Published at 30th of August 2022 06:54:51 AM

677 A Certain Girl and Jornes Vanguard (side: Miria)

Wh-what do we do?

I retreat inside the house and clutch my head.

No mere human could possibly hope to stand up to Jornes. The entire city is enclosed by her barrier, so theres no running away. Countless creepy monstrosity are swarming over the city due to her [Nirvana].

W-we just need to wait for Saint Lilixira to come back! Even if she hasnt finished her dragon hunt, theres a good chance shell turn around once she hears the situation.

Meltisan says, noticing my despair.

But staying hidden from the monsters wont be easy. Theres no telling how long itll take her to get here

Besides, even if she does return, I dont think she would stand a chance against Jornes. If I remember correctly, Saint Lilixira is supposedly has equivalent power to an A rank dragon.

But Jornes is clearly on another level. If Saint Lilixira is a mage on the level of a high ranking dragon, then Jornes is on the level of a god. Saint Lilixira wouldnt be able to destroy the city in a matter of minutes like this.

Theres nothing we can do. Even if we try to resist, it would just prolong the terror Theres no one stronger than Jornes-sama in all the world.

The old woman says, her face pale.

Suddenly, the door smashes in. A long-necked figure with an upside-down face pushes its way into the house. Its one of the monsters made from [Nirvana].

Miria, use [Clay Shield]!

Meltisan shouts.

Eh? R-right! [Clay Shield]!

As instructed, I produce a [Clay Shield], which appears between us and the monster. Meltisan swiftly steps up to my side and kicks the shield forwards.

Unable to dodge in the cramped interior, the monster elects to block, reaching out both its arms to stop the shield.

Its straining Its level isnt too high! We can do this!

Meltisan points her sword at the monster.

[Lucent Luna]!

Light bursts from her blade, flying towards the monster in three clusters of heat. I point my staff at it too.

[Fire Sphere]!

Its hands occupied by my shield, the monster is unable to react in time as our attacks strike its neck. The [Lucent Luna] breaks its balance, and then my [Fire Sphere] blasts it away. It slumps down and stops moving, a crack visible in its neck.

As I thought, its level isnt too high. Its about D rank No, it might even be a little lower. I hate to think it, but maybe their strength is based on the level they had in life.

Metisan says, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

I didnt understand her plan at first, but since it had a long neck, she must have judged that it wouldnt be able to defend its weak point if we threw a shield at it. Combined with her ability to quickly judge its rank, it goes to show how much longer shes been an adventurer than me.

It didnt seem to have any unusual skills. Same for the ones Im seeing outside. Of course, theres a good chance their levels and skills vary, so we cant be optimistic.

Meltia stands in front of the destroyed door and peers outside.

Lets gather people somewhere that has food. We cant let the survivors wander around outside, since theres no telling when that rain could come again. We also need to burn, bury, or carry inside any more dead bodies we find outside, so that red light doesnt make more. Though well run out of mana if we keep having to fight, so we should hole up and take turns keeping watch.

Meltisan says, speaking quickly.

Moreso than telling me, I think shes speaking out loud to organise her thoughts. Its a hopeless situation, but shes still trying to stay calm.

I also cant let myself be swept away. I shake my head, trying to dispel some of the dread overwhelming me.

.Thats right. All we can do is wait for Saint Lilixira and the Holy Knights to return.

The chance is low that Saint Lilixira will be able to do anything. But, weve no choice but to bet on it all the same.

No, if we gather enough strength, we might actually be able to mount a counterattack.

Eh?

I cant help but doubt my ears.

Look, Miria. The all-important Jornes is doing nothing but float above the statue. If she really was powerful, then she wouldnt leave killing us to those monsters.

That might be true, but

That magic attack at the start was just a bluff. The rain was wide-scale, but it looks like all it did was apply instant death and curse. It didnt do any damage to the buildings or ground.

Certainly, that rain seemed harmless to anything other than to living organisms. Thats why I was able to block it with [Clay Shield].

Jornes might be lacking means of attacking directly. Besides, the fact that shes staying so high out of reach means shes worried about being attacked. Shes probably not too powerful by herself. If we gather enough fighters, it might be possible to take her down. Shes just a human, not a dragon or giant monster. No matter how powerful her magic, shes not unbeatable if we surround her.

I-is that true? But the magic she used to blast away the statues head

Thats definitely a threat. But, compared to the rain, the scale is way smaller. Even without the Holy Knights around, the warrior priests of Liarm are much higher level than your everyday adventurer. The situation is definitely bad. But, were trapped in here with thousands of D rank monsters. The more time passes, the more well lose the ability to strike back.

I stand by her side and look up at the sky. Jornes is looking down on the Holy City with cold eyes. I cant help but wonder why shes not making it rain again, or shooting out more of that rainbow light.

Maybe its not that she cant, but rather shes choosing not to?

Is she worried about running out of mana? The scale of her magic was gigantic. Im sure the mana cost cant have been light.

Is she saving her strength for fighting Saint Lilixira? No, even then it feels like shes taking it too leisurely. But, I cant imagine shes worried about the warrior priests like Meltisan thinks.

Does she have something to gain by taking her time in destroying Liarm?

Its almost like shes threatening someone to make them hurry.

Did you say something? Miria?

No

I understand why youre hesitant to fight back. I dont want to fight back without a plan either. Lets gather people together and make a base Once we have enough fighters and have gained some more information about Jornes, we can think about it then.