Chapter 212: The Key that Unlocks the Door to Despair

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When the sun had not yet set……

On my way to find the remaining members of the Heroic Sword, I found two men.

Based on their outward features, one of them was Nana Tout.

The other one——- turned out to be one of the strongest members, Satsuki.

Naturally, I had no intention of going head-to head with him——–

Making use of a surprise attack, I entangled the two of them.

As a result, Nana Tout, who was under , was cut down by Satsuki.

Incidentally, at that time, Satsuki was already under my

.

I also added to that Satsuki.

Next, I used ’s . (T/N: It was just called Target Designation before, but 

I established the target of his consciousness and guided Satsuki with it.

To where exactly?

Of course, it’s back to the others.

The “Final Blade”, Satsuki, is considered as one of the two strongest swordsmen in the world.

However, before I could understand the meaning of his second name, he fell under the influence of my spell.

However, his reputation really precedes him, as I understood that he was extraordinarily strong.

If I had fought him head on, I would have been no match for him.

He was far superior to Civit’s cronies, the Five Dragon Warriors.

However, that’s only……

“If I fought him head on.”

If he were caught in the spider’s sticky web—— He will end up like the others.

As long as you get caught in my plan, it wouldn’t matter how strong he is.

Satsuki and the others seemed to have underestimated the pressure that I, who had been lurking nearby, was releasing.

They probably sensed the presence of Pigimaru, who was with me, and thought that the people lurking around were just really insignificant opponents.

People wouldn’t always be wary of just any people, they would only be wary of more powerful opponents.

It would be different if it was a weaker opponent whose strength is approaching his.

It’s rare for a strong person to be wary of someone with a significantly weaker strength than him.

The higher the ability to estimate the opponent’s strength, the more powerful he or she is——

—-and that’s the kind of opponent I fought against.

I started guiding Satsuki’s berserked body along while making sure that Slei was following us from far back just as I instructed.

Eventually, we reached the place where I think the other members of the Heroic Sword were.

The plan was to have Satsuki charge at them and divert away their caution.

If their friend who was under attack, they would be shaken—— and an opening I could take advantage of would open up.

While slipping into the darkness, I will round up the rest of the members who are bewildered by Satsuki’s charge.

I would also make a surprise attack from a distance using my combination technique with Pigimaru.

That’s what I had originally planned.

However, that plan turned out to be foiled.

They had built some sort of protective wall.

Moreover, there was something unnatural about that wall.

I’m sure that wall wasn’t made from wood or stone.

How should I say this……

It was as if the image of a white sandstorm was being projected onto a large set of extremely thin LCDs.

Perhaps, this wall was due to the power of a magic tool.

The plan that I had initially prepared——– because of that wall, it went awry.

The Abnormal State Skill that I was planning to use during my combination technique with Pigimaru……

Its activation condition includes “Visibility of the Target”.

Only the skill is exempted from that condition.

This “visibility” doesn’t necessarily have to be the “whole body” though.

What is important is whether I have recognition of the target or not.

If the rate of my recognition of my target is low, there’s a large possibility that the skill won’t work.

What is certain is to get as much visual information about the target as possible.

And at this position, it was unlikely that I would be able to get enough recognition to trigger my skill.

There were some gaps in the wall, and I could see that there were people inside.

However,even if I waited, it was unlikely that I would be able to secure what could be called reliable recognition.

Their sense of caution is unusually strong.

It’s as if they were frightened about having their figures being caught in sight……

However, that’s where one question arose.

“Do these people know the condition for activating my Abnormal State Skills?”

No——– That is unlikely.

I immediately denied that possibility.

It’s because there would be inconsistencies that would appear if they knew about my existence or my skills in advance.

If they knew, Toad would have been able to pinpoint what was done to him.

However, Toad didn’t seem to have any idea why his body wasn’t able to move.

Nana Tout and Satsuki would have also been cautious if they had known about it.

That means, they don’t even know that my Abnormal State Skills exist.

Which means——–

“That wall is simply used as a barrier in case of a surprise attack from arrows or other long-range weapons.”

Now, I’m hiding from a distance and trying to understand the situation……

Was having that kind of thought good?

Then, the battle is still in my favor.

They still didn’t know what kind of attack I would use.

I decided to arrange the task of clearing this.

In the meantime, Satsuki noticed the presence of the remaining members of the Heroic Sword.

Turning towards them, I saw that Satsuki was already running towards their defensive wall.

At this distance, if I just move poorly, I’ll let them know my position.

The distance between the other members of the Heroic Sword is also far.

At this distance, ——– is also out of range.

I don’t have any choice but to give up on controlling Satsuki here.

So, I let him go by himself.

Eventually, I heard confused squawkings.

While they did that, I started to arrange the task of clearing this again…….

My first goal is to get close to one of those gaps.

In this situation, the usual “keep them at bay” won’t be enough to clear this.

This time, it’s all about a matter of “visibility”.

However, if I can peek through one of those gaps, I will be able to have a great amount of information on them.

It’s almost certain that I will be able to reach a level of recognition that I will be able to use my Abnormal State Skill.

The risk of failing to activate my Skills for the first time is particularly high for these kinds of opponents.

Therefore, this time, I want to set up the conditions that will increase the certainty of activation as much as possible.

Most of all, if I can get in front of that wall and peek through a gap, I should be able to cast my skill in all of them at the same time……

[……………………]

The question is, how do I get that close?

I heard the word “Ruin” being shouted by someone among their ruckus.

That should mean that one of the people inside that wall is the the other one of the strongest members of the Heroic Sword, Ruin Seal.

Now that Satsuki has appeared in that state, they will be more cautious.

I need to create an opening so that I can approach……

The difficulty of this is quite high.

I took a step backwards.

Then, I gave an order to Slei, who has been waiting in standby beside me.

[Use your eight legs and run like there are two horses running around.]

Immediately after we parted from Seras and the others, I had already made Slei take her third form.

While I’m pouring magic power into the half-sphere at the back of her neck, it would emit light.

That light could be seen by others, showing our location to others.

So, I let her transform beforehand.

Why did I bring Slei with me this time?

It’s simple.

Slei’s presence greatly expands the scope of my strategy.

Pigimaru.

Slei.

For creating an opening on the enemies——- their existence are really great help.

[——-Take this route. I want you to maintain a good distance from them. Be extra vigilant about any arrows or any long-ranged attack they send to you.]

[Bururuuuu.]

[And, as for Pigimaru——–]

[Pigiii.]

[After Slei gives you a ride around, I want you to go over there and get as huge as you can. Once you get huge, you can go right back to your original size——— The purpose of being huge is to make your presence known to them.]

I look back once in the direction of Ruin and his group before I continue.

[After a few seconds or so after you start moving, I’ll go call out to them once and choose the right words. My voice should grab their attention for a second.]

At that moment, their attention would turn away from the moving Pigimaru and Slei.

Diverting away their awareness…

I then removed the Gem of Voice Amplification from my Fly King mask.

[After showing your presence through Gigantification———]

I handed the Gem of Voice of Amplification to Pigimaru.

Dexterously using his protrusion, Pigimaru held it in his embrace.

[Squeal as loud as you can.]

[Pii~~!]

The sound of Slei’s footsteps.

The sudden appearance of a humongous slime.

And then——– its deafeningly loud cry shaking the air.

With these three factors, an opening will be created.

Meanwhile, I will go as close as I can to that defensive wall.

[Your life may be at risk on this mission. If you’re afraid, you can go back to where Seras and the others are…… Rest assured, I won’t blame you.]

Whether it’s Pigimaru……

Or Slei……

Neither of them slightly moved.

“What’s the point of telling that to us now?”

—or so their expressions seem to tell me.

Even though I’m feeling thankful, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

[When this is over…… If something that looks good comes out of the magic leather bag, I’ll give you guys my share.]

[Puyuu♪]

[Pakyuu♪]

I silently nodded once.

With that gesture, Pigimaru and Slei responded.

Standing up, I put on my Fly King mask.

And that——— is the signal for the start of the operation.

▽

The whole operation was going on as planned.

[PIIGGGGGGGGGGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII——————-!!!!!!]

Pigimaru, who had returned to his original size after becoming a giant, let out a cry as we had discussed.

As for what’s left——-

[——— ———–]

As I started running, I activated .

Pigimaru’s squeal drowns out my voice when I activate it.

is a skill that makes all the targets within range slow except for me.

For the opponents that are within range, it may look like I’m moving at super speed.

But in reality, it was just my opponents that are slow.

In a slow world, where everything is slow——– they would become sluggish.

Yes.

Even their reflexes.

For me whose basic abilities are inferior to Ruin Seal, this is the way I could “get close” to him.

This moment——– This is the kind of situation where I need to use it.

I need to hurry.

Both Slei and Pigimaru…

As long as they’re not concealing their presence and emitting those sounds, they would be their targets.

If the enemy has a means to attack them from long-range, they immediately attack them.

I need to hurry——– However, I must remain calm.

Keep calm until the last moment, until I’ve finally killed them.

Make sure that my presence remains hidden.

Quickly stepping on the grass and soil, I run.

During the course of the operation, the Heroic Sword began throwing balls of light everywhere.

Perhaps, they are some sort of magic tool.

My figure is also illuminated by that light and is exposed.

However, their attention has been completely stolen away by Pigimaru at the moment.

———I finally closed in on the protective wall.

They’re now within the range of the world of slowness.

And then, after I reached the end of my goal……

Audaciously and discreetly……

[———————–]

Target distance——— Reached.

Immediately after, I deactivated .

I can see them.

All four of them.

I have recognition of all of them.

My arms have already been thrust forward.

And then……

[ ]

That’s when I noticed……

There’s one of them……

That person turned around and looked over his shoulder, and his eyes caught me.

However……

[You———-]

It’s already too late.

[Since when have you been theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeee—————————!?]

This is……

[Well then———]

——-the end of the line for all of you.

[How about we get started?]