Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

“…So that’s why you’re here first… and why you’re in this state now?”

Bluebeard pointed his staff towards a point in the night sky. Ram Hwajung, Igor, and Pyro turned their gaze to the end of the staff but could not discern anything.

────, ────!

Moments later, they saw a couple of flickers of lavender light.

“Right. If you know they’d twist space and I got here first… making a tear in that space would be a piece of cake.”

“Indeed! So that’s why you wanted to be here early, my lord!”

“Of course, Blaugrunn, ha-ha.”

Two figures appeared behind Bahamut. Naturally, they were dragons who had transformed into human form.

“No matter how much, that was too harsh, my lord! Such a frivolous tone. And your voice, too. When did I ever—”

“The lord’s remarks are beyond reproach, Zelreja.”

Arzenmacht silenced Zelreja.

Zelreja pouted and gave Blaugrunn a playful knock on the head.

“You should have stopped him! You should have said, ‘You need to use a deeper voice to play Zelreja nuna properly~’!”

“C-could I have possibly…? How could I—”

“Quiet, you fool!”

Ram Hwajung gazed at her intently.

Her appearance, closer to Tale than Shin Nara, clearly indicated her deep interest in combat.

Above all!

“…Identical.”

Ram Hwajung agreed that Bahamut’s performance was based on complete facts.

Zelreja tried to refute, but she fell silent as Bahamut lightly struck the ground with his staff.

She too was not without sense.

Besides, the other dragon who had come with Zelreja was an Ancient.

In other words, in addition to Bahamut, there was one Ancient Dragon, two Adults, and one Juvenile present.

Wasn’t the Juvenile Dragon Blaugrunn was essentially close to an Adult?

With Bahamut’s side having an advantage, the Demon King’s army would inevitably be at a disadvantage.

Only Bluebeard, Pyro, and Igor stood against the dragons. Just three.

Even if the two vampires were extremely powerful, the absolute disadvantage, even excluding Ram Hwajung’s factor, was undeniable.

As evidence, Pyro and Igor’s faces were stern, and Bluebeard had ceased his usual playful expression.

“I came to see a friend’s face after a long time, but this cold reception… I want to go back already, may I… be granted permission?”

“Ha, are you calling that a question? Your jokes have improved, Le.”

Bahamut’s white hair started to rise into the air as his laughter abruptly stopped.

“I shall leave not even your bone dust.”

Status effect: Spatial Binding (Enhanced). All space movement is restricted for 60 minutes.

“Pyro, Igor.”

Bluebeard also took off his hat. He placed his hat on the ground.

He had already reversed his grip on his staff.

Dark magic energy streamed from the tip of his staff.

Furthermore, he loosened his usually tightly done-up tuxedo’s tie and shirt buttons, transforming his formal elderly gentleman’s appearance into that of a beast.

“Survive on your own.”

Swoosh—

That was his last sentence.

As Bluebeard vanished, Bahamut’s figure also disappeared.

────────────────────

Thunder and lightning began to strike near the Cold Wind Mountain Range.

* * *

“What—”

Pyro was too shocked to speak.

Igor too had never seen Bluebeard’s ‘true power’, but he was less startled than Pyro.

“Ha-ha-ha! So we only need to take out four dragons? Are you scared, Pyro? Let’s go!”

He was fully aware of what he needed to do.

An unknown Ancient Dragon, Arzenmacht, Zelreja, Blaugrunn, and Ram Hwajung.

Handling these opponents would suffice.

Igor believed Bahamut would never interfere in their fight.

“Shut up. 〈Ice Age〉.”

Sharp ice shards erupted from Arzenmacht’s hands.

Taking deep breaths, Igor swung his sword. More akin to a club or a saw than a sword, his greatsword scattered the ice shards into pieces as it swung forcefully to and fro.

“We’ll assist. 『Slow Field』.”

“I’ll help too. 『Magnetic Chaser』!”

“Me too. 『Ice Ground』.”

Debuffs were essential to catch their fast speed.

Knowing this, the first spells focused on restricting movement, almost simultaneously.

The Ancient Copper Dragon used a magic spell to envelop the entire area in slow motion with his breath.

Blaugrunn used a tracking spell to make it difficult to avoid the magic, while Ram Hwajung transformed the combat field into a frictionless space.

In essence, Pyro and Igor found themselves in an awkward state, unable to flee or rush in.

“Give me that arrogant sword! I’ll place it in my collection!”

And then, the Steel Dragon Zelreja charged at them.

The size of the two-handed sword she wielded was by no means inferior to Igor’s weapon.

However, since Zelreja had transformed into her ‘human’ form compared to the giant Igor, her sword appeared even more massive and powerful.

“Kyahahaha! Ridiculous! They say a Steel Dragon’s tail is like a sword, but if you run away like a lizard cutting off its Tale, I’ll let you go!”

*Kwoooaahhh─*

The sheer impact of their swords clashing sent waves of blinding snow flying around.

The shockwaves from using skills were so intense that even the dragons staggered momentarily.

Pyro did not miss the moment when Arzenmacht’s concentration lightened.

“How many dragons have Igor, Faust, and I taken down together, and you think I’ll be beaten by just four lizards?”

If they were at a disadvantage, they couldn’t just use ultimate attacks. They needed to use skills that could defend and attack simultaneously!

『Flame Celestial Pillar』!”

His body, including his wings, ignited in flames.

The pillar of fire seemed as if it would pierce the sky, tearing through the nighttime darkness.

“Arzenmacht. I―”

“Leave it to me. Ram Hwajung?”

The Ancient Dragon, who was preparing a skill, was held back by Arzenmacht, who then called for Ram Hwajung.

“Yes, I will.”

The blue-haired girl was slowly walking forward.

Her body was enveloped in dark blue mana particles.

She had been waiting for the right moment to intervene in the battle while always considering the best response. This included scenarios where Pyro would use an immobilizing skill like Flame Celestial Pillar.

For her, it was a delicious prey.

“〈Abyssal Ice』.”

Pyro sensed Ram Hwajung’s formidable aura.

“You have completed second job advancement, have you?”

Despite this, he didn’t falter.

“Fine! I’ll pay you back for what happened on the snowy mountain. Huuooooo―!”

The flames engulfing his body grew even more intense.

“When black── ice── and!”

Simultaneously, darkness began to spread.

“When black──── flames ignite!”

Light dwindled in proportion to the heat.

“Let’s see── who will win! 『Infernal Flame Demon』!”

Eventually, the light illuminating the night sky vanished entirely.

The light emitted by the Infernal Flame Demon seemed to absorb all the surrounding light.

*Fwooaaaa──*

In the next moment, even that tremendous light disappeared. Simultaneously, the faces of the dragons began to distort.

Arzenmacht, Blaugrunn, and the Ancient Copper Dragon were well aware.

Having been through the Second Great Human-Demon War.

“……『Infernal Flame Demon』……?”

“That, that skill─ it resembles─ something from 20 years ago!”

“Exactly! It’s….. that human’s technique who endured the red dragon’s and black dragon’s breath simultaneously….”

Moreover, Pyro wasn’t an ordinary user.

Not only was he skilled enough to be included in the New Continent Expedition, but he was also a hero’s descendant.

This meant that he possessed outstanding abilities, allowing him to merge skills with demonic powers into new ones if he knew the direction of the skills he held and those he needed to learn.

“Did you think I would remain stagnant? You’re not the only one who’s grown stronger. I’ve been seething since that day too.”

“Casting… still…”

If spells and spells clashed, if the skill activated, Ram Hwajung was confident she would win.

But if she was struck down before activating her skill? No matter how powerful a second-job advancement skill she held, it would be useless!

Despite this, Ram Hwajung gritted her teeth and didn’t retreat.

“I will.”

Silver particles began to gather around Arzenmacht, who had approached her unnoticed.

Shaking off the little worry she had, Ram Hwajung focused on her casting.

In the sky above, intermittent flashes of light were still flickering.

It wasn’t moonlight or starlight; it was the waves of light emitted from the clash between Bluebeard and Bahamut.

Adding to that were the aftereffects unleashed from the duel between Zelreja and Igor!

The vicinity of the Cold Wind Mountain Range had literally turned into a battlefield.

*Whistle*

“Kaha, haa, haa.”

And then, the war suddenly ended.

Bluebeard had abruptly appeared behind Igor and Pyro.

“Hm?”

Bluebeard hurriedly picked up the hat he had thrown and put it on, then turned around.

“Igor! Pyro!”

“Eh?! What’s going on suddenly!?”

“There’s no law that says we must die. Brace yourselves!”

As soon as he finished speaking, shouts echoed from all directions.

“Protect Bluebeard!”

“Do not let Pyro and Igor die!”

“Kill them all!”

Users emerged from various parts of the Cold Wind Mountain Range.

The one leading them had already thrown off his mask and was commanding them upfront.

“It’s an order from Oka! Throw your bodies to buy us time! The more you die, the more you kill, the greater the rewards!”

Sasuke’s voice resonated loudly.

The users from Yamato, eyes blazing, charged forward.

They weren’t top rankers or famously known outsiders, but there were many well-known users within their own sphere.

These individuals couldn’t withstand a Dragon’s Tale swipe in a one-on-one battle, but when their numbers were overwhelming, it was another story altogether.

The number of users following Sasuke easily surpassed a hundred.

Igor and Pyro quickly grasped the situation.

*Swoosh*

Igor’s sword swung wildly, but his strength was undiminished! Zelreja had to momentarily distance himself.

“Kahahaha! Steel Dragon! I’ll take your Tale next time!” At such a high speed, close-quarters combat made it difficult to re-engage once one side decided to retreat.

As Igor moved close to Bluebeard, Pyro also began to flap his wings.

Black flames still blazed from his body.

“Consider your life saved.”

Pyro muttered.

Killing Ram Hwajung was satisfying, but if he were to die afterward, it would mean nothing. More importantly, Bluebeard was already planning a retreat. Displaying emotional outbursts at this moment would pose significant risks to himself as well.

“Ram Hwajung! Do not let the Flame Demon escape! Tie him up—”

“〈Javelin Throw〉!”

“〈Fire Strike〉!”

Arzenmacht attempted to assist Ram Hwajung’s skills to manifest perfectly. However, facing the combined assault from Shinobigumi and Yamato wasn’t easy to ignore. He eventually had to redirect his magic.

“Ugh— Insolent ants! 〈Blizzard〉!”

“Leeeeeee—!”

As Bahamut’s roar filled the sky, neither Bluebeard, Pyro, nor Igor could be seen in front of the Pecklo Cave entrance of the Cold Wind Mountain Range City.

Only the scattered corpses of Yamato users laid there.

* * *

“Grr, hehehe… Bahamut must be in quite a rush. It had to be that way.”

Blue blood dripped from Bluebeard’s mouth. It was natural for Pyro, but even Igor was seeing such a wound for the first time.

“Are you alright, Count?”

“It’s better this way. Hahaha, it’s better.”

In response to Igor’s question, Bluebeard revealed the end of his staff. White liquid was smeared on it.

“I may be injured, but… it will take Bahamut quite a while to recover fully.”

“Isn’t that a problem? Le, without you—”

“Calm down, you foolish men.”

Pyro was genuinely worried about him, but Bluebeard still appeared composed.

He spoke quietly.

“Let’s return first. Find Faust, contact Ghibrid. Then from there…”

Their primary goal was to awaken Pyrot-Cocri if possible.

Bluebeard had also prepared to some extent for this journey. He knew the Dragon would definitely guard the place. That was the reason he came in person.

The issue was that Bahamut responded more aggressively than predicted. Consequently, Bluebeard decided to expedite his plans from now on.

“Hehehe, I’ve got to prepare a gift for that Bahamut. I want to see how delighted he will be with the surprise being faster than expected.”