649 – The Domain of the War God

『Master-dono! I’ll protect you!』

Treant’s body becomes larger, his roots wrapping around my body.
This is his [Woven Armour] mode.
His root wrap around and cover the entirety of my left side.

Whistanding Miia’s attacks is difficult.
A single mistake could lead to my health becoming zero.
But with treant’s [Woven Armour], I can fight while exposing fewer openings.
But, of course, this only lasts as long as treant’s has HP and MP to spare.
I need to make this a quick battle, while Aro and treant can still fight.

『Thank you, treant!』

I use [Ideal Weapon] to produce a weapon while shaping my forelegs into arms with [Dragon Mirror].
I get the impression that competing against Miia with a sword is dangerous, but my bare claws don’t have enough reach.

In my hands, a shining purple sword appears.

【[Oneiros Raizem]: Value L (Legendary)】
【[Attack: +240]】
【A greatsword that glitters with faint violet light.】
【Made from the fang of the [Dream Dragon] that rules over the world of dreams.】
【It is said that the boundary between reality and fiction will become vague for those cut by this sword, and they will be eventually brought to the world of dreams.】
【Temporarily lowers the [Illusion Resistance] of the cut target.】

All our preparations are in order.
The three Aros are ready and waiting above me.

『Let’s do this, Aro, treant!』

“Teamwork is useless for defeating God’s Voice, you know.”

Miia says contemptuously.
She springs up towards us, spinning through the air as she swings her sword.

Countless dark [Shockwaves] shoot up from her sword.
She’s combining it with [Afterimage Sword], but she’s able to cover a wide area with [Shockwaves].

『What a crazy attack!』

I didn’t intend to underestimate her, but it was a mistake to think her long range attacks were limited.
Her [Shockwave] lets her attacks be incredibly versatile.

Blocking with my arm, I dodge to the right while attacking with [Dimension Claw].
Watching my hand, Miia twists in the air to easily dodge.
I didn’t think I would hit, but I also couldn’t afford to let her keep attacking unilaterally. 

“Kyaaah!”

One of the Aros is hit by a [Shockwave].
The colour drains from her body, and she scatters into black light.

『Aro!』

“I’m okay! The one in front was a clone!”

The black light is sucked into her.

『It’s dangerous to be away from me! Avoid flying and try to stay on me!』

At the corner of my vision, I see Aro nodding and flying down.
The two Aros land on my shoulders at the same time and aim their hands at the ground.

“[Clay]!”

The floor in front of Miia shines.

“Too slow.”

Miia adjusts her grip on her sword, suddenly surging forwards.
[Godspeed Flash] again.
The space immediately behind her is pierced by an earthen spike.

There’s was no hesitation in her movement.
She knew exactly how to avoid it.
Miia’s combat experience is incomparable to my own.
She must have seen the activation of magic skills countless times.

But as long as I know the timing, it’s not impossible for me to deal with [Godspeed Flash]! Leaning back, I swing my sword towards where I think she’s about to appear.

From my fight with Lilixira, it felt like I had touched upon the world of swordsmen like Volk.
When I fought the awakened hecatoncheir, that feeling became more concrete.
Now that I’ve managed to respond to Miia’s [Godspeed Flash], I’ve finally grasped it.

I don’t need to follow her with my eyes to know.
I simply need to predict what trajectory she’ll use to close in on me.

“GuuOOOOh!”

I slash.
Miia appears, just beyond the reach of my sword.

Intuitively, I know I didn’t misread her approach.
She intentionally staggered it.

“I didn’t want to believe it, but you really can see that far.
But, I’m further beyond.”

She swings her sword towards me.

I can’t compete with her in power or tenacity.
For the sake of the world, so that God’s Voice can be defeated, it’s probably better if she were to return to the surface rather than me.

But, I have Aro and treant fighting for me.
For the sake of these two, I can’t hand over my divine skills to Miia.

And, because these two are here, I’m able to fight back against her.

I lean to the side, taking the hit with treant’s roots.

『[Gravity Compression]!』

Treant’s roots condense, becoming harder.
We manage to catch her blade with his roots, but she cuts through to reach my body.
The wound is shallow however.

“I see, this is more difficult than I expected…”

『Now for [Wood Counter]!』

The surrounding roots shift, reaching out towards Miia at a tremendous speed.
Part of the power of her blow is transferred into the roots.

“Seriously annoying…”

『It’s an honour to hear you say that, Miia-dono!』

“[Flowing Body].”

Miia twists her body in the air, neatly avoiding the roots, only allowing a single part to touch her and push her back to the ground.

“[Gale]!”

Two whirlwinds appear behind Miia.

Even if her movements are godlike in speed, she can’t avoid a wide range attack.
Her escape routes are now sealed.
I swing my sword in front of her path.

She catches my blow with her sword.

“[Hollowed Moon].”

Miia seems to disappear, but then appears just beyond my sword.

She got away…! That skill converts the energy of an impact, completely cancelling out the damage she would take.
Against the xiangliu she used it by taking a hit with her body, but because I attacked with a sword, I guess she had to block with her own sword to use it.

“…Hm.”

Miia looks at her left shoulder.
Her clothes are torn, and a gash is carved through her arm.
There’s no blood, but her flesh has been gouged out.

“It’s shallow, but I hit…!”

Aro shouts.
When she moved back with [Hollowed Moon], Miia was forced into Aro’s [Gales].

The wound on her shoulder quickly knits closed, returning to normal.
But the fact that we were able to hurt her is significant.

This can work…! With the three of us, we can reach her.