There seemed to be another den on the sandy beach where the 'crabs' came out, but they saw Mr. Roland and his party destroyed in the distance, and then they couldn't move at all.

'You must flee!　You don't have to force yourself to join us!

　As Serafina-san strikes up her voice, the party to my left rear finally moves and uses the scroll to make the transition. Now it's only my party, my party, and Roland-san and Thomas, who are still lying in the shallow water, who are on the beach.

　The giant crabs are constantly moving their eyes and paying attention to other targets while Elitia is avoiding their attacks - the person named Thomas seems to be a proximity occupation, but it's not likely to be able to be attacked by the giant crabs, judging by his armor.

'Kyouka, Theresa, keep your distance so you don't get caught up!

...!

　The swinging and cleaving of the Giant Crab Shears - a terrifyingly wide range of attacks, Elitia avoids them from an unbelievable distance, and Igarashi-san and Theresia are evading them just in time. The "Blink Step" and "Accel Raid" are used at key points, but without such skills, it's not an attack that can be avoided very well.

　What should we do - we shouldn't get too close, but we still need to close the distance to make it easier for the members of the vanguard to break away.

'Misaki, Suzuna, follow Seraphina's instructions to get behind us. Don't just take the 'bubble laser' attack. And don't get too far forward, Zion.
''Ha, hai.......I'll take care of it as best I can!
''I'm going to play 'Everybody in' while I'm at it. I'll be sure to guess...
Bawl........................

　Suzuna put a prayer in the arrow she carried. She's still too far away to use Misaki's 'Lucky Seven', so she takes out her dice but keeps her grip on them as she runs. Theon responds faithfully, but he snarls as he sees the vanguard evade the attack.

(Even if it's just a foot in the sand. Without the skills of acceleration and evasion, you can't get close enough to them properly.......they're really nasty opponents......)

Turn around and look at me.

　Looking at Elitia's movements, I'll decide which support is best - if I'm going to attack and draw the enemy's attention to me, no damage is meaningless.

''--Eritia, 'support'!

　Current Situation

　Aricht activates 'Support Attack 1'.
　Attack of the Ruthless Decapitation → Elitia avoids it.
　Elitia activates the Slash Back command. → Hit the Merciless Decapitation Platform for no damage. Support damage 12
　Elitia's additional attack has been activated, hitting the Merciless Decapitation Platform. No damage. Support damage 12

　When you avoid the enemy's attack, you can quickly counterattack with "Cut Back". When that blow was delivered to the crab shears, Elitia's sword blade seemed to have slipped through without a response, but the invisible blade created by 'Support Attack 1' left a slash mark on the shears.

''It passed........after all, if only Aricht had been there...!

　As long as the blows go through, we can take them down - if we can keep chipping away at them little by little.

　But that was only if the enemy continued to receive the attack and if it was possible for us to continue to evade it.

'Theresa-san, get away from 'it'!
...!
Teresiak!

　Current Situation

　Aricht activates 'Support and Defense 1' → Targets: 'Theresa' and 'Kyouka'.
　The Ruthless Decapitation activates Necrobreak.
　Ghost Scissors F explodes, hitting Theresa and Kyouka. Ruthless Decapitation absorbs energy.

d*mn it...!
.....

　The heart jumped - it was almost impossible to get past the 10 damage reduction of 'Support Defense 1'. But even though Theresia was flying backwards with her shield up and Igarashi-san was also in a defensive stance, she was unable to prevent the explosion caused by one of the 'Ghost Scissors'.

''All three of you, you're in danger!　Don't go near the remains of the other 'Ghost Scissors'!
I don't mean to get too close, but there are so many of them.

　I didn't know that what the 'Alliance' did would lead to such a situation - this 'named' is still the embodiment of the grudge of the defeated 'crab'.

　Not only does the corpse blast cause damage, but it also restores his strength. Seeing the wounds on the scissors disappear, Elitia shouted in anger.

''How dare you two........!

　Elitia went out to fight back without hesitation - but the one who stopped her was Igarashi-san, who didn't take a step back despite her wounds.

''You did it.......now it's our turn!

　Current Situation

　Kyoka activates Thunderbolt and hits the Ruthless Decapitator.

　The thunderbolt released from Igarashi-san's protruding spear instantly rushed through the mid-range spacing, hitting the giant crab in a half-transparent state. The blow is slight, but the magic attack certainly gets through - the crab, which is charged and fires sparks with a bee, seems to have stopped moving for a moment.

　We're almost ready to join the battle line. If we showered them with a coordinated attack that folded in a magic attack, we could strike no small amount of blows - Eritia had also decided that.

''Aricht, coordinate........''

　But it was impossible not to notice. The fact that the eyes of 'Crab', who should have been electrocuted, were directed at 'us' instead of the three vanguards.

''-- Everyone, let's spread out!　Seraphina, please get away from 'where you are' too!
Mr. Atobe...!

　The 'Bubble Laser' is coming - that's what I thought - and when I see the giant crab's legs being pushed forcefully into the sand, I realize that my prediction was off.

(What was that... something glowing...)

　When I realized what the glowing thing was. The giant crab's body shone and materialized - at the same time, the giant body made an unexpected movement.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　The Ruthless Decapitation materializes → Magic is disabled.
　The Ruthless Decapitation uses the skills of Roland.
　The Ruthless Decapitation invokes the Sky High

"Don't.......don't......that's......that's the leader's........!

　Why did he reap and capture Mr. Roland's soul? The answer was - because that giant crab could use the skills of a soul-capturing seeker.

　I can hear Thomas screaming. The crab is lower than Mr. Roland, but it jumps up to a height that is unimaginable from its massive body.

　There's nothing you can do about that mass if someone else is targeted. Once the 'Vapor Dive' is activated, it's already--''

I won't let them hurt anyone else...!

　Current Situation

　Seraphina activates Provoke → Ruthless Decapitation's hostility to Seraphina increases.
　Seraphina activates the defensive stance.
　Seraphina activates "Aura Shield".

　She should have known - she would choose that method.

　However, after being easily penetrated by 'Support Defense 1', I couldn't imagine that she would be able to stay safe even if I relied on Seraphina-san's defense and supported her.

　Then I'll choose. The only way I can think of that will keep anyone from being attacked is--.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Aricht activates Backstand → Target: The Merciless Decapitation

　Consecutive consciousness is missing for a moment - the next thing I know, I'm spinning further behind the crab as it leaps into the air.

　Savoring the sensation of falling and bloodlust, I bounced the black sling with all my strength and shot out a bullet - I didn't know if it would get through, but I still had to bet on it.

''--Go!

　Current Situation

　Arihito activates the Hupnoshoot... →Hit the Ruthless Decapitation!



　Current Situation

　Ruthless Decapitation activates Vapor Dive → Target: Unknown

　The skills used in the confusion were used to swoop down towards the waves, with no target set on anyone on the ground. I was separated from the distance in one fell swoop, and I couldn't take back Roland-san's soul.

　I'm left in the air - if I don't, I'll be slammed onto the beach.

(Backstand........can't be used in this position.......think, how can I........

Wow!
Theon...!

　Sion runs in and jumps and catches me - but if I land like this, I don't know if Sion will be able to support the weight of the two of us.

　But the impact that I had expected did not come.

''Oooh...!

　The elasticity of the sand catches me, and I bounce wide and roll straight onto the sand. Sion dexterously spun around once in the air and landed on his feet.

''Are you alright........?

　The skill of creating a resilient floor - a skill that Mr. Rolando used when he flew - Thomas used it for us.

　The giant crab that was accelerated by the "Vapor Dive" and plunged into the waves while sticking out the scissors, unlike Roland-san, was not unscathed from its weight and was still confused - but..........................

(See through again........resistance changes.......!

　Current Situation

　The Ruthless Decapitation is damaged by the fall.
　The Ruthless Decapitation activates Phantom Drift → Resistance Change: physical disablement, speed increase, confusion release

　The resistance changes at a dizzying pace, and at the same time heals the state abnormality - with our party right now, we can't seize the chance to strike a decisive blow at this rate.

''Both of you, get behind me...!

　Serafina-san tries to protect Suzuna and Misaki. As the name implies, the giant crab doesn't hesitate to directly aim at the less defensive members of the group and set up a scythe - with the current speed of the giant crab, the targeted members can't avoid it.

　If I can buy a little time, I might be able to get away, with Sion carrying Roland-san and aiming for the only avenue. But I knew I shouldn't take a single blow.

　The scythe that took Mr. Rolando's soul. That one had indeed passed through Rolando-san's body - without hurting her.

　A shield that only prevented a physical attack would probably penetrate it. Serafina-san might have skills that would counteract it, but if not, it would increase the casualties.

(Think ... before he moves ... there's got to be something, I'm sure ...!

　The giant crab begins to move - that nightmarish scene is about to be repeated once again.

''Kook........!

　The giant crab doesn't aim at Ms. Seraphina - instead of going around to flank them, the crab tries to go around to the back with unseen speed.

　What happened to Ms. Rolando is about to happen to my people. I can't accept that, I can't admit it.

　Anything, any way I can do it. If I can save these girls - as if to respond to such a thought, a nostalgic feeling rises up from the depths of my chest.

(This... yes, we still have...!)

　--Licht Aricht. Contractor, you need my help.

Ariadne!

　Current Situation　

　Ariadne activates Guard Arm.
　The Ruthless Decapitation activates the Soul-Killing Scythe.

Kyahhh...!
Misaki-chan...!

　Sensing the danger to the party, Ariadne called out to me - and so I was able to activate the 'Guard Arm'.

　Ariadne's power caused the Guard Arm to appear, and it changed the trajectory of the giant crab's wielding sickle. The scythe passed over Misaki and the others' heads, creating a brief but decisive respite.

''--Misaki!　Use 'those skills'!
.........oh my god, whatever........

　The skills that I didn't take and preserved. I believe in the results of the 'hidden power' that Misaki mentioned, and I shout out - because that's the only possibility left to get over this predicament.