CH 344

Saturn’s shout echoed.

"Impossible! Kuh, But don't think I will give up here! ‹Flare Burst›!"

A huge mass of flame jumped out of Saturn's hand. It was a high ranking magic.

Unfortunately for him——

"A wishful thinking! ‹Holy Barrier›! ‹Shining saber of the sacred light›!"

"Gahh!?"

Lana defended with a protection barrier and countered with a shining, big magic sword.

Lana's attacks were nothing to be scoffed at, which caused heavy damage to Saturn.

"Are you alright, Saturn!? I will quickly heal you, ‹Mega Heal›! ‹Area Heal›!"

"Phew, you saved me. Do we have no choice but to back down again......!"

"What are you blabbering, Saturn! That detestable Brave is right in front of us! Let's do it! Let's defeat him! I will stand on frontline as well!!"

"Haaaa! You're right, that Brave is standing before us! It’s too early to give up! Tom, Polish, will you join me!?"

"Of course. We'll show Brave what we're made of!"

"Alright, let's go! ‹Mega Flare›!"

The flame rekindles in Saturn's eye once again at the encouragement of Polish. He seems to have gained his bearing.

Tom raised a war cry, intending to pour everything on his next attack as he charged toward Shizu and Lana's position, while Saturn kept Pamela busy with his magic.

Contrary to my expectation, the one charging towards me was Polish-kun... carrying a bomb with himself.

"You damn normie Brave! just blow away!!"

"Are you trying to pull a suicide attack!?"

His choice of action was suicide attack. He was hellbent on taking me with him.

What an insane guy. But,

"‹Grenade›!"

"‹Light Pillar›!"

"Buhaa——!?... BOOM buhaaa!?"

"Polish!?"

Polish was blown away by the attacks of Shizu and Lana, who were supposed to confront Tom. In addition, the bomb also explodes midway, completely draining his HP, and sending him to the ‹Loser's Room›.

In the end, the one to explode was Polish-kun himself.

Saturn raised his voice in dumbfoundment.

That was my chance!

"‹Sonic Sword›!"

"Guaah!?"

He was full of opening, so just a single of mine brought him to his knees. I was about to put an end to all by getting close to him when I saw Saturn's eye glimmering.

"Don't underestimate me——‹Flame Circle›!"

"Tsk."

He used an AoE magic and released it at his feet.

His action brought forth a flame domain and inflicted damage on me as well.

It was Saturn's first counterattack.

"‹Defense›!"

I activated my defense skill to offset some of the damage, and taking advantage of the gap, Saturn distanced himself.

He sure has become stronger than before. Just as I was thinking that in a corner of my mind,

"Reinforcement has arrived-desu."

"Your journey ends here. ‹Mega Blizzard›!"

"Guhaa...... I'm sorry, Saturn......"

Facing unexpected development, Tom was sent to ‹Loser's Room›.

"Wait, I will quickly heal you, Zephyr-kun! ‹High Heal›!"

I turned around to look at the source, and found ‹Sage› Misato and ‹Wiseman› Mert at the spot where Shizu and Lana were a while back.

I guess the ice magic that directly struck Tom was the doing of Mert.

To summarize the situation; Just as Tom was about to engage in battle with Shizu and Lana, Mert and Misato arrived at the scene and helped them out. This provided ShIzu and Lana leeway so they helped out in driving Polish-kun away.

As expected, a 6 vs 3 was beyond their capabilities to handle.

"Tom!?"

"Saturn. It seems like things end here."

Saturn was the only one left at this moment.

"Kuh. Misato. So you have planned to side with our enemies?"

"Tahaha~. Don't misunderstand, okay? Saturn-kun, believe or not, your guild was clearly in the wrong in this farce."

"Grrr. I beg you, Misato, come back to ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star›! Our guild will return back to the right track as long as we have you!"

"Oi, Saturn. I am trying to scout Misato. So don't butt in."

"You have the gall to say that! Misato was originally a ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star› member! You are the one who butted in and snatched away Misato! ——Please Misato. I swear we will do anything if you come back. Ah, right! Jilong is good at doing homework etc, you can ask him to teach anything! You can even copy homework anytime."

"Huh? Well, I don't think I need it. Tahaha."

A strained smile appeared on Misato's face hearing Saturn's words. Her job is ‹Sage›. I dare say she is smarter than Jilong.

Saturn's ultimate phrase 'we will do anything' was splendidly dodged.

A dismayed look appeared on Saturn's face at the rejection.

"Wha! C, Could it be, Misato, you are officially going to join ‹Eden›!? You really don't want to come back to ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star›?"

"Yeah, she has officially joined us."

I answered instead of Misato.

"I am not asking you, Zephyr!"

"No, let me answer in her place. Misato has made up her mind to officially join ‹Eden›!"

"H, Hold on, Zephyr-kun. You too, Saturn-kun, calm down, okay?"

Misato tried to mediate, but Saturn was too worked up to be stopped at this juncture.

"Misato, let's clear everything here! Which guild you are going to join, ‹Eden›, or ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star›?"

And now, he even presented the option, as if putting an ultimatum. There was no way out of this.

"Which one, Misato!? Is it ‹Eden›, or ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star›, that you are going to officially join!?"

"Eh! You too, Zephyr-kun!? H, Hold on!? How about you first calm down!?"

"We are at the juncture of no return, Misato. We must make clear things now, or this struggle over you will most likely continue indefinitely."

"That's right, Misato. You are going to join ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star› right? You are coming back, right?"

"Huh? Sorry, but that's impossible."

"...............Huh?"

A soulful sigh escaped out of Saturn's lips at Misato's answer that she reflexively said out loud.

It seemed like a chance, so I further nailed my final shot.

"Saturn. Among the two options, Misato has rejected your guild. I believe you are smart enough to comprehend what this mean, no?"

"Huh? I may have turned them down, but that doesn't mean I am going to join ‹Eden›—— mugfu!?"

Misato was just about to say something unnecessary when a shadow creeped from behind and covered her mouth.

It was Mert.

Then, he quietly whispered to Misato.

"Just rest it out, Misato. All this ruckus will die down if you join ‹Eden›. You just need to affirm only."

"Eh, I am not sure if it's a good idea."

"It's alright. Anyway, just say that to Saturn, we can end things here."

"W, Well, alright. I will believe you on this one, Mert-sama."

I was just beside Misato and Mert as they quietly whispered to each other, so I heard everything. Nice followup, Mert.

On the other hand, Saturn was completely in a daze, so he didn't hear anything. It seems like he received quite a serious blow to heart.

However, Saturn’s ordeal was far from over.

"Saturn-kun."

"Hn… Hmm... ah, Misato? I see, so I am dreaming, I am just having a nightmare......"

"Err, you see. I am going to join ‹Eden› officially, so I can't return back to ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star›. So, sorry."

"........."

Snap

I feel like I heard the sound of something getting snapped. And then,

"Zephyrrrrrr! ‹Flare Burst›!"

"I already predicted you would do this! ‹Lightning Slash›!"

Saturn immediately instantly flew into rage, it was something he has done before as well. So I was already prepared. I just had to sidestepped a bit at closer range to avoid ‹Flare Burst›."

Following the sidestepping, I swing up the ‹Firmament Sword› in an upward motion, putting all my strength on it.

"Guaaaaah!?"

Saturn flew in an arc and landed where Lana, who had a pleasant expression, and Shizu, with an expressionless face pointing her gun, were waiting.

"You are really a moth flying into the fire. ‹Bind Shot›!"

"Gahh!?"

Shizu scoffed at Saturn like he was truly a bug and swiftly fired her skill ‹Bind Shot› that put the target into an abnormal state of bind.

Saturn's movement was completely sealed with this move. He was now facing an absolute critical moment.

And as he was petrified into a cocoon-like state, Lana moved to stand in front of him with a humorous smile plastered on her face.

"I learned this from Zephyr. Swing it horizontally!"

Finishing her words, Lana swung Hannah's recommended 'Mei-chan Ver.2'.

It was quite a precisely calculated swing, I reckon she must be practicing since that logging incident, as it cleanly bashed against Saturn's temple, who was just at the perfect height due to the kneeling position.

"Buahhh!"

Saturn rolled on the ground head first like a ragdoll. Afterward, a teleportation circle beneath him.

It was an invitation to ‹Loser's Room›.

I waved my hand and watched Saturn leaving.

A few minutes later, the buzzer signaling the end of Guild Battle echoed.