Event: Rotten, Like a Dead Fish (Part1)
The people closest to the creature were propelled by its violent appearance. People tumbled and crashed on one another in their haste to get away as soon as possible from the imminent battlefield.
"Joseph!" Yukino froze their surroundings. The Wretch's steam becoming liquid before it could burn and scar the young merchant like it did with Hayama. Typha jumping to work on the temperature, fueled with the mana she had dispersed since Hayama's unconscious body had arrived at the Academy and even before, when she and the marquis heirs were summoned to the palace.
Cries and pleas were drowned by the sound of pressurized air escaping. The Wretch looked more amorphous than how Joseph described it, but it did look like a monster made out of cloth, hate and steam.
It wasn't the only hateful being out today, though.
"That is the Wretch?" Lancelot asked once he caught up to Yukino, looking between scared and dissatisfied.
"I don't think I'll be of much help." Marcus leapt back from his quick skirmish with the beast "Mister Joseph was right: There is a child underneath it all, but it's just too big…" Marcus saw him before transforming, but didn't get him on time. He looked down in shame, not wanting to say more.
"Then, we will open a path for Sir Marcus to get that criminal." Yukino's iron-like voice didn't seem to waver even with so much chaos drowning all other noise around them.
The knights hidden around the place did an amazing job of distracting the beast while the teens planned. They were those who had served during the failure of the trip to the woods, and valiantly used their superior numbers and tactics to corner the Wretch into a game of cat and mouse that the knights were winning.
Yukino did not want to push their luck too much, so she decided to wrap up quickly.
"He's most likely at the center. Lancelot, bombard it at your own discretion. The objective is to make him spend all of his reserves and capture him alive." Her smirk didn't carry any kindness in it, nor did her gaze "We'll make him wish he was dead."
"Eh, huh… Roger that." Lancelot concentrated, calling for his spirits while planting his feet firmly on the ground "I'm counting on Sir Marcus as well."
"Rest assured." Marcus took a stance to leap to action "Lord Lancelot shall come unharmed under my watch."
The Wretch expelled a surge of steam, making the common people scream in panic as they hurried even more to shove each other out of the way to flee. The knights came out clear out of it, but the hot cloud being released started becoming thicker. Soon, the Wretch would be able to mask his presence in this public area, and their advantage would be lost.
Lancelot shot dual water orbs that exploded upon impact with the Wretch's limbs. The being staggered, but otherwise didn't react at all. It used more twisted limb-like appendages and the ones destroyed soon came back. The Wretch finally seemed to notice.
"I believe he can't see very well." The young noble informed them as the Wretch tried to rid itself of the knights, opting to vomit fire at them. But these warriors were no slouch. They got clear out of the flame's way. Going as far as to penetrate into it while dancing around the tongues of fire.
"Makes sense." Yukino didn't use sarcasm for once. Taking in every detail she could "Alright. Let's go." Typha began freezing a path for Yukino to take. She quickly skated through it, clearing the distance between herself and the monster in but a couple of seconds "Hi."
Her water shotgun blew up a quarter of the Wretch. It reared its head as if in panic, and leashed out with steam tentacles to crush the water mage under them.
Yukino jumped out of the way with a water pillar, and detonated it before landing to deal more damage to the magic construct before freezing the limbs it rested on to arrest its movements.
Marcus arrived not a moment after, slashing away chunks of steam and crystalized magic with the finesse of someone handpicked by the general commander of the royal knights himself. The young knight could do little to prevent the surge of steam from swallowing him, but he came out of it with just sweat as proof of his contact with the scorching miasma.
Of course, since that's what makes the Knight's character special: His inherent magic resistance. This is why the World doesn't understand why he's such an unpopular character, and why the asshole Let's Player used him as well: At the end of his route, he alone can change the tide of battle in the Merica event. And even if his magic resistance isn't as effective against Demon Lords he still has an edge one he closes the distance.
Perhaps this fight is a little unfair. Against the Botched One's smoke and mirrors, the Knight has nothing to lose.
Well, no matter. The World chose him for a reason. If he doesn't make for a good Boss, then it's just too bad.
The Wretch's tentacles froze. Yukino backpedaled the next second as she had done nothing to interfere with them. They lashed out and struck Marcus true square on the chest, sending him tumbling towards Lancelot who almost shot the knight with his imitation of Yukino's water shotgun.
"What on Earth are you doing?" Yukino couldn't help ask while seeing the bastard's spirits work ceaselessly with her magic vision "How are you even doing that? That shouldn't be possible by any ways in this world." She used Typha's water to help herself dodge the blows coming her way. Attacks unmistakably of her element, but somehow there was something at the end she couldn't quite grasp.
Easssssssy…
Did… Did it just…?
Weak… Tired… In my way…
"Who's talking?!" Lancelot yelled from his position, turning around like he had seen a ghost.
Yukino couldn't blame him. There was no voice, because no one was talking.
It was the steam.
Behind you…
"Don't get distracted!" Yukino didn't turn around. Instead, she charged once more aided by her spirits. She was mindful of not overextending like last time. With her stamina as it is, she would drop out cold sooner than later if she used her magic carelessly.
She only needs to outlast his magic reserves. Easy.
Don't have… (Behind you) Nothing to prove… A thousand minus seven (In my way)… Proving something (Weak)… Monster (Liar)…
Don't pay attention. Yukino reminded herself, paying attention back to the works of the spirits of her prey.
"Isn't it hot in there?" Yukino's words were completely ignored. The two orbs of fire mimicking eyes focused on the dancing Marcus who dodged its tentacles even while stepping on the ice she created. It was half-melted already, but that was to be expected "Let me help with that."
Yukino froze half of the Wretch. The being halted again, forced into the air as it remained stuck in place because of Yukino's magic. She smirked.
Not wrong… The world is… Your fault…
The ice melted. Not like ice or snow does, but simply became liquid in a matter of seconds, to then become steam and be released into the air. In her haste to get the upper hand, Yukino didn't realize just how much of the cloud already covered the place.
Besides, that trick with the not-voices… It made Yukino shudder. She didn't know why, but ugly feelings rose in her gut. Wasn't helping her reckless way of fighting.
"How the hell is he doing that?!" Lancelot's inquiry earned him a tentacle whipping his direction, the steam voice mocking him all the while he tried to dodge and counter with his own magic.
Not nearly enough…
Yukino couldn't fault Lancelot. The not-voice grated her nerves. She had to fight gritting her teeth as the Wretch either ignored or made sarcastic comments about her failed attempts to hurt it. The only time it shut up was when she detonated a water shot gun directly under its gut, but Yukino wasn't angry enough to kill a person. She got a glimpse black hair, which reminded her she needed it alive.
Even with everything that happened… To cease a life was just… Yukino wasn't sure she'd be able to take it.
It made the Wretch bolder, forcing Yukino into a stance of faux aggressively as they exchanged blows. She was running out of fuel.
Not mana, just… She was getting tired.
Weak… Can't do better…? Not worthy…
Mindful. Yukino had to be mindful. Of not killing it, of the people still around, of her allies, on not paying attention to the steam voice. Mindful…
"Maria!" It gave no indication of attacking. No momentary pause, nor any movement to get ready for the burst of power expelled from its body like a twisting tornado of steam travelling in an unnatural horizontal direction.
Marcus shielded Yukino with his body. The impact still taking the air out of her chest and throwing both teenagers into the building besides them.
Yukino barely held with a shield of water when she felt stone give out due to the force behind the impact. The structure shaking and compensating for its missing foundation by toppling over to the side.
The wooden beams burned. The stone sparkled red with the heat expelled by the Wretch's magic. Yukino stared dumbly at the hole they made and the red-orange color it glowed with while steam coiled its way into the interior of the building.
Not water. She'd have been able to notice if it had been water. What is that guy doing? How?!
Yukino couldn't muse for long. She had Typha heal Marcus burned skin in a haste, making sure to spare a moment to heal herself. Groaning as her right leg snapped back in place before she could stand up.
Outside the battle had degraded in the couple of seconds Yukino got taken out of action.
With the thick hot mist expanding, the knights were unable to properly fight the creature in close quarters, opting instead to parry and dive into it when it got close enough for their instincts gained of years of experience to kick in on their own.
The heir apparent joined the fight, being done getting people to safety. He used car-sized fireballs to detonate on the Wretch while gaining terrain to get closer. Lancelot's slings of pulsing water came from a different direction. Forcing the Wretch to split his concentration between the two.
Still, it stood its ground. Eating every spell launched at its ghastly form and lashing out with the same vigor as before. Its movements were hard to track, but Yukino was able to see the tendrils moving away the mist to strike back at the young aristocrats.
That doesn't look good.
"Maria!" Lancelot created twin water walls so he could run closer, slinging water spells all the while, his sword uselessly strapped to the side with no target to be used on.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't stop it…" Yukino barely registered Marcus' regret, and instead focused on freezing chunks of the beast and motioning to urge the boys to stay on the move.
"Where is Erwin?!" Yukino barked while working with Lancelot to shield them from another burst of the Wretch's element. It struck away from them, but the burst of power still shook their shields and evaporated part of them. They'd have failed if it had struck home.
"He stayed back with Lady Charlotte." Marcus sighed, knowing full well Yukino wouldn't take that well "Maybe you shouldn't have come on your own and helped convince him to come instead." His usual sarcasm sounded more bitter than biting, Yukino didn't even acknowledge his words.
"He doesn't know how to use the spirits well. He'd have helped little." Lancelot reminded them while conjuring a water shotgun to break at the tentacles bullying a bunch of knights caught off guard.
"Oh, I don't know about that." Yukino retorted, not really thinking about it a lot "A wind user would be really useful right about now." With the increasing steam, the Wretch's massive size stopped being an asset for them. The spells that would otherwise aim true and connect, now had to be launched with more care. As the thing moved about in the sightless world it created, they could no longer be sure what they were hitting.
Useless…
"…Shut. Up!" Yukino had to grit her teeth, feeling the veins of her forehead thicken. She nearly forgot about the steam voice. Seems the Wretch hadn't "We have to do something."
"There's not much I can help with." Marcus lamented. Yukino thought otherwise.
"There is one thing you can do." She couldn't see properly, even with the thickest of the mist some meters away from them. Arnold almost caught up with them, when he got launched into the air and landed on a roof "Take a horse. Bring Ariel to me."
Yukino didn't want the girl to leave her brother's side, she herself didn't either, but under these circumstances she would understand.
"Lady Ariel?" Marcus blinked "What about Lord…"
"Why go for Erwin when Ariel is there?" Yukino almost rolled her eyes before freezing a tendril and using it to jump onto the rest of the street "Would you use a copper sword when there's one made out of polished iron right there?"
"Fair point." Marcus would have argued against treating a noble like that. But that wasn't the moment. He took a good look at the mist-filled battlefield and nodded to the teens "I shall not fail."
Marcus sprang into action. Running with all his might in the opposite direction of the Wretch. Yukino hurried to conjure icicles from the ground in hopes of hitting the thing but also giving it less space to move around even if for a moment.
"What now?" Lancelot's question made Yukino scowl.
"Now we stall." Arnold jumped off the two stores building and landed by propelling himself slightly upwards with his concentrated flames. His attacks were now smaller, since he would run out of… Of fuel if he kept up with his previous attacks, but he consistently kept on fighting as if he could somewhat guess where the Wretch was.
Yukino could also guess, aided by the water attribute it uses…
"It's using fire and water…"
"That's impossible." Lancelot scowled "A person can't hold two attributes at the same time."
The Wretch shot another blast of steam, making the nobles have to roll out of the way while armored bodies were trashed on the streets. Broken and burning.
Right, no time to argue.
"Maria!" Arnold came close, but still mindful of being at enough distance to not get out of the way. If needed be, they were ready to disperse "Where is Marcus?!"
"He's going to bring us our ace in the hole." Hayama went toe to toe with him alone. Clearly, the steam is susceptible to the wind attribute. It's just a matter of time for them to get the advantage back.
…Time they don't have.
For you see. Perhaps Yukino is more talented, perhaps she has more allies and more mana. And perhaps this situation is indeed in their favor.
But while they took classes and learned about history, economics and etiquette, Flay of the Slums survived with all his might. While they took classes at given hours and had stablished times for magic practice, Flay integrated his spirits into his daily life in an attempt to stall famine and danger. And while they fed their spirits while using them, and sometimes more, Flay constantly gave away his mana in an attempt to make the spirits like him more.
The mana they feed on, and fuels their magic. In the end, there is no way to give them the exact quantity they need for any given spell. These residual specks of power stay with them, and allow the spirits to change the world by their own volition. It's these specks that saved Vincent Woodville from dying in the end, and while all the spirits have them…
Well. Flay has spent years feeding them nonstop. And while his reserves are by no means safe from running out. A battle of attrition is the one thing Yukino has a critical disadvantage on.