Hmm, more humans. How did you survive the rush?

　Austri folded her arms lazily while wearing a whirlwind barrier.

　Eleven to one in numbers. I'm ten to one, even if I'm not a force to be reckoned with.
　Even so, Austri's spare attitude still didn't break down.

''Well, fine!　It doesn't matter how many mooks we get together, it's the same thing!

　The whirlwind accelerated even more rapidly, forming a spherical barrier that looked like a condensed tornado.

''Whether it's ten people or a hundred, if you stand in front of the storm, there's no way you can do anything other than get blown away all together!　I won't change the effort it takes to bury you all!　That's what efficiency in combat is all about!

　Austri, clad in a stormy wind, floated up into the air.

　Then he unleashed the storm near the ceiling of the vast basement and attempted to slam a wall of intense wind pressure toward Noir and the others.

''You people don't need to be alive!　I hope you get crushed like a bug!
Counterwind!

　Melissa activates elemental magic and creates a whirlwind that spirals in the opposite direction from the mad wind of Austri.

　The wind and the wind collide, and the wind force that hits us is greatly reduced.

　Although not completely counteracted, the wind pressure, which has been suppressed to the degree of strong winds that could occur naturally, was no longer a threat that I feared would cause damage.

'Yay ......!'
"Huh?

　Austri let out an interesting voice as he flung himself into the air.

''Even though you narrowed down your power to keep that man out of it, I'm surprised you were able to catch it.

　Although we succeeded in killing each other, Melissa's attrition is still much greater than Melissa's.

　Without a moment's pause, Alexia swings her large crossbow (Scorpion) and fires a magic bullet at the austri in the air.

''Hahaha!　I know that one!

　The Aussie generates a whirlwind of storms in front of you like a shield.

　The magic ammunition exploded while being blocked by the whirlwind, and the flames and blast were also taken in by the whirlwind of Austri and swept away.

　However, the flames blocked Austri's vision.

...... Tar Flood ......

　A black thing that looked like a dry distillate (tar) concocted with magic flowed out from Noir's feet, mixing with the water of the flooded waterway and increasing in total volume.

　Several tentacles of the mudslide erupted like a geyser, tangling around Austri's legs, which were blocked from view by the flames in the air.

''Nuh-uh!''
"...... Condense (congeal) ......

　As if the blood was coagulating, the tar flood that had captured Austri congealed and strengthened the bondage.

'Now!　Charge!

　Under the command of a female knight who seems to be the commander, the four subordinate knights start attacking at once.

　The knights who led the charge are the two-faced knight carrying a stabbing sword and dagger and the knight carrying a large sword.
　They run through the condensed tarflad like a slope and slash at Austri from both sides simultaneously.

''Nunn!''

　Austri generated a whirlwind shield in both hands to prevent the attack.
　However, the attacks of the two knights were only a milestone.

　The knight who held his riding spear (lance) accelerated instantly with an explosive release of magic power.
　He stepped over the slope of Tar Flood in an instant and thrust the tip of his spear deep into Austri's torso.

''Guhaha......!

　The acceleration of the wind barrier doesn't obstruct it.
　The destructive power it creates is tremendous, tearing the tar flood tangled in Austri's legs and dropping him and all the others to the ground.

　The fourth knight was aiming right after that.

　He closed the distance in the blink of an eye by moving fast as if sliding on the surface of the water, and slammed his axe spear (halberd) in as soon as the mounted spear knight jumped back.

　Fresh blood erupts. The halberd's blade had indeed caught Austri.

　However, the thick arm was catching the hilt of the halberd at a crucial point, and the blade stopped short of tearing the flesh deep, but not the bone.

''Chokozai na!

　An instantaneous storm pushed the knights away.

　Even if it didn't lead to damage per se, it created enough respite for Austri to adjust her stance.

''Don't get carried away, humans!

　A vast amount of air condenses between the two hands that Austri thrusts out.

　The storm is blowing in the opposite direction from what it was before, the direction in which it is drawn towards Austri.
　That's how tremendous an amount of air is being sucked in.

　The storm blowing around him is not comparable to the previous ones, and even if Sakura were to thin the flesh with [shrinking], she could be blown away before she could turn to attack.

''First of all, let me cut it down by half!　If you can prevent it, try to prevent it!

　A gas compressed to the point of appearing distorted is unleashed, and a destructive rush that can't be contained by the expression "storm" is rushed in.

　The four targets that exist in the line of fire are Noir and Alexia, and Melissa and the female knight.

　The layer of water covering the ground is blown up to its roots, the earthen floor is gouged by the wind pressure, and the surfaces of buildings that should not have been directly hit are shattered.

　It's a monstrous blow in every sense of the word, one that not only has immense power, but is also clever enough not to involve me in a direct hit, as declared.

'Counterwind......!
Firewall deployment!
...... Tar Flood!

　Melissa's elemental magic, the female knight's magic barrier, and Noir's jet-black barrier.

　Despite the triple defense, the wind magic was drowned out in the blink of an eye, the magic barrier immediately disappeared beyond its limits, and the remaining jet-black barrier was broken through with force.

　I quickly touched the water that soaked my feet - the swamp-like liquid mixed with Noir's Tar Flood and activated 【Restoration】.

　The magic power of 【Restoration】 propagated to the jet-black barrier and held the defense that was about to be breached just in time, just in time to hold it together.

''...... Luke ......!
Guh, ugh. ......!

　He squeezes out enough magic power to counter the destructive power of the storm released by Austri, and continues to use 【Restoration】 until the fury of the storm runs out.

　Even though I'm borrowing the power of the magic crystal, the load of releasing an enormous amount of magic power through my body is steadily chipping away at my physical strength.

　-- If I were to use magic power as a metaphor for water, right now I'm like a tube connected to a large capacity tank.

　If you raise the water pressure and allow a large amount of water to flow through at once, an intense load will be placed on the pipe and it may even break.

　Eventually, it was Noir's jet black barrier and my [restoration] that won the fierce competition.

''Ha, ha, ha, ha......''

　The wind pressure subsides, the tar flood is lifted, and the water, which has returned to clarity, overflows into the surroundings at once.

' ...... I see. I knew His Majesty wasn't mad in his eyes.

　Austri was still smiling, even though the blow that seemed to be his trump card had been prevented.

　It was not out of mockery or ego, but somehow it seemed to be a smile of joy.

　It's no wonder, considering.
　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's been given the order to capture him, but I'm always adjusting the power and range of my attacks to avoid getting me involved.

　It's not really a problem for him to block a tempered attack with last-minute resistance.

That's why!　I'll have to take him alive!

　Suddenly, the Austri accelerated furiously under a gust of wind, and was about to close in on it at a terrific speed.

　It was no longer traveling, but in the realm of low flying.

　It's not just a matter of time before you're able to get your hands on a new one.

''Hahahahaha!　You're not getting it!　It's not enough!　I can't stop at this level!
Mr. Luke!

　Alexia throws the spell scroll over to me in a hurry.

　The name on the clasp is Stone Barret.
　It's a perfect choice for a random choice.

　I expand the scroll and poke my hand into the submerged ground.

　Multiple stone bullets were generated from the stones in the ground and shot at the Austri's eyes in rapid succession.

''Waste, waste, waste!

　The bloody Austri flicks all the stone bullets away with wind pressure and stretches out his arms to grab me.

　The moment Garnett, who intervened between us, tried to swing his sword--

What?

　-- A stone bullet that should have been flung away struck Austri from behind.

　At a completely unexpected time, the unprotected back, including the back of the head, was hit, causing even Austri to slow down his movements.

''Whoa!''

　Mithril's sword slashed deeply at Austri, and the full force of the spinning kick released in the chase kicked its body farther away.

　After being hit by a series of blows, Austri rolled over the submerged ground and stopped before the tunnel on the downstream side of the channel.

'Alright!　First the blow!

　Garnett gave a congratulatory smile and clenched his fists tightly.