Hinata's air craft flies over the completely white landscape. It wasn't enough that the land in snow, it was also constantly covered by a blizzard.
"Wow, it's almost like seeing Verbergen's fog." Shu said in awe while looking at the crystal. "It's completely white."
"It's only natural, considering this is the coldest place in the continent." Akira explained. "The land is stuck in a an eternal blizzard."
"Peculiar, chances are it's a machination courtesy of the liberator." Tio theorized.
"How's the compass, Hinata?" Meld asked the teen who was sitting down while piloting the airship.
She looks at the compass she wore around her neck. "It's amazing, not only does it point to the direction, I can also tell if the object is above or below me, it even tells how far we are from it. The only drawback is how much mana it uses up. Which I guess is kind fair."
She nearly fainted when she used it. If this is how much it takes to use one, she can only imagine how much is needed to make a concept magic. It's no wonder as to why the seven liberators only managed to make three.
As they waited, Kouki's- Yes, they went back to pick him up when Hinata "realized" he wasn't aboard, Kouki's group walked in.
"So, have you all gotten used to those new artifacts?" Hinata asked. During the trip, Hinata had improved the party's artifacts whole also making some new ones.
Hinata figured that this was better than having to babysit their sorry asses through the labyrinth again, and yes she said that to their faces. It was also a good chance to test out evolution magic.
"You bet, my fist are so powerful now!" Ryutaro cheered.
"Just when I thought my sword couldn't get stronger..." Shizuku said.
"Yeah, I'm glad I was able to use it properly." Suzu admitted.
"I definitely love mine." Kaori said with a bright smile. Though, that actually scared the others, because they had seen what her new artifact was.
"Y-Yeah, it's great." Kouki said, but he actually can't help but feel a bit depressed, that he got stronger because of Hinata.
"Good, and don't forget the artifacts I made for Schnee." Hinata pulled out a necklace with a blue crystal on it. This was an artifact that can suit a person's temperature to the environment.
This artifact was made to help with the cold. Hinata came up with these after experiencing Gruen's heat.
"Hehe, I'm always happy to receive gifts from you Master." Tio thanked Hinata, who was currently staring at him. "Oh Master, to think such a strong glare."
Hinata remained unfazed. "You can't fool me."
"Huh?"
"Just because you're acting like a weirdo again, doesn't mean that we forgot about Haltina. You've been holding out on us, Klarus." Tio gulped and for the first time ever, he was visibly nervous.
The airship goes through the blizzard, the windows froze up almost instantly. After they got through the veil of snow, they find see massive ice gorge.
"Another gorge, so be it." Hinata steers the airship towards the direction the compass was pointing at. It kept following the gorge until it...stopped.
"Huh? The gorge ends here, but the compass keeps pointing this way." Hinata questioned.
"Wait, look." Meld points at the observation crystal. "Inside the gorge, I believe I can see a cave entrance."
"The crevice is too small for the airship, guess we'll have to go down there ourselves." Hinata lands the air ship. After it opens the entrance, they all got a taste of cold. They instantly started to shiver and proceeded to let on the necklaces Hinata made.
They step out and sees the vast snowfield. "Wowwwwww, look at this." Shu said in awe. He was very excited, for this was the first time he laid eyes on snow. "Ooh I see a big pile over there." He begins running towards the pile.
"Huh? Wait, Shu-" Meld called out to the rabbit, but Shu was already jumping up and diving into the snow. He falls right through the pile, leaving a Shu shaped hole in the snow.
At first they waited for him to emerged, but he didn't, and they also couldn't hear his voice either Hinata stored her air craft before going over to the hole and finds out why. "Oh..."
"What is it, Hinata?"
"Nothing, it just turned out that this snow was covering a crevice, and Shu fell right into it."
"WHAT?!" Everyone screamed.
"Come on, it's time we go down as well." Hinata walks over to the gorge.
"Wait, shouldn't we help him?" Kouki asked.
"No, it'll take more than this to kill him. After all, who do you think he is? You?"
Kouki grits his teeth, but he has learned that he can't say anything to response to Hinata, much to his chagrin.
They all look down at the deep dark gorge. Meld threw a stone into it, trying to find out how deep it is. "Hm...I would say...around 600 meters."
Suzu gulped. "Woah, that's deep."
"Um Hinata, how do we get down there?" Shizuku nervously asked. "Do you have some climbing gear or a way to float us down?"
Hinata simply looks at Shizuku for a moment, right before jumping into the gorge.
"What the-"
"Well there's your answer." Meld said before he and Akira also jumped in.
"Meld?!"
"Geronimo!" Kaori shouted as she and Seiji also jumped in.
"Kaori?! Seiji?!"
"You don't want to be left behind, do you?" The remaining people look at Tio. "The Aerodynamic boots Master had provided you with should help with your descent, so it will be fine."
Even with that fact, they were all still too nervous, so Tio decided to try something else. "If you do not jump now, then either Master will proceed without you or she will simply jump back up here and kick you into the gorge."
They all braced themselves to jump after hearing that. Though, Suzu's legs were still shaking and so was her voice. "O-O-O-Okay, I-I-I'll j-j-j-just j-j-jump and-"
Tio sighs and walks over Suzu, and picks her up. "Huh? Tio, wai-"
"I hope that you will think of this a favour." Tio then tosses Suzu into the gorge, while the girl screamed all the way down. Tio turns to the rest, who immediately jumps of their volition. Tio smiles as he joins his comrade.
The group traverses the frosty caves, after Suzu finished crying and they reunited with a very peeved off Shu. So far, the tunnel had only obstructed them big icy rocks and of course. They didn't encounter anything until Shu's ear picked up something. "Guys, there's something around here."
Right after he said that, the group can hear a squeaking noise and sees something small hop in front of them. "Is that...a rabbit?"
True enough, it looked like a rabbit, it silver fur and eyes that was coated in snow crystals.
"Awwwww..." Everyone but Hinata and Meld cooed. Shizuku in particular gave out a larger squeal, which made her instantly blush.
The rabbit skipped over to Hinata, who was in front of the group. The rabbit simply nuzzled on her legs, which made it looked even cuter...to a sucker
Hinata raises her foot and crushes the rabbits skull. Everyone dropped their jaws, not being able to say a single thing because they were shaken to the core.
Then more rabbits showed up, and Hinata brings out her knife and gun, everyone can guess what she was about to do. Knowing they couldn't stop her, they turned to the one person they can.
"Captain Meld, please sto-"
SHINK
Just as they were about to ask him, they witnessed Meld driving his sword down on another rabbit that was on the ground. They were brought to another shock, while Meld simply walks to Hinata's side.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
The two of them charged forward and begins the slaughter. By now, everyone was used to Hinata's massacring of monsters. But this time, those monsters were cute cuddly rabbits and what makes things worse was the fact that joining her.
They were visibly terrified, but not as terrified as a certain rabbitman was, who was currently being comforted by Akira.
After the corpses piled up, the last rabbit tried to jump away, only to be pinned to the wall after Hinata threw her knife at it. After that, a sobbing Shu ran to them. "Hey! Did you really have to do that?!"
""Absolutely!"" They both answered, causing Shu to sob more and clung even harder to Akira.
"But Nagumo, they weren't attacking us or anything!" Suzu protested.
"It looked like that, but it's no surprise most of you didn't noticed, those things were actually absorbing our body heat." Hinata narrowed her eyes. "Actually, Tio, Akira, shouldn't you two have noticed that? Why did you just stand there?"
"We were...occupied with something else." Akira pointed at Shu, who he was still comforting.
Meanwhile Tio walked over to the former knight captain. "I have to say Meld, that was quite the bloodlust from you. Is master's habit finally rubbing off on you."
Everyone was wondering the same thing, they had never seen Meld act like that
Meld himself simply looked away. "I just...got rid of a threat, that's all."
They didn't really buy it, but they decided to leave it alone.
They press on, after walking pass the small mountain of bunny corpses. They eventually stumbled upon a split path, and when they came near it, the strong gust appeared.
"Gah, how come there's such a strong wind underground?"
"My artifacts won't stop up from being blown away, Akira."
"On i-"
"I'll handle this." Suzu stepped up, cutting the vampire off. She pulled out her new artifacts, unlike the others, Suzu had completely new equipment.
Her original artifact that was provided by the kingdom were a pair of bracelets that enhanced her magic powers. When Hinata tried enhancing it, the bracelets broke, turns out it wasn't strong enough to handle the power Hinata was trying to put in.
So Hinata decided to just make new artifacts and asked her if she had anything in mind. And this is what they came up with.
Suzu was holding a pair of twin iron fans, one fan was to help with making barriers and the other one was for adding secondary effects. "Hallowed Ground - Dispersal."
The barrier was quickly made around the party, and due to her artifacts, it was imbued with light magic that disperses energy.
"Since I'm the barrier master, I'll maintain the barrier."
Suzu was very eager to be of proof herself to Hinata, who simply shrugged and said. "Whatever. The compass says we need to go right."
The group keeps moving forward, facing the raging wind until they reached the end of the tunnel. Once they exited, they finally find the entrance of the labyrinth in the shape of a large triangular door.
Before they got close to it, Shu's ear twitched after hearing something. "Hinata!"
"Yeah, I know." She pulls out her gun. Soon, the party hears a beastial roar and six large figures jump down in front of them.
"Are those...yetis?" They would fit the description, big, covered in hair, live in the tundra. Hinata aims her gun, but Kouki's party steps up.
"Let's do this guys."
"I'll handle the defense."
"We're definitely gonna get the the ancient magic this time."
Hinata groans and rolls her eyes at the generic proclamations.
"You won't mind if we try to fight these things, right Hinata?" Kaori asked.
"Actually I do, cause it would still take longer than it should be." Hinata answered with no mercy.
"Blunt as usual." Shizuku sighed.
Meld holds Hinata's shoulders. "Hehe, it's fine, try out those new artifacts."
With Meld's approval and Hinata's lack of caring, the hero's party prepares for battle. Kouki starts off with using Celestial Flash, Hinata's upgrade let him cast it faster and add more power to the attack.
The yetis managed to dodge it, but one of them soon met it's end, when Ryutaro ran into it. "Death Fist!" Hinata had also imbued their artifacts with ancient magic.
Ryutaro's gauntlets had just used spatial magic to completely destroyed the yeti's internal organs with one punch. After that, one of the other yeti tries attacking him with it's sharp claws.
However, it was blocked by a barrier, courtesy of Kaori. The yeti was then cut in half by Shizuku's swift slice. Shizuku then noticed some thing strange, Kouki was fighting one yeti and Ryutaro was headed towards another, they were six yetis, but she only saw the two. So where was the other two.
Just then, the ground beneath Kaori and Suzu started to shake and cracked. The two girls jumped away just in time and two yetis burst out if of the ground. It seemed as though the yetis had dug though the ice with their claws.
Each yeti faced one of the girls and charged at the same time. Unfortunately for them, neither Kaori nor Suzu seemed the least bit concerned.
"Hallowed Ground - Bind." Suzu conjures up a barrier around the yeti, and it being enchanted with gravity magic, the yeti was pulled to the ground.
As for the other...
CRASH
Was currently dead while being half buried in the wall. Kaori was seen smiling with her new artifact, it was originally a staff that improved her healing powers. Now, she is currently holding what seems to be a giant battle axe.
It still has it's previous functions, with improvements of course. But now, with it's 2 giant blades attached, it is as powerful as Shu's hammer, especially in Kaori's hands. Kaori herself had requested it, turns out that she actually didn't like getting stuck with the healer role. So, she asked for an offensive weapon and lo and behold.
The peanut gallery got front row seats to the show of her power. It reminded them of another person with super strength.
"Why are you guys looking at me?" Shu asked when he saw them shifting their eyes to him.
The battle continues, Kaori was about to finish off the yeti in Suzu's barrier, however. "Kaori, Suzu, Look out!" They both turn to Kouki, who was yelling, they then saw multiple ice spikes coming at them.
The managed to dodge, but it meant Suzu had let the barrier go and let the yeti escaped. It seems the yetis have the ability to control ice, that's how they shot those ice shards. It's also how they managed to get away from the other three.
"Are they...skating?" They all watch as the yetis slide on the ice in high speed, as if the were olympic figure skaters.
"Such elegance..."
"This is a amazing!" Surprisingly, Hinata seemed the most amazed by these creature's performance and really wishing she had her phone to record this.
"Hinata, which side are you on?" Hinata simply stared at Meld, who frowned, knowing what her answer was.
The yetis were all able to evade Kouki, Ryutaro, and even Shizuku.
"Let's see you dodge this, Celestial Flash - Shatter!" A huge blade of light was coming at all three bigfoot, but those big ape were able to dodge it by jumping high and spinning three times.
"That was a triple axel, awesome!" Hinata continued to cheer while everyone dropped their jaws. The yetis kicked their way pass Shizuku and Ryutaro
Kouki tried striking one with a Radiant Slash, but the yeti simply bended backwards while balancing on one foot and dodged with elegant and grace.
"Fuck!" Kouki cursed while Hinata simply clapped for the yetis. The hero kept charging at the yetis.
"Calm down Kouki!" Shizuku tried telling, noticing the boy's frustration. But Kouki just kept swinging his sword.
The yetis were practically toying with him, as they were currently grinning. Soon, they were circling, even creating whirlwind.
However, that also means they're stuck in one place. Seeing an opportunity, Shizuku prepares herself. "Limiter Removal." Similar to Limit Break, she increases her physical strength, she readies her sword which us currently imbued with spatial magic and charges forward. "Flash Blitz."
Her strike is able to cut through space, it easily breaks through the wind and manages to slice one in half. The other moves away, seeing their killed friend, only to be struck down by Kaori and Ryutaro.
And with that, they were victorious, though not all of them seem to be completely satisfied. Seiji runs to them to hug his sister. "You guys did it!" He congratulated.
"Yeah, I guess we did." The group started to feel massive pride, forgetting about their poor performance in Halti-
"Yes, yes, way to use the artifacts I gave you." Hinata reminded. "You know, the one I made after you guys begged me to take you along. Oh, and who gave you all a free ride here again?" She asked condescendingly.
"Aw come on, we just won, can't you give a us a break?" Ryutaro requested.
"No I cannot!" Hinata answered instantly. "If you hadn't noticed, we haven't even entered the damn labyrinth yet. Heiligh might've pampered all of you, but you won't get that crap from me, I am not dealing with your inflated egos!"
They started feel down when they recalled how much underestimated Haltina's labyrinth. Hinata's words has started to heavily affect them ever since the Eri incident.
Hinata gives them one more message. "Everytime you try to fly, I will shoot you down."
"You meant figuratively, right?" Suzu nervously hoped, but Hinata remained quiet, and based on what they know about Hinata, it could be either one.
"Well anyway, you all still did great, especially you Kaori, I didn't realize you had that kinda strength." Meld praised.
"Well I'm not." Shizuku spoke up. "There was one time when Endou walked up behind her and then she smacked him across the room, thinking he was a ghost."
"Shizuku!"
"Seriously? Hahahaha..."
While everyone joined on the laughing, Kouki was simply staring at the party. When they were talking about Kaori's strength, he remembers a small argument they had.
He had actually objected to Kaori to having an axe, saying that it didn't feel "right". Kaori got angry and shut him down, and everyone supported her. He backed down and that was the end of argument, but he still feels uncomfortable, seeing her like this.
After enough rest, they enter the labyrinth. Inside, they a long hall way, the walls were made of clear solid ice that made reflections like mirrors.
They all steadily walk through the hallway, they were assaulted by another gust of wind, so Suzu quickly made another barrier.
This wind was much colder than the last one, any water outside the barrier was instantly frozen and a single touch of the snow it blew was enough to cause frostbite.
Nevertheless, they pressed on, they didn't run into any danger nor any reason to worry...until they found the body. Yes, a corpse and no, not a rotting one, it was one that was encased in ice. It was weird, considering that the labyrinth was man made.
"Did the wall...absorb him."
"His body posture suggest he was leaning against the wall."
"Ok, new rule, no touching the walls, come on."
They move on, leaving the frozen corpse behind...only to run to another one and another and another and so on. Most them were getting unnerved over seeing so many corpses.
"Is it just me, or are there a lot of demon corpses." Seiji wondered.
"Must've been that bastard's subordinates." Hinata guessed.
"Are you talking about Freid?" Tio asked
"I will never refer to him by name."
"I suppose it makes sense, he must've wanted his wanted more of his army to get stronger." Meld theorized, he then noticed Hinata staring intently at the corpses. "What is it Hinata?"
"How did they all die?"
"Huh? Didn't they freeze to death?"
"Yeah, but did all of them lean on the wall? The first guy we saw should've been a warning and they can't have made it this far if they hadn't endured the cold." Hinata questions does make good points, but it also raises concerns.
They move on with even more caution, during the long walk, Shu started to realize something. "You know...it just occured to me, Meld." He calls to the paladin. "After this labyrinth, we'll be saying goodbye." He admitted sadly.
That's when they had the same realization, but even though it was a sad truth, Meld didn't seem that depressed. "Now, now, no need to be upset, we all knew that day would come. You all have your own life."
"But Meld, what about Ehit?"
The man cupped his chin. "Hm...we still don't know what he is truly capable of, but I still intend to fight him if need be."
"Well then...you won't have to do it alone!" Shu exclaimed. "Just give one call, then dad and the rest of the Haulia will come hopping over."
Tio walks over. "Meld, I'm sure that my village wouldn't mind giving their aid to you."
"That would be a tremendous help, thank you, both of you." Meld expressed with gratitude.
Seeing this, Hinata chimed in. "You know Meld, I wouldn't mind leaving some of my artifacts behind."
He looks at the girl with surprise. "You would?"
"Sure, why not? Besides, I don't think the Japanese government would be happy with a highschooler carrying around military grade weapons. I'll entrust them to you and make Heiligh my very own garage."
Despite the patronizing statement, Meld was grateful nonetheless. "Thank you Hinata, it feels reassuring to know that."
"Don't forget Meld, I plan to visit this world again from time to time. Hinata reminded.
"The same goes for us." Akira spoke up for the party. "You're my friend, I would love to help you too."
"Akira..." Meld can't say he's ever felt this touched, he spent most of his time serving the kingdom, it's rare for someone to say something like that to him. It all feels ni-
"Captain Meld!" Kouki shouted out of nowhere startling everyone. "Don't worry, once I get this ancient magic, I'll clear the rest and catch up to you. I'll protect the kingdom and Lily and Kuzeli and everyone! I can go home on my own when I get concept magic."
"O-Okay, thanks Kouki..." Meld was puzzled at the boy's sudden declaration. In fact, it sounded as if he was actually talking to himself.
Hinata just rolls her eyes. "What about you guys?" Hinata asked the other three of the party.
"I still want to talk with Eri."
"I'll stick with Kouki."
"I...still don't know."
Although Suzu and Ryutaro had made their minds up, Shizuku still ponders.
"Whatever, if you're staying, that's your choice. But you better be ready to record some messages for your families, I don't want them breathing down my neck, asking what the hell happened to you guys."
Their discussion ended when they arrived in an intersection. Before Hinata can even check the compass, Shu tensed up. "Guys, there's suddenly a lot of enemies."
Everyone readies their weapons. "Which way Shu?"
"Uh..well...t-they're actually coming all four directions."
"What?! Even behind us?!"
They all huddle together in the intersection, two or three people watching each direction. And then they see it, they can see the hallway being filled up and they also started to hear moans.
"Are those...zombies?!" As Hinata pointed out, they what appears to limping people, who seemed a few flesh short to be considered living. There was also the fact that their bodies seemed to be blue and completely made of ice.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Most of the party shrieked in horror.
"They look like the bodies we saw earlier." Tio noticed.
"Huh, Nakamura's zombies sure looked a lot a better." Hinata commented.
"Enough analyzing, more firing." Meld ordered as he fired Air Cannon at one of the hallway. The others his lead, it was fine at first, the ice zombies were easily shattered by their projectiles.
However, that all changed when the shards of ice started to reform into the zombies. Even the ones that Seiji disintegrated.
"AAAHH, they keep coming back no matter what." Seiji cried.
"They keep regenerating, like Miledi's golem." Akira recalled.
"Are you saying Vander Schnee is behind this?"
"No, Miledi is the last liberator alive and she meant it." Hinata assured. "These things are being controlled by something else."
"Like a mana crystal?"
"Yup, and I know just how to find it." She pulls out the compass. After getting the direction, she brings out her missile launcher, aims, and fires. The missile obliterates the the horde of zombie ls.
"Quick, before they regenerate." The party runs through ice shard covered hallway, following Hinata's lead. After some running, they finally find a doorway leading to a large round room.
It was as big as a colosseum, and the wind from before was also gone. They look around the room. "Look!" Hinata points towards a crystal that was embedded in the room's ice walls.
"How are we gonna get it in there?"
"It looks like it's pretty deep in there." Hinata pulls out her railgun. "Just to be safe." She was about to pull the trigger.
"Watch out!" Meld steps in front of her, blocking the attack of what seemed to be a werewolf made of pure ice.
"Behind you!" The paladin turns around to see Hinata shooting down an eagle, which also made of ice.
"Where did those things come from?" Hinata got her answer when she saw more wolves and eagles coming out of the wall.
"Shit, cover me! I need a clean shot." Everyone circles around Hinata and faces away from her. Now that she was protected, Hinata finally managed to fire her railgun.
The beam goes straight through the ice as if it was simply air. Just as it was about hit the crystal, it suddenly moved to the right, evading the blast.
"What the hell?! How did it-" Hinata looks around the room. "Don't tell me..."
"What is it Hinata?"
"Is this whole room..."
"I believe you may be right." Tio spoke up. "This monster is similar to the slime in Ankaji, it's using the wall as a camouflage."
More and more eagles and werewolves start coming to the room, so did the the zombies from before. And to make things worse, the wall with the crystal started bulging out, eventually forming the shape of large turtle, the crystal was inside it's shell. The party looks up at the beast as it unleashes a powerful roar.
"Shit, Kaori! Yaegashi! You two take your band of idiots and deal with the fatass turtle, the rest of us will deal with the ice army." Hinata ordered.
"Hey!" Suzu shouted, feeling offended. "Also, why do we have to fight the turtle?"
"Do you want to fight the undead?" Hinata refers to the horde of grotesque ice zombies.
Suzu conceded. "Good...point."
Hinata's party runs towards the army, and Hinata says one more thing before leaving. "Don't try to destroy the whole thing, just cause enough damage to reach the crystal and then break it!"
The hero's party looks up at the colossal beast, all them were filled with determination, slight fear, and in one particular person...desperation.
After Hinata ran to the horde, Kouki notices that the turtle kept it's gaze at Hinata, realizing that the monster had considered her to be the larger threat, Kouki started to get furious. "Hey! Keep your eyes on me Celestial Flash!" He fires a slash of light right into the turtle's eye.
He succeeded in his aim, for now the turtle was looking at him and started to collect a big amount of ice in his mouth, forming a sphere.
Seeing the incoming attack, Suzu deploys Hallowed Ground - Dispersal, and it manages to hold against the turtle's ice breath.
"Look." Shizuku pointed at the turtle's face, the eye Kouki damaged was starting to come back. "It's already regenerating, so we can't hit it over and over, we need to deal one decisive blow."
"Only Kouki's Divine Wrath fits the bill."
"Ok, I'll start preparing, Shizuku and Ryutaro distract it, Suzu and Kaori stay here for defense."
"Right!" They all responded, even Kaori, she might not like Kouki now, but it was still logical thing to do.
'Hope it works this time ' Shizuku praid in her mid considering this was the same plan they ad in Haltina.
Once the breath stopped Shizuku and Ryutaro leaps out of the barrier. Shizuku wastes no time, using Flash Blitz to quickly slice each of the turtle's legs.
Just as she was about to slice some more, ice spikes started coming out of the ground, she manged to dodge it with her speed, but more and more spikes appeared as if it was chasing her. Shizuku had no doubt that this was the turtle's doing.
"Hey big guy!" Ryutaro shouted as he made powerful jump and lands an uppercut right into the turtle's jaw. However, it didn't really do much damage. "Damn, it's tough, huh?" As he fell, he saw Shizuku, who was still evading the spikes but..
"Hey Shizuku, behind you!"
Hearing Ryutaro's warning, she looks behind her and sees a bunch of ice werewolves ready to attack her. The turtle had led her right into a pincer attack.
'Crap! There's no way I can dodge it!' Even with her speed, she had no time to react. All she could see was the claw of one of the werewolf.
*Shatter*
Suddenly, her vision was replaced by flying ice shards and a golden axe. "Shizuku!" Kaori shouted. Like Ryutaro, she had seen what the turtle was planning. Kouki was still gathering power and Suzu was busy, so she was the only one who could run to her.
"You ok?"
"Uh..yea-Woah!" Shizuku couldn't answer before Kaori grabbed her and ran from more spikes.
Meanwhile, Ryutaro had gotten high up, thanks to Aerodynamic boots. And now he was diving straight down atbthe turtle's head, fist in hand. "Hammerfist!" His fist, powered up with gravity magic makes contact with the head and destroys it completely.
Ryutaro smiles at the result, however. "Huh?" Ryutaro sees something as he was jumping away from the destroyed head. "What the- more heads?!"
Unfortunately for Ryutaro, the turtle was ready for his attack, from the moment he was jumping higher, it had already started growing two extra heads on it's shell, both of which was readying another breath attack.
Ryutaro had thought he was a goner, until his allies stepped in. On his left, a barrier of light had appeared and on the right, the head had been hit by a golden axe that came flying from below.
"That's...Kaori's axe and Suzu's Heaven Crusher." Kaori had thrown her axe, while Suzu had used a spell to conjure up makeshift shields. With one attack blocked and the other stopped, Ryutaro was out of danger.
"I'm ready!" Kouki shouted.
"Divine Shackles." Ryutaro then sees an incoming golden chain, it wraps around his arm and pulls him back. The spell was usually for restraining enemies, but Kaori had found another use for it. At the same time, she had called her axe back, it removed itself from the monster and flies back to her, another function that Hinata put in.
They all get behind Kouki as he unleashed his attack. He brings his sword down. "DIE, YOU MONSTER!"
Seeing the attack, the monster did what every turtle does, retreating to it's shell. But not even the thickness of it's shell withstood the blast of condensed mana.
So, the turtle opted to instead gather the nearby ice to regenerate it's body and outlast the attack.
"DAMMIT, DAMMIT, JUST DIE! I NEED TO WIN!" Kouki kept unleashing his power. His allies look at him, concerned about his current attitude.
Divine Wrath kept raging on the turtle, it's shell started to crumble. The turtle gave one last roar before it was engulfed by light.
Once the light disappeared, all that's left was the turtle's remains. Despite gasping for breath, Kouki had a triumphant smile on his face. "Finally... *gasp*... I did it...*gasp*..." Now, he has finally proven that he-
"Why are the monsters still moving?" Kouki's face instantly filled with dread.
"Look!" Everyone looks to where Kaori was pointing and sees an ice eagle carrying the crystal that was inside the turtle.
"Dammit, I didn't destroyed it!" Kouki tried to get up and tried to use Celestial Flash, only to fall again.
"Kouki, stop! You're spent." He couldn't listen to Suzu's concern. All he can hear was his own mind.
'It failed, my strongest attack, it failed twice... No, no ,nononono... That can't be. If I don't succeed then I-'
"Limit Bre-"
"Kouki, stop it!" Suzu pulls him back once she saw what he trying to do. "Look, the others are handling it, ok?"
After seeing the eagle try to fly away, the other three sorung into action. "Divine Shackle." Kaori catches the eagle with her chains.
"Shizuku!" Ryutaro runs ahead of her, kneels down, and overlaps his hands. Shizuku jumps and lands one leg on Ryutaro's hands, he then launches her up, right at the eagle. Shizuku unsheathes her sword and cuts the eagle and the crystal in half, ending the battle.
They regroup and see all the monsters start to crumble, they were now able to at ease.
"Man, that was tough."
"Yeah, but we managed to win this time."
"Great job with that Divine Wrath, Kouki."
"Yeah, you completely obliterated it."
"Yeah, well...it was because of you guys holding it back."
Seeing his allies happy and celebrating their accomplishments, it made him forget the negative feelings that he-
"Guess we have Hinata to owe too, huh?"
Kaori's words made Kouki froze again.
"Of course, her artifacts are the bomb. I loved being able to give that big turtle a giant knuckle sandwich."
"I'm glad I was able to protect everyone."
He gritted his teeth, hearing them thank Hinata, made him so...so...so..
"Oh cool, you won." They all turn to the entrance and see Hinata's party walking to them, behind them were multiple giant pile of ice shards. "Good job guys."
Hinata's comment made them looked at her foin shock. "What?"
"Hinata...did you just compliment us?" They had been so used to her insults that hey can't help but feel weird when Hinata actually said something nice about them.
"I'll give credit where credit is due. You finished the task I gave you without casualties." Emotions of joy and pride started to swell up in their hearts, they can finally-
"You all had to kill one turtle while the rest of us had to fight a countless army of immortal ice zombies, but who cares?" Hinata shrugged with a grin.
And...they were back to reality.
While Akira, Shu, and Tio were admiring their crush, on how she really sticks to her words, Seiji went over to cheer up her friends, whose feeling were crushed as usual.
During this, Kouki looked at the pile of ice shards. He can only imagine how easily Hinata and the others disposed of these creatures. They weren't even gasping for air, unlike him.
He can't help but think what would've happened if Hinata fought the turtle. She probably would've finished fas-
'No! If I keep thinking like that, I won't be able to...'
"Kouki?" The hero stops his thoughts and looks at Meld. "You ok?"
"Uh...yeah, of course. I already drank a mana potion, so..."
"Well, good. When you're done resting, we'll proceed over there." Meld points at an arch shaped hole that was definitely not there before. "Good job dealing with the turtle."
"Thanks Meld...that means a lot."
With that, Meld walks away, not knowing what he might've done to the impressionable fool.
Omake
Hinata: What's up with these cheap ass bracelets?
Meld: Those artifacts came straight from the treasury.
Hinata: Tell whoever's in charge that they need better treasure.
Suzu: Uhh, so what now?
Hinata: Guess I'll need to make new artifacts, since it's only supposed to help cast spells, so it can be anything you want as long it's easy to carry and wave around.
Suzu: Ok….uhm, what you had in mind.
Hinata: It could be a staff like the ones the twins used, but that'd make you even more generic than you already are…
Suzu: G-Generic..?
Hinata: Or we can get creative and make it a weapon too, like to rip out your enemies guts.
Suzu: Definitely not! Please make something doesn't make me look like a brute. Like maybe….hand fans! Yeah, hand fans!
Hinata: Like the ones dancers use? If that's what you want...
Suzu: Phew…
Hinata: I'll sharpen the edges so you can slice people's head off, maybe even by accident.
Suzu: Oh, come on!