Ursula Belzebute (3)

Divine Art - Raphaela, activation turn 3.

On our side, 3 remained. On theirs, Cellas alone. But against Cellas, no attack worked.

How Cellas would move — we had no choice but to react.

Whatever Cellas did, we'd respond. Protect Suzanne all the way through, and on turn 5 when the skill expired, bet everything.

"… Cellas. Thou art ever-simple, art thou not…"

Ursula laughed, exasperated.

"M-my apologies, Ursula-sama."

And then, Ursula bestowed a strategy upon Cellas.

… What… was coming?

"Divine Art - Stormbringer!"

While still holding Gungnir in her left hand, Cellas drew another beautiful sword in her right.

That sword, before our eyes, kicked up a tremendous ferocious wind… rolling up a tornado.

"Haa!"

Buon! The tornado sucked Suzanne in and drew her closer.

"… Aa!"

Divine Art - Stormbringer.

A high-tier skill that swept an opponent up in a tornado and even drew the sword closer to land the hit — a guaranteed-hit upper-tier skill, a sword with the trait of absolute guaranteed-hit.

A pretty nasty technique that nullified all evasion and absolutely landed its attack.

Whether even Divine Art Raphaela's complete evasion was nullified by it — since only the respective users could use them, no one really knew.

Given the relationship Evasion < Guaranteed-hit < Complete Evasion,

I'd thought Complete Evasion < Absolute Guaranteed-hit.

But which was higher, "complete" or "absolute"? Who could tell.

"Gh…!"

Suzanne tried to use the Flamberge as a shield to block it, but swept into the tornado and drawn in, there was no way she could take a proper defensive stance.

Zan!

Stormbringer's strike.

A full 23 pt of damage to Suzanne. That hurt…!

"This is the end!"

Furthermore, the follow-up Gungnir loomed…!

"Patty! Throw Colette!"

"Ye～s!"

At that moment, reacting instantly to my instruction, Patty threw Colette!

"Haaaaaa!"

Gakiin!

And magnificently guarded against Cellas's follow-up!

If she'd attacked without minding Colette, she could've finished Suzanne in one strike.

… Being chucked by Patty, with Colette flying at her, she flinched for an instant.

Really, Cellas. Punishment number 2 later.

But thanks to that, we were saved.

"… Th-this…!"

Cellas, showing agitation, attacked as-is, but…

Kakiin!

Colette, with iron-wall defense, didn't let it through.

Just like that, Colette firmly embraced Suzanne and — "I'll absolutely not let her be hurt!" — shielded Suzanne.

"This…!"

Cellas's Speed-based re-action. She followed up with Gungnir.

… Huh, when both actions of a 2-action turn were different actions, did Speed-based re-action only trigger on the last attack?

This area was vague, I felt. Probably, if Cellas had kept her focus properly, she could've attacked again with both Stormbringer and Gungnir.

… But by being caught and defended against by Colette, Cellas had lost focus for a moment.

The magical buildup of Stormbringer had already lapsed.

The Gungnir side, thanks to Speed re-action, maintained its magical buildup, but… she could probably only re-act with Gungnir.

And if it was Gungnir, Colette could defend!

All right, even Ursula's strategy ended up only minimally damaging us!

"Cellas. With your remaining attacks, take down Patty. Don't let them interfere any further."

"… Yes!"

But as expected of Ursula. She covered Cellas's mistake in the best way possible.

Patty could no longer deal damage to Cellas. But by being there, she could still help allies, cover them, as she just had.

It was more convenient for them if she weren't there.

Colette, firmly shielding Suzanne, couldn't go shield Patty.

If she did, Suzanne would be attacked. We had no choice but to abandon Patty.

Under the rain of falling Gungnirs, Patty was helplessly defeated.

"… I leave the rest to you～, Colette, Suzanne!"

Thrusting up a fist, Patty fell.

"Now, with Patty also defeated, Naoto-senshu is down to 2 versus 1. Cellas's fierce assault still seems to continue.

"Can Colette protect Suzanne through to the end like this… breathtaking offense and defense is unfolding!"

Annerose-san's accurate emcee.

"Aah… Patty… you did well, good work～"

Silvana's comment had a personal touch mixed in.

Divine Art - Raphaela, activation turn 4.

Cellas's tactical change — or rather, Ursula's strategy — ended mostly in failure.

Thanks to Colette and Patty desperately protecting Suzanne.

If Suzanne just used Overcharge, no matter how much damage she took, she could Endure as many times as needed.

So could we have just abandoned her?

But a Master as outstanding as Ursula would surely notice Overcharge's permanent Endure effect right away.

If she figured it out… Stormbringer would be held back until the turn Suzanne attacked.

But as long as we didn't use Overcharge, Ursula still didn't know about the permanent Endure effect.

2 turns left. Stormbringer, 4 uses.

… With 8 consecutive Stormbringer hits over 2 turns, Suzanne could be taken down.

That was how it looked to Ursula, wasn't it?

"All right, Cellas. Two consecutive Stormbringers. Take down Suzanne!"

All right, came!

"Colette! Hero's Armor on Suzanne! Suzanne, mitigate damage as much as possible!"

"… Gh, while I'm being spun around like a washing machine? … You ask the unreasonable.

"But I'll do it!"

Suzanne smiled boldly.

"Stormbringer!"

"Hero's Armor!"

… Saving Hero's Armor on Suzanne up till now was really the right call!

Zan!

12 damage to Suzanne. Remaining HP was 109. So at this damage rate, she wouldn't fall unless hit 9 more times.

We could conserve Overcharge and make it to turn 5.

Absolute-guaranteed-hit Stormbringer, even Colette couldn't shield against.

After that, it came down to Suzanne's defense technique.

… That said, while Suzanne really was being spun around like a washing machine, Cellas wasn't just standing there blankly either.

Against the approaching Suzanne, she timed her sword strikes to increase damage — making thorough efforts to inflict damage.

In response, Suzanne, even from impossible postures, steadily took the hits on her Flamberge.

The clash between Stormbringer and Flamberge was unbelievably beautiful, flowing.

13… 12… 10… Both sides' defensive technique was on par, but slightly… Suzanne was on top?

Suzanne, truly amazing.

It wasn't just my coaching; it was the accumulated swordsmanship training she'd built up since childhood.

But if my coaching had also contributed, I'd be happy.

"Haaa!"

Kakiin!

Partway through, she got used even to the Stormbringer agitation state and somehow weathered it through.

She magnificently blocked 8 hits with just 78 damage!

All right, remaining HP 43.

… Ideal. Ursula knew Hero's Armor's effect. Setsuna's Spirit Garb's effect too. Since Suzanne could Endure twice, taking her down required at least 5 attacks. Considering Suzanne's defense skill, 6.

… That was how she'd be thinking.

To attack 6+ times in one turn, she had to use Stormbringer twice this turn while Divine Art Raphaela was active!

Divine Art Raphaela, activation turn 5, the final turn.

"… Cellas. Take down Suzanne with Stormbringer."

All right! Just where I wanted her!

"Haaaaa!"

"Yaaaaaa!"

Kakiin!

The two swords clashed, dealing 18 damage to Suzanne.

Suzanne endured to the very limit.

And then…

"Divine Art - Stormbringer!"

Came! She used up Stormbringer!

… 17 damage!

"Now, Suzanne!"

"Overcharge!"

Suzanne's premier cheat skill, activated!

Zan! Zan! Zan! Zan! Zan! Zan!

… Carved up while being slashed, easy 6 consecutive Endures!

"What in the world…!? A permanent Endure skill! Thou hadst hidden something like this!"

Ursula was also shocked. Hiding it all the way to this very day had been worth it.

… And then, finally…

Shuuu…

The whirling tornado quietly settled.

The effect time of Divine Art - Raphaela ran out.

"Oh…! Cellas's Divine Art - Raphaela has…!"

"Out of time, huh. Magnificently weathered through.

"But the one who can move first next turn is Cellas.

"… The match isn't decided yet. The final phase has arrived."

While Silvana and Annerose-san watched…

Cellas and Colette took stance.

"I'm counting on you, Colette."

"Yes. Ultimate Art - Conqueror's Shield!"

Conqueror's Shield, which had been saved up for this turn, was now spent too.

Suzanne's Endure was also gone.

Everything depended now on whether Colette could fully block Cellas's attacks.

Suzanne, via Overcharge effect, could just barely deal 190 damage, so even without aiming for a critical, she could take Cellas down.

As long as she fired Divine Art - Testament.

But if Cellas was also wearing Endure gear, it wouldn't end with that.

If it wasn't 100%, we could hope for a misfire… but being timid wouldn't do. There was a chance of victory.

In any case, our chance of victory was, this turn:

• Colette defends Cellas's 8-hit combo.

• Suzanne lands one hit, whittles HP down. Endure activates.

Next turn:

• While Colette takes Cellas's next attack,

• Suzanne intercepts and lands another hit.

That meant we needed to hold out 2 more turns.

It sounded easy, but it wasn't simple. But it was a repeat of what we'd already pulled off. Not impossible.

First, this turn.

Even with Speed-based re-action, since Divine Art Raphaela's effect had expired, the number of attacks was 8.

Colette, who'd defended 16 attacks until now, could surely handle it.

"My apologies, Cellas. It was my misjudgment."

"No, such a thing…"

"But thou art the strongest Seraph I take pride in.

"Thou shalt surely break through this hardship too. I'm counting on thee."

"… Yes! Leave it to me! For Ursula-sama's sake, I shall surely bring victory!"

… Cellas seemed to draw her final resolve from Ursula's words.

"… Divine Art… Gungnir!"

Rather than throwing, she dove in with spear in hand.

Between throwing and attacking with it in hand, which was stronger — opinions were divided.

On Earth, "the merit of ranged attack is good, but you release the spear, so if dodged you lose your weapon and are in trouble" — those were throwing's merits and demerits.

But in this world, spears appeared as many times as you wanted, so you could throw endlessly.

But since there's no worry about being counter-attacked, there's no need to throw anyway.

Unless it was a guaranteed-hit attack, thrown spears flew straight, making them rather easier to dodge.

For throw-based techniques, fine, but if either throwing or holding is OK, fighting with it in hand is better.

In this world, I think the merit of throwing is thin.

Then why throw? Simply because Cellas was good at throwing.

Due to her straightforward personality, Cellas was better at straightforward attacks than at shapeshifting ones.

For Cellas, throwing — with her whole body's strength concentrated into a single release — was where she could put out maximum power.

When dealing 16-hit combos, repeatedly delivering her specialty attacks consecutively was better.

If such a Cellas attempted patchwork close combat…

No.

"Colette, be careful!"

"!"

"Ooooooooo!"

Gakiin!

Cellas hammered down the heavy spear with all her might.

"… Gh"

If she hadn't braced up at my warning, Colette's small body might've been blown away.

"… Kuh"

A good move. Knock Colette away, immediately throw, and she could plenty target Suzanne.

"Haaa!"

Gakiin! Gakiin! Gakiin!

So she hammered repeatedly, trying to break Colette's balance.

Rough, but really not a bad move.

By buff-effect too, in strength Cellas significantly outclassed Colette.

When it came to powerful attacks, Cellas excelled.

… But, just that wasn't always enough. The opponent wasn't wood or stone. It wasn't a matter of just attacking with full force.

Because there was an opponent. She had to learn feints and craftier attacks.

… I'd drill that into her thoroughly once she became my comrade too.

But, now… Colette hadn't trained on something so soft she'd get blown away.

She'd trained extensively with Leone, Adelia, Patty and our other power-bruisers.

She'd thoroughly mastered how to deflect force.

Plus, of course, Suzanne's technique of hiding behind Colette's back was outstanding too, so skipping over Colette to target Suzanne was difficult.

But…

Zan!

"Aguh!"

Finally, Colette took one hit.

No, that she'd weathered until now with no damage was the miracle.

If anything, having missed so many up till now made Cellas look too sloppy.

Well, this was specifically because she was facing me and Colette.

I'd stacked bodies with Cellas plenty and could read every nuance of her breathing, so I could see through Cellas's movements like this.

Against an opponent fighting her for the first time, this much couldn't be read through.

A grazing attack, but with heavy attack buffs active, Colette's HP was wiped out in one go.

But by Hero's Miracle, it was instantly fully restored.

There, the 8-hit combo ended.

"Gh… ah… Full restoration via Endure, huh…"

Failing to take her down, Cellas slumped, dejected.

For an attacker, this was painful.

"It's not over yet. Don't drop your shoulders!"

"…! Yes!"

Cellas lifted her head. But…

"Divine Art - Testament!"

There, mercilessly rained down Suzanne's strike.

"Aaaaaaa…!"

Cellas's HP wiped out.

… But, our side too, Endure activated.

Though HP was 1, it wasn't over yet.

But, no matter how you considered it, the next would be the final offense and defense.

Suzanne and Cellas were both at HP 1. Colette had used up her shield.

… For show I still held the shield up as bluff. Conqueror's Shield, which Ursula remembered, had 10 uses.

She wouldn't know it then evolved to defend magic too and the count dropped to 5.

The final turn.

Cellas once again readied her spear in charging stance.

… Good. With patchwork charging, Suzanne's chance of intercepting was further increased.

If she'd bet everything on her specialty throwing as before, interception might not have been possible.

"Haaaaaa!"

Cellas charged in spear in hand.

And, for an instant she stopped the spear, then thrust at a changed angle.

A feint-driven attack, which Cellas wasn't usually good at. But, not bad.

Colette's reaction was a moment late, and Cellas's spear pierced Colette through!

But, Colette Endured again — didn't fall. Just like that, Colette tightly gripped the spear that had pierced her.

"… Gh, this…!"

Cellas instantly summoned another spear and again thrust it at Colette.

The spear struck Colette directly, again whittling Colette's HP to nothing…

Further, Colette Endured.

"Gh, how many times are you going to Endure!?"

Surprised Cellas. Well, with Endure probability x10, on Spirit Garb 2 times, on Hero's Armor 2 times, totaling 4 times she could Endure.

Not as much as Suzanne's Overcharge, but from the opponent's perspective it was awful enough.

… But Colette was still standing, holding down both spears.

"… Gh"

She gripped the weapons, keeping them from moving.

The amount of time she could stall that way, in this world, was only a brief instant.

… But, if there was just that brief opening…!

"No, Cellas!"

Ursula warned, but too late!

Suzanne wouldn't miss this opening.

"Divine Art - Testament!"

Dogooooooo!

A tremendous radiance filled the battlefield. Against Cellas at HP 1, destructive force way overkill rained down…

There was no longer any means of survival.

"Decision…! The 1st party match, Naoto Akai-senshu wins splendidly! What a splendid match. Truly worth watching!"

"Yes, just as you say. But the real match starts from here."

Annerose-san and Silvana's comments.

… Just so. No place for letting our guard down. But…

… She wasn't an opponent we could beat on first viewing.

Cellas's abilities, her trait… both were tremendous, strong.

This victory was nothing more than answering the problem Ursula had set.

I knew that very well.

Even so… we'd won. We'd won. For now, I'd quietly take a small joy in that.

First, as the prelude, the 1st party match ended with Suzanne, Patty, and Colette's victory.

And now, next was finally…

"Well done… taking down Cellas.

"But… the next is the real match."

The decisive battle with Ursula Belzebute was about to begin.