Angel Volume 3, Chapter 6

Volume 3: Chapter 6 - Souka's Choice

「BUMOOOO!」

　The minotaur raises a huge poleaxe and tries to give Yae a final blow.

「Stoooooooooooop iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!」

　Originally, Souka, the leader should have remained calm and poised.

　However, she lost her composure when an old member was about to be killed in front of her, and without thinking, she rushed forward and launched her spear.

　With her body fully extended, the spear tip in one hand received a huge poleaxe blade.

「Guaghhh!!」

　Thanks to the physical ability gained through level correction, Souka managed to deflect the enemy's attack.

　However, her fingers and arms were bent in an unexpected direction due to the powerful blow she received in an impossible posture, causing her to drop her spear.

「BUMOOAHH!?」

　An arrow pierces the cheek of the Minotaur, who has lost its stance.

　The enemy quickly pulls the arrow out, leaving only a graze wound in its wake.

「No way!?」

　The minotaur turns its head toward Yumi and the others, who are surprised to find that their attack is almost ineffective.

「VUMOOOO!」

「Eekkk......!」

「Nooo ......!」

　Yumi and Yui both screamed at the enemy's roar.

　The Minotaur closes in on the sisters as they stand side by side.

「Nooooo! Don't come hereeeee!」

　Yui unleashed her magic at the approaching enemy.

　A wave of flames envelops the Minotaur.

「BUMOOOAA......!」

　Yui used the highest magic she could use, Flame Wave, out of fear.

　But it was a magic that was designed to wipe out enemies in a wide area, not so powerful against single individuals.

「VUFUH ......」

　Therefore, the Minotaur regained its stance without taking much damage and came running at Yui, raising its pole axe.

「Kyaaaah!」

　――*Bam* ......!

「BUMOOHH!?」

　With a dull thud, the minotaur's knee breaks and the attack comes up empty.

　Erina's mace struck the enemy's knee.

　Then, as if to protect both Yumi and Yui, who were blinded by fear, Erina slid herself in.

「Yui! Recover Souka and Yae! Yumi, stay away and cover me!!」

　Erina's words brought the sisters back to their senses.

「O-Okay」

「Got it」

　Yumi jumped back, readied her bow, and fired an arrow, knowing that it would only serve as a check.

　Yui rushed to Souka.

「Go ahead, recover Yae ......!」

「Got it!」

　Yui headed further back, ran up to Yae, and immediately used her recovery magic.

　Her breathing, which had almost stopped, returned, though she remained unconscious.

　Even if she were to wake up, she would not have recovered enough to fight.

「I'm sorry ......my MP is already ......」

　Yae had used up most of her MP in the Flame Wave earlier and could not recover anymore. And the potion, too, was empty.

「Kuhh......」

　Souka stood up holding her painful right arm and picked up the spear she had dropped. Then, she stared at her broken right arm with a reproachful look on her face.

(If I could at least use my right arm, I would be able to hold it back. ......)

　Souka bit her teeth, but she knew that the minotaur was not such an easy opponent that she could fight it on equal terms with only her left arm.

　Looking at the battle, the Minotaur was unable to attack at full force thanks to Yumi's arrows, and Erina managed to fend off the enemy's attacks.　

　Yumi was using her <Create Arrow> skill, but the MP needed to use it would soon run out.

　I knew that I, with only my left arm, would be annihilated soon after I intervened in that situation.

「Kuhh, if only Shinobu were here. ......」

　If Souka had left Shinobu there and intercepted the Minotaur, there was a chance of victory.

　She must have also known that Yae's feelings were running high.

　This crisis was caused by Souka's judgment.

　Souka glanced back and looked at Yae.

「At least, we must avoid total annihilation. ......」

　She muttered to herself and raised the spear in her left hand.

「Haaaaahhhh!!」

　Souka then shouted and threw her spear.

　――Bam!

　The sound of impact, as if there had been a car accident, and the Minotaur's huge body was blown away by more than 10 meters.

「Amazing......」

　Erina, who was facing the enemy at close range, let out a voice.

「Yui, take Yae and retreat! Yumi, stay alert for the enemy and retreat for once!」

　Souka gave this instruction and walked up to Erina.

「Erina, you remember the <Defense Up>, don't you?」

「Eh? Ah, yes.」

　<Defense Up> is a skill derived from <Shield Technique>.

　Some skills can be learned through rank-up and experience.

「All right, if you use it, you should be able to withstand the attack for a while. In the meantime, we would regroup and launch a counterattack」

「But didn't you already beat the Minotaur ......」

「No, that's not enough to defeat it」

　As Souka said, the Minotaur, which had been blown away and collapsed, began to raise itself up.

「Endure as long as you can. I'm counting on you.」

　At Souka's words, Erina nodded vigorously.

「Yes, leave it to me!」

　Being depended on is something to be proud of.

　With this thought in mind, Erina took a step forward and readied herself.

「Now, come at me!」

　With a heavy blow, she struck her shield with her mace and used an <Provoke> on the enemy. This is also a skill derived from <Shield Technique>.

　After staring at Erina's back, Souka turned on her heel and began to run.

「......Sorry」

　The small voice of the woman who leaked out did not reach anyone's ears.

　Erina did not know how much time had passed since then.

　A few minutes or longer?

　She just kept on and on, taking the attack of the enemy.

　She could have dodged the attack, but she kept on catching them with her shield, not wanting her friends behind her to be harmed.

　She could hardly feel her arms anymore.

　In fact, she felt as if her whole body was numb from the strong impact.

　Still, she continued to endure for the sake of her friends.

(How many more times can I endure it ......?)

　Mithril's shield, which had been hit by the huge poleaxe, was so distorted that its original shape was almost unrecognizable.

(No matter what, it's too slow,......!) (?)

　Thanks to the repeated attacks, she was able to read the enemy's movements to some extent.

　So Erina stepped in strongly at the moment the enemy swung its weapon and pushed back the attack.

「BUMOAHHH!?」

　The minotaur was knocked out of its stance by the unexpected counterattack.

　Taking advantage of this opportunity, Erina took a big leap back and looked back behind her.

「Souka, how long do I have to endure it ......Eh?」

　There was no one behind me.

「This is a lie. ......, right?」

　The voice of Erina echoes in vain in the dark space that spreads silently.

「BUMMMOOOoooOOOHHHHH!」

　Then, the Minotaur, which had regained its stance, attacked.

「Cra――」

　Erina manages to block the direct hit from the poleaxe with her shield, but because she did not prepare herself properly, she is blown away.

「――Aaghhh!!」

　She hits the wall.

　Her entire body was hit by a strong shock, and she was unable to move.

「BUMOOAAAHH!」

　When she manages to look up, she sees the Minotaur looming in front of her, raising a huge poleaxe.

　The next moment, Erina's vision went completely white.

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