With striped pupils, H?ggormur saw two Gunbeast girls on the sand. They were lying motionless, their bodies tightly bound by thorny vines.
[I know that Fighter guy is very good with words, and he speaks what benefits himself.] He sighed, then asked the Black Giant Snake. [How much of that do you think is true?]
"Does it matter if they help you stave off boredom?" The gigantic snake flicked its tongue. Its words sounded like mere hissing to a normal person.
[...Perhaps.] H?ggormur replied after a few seconds of silence. [If my loyal friend advises so, then it is true.]
"Because that is the only thing I can offer you." The Black Giant Snake lowered its gaze. "I do not have what you desire, regrettably."
[That quality is your gem, not a flaw.]
H?ggormur took a puff of a cigarette, similar in shape to the one Cide often used. He made fire burst from his fingertip, lit the tip of the cigarette, and took a deep drag.
[... In the old days, I might have smoked something similar, but that gave me much more excitement.] The Archdruid commented.
"So how would you like me to handle these two little beasts?" The snake flicked its tongue.
[It's up to you, they are of no value to me.] He exhaled a plume of smoke.
"Then I have an extra snack ~."
The snake flicked its tongue with delight. It slowly lowered its head, its mouth slightly open. Its tongue reached out to the two Gunbeast girls like a gigantic carpet, ready to coil around them.
BOOM
A spark flared brightly from the Black Giant Snake’s eye, its explosion tore through the sound of the howling wind. The snake hissed and threw its head back, its mouth wide open, emitting a piercing shriek. From its eye socket, a bird flew out with Yona's group on its back.
"Hoh." H?ggormur's eyes widened. [So, this is when it officially begins.]
The scaly creature emitted a faint glow, and the blood and smoke from its eye sealed up. It adjusted its vision and aimed its snout at the escaping targets.
Zap
Several streaks of electricity passed by, cutting off the vines. The two Gunbeast girls scrambled away on all fours.
"H?GGORMUR!"
The shout drew the Archdruid's attention.
From far away, Allan was running, powerfully enough that sand flew up after every step. The distance to H?ggormur gradually shortened, but his steps slowed, and the sand was no longer violently tossed away. The distance that Allan should have covered in a few seconds was now gradually stretching out.
"...Why am I suddenly slowing down?" Allan whispered.
"The plan, of course." Jei replied from within him. "The two girls and Yoru's group have escaped, now is the next step."
"What are the details?" His breath seemed to hold back.
"Just trust this Jei-sensei."
The doctor sniffed, as if laughing. Allan's speed slowed down more and more, almost to a walk. He couldn't fathom this action as his heart was throbbing anxiously. Especially since his walking speed was unchanged, despite the Black Giant Snake being literally as big as a mountain. Walking slowly while the Monster was causing the surrounding area to shake like a magnitude 7 earthquake just by slithering!
[What are you trying to do?]
H?ggormur's voice echoed in Allan's head. Before he could summon his weapon, the Archdruid appeared right in front of him.
[Your body is still stone but you can move, that is impressive.] H?ggormur's golden eyes scanned Allan’s body. [And it seems your human appearance has changed a bit.]
"How about we change up the fighting style a bit?" Jei spoke.
[Hmm... another person inside you.] The Archdruid raised an eyebrow. [Give me a reason to comply with that request.]
"You're always throwing magic around, why not try a change of pace?" The doctor controlled Allan's hands to raise up. The previously worn gloves sprouted thorns. "Like using fists or close combat?"
"What are you doing!" Allan whispered.
"Buying time for Yoru's group to deal with the snake first. If both sides fight, we clearly lose. So, at least distract this Archdruid so they have a freer hand." Jei explained in a voice just loud enough for Allan to hear.
"Is that possible?" Allan frowned.
"Trust your sister and my subordinate." Jei answered succinctly. "We are Fantastic Dreamers, if we don't believe in our own dreams, what else is there to believe in?"
"You're an optimist..." Allan sighed, the weight in his chest slightly relieved.
[Hmm...] H?ggormur scratched his chin for a moment as if remembering something. [It has been a long time since I fought that way.]
"So...?" Jei asked in a drawn-out voice, seemingly anticipating the answer.
[Very well.]
The Archdruid's scaly mouth corners stretched up to his nose. Fur began to grow all over his body at the rate of McCass's 8 shots/s in the game OverLook. His body size rapidly swelled up like a blown-up balloon. Standing before Allan now was an ape nearly three times his height.
"...Wow."
Allan stepped back. Although shape-shifting was not new, both in real life and in fantasy, witnessing it up close at this distance was different.
"This Archdruid is really skillful," Jei commented, his voice steady and unchanged. "Even at this close range, I still can't turn him into a beast-eared girl."
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"Looks like tricks won't work." Allan swallowed hard, but not out of fear.
"Fount of Moonlight."
Following H?ggormur's chant, moonlight woven into glittering silk threads, tightly wrapped around the Archdruid. They converged into the shape of silver-lit muscle bundles.
[Are you ready, Allan of England and companions?] H?ggormur revealed his teeth, forming a mischievous smile.
"Whenever you want." Jei controlled Allan's foot to step back, his fists raised forward in a boxing stance.
[Then come on!]
As the telepathic words ended, H?ggormur launched a punch as big as Allan's head. Jei reacted as fast as lightning, lowering the upper half of his body, and swinging a punch from below, aimed at a finger.
--- Yona's Side ---
"LIGHT BEAM AND FANGS, 6 O'CLOCK!"
Yona screamed loudly, and Kuzunoha immediately changed the direction of her finger. Gunbird tilted its wing to one side. A series of fangs bigger than 10-meter buildings tore through the air and falling feathers. From below, columns of light shot up, aimed at the positions Gunbird had just passed, then chased after the prey circling in the sky.
With the RPG in her hand, Yona kept pulling the trigger, countless warheads flew out and formed explosions full of lightning. The weapon proved effective in chipping the flying fangs and deflecting them away from Gunbird. The surrounding air was filled with explosions and rushing wind, and the air was colder than it was near the ground.
"The boss entering Phase 2 is indeed much harder." Yoru clicked his tongue, his legs trying to maintain balance on Gunbird's back.
"Its continuous attack is proof that our plan truly threatens it!" Albina held onto the feathers tightly, her voice calm and steady.
[A bird chased by a snake, not much different from the animal world, is it?] Cide's voice echoed through the communication headset like an audience member watching a TV show.
"IF YOU'RE FREE, GET UP AND HELP US!" Kuzunoha yelled, like an employee complaining about a colleague shirking work.
[Sorry, my hands are busy protecting Miss Elina ~.] Cide replied indifferently.
"Perhaps I'll ask Jei-sensei to help upgrade you a bit, won't I?" Kuzunoha's voice suddenly became softer, strangely sweet. "A cute beast-eared girl would be better than a sloppy old man, right?"
Pow
Swoosh
[Hmm... that's a very compelling idea.]
Jei's voice joined the conversation through the headset. Along with his voice was the dry, crashing sound of rock and metal, harmonized by piercing, roaring wind noises.
"Right, ne?" Kuzunoha smiled brightly, a rare agreement between her and the Artisan doctor.
[Uh... I wouldn't dare accept that honor.] Cide maintained his joking tone, but without the confidence.
[It's 20xx, girls loving each other is no problem ~.] Jei reinforced the persuasion. [I guarantee it will be beneficial for your back pain and eye strain.]
[I don't dare accept that appealing offer.] Cide continued to find a way to back out, accompanied by a forced laugh.
[Please everyone, focus on the main issue.] Elina's voice interjected.
Swoosh
A fang flashed past and cut off a few feathers on the wing. With just a slight shift, it would have completely blown off Gunbird's wing. One of its legs had touched a light beam, gradually turning to stone. Seeing this, Kuzunoha immediately conjured a gun. She flipped down from the top of the bird, shooting off the part of the mount's leg before the stone spread throughout the animal.
"This is bad." Yona swallowed hard, if her throat was like an Earthling's. "It's attacking so aggressively, we can barely fight back!" She kept shooting back, but the bullets were only enough to deflect the Black Giant Snake's fangs.
[Try to hold steady, Yona.] Elina encouraged. [If we can overcome this snake, Allan will be able to defeat the Archdruid.]
"Don't be afraid, we can-"
Slash
Albina did not finish her sentence, and Gunbird's whole body suddenly shook violently. Following that, Yona stopped shooting. The mount stopped flapping its wings and began to fall. A snake fang shot through Yona's lightning storms, tearing through the wind and Gunbird.
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
[What is it, Yona!]
Upon hearing only the desperate scream, Elina cried out in a flurry. The wind aggressively rushing into the headset provided a backdrop for the scream, becoming a melody that could stop the scientist's heart at any moment!
Bam
A loud collision sound, followed by a pile of sand being flung up from far away, these were not positive signs for Elina.
"Yona, answer me, Yona!" Elina continuously shouted into the headset, her heart pounding faster and faster. "Kuzunoha, Yoru, Albina. Everyone, please answer!"
"Hitting that and falling from a considerable height, that must hurt." Cide commented. Observing through the scope on his gun, he saw the sand gradually falling from above. "Can your drone see anything over there?"
"I can't see anything..."
Elina looked at her phone screen. There was only misty dust in the low-light space. The flickering light glare obscured the screen. She looked up, her mouth open.
The snake was shooting its petrifying light beam into the space of dust. The beam had petrified Allan. Now it would do the same to Yona.
"Yona..." Elina's voice broke mid-sentence.
"Calm down." Cide walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Until you see it with your own eyes, it's not confirmed, don't jump to conclusions."
"I know, but-"
BOOM
An explosion erupted, lightning streaks intertwined right in the Black Giant Snake's other eye. The creature emitted a sound that shook the air and sand, and its body writhed, causing the sand dust to form again. Following that, a series of rockets flew in, creating a chain of electric light all over the scaly Monster.
[It hit!] Yona's voice cheered on the headset, lifting the heavy weight pressing on Elina's heart.
"...Yona," Elina said loudly, almost breaking down. "Is everyone alright?"
[Just a little sore, only my bird didn't make it.]
Kuzunoha complained, like a driver commenting on a shock absorption system. On their side, they were now enveloped by a dome with a 13m diameter. The dome was covered by a barrier, with a dim light radiating inside, allowing a clear view of the outside.
[Thank goodness...] Elina's voice on the headset sighed in relief.
"You... deployed the spell just in time..." Yoru panted, supporting himself on the sand, then slowly stood up.
"Thanks to Gunbird's and Kuzunoha's quick reactions, I was able to anticipate it." Albina replied, after taking the ocarina away from her mouth.
"How did you do that, Albina-chan?" Kuzunoha stood up, dusting the hem of her yukata.
"Sister Kuzunoha put up her fox ears right before the fang flew in!" Albina smiled.
"Well, Albina-chan seems to be not just passionate about creatures but also sharp, huh?" The Fox Beastfolk woman covered her mouth with her sleeve, hiding a giggle.
In contrast to everyone leisurely exchanging words after the free fall, Yona continued to pull the trigger of her gun. The RPG continuously spewed out rockets. They flew through the magic dome, passed through the dust, and exploded. The sand dust also gradually became shimmering with the light of glass after the explosions. The group could not take their eyes off Yona, who was silent and focused to that extent.
"...Are you alright, Yona-chan?" After a few dozen explosions, Kuzunoha started a conversation.
"Ah." Yona flinched, raising the muzzle of her gun high. "I'm fine." The girl turned to answer.
"Calm down, Yona." Albina asked, her eyes scanning the other person's body. "You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
"I'm all fine." Yona patted her chest, the corners of her mouth turned up. "No screws or metal joints are broken." She looked at everyone without leaving. "And is everyone else okay after the impact?"
"With Gunbird's feather cushion, we're still fine." Kuzunoha ruffled Yona's head.
"I wonder if that snake has suffered enough damage yet?"
Yoru walked to the edge of the dome, took out a pair of binoculars, and extended the lens part outside the dome to observe. Smoky gray dust filled the space through the night-vision goggles. More than a minute of silence, with no unusual movement or sound. Yoru felt a chill down his spine, despite the inside of the Tiny Hut being warmer than the outside.
"How's the snake?" Yona looked towards Yoru.
"The sand dust is gradually dissipating..." The Cleric reported.
[Well, congratulations on your safety.] Cide said loudly, then suddenly lowered his voice. [And here's the bad news, the snake is still alive and well.]
"No way!"
Kuzunoha shouted, her fox ears and tail standing up. Yoru was nearly holding his breath now, what he had seen until now was not smoke and dust. That murky black shadow was only a part of the Black Giant Snake's body. It was heading towards the group, with its two dark eye sockets.
Notes:
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Fantastic Dreamer: (Name of Allan and his friends' group)
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Fount of Moonlight: A magical technique or spell.
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McCass, OverLook: References to the character McCree (now Cassidy) and the game Overwatch.
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Phase 2: Stage two, usually referring to the enemy becoming stronger in a battle.