Chapter 107: Her Secret and Dark Coffin
Rifreya had come to my side at some point in time.
She is a close range battle specialist, but it is hard for her to perform in a situation like this.
There really is no other choice but to hit it with the higher Tier ability of Shadow Bind, Dark Coffin. I don’t know how much it can immobilize it, but it should have more effectiveness than Shadow Bind. If we do well, we might be able to lower its movement greatly.
“Rifreya, nice timing. When it comes down, I will restrain it with my new Spirit Ability. When that happens, hit it with all you have.” (Hikaru)
“U-Uhm…” (Rifreya)
“Ah, of course, without being reckless, that is. It should have more restraining power than Shadow Bind, so no need to hold back. Go all—” (Hikaru)
“Hikaru! Listen.” (Rifreya)
Rifreya yanked my sleeves hard.
When I looked back, she had a grim expression, however, it had determination in it… That’s the kind of face that was looking straight at me.
“W-…What’s the matter…? Did you really get injured somewhere…?” (Hikaru)
“No, that’s not it. I…uhm…haven’t told you something, Hikaru… No, there’s something I have to tell you.” (Rifreya)
“E-Eh? What? Or more like, does it have to be now?” (Hikaru)
I can tell that she has to tell me something important, but we are currently in the very middle of a battle against a Demon Lord. There’s no knowing when the Demon Lord will be plunging again even while we are standing here.
“…Uhm…actually, I do have…an attack that can hit flying targets…” (Rifreya)
“Really? Like throwing your sword? It is true that it is a distance that projectiles might reach, but—” (Hikaru)
“No, that’s not it. Uhm…” (Rifreya)
While being cautious of the Demon Lord flying, she hesitated for a moment in saying it and…
“Hikaru, just like how you couldn’t tell me that you came from another world and that unknown people are watching you, I also had something I couldn’t tell you. Actually…even though I should have told you…if I were to tell you that, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to stay by your side anymore… So selfish, right? Even though we are in so much trouble here, even now…I have been hiding it all this time…” (Rifreya)
“What’s the matter, Rifreya? What are you sayi—” (Hikaru)
“…I told you that I won’t be doing Spirit Ability training anymore, right? Actually, when I went to the Great Spirit-sama’s place the day before that, I had low hopes…but then…” (Rifreya)
After saying that much, Rifreya hesitates in her words.
She looked straight to the front and directed her right hand up.
I can feel Spirit Energy gathering on the palm of Rifreya.
That became a shining sphere, and it is being collected in front of her palm as if energy is converging there.
“Could it be…” (Hikaru)
“I thought we would somehow manage with these many explorers. That’s why I thought I didn’t need to say it. That I will keep it a secret… That’s why, even in a situation like this, I couldn’t say it… But…after saving my life twice already…I can’t continue being so selfish.” (Rifreya)
The shining sphere was flickering repeatedly as if wanting to be released from her at any moment.
She looked straight at the Demon Lord circling above and directed her palm at it.
“Pierce! [Photon Ray]!” (Rifreya)
The dazzling and shining streak of light that shot out from the palm of Rifreya shallowly cuts the wing of the Demon Lord flying, and a spray of blood rains from above.
The Demon Lord raised a cry of anger at the attack from the ground that it thought we had none of.
It wasn’t to the point where it can’t fly anymore, but it must have learned now that flying isn’t completely safe. We want to bring the fight to the ground, so the effect of this one attack is big.
I am not so dense as to not understand the reason why she kept this a secret.
I also know just how conflicted she must have felt in confessing this.
It is not like I am not thinking ‘in a situation like this?’, but I have no right to blame her.
“…I missed. Haah haah… My Spirit Energy might be in a bad state.” (Rifreya)
“It is difficult to use an ability all of a sudden in real battle. But that was impressive, Rifreya.” (Hikaru)
If it were a literal speed of light attack, it might have hit right on target, but it isn’t actually that fast.
I don’t know the physics of this world, but it is a speed that can be barely followed with the eye. It is a power brought by Spirit Energy, so it might be different from the light in nature.
“Gwaoooooon!”
The Demon Lord raised a cry resembling a roar while blood flowed from its wing, changed course in midair, and took a stance to plunge.
Even if we have found a means to attack flying targets, it is not like the tides of battle will suddenly turn.
The battle continues.
It is not the time to lower our guards.
“Alex! It is diving your way!” (Hikaru)
“Got it! Please provide backup!” (Alex)
“I will try!” (Hikaru)
The Demon Lord glides down to the ground together with a roar.
It is aiming for Alex, but the shield bearing warriors stand at the front to try and stop it.
However, it is impossible to stop that charge from the front. The warriors were sent flying as if they had been hit by a car as one would expect.
Even so, there’s no way I am going to let this chance escape.
“[Dark Coffin]!” (Hikaru)
I feel Spirit Energy escaping from me.
After one breath, a dark giant coffin appeared with the Demon Lord as the origin point as if swallowing its target.
The Demon Lord notices the abnormality and makes steps in a way to get out of the coffin.
The coffin of darkness was completely one instant too late…
“Alex, sorry! I missed!” (Hikaru)
“Can’t be helped! Ora!” (Alex)
The spear attack of Alex was easily deflected.
The Demon Lord opened distance with deft steps and took flight again.
It managed to incapacitate several explorers that came to aid with just one attack, so it must have learned that dives from the air are effective. And it would actually be bad if it were to repeat those.
Even so, it would be a poor plan to escape to the stairs.
The stairs have bad footing, a monster in 4 would have the advantage, and most of all, we would be done for if it were to continuously spit out fire in there.
Stacking all those negatives, you could say the enemy sticking to dives isn’t that bad of a situation.
The Demon Lord has a good head but it is lacking in some fronts.
That’s why we can take advantage of those lacking elements.
Marchosias flies overhead.
I can’t tell how much damage we have dealt to it, but it doesn’t look like it is dying anytime soon.
The sight of the Demon Lord soaring above made me feel as if it even has leisure.
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