A magical bird seemed to drop down from the sky as the Sand Bomb hit the ground of sand. The impact was enormous as the gigantic Sand Shield that Marokh had molded was crushed to dust, causing the damage to be inflicted.
Not everyone was hit, but even so, the area of effect was around fifty meters, enough for Raya and Yara, as well as Celine, to be engulfed by the blast. But with the two S rank's power, the blast of the Sand Bomb never did anything to them as a barrier appeared from their body. It's the same case with the others as Raya interfered at the last second to mitigate the damage of the ancient weapon because if she didn't, they would die in the Tower, and dying in the Tower only meant one thing — Failure Penalty.
The initial plan was commendable; weakening the sand cannon blast, and finding the opportunity to strike closer. But they didn't account for the other arsenal of the ancient weapon, causing the current predicament to happen.
At least that's what it was superficially.
"NOW-!!"
With Samantha's voice of valor, Elizabeth, standing close to the fighters of the party, teleported in front of the fifteen-meter robot or war machine. From where it was standing, it wasn't hit by the blast radius as Samantha and the others were unharmed, though they were shaken by the sound of the Sand Bomb since it was more than deafening.
The Sand War General, Dymuna spoke as a smile appeared on her brownish face.
"Come on!"
Welcoming the intruders of the 25th floor, like a war freak veteran, Dymuna controlled the Ancient Sand Weapon to physically attack the incoming players. Apart from the Sand Cannon, Sand Bomb, and Sand Barrier function of the enormous artifact, it could also manually wield a weapon.
With her mind connected to the artifact due to the Sand God's blessing that's been recreated by the Tower of Growth, she conjured a gigantic, brown ancient axe that's at least four meters in length. It was like Dymuna was fully immersed or become one with the ancient weapon.
Bam-!
Dodging the axe that's cleaved down to cut them in line, Russell whispered.
"That's unfair."
Although he knew, seeing it personally was a very different story. The attack of Dymuna using the ancient weapon could drive past through the Sand Barrier, but when she was being attacked by Russell and the others, it was being negated.
But other thoughts were surfacing in his mind.
'Hm, it isn't moving from its position. Could the ancient weapon be given a handicap in exchange for its double overall power?'
According to what he recalled in his unpublished novel, the ancient weapon was swift and agile, like a robot meant for mobility and quick transportation. But since the start of the fight, it didn't move from its position from where it first stepped on.
'No, it's not moving yet.'
Russell surmised. The Tower of Growth would certainly double the power, depending on underlying conditions. Though it's the first time that it happened, at least in the Tower of Growth, by merging Elizabeth's and Samantha's party together.
'The Tower won't weaken it or give it a handicap.'
He firmly thought.
The strikes from the gigantic axe were either blocked by Samantha, dodged by others, or stayed out of its range because getting hit by it would send them down outside, failing their growth and certainly the end of their life or innocence.
***
The fighters that were close to it were continually chipping away the flickering Sand Barrier. But, just like what Russell had thought, an unexpected movement of the ancient weapon was made. Under Dymuna's control, the Ancient Sand Weapon jumped very high from where it stood, then landed in front of the other party members — Murktan and Marokh, that were recovering but still slightly wounded by the Sand Bomb. The Ice Mages, Becca, and Rika were also with them, though they could easily move, they were stunned by the towering war machine that suddenly landed in front of them.
Bam-!
They were about to be sent outside the Tower when a sword blocked the intense strike of the ancient weapon. It was Samantha, who quickly teleported with Elizabeth's help. The power of the strike of the B rank ancient weapon, for some reason, could be blocked by her.
'She became stronger from what I knew... No, it's more like she quickly became stronger than what's supposed to.'
Russell thought. He was thrusting the Sand Barrier around the foot of the ancient weapon. It's the same for Amery, while Freya and Amelie were firing Mana Blast since the former didn't have a swordsmanship technique yet, while the latter didn't have a staff technique yet.
They respectively received one in the form of Skillbook from the 21st floor after winning against Commander Cargan, but they hadn't learned it yet and even if they learned it, they couldn't easily adapt to it, especially in situations where something was on the line.
Skillbooks such as techniques, though would instantly be registered in one's mind upon learning, would still take a considerable amount of time to be fully utilized.
"If what you want is frontal war... I'll give it to you!"
Dymuna spoke with valor like the true war general she was.
"You are not honorable to say those words."
Samantha's voice could be heard as a response. Without waiting for Dymuna's answer, she continued:
"Because if you are, you would not target the weakened ones."
Elizabeth seemed to inwardly scratch her head at Samantha's thought-provoking words after she backstabbed the commander on the 24th floor.
"You dare tarnish my honor, human!"
Bam-!
With a voice of fury, using the ancient weapon, Dymuna solely struck Samantha.
"You are no Commander Cargan!"
Samantha responded as she again blocked the attack. It was causing every fiber of her being to go toe to toe with something that was used in the ancient war, though it was heavily degraded, it was still arduous to go against.
[Your Stigma, "Breaker of Impossibility" stirs from its immaterial slumber!]
[The attack of the Ancient Sand Weapon has returned to its original power.]
[The attack of the Ancient Sand Weapon against you is now equivalent to D rank.]
It's the reason why Samantha could block the attack as its overall power when attacking her, was reduced to its original strength — it was if Elizabeth's party wasn't merged with them.
Dymuna fell silent at the mention of the name because Commander Cargan was...
"You dare mention that traitor!"
Seething, Dymuna shouted.
"Traitor... I see... It seems he and the men under his command are the true honorable among all of you."
Samantha revealed a faint smile, mocking the Sand War General. Although not only she, but the others didn't have any idea about the history of the Sand People — except for Russell, her ridicule seemed a lot more effective.
"Shut your filthy mouth, human!
"HAAA-!!"
Bam-!
With her patience reaching rock bottom, she didn't think of the Sand Barrier that's intermittently flickering, that's now on the verge of cracking and collapsing.
After some time of doing random or coordinated attacks; slashing the Sand Barrier; firing a barrage of Mana Blast; firing a barrage of Ice Blast; firing a barrage of Ice Arrow; throwing a metallic rod; thrashing with the whip and sickle, the Sand Barrier broke and revealed the vulnerability of the Sand War General, and the ancient weapon itself.
"NOW-!!"
With Samantha's command that reverberated across the desert war land, Anya and Rumia coiled their respective Legendary Personal Weapon at either foot of the war machine. Becca and Rika used the Ice Barrier with everyone, then Ice Mist so even the party members would be protected against the cold. The Ice Mist then froze the feet of the ancient weapon, rendering it immobile.
Seemingly touching something inside the operating section of the war machine, probably to get worked up the Sand Barrier again. Since it's classified as an artifact, it meant that it could be used again by meeting the necessary conditions.
Samantha was about to order everyone to attack and finish the job when Russell abruptly stopped her.
"Wait!"
Not just her, but everyone, including Raya and Yara with Celine from quite a distance afar, looked at Russell. They were perplexed, at least not Freya, Amelie, and Amery since they knew what was about to go down.
"Stop pitying me, human!"
Dymuna, who seemed to have no choice but to go down from the ancient weapon, spoke in anger. She'd rather die than get pitied.
Looking at the feet of the ancient weapon where Rumia, Anya, Becca, and Rika were standing near, Russell spoke again, not minding the words of Dymuna.
"Everyone, buckle up!"
"Hey, what are you planning again?"
Samantha asked, irritated.
"Finishing it quickly."
Russell responded succinctly. He then looked at Amelie who was holding the Staff of the Lost Shade.
At that moment, the atmosphere turned dim, causing everyone, including Dymuna to look above. A moment later, a horizontal gigantic crack that seemed to appear in a spade shape was formed in space. The entire party, even Freya and Amery, looked at Amelie in disbelief, whose entire body emanated a pure dark aura.
***
[Activating the Intrinsic Effect: Spade Cross of Penitence!]
With the activation of one of the Intrinsic Effects of the Staff of the Lost Shade, an enormous dark cross slowly descended from the crack in the sky, just above where the Sand War General, with her ancient weapon, was situated.
Everyone was looking at the seemingly ominous yet inexplicably tranquil atmosphere of the towering dark cross. Seconds later, the four people on the feet of the ancient weapon distanced themselves, avoiding being subject as collateral.
"May the Spade be with you."
Amelie whispered the same thing she said when she massacred the fifty employees from the Shadow Guild's Branch, where the Urum was stored.
Boom-!
Thrusting itself downward toward the ancient weapon, Dymuna seemed to have seen something terrible as her brown eyes widened.
As the enormous dark cross thrust itself vertically, the fifteen-meter war machine was utterly crushed, rendering it useless and turned to be a pile of metal junk.
"W-what was that?"
Samantha was shocked. A reaction that's barely seen on her face. The mysterious entity in her head was silent for some reason, but Samantha strongly believed that the entity in her head would be able to recognize such a cryptic skill.
It wasn't just her, but also the others who saw such a thing for the first time. They stared, mouths agape, at the dark cross that was buried under the sand. They wanted to bombard Amelie with some questions, but the inexplicable atmosphere of tranquility that was given off by the dark cross seemed to empty their minds at the moment, feeling strange comfort.
Amelie was looking away, trying to act as if it wasn't a big deal, but the attention Raya and Yara, according to Russell, was the one she needed to have. If there's a guild they wanted to be affiliated with, it should be with Rumia — Chaos Hunter Guild. Though the reasons weren't explicitly stated by Russell, Amelie trusts his judgment.
Leisurely scurrying around while looking at the ground, Amelie noticed something. The others were grateful for what had transpired but were still in awe by what they had seen, causing Amelie to think that it was her who first notice what the entire party needed to hear.
"Samantha, the System messages didn't appear yet!"
Samantha, staring at the dark cross in front of her, was jolted awake by Amelie's words that reverberated. She then turned her head to look at Amelie in agreement, but her brown eyes widened at what was screened in her vision.
"R-Russell...?"
Behind Amelie, Russell was standing.
A sand sword was pierced from his back and protruded through his chest as a mouthful of blood escaped from his mouth.
"I admire your valor, young warrior."
Dymuna's words jolted awake the momentary stupor of everyone.
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