NOVEL WEB Chapter 66
66. Like Rank S Or Higher
Currently, a toxic mist that corrodes everything is being emitted from the five pillars appearing in the outermost layer of the royal capital──.
The mist is slowly spreading from the outermost layer towards the center.
The mages belonging to the Kingdom’s Magic Corps collectively erect a defensive barrier to stop it.
However, the barrier is gradually being eroded and will last for about three hours at most.
After that, the toxic mist will flow into the capital’s interior.
Moreover, it is difficult to create a barrier that covers the entire capital, so generally, only up to the third layer is protected from the toxic mist by the barrier.
The residents of the outer layers were urged to evacuate to the inner layers.
Although the speed of the toxic mist is not very fast, the outermost layer──the fifth layer has already been mostly eroded.
There are reports of not a few casualties.
The time limit is three hours at the most.
We must destroy all the pillars by then──.
Amidst this crisis, our team A was heading towards one of the pillars.
We reached the edge of the third layer, where the barrier preventing the toxic mist’s entry ends.
At the same time, another defensive barrier’s light covered our surroundings.
Alice and two other mages cast a joint defensive spell, creating a barrier that completely enveloped our unit.
This too would gradually be corroded by the toxic mist, but it would probably last for one to two hours.
Incidentally, my protective barrier, Armor Phase, has a narrow effective range, so it cannot cover the entire unit.
While within that barrier, we advanced further.
Eventually, we arrived near one of the pillars in the outermost layer.
“Is that the beast guarding the pillar……no, a dragon?”
In front of the pillar was a beast about ten meters long.
Its form was that of a dragon made entirely of white bones.
The residents had already evacuated, and the town filled with green toxic mist was completely deserted.
The bone dragon growled as it looked at us.
Its mouth opened wide.
A dazzling light converged within its mouth.
“──Here it comes. Everyone, get ready!”
Ivy warned.
The beast opened its mouth wide and shot a bluish-white light bullet.
An attack that could be called the epitome of dragons, Dragon Breath.
“Tch, everyone, form a barrier──”
“Step back.”
Stopping the others, I thrust out my right hand.
A rainbow-colored light sphere flew out and intercepted the light bullet.
An angelic emblem with wings spread appeared in midair.
The divine barrier that repels everything──Armor Phase.
The bluish-white light bullet was directly repelled and hit the beast.
With a burst of light, the bones of its torso shattered, and the white giant staggered.
“It repelled the Breath!? Just like that──”
“Who, what is he……!?”
The members, except for Lilith, Alice, and Ivy, raised voices of astonishment.
The beast roared in anger and continued to shoot Breaths.
This time, three shots.
But it’s useless.
──[Alter].
──[Kaleidoscope Shift].
I instantly switched the skill form I sent forward.
The first Breath was scattered and reflected.
With the reflected one, I bounced off the remaining two like billiards and intercepted them.
Furthermore──,
“I will seal its Breath now. Attack with everything you have in the meantime.”
I turned to Ivy.
“Can you do it, Ivy?”
“Seal its Breath itself……?”
──[Alter].
──[Void Seal].
A rainbow-colored light sphere advanced and covered the beast’s mouth.
This skill ‘nullifies destructive energy itself.’
The beast let out a confused roar.
As long as this skill covers its mouth, it cannot shoot the Breath.
More precisely, it is nullified the moment it shoots.
“The attack……stopped!?”
Ivy exclaimed in surprise.
“Shoot it.”
“All units, attack the beast!”
At my command, Ivy hurriedly shouted.
“[Thunder Bullet]!”
“[Fire Bomb]!”
“[El Gust]!”
The attack magic from Lilith and the other adventurers, projectiles like [Javelin], and Ivy’s flaming whip all struck the beast one after another.
If we had [Magic Missiles], we could easily defeat it, but we had used up the capital branch’s stock in the battle with the demon general Gyrasvrim.
However, with this concentrated attack──.
Continuous explosions of light and flames burst.
The beast, crying out in pain, retreated.
It switched to a tail attack, but I deflected it by moving my defensive skill.
At the same time, Ivy, Lilith, and the adventurers launched a second wave of attacks, further damaging the beast.
Even if it tried to shoot a Breath in desperation, I nullified it again with [Void Seal].
“I won’t let it shoot. Neither Breath nor physical attacks. Not a single one.”
I declared coldly.
“I will block all the enemy’s attacks. Ivy, you handle the attack commands.”
“Haruto Riva, your power is this much──”
Ivy murmured in awe.
“Like Rank S or higher……”
“My skills──no, my defensive magic has a time limit. Hurry.”
“Y-yes……leave the attacks to me.”
Ivy nodded.
If only she were this straightforward all the time, it would be such a help, I thought.