Ch 176.1
I felt relief as I managed to save Bertram by a hair’s breadth. Bertram, who was behind me, called out to me.
「You saved me. Thank you. You are…?」
「More importantly, the fight has not ended yet.」
「Mm, you’re right.」
Bertram and I looked towards the ground and saw that within the white smoke, Tiamat’s long neck was raised.
…That’s strange, was that monster’s neck always that long?
As I was pondering, more heads appeared.
One after another, new heads continued to extend out from its body as they glared at us hatefully.
「I hope it isn’t… the Berserk Mode?」
A black dragon with eight heads appeared from the white smoke.
Boss-classed monsters would change their forms and get a power-up after their magic power was cut down by a certain amount.
Known as the Berserk Mode, this new state of the boss would significantly increase the difficulty in defeating it.
Tiamat
Level 255
Magic Power
99999999 / 99999999
The values shown on the Scout Scope were still at the maximum limit of the display.
「Although it depends on the monster, Berserk Mode is usually triggered after the magic power is reduced by half. That being said, can we assume that we have finally cut down Tiamat’s magic power by half? Good grief, what a tough monster.」
Bertram sighed as I agreed with him.
「But if we already shaved off half of its magic power with the attacks earlier, doesn’t that mean we should be able to go on and defeat it?」
「No, that may not be the case.」
Bertram pointed at the other Heavenly Mages who were battling with Tiamat in Berserk Mode.
Unlike before, they were having a hard time against Tiamat whose number of heads had increased, which significantly diminished their opportunities for attack.
In any case, the bigger problem was that the counter-attacks could not damage Tiamat at all.
By that, I don’t mean that it was because Scout Scope’s display of the magic power was capped at its maximum limit.
Rather, Tiamat didn’t look like it was receiving damage from the attacks of Yera and the rest.
It was likely that Tiamat’s defense had increased together with the activation of its Berserk Mode. Earlier, Tiamat could be held back by the massive firepower, but now those attacks did not work against it.
Tiamat was disregarding all of the attacks from the Heavenly Mages. What an impenetrable defense.
「Uuu…Uuu…!!」
With a low growl, Tiamat took a step forward as a cloud of dust rose around it.
In the meantime, the magic of the Heavenly Mages and the Dispatched Mages continued to pour down on it, but they could no longer stop it.
「Hey Bertram, do you have any good ideas?」
「Um, unfortunately, the attack earlier was already the maximum firepower I can muster.」
Bertram calmly asserted.
「Hey hey, while you may be saying that, don’t you have another card hidden up your sleeve? You’re the strongest among the five Heavenly Mages, right?」
「Some people may call me that, but I only think of myself as a normal mage. I don’t have any unique magic after all.」
「Are you kidding me…」
While muttering that, I cast Scout Scope on Bertram.
Bertram Cabel
Level 96
Magic Level
Red: 99/99
Blue: 72/76
Green: 75/85
Sky: 77/90
Soul: 60/88
Magic Power
245/6226
The magic spells that Bertram knows… are only just the basic spells.
He doesn’t hold any unique spells? I can’t say that I’m not surprised, but to make up for that, all his magic spells are at a high level.
In particular, all the magic spells of the Red system have their levels raised to their limits.
In this era, it is not considered a good idea to raise the levels of each system in a balanced manner… Despite that, Bertram had done that well, with the Red system as his main focus.
With a terrifyingly acute sense of magic and a good grasp of his maximum levels of each magic system, Bertram must have trained himself with high efficiency.
To have spent that much time raising his magic levels, it made sense that he wouldn’t have spare time to pick up unique magic spells.
In addition, unique spells were usually awakened when one was triggered by excessive negative emotions such as despair. For a person like Bertram who is blessed with talent, he probably never experienced such emotions.
「Is there something on my face? I don’t feel good about being stared at so closely.」
Bertram spoke with a gentle voice, but from those eyes, I could feel a subtle sense of intimidation towards me.
He could’ve discovered that I had cast Scout Scope on him.
To keep him from noticing, I had mixed in other magic while casting the spell though… I guess it’s better not to use Scout Scope on a high-leveled mage after all.
…That being said, I learned quite a lot from it. Hehe. It’s valuable intel that he doesn’t know any unique spells.
「It’s nothing. More importantly, that monster.」
「Hmm, you’re right.」
Before our eyes, Tiamat was advancing leisurely.
To break its strong guard, quintuple-fusion magic is required… and it would have to be done with a great magic spell.
Even if I used the Great Divine Sword Ainbelle and matched my timing with Milly’s, the most we can do is a triple-fusion spell.
Only the people who have a good understanding of the flow of my magic in my magic lines, or mages who have trained to their limits, would be able to perform a fusion spell.
Those mages there… Wait, don’t we have mages here who have trained to their limits?
「Bertram, I have an idea.」
「What’s the matter?」
「Uhh, can I get you to gather the other Heavenly Mages?」
Bertram shot me a look of curiosity as I grinned back in return.
「…I see, can you do something like that?」
「Frankly speaking, I have not done it before and I don’t know if it can be done. I also don’t have proof that we can defeat the monster with this… However, I think it is worth a try.」
「That’s true. We don’t have any other ideas either… I understand, I’ll call the four of them.」
Bertram quickly agreed, but I still had my doubts.
It’s great that it didn’t take much to convince him… but isn’t he too trustful of me?
Earlier it seemed like he discovered that I had used Scout Scope on him, but he didn’t find fault with me either.
「Bertram, is it right to put your trust in me so easily? I mean, of course, I’m not scheming anything, but am I not a complete stranger to you?」
「Hm, you’re unexpectedly ignorant about yourself, Zeph Einstein.」
「Why do you know my name…?」
Seeing the shock written on my face, Bertram grinned.
Oh right, even Sherrod knew about me.
Did Yera tell them about me? No, I don’t think she was that type of person.
If they had watched Urohime’s title match, I guess they would know my name at least. Even so, I don’t think he would trust me with just that alone.
I gave Bertram a quizzical look as he resolved my doubts.
「I heard about you from my daughter, Elise. Didn’t you rescue her when she was caught by the bandits? Once again, I’d like to extend my gratitude for that.」
Bertram bowed his head.
I was a little bewildered at his unexpected gesture.
「Ah, ah… Yes, that did happen.」
「Sometimes when we meet, Elise would talk about you. I heard that you’ve been fighting with a fair number of black monsters. That girl doesn’t even talk about me with her eyes sparkling like that… That makes me a little jealous. Hahaha.」
「Ha…Hahaha…」
Elise’s name came up in an unexpected place.
However, thanks to her, I’ve gained a reasonable level of trust from Bertram.
…Though, I’m glad that Elise hasn’t had the chance to tell him about what happened earlier, where I mistook her for an intruder and pushed her against the wall.
「Therefore, if you say that it’s possible, then why don’t I take you up on your plan?」
Saying that, Bertram held out his rough hand.
In response, I, too, held out my hand and gave his hand a firm shake.
「Mm, let’s just try as many things as we can. That gigantic dragon is not an opponent we can defeat without us joining forces in battle.」
「Yeah. We, the Heavenly Mages, feel the same way.」
With just a handshake, I could feel the toughness of Bertram’s magic lines, so much that I subconsciously held my breath.
The quality of his magic, which must have been obtained through considerable amounts of training, far surpasses mine even during my peak in my past life.
So this is history’s strongest Heavenly Mage huh… Well, someday I’ll definitely beat him.
「Then, I’ll call everyone over. Give me a moment.」
「Got it.」
While Bertram contacted the other Heavenly Mages using telepathy, I wondered if there was a good place to carry out our plan.
It’s important to pick the right place. If we picked a bad spot, the monster could hinder us before we activate the spell.
We also need some time to have everybody at the ready.
If it’s that place – – As I had that thought, Milly’s voice resounded in my head.
《Zeph! Where are you and what are you doing!?》
《Oh, Milly?》
That reminds me, I forgot that I had left Milly behind earlier.
When I looked towards Milly from far away, I saw that she had just defeated a Mushussu.
Had she been fighting alone after I left?
《I was speaking with Bertram. We were trying to think of a way to defeat that Tiamat.》
《Really!? …But, is that possible?》
Milly sounded worried and I replied with a smile.
《Yeah. However, we would need your help with that.》
《Mm… got it! I’ll do anything I can!》
You said you’d do anything huh. That’s admirable.
《Ok then, listen up. What we’re about to do requires the right time and place. Someone has to distract Tiamat in the meantime to buy us time, and to act as bait.》
《That’s what I’m supposed to do, right?》
《Exactly. Milly, can you ride on Uruk and lure Tiamat to our desired location?》
《Understood!》
Milly cut off communications immediately after.
Hey, I haven’t given you the location details yet, you idiot.
I had to re-establish communications to inform that reckless Milly of the location.
…I’m feeling uneasy. Just in case, I should tell Silverie that I will need her support.
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