The ground shook with the thunder of cannons and explosions. Incessant warning broadcasts blared. The sound of automatic armors moving filled the air. The battle had begun suddenly, accompanied by a cacophony of noise.
[Enemy attack! Enemy attack!] [Right flank under attack by suspected [Spindle of Eternity]!] [All artillery units to positions! Positions!] [Fire at intruders!!]
Vrrrrmmm――! Beep――! Thud― Clank, clank!
< Svart Industrial High School > students deployed the magical weapons they had developed without hesitation.
As triggers were pulled and activation devices initiated, weapons launched projectiles towards suspected enemy hiding spots. Red ether projectiles illuminated the sky, firing frantically into the darkness of the wilderness.
Boom――! Tututututututu!!
It looked like a crimson downpour falling from the dark sky.
Under the rain of red ether, Dark elf girls fired magical weapons indiscriminately.
According to President Andrea's orders, dark elves in magical armor were stationed in their positions. They sensed that something had begun, but ironically, few knew the exact situation.
Feeling an unconscious sense of crisis, they pulled the triggers of their heavy ether machine guns, shouting as they fired into the air.
Voices of confused < Svart Industrial High School > students filled the chaos.
“What’s going on?! Are we attacking now?! President Andrea said we were just holding out!!” “I don’t know, why are you asking me?!!” “They said it’s an enemy attack!! [Spindle of Eternity] is attacking!!” “Enemy attack?! Why would [Spindle of Eternity] attack us?!” “I don’t know!! I don’t know―!!”
Excitement from the sudden start of the battle. Their entire bodies trembled, hearts pounding. Ragged breaths of dark elf students gasping for air. Their voices grew louder due to shortness of breath.
“Aaaah!! I didn’t think we’d actually have to shoot!!” “Hurry!! Get the ‘sleek armor’ started!! What if they come here!!” “I’m trying my best, seriously―!!” “Damn!!!”
A dark elf girl, eyes gleaming, shouted while gripping the machine gun handles. She glanced around frantically, trying to spot traces of the purple ether.
“Where is it?! Has anyone seen the purple?!” “I don’t know!! Just shoot everything in front of you!!”
Boom――! Tututututututu!!
“Guys!! I got the orders!!”
Orders came from a beastman aristocrat in command. An armored girl who received precise attack orders from the communication officer shouted.
“Right ridge!! Aim and fire at the right ridge!!” “Where do I aim?! I can’t see!!” “Just turn the barrel and shoot, shoot, shoot!!” “Aaaaaaah―!!”
Boom――! Tututututututu!!
Some fired without receiving orders, while others followed ever-changing instructions from the commanders, sending magical projectiles haphazardly. They soared through the air, resembling a red Milky Way.
‘I hope Rota is hiding well…’
Under the red Milky Way, I was running at full speed, carrying Freya on my back. Ether lights flashed through the air with each step I took.
Tap tap tap tap―!
Dodging through numerous fire paths. Weapons aimed at my head missed. I sprinted through a world that moved in slow motion.
Tap tap tap tap―!
I moved smoothly through the battlefield as if on a leisurely walk. Occasionally, I stepped lightly on the shoulders of dark elf students, using them as stepping stones.
Tap―!
A group of astonished dark elves passed beneath my feet.
-What was that?! -Who is that pink blur?! How is it so fast?! -That’s [Spindle of Eternity] on its back!!
Leaving behind the cries of dozens of dark elf girls, I headed towards the next target.
“Let's go―☆”
Holding the busy chanting Freya, I twisted my body slightly.
Swoosh―! Boom―!
A distant machine gunshot aimed at us missed. I had sensed the danger for some time, so dodging wasn't too difficult.
-Damn…!! It dodged that?! -What is it?!
I couldn't help but chuckle at the panicked < Svart Industrial High School > students.
‘Just see, run, and dodge…’
I usually racked my brains like Zhuge Liang, but now, following someone else's lead, I realized how relaxing and leisurely it was.
‘If only the world were peaceful…’
Using my brain was exhausting. Though I lived as a strategist in chaotic times, I truly desired a life following orders.
‘Freya seems to trust my physical skills…’
Freya must have completely trusted my presence detection ability. She paid no attention to me, mechanically preparing her skill behind me.
“[Spindle of Eternity], activate, maximum range, precise strike.” “Yes♪ Tea time under a purple shower―☆”
[Spindle of Eternity] was ready to activate again.
‘Now, where should we unleash this?’
With a surprisingly calm mind, I planned our route. I moved through the battlefield, letting Freya automatically unleash her attacks.
This division of labor was incredibly convenient.
‘Dividing attacks and movement between us makes my mind free. Unlike Albit’s team, which must carefully plan escape routes, we just distract and charge.’
I confirmed Freya’s readiness and prepared to leap into the air. All I had to do was charge towards the indicated target.
“Here we go―♪”
With my trusty legs, which still retained their incredible speed, I jumped high into the air, carrying two girls effortlessly.
“Here we go☆”
Woooom――!
Feeling the wind in mid-air.
The sound of wind brushing past my ears. A brief moment of suspension. During which Freya gestured towards a target, speaking timidly.
“Th-That spot to the left… head there, rogue…!” “Where exactly? There are so many targets♪” “Can’t you see… th-there are so many weapons…! Idiot…!” “Understood―☆”
Ah, I see. Freya pointed with her wand, purple ether shimmering. There, many students adjusted the directions of their magical weapons.
‘Okay. Adjusting course. We need to neutralize their firepower so Albit’s team can break through.’
That’s what we came here for, after all.
‘Now that my ether is replenished enough for movement…!’
I aimed my legs towards the gathering magical weapons. With a tightening feeling in my lower abdomen, my body’s ether activated, and we began our descent.
Descending like a meteor, I accelerated, feeling the impact approaching.
“My kick shows no mercy―☆”
Freya screamed at my words, covering herself in purple ether.
“Again with that?! Can’t you stop this insanity…?! How… how barbaric…?!” “Oh dear, this is ladylike compared to what I did in my first year―♪”
“You insane…! If you keep this up…?!”
“Unless it's a gust punch, we’re fine―☆ Let’s finish this and get back to Rota―☆”
Ignoring Freya’s protests, I focused ether into my feet, preparing for the impact.
Tap―☆
Activating the faint ether, Heat surged to my toes. A pink meteor descended from the sky.
Swoooosh――!
Drawing a massive trajectory, We plummeted from the sky in a straight line. I strengthened my outstretched leg, shouting.
“Pink☆Love☆Kick―!!” “Aaaaah!!”
Freya screamed, protecting herself with purple ether.
“Here we go―☆”
With a faint red ether around my leg, I trusted the strength of my well-trained body, delivering a flying kick towards the dark elf’s stronghold.
‘Not as strong as a special move, but it’ll do.’
Take this, elves. This is the sheer power of my kick.
Boom――!
A heavy impact and a thunderous noise. An invisible shockwave knocked the girls firing cannons off their feet, scattering them like leaves in a storm.
“Uwaah!!” “Kyaa!!” “Aaah!!”
In the fierce shockwave, Wind roared, and the ground trembled. Elves and beastmen aristocrats flew in panic.
“Khut!”
In the aftermath, Freya swung her wand towards the remaining magical weapons.
“…Fire!”
Purple afterimages spread from the wand, forming a giant purple spindle. As the spindle turned, Freya unleashed the stored spells, firing them continuously.
Woooooom――!
[Spindle of Eternity]
Ether calculation and release. Two fundamental specs for magicians. A computational device aiding these functions to their utmost limit.
Purple weapons poured out from Freya’s ether skill. Lighting the dark sky like purple meteor showers. Purple rain of destruction fell unrelentingly. Thousands of purple weapons glimmered.
Boom――!
A deafening noise as if thousands of soldiers dropped their weapons simultaneously. Countless weapons rained down, forming purple trails, devastating hundreds of meters around.
Boom――! Crash! Crash! Crash!
Endless thunderous noise.
“...” “...”
Silence returned eventually.
Shuuu…
Only the sound of unconscious students and debris in the devastated stronghold remained.
I sighed internally, secretly complaining. Freya was just as reckless.
‘She’s just as brute with her power.’
The violence of mass… sheer firepower. A terrifying display of destruction. An ideal manifestation of a magician-type ether ability.
‘But without physical enhancements, she’s a weak kitten when unable to prepare her skills…’
Contemplating this, I smelled the burnt scent of debris and asked Freya. We needed to keep moving to disrupt the encirclement over several kilometers.
“Where to next…”
At that moment, A loud noise erupted from the debris. It was an armored automaton. It rose with its black, massive body and golden markings.
Wooooom――
The automated armored doll readied itself. Miraculously surviving among the destroyed dozens.
Despite the relentless bombardment, it remained connected to the dungeon gate and blessing cables. Even in a half-charged state, it operated like a phone on a charging cable.
‘I moved fast to prevent this…’
The automaton, with its 3-meter imposing frame, stared at us menacingly.
“...” “...”
Freya tapped my shoulder, suggesting,
“L-Let’s just avoid it. [Spindle of Eternity] needs time… it won’t chase us far, being tethered…” “...” “L-Let’s move, rogue.” “...”
Well. That’s a bit… It looks like it could be taken down in one shot. Running feels… undignified. If it rampages towards Albit’s team…
“...”
Hesitation…
I glanced at the cracked core of the automaton. It leaked ether blessings dangerously.
‘Just one shot…’
I gently set Freya down. She screamed in panic.
“Y-You crazy pink horse…?!” “Hehe―☆ Even without ether skills, there are moments when a girl must stand her ground―♪” “Y-You crazy…!”
Ignoring her rude remarks, I picked up a discarded black helmet, wearing it. Lowering the visor, I slowly advanced.
‘Go wild again! Unbreakable physique! This body, at the peak of solo character growth, will not break!’
Resolving thus, I took a stance reminiscent of a sprinter. Wrapping faint ether around my helmet, I prepared to launch.
Thud―!
The massive automaton moved first. It charged menacingly like a moving fortress.
“...!”
I gathered focus in my head, pushing off with a powerful stride.
Tap!
A shockwave burst from my feet, shaking the air. Air resistance struck me like wind. I charged towards the automaton like a human missile.
Launching a Pretty☆Missile.
Swooooosh――!
Wind whistled through the visor slits… impact approached. I clenched my teeth.
Approaching impact. I shot through like a bullet.
Crunch! Crunch! Boom――!
Momentary darkness. And then visible sky. The sound of a collapsing automaton…
‘Hehe, done.’
I had destroyed the automaton using the ether concentrated in the helmet. A legendary tale I wanted to share with someone.
Tap tap! I landed lightly, imitating a gymnast's pose, ready to boast to Freya.
But then… an odd sensation hit my body.
‘Ether depletion? No…?’
A warm, familiar. Golden aura seeped from the automaton's core. Like dandelion fluff, faint lights approached me.
“…!”
As they touched my body, Thoughts of the original Clara came to mind. For my sake, the girl accepted the name Urd. Urd's smiling face in the stars flashed by.
-Keep going―☆
‘I’m… recovering.’
Familiar ether recovery blessing. Not as much as before, but enough for a fight. Enough to wield 2nd stage ether freely.
“You’re insane… recovering from injuries… how far will your recklessness go…”
Freya looked at me with astonishment, speaking in disbelief.