視界の中で文字が躍り、機械音声が読み上げる。
セーロス(グラド帝国)&ジャルジー(グラド帝国)vsユーミル(サーラ王国)&ハインド(サーラ王国)......READY......FIGHT!
「叩き潰してくれるぅっ!」
観客の「ユーミル」コールを搔き消すように叫びながら、前衛神官ジャルジーが開始直後に俺に向かって突進してくる。
得物は右手に大型のメイス、防具は金属鎧に左手の盾とかなり重量級の装備だ。
作戦は開始前に全てユーミルに伝えてある。
「分かってるな、ユーミル!」
「応!」
普段通りにユーミルが前に、俺が付かず離れずの距離で後方に位置取る。
ジャルジーの突進に対してユーミルがロングソードを一閃、鋭い金属音が闘技場内に響き渡った。
序盤からの豪快なぶつかり合いに、会場内のボルテージが上昇していく。
「貴様の相手は私だ!」
「ぬがっ!? おのれ、邪魔をするなああ!」
そのままラッシュをかけて勢いを止めたのを確認しつつ、自分はその場で静止してMPをチャージしていく。
前衛を挟んで同じくチャージしているセーロスと睨み合い......同時に呪文の詠唱が始まった。
「押し込め、ユーミル!」
「潰しなさい、ジャルジー!」
ユーミルに『アタックアップ』と『ガードダウン』が同時に発動。
ヤツは闇系魔導士なので、デバフを使ってくることは織り込み済みだ。
デバフは状態異常ではないので『リカバー』では解除不能だが、『ディスペル』というスキルで消すことができる。
しかし使ってきたのが『ガードダウン』なら無視だ、無視。
更にMPを溜めておき、次の動きに備える。
「ぬおっ、自動的に捨て身と同じ状態に!? だが、私は更に捨て身も使うぞ! うおおおおおっ!」
「ぐ、がっ! ぬうう、兄者ぁ! 先にアタックダウンをぉ! この女の攻撃力、重戦士並だ! このままでは打ち負ける!」
「落ち着きなさい! 捨て身とガードダウンとで、今の奴の物理防御力は紙ですよ! ......ならば、動きを止めるまで!」
セーロスがユーミルに対して『スロウ』を使用。
デバフが掛かったユーミルの動きが三分の二程度まで落ちる。
「体が重いぃぃぃ! あっ、あっ、しかも一撃ごとの被ダメージが酷いことに!?」
「ガハハハハ! 勝てる、これなら勝てるっ! 行けるぞ兄者!」
前衛二人は騒がしいな......現在のユーミルの物理防御は『捨て身』と『ガードダウン』の累積で7割減の状態だ。
セレーネさんが作ってくれた防具でなければ、とっくにユーミルは戦闘不能になっている。
しかし俺は何もせずに、我慢してそのままMPを最大値近くまで持っていく。
これで『スロウ』を挟んだセーロスとMPの量ではかなり差がついたはずだ。
前衛神官は『ホーリーシールド』という、ジャルジーも既に使用している防御・魔法抵抗上昇スキルがあるので非情にHPを減らし難い。
自分にしか使用できない代わりに『ガードアップ』『レジストアップ』よりも補正倍率が高いので、戦闘不能まで持っていくのにかなり時間が掛かる。
こいつらの基本戦法は前衛神官が粘ってデバフを積むという、内容こそ別物だが耐久戦法という点では俺達と共通している部分がある。
故に、如何に相手のペースを崩すかがこの勝負の鍵となるはずだ。
ユーミルのHPが大幅に減り、セーロスが何かの魔法の詠唱を始めたところで俺は『シャイニング』を使用。
「――ちぃっ! 小賢しい真似を!」
ダメージは極小だが行動の中断に成功。
続けて『リヴァイブ』を詠唱開始。
詠唱しつつ打ち合うユーミルとジャルジーを、自分とセーロスとの間に挟むように移動。
「詠唱が長い......大魔法か!? ジャルジー、どきなさい! ――ええいっ!」
苦し紛れに詠唱の短い初級魔法『ファイアーボール』を撃ってくるが、間に二人が居るため狙いが浅い。
俺はそれを簡単に躱すと、詠唱が完了した『リヴァイブ』を――
「すぺっ!?」
HP0、振り抜かれたメイスによって体が傾いだユーミルに向けて発動した。
すると舞台の上に倒れることなく、片足を後ろに出して踏ん張りつつすぐさま反撃に出る。
「重さが取れ――たぁ!」
戦闘不能になったことで、ユーミルにかかっていたバフもデバフも全て消えている。
不意の復活と速度の変化に対応出来なかったジャルジーは、まともにその斬撃を受けた。
それによってジャルジーのHPは残り6割、しかしユーミルによる間断の無い攻撃で一度も回復の機会を与えていない。
「ぬあっ!? あ、あれ、いま確かにHPを0にしたはずでは......? 兄者、どうなってる!? 後衛を先に潰せなくても、前衛を畳んでから詠唱の妨害に行けば間に合うはずじゃなかったのか!? 話が違う!」
「ば、馬鹿な......死んだ瞬間に蘇生......だと......? それも前戦までより圧倒的に速く......? そんな、そんなことが......」
「あ、兄者......?」
セーロスが狼狽しているが、実は俺もギリギリのタイミングになってしまって焦っていた。
余りにも詠唱が早過ぎたかと......しかし顔には決して出さない。
むしろ笑みを浮かべて余裕の態度を演出しておく。
これで焦って攻めが単調になってくれれば儲けものである。
「――ぐ、偶然に決まっている! ジャルジー、もう一度崩しますよ!」
『リヴァイブ』の詠唱時間は長い。
確かに通常なら前衛を戦闘不能にしてから後衛に向かえば充分に潰し切れるわけだが、タイミングを計って決め打ちすればそれも関係なくなる。
早過ぎて空撃ちするとその時点で敗北が確定するが、それはそれ。
どちらにせよ神官一人では何も出来ないので、ギリギリを狙う価値は充分にある。
再びユーミルに攻撃が集中している隙に、まずはユーミルに『ヒーリング』を使用。
更に『クイック』で『リヴァイブ』のWTを消しておき、その後で短いWTが開けた『ヒーリング』をもう一度使用して少しだけユーミルのHPを回復。
特攻気味でジャルジーのHPを削いでいたユーミルが戦闘不能になる前に、詠唱を開始しておく。
もうデバフまみれになっているので、そろそろ限界が近いだろう。
ユーミルには悪いが、こうなってしまったら戦闘不能を待ってデバフを解除した方が話が早い。
詠唱妨害に飛んできた『ダークネスボール』を躱し、そして......
今度も倒れる前に即座に蘇生完了。
この試合は調子良いな。
いつもよりズレなく『リヴァイブ』を発動できている。
「――はっ!? 死んでない、死んでないぞ!? 私のシマじゃ今のノーカンだから!」
「いや、死んでたぞ? 自分でもカウントしてたじゃん」
それを見たセーロス、ジャルジーコンビの顔から完全に余裕が失われる。
そして観客は蘇生の度に大歓声だ。
......歓声上げるタイミング、おかしくない?
「う、嘘だ、こんな......お、男の方を! 男の方を先に狙うんですよ! 死ぬ気で食らいつきなさい、ジャルジー! もう勝機はこれしかありません!」
「了解だ、兄者! 行くぜぇぇぇ!」
「――させると思うか?」
ユーミルが素早く妨害に入ったのを見て、俺は『ヒーリング・プラス』を詠唱。
ヒーリングよりは長く、リヴァイブよりはずっと短い詠唱時間でスキルは完成。
ジャルジーと対峙するユーミルのHPを大幅に回復させた。
「!!」
それを見て苛立ったようにジャルジーがメイスを力任せに押し込んだ。
体重差と単純な力の差でユーミルが吹き飛び、その隙にジャルジーは『ヒーリング』で自身のHPを微量回復させた。
さすがにここまで勝ち残っているだけはあり、ただでは勝たせてくれないようだ。
今の回復を含めて、ジャルジーのHPは残り四割といったところか。
「ぬあああああっ!」
そしてこちらに向かってくる。
冷静に距離を取って――
「ハインド、魔法もくるぞ!」
『スロウ』はまだWTのはず。
攻撃魔法を撃つには俺とジャルジーの距離が近過ぎるのだが......。
セーロスが選んだ魔法は、
「ハハハハハハハ! 逃がしませんよ!」
自分以外の三人を巻き込む『グラビトンウェーブ』による攻撃魔法だった。
広範囲に高重力が発生、体がずっしりと重くなり微弱なダメージがHPを削る。
そんな中でも慣れているのか、ダメージを受けつつも平然とジャルジーはこちらに迫ってくる。
なるほど、窮地になるとこうやって相手のペースを乱して勝ってきたのか。
神官の魔法抵抗も活かせるから、ジャルジー自身はこの重力波内で戦っても大したダメージは受けない。
良い連携攻撃だと思う。
現に今まさに、こちらは逃げきれずにそのメイスに捕まりそうになっている。
だが俺の目は既に、ジャルジーの後ろから髪を揺らして駆けてくるその姿をはっきりと捉えている。
「――なんだ、また重力技か! だがスロウよりは遥かにマシだ!」
リィズによる『グラビトンウェーブ』を経験済みのユーミルが、追いついてジャルジーの背を強烈に斬りつけた。
深い斬撃によって長めのヒットストップが掛かり、目の前でメイスを振りかぶった状態でジャルジーが数瞬止まる。
どうせ継続ダメージでこの重力波の中での詠唱は不能。
――ならばと、俺は杖と共に全体重を乗せた体当たりを目の前の体にぶちかました。
盾を構えられたが、ジャルジーのバランスは崩れ......
「ハハハハハ! まな板の鯉だな!」
「お前は時々、悪役そのものなゲスい台詞を吐くよな......ま、状況的には正しいけど」
「離せ! 離せええええ! 兄者ああああ!!」
ユーミルがメイスを持っている右手を踏みつけ、オーラを高ぶらせながら
俺も左手の盾の上から体重を掛けているので、さすがに力の強いこの男でも二人分の体重を振り解くことは不可能だろう。
これで勝利確定、降参すればそれで良し。
さもなくば......
「ぬ? 体が軽くなったぞ」
「うん、魔法の持続時間が終わったみたいだな」
グラビトンウェーブの効力も切れた。
諦めずにセーロスが『ダークネスボール』を放つも、俺達は体勢を崩さずにそれをそのまま受け止めた。
今のHPでは絶対に致命傷にはならないし、多少引っ張られてもジャルジーの拘束さえ解かなければ問題ない。
結果、やはり俺達のHPを三割も減らせず、闇玉による吸引が静かに収まった。
尚も必死の形相でMPをチャージするセーロスを見ながら、俺は『エリアヒール』を足元に放った。
回復魔法だけは、多くの魔法の中で味方にしか掛けることのできないスキルという特徴がある。
よってユーミルと二人で踏んずけたままのジャルジーは回復せずに、俺達のHPは出現した白光を放つ魔法陣によってフル回復。
セーロスの表情に絶望の二文字が張り付く。
「諦めるな兄者! リア充に鉄槌を! これほどまでに息の合ったカップル、俺は断じて許すことが出来ぬぅぅぅ! ぬあああああ! 俺もモテたぃぃぃぃっ!」
「「カップルじゃないって言ってるだろ!」」
「ぐっ! がっ! ぐえっ!? ――かはっ......」
「ジャルジいいいいい!?」
ジャルジーが戦闘不能となり、俺達はHP・MP全快でセーロスを挟むようにして立つ。
さすがにこの状況なら降参するか? と思われたが......。
「てめえら爆発しろおおおおおお! うおおおおおおっ!」
魂の叫びを上げながら杖を振りかぶって立ち向かってきたので、ユーミルが『バーストエッジ』を容赦なく叩き込み一撃で葬り去る。
魔力の爆発を受けたセーロスが舞台の端まで吹き飛び、落下した。
The words jumped right into the middle of our field of view and the machine like voice read it out loud.
Zelos (Grado Empire) & Jalousie (Grado Empire) vs Yumir (Kingdom of Sala) & Hind (Kingdom of Sala)...READY...FIGHT!
[I'll crush you!!]  (Jalousie)
With a scream as if to erase the voices of the audience that were chanting [Yumir] , the vanguard Shinto priest Jalousie rushed towards me as the announcement ended.
His weapon of choice was a big mace that he wielded on his right hand, for defensive gear, he had a metal armor and a shield on his left hand, quite the heavy equipment.
I had already told Yumir the plan before the fight started.
[You understood it right, Yumir!?]  (Hind)
[Yeah!]  (Yumir)
As usual, Yumir went to the front and I stood behind her at a reasonable distance.
Yumir intercepted Jalousie's charge in a flash with her longsword, and a sharp metallic sound echoed throughout the arena.
Seeing this exciting clash right after the fight started, the excitement in the arena rose up.
[I'm your opponent!]  (Yumir)
[Nugah!? Damn you, don't get in my way!]  (Jalousie)
While confirming that she was able to stop his charge like that, I stood still at that spot and charged my MP.
I glared at Zelos who was charging his MP like me on the other side of the vanguards...and it began when we both finished our chants.
[Shut him up, Yumir!]  (Hind)
[Crush her, Jalousie!]  (Zelos)
{Attack up}  and {Guard down}  activated on Yumir at the same time.
He's a dark type mage, so him using a debuff was something I already took into consideration.
Debuffs are not a status ailment so it's not possible to recover from it with {Recover} , but it's possible to erase them with {Dispel} .
However, since what he used was {Guard down}  let's ignore it, it doesn't matter.
Let's recover more MP and prepare for the next move.
[Nuoh, I'm automatically in a state of Act of Desperation!? However, I can use Act of Desperation on top of it! Uooooooooooooh!!]  (Yumir)
[Guh, gah! Nuuh, big bro! Use attack down first! This girl, her offensive power is on par with a heavy warrior! At this rate I'll get hit and lose!]  (Jalousie)
[Calm down! Having both Act of Desperation and Guard down, her current physical defense is low! ...In that case, I stop her movements!]  (Zelos)
Zelos used {Slow}  on Yumir.
With the debuff, Yumir's movements were about 2/3 slower.
[My body feels heavy! Ah, ah, and the damage I took from a single hit was really high!?]  (Yumir)
[Gahahaha! I can win, I can win like this! I can do it, big bro!]  (Jalousie)
Those two at the front are noisy...in her current state, with both {Act of Desperation}  and {Guard down} , her defense is at 30%.
If it wasn't for the defensive gear that Selene-san made, Yumir would have already died.
However I did nothing, and patiently kept charging up my MP until it was close to full.
With that, I should have way more MP than Zelos, who had used {Slow} .
Jalousie had already used a vanguard Shinto priest skill called {Holy Shield} , that increased both physical and magical resistances, so it was quite hard to shave off his HP.
On the other hand, I compensated for it quite a bit with the skills {Guard Up}  and {Resist up}  that only I could use, so it will take quite a while until she becomes incapacitated.
Their strategy is to have the vanguard Shinto priest sticking close to the opponent and stacking debuffs on them, while the way they do it is different, the way they make it a battle of endurance is similar to ours.
Therefore, disrupting the opponent's pace is key to deciding victory or defeat here.
Yumir's HP drastically decreased and when Zelos started chanting a spell I used {Shining} .
[-Tsk! Such impertinence!]  (Zelos)
The damage was minuscule, but I was successful in stopping his actions.
Then I started casting {Revive} .
While I was casting it, Yumir and Jalousie continued exchanging blows, they continued moving in the space between me and Zelos.
[That chant is long...is it a big spell!? Jalousie, get out of the way! -Take this!]  (Zelos)
In an act of desperation, he shot the elementary spell with a short cast time {Fire Ball}  towards me, but with both of them in the way, his aim was shallow.
I easily dodged it and cast the {Revive}  I finished chanting-
[Supeh!?]  (Yumir)
HP 0, I used it on Yumir, whose body was falling from being hit by the mace's swing.
Once I did, she didn't fall on top of the stage, she stood firm on the ground with one leg and immediately counter attacked.
[The heaviness is gone...Taah!]  (Yumir)
Since she became incapacitated, the buffs and debuffs on Yumir were all gone.
Jalousie was unable to deal with the abrupt resurrection and change in speed, and took the swift attack directly.
Because of that, Jalousie's HP was at 60%, however, he wasn't given the chance to heal due to Yumir's relentless attacks.
[Nuah!? W-Wait, I'm pretty sure her HP had hit 0...? Big bro, what's going on!? Wasn't it going to be fine even if we didn't deal with the rear guard as long as we shut down the vanguard and interrupted the casting from the rearguard!? This is different from what you told me!]  (Jalousie)
[I-Impossible...you telling me...he revived her as she died...? It's even faster than in the previous fights too...? For...for something like this to...]  (Zelos)
[B-Big bro...?]  (Jalousie)
Zelos seems to be confused, but the truth is, I was hurrying to make it barely in time.
I thought I casted it too early...however, I definitely can't let that show on my face.
In fact, I'll act calm and smile.
If they keep charging towards us in a hurry, it'll turn into our advantage.
[-Guh, it's definitely just a fluke! Jalousie, we are going to destroy them again!]  (Zelos)
The casting time for {Revive}  is long.
It's true that usually if you defeat the vanguard, you'd be able to crush the rearguard easily, however that doesn't matter if you predict the time they die and cast it on them.
It's true that if you cast it too early, it would definitely lead to your defeat, but that's another case.
Anyway, a single Shinto priest can't do anything, so it's enough to target them while barely making it in time.
In the interval they were focusing their attacks on Yumir again, I first used {Healing}  on Yumir.
Furthermore, I erased the CD on {Revive}  with {Quick} , after that, I used {Healing}  again since it has a short CD to heal Yumir's HP a bit more.
I started chanting the spell before Yumir got incapatitated due to her tendency for kamikaze attacks to shave off Jalousie's HP.
She's filled with debuffs, so it's about time she reaches her limit.
I feel bad for Yumir, but it's easier for me to have her die to erase the debuffs.
I dodged the {Darkness Ball}  that was trying to disturb my casting and then...
This time, she was revived before she fell over.
I'm doing really well in this match.
I'm activating {Revive}  in a far more timely manner than usual.
[-Hah!? I'm not dead, I'm not dead!? This time didn't count!]  (Yumir)
[No, you died you know? You were counting them?]  (Hind)
Seeing that, the duo of Zelos and Jalousie completely lost their calm.
And the audience excitedly cheered each time she revived.
...Isn't the timing at which they cheer weird?
[N-No way, for this to...a-aim for the guy! We are aiming for the guy first! Do it as if your life depended on it, Jalousie! That is our only chance at winning!]  (Zelos)
[Got it, big bro! Here I goooooooooo!!]  (Jalousie)
[-You think I'll let you?]  (Yumir)
Seeing Yumir intercept him that fast, I cast {Healing Plus} .
It takes longer than Healing, but it takes way less time than Revive.
The HP of Yumir, who was facing Jalousie, was dramatically healed.
[!!]  (Yumir)
Seeing that, Jalousie grew irritated and swung the mace with all his might.
Yumir was blown away due to the difference in body weight and strength, taking advantage of that gap, Jalousie used {Healing}  on himself to heal a small amount of his own HP.
As expected of someone that had kept winning until now, it seems like they didn't win by luck.
Counting this healing, Jalousie's HP is about 40% left.
[Nuaaaaaaah!]  (Jalousie)
Then, he came this way.
I calmly took some distance-
[Hind, a spell is coming!]  (Yumir)
{Slow}  should still be on CD.
If it's an offensive spell, Jalousie and me are too close though...
The spell Zelos chose was...
[Hahahaha!! I won't let you get away!]  (Zelos)
It was the offensive spell {Graviton Wave}  that engulfed everyone but him.
It covered a wide range and produced high gravity, our bodies felt heavier and our HP was slowly shaved off.
As if he was used to being inside it, Jalousie calmly approached me while taking damage.
I see, when they are pressured, they do this to disrupt the opponent's pace and win.
This shows the magical resistance of a Shinto priest, even if Jalousie fights under this gravity, he won't take much damage.
I believe it's a good combination attack.
In fact, right now, it looks like I won't be able to escape his mace.
However, my eyes already have seen the figure behind Jalousie that was swinging around.
[-Oh, it's another gravity spell! However, this is far better than being afflicted with Slow!]  (Yumir)
Having experienced Riizu's {Graviton Wave} , Yumir caught up to Jalousie and cut at his back.
It being a strong attack, he entered a long hit stop state, she stopped Jalousie a few moments before Jalousie was going to swing his mace at me.
Casting a spell while taking damage under this gravity wave would be impossible anyways.
...In that case, I swung my staff with all my body weight towards the target in front of me.
He was able to block it with his shield, but Jalousie lost his balance...
[Hahahaha!! You are still like a fish on the chopping board!]  (Yumir)
[From time to time, you sure do talk like vulgar villain...well, you are correct in this situation though.]  (Hind)
[Let me go! Get away from meeeeee!! Big broooooo!!]  (Jalousie)
Yumir stepped on the right arm that was holding the mace and she smiled as she was releasing her aura.
I put my body weight on top of the shield that was being held by his left arm, so even if this guy is strong, he probably won't be able to shake free from the body weight of two people.
With this our victory should be certain, it would also be fine if they surrendered.
Otherwise...
[Nuh? My body feels lighter.]  (Yumir)
[Yup, it seems like the spell has worn off.]  (Hind)
The effect of Graviton Wave is also gone.
Even if Zelos doesn't give up and uses {Darkness Ball} , we will be able to take it on without breaking our stance.
With our current HP it will certainly not be fatal, so even if we are pulled in a bit, as long as we don't let Jalousie break free it will be fine.
As a result, as expected our HP didn't even decrease by 30% and the dark orb's suction quietly died down.
While looking at Zelos, who was frantically charging his MP, I released {Area Heal}  at our feet.
Among the multitude of spells, healing magic has the special trait of only affecting your allies.
Because of that, Jalousie who was being stepped on by us wasn't healed and we recovered to full HP due to the white light.
Zelos' expression was dyed in despair.
[Don't give up big bro! Bring down the iron hammer down on these normies! I can't forgive a couple that has such good coordinatioooooon!! Nuaaaaaaaaah! I want to be popular toooooooooooooo!!]  (Jalousie)
[[I told you we are not a couple!!] ]  (Hind and Yumir)
[Guh! Gah! Gueh!? -Gah...]  (Jalousie)
[Jalousieeeeeeee!?]  (Zelos)
Jalousie became incapacitated, our HP and MP was back to full and me stood so that Zelos was between us.
I believe he would surrender in this situation? Or that was what I thought but...
[You guys, go and explodeeeeeeeeee!! Uoooooooooooooooooo!!]  (Zelos)
Since he brandished his staff to face us as he shouted, Yumir mercilessly struck him down in a single blow with {Burst Edge} .
Zelos was blown away to the far end of the stage due to the explosion of magic power and fell down.
VRMMO no Shien Shokunin ～Top Player no Shikakenin～
ＶＲＭＭＯの支援職人　～トッププレイヤーの仕掛人～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/vrmmo-no-shien-shokunin-%ef%bd%9etop-player-no-shikakenin%ef%bd%9e/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Slice of Life
Adventurers Beautiful Female Lead Blacksmith Brother Complex Calm Protagonist Childhood Friends Clan Building Cooking Crafting Curious Protagonist Dense Protagonist Elemental Magic Fantasy Creatures Game Ranking System Gamers Hard-Working Protagonist Healers Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Love Rivals Male Protagonist Misunderstandings MMORPG Ninjas Possessive Characters Priests Siblings Siblings Not Related by Blood Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Younger Love Interests Younger Sisters
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4014ds/
二階堂風都