第十三話 死神の一撃
「ありがとうございます、スノウさん......!」
ルーチェは氷の柱を垂直に駆け上がる。
〈曲芸歩術〉のスキルである。
これで天井付近へ逃げたポタルゲへと、一気に距離を詰められる。
......だが、そう簡単には行かない。
これまでも魔物の知性の強化を感じることはあったが、ポタルゲはその中でも別格だ。
システムの存在とその仕様を理解し、時として逃げることが最大の攻撃になることを知っている。
魔法型のポタルゲに対して、細い足場を一直線に駆け上がって接近するのは悪手だ。
ポタルゲの顔の前に、大きな魔法陣が展開される。
「逃げろルーチェ! 奴は柱諸共吹き飛ばす気だ!」
「ギュルルルルル!」
雷が氷の柱目掛けて落ちる。
風魔法のスキル......〈サンダーストーム〉だ。
発動は遅く、MP消費も大きいが、広範囲かつ高火力。
今みたいに足場ごと敵を吹き飛ばすには持って来いのスキルだった。
「ううっ......!」
ルーチェは柱を蹴り、空中へ逃れた。
「〈フロートリフト〉!」
スノウが素早く、次のスキルを放つ。
「わっ......!」
ルーチェが綺麗に、その上に立った。
「ギュッ......!」
ポタルゲが眉間に皺を寄せ、彼女を睨みつける。
〈サンダーストーム〉でルーチェを倒し切れると踏んでいたのだろう。
仕損じた挙げ句、接近を許したことを焦っているようだ。
タイミングも魔法制御も完璧だ。
天才剣士と呼ばれていただけのことはある。
狡猾で腹黒いという前評判は驚くほど当てにならなかったが、そちらはどうやら本当だったらしい。
「行ける......これなら、仕留めきれる! 〈ライフシールド〉!」
俺は走りながらスキルを発動した。
俺の生命力が実体化し......光の壁となって全身を包んでいく。
最大HPの二割を支払い、自身の身体を守る盾にするスキルだ。
〈死線の暴竜〉【特性スキル】
残りHPが20%以下の場合、攻撃力・素早さを100%上昇させる。
〈死線の暴竜〉が条件を満たす。
身体を赤い光が覆い、一気に速度が上昇する。
俺が目指すのはポタルゲの真下だ。
「〈竜殺突き〉......!」
ルーチェが氷の足場を蹴って、ポタルゲへとナイフを突き出す。
「ギュウウウウ......!」
それを撃ち落とすべく、ポタルゲは魔法陣を紡ぐ。
発動速度に定評のある〈シルフカッター〉だ。
氷晶騎士であるスノウが足場を作り、道化師であるルーチェがそれを活かしきってポタルゲへ一気に接近した。
見事な連携だったが、元より上を取って、接近する相手を撃ち落とせばいいだけのポタルゲの方が、遥かに有利な盤面だったのだ。
〈シルフカッター〉の発動の方が一瞬早い。
「〈影踏み〉!」
俺は全力で、ポタルゲの影を踏みつけた。
「ギィッ!?」
ポタルゲの巨体が上下する。
〈影踏み〉は距離が開きすぎていれば効果が薄い。
ステータスの差が大きすぎると、強引に振り解かれることもある。
だが、一瞬体勢を乱して、嫌がらせをするにはそれで充分だった。
特に今......ポタルゲの意識は、完全に迫りくるルーチェへと向いていたのだ。
意識外から急に引っ張られるのは、さぞ効いたはずだ。
ポタルゲの放った〈シルフカッター〉は軌道がズレて、ルーチェを掠め、氷の足場の方を粉砕した。
ルーチェの〈竜殺突き〉が、ポタルゲの首を突き刺した。
〈奈落の凶刃〉の髑髏の光が広がる。
首許の肉が爆ぜ、血が舞った。
「ギイアアアアアアアッ!」
大ダメージを叩き込まれたポタルゲが、一直線に落下してくる。
それは死に物狂いでルーチェから逃げようとしているようでもあった。
「まだまだ動き回れるなんて、本当にタフな奴だよ」
俺は落下してくるポタルゲへと刃を構える。
「〈不惜身命〉!」
赤い光に、新たに青白い光が加わる。
〈不惜身命〉【通常スキル】
残りHPが50%以下の場合のみ発動できる。
防御力を【0】にし、減少させた値だけ攻撃力を上昇させる。
発動中はMPを継続的に消耗する。
これで準備は整った。
「ギイッ!」
ポタルゲは崩れた体勢から強引に身体を捻り、俺へと鉤爪の一撃を繰り出す。
確かにその爪は俺を捉えたが、威力が充分に乗っていなかった。
大きな隙を晒したポタルゲへ、〈死線の暴竜〉と〈不惜身命〉の合わせ技の剣をお見舞いする。
ポタルゲの巨体を勢いよく床へと叩き落とす。
ポタルゲ越しに、刃の威力で床に亀裂が走った。
それが奴の最期の叫びとなった。
【経験値を6725取得しました。】
【レベルが72から74へと上がりました。】
【スキルポイントを2取得しました。】
〈幻獣の塔〉の〈夢の主〉、ポタルゲを打ち倒すことができた。
俺は剣を床に突き立てて身体を支え、二つのスキルを解除した。
身体を纏っていた二色の光が消える。
少々危うかったものの四人共無事である。
「お、終わった......よかった......」
イザベラはへなへなとその場に座り込んだ。
戦いが終わったという安堵で力が抜けたらしい。
それからすぐにポタルゲの亡骸へと目を向けて、顔を青くしていた。
「しかし......なんだ、今の、馬鹿げた威力は。こんな隠し玉を持っていたとは......き、貴様、何者なのだ......?」
「ちょっとした荒業でな。あまり気軽に使えるものではないが」
Volume 3 - Ch 13
"Thank you very much, Snow-san.....!"
Luce started to run up vertically on the side of the ice pillar.
She was able to do that thanks to her [Acrobatic Steps] Skill.
With that, she will be able to get close to the Podarge, which was hovering near the ceiling.
....however, it seemed things wouldn't go that easy.
Some monsters thus far appeared to be somewhat smarter than their game selves, but even among those, this Podarge was on a whole other level.
It seems to be aware of the System and its possible uses, as well as the fact that because of that sometimes retreating could end up as the best way to attack.
Trying to get closer to a Podarge, a magic type combatant, via a straight and narrow foothold is not a good idea.
A large magic circle was deployed in front of the Podarge's face.
"Get out of there, Luce! It intends to blow you away along with that pillar!"
"Gyururururuh!"
A bolt of lightning fell on the pillar of ice.
It was the wind magic Skill....the [Thunderstorm].
That one has a pretty long activation time and takes a lot of MP, but its area of effect is wide and its firepower is also high.
It's perfect for blowing up enemies along with the ground they are standing on, like what happened just now.
"Uuuuh......!"
Luce kicked off from the pillar and escaped into mid-air.
"[Float Lift]!"
Snow quickly activated her next Skill.
"Wah....!"
Luce managed to neatly stand on top of it.
"Gyuuh.....!"
The Podarge kept glaring at her with a frown on its face.
It must've wanted to deal with Luce once and for all with the [Thunderstorm].
Not only did it miss with its finishing blow, it seemed to be in a panic now due to Luce managing to get closer despite its efforts.
Both the timing and control of magic was perfect on the deployment of that foothold.
As expected of someone who is called a genius with the sword.
The part of the rumors that described her as a cunning and black-hearted woman was astonishingly inaccurate, but labeling her as a genius seemed to have been correct in turn.
"We can do this.....with this, we can take it down! [Life Shield]!"
I activated my Skill while running towards it.
My life force manifested and covered my body with a radiant defensive membrane.
It's a Skill that takes twenty percent of my maximum HP and turns it into a shield that protects my whole body.
<Half-Dead Savage Dragon> [(Special Skill)] 
When the user's HP is less than 20%, Attack and Agility is increased by 100%.
With this, the requirements for [Half-Dead Savage Dragon] have been met.
My body was covered by a red light and my speed increased right away.
Where I was heading was directly underneath the Podarge.
"[Dragon Killer Thrust].....!"
Luce kicked off from her icy foothold and thrust her knife towards the Podarge.
"Gyuuuuh.....!"
The Podarge started to spin up a magic circle to shoot her down.
It was the one famous for its fast activation time, the [Sylph Cutter].
Snow, with her Snow Crystal Knight Class created the footholds, and Luce as a Clown made good use of them to get closer to the Podarge.
It was an excellent example of teamwork, but the Podarge still had the advantage, since it only had to shoot down anyone trying to come closer.
The [Sylph Cutter] proved one step faster.
"[Shadow Stomp]!"
I stomped on the Podarge's shadow with all my power.
"Giiiih!?"
Suddenly the large body of the Podarge greatly wavered in the air.
The effect of the [Shadow Stomp] lessens with distance.
If the difference in stats is high enough, it can even be broken by the opponent.
However, it's more than enough to disrupt a monster's actions for a moment.
Especially in this case....where the Podarge's attention was focused entirely on the incoming Luce.
Suddenly getting pulled on out of nowhere should've been a particularly effective distraction.
The trajectory of the [Sylph Cutter] sent by the Podarge was slightly off because of that, only grazing Luce and destroying her icy foothold instead.
Then, Luce's [Dragon Killer Thrust] pierced the Podarge's neck.
The skull made of light created by the [Abyssal Dagger] Skill appeared once again.
The flesh of the monster's neck ruptured, letting out a great deal of blood.
"Giiiaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Suffering a great deal of damage, the Podarge started to fall straight down.
That was also its last desperate attempt to get away from Luce as far as possible.
"It's a real tough bastard, being able to still move after that."
I aimed my sword at the falling Podarge.
"[Relentless Vigor]!"
Blue light mixed in with the preexisting red light covering my body.
<Relentless Vigor> [(Normal Skill)] 
Can only be activated when the remaining HP is under 50%.
It lowers Defense to [(0)]  and increases the Attack by the same amount.
While it's activated, it continuously consumes MP.
With this, the preparations are complete.
"Giiih!"
The Podarge forced its off-balance posture to twist towards me and lashed out with its talons at me.
Although it indeed managed to hit me, there wasn't that much power behind it in the end.
With the Podarge showing a large gap in its defense because of that, I hit it with a combo attack of my [Half-Dead Savage Dragon] and [Relentless Vigor] Skills.
I managed to slam down the Podarge's large body onto the floor.
Even through the Podarge's body, the force of my blow cracked the floor beneath it.
That was the last screech of the monster.
[(You have gained 6725 experience points.)] 
[(Your level has increased from 72 to 74.)] 
[(You have gained 2 Skill points.)] 
We managed to defeat the Dream Lord of the Phantasmal Beast Tower, the Podarge.
I planted my sword into the floor, then leaned on it with my whole body as I deactivated my two ongoing Skills.
The two colored lights disappeared from around my body.
That was somewhat dangerous, but all four of us managed to get through it in one piece.
"Finally......it's over......"
Izabella bonelessly crumbled to the ground.
Apparently her knees gave out now that the fight was over.
She then turned to the remains of the Podarge, going pale immediately.
"But.....what, was, that monstrous power? Having something like this as a hidden ace.....who the hell are you.....?"
"It's a bit of a desperate measure. Not something I can use whenever I want."
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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