CH 9

Dungeon Exploration   Deepest Area

We finally arrived at the deepest part of the dungeon. The place was like an area with diameter of more than a hundred meters. Waiting for us there were three Minotauros with atypical form.

.

▼Blue Ox　Minotauros Bruto   Monster Rank 5

【Magic Power : 180/182】【Stamina : 730/731】

【Overall Combat Strength : 1587 (With Body Strengthening : 1890)】

.

▼Red Ox　Minotauros Bruto   Monster Rank 5

【Magic Power : 201/203】【Stamina : 692/694】

【Overall Combat Strength : 1694 (With Body Strengthening : 2037)】

.

▼Black Ox　Minotauros Murder   Monster Rank 6

【Magic Power : 250/252】【Stamina : 801/806】

【Overall Combat Strength : 3240 (With Body Strengthening : 3960)】

.

Rank 6……! Master had told me about such existence, but I never expected for it to be this powerful.

Rank 5 was considered as the highest rank that ordinary living thing was able to achieve. Even human would be called as master or hero if they reached that level but, it was said that 'something” beyond the boundary of race would be necessary in order to rise even higher than that.

I could hear stifled scream and gulping from the people with Appraisal skill behind me. I also saw Elena’s complexion turning pale among them. It reminded me of what I should do. I pushed down my emotion to the bottom of my heart and began analyzing the enemy’s combat strength.

First, the Minotauros Murder that was named “Black Ox” in my Appraisal. It was an individual with pitch black body that was more than three meter tall and two twisted horns. It was lightly holding a huge two-handed axe that was made from magic iron. A human would find it very difficult to handle such weapon.

Also looking from their magic power and stamina value, along with its body build and combat strength, the three of them were close quarter fighter but, this Black Ox looked especially well balanced in offense and defense.

The two others beside it too, they might looked comparatively weaker than the Black Ox, but they weren’t opponents that could be underestimated by any means. Rank 5……they were powerful specimen that possessed equal combat strength to the orc general Gorjaoul who I fought before.

Furthermore the monsters inside the dungeon were maintaining their body in perfect condition. I couldn’t do the same trick like with Gorjaoul where I spent one month to shave his stamina bit by bit.

The specimen named “Blue Ox” was a strength type that possessed blue colored huge body that was more than 2,5 meter tall and abnormally bulging arm muscles. The current me might be able to oppose it with speed, it would be difficult to even approach it if it swung around the two-handed sword made from magic iron that it had. It looked to be almost as tall as itself.

The “Red Ox” was holding two steel halberds like the ones that human would use. Its red body also wasn’t inferior compared to the Blue Ox. The halberd looked like mere hand axe in its hand.

But what was terrifying from it was that it had higher combat strength than Blue Ox despite having leaner body. Most likely it was a speedy type with status that completely surpassed me in all aspects.

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

The Black Ox lost its patience seeing us not moving from the door. It let out a roar that shook the whole arena and the well trained knights were trembling in fear from the “Pressure”.

The lips of the Blue Ox and Red Ox were twisting into a sneer seeing us like that. They started to slowly walked forward.

「Can we…win?」

From behind, Elena asked Dalton with a trembling that she couldn’t completely hide from her voice. That tone made Dalton sent an appraising gaze toward her.

「I think the “Rainbow Sword” can handle it if it’s just the Murder alone but……it’s impossible with just us facing all three of them at the same time. Should we return? There’s no guarantee that everyone will be able to obtain the dungeon’s “blessing”. It should be fine even if you don’t risk your life here.」

「No……」

What was it that the royal family really sought? Aren’t they mistaking the means as the objective here? Dalton’s words asked Elena of that, but Elena shook her head quietly.

「Certainly us of the royal family came to this place seeing “power”. But, at the same time we’re coming here also to show our resolve for the country and the people. I won’t run away.」

Elena stated her determination resolutely. The crown prince and Clara gulped seeing her, while Amor was shaking her head a little as though to deny the reality with a completely uneasy face.

「We’ll fight!!」

The knight who I helped when we first met took a step forward with a nervous expression. He turned his gaze toward me just for a moment and nodded slightly. Then the other knights also stepped forward with determined face.

「Lord Dalton, please give us instruction. The ten of us royal guards can’t be compared with all of you but, as the shield of the nation we swear that we will hold back the enemy!」

「W-we will also fight!」

Not only the knights, the three royal sorcerers who had only used sorcery for healing until now also stepped forward with a nervous look. Even Dalton nodded quietly seeing their faces.

「……Umu. Very well!!」

Seeing their resolve and the Blue Ox and Red Ox who started moving under the Black Ox’s order made Dalton judged that there was no more time. He gave instructions to us.

「Members of the royal family, can you see the 『altar』 behind the Murder? I think that might be your “objective”. I’ll give a signal if there’s an opening. Head there immediately as fast as you can.」

Elena and others saw the altar near the wall at the furthest end of the area. They nodded at Dalton even while trembling a little.

「We’ll take on the red one. You knights draw the attention of the blue one. If Murder come out before we can defeat the red one, Feld and I will face it. Anyone else mustn’t get near no matter what. Mira, back us up. If the red one is still alive at that time……」

Dalton paused there and turned toward Viro and I.

「You two got to buy time for us. Can you do it?」

「Can’t be helped huh」

Viro slapped his own face to fire up himself. I nodded wordlessly. There──

「I’ll assist Aria in that case.」

*Drip*……The voice flowed out like a trickle of muddy liquid. The knights opened a path as though they were overwhelmed by something. The girl slowly walked through there with a smile that looked like poisonous flower on her sickly face.

「……Carla」

Calra seemed to hear my mutter and turned a thin smile toward me.

Originally she shouldn’t be allowed to fight no matter how strong she was due to her position as the crown prince’s fiancée and one of the protection targets. But, even the servants and her fiancée Ervan who should be stopping her couldn’t even form a single word due to the abnormal air that she was oozing. Even Sera who was one of the people in charge of the security was unable to stop Carla’s action.

「Are you dissatisfied with me……?」

It was more of an anxiety rather than dissatisfaction. But, regardless of her character, ability-wise there was nothing to be dissatisfied or worried about.

「……You, young lady?」

Dalton too seemed to have noticed of Carla’s dangerousness, but there was no denying that we wanted all combat strength available in this situation. And seeing that her mana rivaled even Samantha, Dalton could only give his permission.

「There’s no problem with your capability. You’re a protection target but if you said that you’re going to show off your resolve as a royalty, we’ll borrow your strength in case it’s needed.」

「Yes, I don’t mind. After all I have no intention dying against mere rabble.」

Carla looked at me meaningfully. I looked back at her. Dalton let out a short sigh seeing us staring at each other like in a glaring contest. Then he turned his gaze to the approaching monsters.

「Then, let’s go!!」

.

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

Seeing us started moving, the two Minotauros Bruto that were approaching provocatively also took action.

「Over here! Blue Minotauros!」

Just as planned, the knights fired arrows at the left side to lure the Blue Ox. Then Mira’s spirit magic was casted as hindrance when the two monsters looked like they were going to act in concert.

「O water! Seize that one!」

The water spirit magic was casted preemptively to seize the Red Ox, but the Red Ox jumped with an agility that looked mismatched with its huge body and avoided the magic. Then it rushed to target the sorcerer Mira.

But Mira too wasn’t a normal sorcerer. She leaped back using her level 3 Body Strengthening and Martial Art to dodge and open some distance──

「HAAAAAAAA!!」

『BUOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

*GIINN!!*

Feld dashed forward at the same time and his great sword clashed violently with the Red Ox’s halberd. Sparks scattered and illuminated the gloomy dungeon.

*GAN!*

『BUOO!?』

In that moment, the weighted pendulum that I threw struck the side of the Red Ox’s head. Mira who had swiftly switched to her bow aimed at its head and the arrow grazed there.

But, both attacks got thwarted by the Red Ox’s solid horn and didn’t really deal any damage. The Red Ox glared at Mira and I but, it couldn’t pay attention at other place while it was facing Feld.

「UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!」

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!』

Feld swung with all his strength. The Red Ox also could only use both its weapons to block the attack. Mira executed Archery’s Battle Skill using that opening.

「──Shadow Bind──」

The level 3 sorcery type Battle Skill sewed the Red Ox’s body on the spot. But, sorcery type Battle Skill had bad compatibility against strong opponent and wouldn’t last long. But, there was no way that man would overlook that opening.

「──Dark Mist──」

『BUOOO!?』

The black mist that Viro released covered the Red Ox’s head with precision. Its movement was stopped and its vision blocked. Dalton who had been waiting for that perfect timing swung his huge war hammer toward the Red Ox.

This was the rank 5 party “Rainbow Sword” that was prominent throughout the country──even I unconsciously opened my eyes wide in amazement seeing such smooth teamwork.

But──

『GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!』

In that instant, “Black Ox” that had been watching quietly let out a howl with overwhelming pressure. Every single one of us got our movement stopped just for a moment.

『BUMOOOOOOO!』

In that moment the blinded Red Ox swung around its two halberds. Dalton and Feld who were prevented from attacking dodge the halberds and opened some distance away from the opponent.

At the distance the Blue Ox punted away a frozen knight who had the shielding role. Then it swung its great sword to mow down several other knights who were still unable to move.

The knights at the back quickly moved forward, but the Blue Ox made a twisted grin seeing the “wall” getting drastically thinner.

「Reform the formation!」

「Pull back the wounded!」

Dalton raised his voice while Elena gave command to the knights. Sera along with the royal court sorcerers began treating the knights with healing magic.

This happened just from the Black Ox making a small move……. Now the sorcerers who had been awaiting the chance to attack had to spend their mana for healing, and we were robbed from our chance to finish off an enemy.

The Black Ox seemed to judge that the Red Ox couldn’t handle Rainbow Sword’s fierce attack on its own. It stopped watching quietly and headed this way with its huge battleaxe in hand.

Can we win in this situation? No, unnecessary emotion wasn’t needed. I should only do my job.

「Viro!」

「Got it. Dalton go!」

Dalton quickly made his decision after Viro and I moved.

「Take care of this, let’s go, Feld, Mira-!」

「Ou!」

「Understood-」

We immediately reformed the battle line while Dalton, Mira, and Feld dashed in order to intercept the approaching Black Ox.

.

『BUMOOOOOO!!』

The Red Ox forcefully swept away the shadow binding and dark mist. It noticed how Dalton and others were heading toward the Black Ox and gave chase. But the knife that Viro threw grazed its nose tip in that moment──

*GAN!*

『BOOO!』

My weighted pendulum struck the Red Ox’s horn the moment it stopped running. The clash produced a metallic sound.

「We won’t let you leave.」

「That’s how it is.」

I and Viro readied our knife and blocked the Red Ox’s way. It would be difficult even just to hold it back if I was alone, but with Viro the two of us would be able to buy some time although it would be difficult to defeat it.

『BUMOOO……』

No matter how hard it was, unlike helmet, the horn was connected directly to its skull. The impact of the strike was directly transmitted to its brain. The Red Ox shook its head to get rid of the damage and glared at us in annoyance while readying the halberds in its hands.

「Let’s go!」

Seeing Viro sprinted forward to disturb it from below, I noticed “that” and immediately tripped his leg. Viro rolled on the ground.

「Ariaaa!?」

Viro turned toward me to complain──

「──Fire BreathDragon Roar──」

A light voice that sounded like a song reached our ear at that timing. It was accompanied by flame rushing right above our head. Even the Red Ox who hurriedly dodged got its arm slightly scorched.

It was level 4 fire sorcery. There was only one person who could use it in this place……. When I looked back, Carla was there with her finger pointed toward us, sporting a beaming smile on her sickly complexion.

Viro’s eyes widened seeing that. I hated wasting time and told him the fact dispassionately.

「Carla might kill us any time so be careful.」

「That little lady is crazy! And be careful how!?」

Viro reflexively raised his voice, but this was Carla we were talking about so I could only ask him for his understanding.

She was lending us a hand just as promised, but that help was accompanied by its own danger, even so we still needed Carla’s strength in this situation.

.

「NUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!」

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

Those voices made me peeked at the direction of the Black Ox. There Dalton in his full plate focused into the shielder role and blocked the Black Ox’s attack. It pushed him back for several meters. Feld and Mira used that time to launch their attack, but they were lacking finishing power due to the wide difference in status.

That was only natural. Originally even for Rainbow Sword, facing rank 6 would require the whole strength of the party. Dalton was a tough dwarf and equipped with full mythril plate, but the attack of the Black Ox wasn’t something that could be blocked over and over.

But it was the knights who were in the worst situation. Their formation was sent into disarray by the roar of the Black Ox. There hadn’t be anyone who died yet, but the royal court sorcerers were unable to use sorcery to attack in order to maintain the weakened battle line.

A single knight whose combat strength was only around 400 couldn’t block the Blue Ox’s fierce attack without their fellow knights’ help. At this rate our battle line would crumble starting from the knights.

But a chance of victory should appear if the three of us including Carla could defeat the Red Ox.

「……Carla, can you do it?」

「Of course.」

When I asked her, Carla erased her usual composed smile and she pointed her hand toward the Red Ox.

「──Dig VoltElectric Shock──」

The combination sorcery of water and win, lightning magic attacked the Red Ox, but it was also on guard against Carla and dodged it by jumping. But the Dig Volt spread out. The lightning attack possessed range that surpassed imagination thanks to Carla’s mana capacity and skill. The Red Ox couldn’t completely dodge and its body got hit by the lightning.

「Dammit!」

Viro was scared of Carla instead of the Red Ox, even so he dashed toward the monster. The Red Ox also quickly swung its halberds but its movement was slightly slower thanks to the lightning attack. Viro slipped through that attack and his short sword grazed the Red Ox.

「HAA!」

I also didn’t just watch quietly. I swung down my weighted pendulum from the opposite side.

What was terrifying from a high ranked monster wasn’t just their combat strength, but also their huge body and the hardness of their skin. Short blade like what Viro and I used couldn’t deal large damage to them. Our weapon couldn’t reach until their vital organ. Even Carla’s lightning attack just now had been obstructed by the monster’ s skin and couldn’t reach until its internal organ.

『BOOOOOOOOOO!』

*GIN!*

That was why the Red Ox was wary against Carla’s sorcery that inflicted large damage and my weighted pendulum. It immediately used its halberd to block. But you underestimated the man before you too much.

「──Double Edge──!」

Viro leaped to the bosom of the Red Ox when it left itself open and attacked with Battle Skill. He didn’t use level 4 Battle Skill that was only strong when hitting vital spot, but he was targeting the eyes of the Red Ox in order to follow it up with the next move with certainty.

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

But the Red Ox didn’t back away when it realized that it wouldn’t be able to dodge. Instead it intercepted the attack with its head’s horn.

*GAGANN!*

「UOO!」

For Viro it must feel like hitting a rock. He stumbled backward from the impact. On the other hand the look in the Red Ox’s eyes changed from rage.

*GANN!*

『BUMOO!?』

I already said that his move would lead to the next move. This time its horn had really gotten hit fully by the weighted pendulum. The Red Ox’s huge body staggered considerably.

I didn’t know whether my Battle Skill would be able to defeat the Red Ox. I turned my gaze toward Carla who had the “deciding move” to defeat the Red Ox. There I only found a human shaped shadow that was similar to my Shadow while the girl herself was nowhere to be seen.

「Then, let’s meet again later Aria.」

Carla who should be fighting together with us to finish off the enemy came from deeper in the area.

「Carla!」

Was this your aim from the start? She waited until all the Minotauros came forward and even used us as bait to go forward. She cheerfully waved her hand at me before rushing to the back of the area without pause.

The altar was located at that direction. ……Carla, your purpose of offering to fight together from the start was just to obtain a Gift?

I wouldn’t call what she was doing as bad. But that wasn’t what mattered right now. Carla’s action caused the people who hadn’t moved until now to make their move.

「Ervan-sama, we should go too!」

「G-got it」

「Big brother, don’t!」

Seeing Carla heading toward the altar caused Clara who was feeling driven to the wall to pull on Ervan’s hand. The bewildered Ervan just followed her running to the altar.

Sera who was supporting the knights and guarding Elena couldn’t stop them. Clara and Ervan ignored Elena’s yell to stop. Their servants also panicked and followed them in a hurry. It caused confusion to spread out quickly.

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

The Red Ox was angry from Viro and my attack and it fell into an excited state because a lot of people suddenly moved. It ignored us who was right beside it and began chasing after Carla and Clara.

「Shit-」

Seeing that Viro patted my back while he was still lying on the ground. He gave me instruction as the fastest one here.

「Go Aria! Don’t let his highness and the others die!」

「Got it!」

Carla……is this your wish? I kicked on the ground to break into a dash and chased after the back of the Red Ox that was chasing after those who were heading to the altar.

.

「…………tsu」

I left Viro behind and chasing after the Red Ox alone. Even though I was using body strengthening in full strength and also gradually extracting the impurity from my magic particles to accelerate, I couldn’t catch up to the Red Ox that was entering a rampaging state.

At this rate only Carla who was using body strengthening would get away. The Red Ox would catch up to the crown prince and the others before I could catch up.

「──Pain──!」

I immediately casted Pain to the Red Ox’s back. But in its rampaging state the Red Ox only trembled for an instant without stopping its legs at all.

I would be able to catch up if I completely removed all impurity and used pure magic particles to perform “that technique”, but it was still impossible for me to kill the rank 5 Red Ox in one attack. I made that conclusion within my thought that was accelerated by my body strengthening. Then I casted multiple magic simultaneously to stop the monster.

「Shadow! Weight──!」

I made the weightless Shadow to run ahead and cut in at the front of the Red Ox. I also used Weight to increase the Red Ox’s weight.

Even so each of them could only stop it for a tenth of second. But the precious time that I earned was enough for me to catch up until just barely “within range”.

「──Shadow Walker──!」

I connected my magic particle to the Red Ox’s 'shadow” and jumped out from there before stabbing my black dagger into its thick neck.

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

But it was shallow. Its tough neck muscle got in the way. The knife couldn’t pierce through with my physical strength.

It sent my body flying by swinging its head around, even so I wrapped my pendulum’s string around its horn and acrobatically flew in the air back toward it. Then I made the Red Ox’s nose tip ate my powerful knee strike.

『GAAAAAA!?』

The Red Ox bent backward with blood spurting out from its nose. The light of reasoning returned to its eyes a little. But, the Red Ox’s anger was directed fully toward me in exchange.

「…………」

It put me in a battle against a serious rank 5, but thanks to that the Red Ox’s focus had been diverted from the crown prince’s group toward me. From the start the plan was to send them until the altar if there was an opening. Because of them I got unexpectedly stuck with fighting solo but, well, no matter…….

Red Ox, I’ll be your opponent.

『BUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

「HAAAAAAAAAAA!」

I fought with my full strength right from the beginning. I didn’t hold back anything.

The Red Ox approached with terrifying speed while striking at me using its halberd.

I heightened the precision of my body strengthening using magic particles that had been purified until a degree that my body could just barely withstand. I dodged the Red Ox’s attack in a hair’s breadth.

The effect was weak with only this degree of purity, but I wouldn’t be able to dodge a rank 5’s attack without that slight difference.

「──Illusion──」

I bent light to obscure my form while throwing the weighted pendulum.

『GUAAAAAAAAA!』

The cross weight approached in a blur. The Red Ox instantly gave up dodging and it swung its head to deflect the weight with its horn.

The Red Ox swung its halberd to mow down everything in order to catch me who was using illusion to obscure myself. I dodged by jumping over it before immediately sliding under the Red Ox while pulling out a knife from the slit of my flapping skirt and throwing it to the Red Ox from below.

『BUOOOOOOOOO!』

The huge body of the Red Ox that was more than two meter tall lightly danced in the air.

It dodged the knife by escaping to above. It looked down at me who was sliding on the ground and grinned. It then threw the halberd in its left hand toward me.

「HA!」

In that moment, I used my back to spring up and rolled on the ground while dodging the halberd. I immediately threw my pendulum’s string to wrap around the leg of the Red Ox in the air.

The Red Ox noticed that and kicked at empty air. The movement flicked the string along with my body to the air.

Not yet. The string was still tied to the Red Ox.

「──Shadow Walker──!」

The Red Ox had no shadow while it was midair. But, I slipped into the shadow of the huge halberd’s balde and instantly “crossed” to the Red Ox’s back

「HAA!」

『BUMOOOOOOOO!』

The Red Ox immediately noticed and counterattacked. Its elbow and my kick crossed. My heel’s blade gouged he Red Ox’s cheek, while its elbow strike hit my left arm’s guard and sent me flying.

The Red Ox and I fell on the ground at the same time. Even so I received damage and fell on one knee. Seeing that the Red Ox threw its other halberd at me without hesitation.

I couldn’t dodge──but──

*GAKIN!*

Multiple knives flew from the side and hit the halberd. The impact slightly diverted its trajectory and the halberd flew passed from my side.

「Aria, you alright!?」

「Viro……you saved me.」

Viro caught up and immediately threw his knife. He came running and stood before me to protect me. When I got back on my feet, the Red Ox had also collected the halberd it first threw and pointed the blade toward us.

We wouldn’t lose easily with Viro here, even so Viro and I didn’t have any “finishing move” to defeat it.

I was able to defeat the orc general even though just barely because Gorjaoul faced “that technique” head on.

Then what to do? The situation was starting to change drastically before I could answer the question.

.

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

The Black Ox──Minotauros Murder roared thunderously. It left behind Dalton and others and headed toward our direction.

……No, wrong. The Black Ox’s target was the crown prince and the others!

「Is that black guy planning to protect that altar!?」

Viro’s guess was most likely correct. I don’t know about the Red Ox and Blue Ox, but there was a high chance that the Black Ox was called to here by the dungeon and the dungeon imprinted the order to protect the altar into it.

「Viro, Aria! Stop it even if just for an instant!!」

An order came from Dalton and others who chased after it. It was a very ridiculous command, even so Viro who had known him for long immediately moved.

「Dammit! Aria, you hold back the red guy!」

「Got it!」

There was no time to think. The Red Ox moved to chase after Viro who rushed away. I hit the side of its head with my weighted pendulum.

『BUOOO!?』

「Stay here!」

But would Viro manage to stop it? At the beginning Dalton ordered everyone to not approach except for Feld and himself because there was a risk that rank 4 like us would die instantly from the attack of rank 6.

But Viro headed toward the Black Ox that was creating tremors on the ground from its charge. He was putting on a shaky grin and took out a fist-sized “orb” from his bag before tossing it.

The Black Ox’s arm swung to sweep it away. But that orb exploded the moment its arm came into contact with it.

*DOOOOOOOOOOOOONN!!*

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

The Black Ox’s face was burned by the massive amount of flame that surged out and yelled in agony.

「How’s that! That’s the taste of dungeon produced “trump card” with five large gold coins price tag!」

Viro loudly yelled toward the burned Black Ox.

Guessing from his words, that was most likely a similar thing with the 『poison orb』 that Samantha mentioned, a rare drop  from dungeon. Individual shouldn’t be permitted to own poison orb, but Samantha said that thing was originally an item that had sorcery sealed inside it, so in that case that item might be something Viro purchased for this quest. What that orb sealed inside was 'sorcery” and guessing from its strength, it might contain level 5 fire sorcery Fire Ball.

「Are you two alright!!?」

Feld caught up using that chance and struck at the Black Ox with his great sword. Blood spurted out from its back.

「──Sniper Shot──」

Next Mira also fired her Archery’s Battle Skill. The arrow flew like a beam and pierced the Black Ox’s neck.

「UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!」

Dalton who arrived last leaped with his huge mythril war hammer brandished, then he hit the Black Ox’s head with all his strength.

*GAKIN!!*

One of the Black Ox’s twisted horn was smashed at the middle and it twirled in the air.

But no……it didn’t snap. The Black Ox judged that it couldn’t dodge and decided on its own to block Dalton’s attack using its horn.

『GUGAAA……』

It was shot with arrow, slashed on the back, and also got its horn snapped, even so it still successfully stopped the main attack. It glared angrily at Dalton with its burned face and sent him flying with an attack from the battle axe in its hand.

「Dalton!」

Feld stepped forward to cover for Dalton, but the Black Ox let out a violent killing intent and a roar as though to blow away everything in its way.

『BUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

「Guh!」

It swung its battle axe horizontally. Felt immediately used his great sword as shield, but his large body still got sent flying for several meters.

「Shit!」

Viro immediately assisted, but the Black Ox swung down its battle axe the moment he entered its sight. The shockwave pushed him down to the ground.

I was about to rush forward after seeing that, but the Red Ox that I had been holding back until now attacked to get in my way this time.

『BUOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

「Tsu!」

*GAKIN!!*

The dagger that I quickly swung hit the halberd with a loud clang. My light body got blown away.

「Aria! Everyone!」

Mira grabbed several arrows and nocked them together on her bow seeing us in danger. But this mayhem and chaotic battle drew the other monster that was fighting in another place.

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

The sight of the Blue Ox mowing down the knights surrounding it and charged this way in excitement entered my sight.

「…………tsu」

So the Blue Ox also came at this timing…….

But what to do? Mira was trying to hold back the Black Ox somehow, but both Dalton and Feld were still unable to stand.

Viro who got hit by shockwave also noticed that and started moving to stop the Blue Ox, but just like me he didn’t have any trump card to defeat rank 5.

「…………」

I swallowed my blood flavored saliva and gripped my black knife and dagger tightly while hardening my “resolve” after seeing the way my comrades hadn’t given up.

I had been resolved to get hurt or die since a long time ago. But that wasn’t the kind of resolve I meant here.

『GAAAAA……』

The Red Ox warily stopped moving for a moment. Had it felt my resolve?

I’ll definitely kill you no matter what. Even if my whole body was smashed and only my head remained, I’d definitely bite off your throat. I hardened my “resolve to absolutely kill” the Red Ox.

「HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」

I squeezed out all the air in my lungs to raise my voice and circulated purified magic particles within my body while straining my whole body like a bow in order to use the “Origin Battle Skill”.

『BUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!』

The Red Ox held its halberd with both hands and took a stance of bending forward for a rush after seeing that.

But, in that moment──

At the corner of my eye, Carla arrived at the 『spirit’s altar』. Just before her hand touched it, she turned a kind smile toward me just for an instant.

The Red Ox and I leaped forward at the same time. Our weapons rushed toward each other’s heart. The moment our blades were about to reach their target, white light suddenly surged out from the spirit’s altar and enveloped the whole arena.