Outpost Battle: Demon vs. Wind and Thunder ②
Launch the cursed sword drawn from the void using a direct-fire skill.
The discharge skill consumes MP, but the amount is negligible.
If merely retrieving something already stored, MP consumption is negligible.
The cursed blade requires a large amount of MP to create, but consumes zero MP when in use.
The MP consumed by this series of attacks is negligible—automatically replenished instantly.
The destructive force of the demon blade upon detonation correlates directly with the amount of MP consumed during its creation.
There is a disadvantage: the magic sword must be prepared in advance. Yet the benefit—near-zero MP consumption during actual combat—outweighs this drawback by a considerable margin.
But that means nothing if it does not apply to the opponent.
The magic blade, fired at high speed, was deflected by violet lightning before impact and detonated.
Magic blades are fired without pause, yet each is either deflected or avoided in the same manner.
The leopard dragon appears to constantly surround itself with electric discharge.
It automatically intercepts incoming attacks.
As a result, I cannot approach recklessly.
At the moment I close the distance, lightning strikes.
An unpleasant ability, combining offense and defense.
‘Grua!’
In addition, the leopard dragon itself lunges forward, jaws bared.
Flames erupt from the flame blade, blinding and slowing.
In that moment, I create distance.
Yet it is too late—violet lightning strikes.
I deflect it with the thunder blade, held in the opposite hand.
A thunder blade of the same attribute can cancel the violet lightning attack.
But that is all.
I cannot push back.
Defending is all I can manage. No counterattack possible.
The sword's discharge, the flame blade's assault—everything is blocked by the violet lightning.
Rather than a reversal, this maintains the balance by slightly loosening the leopard dragon's offensive rhythm.
Both remain unharmed, but the disadvantage is clearly mine.
Additionally, the movement of the second dragon is concerning.
The second dragon, resembling a pteranodon, has ascended into the upper air.
High above—beyond easy visual detection.
It appears to be doing something, but I cannot divert attention from the leopard dragon's assault.
I know leaving it unattended is unwise. But I have no options.
My hand is full—many cards, yet few viable moves.
The sword's various abilities are being used to compensate. Among opponents of equal or higher rank, only three abilities prove effective: self-destruction, fire, and lightning.
Close combat using fire and lightning swords.
And the suppression ability: firing a large number of explosive blades.
These two form my core tactics.
Compared to Shiro, Ariel, and Sophia, whose fighting styles are diverse and layered, mine is blunt force—purely reliant on strength.
That is why facing an opponent of similar style but higher rank is difficult.
Still, it is not without options.
Three steps. Two steps. Here!
Feigning effort to deflect all incoming attacks, luring the opponent to a specific point.
Even without actual performance, the strain is real enough to appear convincing.
At the precise moment the leopard dragon steps into position—activate.
The ground beneath the leopard dragon explodes.
‘Gyaa!?'
The leopard dragon’s roar echoes.
Mineblade.
A variant of detonation sword, named for its function—buried beneath the earth, it explodes upon the enemy’s step.
The violet lightning enveloping the leopard dragon does not reach the ground beneath its feet.
The mineblade underground could not be triggered—nor, likely, detected at all.
An attack entirely outside conscious perception would have prevented even the automatic defense of violet lightning from activating.
Even if the automatic defense had triggered from an explosion at its feet, it would have been ineffective.
The automatic defense via violet lightning is extremely powerful.
It has struck down even flames lacking physical form—thus, to penetrate it, only an attack exceeding the output of violet lightning would suffice.
But that is only if the violet lightning activates at all.
If I could strike directly at the leopard dragon himself, who wields violet lightning, that would suffice.
In the instant the beast’s focus wavered from the sword’s discharge, I had already planted this mine-sword into the ground.
The leopard dragon retreated, dragging one leg.
Its right foreleg, which had stepped on the mine-sword, was wounded.
Seize this opportunity—press the attack without delay!
I drew out numerous explosive blades from my sky-sheath and launched them.
I also charged forward myself, directly at the leopard dragon.
“Ngh—aaaah!!”
But then, the leopard dragon roared at an unprecedented volume, and blinding light erupted from its entire body.
I stopped abruptly, ignoring the pain in my feet, and leapt backward.
Holding the thunder blade before me proved decisive.
A shock, numbing to the point of paralysis, surged through the blade—but I survived with only that damage.
It was, without question, the embodiment of thunder.
I might have been reduced to ash if I had pressed forward.
‘Hurts! Damn it! Doesn’t it hurt?’
The leopard dragon, enraged beyond reason.
The leopard dragon flared its wings and lifted into the air.
Damn it.
The landmine sword is useless now.
Still, its legs remain injured.
No healing magic. No skill for automatic HP recovery—or if it possesses such, the skill level is low.
I’d like to assume mobility has decreased somewhat, but moving through the air? That remains uncertain.
I took the initiative just now—but it’s too early to conclude.
Stare at the leopard dragon without wavering.
At that moment, I notice the surrounding area has grown darker than before.
I cannot confirm directly, as I must keep my gaze locked on the leopard dragon—but has the sun been obscured by clouds?
But today, just moments ago, the sky was completely clear—no clouds at all.
This change cannot be ignored.
As if confirming my instinct, a single raindrop strikes my face.
The downpour intensifies rapidly, turning into a torrential storm within seconds.
Thunder follows.
‘Tch! Taking too long!’
The leopard dragon mutters, gazing upward.
‘Hey!? That’s your excuse for the effort I’ve put in!?’
A voice responds.
A pteranodon-type dragon descends from above.
This rain—was it caused by that dragon?
‘A younger brother should work hard for his elder brother, right!?’
‘Who’s the younger brother!?’
‘Who else but you!?’
‘No, physically speaking, I’m the elder brother, aren’t I!?’
‘Hah!’
‘Laughing through your nose, you bastard!?’
‘Shut up with the excuses! Weak-minded!’
‘Y-yes.’
The leopard dragon is injured—yet composure returns.
This rain is not merely staged.
Conditions are deteriorating.
Worst case, fury may be required.
Tomorrow—no, the date already marks today—animation broadcast begins.
A post with activity report and anime thoughts will be posted later. Please direct anime impressions to that entry.