87: Maeglinia's Offensive

Today's update consists of three chapters.

This is the third chapter.

"Master Sata, they're coming."

"I know!"

The water sphere, shot out from the 'Chalice of Mixed Thorns' along an unnatural trajectory, heads straight toward us three, nearly brushing against Vilijanila.

The trajectory comes from all directions—front, back, left, right, and even from above. It's an impossible situation for an ordinary human to escape.

Yeah, even though everyone in the Imperial Nation uses the Shield mod and the Environmental Stability mod, Maeglinia understands their flaw—the inability to prevent suffocation from an overwhelming amount of water.

"Here it comes!"

But that's exactly why I'm here—to stop such openings.

As I swing my arm, one of the water spheres bursts apart.

"Rararararaah!"

I repeatedly thrust my arm forward and pull it back, striking the air in quick succession.

And with each movement, the water spheres one after another burst apart, shattering every one that was coming toward us.

"Good, it's working well."

"Amazing, Sata."

"Thank you, Sata-sama."

What I did was simple.

I briefly manifested my main body in contact with the water spheres, using its massive mass, momentum, and the mod clinging to it to destroy them.

And once shattered, the broken water spheres never reformed into a sphere again.

This is due to a mod I've attached to my main body, temporarily disabling the telekinesis of the Flaretanbo system and Megalinea.

"By the way, Master Satu. What about environmental concerns?"

"Since this kind of mod is metabolized within about a week, there's no lasting impact—don't worry."

"Then I'm relieved."

Whether she understands or not, Megalinea continues to aim more water spheres toward us.

Not only that, but she's also hurling branches, leaves, and small pebbles from around us.

Given that there's no one else nearby, she's going all out with reckless abandon.

Though Megalinea herself isn't present here, the way she's launching these objects is so careless that it's obvious even from a distance.

"Just warn me in advance, okay. This is a nature conservation park, after all. I made sure nothing would remain... but the Sw from the Flaretanbo system hasn't been fully analyzed yet. Something might still be left behind."

"I understand. Leave that part to me. That's precisely why I hold my position and authority."

So I'll just deal with it casually.

Swinging the main body's arms, which were extended just enough to avoid influence from the Flaretanbo system, I swept them around us, clearing away everything and spraying ink to prevent any external interference.

"Hey, Mekokshi. Can't you still cut off the satellite feed?"

It seems the local authorities are aiming to secure the satellite itself. However, they should be able to do so shortly. Additionally, they're targeting Méglinia personally, so if that goes well, the attack should cease at that point.

"As for the former, I can't say much, but I'd prefer they aim to eliminate rather than capture the latter. An alien monster that attacks people without hesitation isn't something you can contain, even with specialized equipment."

"I agree. Did you convey that message to them?"

"I've passed it along. Whether they believed it or accepted it, though, remains unclear."

We three are gradually moving away from the 'Chalice of Mixed Thorns' while deflecting Meaglinia's attacks.

As we do, the projectiles Meaglinia uses are shifting from water spheres to stones and branches... no, actually, small animals are getting mixed in too.

They're flying at incredible speed, so the small animals are reduced to mere red masses by the time they're in mid-air.

"Frankly, this is clumsy."

"Wha—!? Lord Sata!"

I know it!

Realizing that fact, I quickly came up with a clumsy attack against Maeglinia.

A moment later, Maeglinia seemed to notice too.

Mekoshi's body briefly lifted into the air, letting out a cry.

Seizing the moment, I immediately unfurled a curtain of ink smoke around myself.

Mekoshi's body returned to the ground.

"Sata, Meko. What was that just now?"

He must have been interfering with Mekoshi's body using telekinesis. Incidentally, he could probably interfere with Vee's body too—just not to destroy it, but to move it. I don't know the cause, but that Maglenia fellow is growing rapidly.

It felt as if I had suddenly been seized by an enormous, invisible hand—my will couldn't move my body. There were twisting motions, but those seemed to be blocked by the shield. As for Lady Vee... I don't know how to help, but please be careful."

"Ah, I see. That's dangerous."

I'm clumsy.

The moment it became possible to interfere with creatures that previously couldn't be touched, or with entities like Memoqui carrying shields, Meaglinia's danger level skyrocketed.

If we even so much as let our guard down for a second, I don't know what would happen to Vilijanira and Memoqui, at the very least.

Maybe it's time to just take the two of them and flee into the Ether Space?

"Hmm?"

"This... is..."

Just as I was pondering that, the objects floating around me suddenly began falling, unrelated to my ink.

"Good news, Your Majesty Vee, Your Majesty Sata. It appears the satellites held by Maglenia have been secured."

"Is that so."

"So we've made it through, then."

It seems Maglenia has lost the ability to detect us and can no longer transmit telekinetic power.

In other words, we've successfully made it through this situation.

"Then, for now, let's retreat to 'Pumpkin Witch'..."

"Note: What about securing Maglenia herself?"

"..."

The three of us begin moving toward 'Pumpkin Witch.'

Of course, we keep floating ink around us in case of emergencies, carefully avoiding detection by cameras.

During the movement, Vilijanira asks Memokushi.

Memokushi, faced with the question... wore an expression clearly indicating something undesirable.

"Maeglinia Spefaarna has escaped. Additionally, the local personnel targeting her and the Spefaarna baronial family are in a state of complete destruction."

"!?!"

And what came from Memokushi's mouth was words no one wanted to hear.