Chapter 394: Right Here

Pigimaru and Munin.

It seems that the two of them encountered a Sacrament released within the labyrinth.

It might have been a tough opponent just for these two alone.

It was fortunate that I was able to meet up with them before things got worse.

More than anything, it’s a big relief to have joined up with these two early.

Thereupon…..

[Pinyui~~!]

Pigimaru jumped and moved from Munin to my arms.

He settled into his usual spot.

Just like that, he was unusually clingy for a while.

……Well, he must have been anxious.

However, it seems he did well protecting Munin.

When I praised him, he was even happier than usual.

……It felt like he was beyond just happy, but genuinely moved.

Right now……

[Pyuu~~……♪]

———was acting as if he finds comfort being in his usual spot.

We started moving.

Munin, who was trotted alongside us, expressed her gratitude.

[You really saved us, Touka-san.]

[The biggest concern after the entry was whether we could join up with the priority targets early. In that sense, it’s huge that I managed to meet up with you and Pigimaru like this.]

Loqierra had predicted "there's no such possibility"……

But if by any chance Vysis had destroyed her theory———–

In other words, if she was able to cast her on her Divine Servants……

Munin's ability to cast the Forbidden Curses is significant for me.

[Have you not joined up with Loqierra-san yet?]

[Yeah.]

Munin and the others hadn't met Sogou or the Takao Sisters either.

On the other hand, I, Munin, and Pigimaru had managed to join up like this.

"The closer the entry sequence, the higher the probability of being teleported nearby."

It seems to be just as we expected.

However, it's not guaranteed.

An increased probability it may be, it's still a "probability".

There’s a chance that Sogou and the Takao sisters might have been teleported to a distant location.

The same goes for Loquera——— as well as Seras.

We passed through the corridor.

There didn’t seem to be any presence nearby…… ———-No.

[Something’s coming.]

We entered a different corridor from where we sensed that presence.

[Pigimaru, keep an eye on the other side of this corridor.]

[Pii.]

Munin concealed herself and quietly stayed behind me.

……I should consider using to avoid ambush.

But, given the MP consumption, I’d prefer to stick with the usual MP-saving combo.

I checked who was coming out of the corridor while remaining hidden.

The source of the presence appeared.

……Medium-sized Sacraments huh.

Should I consider it fortunate that it wasn’t a Divine Servant?

Or should I think it would have been better if I could deal with them here———-

[…………………]

……This presence……

They’re gathering one after another.

The Sacraments, that is.

Are they marching in a line or something?

It seems we’ve encountered a “gathering” of Sacraments.

It’s like a “horde” from those zombie-themed movies.

With that number, I could handle them with my Abnormal State Skills———–

[——————]

Sacraments are also gathering from other corridors……

Could it be…… are they sweeping this area like they're steamrolling through?

Pigimaru poked my neck with his protrusion.

It seems a horde is coming from the corridor Pigimaru was monitoring as well.

There are three corridors connected to this area.

It seems Sacraments are flowing in from all three.

Should I use my combined technique with Pigimaru?

Right here?

If we start fighting……

The Sacraments that notice us will likely rush in from all three directions.

If it had just been me and Pigimaru, I'm confident we can handle them without particular problems.

However, I looked at Munin.

Munin, gripping her staff tightly with both hands, nodded firmly.

It was a clear indication of her intention to fight as well.

……The problem with this horde is that their individual performance would probably be different from regular Sacraments.

In case the worst case happens———-

I want to avoid a pattern where Munin gets killed due to lack of attention.

[If I feel it’s dangerous, I'll use once to retreat———– or we can find a location that’s easier to huddle behind while protecting you. There should be a building or something suitable for battle around. If the Sacraments kept on gathering behind us, there’s a chance of “worst-case scenarios" occurring due to their sheer numbers……]

There are almost no means for us to recover MP in this labyrinth.

So, I want to avoid using , which consumes a lot of MP, if possible.

However, I definitely can’t afford to lose Munin here.

……Her transforming into a crow is also an option.

I briefly glanced up at the ceiling of the corridor.

That white ceiling blocks the path to the sky.

Since she can’t escape to the sky, transforming into a crow is a tricky choice.

As for finding a suitable building and hiding as a crow somewhere————

Well, that might be an option……

Of course, it would be necessary that the Sacraments don’t see her transform.

In any case———— we need to move, or we’ll be in a dire situation.

[Pigimaru.]

[Pi.]

[Please turn into that Fly King Sword. Also, if it comes to it, protect Munin with hardening or something.]

[Pii!]

I took the Slime Weapon in hand.

The color is the same as before but……

This time though, it’s a simple double-edged sword without serrated edges.

[First, we’ll break through the ones approaching from behind. Then, find a location that’s easier to defend while protecting Munin. Munin, prioritize your safety.]

[Understood.]

[———-Let's go.]

I used on the Sacraments approaching from behind and rushed towards them.

As I passed by, I cut down the paralyzed Sacraments with the Fly King Sword.

The Sacraments here are larger than usual.

With a single swing, I can kill at most two of them.

If I lengthen the blade any more, it might not be sharp enough.

Based on the feel of the previous cut, the sharpness was barely enough for one strike.

In a way, Pigimaru’s adjustments were just right.

[……They're coming.]

It seems the ones coming from the other corridor have also noticed us.

When I turned to look behind, I confirmed that they were closing in.

[—————]

I'm not sure whether they knew the range of my skills or not, but two of them were drawing their bows from outside the effective range.

[Pii!]

Pigimaru, who seemed to notice them early, chirped.

"Leave it to me!"

An arrow was fired at Munin.

However, Pigimaru, hardened, acted as a shield and blocked the arrows.

The significant increase in strength from the third experiment was huge.

The other arrow———— I could have let Pigimaru block it———- but I cut it down.

I continued to cut down the Sacraments while mixing in some of the usual simple combos.

I also applied and just in case.

……Dealing with a few at a time isn’t a problem.

I can handle them well enough.

However———–

[……………………]

Their numbers……

Because they’re somewhat larger in size, I can’t cut them all down in one go.

But since they’re not too large, the number of enemies increases.

If they come crashing in with that number———–

There’s a risk of me hitting the target limit.

That especially goes with .

Paralysis itself doesn’t have lethal capability.

If they have enough strength to move and do so, they can be dealt with by self-destruction.

But if they remain paralyzed, they'd just keep on consuming my target limit.

To avoid this, we need to kill the paralyzed enemies to reduce their numbers.

[ ]

———-Crickle, crackle———-

Once again, I understand the importance of having a frontline presence that moves simultaneously with me and deals with enemies one by one.

[Pigii!]

It seems Pigimaru also noticed.

More Sacrament reinforcements are pushing in from ahead in the direction we’re moving.

They're planning to crush us with numbers huh.

The power of numbers is surprisingly formidable.

Members scattered during entry, and then crushed by the powerful Divine Servants and the numbers brought by Sacraments.

It’s a strategy that leverages the characteristics of the Genesis Labyrinth.

On the other hand, when we’re gathered, the power of numbers from Sacraments loses its meaning.

This has been proven in battles leading up to Enoh.

In that sense———– the enemy is also strategizing.

They’ve anticipated our strengths and are deploying a method to neutralize them effectively.

I see.

Even the sh*tty goddess…… had firmly become cautious of us.

[………………..]

But with this situation, I’m worried about the other raid members.

No———– I guess I can think of this situation that way huh.

If the Sacraments are scattered and easily taken down individually————

If Vysis judged it that way, and this “gathering of Sacraments” were to be restricted here……

If we can eliminate this horde of Sacraments here, it would make things easier for the other raid members.

Munin spoke.

[Touka-san, you don’t have to worry so much about me. I trained with Seras-san for situations like this, remember? We did so much training…… Also, Pigimaru-san is taking good care of me. So…… just go all out!]

[Piggi!]

[———-, ……….I suppose so.]

Munin is likely trying to be considerate in her own way.

That said……

If more Sacraments keep coming out, blocking our path——–

We might end up with our backs against the wall, fighting against a “wall of paralyzed Sacraments".

Yes———— Just like that time when I fought immediately after being dropped into the Disposal Ruins.

I hope that tactic works on these guys too——–

[Pii?]

The horde of Sacraments in the corridor we came from turned around.

Something……

Something———– is coming our way.

It’s approaching with a tremendous speed.

A sound like something being swept aside or slashed———–

Probably.

That is———-

[Touka-dono!]

————–, ……………Good grief.

I couldn't help smiling seeing her timing.

[……You really showed up at the perfect timing huh.]

As if slicing through tofu, she advanced and cut down the Sacraments approaching us———-

It was the Valkyrie, Seras Ashrain.

[Seras-san!]

Munin’s face blossomed with relief.

It seemed Seras had only her sword in her Origin Regalia state.

With the blade of light, she could extend its range and almost certainly take down her enemies with a single strike.

I mean, she’s become capable of such skillful maneuvers huh.

Only having her sword in that state was probably a way to conserve her strength for later.

More importantly, dealing with the Sacraments with just the sword in that state was not a problem———- Seras had judged it that way.

Nope, I really am hopeless against her.

The level of combat she’s capable of is on a different scale compared to mine.

With Seras, who is essentially in a one-man-army state, joining us and facing away from us———–

She took her stance.

[Thank you for waiting.]

[Your timing is perfect, just when we needed you.]

[Pyuu~~!]

With Seras around, it’s possible to fight while taking good care of Munin.

[Touka-dono.]

[Yeah.]

First of all————

[Let’s take care of these guys.]

▽

It felt like it took less than ten minutes.

I paralyzed them with , and Seras cut them down.

On the other hand, the Sacraments were utterly helpless against Seras.

You could say they mostly died without being able to do anything.

As the Sacraments melted away, Seras dispelled her blade of light.

[Seras-san!]

Munin hugged her, to which Seras caught her with a smile.

[I’m glad to see you’re not injured.]

Then, Seras explained the situation to me.

[I was running around searching for our comrades when I encountered a group of Sacraments marching together.]

[You didn’t run into any Divine Servants huh.]

[Yes. I did encounter several Sacraments wandering around the labyrinth before running into the group, but I haven’t met any enemies that were particularly challenging.]

That "particularly challenging" Seras talks about refers more to enemies that are "challenging for Seras".

In any case, Seras hadn’t run into other comrades either.

She hadn’t met Sogou or the Takao sisters, who had entered close to her.

[What about citizens of the Royal Capital?]

[I haven't met them.]

We also haven’t encountered anyone from the capital so far.

There might not be as many people from the capital left in Eno as expected.

Or perhaps, if you normally think about it, given the current situation, they’re likely hiding inside buildings.

In that case, there’s no need to worry too much about the people from the Royal Capital.

[Anyhow…… It's fortunate that we managed to regroup with these members almost unscathed.]

[Speaking of those who entered close to us, there’s also Loqierra-dono……]

It would be most ideal if we could regroup with Loquera soon.

I recalled the map and checked the buildings and signs around us.

Then, I looked towards the castle.

[I’ve instructed those who entered to head straight to the castle gate unless there’s anything in particular. If everyone is heading towards the center of the labyrinth——— that castle———- it's better to head towards the castle rather than lingering around the vicinity of the teleportation point, as there’s a higher chance of regrouping along the way.]

According to Loqierra's analysis and the information Liz desperately gathered…..

Currently, it’s still unlikely that Vysis would move away from the castle.

If they are waiting for the destruction of the Sacred Eye, “waiting” is the optimal strategy.

And another thing.

There's the existence of a carved seal that strengthens units by binding the user to the location.

If this is being used near the goal point, Vysis would likely want to avoid moving away from the goal point.

After all, that enhancement would likely affect the Sacraments heading toward the destruction of the Sacred Eye.

Loqierra had analyzed this.

If Vysis wants to quickly destroy the Sacred Eye and “escape” to Heaven……

Waiting near the goal point would currently give Vysis the highest chance of winning.

That said, it’s also dangerous to assume she will definitely stay in the castle.

For example, if we assumed———-

"Vysis won’t move from the goal point."

Vysis could also assume we will take it for granted that she won’t move from the goal point.

It’s entirely possible she might intentionally move away from the goal early on.

[……………….]

I believe I've laid all the groundwork I could.

I’ve gathered as much "power" as possible.

I’ve pulled in every thread that holds the potential for victory, to the best of my ability.

However————

Irregularities, including unforeseen events, can always happen.

So, having come this far……

We must adapt to the situation as it unfolds and each do our best.

[At the moment, let's also head towards the castle.]

Regardless of anything else——–

[We'll settle this with Vysis right here, in the Royal Capital.]

Thank you for sticking with me through the Final Arc's Part 2.

Now that we've officially entered the full-scale battle against Vysis, I hope you enjoyed this volume.

And thank you for your warm support, feedback, reviews, and messages for the second part of the final arc. Although I haven't been able to respond individually, I've read every message, and they’ve been a great source of encouragement and support. I'm genuinely happy with a simple "It's interesting!" but I also appreciate when you find the good points or feel that the elements I intended to convey were successfully communicated. (It’s sometimes surprising to see how well some aspects have been understood.) Likewise, bookmarks, rating points, and likes are also a great encouragement and support for my writing. Seeing these increases makes me feel personally that my message has been conveyed properly, and I’m very pleased about that.

I also appreciate the concern expressed in the feedback section (thank you for that). In reality, the recent consecutive updates have taken more time than expected for revisions, leaving me quite exhausted…… Working on the Light Novel is also part of this, but I’ve realized that spending too much time on revisions can be a double-edged sword…… Nevertheless, I can’t easily compromise on quality, so I plan to continue as long as my health allows.

I’ll be taking a short break to recover and then proceed with Part 3 at a pace that suits me, though I do aim for regular updates.

I'm looking forward to meeting you again in Part 3.

Thank you very much.