Novel - Site
Chapter 140: Battle of the City Hall Part 8
Chapter 140: Battle of the City Hall Part 8
Huu
Taking in a deep breath, I check my current status.
*****
Kudou Kazuto
Level 24
HP: 350/390
MP: 145/184
Strength: 265
Endurance: 282
Agility: 516
Dexterity: 485
Magic: 135
Magic Resistance: 135
SP: 1
JP: 1
Occupation
Ninja LV8
Tracker LV2
Shadow Master LV5
Monk LV3
Unique Skills
Precocious
Profession Enhancement
Skill
Ninjutsu LV9, Throwing LV5, Odorless LV6, Silent Operation LV6, Concealment LV5, Night Vision LV5, Critical Aim LV6, Attention Cutoff LV7, Appraisal Interruption LV4, Tracking LV3, Terrain Understanding LV4, Wide Range Enemy Detection LV4, Telephoto LV4, Agility Reinforcement LV8, Dexterity Reinforcement LV5, Observation LV10, Listening Ear LV4, Shadow Manipulation LV6, Endurance LV5, Full Might LV5, Enhanced Physical Abilities LV7, Swordsmanship LV6, Poison Resistance LV1, Paralysis Resistance LV2, Virus Resistance LV1, Heat Resistance LV1, HP Auto Recovery LV3, MP Auto Recovery LV2, Danger Avoidance LV5, Riding LV3, Negotiation LV1, Getaway LV4, Defense Instinct LV1, Item Box LV10, Mail LV2, Concentration LV7, Prediction LV6, Fury LV5, Mental Distress Tolerance LV5, Acting LV3, Calculation Acceleration LV3
Party Members
Momo
Assassin Dog LV9
Aka
Mimic Slime LV8
Ichinose Natsu LV28
Kiki
Lesser Carbuncle LV9
*****
My HP is not at max, but thats to be expected because I took some hits as we were running away.
But I havent received as much damaged as I expected.
Theres no doubt that Aka played a role in the reduced damage, but its also in some part due to my new skills.
My fourth occupation is Monk
I acquired the skills Endurance, HP Auto Recovery, MP Auto Recovery, and Full Might from becoming a Monk.
As I already owned HP Auto Recovery, it got integrated into the old one.
Endurance is a skill that raises my defense for a single instance.
Similarly, Full Might raises my offense momentarily.
More so than the others, Im most grateful about acquiring MP Auto Recovery.
With this, I can somewhat cover for the MP consumed when activating the Pile Bunker and Ninjutsu.
However, I wont be overconfident.
(Given the amount of MP consumed when using Ninjutsu and some other skills, using the pile bunker 5 more times will be the limit.)
But that is enough.
Five times will be enough to change the tide.
It should be fine.
Compared to before, my heart is much calmer, so I should be able to observe and predict things properly.
Momo. Aka. Ill be relying on you two.
Wan!
Furu furu.
I transfer half of Akas body that is attached to me to Ichinose-san.
Momo moves next to Ichinose-sans feet and envelops her entire body with her Shadow.
Just like that time when I fought against the Dark Wolf, well be using the marionette technique.
Its possible to semi-forcefully move ones tattered body using Momos Shadow.
How are you faring, Ichinose-san?
Much better. I think Ill be able to shoot another two shots in this condition.
Ichinose-san sweats bullets as she answers with an awkward smile.
Using Momos Shadow, Ichinose-san can only forcibly move her body.
Her injuries and exhaustion will not disappear. Rather, they will become worse.
Just by standing still, her body should be feeling an alarming amount of burden.
Still.
Then Ichinose-san, please shoot at my signal.
Yes.
Ichinose-san nods.
We bump our fists.
Its time for our decisive battle.
First, Ill leave the building alone and arrive underneath the Golems.
Earth Style Ninjutsu!
I sink underground and head towards the Golems direction.
Now that Im calm, I can clearly see whats going on.
(As I thought.)
Previously, when we were making our escape underground, I detected a peculiar presence.
It isnt just one either.
Im perceiving the same presence from all the Golems feet.
(This place should do.)
I know the precise location of where I am because of Terrain Understanding and Enemy Detection.
I deactivate Earth Style Ninjutsu and pop out to surface.
I am currently in the middle of the enemys camp.
I have appeared at the dead center of the five Golems.
Ruoo? U~O~O~O~O~OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
The Golems glance at me who have suddenly appeared in surprise, but it only lasts for a moment.
They immediately rush in to squash me.
Kiki!
Kyu!
The jewel on Kikis forehead shines, and a faint light wraps around me.
Its the thin film of Kikis Reflection.
However, its not for the sake of deflecting the enemies attacks.
Item Box, Open!
I equip the pile bunker on my right arm.
The pile bunker is already loaded with the magic stones.
Eat this!
I hammer the pile bunker towards the ground as hard as I could.
ZUDON!
The ground fractures along with the sound.
Im not strong enough to sink the ground in a single blow like the Golems, but this is enough.
Ruoooo?
The Golems lose their balance because of the intense shake.
Not missing that gap, I carry out my next move.
Store!
I store the fractured grounds of one of the Golems into the Item Box.
RUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?
That particular Golem falls on its butt as its foothold suddenly vanished.
(Yes, it worked!)
Honestly, I hadnt tried it before, so I gambled on whether it would work, and it seems to have succeeded.
My Item Box does not have the power to tear off a certain part of the ground and store it within.
However, the story becomes different if its just a fragment or some fragments of the ground.
Even if I cant store the Golems or the huge buildings, I can store them if they are crushed to debris.
I simply applied that logic.
If I cant use the Item Box to tear off the ground, I just have to tear it off myself before storing it.
It was made possible after enhancing the Item Boxs storage capacity using 15 points.
Now, from here on out, I cant allow a moment of carelessness.
I observe the feet of the fallen Golem.
There it is.
I see something that supports my theory.
By the sole of the Golems foot, there is something that resembles a thin tube stuck to it.
Shiiing!
I throw a knife towards the tube.
The knife which is enforced by my Throwing skill draws an arc before cutting through the tube.
Ruuunnn.
The moment the tube is cut, the Golems movement halts and its body crumbles.
So that was the case after all.
My prediction turns into conviction.
I immediately dash forth and reach for the tube extending out of the ground.
The other Golems try to prevent me from doing so, but theyre too slow.
I move faster than both their attempt to throw boulders and their attempt to punch me.
I understand now.
I understand that these guys are slower than the Golem we fought earlier.
Although they tried to deceive us through their skillful cooperation, clearly, they are individually weaker than the one before.
Why is that?
The moment I grab onto the tube, I sense the presence of a monster coming out of it.
I should have thought harder about your skill.
Truly.
I truly should have thought harder about this.
Why couldnt I detect the Golems until a moment before their appearance?
Before, I thought they possessed stealth-related skills like I did.
However, if I think carefully, and I mean really carefully, I know of some skills that have similar effects as stealth-type skills.
I should have known all the more because I myself use such a skill.
Tracking.
Tracking which comes from getting the occupation of Tracker.
The skill allows me to discern the sign of a monster even if its far away.
I track the sign coming off of the tube and turn towards where its coming from.
Found it.
In that direction, there is only an abandoned building which can be found anywhere else.
Bastard, so you had a skill like that.
I shout immediately.
Ichinose-san! Please shoot that building over there!
From the rooftop of the building where we were hiding earlier, I can feel her presence.
Ichinose pulls the trigger by squeezing out all the power from her body.
BANG!
I hear the bullet being fired only after the bullet hits the abandoned building.
A change occurs.
The four Golems that were nearing in on me stop in their tracks.
The abandoned building slowly sways and alters its appearance.
RUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
What appears in its place is a giant Golem.
The only difference is that this Golem has thin pipes hanging down towards the ground from its fingertips.
I never expected you to have The Art of Transformation like me.
I fire a knife towards a tube extending out from one of its fingertips.
One of the tubes is torn apart.
Simultaneously, a Golem behind me collapses.
These are all fakes youre the real Titan, am I right?
The five Golems are just clay dolls.
In fact, the Golem we fought previously was also just another doll created by this one.
If I recall our battles from before, the Golems never used any actual skills.
Hit, throw, and shout. That was about it.
The Golems had huge bodies, so I didnt think twice about this abnormality.
But it makes sense now.
Clones created by my Duplication cannot use skills either.
This must have been the case with Titan as well.
A skill to create huge, clay doll Golems from the ground.
That must be Titans skill.
When it fought, it only fought with its clones while its main body was hiding in disguise.
I never thought that such a huge monster would behave like mimics and slimes.
At first, I thought it could split itself into several parts, but there was no reason for it to wait until the very last moment to do so.
Did you get impatient after your first clone died?
Ruooo
Titan glares at me with utter hatred.
Perhaps, unlike my Duplication skill, the amount of power it could invest in its doll Golems is limited.
Since the doll which it invested its full power into did not manage to kill its enemies, it switched to dividing up the powers into several dolls.
But that impatience of yours ended up exposing your true self.
Now, the real thing starts from here.
What say you to clashing head-to-head using the plethora of skills at our disposal?
*****
Meanwhile
Haaa.ha. gaha
Nishino was staring at Queen Ant Alpha at the Underground Shopping Mall, his body full of injuries.
(Shit what is this)
There were painful cuts all over him, and he was bleeding as he barely remained standing.
It wasnt just him.
Rikka, Shibata, Goshogawara, Shimizu, Nijou, and everyone else were at the brink of death as well.
GYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
At their center was the evolved Queen Ant Alpha which was screeching noisily.
The power that Alpha gained after her evolution far surpassed their imagination.
Although she didnt have any special skills to boast of, her explosive increase in strength was more than enough to make up for it.
She only attacked with claws and fangs, but it was enough to corner Nishino and his friends.
Their team was already half destroyed.
A large number of deaths had occurred to both the City Hall members and the students.
They were only holding up because of the commands from Nishino and Shimizu.
Nevertheless, they were approaching their limit.
Huu huu.. Nisshi, what will we do?
Nishino did not reply immediately to the question of Rikka who was standing next to him.
Do we have any pesticides left?
Only one Magnum Blaster. We used up the rest.
Shimizu was the one to answer his question.
From the battle so far, they were able to learn that the pesticides were still effective even after Alpha evolved.
The effect had certainly weakened, but it still dealt melting damage to the opponents armor.
(She is only wary of the pesticides we have)
During the exchange thus far, only the pesticides and Rikkas maximum berserk slashes dealt clear damage to Alpha.
(Rikkas slashes will definitely be effective as long as they land.)
However, Alpha was very fast.
Her speed was higher than Rikkas.
They had managed to maintain the status quo because they had pesticides to balance out the fights.
(If she knows that were almost out of stock, shell slaughter us in a mad frenzy.)
Nishino swore silently.
How could they overcome this overwhelming disadvantage?
(Somethingis there something?)
Skills conveniently awakening?
There was no way such a thing would actually happen in real life.
Reinforcements?
As if there would be anyone.
(Oh, but if Kudou-san manages to return, then it might actually work out.)
Alongside his frightening combat abilities, he had access to plenty of skills.
As such, he would have been able to easily solve their problem.
However, there was no way for him to return.
He had his own battle to fight, and Nishino understood that it wasnt over yet.
It was impossible to summon him at his own convenience.
An overwhelming difference in force.
A despairing situation.
It was enough to break his heart.
(Someone)
Someone
Save us.
Save Rikka. Save Shibata. Save the others.
They did not deserve to be buried underground like this.
If they could live, he was willing to do anything.
He foolishly stood there, praying for salvation.
GYIIIIIIIII!
Alpha did not miss this opportunity and jumped at Nishino with tremendous speed.
Move aside, Nisshi!
At that moment, Rikka pushed Nishino to the sides.
Wha Rikka!?
What on earth? Wait so that was what she was aiming for!
Nishino understood the reason behind Alphas behavior in the blink of an eye.
Only Rikka was a threat to Alpha.
If so, what could ensure her death?
The answer was this.
Through a short period of observation, Alpha was convinced that Rikka would be baited if she aimed for the human known as Nishino.
Nishino understood that that was what she was waiting for all this time.
And that was why
STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!
A scream echoed throughout the Underground Shopping Mall.
STOP! STOP!
Rikka cant die like this.
She had finally reunited with her best friend in this hellish world.
Her time which had been frozen finally began to tick again.
That was why Rikka had to survive!
He desperately reached out his arm.
Just as Alphas claws were about to rip Rikkas body apart
Summon, Fire Wall Elemental!
A wall of flames suddenly appeared.
.Ah?
Nishino, Rikka, and everyone else present were befuddled.
What happened?
Gyii!
Alpha withdrew her attack and distanced herself.
The roaring wall of flame dissipated, perhaps because it was done fulfilling its duty to protect them.
Wha t?
No one answered to Rikkas confusion.
Gigi
It was Queen Ant Alpha who first noted their existence.
Alpha glared at a certain place.
It was the passage leading to the central floor of the Underground Shopping Mall.
Someone appeared from the passage.
Oh? Thats quite the appearance you have there, Nishino-kun.
Wha
A beautiful girl had made her entrance.
The beauty was dressed in the same high school uniform as Nishino and the others, and her gorgeous appearance bewitched everyone watching her.
Following close behind her were a boy and a girl with identical appearances.
Its pitch black. I cant see well, nee-chan.
Its okay, my younger brother. At times like these, our nee-chan told us that we must look with our inner eyes!
OHHH, as expected of nee-chan!
Indeed, as expected of our nee-chan!
The girl at the front sighed hearing the carefree exchange between the two children behind her.
Both of you, please be quiet. You two lack grace.
Understood, onee-chan!
Roger, onee-chan!
The two saluted before turning silent.
President Igarashi!? What are you doing in such a place?
Nishino had no choice to be stunned by the appearance of the person he didnt wish to see the most in this world.
Why of course its to help you. And were not the only ones here, you know?
Eh?
What was she before Nishino could continue, new voices echoed on the battlefield.
SHOOOOOOOOOT!
ZUDODODODODO!!!
Gunshots could be heard.
GIAAAAAAAA!?
Alpha screamed miserably. Her armor had been penetrated, allowing yellow body fluid to flow out.
Look over yonder.
There were men holding guns and dressed in camouflage uniforms where Touka was pointing at.
At the forefront was a stubble-bearded middle-aged man.
No way Fujita-san?
He was unharmed?
Why was he with President Igarashi?
Perhaps he heard his name being called. The middle-aged man turned around to look at them before laughing.
Yo. Nishino-kun, Shimizu-chan, and everyone else. Sorry for the late arrival.
Thus, all the actors had gathered on stage.
It was about time to lower the curtains and put an end to all the battles.