The giant crab pushes the shears back on Serafina-san and jerks backwards. The mass of the scissors that bounced back dragged it down - it was too big and couldn't control the weight of the scissors itself.

　But the weight didn't seem to self-destruct. The giant crab's joints creak up, but it holds on like a claw in the sand, and is ready to launch a counterattack.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　The Ruthless Decapitation begins to charge the Guillotine.
　Seraphina activates Fudo no Hibi (Breath of Immobility), which increases the counter probability.
　Seraphina activates Niou-stand → Knockback against Seraphina is nullified.

　The scissors were slowly raised - a sharpened, pure killing spirit that was different from the first attack. Even in the face of it, Seraphina-san did not waver.

''Come........I will never move from here.......!

　Seraphina-san's level is 3 more than the giant crab - yet, the blow of the scissors (scissors) exceeded her defense.

　Something like black magical power rises from the giant crab's entire body. Before it could completely cover the scissors, I heard a whispering voice from close by.

　I hear the voice - the sword on my back. The Murakumo is speaking to me.

''- The blade of resentment can't hurt me. Master, you can call my name.''

"I'll help you. They may be able to repair my arm, but they can't replace you.

　I have no choice but to believe those reliable words for now. I put my hand on my sword and then activate my skills.

'Let's go........Ariadne, Murakumo!

　Current Situation

　Aricht activates Backstand → Target: Seraphina

Seraphina, join us!
Yes.........yes, sir.......

　I have more to do before I'm surprised. Grateful for that hesitant decision, I watched as two mechanical arms appeared in front of Seraphina-san.


　◆Current Situation ◆

　Aricht's 'Support and Defense 1' has been activated → Target: Seraphina
　Ariecht requests temporary support from Ariadne, the god of the machine, → Target: Seraphina
　Ariadne activates Guard Arm.
　Seraphina activates "Aura Shield".
　The Ruthless Decapitation activates the Guillotine → Guard Arm reduces its power.

　The scissors clad in magic power are swung down at a speed that makes it impossible to feel the resistance of air at all and is barely visible - the two "guard arms" catch it as if it were pinched with precision that does not deviate to the slightest degree, reducing its power.

"I'm going to get........caught...........................

　Current Situation

　Seraphina activates Shieldpally → Guillotine is disabled. Ruthless Decapitation temporarily stops action.

　With Serafina-san's skills, the giant crab exposes itself completely defenseless - but this means that if it escapes, it will be pursued.

''--The guard arm is damaged. I advise the party to retreat.

I'm sorry... but this is the only blow...!

　Current Situation

　Arihito activates the "Lord's General" and his status increases by the number of people in his party.
　Arihito activates Meteor Strike.

　The moment I perform this technique, I feel the sensation that the Murakumo is holding my hand from behind. The moment you perform this technique, you feel the hand of the Murakumo from behind, and your body stops being your own, and you become one with the Murakumo.　

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Broken parts of the Ruthless Decapitation → Attack power reduced, defense power lowered.

　The moment the magic power of the scissors swung down disappears, the thrust is unleashed and at the same time, the Murakumo leaves my hand and thrusts into the scissors with a purple light, creating a large crack.



　Just like when Suzuna's arrow hits, the giant crab makes a sound - and I realize that I'm not the only one. Suzuna's arrow is sticking out of the end of the giant crab's mouth, and that's one of its weaknesses.

'What a ... crack in that solid shell ...'
Seraphina, while you're at it........!

　I call out to Seraphina-san, who is stunned, and I retreat with her.

''--Alihitto, still behind........!

(..........what a persistence.......!

　The giant crab, with its giant scissors raised, chased after me without a care in the world. In response to its movement, even the surviving 'Sand Scissors' are raising their scissors.

　But we jump in and run into the path between the rock walls. The giant crab finally stopped chasing and watched us with its eyes, but it didn't pursue us any further.

　Roland-san's soul that was captured in "Soul Tentacle" - its sparkle has not yet been lost. However, I don't know how long the body separated from the soul will last.


Daniela, you can't!　If you're so distracted, you're pregnant........
........no.......!

　Theon, who had escaped first - seeing Roland-san on his back, Daniela shook off her fellow woman to get to her.

　Looking around, she saw Gray's figure at a slight distance. He must have come back to check on her after escaping using the Scroll of Return.

　However, he didn't speak to his companions, and to Daniela-san, and when he realized that I was watching him, the corners of his mouth twisted into a smile and he turned away from the scene.

　I couldn't bring myself to chase after him and question him now. I was the only one who noticed Gray's presence, and no one else was paying attention.

　No one else was able to say a word. Even the members of the 'Alliance' who were able to escape safely were all in a state of self-destruction.

　I approached Sion and looked at Roland-san.

　He looks as if he is asleep. The sensation of breathing was extremely long, and even though he was alive, his skin was pale and showed no signs of waking up from his sleep.

''We will take him to the medical station. Thank you so much for your cooperation, Lord Atobe. Adeline should have made arrangements to transport the 'Arachne Mage' that she had captured to the farm. I will tell her to come up to report later.
'Mr. Seraphina that demon is....

　As if the sandy beach were its own, the giant crab turns its back on us - and when it has made some progress, it suddenly disappears from sight.

　'Named' continues to aim at the first person it encounters. If you're not a member of Roland-san's party, you won't be able to attack again - but there's a chance that the enemy will remember us once we've engaged them, too.

''That demon appeared under extremely special conditions. Compared to the normal level 8 'named', the abilities it has are extremely dangerous. We only used it once this time, but theoretically, it's a golem-making magic, and it could theoretically be able to create as many golems as the 'Ghost Scissors' were hunted... If that happens, it would be difficult for even our Guild Saber Squad to defeat it.

　However, if the demons that appeared were left unbeaten, a stampede would eventually occur. Seraphina-san knew that and continued to speak regretfully.

''I'll ask the Guild Saber Headquarters for backup. We can't leave that demon alone like this.''
...How many days does that support take to come?
'It could be as early as three days ... or as long as a week if it takes longer. Originally, 'named' is recommended to be defeated by the party that encounters it. The management of the safety of each district is left to the searchers in the relevant district... so backup is not considered an urgent task except after the stampede has occurred.

　-- so when they encounter a 'named' that they just can't win, the searcher has no choice but to flee. Then the stampede happens and many people get involved.

　The Guild Saber is not an organization whose main purpose is to protect searchers. So it's a group to maintain a distance between us and the searchers, to monitor and maintain order - but Serafina-san tried to help us, even if she joined the battle herself.

The leader of the 'Alliance' ... Rolando Voln, by his own choice, made the 'named' emerge and then challenged them to a fight, which they lost. This is not a tragedy, but something that happens everywhere in the Maze Country. Lord Atobe, please understand that.

　Seraphina's men enter the labyrinth and transition with Rolando and Daniela - perhaps they sent them to the medical center.

　When the remaining members of the alliance finally get moving, they begin to discuss something. It seemed to be about the future after Roland-san was gone.

''You guys, could you at least say something........''
"I'm sorry, but we're in no shape to talk right now. I thank you guys for your help and I'm sorry for hogging the hunting ground.

　Their hearts were on the verge of breaking - it was not unreasonable if they were aware that their actions had brought about this result.

'Arihito let's go outside for once.
I'm sorry, my friend. My judgment is...
"...you're about to have a baby, and your father...that's not...

　I didn't want him to wake up. Unable to say that much, Igarashi-san took a shaky breath and turned his back on me.

　I was repulsed by what the 'alliance' was doing, and even now, I have no sympathy for what they did.

　I should have put the safety of my people above all else. If Misaki and Suzuna hadn't come, we wouldn't have bought ourselves time to escape - but the girls wouldn't have stayed safe if they were attacked by that crab.

　It was not the right decision for a leader. It's not something that can be apologized for - as I was thinking that, someone pinched me on the cheek.

''I.........Igarashi-san.......?
''Well I understand how you feel, Rear-sister, but I'm telling you to take care of yourself above all else. I've been wanting to try out the 'Ibeid Step' for a while now.
Preferably with a safer demon........
No demon is safe, okay?　If your brother is behind you, Zubba bang!　I could do that.
''I don't think Arihito-san's decision is something you would normally make... but I don't think it's wrong. Because I hope that as many people as possible who have also transitioned to the Labyrinth Country will be alive.

　Suzuna is right, we usually can't - or shouldn't - do this. Because the most important thing is to move on safely with your friends.

''Well I thought I was doing something stupid, too. If you're going to apologize, then I need to apologize too.
BOW!
..........

　Zion was barking little and wagging his tail with a flap. Theresia touched my arm and stroked me soothingly.

'So ... you think your rear end isn't done yet, don't you?

　Igarashi-san says - as if he can tell by looking at my face.

''........Roland-san's soul has been captured. I believe that if that state of affairs continues, Roland-san will indeed die. But........
'We have no righteousness to help you it's easy to say that. We've got one last shot at it, and if we're prepared, we'll win. That's not to say we're reckless.

　A fighting spirit burns in Elitia's eyes. Yes - the promotion condition of defeating three of the 'named' can be fulfilled if you are able to defeat the 'merciless decapitation'.

　If you've fought them once, you can take countermeasures. If we can't do everything possible, we shouldn't challenge them again - that's the prerequisite for anything.

'It's frustrating for us, too, if we keep getting beaten. We haven't been able to use all of our attack methods yet...
''I feel like I can play an active role as well... like I'm scared, like I want to show you the best part here...''
Misaki-chan, what did you come up with?

　In the face of such a powerful enemy, my friends are thinking about how to win. It's a presumptuous idea that I'm defending them - I'm reminded of that now, and I'm prompted to reflect on it.

'What do you think, Aricht?　I think that's the surest way to ensure that you'll be able to put together a plan.
"........... I'm thinking ...

　Elitia asked me for my opinion, and based on everyone's equipment and skills that I know, I'm going to come up with a few strategies - to stick to our ideas and move forward.