"......"
"...It's coming."
"Rimuru."
"...Yeah, I know."
Above Rimuruber, the central city of [Tempest].
[Charybdis], flying at full speed all the way from near the forest of the [Dryad]s, had now come close enough to be seen with the naked eye.
"Everyone, you're all ready, right?"
The enemy's forces consisted of [Charybdis] itself, their leader, and its thirteen summoned [Megalodon]s.
And on this side—
"Yes."
"Of course!"
"Heh heh, every unit has finished preparing."
"We can deploy at any time."
Adelio and Rimuru's forces included Ria and Shizue at the front, the [Kijin] unit, the High Orc unit, the dragonewt unit, the Goblin Riders, and finally the hundred [Pegasus Knights] Gazel had sent from [Dwargo] as reinforcements.
Even excluding Milim, who had been kept away in case she charged in recklessly, the difference in military strength between [Charybdis] and their side was already obvious.
So overwhelming that even that word hardly seemed enough.
"All right... then let's begin!"
At last, with Rimuru's shout as she glared at [Charybdis], pouring killing intent down on [Tempest], the monsters drew their weapons, spread their wings, and raised their magic power.
Grrrk... grrrrkk...!!
Thus began the second war, and a defensive battle as well, following the first war and surprise assault—the subjugation of the [Orc Lord].
**
Fwoooooong...!!
"Take this, [Hell Flare]!"
The first operation was to eliminate the [Megalodon]s one by one.
Kugugugung!
Using the monsters' numerical advantage and long-range techniques the [Megalodon]s lacked, they began wiping out [Charybdis]'s forces.
"[Manipulating Demon Puppet Threads]."
"[Vortex Crush]!"
In particular, the battle-hardened [Kijin] and the dragonewts, whose evolved bodies were optimized for aerial combat, could more than hold their own even one-on-one. Against them, the mere thirteen [Megalodon]s could do nothing but get pushed back.
......
Kuuung! Kugung!
Meanwhile, on a mountaintop some distance from the battlefield, Adelio, Rimuru, and a few others quietly watched the monsters fight while preparing to issue the order to attack [Charybdis].
"That makes nine... no, ten total if we count the one Souei is controlling."
"Yeah. That leaves three. Shion, Ranga, and Hakurou are handling two of them, so this should be over soon."
Rimuru answered Shuna's calm report and nodded with a satisfied look.
And then, at that moment—
"Just in case, I asked King Gazel for support too, but I guess I was worrying for no reas—"
She cut herself off.
Feeling the enormous shadow suddenly cast over her head and the eerie magic power pouring from it, Rimuru's eyes widened.
Fwoooong...!!
The largest of the thirteen [Megalodon]s.
It was their leader, the one that had held the front line ever since the battle began.
"...! [Great Sage], barrier, now!"
Reacting a step too late because of [Charybdis]'s [Detection Interference], Rimuru called out to [Great Sage] and drew up her magic power as calmly as she could.
She and Adelio's group would be fine, but the noncombatants, including Shuna, could be badly injured if that massive body struck them even once...
...But—
Shrrng...
In the instant she was too late, someone was already standing at her side with his sword drawn.
Fwooo—
"Move."
Chijijijik...!!
Adelio, black greatsword gleaming in his hand, swung his arm before the [Megalodon]'s shadow could fully swallow him.
A strike so light and shallow it seemed almost casual, yet far too fast for the eye to follow—a blow at the speed of sound.
Kaaang—!!
And then, before it could even react, the sky fish beast took that sword head-on and was split cleanly in two, plummeting down the mountainside.
As if nothing had happened at all, it fell in an instant like a drifting leaf.
"......"
"Waaah..."
The monsters, who had been hurriedly trying to raise their magic power after Rimuru, stared blankly at Adelio as he cut down a [Megalodon] without even using [Arts], his face expressionless. Only then did they let out awed gasps.
"H-he's faster than me... by a lot..."
Even Rimuru, still in her combat stance with only her head turned toward Adelio, muttered that in shock.
"...Why are you all looking at me like that?"
But Adelio himself only looked puzzled, as if nothing surprising had happened. Then, with a casual motion, he sheathed his sword and turned his gaze to point at [Charybdis].
"Wouldn't it be better to worry about that one instead of me right now?"
While Adelio had cut down one [Megalodon], the others had also started falling one after another.
Which meant the preparations were complete.
Grrrk... grrrrkk... grrrk!!
The first step in hunting the target of this defensive battle.
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