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“Who…who’s there?!”

Crim was the most unsettled hearing that voice, looking around her wildly to find its source.
But there was no one around her…all she saw was the other players looking at her with just as much confusion.

*”HaHah…you, the girl with white HAIR, it looks like I’ve accidentaLLY started haunting you.”*
“Haunting? Me? What’s that supposed to mean?!”
*”Just what it sounds like. I can’t say it’s very COMFORTABLE either, so to hell with it, I’ll come OUT.”*

The mysterious voice continued, as Crim’s shadow appeared to split apart, with one section bulging up and detaching from the ground, floating into the air.

*”Witness, the SERPENT of Calamity, wielder of DEATH, the wicked DRAGON of a thousand SHAPES… Crom Cruach in the FLESH! Cower in FEAR, ya lowly humans!!”*

With maniacal laughter and the cadence of a villain’s speech…Crim’s detached shadow took its full shape.
And as that became evident…

“OH MY GOSH HE’S SO CUTEEE?!”
*”Ghreghh?! G-Get this woman off me!”*

…It only took an instance for Freya to jump at him with twinkling eyes and ensnare him within her arms.
He desperately tried to wriggle free…a black dragon around the size of a cat, and with rather exaggerated proportions.
His torso was rotund, with stubby arms and legs, rather large wings and a long tail, and rotund almost cartoonish eyes.
That was him…a *baby dragon* that looked almost like a cute mascot character.

*”You, my HOST, do something about her!!”*

Nothing made it through Freya’s ears, and he was starting to suffocate as he finally pleaded for help… And while she did not really mind either way, she realized there were more important matters at hand and decided to step in.

“Freya, stoppp, we still need to figure out what’s going on. Thou can pet him later, okay?”
“Aww…”

As Crim chided her, Freya very reluctantly eased her arms, freeing the black dragon that was about to faint.

*”Whew…that was HORRIBLE, any…way?”*

Wheezing for air, the black dragon…who had called himself Crom Cruach, finally took a look around, and at himself, freezing in place for a moment, and then…

*”What…What in the WORLD is GOinG On HEREEEE?!”*

…He let out a terrified yell that echoed through the valley.

***

*”…And there ya have it, I have no IDEA what or how but I’m here now, so at least I’m thankful to not be a goner.”*
“Things really don’t faze thy, do they…”

His shock only lasted mere seconds.
Soon he…Crom Cruach, was telling the story of how many things happened and he was in danger of being erased from existence, and before he realized he appeared there.
…It was a rather gloomy story, but he did not show any worry whatsoever, talking about it like it did not involve him.
He had fully accepted and embraced his fate, which took Crim by surprise…but there was no time for witty comebacks.

*”‘nyway, are y’all trying to take down that WEIRD giant thing or not?”*
“Yes, but most of the players were forced to retreat for the moment, so we’re trying to find a way around that.”

The giant’s arms continued wildly swinging around, making it impossible for the players to get close safely. There were some attempts to sneak in a hit, and the healers were keeping things stable, but it was far from an ideal situation.

*”Alright, then I’LL keep it still. As soon as I give the SIGNAL, you rush in with your friends and SMASH the barrier on its legs, a barrage from range should take care of the REST.”*
“Keep it still…can you even do that?”

The black dragon spoke like he was used to dishing out orders, and Frey asked with incredulity.

*”Hmm with MY amount of mana left…Two or three seconds are more than doable. Don’t be LATE now, host girly.”*
“S-Sure…I’ll be ready.”

Crim was also taken aback seeing the cartoon mascot dragon giving out orders left and right, but started getting ready.
Suzaku and the other players who had struggled to follow the conversation, which kept taking wild turns and twist, also snapped out of it and got ready to follow Crim.

*”Goood… Now ya nuggets OVER there! I’m only counting to three ONCE, so better clear the WAY when I get to zero!! Three, two…”*
“I understand this is a really strange situation to be part of, but let’s try believing in him! We’ll follow his lead!”

Alongside Crom Cruach, Crim addressed the players trying to find ways to attack the giant, who answered with confused nods.

*”One…Zero! GAHAHAH run for the HILLS!!”*

He shouted again once the countdown ended, ordering the players to run away from the giant.
At the same time, countless stripes of shadows emerged from the ground, wrapping around the crystals and fixing them in place.

*Incredible…*

Someone said that while watching the scene unfold…but Crim had no time to look at who it was, as she charged forward with Suzaku, opposite to all the players running away.
They had mastered their dash to perfection, evading the incoming players like they were not even there, going in a straight line at the giant without wasting any time, and once they reached it…

“…Nacht Angriff!!”
“…Flechette!!”

Carrying over their momentum into their attacks, the blur of a rapid slash and repeated piercing thrusts ravaged the giant’s legs, breaking the barrier protecting them.
Barely a moment later, a storm of magic and arrows rained on the defenseless crystals, mercilessly shattering them to powder.
The giant lost its balance and staggered back, creating an opening for Hinagiku and Kasumi, followed by the other attackers to rush in.
It only took them an instant to peel off the Absolute Defense from the remaining crystals, which once again were blasted away with ranged attacks, one after another.
Three cycles were enough for the front and rear lines to sync up perfectly, attacking in sequence without missing a beat…they were relentless and unstoppable.

“Don’t get careless now! It might switch stances again!”

Crim made sure to warn the players, as the giant decided to ditch its legs entirely, becoming a floating enemy.
But there was nothing for her to worry about in the end. The players would not be taken by surprise two times in a row, and they kept their momentum going to the end.

Around half an hour passed since they began attacking in waves like that… And all the crystals of the first area boss in the center of the continent were destroyed, leaving no trace…