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However, the only issue was mobility. But since our main plan had failed, as our backup plan, we had him directly drop from the Sky Garden in the air to use him for the explosion. As for the intensity of the explosion, it wouldn’t lose out to an atomic bomb, that’s for sure.

“……6, 5, 4.”

“Everyone, retreat at once! Ikaruga, set up the barrier!”

As Suki counted down, we quickly withdrew from the spot. Ikaruga ceased the irradiation of Dimensional Slash and erected a Dimension Barrier for everyone.

“3, 2, 1——”

In an instant, a blinding flash expanded far and wide, reminiscent of the apocalypse. Dense, mushroom-shaped clouds rose as the mountainous border area was obliterated. At the center of the explosion, a huge flower bud resembling something—Nidhogg and «Arumamis» combination—remained nearly untouched.

“What a monster! Even this isn’t enough to finish it!?”

Tengai exclaimed in shock, and Suki explained matter-of-factly.

“No, Nidhogg countered Musashi with a combination of gravity and dimension waves just before impact. Of course, its energy consumption was massive. After calculating the energy it saved post-revival—drat!!”

Suki’s voice suddenly filled with urgency, “Nidhogg is…”

But I didn’t need to hear the rest as the answer was clear before my eyes. A massive snake, with «Arumamis» on its back, slammed its tail on the ground, undulating its body and launching itself into the sky toward the Sky Garden «Scarlet Jade Castle» floating in the stratosphere.

The ground trembled, and a vast amount of sand and dust obscured our vision.

“Countdown until Sky Garden reaches……13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6—”

Suki continued the countdown while Tengai turned to him, shouting urgently.

“Get in touch with Utsuho immediately! Tell her to intercept the enemy at once!”

◆◇◆◇

For the first time, the usually impregnable Sky Garden experienced a tremor.

Screams and confused cries erupted, with the spirited residents rushing to the open space outside. They looked toward the north end—opposite from where the Scarlet Jade Castle is situated—where a flesh-colored colossal snake, resembling a leech, had appeared.

«We have an intruder at the northern edge of Sky Garden!! Demon Generals and major power class monsters are to head there immediately for extermination! Everyone else, retreat from there at once!»

An emergency alarm blared across the nation. The voice belonged to Utsuho of the Four Heavenly Evil Kings, who was overseeing the Sky Garden at the time.

After repeating the warning several times, she faced her chief vassals, her beastial visage emitting pale blue flames, revealing her true nature.

“What disgrace! To forgive an intrusion once was one thing, but for it to brazenly target the Princess’ residence is unforgivable! Now, it has come to this, I will deal with the intruder personally!”

Her face twisted in rage, she was about to charge out when others hastily restrained her.

“Please stay calm. The Demon Generals of the Round Table are on their way. It would be a grave mistake if the enemy targeted the headquarters in our absence, damaging the Princess’ domain. As hard as it may be, please remain here to protect the throne, Lady Utsuho.”

Confronted with her vassals’ earnest pleas, Utsuho halted, her fan snapping in two from her grip.

◆◇◆◇

“What the fuzz is that?”

The «Orc King» Gaijin raised his eyebrows at the massive wall of flesh that appeared before him, pausing the pot’s flame. As someone accustomed to challenges, his sense of danger was on high alert at the sight of this unprecedented monster.

“«Summon Orc Soldier».”

Deciding to tackle the situation one step at a time, he summoned three dozen Orc soldiers, armed with spears or hand axes, and ordered them to attack.

The Orc soldiers brandished their weapons and charged toward the fleshy monster. Contrary to Gaijin’s expectations, their attacks easily wounded the monster, causing blood to gush out.

—Huh, so it’s just a paper tiger.

That thought barely crossed his mind when thin, long arms sprouted all over the flesh wall. These arms overwhelmed the Orc soldiers in number, dragging them into the fleshy abyss.

Initially, the Orc soldiers struggled to escape the grasp of the arms but lost their strength midway for unknown reasons, eventually becoming fodder.

“This b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲!!”

Enraged, Gaijin unleashed his fists, only to feel as though he’d struck a mud wall as both arms sank into the monster’s abdomen.

“Uuoooooooo!!”

He attempted to retreat quickly, but the encroaching arms coiled around his body. Despite his efforts to escape, he felt his HP draining from the point of contact.

“Guoooooooo!!”

A scream of reflex escaped him when suddenly, a flash of a white blade appeared, swiftly freeing Gaijin from his constraints.

“Are you alright, Gaijin?”

It was then he noticed «Sword Dog» Iki standing there, blades extended to their fullest across his body.

“Ah, if it isn’t Master Iki. Man, you saved my wool there. But be cautious. This thing drains life force upon contact. It was me, so I managed for a while, but anyone below major power class won’t stand a chance. Physical attacks are futile once caught.”

“……I see. So it’s basically game over once it catches you.”

Iki, primarily a melee fighter, faced the enemy with a complex look.

At that moment, he saw other residents, driven by their fervor and righteous anger, charging toward the monsters like an unstoppable force.

“Oh, shoot! If they keep this up, all of Princess’ retainers will die in vain. I’ll head to the front lines to support; you stop the reinforcements.”
“Roger! Just leave it to me.”

As Iki passed his instructions, they were about to set off when the eyes covering the fleshy monster glowed red, freezing them in place.

“W……what in the world……is thi…s……”
“No way……Princess’s Magic Eye……?”

As petrification took hold, repulsive tentacles crept closer.

” “Guuuooooooooooh!?!” ”

Before their groans of despair, a three-eyed monk wielding a golden brocade robe in his right hand descended.

“Katsu!!”

His shout, filled with spiritual power, freed them from their paralysis.

“Oh, Kokonoe! Thanks a bunch.”

«Demon Eye High-Priest» Kokonoe, ranked No. 9 among the Seven Beasts of Calamity, nodded in response.

“I’ll handle things here. Please, quickly evacuate and guide the others.”

Kokonoe urged, plunging the ‘Ravenous Soul Rod’—a staff resembling skulls and spines fused together—into the ground to summon undeads.

“But you can’t possibly hold back this monster alone.”

Iki’s concern was plain as he helped Gaijin, weakened from the life force drain and the Magic Eye’s effects.

“Rest assured. I may be alone, but I’m not the only one here. The rest of the Demon Generals are on their way.”

Looking skyward, Iki noticed large shadows converging on their location.

“Understood. Take care.”
“I will.”

After ensuring their departure, Kokone raised the Ravenous Soul Rod high.

“At my command, my undead legion! The time has come to teach these sinners the weight of their transgressions, for daring to defile our nation, the domain of our beloved Princess!”

Following Kokone’s command, an enormous undead army descended on Nidhogg in a well-coordinated assault.