A battle to the death was unfolding between Hugo and a new assailant on the rooftop.
He had been able to kill the first assailant with ease. That assailant had taken the full impact of the blast, and his one-on-one combat ability hadnt been that great either. Considering the fact that he had tried to make Hugo fall asleep, he probably had a rearguard Job that specialized in causing abnormal statuses.
That was why Hugo had been able to win.
However, his current opponent was different.
St, strong!
The enemy was a great-sword user. He was swinging around a double-edged great-sword, which was about the height of a person, with ease and was mounting an onslaught to try and cut Hugo into two. That seemingly superhuman physical strength was unmistakably that of a close combat type Job.
He had been able to keep on dealing with the attacks using the spear-wielding puppet sohow, but the situation was disadvantageous to him. If he lost focus for even an instant, death awaited.
Since he was sent to kill the A Rank Hugo, he couldnt possibly be weak. Hugo understood that. But even so, he was too strong. Hugo couldnt see a chance of winning at all.
No, that wasnt it. --Hugo's abilities had deteriorated much more than expected.
His body felt heavy. His control of magic power wasnt going smoothly, and the amount of magic power he wasted was huge. He wasnt able to manipulate the puppet soldiers as skillfully as before.
The number of puppet soldiers he could create at the sa ti was also limited to one. In the past, even if he was in the midst of battle, he had been able to create multiple puppet soldiers according to the battle situation His current strength was probably less than half compared to his heyday.
Hugo was certainly A Rank, but the Rank of the Job didnt necessarily bestow absolute strength. If anyone neglected their training like Hugo did, their abilities would deteriorate like they were sliding down a slippery slope.
Not being able to fight like he was able to in his heyday was frustrating. Hugo started to think that it had been terribly foolish of him to have willingly turned his back on those days of battle.
Even if he had quit being a Seeker, he should at least have continued his training. Those who had no power would only be trampled upon. Even though Hugo had the power to fight, he had scorned it himself.
He had been imprudent, arrogant, and thoughtless. Now that things had co to this, such obvious things were weighing heavily on him.
If I get out of here, Ill have to retrain myself as if my life depended on it!!!
Puppet Skill: Union Burst, activated.
A Skill that can only be used when Ether Link was activated, it has the effect of unlocking all the limits on the puppet soldiers that were connected by the magic thread.
The puppet soldiers abilities will actually increase by 100 tis. It's an extrely powerful skill, but for that reason, the targeted puppet soldier will fall apart in just a few seconds.
In other words, the most effective use of that Skill is a suicide attack.
CHARGEEEEEE!!!
Hugo scread his order for the puppet soldier to charge at the top of his lungs.
He had scread because he was at his limits. In order to wring out the last bit of strength from his completely weakened body, he needed to rouse his spirit by screaming. It didnt matter that he was unsightly. It would be alright as long as he won. Even if he was covered in mud, only the last one standing earned the right to laugh.
Moving faster than the speed of sound, the puppet soldier left a storm in its wake as it charged forward.
The black-robed assailant used his great-sword as a shield and blocked the puppet soldiers spear. The ear-shattering crash of the collision reverberated through the air.
Blocked it, huh!? But thats not all!!!
The effect of Union Burst raised the power of puppet soldiers to the utmost limit. The puppet soldier didnt stop even though its charge was blocked, and steamrolled the assailant backwards. The assailant put strength into his legs and tried to hold his ground, but his feet only left furrows in the ground as he continued to be pushed back.
Even this attack would likely not be able to kill the assailant. But if he kept forcing the assailant back like this, he would be able to push him off the rooftop. There was no need to win one-on-one. Hugo was planning to et up with Noel and his clan once he threw off the assailant.
FALL!!!
Hugo yelled. One more step, and he would have succeeded in pushing the assailant off the rooftop.
But--
What!?
Hugos eyes widened at the unbelievable sight before him.
At the exact mont the assailant was about to fall off the rooftop, several tentacles erged from his back and thrust themselves into the ground, securing the assailants own body in position.
Is he not human?
He did have a hunch about that. The movents showed by the assailant during the battle were certainly extraordinary, but he had a nagging feeling that sothing was off.
Technique--thats right, he had no technique.
Even though he boasted superhuman strength, he lacked the technique to back it up, and was rely swinging the great-sword around with all his might. Of course, that alone was more than enough of a threat, but it had felt like he was facing a wild beast.
He wasnt human. No human had tentacles sticking out from their back. Hugo understood that.
Then, what on earth was this mysterious being in front of his eyes?
Thinking back, even though the first assailant that he fought had such strong hypnotic abilities that Hugo couldnt resist, he had virtually no fighting ability at all.
Rather than saying that he specialized in that ability, it felt right to think that he only possessed that ability. Moreover, he had the feeling that it wasnt sothing that the assailants themselves had wanted, but was the will of soone else.
Assuming that was true, were these assailants perhaps beings that had been modified by soone?
During the instant that Hugo was overco with surprise, the puppet soldier, which had exceeded its limits, fell apart.
Oh no!
He tried to create a new puppet soldier right away, but with his weakened and tired body, it was taking him so ti. The assailant wasnt going to miss that opening, and closed the distance imdiately.
And in the instant before that great-sword was swung downwards--
The assailant was suddenly enveloped in bright red flas.
GUOOOOOO!!!
The assailant writhed with agony as the flas covered his entire body.
Hugo was so surprised that he was at a loss for words, and then he felt a presence behind him.
He turned back, and behind him......
The moon is beautiful tonight, isnt it?
......stood a Snake holding a Silver Fla.
There was a full moon today. The beautiful faded blue moonlight was illuminating the rooftop.
I walked up to the dumbfounded Hugo, and took out a silver brooch from my pocket. It was shaped like a winged snake.
Choose
I didnt say any more about what he was supposed to choose. Even if I didnt say it, Hugo would understand.
Fuu, kukukuu I see, so this is Snake?
Hugo burst out chuckling, and spoke understandingly.
Youre truly a tempest, arent you? You don't care about things like other peoples will at all. --But that's exactly what I like about you. Very well, you're my clan master from this day on
He took the brooch from my hand and pinned it on his chest, then bowed reverently.
I swear my loyalty to you, my master
I accept your loyalty, Puppeteer Hugo Coppelius
The oath was pledged here under the moon. Snake had obtained a new wing.
GUOOOOOO!!! NOERUUUUUU!!!
Having rode out the flas, the assailant stood up and bellowed loudly. On his back, several tentacles were wriggling around. I see, that certainly wasnt normal, was it?
And--
Hey, have I t you before sowhere?
The assailant didnt answer my question. --A strong wind started blowing. It blew away the assailants robe, which had been burnt to tatters.
Even I couldnt help but be surprised at the identity of the assailant that had been revealed.
You are
The assailant was a big man who was wearing black armor.
His face was covered in scars--and he had no nose.
Are you Edgar of talhound Army?
NOeRUuuuu
There was still no reply from him, but there was no doubt about it, he was that Edgar. From what I could tell, he had completely lost his mind. His eyes were out of focus and saliva was dripping from his mouth.
Noel, is he an acquaintance of yours?
When Hugo asked from beside , I nodded.
Yeah, of sorts, you know?
To know a man with tentacles sticking out his back, you have a diverse circle of acquaintances, dont you?
I'm also in the midst of feeling shocked at my own surprising nature
NOERUUUUUU!!!
As we joked with each other, Edgar's tentacles attacked us. We were able to imdiately dodge the attacks, but they were terrifyingly quick. It seed like it would be difficult to dodge such attacks repeatedly.
He seems to hate you very much, doesnt he? What did you do?
That guys nose, its missing, right?
Yeah, its indeed missing
I was the one who did that
......I, I see. I get it now
GUOOOOOO!!!
Edgar attacked us with the tentacles a second ti. Moreover, sword strikes were added as a bonus this ti. We took a big leap backwards, and rolled while we dodged.
Noel, your friend is a formidable enemy! Please issue instructions for the battle!
I know
In reality, the current Edgar seed pretty tough. As I had expected, Hugo had been weakened by his blank period, and even if both of us faced him, our odds of winning were about fifty-fifty.
However, I wasnt worried. Well, it should be any ti now
Noel! Were done on our side! Everyone has gone outside! That's why after this, do as you like!!!
Through Link, I received a despair-ridden telepathic communication from Leon.
I cracked my fists at his perfect timing.
Alright! Hugo, Im issuing instructions. --Im depending on you for the landing!
Wh, what!? What do you--
Hugo started to say sothing, but realization dawned on his face mid-way through.
H, hey, dont tell
I laughed and nodded as I took another detonator out of my pocket.
There were two types of bombs planted inside this prison.
The first was the bomb that sent out an explosive blast and flas indoors, which I had detonated at the outset.
And the other was planted on the supporting pillars under the prison.
What happens if I set this one off? The answer is--the collapse of the building itself.
NOERUUUUUU!!!
Edgar was approaching. Just before his great-sword reached us, I pushed the button on the detonator.
Edgar, you're no match for
In an instant, the prison shook trendously. Then, having lost its supporting pillars, as if pulled from the inside, the prison started to collapse inwards onto itself.
The rooftop also collapsed, and having lost our foothold, we fell.
NOERUUUUUU!!!
Edgar could do nothing but fall, yet he continued shouting my na.
Shouting Noel Noel, its becoming tireso
I aligned Silver-chans sights on Edgar, who was unable to move in mid-air.
Lets see you avoid this
Magic bullet--Garm Bullet, impact.
Due to the effect of the magic bullet, Edgar swelled up like a balloon, and then burst apart into fine dust. The instant the montum of my fall slowed due to the shockwave from the explosion, a large hand grabbed from the side.
Noel, brace for impact!
That hand belonged to a puppet soldier that had been created by Hugo. Hugo was held in the arms of another puppet soldier. Both of us, who were continuing to fall, would use the puppet soldiers as cushioning to absorb the impact.
But needless to say, it wasnt like they completely absorbed the impact, and my whole body was bruised and painful.
Hahaha, its our complete victory, isnt it?
As I endured the pain and laughed, Hugo heaved a huge sigh.
What do you an, complete victory Good grief, Ive ended up working under a terrible man
He talked as if he was fed up, but he started laughing like he was having fun.
Looks like Im not going to be bored from now on
Right?
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it
As we shared a laugh with each other, we saw Leon and the rest coming from afar.
Well then, shall we go?
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