“But, well, it’s not as bad as the time we settled things with those guys at their headquarters.”
A voice with a hint of a smile. In our minds, we see the figures of the combat-ready Taratatt and Ailsherad during the final showdown.
“Indeed.” “Right.”
A slight chill runs down my spine.
In the final battle against the Cleared, we faced four enhanced monster generals (who could also transform into giants), the ultimate general Ailsherad, and the Supreme Leader. It was a series of continuous battles.
Even though Milliocolor was still active at that time, and Banshokuger from other branches also joined, the strategic difficulty was incomparable.
“Oh, I don’t want to remember it up to that point.”
” was almost obliterated by Ailsherad’s beam inside the Milliocolor’s arm…”
While smiling wryly at the female members who are trying to suppress headaches,
“Compared to that, this feels like a warm-up. Alright, let’s do it.”
“Red, please decide on the strategy.”
“First, deal with the more dangerous shark. While one distracts the mantis shrimp, the other four concentrate on taking down the first one. Then, we deal with the second one. Let’s knock them down one by one.”
Regaining our morale, the tactics are decided.
(Ashella, Taratatt, wait for me.)
Now, it’s the Banshokuger’ turn to hit and bring them down. That’s all.
“Let’s go!” “Yeah!” “Okay!” “Yes!” “Oooh!”
“Hiku…” My nose twitches.
“Ashella.”
“Yes, Taratatt-sama.”
Even the subordinate’s response is calm. She seems to have noticed.
“It’s war.”
“So it seems. There’s no call for the planned night research cooperation either.”
“Hmm…”
Exhaling a long, thin breath through the nose, I gaze at the wall. Beyond it, outside the Banshokuger headquarters, to the northeast, several kilometers away.
“There’s a collision of colors. Midori is fighting.”
“…I see.”
Ashella’s response carried both hesitation and weight. Her subordinate still had some issues being straightforward. “If you’re worried, you could just say so.”
(Having faith in the future of humanity, as well as in Midori individually. But if they lose, well, that’s as far as it goes.)
It was a critical moment, for Banshokuger and for humanity.
(Defeating us should not lead to underestimating the opponent. However, the outcome depends on the situation. In that regard, the current Banshokuger is close to the worst.)
With the faint sound of fabric rustling, my attention shifted. Ashella stood up, facing the same direction, but remained silent.
(Well, can’t help it.)
But that’s what makes her cute, in a way.
“Ashella.”
I called her name, and she turned to me with an emotionless expression.
“How are you, Ashella? What do you plan to do after the agreement with Midori, I mean, Banshokuger?”
“Well, um… if Mid, I mean, Banshokuger loses?”
“Who knows? But if my predictions are correct, this might be an opportunity for a new organization. After all, the Milliocolor is still under repair, and Red is injured. They’re also dealing with their own issues. There’s a high chance they’ll go all out attack here.”
Ashella swallowed hard.
“I leave it to you, Ashella. I owe my existence to you.”
Taratatt recalled that day.
The day when defeated by Banshokuger, accepting that fate. Their existence, about to fade away, was preserved by desperate breaths.
“Great Leader… Great Leader! I pour my power into you. Please, maintain your form!”
The body was already collapsing. Creating new vision from closed eyes. With silver hair stained with blood and tears, one of my loyal ones embraced me, looking down.
“Ailsherad… Ashella. It’s enough. Let it go.”
Feebly conveyed.
“Why, don’t say such things!”
More power flowed in, barely maintaining the existence that lost its physical form.
“Okay, with this…”
“My lord, with that body…”
Looking around, Ashella’s body was in a terrible state too.
A large hole in the abdomen, a sword wound on the neck. Half of her body was burned, scars that would undoubtedly kill a human were carved all over.
“Banshokuger, as an enemy, you’re quite impressive. Forgive me for my inadequacy. I failed to fulfill the duty of protecting the Great Leader! I’m showing disgrace.”
With tears streaming down, she weakly began to run.
“Take care until safety is confirmed. I’ll find a place for you to hide.”
“Pointless, it is.”
Before humans were born, including the uncertain times of self-awareness, they had lived for hundreds of thousands of years.
Dominating humanity. Thinking what they did was wrong and being denied, it was inevitable to perish like this. That’s what I thought.
“You’ve luckily lived long. Live freely. No need for duty.”
“No… no! As long as you’re here… if you’re safe, that’s enough for me! I… from the beginning, the safety of the Great Leader is the most…”
But now, there is someone who seeks me like this.
“Don’t give up…! Save this pitiful self, believe that you can save me, together with me…”
Ashella pleaded.
(Well, well. This one was such a spoiled child. Without desires of their own, like a young soul.)
Those who wished for their demise had existed, and now there was someone who wanted their existence.
(Feelings of those who wanted to destroy were received. If it’s this one next, well, for a while, it’s fine.)
When they meet the next one who knows them, they’ll entrust their fate.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
That’s how I’ve come to this point now. Ashella can decide.
“But, I…”
“It’s fine as long as I’m alive, right?”
“Yes.”
I pointed my finger at Ashella.
“No lying.”
“Y-yes, Taratatt-sama…”
Power oozed out. It might be modest compared to the peak, but what should I do?
“No resistance.”
This child is obedient.
” ……! “
“Enhancing your [strongest craving]. Whether it remains the same as before or not, it matters not. However, if your desires, your thoughts, are growing as an individual.”
If what’s precious isn’t just me anymore, then rather than being surprised, I’d laugh.
“If that’s the case, then do as you wish. I’ll accompany you.”
Ashella… had a strange expression, on the verge of tears yet about to burst into laughter.
“Ah, ah… T-Taratt, master…”
She said, almost as if in fear, clutching her own chest.
“Burning, Bread!”
Countless flame punches were thrown, accompanied by a series of sharp sounds.
“Ugh!”
Sensing the movement that seemed to push back the attacks, Red quickly backflipped away.
Just then, right where Red had been, there was a sharp sound as a shark-like jaw closed the air.
Explosion. The ground beneath the Sharkman’s feet was engulfed in flames. It was a landmine set up for the sharkman to step on. Into that explosion, Pink dashed.
“Velvet Mine, gotcha… hey!”
With a satisfying sound, the sharkman’s jaw snapped shut.
From the smoke emerged a figure in pink, raising her right leg almost vertically.
“Go! Black!!”
A black shadow slipped past her side. It collided with the staggering sharkman.
“Black Rend…!”
The sharkman’s head was severed vertically from its large mouth.
The collapsing sharkman soon exploded. The colorful debris sent out a brilliant shockwave, making the surrounding air tremble.
“Ugh… damn it… Haa, haa…!”
With the explosion behind him, Black kneeled on the ground. His shoulder bore a gash that pierced through his suit.
Glancing at it sideways, I silently moved to a different position to avoid attracting attention.
(Finally, one down… but)
The battle was becoming challenging.
Though we had focused on the Sharkman among the two monsters, it took considerable time and effort to defeat it. The Shrimpman was almost unscathed. Moreover, we were all taking damage evenly.
“These guys are getting even tougher!”
Red shook his palm in frustration. It was surprising for all of us that even his relentless attacks couldn’t take down the Sharkman.
Observing the change in the battle, a blue figure landed next to me.
“Green, I know you’re tired, but don’t lose your boost.”
“Got it. Leave it to me…!”
While responding to Blue’s plea to distract the Shrimpman,
“Everyone, fall back to me!”
I boosted everyone during attacks even more.
(But it’s tough…! Can we take down the remaining one?)
It wasn’t arrogance or anything, but if I ran out of gas halfway, it would be all over. Even Red’s finishing move barely scratched the monsters without the boost.
(But still… is it during the attack that everyone’s color momentum weakens? Is that the trick to their toughness?)
“These monsters’ power and speed are decent, but they don’t flinch at all, so they keep fight back when we attacked… this simply won’t do!”
“I hate stubborn opponents, really…”
Blue and Pink were experiencing greater exhaustion in terms of stamina.
“Red… ever considered retreating for a bit?”
“It won’t hold?”
“I’m a little skeptical….”
I honestly answered Red, who was trembling with fear.
“In that case, it depends on how long we can hold them off with conventional weapons until we recover.”
“I think we can hold off one of them… but what will you do?”
Blue turned to Red and Pink.
“Alright, let’s go for an all-out attack. If we can take them down, great.”
“If not, we retreat.”
“Y-yeah.”
Haven’t heard “retreat” in a while. Office lady’s vocabulary, huh?
Anyway. Just as we were about to confront the remaining enemies,
My ears picked up a sound.
A crack.
Turning towards the sound, it came from the right, from the flowing river. There was a shadow emerging from the dark depths of the water.
“There were three of them… in total!”
A chill ran down my spine. It wasn’t just the numbers, but being attacked from the front and the right simultaneously.
Despite having the numerical advantage, we ultimately needed to concentrate our forces to defeat the enemy. If surrounded on all sides, we would be at a disadvantage.
“They’re really going for this! “
“Two more from here would be impossible. Retreat to the rear!”
Black made a quick decision. Red, without a word, simply nodded in agreement.
Reversal. In an instant,
(Sideways!)
Instinctively, I dropped to the ground. The sound of blades passing overhead.
(Left, now reverse!)
Honestly, it was all guesswork. Using my legs to sweep the opponent’s legs, dodging the counter-blade by contorting my body,
“There!”
I charged forward. The opponent, suddenly emerging from the grass on the opposite bank, stepped back. Their figure, illuminated by the sunset, resembled a bipedal praying mantis.
(Oh, sh*t… another one!)
A chill ran down my spine. And then I realized.
(My attacks… they worked?)
At the very least, there was no sense of the opponent having incredible durability. Did the new monster not possess exceptional toughness?
(No… that’s too convenient of a thought. Besides!)
It wasn’t the time for such thoughts.
In front, the shrimp-like monster was getting closer. To the left, the mantis monster I had just forced back. To the right rear, a monster resembling a loach that emerged from the river.
Beyond them were all the members of the Banshokugers.
Separated.
(This might be it, death)
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