Each one of the Sand Scissors is also level 6 - the same level as the Arachne Mage. It's a very good idea to be able to have the same thing in your life.

　There are still moves left to be made. We haven't used all of our attack methods yet.

''--Melissa, Theon, you did a great job!　We have to get through the siege and keep our distance!
I'm not ready to...
Wham...!

　Melissa was still trying to aim for an instant death attack - but when she was targeted again, Elitia wouldn't be able to stop her again and again. Theon knew that better than she did.

　The 'Funeral Service Provider' sees Elitia as a threat, while directing its killing intent in all directions. It's not likely that the demi-harpy and others in the air will be frightened and will not be able to get any closer, but they will be prepared for the emergency.

　--and before Elitia and the 'Funeralist' can cut loose.

'Morale release, 'Soul Blink'!
.....

　Current Situation

　Kyoka activates "Soul Blink" and all members of the party receive "Spirit of War".
　Theresa activates Triple Steel and all members of the party receive the Triple Steal effect.

　The war spirits are not added until Demiharpy, but with the exception of Sion, who is in the second party due to the number of members, they are strengthened by the skills of Igarashi-san and Theresia.

　--That also meant that Elitia, who had increased her abilities by leaps and bounds in 'Red Eye', had the attack power of two people.

''--Haah!

　Elitia is the opening of the battle. The two remnants of the golden-haired swordsman, the two remnants of the golden-haired swordsman flesh out the demon--.

''We're going too.......Suzuna, take care of the 'horn'!　Can Misaki still make it!
Hey, I think I can handle it, but.........I can at least get us out of here....

　While Misaki answers, Suzuna takes out a horn. The flute was cut out of a large horn and was shaped like a flute-like horizontal flute - the two priestesses held the flute at the same time.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Arihito activates 'Support Attack 2' →Darkness Bullet
　Elitia and the Spirit of War activate the Blossom Blade.
　The Merciless Funeral Home invokes "Blocking".

　From the first move, he unleashes his greatest technique - the slash that had reached 16 levels in "Berserk" is beyond the limit. But unbelievably, the enemy receives Eritia's onslaught head-on with the blades on both arms.

''--Sharpen........!

　In the midst of the fierce cutting battle, Suzuna's whistle lights up - the 'Sand Scissors' who had begun to move, and the 'Sand Scissors' stilled as soon as the sound of her whistle began.

　And I had already pulled the trigger of my magic gun - to support the 'sound attack' by Suzuna with another bullet.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Suzuna activates Spirit of the Word → Sacred attribute added to Suzuna's weapon
　Suzuna and her spirit of war are hit by the Horn of the God of Shepherding's Horn → 10 Sand Scissors are hit. The Merciless Sender is disabled.
　Support Attack 2" is activated, and 10 Sand Scissors are hit.
　Support Attack 2" is activated against the additional attack of the spirit of war → 10 Sand Scissors are hit.
　Defeat 10 "Sand Scissors".
　Aricht and Suzuna's health and magic power are restored.

　The sound wave with the sacred attribute added strikes the Sand Scissors, stalling them, and the black lightning from the bullets of the Dark Ammunition Stone chases them back - 'Support Attack 2' is not a double attack even if the war spirit is present, but the support is applied to Suzuna's war spirit, and the The black lightning was showered on the 'Sand Scissors' twice.

''Soooooooo... isn't that too amazing, that combination...?

　I didn't expect it to work this well either - I couldn't get through to the 'Merciless Funeral Makers' because of their tolerance for sound, but ten crabs returned to the sand, and some of them left what looked like magical stones.

　And Igarashi-san and the others on the ground also fought back against the 'Sand Scissors' that were coming for them, and with the help of 'Lightning Rage' and 'Double Throw', including the war spirits, and my support, all of the summoned crabs instantly returned to the sand.

　However, the fierce battle between Elitia and the Funeral Bearer was still going on. The 'Funeral Service Provider' had surpassed the two 'Blossom Blades' by Elitia and the War Spirit - the situation I feared would happen when Elitia was about to unleash her third technique.

''Ah..........''

　With a gakun, the strength from Elitia's body is released. The wear and tear was too much in the state of activating 'Red Eye' - her magic power is being depleted.

''Elitia-san........!

　Current Situation

　The Merciless Sender activates the Revenge Blade, which increases the attack power by the number of times it is defended.

I'll make it.

'--Aah!

　Current Situation

　Aricht activates Assist Charge → Elitia's magic power is restored.
　Elitia and the Spirit of War activate Rising Zapper → *Ruthless Slaughterer is disabled by Blocking Critical
　Activate Elitia's Unicorn Ribbon special effect.
　Elitia and the Spirit of War's additional attack is triggered, hitting the Merciless Sender.
　Supportive Attack 2 occurs four times, hitting the Merciless Funeral Home.　
　Elitia and Aricht's health and magic power are restored.

--!

　It is not a good idea to have a good idea of what to expect when you are in a position to make a decision.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get it right.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on. Elitia, who recovered greatly from the effects of the "Triple Steel", tries to push it further - but.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　The Merciless Funeral Home invokes Jet Slaughter → Targets: "Kyoka" and "Theresa".

What...?

　Instead of Elitia in front of him, he points one arm at Igarashi-san and the other at Theresa, and shoots out his armor with a blade.

　That obsession to take even one person on the road. The blow fired by a level 9 'named' could be a fatal blow to any of us - but.

　It's as if "she" had read the attack and was there with her great shield at the ready.

'O faithful, now is the time to give strength to your ally. Call upon the armor of the Star Machine God to strengthen your shield.''

　I can hear Ariadne's voice - yes, she was saying that.

　When your total level exceeds 20, you can use the 'Guard Variant', she said.

''--Please support me, Ariadne!

　Current Situation

　Arihit" requests temporary support from "Ariadne".
　Ariadne activates 'Guard Valiant' → Target: 'Seraphina' and 'Seraphina's War Spirit'

　It wasn't a 'guard arm', but a new Ariadne blessing - it was something that strengthened the members who held the shield.

　Serafina-san had accepted the changes that happened to her shield in front of her eyes as it was.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Seraphina activates "Aura Shield".
　Seraphina's Spirit of War activates the Aura Shield by half.
　Great Shield of Mirrored Armor's special effect is activated.
　Seraphina activates Bodyguard → Target: Theresa
　Seraphina's Spirit of War activates Bodyguard → Target: Kyouka
　Jet Thrower hits Seraphina and the spirit of war → Activate Guard Valiant's special effect to reflect physical attacks.
　A reflex attack on the Merciless Sender hits two levels.

Gas..........!

　The two armor shot out by the 'funeral sender' is flung off by the large shield - no, it reflects with the same momentum.

"Not only to protect........this shield.......

　Serafina-san marvels - a shield that can return an enemy's physical attack as it is. I could tell that it was a threat to the 'Funeralist' by looking at the armor that had been gouged out by the clash of armor.

　The war spirit has not yet disappeared. All of the demons that were summoned were defeated - and with the armor no longer complete, the 'Funeralist' still confronted Elitia.

''.........I'll end it.......!

　Current Situation

　Elitia and the Spirit of War activate the Blossom Blade.
　The Merciless Sender activates Life in Death.
　The Merciless Funeral Home invokes "Blocking".

　The trajectory of the red slashes left behind by Elitia and the war spirit is like a flower blooming madly - the enemy continues to receive and handle it from the front.

　The attack as well as the defense would originally be head and should be head and shoulders above the 'named' that appears in this ward's labyrinth.

　However, we were a party and the enemy was not.

　Even if you demonstrate how invincible your defense is in front of you, your reaction to the 'behind' is delayed--that one moment can be fatal to the enemy.

''--I've been waiting.......all along.......!

　Current Situation

　Melissa and the spirit of war activate an ambush.
　Melissa and the Spirit of War ride Theon and use the Ride On Wolf.
　Attack of the "Melissa" and the War Spirit

　Melissa and the War Spirit had been waiting for this opportunity - there was no way they weren't scared, but they tried to take advantage of the possibility.

''Melissa........!

　Elitia raises her voice. I know - even after anticipating that possibility, I still support Melissa's decision.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Hit twice on the Merciless Mortuary Critical
　The "Fobidoun Scythe" is damaged.
　Melissa's and Theon's strength and magic power are restored.　

H..........?

　Instant death attacks don't always succeed. That's why I had to aim after applying the 'Fortune Roll' or I wouldn't have incorporated it as a tactic.

(But I have nothing to regret. That position is 'behind him'........!

Murakumo, come here!

　Current Situation

　Aricht activates Backstand → Target: Melissa
　Arihito and the spirit of war activate Meteor Strike.

　Thanks to Melissa's presence there, I was able to use 'Backstand' - not 'right behind' the enemy, but at a distance where I could instantly close the gap with 'Meteor Thrust' - thanks to Melissa's presence there.

　The guy is unable to respond to the attacks from behind, and that too from the left and right, and he receives them without being able to respond. Even so, I can only say that the shell, to the extent that the surface can be scraped off, is of tremendous hardness.

　But the gap created there, Elitia doesn't miss and stuffs it in - with that technique.

　And I'm going to play the role of the 'rear guard' as well. In order to support the last move, I once again used the last magic power to activate the skill.

''-- Scatter, Red Flower. ''Blossom Blade!''

　Current Situation

　Aricht activates Backstand → Target: Elitia
　Arihito activates 'Support Attack 2' → Support: 'Tenchi Blades'.
　Elitia and the Spirit of War activate the Blossom Blade.
　Attack power increased due to the Scarlet Dance effect.
　The Merciless Sender is hit at 24 levels. War Spirit Add-on Attack
　Elitia and the Spirit of War's additional attack is triggered, hitting the Merciless Sender.
　Reach the limit of "Support Attack 2".
　Elitia and Aricht's health and magic power are restored.

Oh....oh...oh...oh...oh!

　A red slash, it is a red flower. With each swing that is carved like a dance, Elitia throws away her defenses and only sharpened the power of her sword.

　With each strike, Murakumo's slashes are showered on her, and the combined number of attacks is close to a hundred. The enemy, who was launched into the air at the first tenth step, continued to be slashed - when the shell finally shattered and fell without a bounce on the beach, it did not rise again.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Defeat a "Merciless Funeral Bearer".
　Melissa" has been upgraded to 6th level
　Get a "Doubtfulness Stone".

'Hah, hah...'
'You did it, Elitia.............What is it?
"--Igarashi-san, please wait!　Now Elitia is...!

　Even after the battle was over, the 'Red Eye' was not deactivated. That also meant that the effect of 'Berserk', which attacks indiscriminately, was continuing - but.

''Eritia-san, it's alright now.......we've won.

　Without fear, Suzuna gets down on the beach and hugs Elitia. At first Elitia seemed to be in pain, but when Suzuna stroked her back, the red magic that surrounded her body calmed down.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Elitia's Berserk and Red Eye are released.
　Elitia's ability is temporarily reduced.

Suzuna...?
'Thank God........Elitia. Really.........
''I'm sorry, I'm having trouble with my body... can you give me a shoulder?''　
'I'll be there for that!　I don't have time to play an explosive card and I've got plenty of energy to spare!

　Misaki and Suzuna support Elitia. I ask Harpy to retrieve the stone on the giant crab's shell - that stone, which is supposed to contain Roland-san's soul, should bring him back to life.

　The giant crab, and the material of the "Funeralist" will be sent to Melissa's storeroom. I checked the 'funeral party' up close, but there was no humanoid demon inside the shell - only the soul of the giant crab was believed to be moving in this shell armor.

'As a master's sword, I can't say that I have been able to make full use of its performance. I have to bring out the best of my master's skills...''

　The Murakumo in its back sheath appeals to me regretfully. I think that perception is half correct and half not.

(My skills and the performance of my sword.......both still have room to grow. We're still in the seventh district, we can't afford to have our growth stop here.)

　Murakumo hasn't responded for a while - he seems to be thinking about something. Or maybe he's consulting with Ariadne.

''Arihito your growth is remarkable. But even if you fight this many enemies, you won't be able to increase your level in one go. The fact that the skills that can be acquired at each level are useful, and the fact that you have Eritia as your main fighting force, is partly to blame.''

(Did you hear me, Ariadne you're right, I didn't level up. I guess it's not very often that you get 80% of your experience to the next level in a few battles.)

　The difference in level between you and Elitia makes it hard to get experience in - the reason I wasn't aware of that before is that you have a lot of experience before the correction, I guess.

　However, there's no way we're going to have Elitia come off just before we defeat the enemy. I think our party is fine with this step. However, I don't want to face an opponent who can be killed if I make a mistake for a while - if there is not even a time limit, I want to hit the stone bridge and cross it.

''I don't know if Aricht would want to.

　I do think about the things Ariadne says - we encounter 'named' and special situations far too often.

　One of them was a box left behind by the 'funeral person' that had an appearance I had never seen before - not a black box, but a 'white box' with some kind of pattern painted on the surface.

　Theresia brings it to me. As long as the threat of the 'black box' trap is known, I can't try to unlock it - I've found something that even Falma-san doesn't know if she can open or not.

''Rear-kun, that box is...''
''Since I thought the black box was the most valuable, I can't open it now because I'm not sure how to react to this... or because of the risk of traps. I'd like to discuss this with Falma-san once later.
''Yeah, well... if you try to force it open and fail, we were talking about how the 'black box' would be in trouble if there was a trap set up for it too...''

　Igarashi-san also remembers what Farma-san said, and she tries to hug her own body. The armor of magic power created with the rune of '換' is still alive and well, but what happens when her magic power runs out - I'll think about that when I can't follow through with 'Assist Charge'. I couldn't use it very much during the battle, but if my magic power, which I recovered with 'Triple Steel', diminishes again, I can use the mana potion to restore it.

　As I was talking about this, Serafina-san comes over to me. Her shield had returned to its original form after the strengthening by 'Guard Variant' was released.