189 Flame Fortress
Things with the thieves guild and Sheila's past. There was preparation for the store, a banquet to commemorate the opening, everyone staying overnight, a card tournament, and a lot of other things, but I couldn't just do all the activities in town.
In particular, we need to further strengthen our fighting power when it comes to the last guardian of the labyrinth and the demons. For example, training, exploring labyrinths, and deciphering the code of my mother's notes.
"Taking in magical power from the environment... hmm."
“Is it Lisa-sama’s notes?”
I was sitting at the desk in the master bedroom, researching something in my mother's notes, and Grace, who had brought me tea, asked me about it.
"Yeah. It also wrote about my mother's constitution."
As for my mother's constitution, it seems that her magical qualities were closer to the original source of magical power than that of a healer.
It was written that if a healer is the one whose life force dissolves into magical power and weakens, then in the mother's case, the magical power is dissipated into the natural environment.
If that is true, then there should be weakness due to the depletion of magical power, but my mother's symptoms were not that severe. The reason this doesn't happen is because of his unique magical qualities, which made it possible for him to take in magical power from the natural environment through magical manipulation.
However, after absorbing the environmental magic into the body, it is necessary to neutralize the excess. For monsters, the magic stones inside their bodies play this role. It was hypothesized in the memo that the lack of this was the reason for his frequent breakdowns in health.
"Is that so...Lisa-sama..."
Hearing my explanation, Grace held the ring and looked a little sad.
“I wish I could have used Circulating Renki back then.”
"Please, don't blame yourself. I... No. Everyone else is also supported by Theo."
"yeah……"
I am also supported. I nod at Grace and smile back.
My mother... seemed to have suppressed her own constitution with a magic tool that sealed her characteristics, but... the quality of her magical power itself did not change, and even if the dissipation slowed down, it never completely stopped. So is Grace. The repercussions of the blood-sucking urge won't disappear, and the balance of accounts will need to be balanced somewhere. A ring is never perfect.
In Grace's case, I was able to solve the problem by being with her, but it was essential for my mother to take off her ring from time to time to draw in her magical power---she needed a breather, so to speak. There was no way I could let go of my poor health.
Based on the hypothesis, it also described methods for improving one's own constitution.
This is still in the process of research, and the theory is still incomplete, but...in short, it is a method to neutralize magical power through a surgical method to freely take in the surrounding magical power into the body and use it. I was wondering if I could make one. In other words, he was probably thinking of using the technique to strengthen his constitution. Rosetta's theory that it can be compensated for by circulating reki is also correct, but unfortunately it has become obsolete in the current generation.
“…Let’s leave it like this for today.”
"Yes. Tomorrow will be the Fiery Citadel."
"Yeah. Let's get some rest and prepare for tomorrow."
After continuing to decipher it for a while--after emptying the teacup, it stretches out a lot.
And I think.
...I wonder if it's possible to perfect this technique with my own hands.
This is a way to carry on my mother's research. Complete unfinished business. I'm sure it will be something worth remembering for myself as well.
The next day... When they teleported from the stone monument at the entrance to the labyrinth with Claudia's help, they found themselves in a scorching world.
Red-hot crystal-like ore looms over the entire ceiling of the huge cavern. It's not just the ceiling. They were popping out from all over the cobblestones, spreading hot air around them.
"This is the fiery fortress..."
Ashley looked up at the huge building towering in the distance and muttered.
yes. It's a castle. A fort lined with high stone walls and spires illuminated in red. A place located quite deep within the labyrinth. The enemies are strong and the terrain is dangerous, making it a fairly difficult section. While taking as much safety margin as possible, we aim to further increase our military strength by gaining combat experience here. Considering the example of the Great Rotted Lake, there is a possibility that this area will become the main battlefield during the Demon War. It is not a waste to accumulate experience so that you can respond.
"Is Lavigne okay? What about everyone?"
Protection from the heat of the fire rat's fur. Blocking out heat and cooling using wind magic and water magic. I have taken possible countermeasures, but what do you think?
"Lavigne... it seems like there's no problem."
"I'm fine too."
“Likewise.”
Everyone nods. When I met Marlene's gaze, she nodded with a serious look on her face.
"Okay... Well then, I guess we'll start by breaking through that castle gate."
A long cobblestone slope continues on and on. A huge castle gate can be seen beyond that... The troublesome thing is that you can't infiltrate the inside of the fort without first conquering that wall.
"Can't you fly over that castle wall?"
Sheila asks.
Yeah. There was someone who thought about that at BFO as well. As for the result... well, it was a mess.
"The crystal on the ceiling emits a lot of heat, and there's a barrier all over the sky. You'll be fine to a certain extent, but it's best not to go too high. If you're stuck, you'll be shot at with a bow. Even if you go inside the castle, there are no windows in the spire, so you may have to go inside.
"I see……"
Even though you can't fly at high altitudes, having air combat equipment can be put to good use. It's especially convenient to not have to worry about falling from a high place.
However, when it comes to the castle gates, we have no choice but to rush in head-on.
"There's a stone monument beyond the castle gate. We'll see how it goes today, but let's move on that far."
"Understood"
"I'm coming."
There is only one road leading to the castle gate. The view is good, and there is an abyss on both sides of the slope. There are no detours. The Living Armors formed a formation and attacked us, as if they had discovered us. There were posts all over the slope, and they would attack from there.
Is it the gate of the Fiery Citadel? I had a hard time with Living Armor's military-like movements, and when I first came here, I had to form a raid party to break through.
"Proceed"
Create formations and spears with the golems and move them forward. However, there is no point in just poking a hollow living armor with a spear. That's why the golem formations are holding sashimata. It's a tool to control it. And the material of the golems is earth. Again, the other side's weapons won't work.
Therefore, the strategy is to move forward without hesitation while trading spears. He pins down the Living Armors with his sashimi mata, or takes the armor into his earthen body and blocks their movement. and--.
"That's right there."
Grace jumped and threw the ax at a tremendous speed. The super heavy ax pierced through the body of Living Armor like paper.
Irmhild's bow and arrows are also effective. Seraphina, who was riding on Irmhild's shoulder, amplified the arrow of light carrying the curse and released it. It seems to have quite a fatal effect on Living Armor, and the Living Armor that hits it bounces around for a moment and stops functioning.
When Sheila came around and kicked Living Armor's helmet out of the air, Living Armor, which had lost its head, dropped its weapon as if it had eaten bubbles and put its hand on its head. It was captured by a golem. The sticky net also seems to be working very effectively.
Ashley and Lavine deploy ice walls and Marlene deploys saucers to deal with the archers from high places. Climb up the slope to expand your base.
"rock!"
Sheila's warning.
The Living Armors roll a flaming rock ball from the top of the slope. The vanguard probably saw it as a disadvantage and changed its response. Normally, the normal course of action would have been to evacuate to the Living Armor station that had been conquered.
"There's no need to avoid. Just move forward."
Jump over the golem and swing the Ouroboros around with magical power. I knocked the Living Armors who were exchanging spears into the abyss on the side of the slope, and got out in front of the front row.
The roar of Ouroboros' joy. The swell of circulating magical power increases. With sparks flying, I thrust my dragon staff into the large rock that was rolling down. It shatters the rock through impact from a single point, and at the same time uses Levitation and fire magic. The blast bounced back at the Living Armors in the rear who were trying to attack with the rocks. Living Armor's formation was hit by bullets and was thrown into disarray.
“I’m going to rush in!”
On command, Grace and the others kick the shield and step forward. Marlene also runs up at high speed with the Dullahan. Kick off the Living Armor and run up the slope―― until you reach the open area in front of the castle gate.
"closure!"
"yes!"
When all the friends rushed in, Ashley and Lavine created an ice wall on the road leading from the slope to the plaza. This is to prevent Living Armor reinforcements from coming from the various posts in the back. These guys are the ones who pretend to be unfazed when it comes to killing at first sight, such as leaving behind surplus forces and carrying out a pincer attack in the plaza.
It's also a difficult place. Ashley constructs a defensive field from magic tools and forms a defensive formation.
A group of heavy armor, a higher class of living armor, came from the station on the side of the plaza. The front gate opens, and a giant holding an iron ball with a chain and a flame demon wearing armor appear from behind.
They are said to be semi-Guardian-class monsters placed in specific locations. Is the Fiery Fortress also made with the purpose of being captured? By clearing out these guys, you can open the castle gate.
"If you're on fire, I'll deal with you."
"Then I'll be the giant."
Step forward with Grace. It was a very warm welcome.
“If something happens, give me a signal.”
"yeah"
Claudia is always available to assist us with our retreat, so we have a secure route of retreat, but... it won't be a good idea unless we can break through here. Now, let's start the battle.
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