Ch 176.2
Bertram and I stood atop the clock tower that was symbolic of the capital of Prolea. At this spot where we could get a good view of Tiamat’s movements, we waited for the other Heavenly Mages to arrive. After a short moment, a shadow of a girl appeared while wrapped in wind, as she landed on the edge of the tower.
It was Yera. She appeared surprised to see me as her eyes were widened.
「You suddenly called, so I came over… But I did not expect to see Zeph here.」
「…Hm, I knew it was you.」
Sherrod, who we met earlier, arrived after Yera.
「Oh, isn’t it Zeph-san!」
This time it was Urohime. She softly flew down to land on the tower while holding on to a white bird, which was probably her familiar.
「Yo, we meet again.」
「Yes, I did not think that I would be able to meet you again so soon though… Kyaa!?」
Behind the smiling Urohime, a giant shadow landed with a thud.
It was Rhox Giganmeil.
It seems like he had scaled up the tower with his strength. What a freakish athletic ability.
「Oh, did I keep you guys waiting?」
Rhox smiled refreshingly, showing his white teeth.
I heard that he had a large build unlike that of a mage, but this was my first time seeing him up close. He is quite big-sized, as expected.
Rhox stood in front of me and scrutinized me with great interest.
He was about two heads taller than me. I could tell that his build was not for show, as both his body and his magic have been trained to their limits.
「I’ve heard many rumors about you. You are that… Ze… Ze~…」
…Rhox seemed to be at a loss for words as he couldn’t say my name. In frustration, Yera kicked him.
「It’s Zeph! Didn’t I tell you before? It’s just four letters, can’t you remember it?」
「Ohh, right right! It was Zeph! Gahaha!」
Rhox guffawed.
He seems a little odd in the head. Is that okay for a Green Heavenly Mage?
After laughing for a while, Rhox glared at me with a piercing gaze.
「Hmm, Bertram and Yera have been yapping about you, so I thought you were someone great… but you’re tiny!」
How rude, for a first meeting.
For the record, I’m not tiny. It’s you who is too big.
Rhox rested a hand on my head as he turned to face Bertram.
「Hey, Bertram. Even if he borrows our strength, I cannot possibly see how this tiny person can defeat that black dragon, though!? I don’t understand what you’re thinking.」
「Isn’t it because you have muscles for brains, Rhox?」
I’m not someone who would simply let him continue prattling on. I gripped Rhox’s hand with my artificial arm and put strength into it.
However, Rhox looked like he was amused instead, as he returned the grip with all his strength.
Sounds of creaking metal were heard from the prosthetic.
What crazy strength. My artificial arm has a grip that was strong enough to smash a log, and yet his grip was evenly matched with it… No, it’s even stronger.
Rhox grinned as he loosened his grip.
At that rate, my prosthetic would have been crushed.
「…」
「Hm, so all we have to do is to attack that monster until it can no longer move. If we combine our strength with the association’s mages, there’s no way we won’t be able to defeat it.」
Everyone was speechless at Rhox’s confident declaration.
Did this guy not see how their attacks were futile in the fight earlier?
He’s so much of an idiot that it boggles the mind.
「…Certainly, there’s nothing you can’t defeat if you put in enough effort. However, how many days would that take? In that time, how much more of the city would be destroyed? What about rescuing the people who were unable to escape in time?」
「Ugh… A-about that…」
At my reply, Rhox hemmed and hawed around.
You can’t even come up with a rebuttal? As I thought, he’s the type of person whose brains have been replaced by muscles.
Seeing Rhox stammer, Bertram cut in.
「It’s fine, isn’t it? In any case, we don’t have many options now. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to go with Zeph’s idea, would it?」
「I concur with Bertram. What do Uro and Sherrod think?」
Urohime nodded at Yera’s comment.
「I have no problems with it.」
「We could just give it a try. Whether it’s useful or not is another story.」
He seemed to be implying something else, but Sherrod also agreed with the plan.
Being cornered by the majority, Rhox clenched his jaw and glared at me as he spat out his opinion.
「…Tch. But if we don’t defeat it with this plan, I hope you’ll know what happens next.」
「Yeah, if that happens, we’ll go with Rhox’s plan, or whatever other plan we can come up with.」
「Hm, then let’s hear the plan.」
Rhox plonked himself down on the stone steps and jerked his chin towards me, signaling me to hurry and speak.
I regained my composure and began to explain my plan.
「That black dragon… Ah, it’s a mouthful to call it that, so let’s call it Tiamat for convenience’s sake. Tiamat’s armor is so tough that even the attacks by the five Heavenly Mages cannot damage it.」
「We already know that!」
Rhox raised his voice. It felt like he was frustrated about it but had to admit that it was true.
「However, it’s a different story for my fusion magic… Take a look at this.」
I cast Time Square, followed by Red Ball, Blue Ball, Green Ball, Black Ball and White Ball during the pause in time.
The result is a quintuple-fusion magic, Platinum Slash.
The platinum-colored light pierced through a Mushussu, splitting it into half before it vanished.
「Wow… What an interesting skill.」
「Did you mix various spells together? How fascinating… I’ve never seen this type of magic before.」
Seeing my Platinum Slash, Sherrod and Bertram exclaimed in wonder.
Nonetheless, Rhox snorted.
「Hah, that’s no big deal. I can beat that little monster with just one hit. I’m sure the rest could do that too?」
「I guessed so. Though, that was when I used my unique magic to fuse low-tier magic spells. If I fused mid-tier spells, the power would be several times of that. If I fused high-tier, great magic spells, the power would increase by several dozen times…」
「I see… You’re saying that we should replicate that with higher-leveled magic spells? But your magic power won’t last.」
「Yeah, that is why I would like to borrow your strength.」
I grinned while Bertram continued speaking.
「That’s right, we, the five Heavenly Mages, will fuse our Zero spells and activate them together.」
His declaration caused a stir among the Heavenly Mages, as all of their facial expressions changed.
If we fused the extreme magic, Zero, from all five of the Heavenly Mages, that should be able to get rid of even Tiamat.
「Are there no objections?」
My idea must have taken away their breaths.
After everyone gave their approval, I began to explain the battle strategy.
Milly would lure Tiamat, then the fusion magic spell would be used to crush it.
The detailed procedure would be up to their discretion, because there was no idea how the actual events would play out.
「…And that’s all for the plan. My companion will lure Tiamat for us, so all we’ve got to do is to match our timings and attack it.」
「…Hm, well fine by me.」
Rhox seemed to be slightly displeased, but he reluctantly agreed with the plan.
The other Heavenly Mages also nodded silently.
This is all thanks to Bertram’s trust in me, I guess. …Somehow, Yera was looking super excited though.
「Haaah~ To think that a day where the five Heavenly Mages would put our powers together would come! I’m starting to get excited!」
With an enthusiastic person like Yera, things would be much easier.
On the other hand, Sherrod and the rest were mostly silent while I was briefing them.
「Even so, is it really possible to lure that monster all the way here? That little girl looks like she’s having quite a tough fight.」
「Hmm…」
Rhox was watching Milly as she battled with Tiamat while mounted on Uruk.
No, calling it a ‘battle’ sounds good, but what she was doing was no different from just flying around Tiamat.
Naturally, she was having a tough fight because her target was not being controlled the way she wanted.
「Rather than that, won’t it be better if we just went over there?」
「It’s better not to do that.」
Sherrod interrupted as he pushed his glasses back.
「Zeph’s so-called fusion magic was that powerful with just low-tier spells. If we fused the Zero spells of the five Heavenly Mages, I have not the slightest idea how much power would be released. If we fired that spell from the ground, even if Tiamat may be defeated, the surrounding streets would also be seriously damaged. …That is why we ought to aim at Tiamat at an angle, from the top of this tower.」
「It is as you’ve guessed. If possible, I would like you all to lie in wait here.」
Precisely, even Platinum Break, which was formed from mid-tier spells, possessed sufficient power to destroy the landscape.
In order to suppress the damage to the minimum, the best method is to stand on the tallest tower of the capital of Prolea and fire towards the ground.
By shooting to the ground at some angle, in the worst case, it will only leave a big hole in the ground.
However, if we used this attack in an unsuitable place, the whole city could be wiped out.
That is why I had Milly act as bait to lure Tiamat over.
「Nevertheless, Milly-chan is having a hard time.」
「The available dispatched mages are heading over to support her. We’ll just have to trust and wait.」
On Sherrod’s order, mages from all over the city were gathering.
《…Milly, that’s the current situation. Backup is on the way, so hang in there.》
《S…Somehow… I will hold on…!》
Milly was able to respond, but she seems to be nearing her limit.
Hmm, guess I’ll cheer her on a little.
《After we’re done with this, let’s go shopping for something you’d like.》
《…I’m not a child, you know? I’m not going to be baited with something like that.》
Was it my imagination, or did Milly sound slightly elated?
Well, when Milly is enthusiastic, she tends to be able to display more of her potential.
When flattered, even a pig will climb a tree.
《…Then, after this battle is over, let’s go shopping together!》
《Yeah, fight on, Milly.》
《Mm!》
With an enthusiastic reply, Milly cut off communications.
Discussing plans for after the battle makes me somewhat uneasy though… Seriously, please be careful, Milly. Don’t go dying on me.
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