The Smoke Giant looked over us, no, over Yuko. I'm just an ant in front of him but Yuko is different.
"You. You're the 'Help' this world pleaded from that 'World'. What do they call you again? Hero?"
The giant could sense that Yuko was not from this world while I was being masked by my Adaptability. This world recognized me as one of its own.
From his mouth, two words made my ears perked up. Help and that World.
It couldn't be pertaining to Earth, right? If it is then there's a huge secret about our own world that no one knows yet. If these Otherworlds were asking for the Earth's help, how come we lead normal lives devoid of magic and other sorts of unexplainable things to science?
I have to keep this in mind. For now, I don't have the power to investigate it. One thing is clear. This guy is someone from another world. The Invading World. And this World of System is just something on the way and it seems their real target is Earth itself.
"I don't know who you are. But that's not even your real body. Stop talking big."
Yuko whose expression became serious with the giant's appearance returned to being calm again. She sheathed her saber back to its scabbard.
After a while, I heard footsteps coming from behind me. I looked back in alert in case it were from an enemy, but seeing the new arrivals made me sigh in relief.
The owners of the footsteps were Caila, Noelle and Reinys. Ah. There's also Zerina. I was right. She recovered and rejoined the battle.
"You are brave for a kid. It's true that this is not my own body and this is just an incarnation made from the sacrifice of that denizen of this world. But this is enough to crush a fledgeling like you."
The giant flicked his smoke-formed finger and a huge wind blasted off.
If not for Caila running to stand in front of me, I would have already been blasted away by it.
Yuko stood her ground with her saber stabbed to the ground beneath her. She took the full brunt of it, what was sent to us was just a small part of it.
"Look at you, a simple flick and you're about to get blown out."
He flicked another finger and Yuko still stood there. But she was slowly getting pushed back. She's helpless at that force.
Just how strong is he? He's only an incarnation and Yuko is already struggling.
"You don't have to look so worried. Yuko, she still doesn't use that."
Reinys commented on my side. She's on a stance where she could jump in anytime if Yuko shouted.
"Y-yes. Yuko is still hiding that. She's gauging the real strength of that thing."
Even Noelle thought the same as Reinys.
Ah. They've been together for 3 years. How many battles did they already pass through together? There were for sure a lot of strong enemies, otherwise the Hero won't be recognized as the strongest.
"You should get ready too, Daisuke."
Caila said in front of me, like Reinys, she's ready to jump anytime.
"I've heard about Hero's feat before. She beat a Master-class Tyrant who refused to save his citizens. His country was the first to be attacked by the Dark Soldiers."
Zerina recalled Yuko's past exploits.
"Thanks to the Hero, they managed to evacuate at least half of the citizens. 'The World' then punished that Tyrant by taking away his unique system. It seemed that he was influenced by his new concubine leading to his downfall."
A Master-class? And that sounds like it happened a long time ago. Then how strong is she now? Her System is really a cheat.
"Awakening!"
One word from Yuko triggered an alarming phenomenon.
The invisible World Energy around her started forming together. From colorless it turned into a bright color illuminating her surroundings. Then the bright World Energy engulfed her figure, forming an illusory armor surrounding her. A wing made of that same bright clump of World Energy grew from her back. Right now, Yuko looked like a Valkyrie illustrated by those artists. Like a War Maiden, she stood tall and strong against the pressure brought by the Smoke Giant.
Then a system message rang inside my head.
[Hero Yuko used her System's Ultimate: Awakening, the surrounding area will be engulfed in her Awakening Aura granting 15 Strength and Endurance to her registered Party Members; 7.5 Strength and Endurance to non-Party Members. This only applies to beings recognized by 'The World'.]
The same bright clump of World Enegy enveloped us, including Zerina.
[All Spells and Skills will be temporarily strengthened due to the Awakening Aura.]
Then another system message. This meant with this buff from Yuko's Awakening, my power was raised up to an Adept-class? I don't know, I'm still not clear about the actual numerical stats needed to be considered as Adept or Great-class since most will not reveal their actual stats, only the stage of their System. And that's where they based their classifications of power level in this world.
Adept-class still sounded weak but it's good enough for me, I'll only fire Air Bullets anyway. This kind of buff benefited the 3 Great-class though.
The remaining Great-class Dark Soldier visibly weakened because of that Aura.
I see. So it not only strengthens her allies, it also weakens her enemies. Maybe I could test myself to that guy.
Not only that remaining Great-class, even the Smoke Giant was affected by it.
Though his voice still sounded arrogant and proud, I picked up the slight trembling on it.
"This is all futile. Struggle all you can. When we descend, this meager aura of yours will amount to nothing!"
He once again flicked his finger, contrary to his expectation, it only blew Yuko's hair, like a passing wind. Then a punch and it was stopped by her saber.
Then Yuko vanished from where she was standing. Even with my raised stats, I failed to keep up at her movements.
Reinys, Caila and Noelle rushed forward to confront the Smoke Giant as well.
While Zerina who's still a bit surprised looked at me and she pointed to the Great-class who's about to turn around and run away.
I nodded at her and an Air Bullet fired at his back, he tripped and fell down to the ground but he rolled quickly and stood up.
Though his reaction was still quite fast, Zerina who was also boosted by Yuko's Awakening was already at his back, her two short swords shined and slashed at him.
He raised his weapon to defend himself. He's successful but he got blown away from the impact.
I took a glance at the Smoke Giant. Yuko was moving too fast around him that his smoke arm was already cut off. It's recovering though but the other two also bombarded her with attacks. Well, Noelle was at their back, casting her Blessings, she's a complete support member.
She's taking my role away. Eh? No, that's her original role, I'm the one trying to take away her support role.
We could have two supports, right? Anyway, I'll leave it to them for now. Yuko might need another boost later so I'll keep my ears open while dealing with this Great-class.
He was weakened so his actual power level dropped down to an Adept-class while Zerina's power level approached Great-class because of that buff.
But yeah, this buff isn't unlimited. It will run out soon, so we better finish this guy off.
I pulled out my sword. Yeah, I still have it. Though it's mostly unused since I'm always up against those above my level. It's pathetic but right now I feel like I could slice a chunk out of that guy.
He's the one who kept on chasing me earlier, now he's the one being chased by me and Zerina.
When Zerina saw me running towards the Dark Soldier, she smirked and then threw one of her short swords towards him, it accurately hit one of his legs which made him tumble on the ground again.
Using that chance, my Flash Step that was enhanced temporarily immediately transported me next to him. With a slash. His other leg was cut off.
But the Great-class turned around and brandished his axe towards me.
I dodged but it grazed my cheek, blood immediately trickled down from the wound.
Ah. I got too overconfident.
This, I should keep in mind.
I'm still a weak guy. This power I'm wielding right now isn't mine.
I threw another Air Bullet, this time it hit his shoulder. At the same place where Zerina was hit earlier. This is me getting back for that. The Priest turned to ashes so I have no one to vent this on but him.
His arm then slumped down, paralyzed from that attack. Then my sword stabbed to his other shoulder, his axe dropped down and his arm paralyzed like the first one.
Now, all of his limbs were disabled.
What to do next? Should I slowly take out chunks of his meat? Skin him?
Zerina's voice suddenly rang inside my head.
"Daisuke, stop playing. It's not fun tormenting someone like that."
Ah. Am I doing that? Why? Eh? She's right. What the hell am I doing?
My dark thoughts surfaced again. Am I inherently cruel like this?
The Principal told me that it's normal to have dark thoughts, but me not being aware of it surfacing. What's the meaning of this? Is this connected to that memory I couldn't recall? Then that doesn't correspond to why Yuko was so fond of me.
"I'm sorry."
I apologized to Zerina, and maybe to this guy too.
With another slash, my sword dropped down to his neck. His attempt to struggle out of this situation stopped. He's dead.
When that point registered on my head, I slumped down to the ground. Zerina immediately went to my side and patted my back. She didn't say anything and just sat next to me.
The battle on Yuko and her three party members is still ongoing. Even with the buff from her Awakening, the Smoke Giant proved to be an adversary worthy of it.
And this is just his incarnation. Just how strong will his real body be?
Suddenly footsteps rang out from behind us, it was the soldiers and the mercenaries.
"The citizens were all evacuated. The Cauldron destroyed."
The soldier who gave me that communication scroll earlier, reported.
I see, that's why they're not here. Maybe Caila and Reinys gave them that task.
Now we only have to wait for this side to finish.
I don't know about the 3rd Lady. She's also influenced by the Priest leading to this situation where it endangered their whole city. Now that the guy was dead, will something change?
After a while I stood up again and started walking towards that battlefield.
"Where are you going?"
Zerina asked again. She already knew where and why. She just wanted to ask me.
"I'm also a member of her Party, and I'm her Support. Of course, I'll do my job to help her end this."
I gave her a thumbs up before I used Flash Step to appear near their battlefield. I then threw the last charge of my Psyche Boost when Yuko reappeared next to me. I'm not surprised, I got a glimpse of her complexion earlier.
"I was waiting for this. Thanks Dai-kun."
Leaving those words, she once again vanished and a loud howl of despair and indignation sounded out from the Smoke Giant.
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