Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

2018/11/18 Typo corrections made.

"Yes, Red. Activating Throne Absolute Throne."

A band of light circled Nana, splitting up and unfolding into a spherical shape.

Countless magic circles appeared on the surface of the sphere, constantly shifting as they formed a luminous shell on the outside.

"More like a shell than a throne," Arisa thought as she floated inside the Absolute Throne—the force field of the throne—alongside Nana.

Indeed, the throne enclosed not only Nana but also Arisa and the others nearby, as well as Lulu’s floating turret, all within the protective light shell—a safe zone.

"Here they come~?"

From the horned serpent woman came an all-direction attack.

It was a petrifying shower resembling a scattered petrification beam emitted from her snake hair.

The petrification shower was blocked just before the light shell by an invisible defensive barrier, scattering gray fragments violently.

"Oh! It’s not working!"

Arisa clenched her fist and shouted.

"No, Red. The surface barrier is being chipped away. Unlocking mobility lock. Switching to mobile defense mode."

As Nana spoke, the throne glided smoothly through the air.

Unlike fortresses or castles, the throne was mobile.

"Kind of like a UFO’s movement, huh?"

"There’s no inertia inside either, that’s amazing."

Arisa and Hikaru praised the movement, noting how it felt weightless.

"Nana, keep your distance. I’ll handle the reflection stuff somehow. Hikaru and Lulu, please attack."

"The opponent’s got a reflection-type unique skill, right? Can we even disrupt that?"

"Heh, leave that to Arisa-chan! There are ways besides direct suppression."

Arisa gave a clumsy wink.

"What about Fenrir?"

"I’ll have her finish things off after you two."

"Leave it to me."

Meanwhile, Lulu’s floating turret extended its virtual barrel and loaded holy bullets.

"Watch out! Ms. Ramiko, that’s Aegis!"

Hero Fu's shout reached them.

"The demon king Medusa has the Aegis shield?"

Arisa tilted her head, feeling an odd sense as if from Greek mythology.

"No! Ms. Ramiko is the demon king of the lamia!"

Hero Fu loudly corrected Arisa’s muttered mistake.

Revealing a hidden species like that would defeat the purpose of concealing it with an artifact, but it must have been something Hero Fu considered important.

By the way, the seemingly pointless option allowing conversation with the outside during battle was implemented due to Arisa’s strong request.

"Firing!"

"Ignition!"

As Lulu pulled the trigger, the floating turret’s assist voice responded.

The holy bullet, accelerated to Mach 20, left a blue laser-like trail as it was sucked toward the horned serpent woman.

At almost the same time, a huge dark purple magic circle—Aegis—appeared before her.

The timely Aegis reflected Lulu’s holy bullet.

"Nyuu!"

Tama’s ears perked up, sensing danger.

Pochi, positioned beside, quickly tucked her tail between her legs.

"Fools—"

Hero Fu murmured, certain of victory.

But his expression was replaced by shock the next moment.

"Impossible!"

The holy bullet reflected by Aegis bounced again midway between the throne and the horned serpent woman, returning to Aegis.

The volley continued like a ping-pong or smash rally, until the overpowered holy bullet shattered, leaving only blue light.

"I see it."

Arisa’s gaze fell on the horned serpent woman, who was bleeding slightly.

She had been wounded by the shattered remains of the holy bullet.

The horned serpent woman’s unique skill Reflective Divine Shield (Aegis) seemed to only provide shield—surface defense.

"I’ve confirmed it too. We’ll launch a surprise attack from above. Tama, send me and Pochi on Ryuryu’s back to wait in the sky."

"Nin-nin~"

"Wait! There’s petrification attacks, so don’t be reckless."

"It’ll be fine! The armored ones will defend with ‘Phalanx~’!"

"My armor allows me to use Phalanx eight times, and Pochi’s armor up to sixty-four. There’s no danger."

While Arisa and Riza discussed, the horned serpent woman’s petrifying beam attacks continued, but Nana skillfully avoided them, slowly drawing her outside.