggered detonation, as well as Alicia's magic-based bombardment, were techniques as far from stealth as possible.
If such techniques were detonated at once at the magical beasts' stronghold, it wasn't hard to imagine a fierce counterattack would follow.
Therefore, the only tactic available was strike-and-withdraw.
Lowering the cloth bag and drawing his sword — letting out a low, metallic keening — Enoch briefly glanced down.
His dark-blue eyes met their reflection on the silver-white blade.
It was a strange feeling.
In this merciless Magic Empire, his situation of fighting while concealing his sword talent had not yet changed. And yet, now, that he had comrades he could fight alongside.
Perhaps that was why his chest felt so full now. Caught in an exaltation he could not quite place even for himself, Enoch slowly raised his sword low to the side.
The Experimental Subjects around the camp, noticing the enemy suddenly in their midst, began shrieking with a racket of krrk-krrk, warning their comrades, but it was already too late.
Whoosh — a high sound of air being sliced rang out, and at the same moment, Enoch sprinted forward at explosive speed, spinning his whole sword in hand.
Though he couldn't see her, he vividly felt in his mind that Alicia, too, was sprinting toward him across the enemy, leaping, drawing her arm back.
Sword Saint of the Waves, Form 1──
"Dragoon Bombardment Art, Number Seven──!"
Enoch's one-handed sword tore through the air, its cross-guard dyed in blue light.
At the same time, with a mechanical clack, the casing of the jet-black special round — wreathed in brilliant mana light — ejected from Alicia's Bombardment Lance and bounced against the ground.
They could not see each other with the enemy between them, but in that fleeting instant Enoch was gripped by the conviction that he and Alicia — calling out in her clear voice from the other side — had made eye contact.
[Lethal Strike──]
"All Rounds Fire, Full Burst. Pierce through──!"
The cross-guard of the one-handed sword, delivering its precise strike, and the barrel of the modern magical lance, glowing crimson with searing brilliance, simultaneously drove into the belly of the Monarch Class, Indiviltal.
An instant later, the sound of impact roared out, and leaves still clinging to branches scattered as they shook the forest.
The ground at the epicenter collapsed, and huge rock slabs split apart and flew backward.
The special round — its power amplified by Aslin's mana — punched through the enemy's skin in an instant, triggering a massive crimson explosion inside Indiviltal's body.
From the opposite side, rather than hitting its exterior, Lethal Strike drove its shock directly into its interior, nullifying its armor and detonating. It sent layer upon layer of massive ripples through the entirety of Indiviltal's vast belly.
In rhythm with the rotation, Enoch drove the cross-guard of the unleashed sword hard into the enemy, and immediately pulled the sword back.
The glass-like skin of the magical beast Experimental Subject — reinforced against being crushed by gravity — tore apart, scattering in every direction.
Indiviltal let out an ear-rending scream and was at once on its way to vanishing from the world. Within the echoing death-shriek resounding through the forest, fragments of Indiviltal's shattered body exploded outward in every direction, blocking the view ahead completely and disintegrating into black ash.
Before the shocked gazes of the experimental magical beasts, Enoch swiftly sheathed the sword — on which blue mana had been projected — back into its scabbard and slung the cloth bag back over his back.
Through the rain, the wall of scattering black ash began to thin, and beyond it, the figure of Alicia came into view, her Dragoon uniform skirt fluttering.
Enoch realized that the mission to eliminate Indiviltal, commander of the magical beasts, had been completed.
Which meant now─
"Direct Lineage, quickly!"
At the same moment, Alicia and Enoch wheeled about, lowered their stances, and bolted.
Immediately, furious shouts like enraged cries erupted from behind them, and the very air began to shake.