#########-Kouki-#########
I unsheathed the holy sword for the first time since I joined Yuuki-kun and Shimizu-kun.
I started swinging.
One, two, three, four swings.
I immediately noticed something.
The sword felt heavy.
It's not that the sword is heavy, it was the swing that felt heavy.
I looked at the blade, I ran my fingers on it.
Yuuki [Kouki-kun, are you training?]
I was so deep in my head that I didn't notice him approaching.
Kouki [...I was just thinking about what Shimizu-kun said ]
Yuuki [You were looking at the sword very carefully]
Kouki [Yeah, this may sound like an excuse but, the sword feels very dull, it's like it can't even properly cut the air when I swing it]
In my memories, Nagumo-kun had fixed a few problems it had.
Right now, of course, the sword haven't been even touched by him.
The holy sword is the strongest weapon that humanity knew of before Nagumo-kun came to this world.
Still, when I compare it's current state and the sword in my memories, it's like a decorative ornament and a real weapon made to be used in combat.
Yuuki [Do you want me to try doing some maintenance on it?]
Kouki [I wouldn't want to cause trouble though]
Yuuki [It's not a problem, on the contrary, if it becomes easier to use it will be better for us]
Certainly, the holy sword right now is probably useless against the monsters in the abyss.
Yuuki [It's not like I can do a better job than Hajime-san but I'll make sure Kouki-kun can at least cut the monsters in the abyss]
I gave him the holy sword.
He pulled out a table and put the holy sword on top.
Next he pulled out the rust colored spear, for what I've seen until now, that was an artifact that had transmutation as it's speciality.
He gently touched the blade with the spear's tip.
As the spear ran over the blade, it was gathering something in the tip.
Yuuki [This is the impurities that formed on the blade in the time it was locked away, the materials of the blade are the best of the best that humanity knows currently, but it's not Azantium, if it's not maintained, time will eat it away]
When he was done, the difference was clear even from were I was standing, I could see my reflection on the blade.
He put the spear back in the treasure trove and pulled a leather bag.
He rolled it open in the table revealing a tool set of a dozen or so pieces.
It didn't look like what you expect to find in a smithing workshop.
It looked more like what a clockmaker would have... I've never seen one though.
Yuuki [The problem with the holy sword is of course it's materials, Azantium can't be beaten in raw strength by any base material in the world]
Yuuki-kun grabbed one of the tools in his fingers, the tip lit up in blue colored mana like one of those welding things that need to be used with a mask, the ones that look like a plasma cutter.
Yuuki [The other problem is the design, this holy sword was made specifically to be used by a "Hero" even if a master swordsman like Yaegashi Shizuku used it, she wouldn't be able to use it to half it's capabilities... The only one that can use the holy sword in the whole world is Kouki-kun]
Kouki [That sounds like an awful flaw in design, if I can't use properly the sword specifically made for me to use, then it would have been better if anyone could use it instead]
Yuuki [No, I don't think it's a flaw]
After confirming the tools were in peak condition he turned to me.
Yuuki [Both the materials and the design are in a sense unsolvable problems, if Nagumo Hajime couldn't do it on his own, nobody can... But they're also problems that are not necessary to fix]
He looked at me right at the eyes with a sharpness he hadn't before.
Yuuki [Kouki, do you believe in fate? I don't know if I do, but if it exists, I don't think it's a matter of "good fate" or "bad fate", I think it's a matter of "accepting" or "rejecting". It could be said that in a way, the holy sword, was fated to end in Kouki's hands, you are the one that can use it as it is meant to and you're the only one that can make up for the difference in materials]
He looked back at the sword.
Yuuki [There's a last problem though, that problem is another matter altogether, not something that Kouki can solve... But I think I can]
He put the tools that looked made to work in fine pieces of mechanical art between his fingers.
Yuuki [The only real problem the holy sword has, the only thing that Kouki can't make up for, the only real mistake by the one that made it... I'm going to pour my soul into fixing it]
His aura changed completely.
When I fought him before, I don't think he was holding back, still, if he had half of the intensity that he has now, I would have been too wary of him to fight him properly.
Yuuki ["
A black colored ball of light appeared, it was different to the grey one, not only in color.
My head was screaming.
Not exactly in fear but in a mysterious sense of discomfort.
This was the first time I noticed, why haven't I asked about those balls of light?
What were even those things?
Yuuki [The main problem to deal with the holy sword was the desperation it was made with, a careless touch may just kill it... But that can be solved if I temporarily alienate the soul of the sword while I work on it]
The black ball of light, Izanami, floated around the blade, the empty but wide open eyes scanning almost predatory.
Yuuki [If I can alienate the soul then I can work more meticulously without worrying about hurting her]
The tip of the tools he was wielding touched the blade.
Saying that I understand what he's doing would be the most shameless lie I could say in my life.
His hands moved constantly and precisely.
It looked as much like a clockmaker as it looked like a surgeon in the middle of an operation
Yuuki [The magic circuit that was hastily put together, lose ends that go nowhere, whole parts of the circuit that should be conected but are not, waste of mana circulation caused by leaks and faulty connections between the circuit as a whole, the core and the body of the blade]
One minute passed, two minutes passed.
His hands not only didn't stop, I could swear he was moving faster.
More precise, like a machine fulfilling a task it was made to.
Izanami's eyes didn't leave the holy sword for even a second, probably making sure that whatever Yuuki-kun was doing didn't affect the "soul" of the sword.
One hour passed, two hours passed.
He was still going, he was not saying anything now, he was just moving his hands working as if it was the last thing he'll ever do.
Like Izanami, his eyes were glued at the holy sword.
I didn't think about it but, is he even blinking?
I don't know how many hours passed.
I was hypnotized by the way he moved his hands.
By now, it was like actual sparks were flying when he touched the blade.
Was this how Nagumo-kun worked?
*Drip*
I noticed he was sweating.
Well, he's been hours at it, of course he was.
*Drip*
There was a small pond of sweat forming on the table.
I noticed the pond had a weird color.
I grabbed him from the back and pulled him away from the table.
Kouki [Stop! Just stop for a moment!]
Yuuki [...Hm? What's wrong so suddenly?]
*Drip*
Yuuki [...Eh?]
Eyes, nose, ears, he was bleeding all over.
It was like his brain was melting.
Kouki [Sorry, I was too impressed in how you worked, I didn't notice at all]
Yuuki [...No... It's fine... I didn't notice either...]
I helped him sit on the floor.
He looked like a doll that had its strings cut.
Yuuki [I guess it was too much for me to do something that complicated for that long... Hm? I see... No, I didn't notice at all, sorry... How much was I working on it?]
Was he talking alone again?
Yukitoshi [Little more than six hours]
By the time I noticed Shimizu-kun was right there.
Kouki [Were you looking?]
Yukitoshi [Yeah... I learned a lot]
Learned a lot from watching him work in the holy sword?
Yuuki-kun finally stood up by the table.
Yuuki [Things got out of hand but I think it should be ready now]
He grabbed the holy sword and passed it to me.
Yuuki [Here, I'm not a "Synergist" and I'm not at the level of Nagumo Hajime... But I did my very best, I hope this can be of help to you]
I received the sword.
It felt way lighter.
I did a practice swing, the feeling was completely different even compared to the sword after Nagumo-kun had worked on it.
Kouki [I should be the one saying that, I hope I can thank you properly for this... I'll make sure the blood you shed wasn't for nothing.
#########--#########
After resting in Yue-san's room, we advanced deeper.
Kouki [This place is unexpectedly pretty]
The floor was like a meadow/forest mix, it was a well illuminated open area.
Yukitoshi [That's a dinosaur]
Right, that was definitely a dinosaur.
Yukitoshi [It has a flower sticking out of its nose though]
Right, it's a very funny looking monster.
Just like Yuuki-kun had told us, the monsters in this floor have a similar power structure to the floors before.
There's weaker monsters and a stronger monster.
The strongest monster in this floor though, is not the strongest because of raw power.
It's a plant monster, an Alrune or a dryad, that can take control of other monsters by planting parasitic seeds.
Yuuki [I wonder, if one of the monsters controlled by Shimizu-kun gets infected, would the parasite take over or would the submission magic win?]
Yukitoshi [That's a very good question]
The dinosaur looking monster was immediately captured in a net of soil.
Yukitoshi [...This is quite interesting]
Yuuki [What is it? Can you take control of it?]
Yukitoshi [I can't actually... I can't seem to reach the consciousness]
He was grinning, as if he was actually enjoying it.
Yukitoshi [This is very informative... I learned a lot from this]
I wonder what does he mean by that.
Yukitoshi [I want to confirm if the monsters I'm already controlling can actually get taken over by the parasites...]
Yuuki [That is very important but... If possible I want to wait for a bit before going for the Alrune]
He looked at the restrained dinosaur looking monster and then looked at me.
Yuuki [Kouki-kun, can you train a bit using this monster?]
Kouki [Train fighting it?]
Yuuki [Not yet, first I want you to make sure you can cleanly slice through its skin]
Certainly, the monsters in the abyss can't be compared to the monsters in the upper floors.
Normal steel weapons won't work.
Skills and magic also should be many levels above what works in the upper floors.
Technique is not an exception, even if the holy sword was "fixed", If I don't learn to use it properly it will be for nothing.
I unsheathed the holy sword and held onto it firmly with both hands.
Yuuki [Don't worry about using "Limit Break" or "Overload", if you run out of mana I'll give you a vial of "Ochimizu" to help you recover. Don't worry about other monsters, Shimizu-kun can take care of it]
I slashed at the dinosaur monster, the blade dug into its flesh but it wouldn't really count as a wound.
I raised the blade again, fixed my posture and slashed again.
I know how to use a sword.
I learned back on earth at Shizuku's place and also was taught by Meld-san.
The holy sword is in peak condition after Yuuki-kun worked on it.
The only thing stopping me from chopping off the head of this monster is myself.
I won't use skills or magic.
I'll keep slicing it, fixing every mistake or shortcoming in my sword until I can cut it clearly in one slice.
Yuuki [It's already dead, we'll need another one]
Yuuki-kun captured another one.
I continued slicing at it once at a time.
The blade started reaching deeper in places I hadn't cut yet.
Yuuki [Here, even if you don't use magic, your stamina will run out]
I drank from the metallic vial and returned it when it was empty.
I raised the blade again...
#########--#########
I swing the blade.
*Slice*
It was a clean sound.
The head of the dinosaur looking monster fell on the ground without resistance followed by its body.
I could hear a lively clapping sound.
Yuuki [...I don't really know about swordsmanship, but that looked wonderful]
I finally was able to kill it with a single attack.
The monster was also not restrained.
Yukitoshi [...Well, not bad, it only took you... What? Five days of swinging your sword like a madman?]
It wasn't really five days of non stop chopping monsters, we did return to Yue-san's room to rest.
...I guess five days is still a bit too much.
Yuuki [I think it's really something you were able to reach this point in less than a week though]
He passed a towel to me with a big smile on his face.
Yuuki [I mean, I've been swinging a sword for years and I'm far from knowing what I'm actually doing]
That sounds strangely convincing.
Maybe five days is actually impressive.
Yukitoshi [Does that mean we're going for the Alrune now?]
Yuuki [Yes, now that Kouki-kun can fight properly we can go all the way to the boss room]
We immediately went for the Alrune.
There were a lot of monsters on our way, flowers sticking out of them.
Unlike Yuuki-kun and I that had training as our priority, Shimizu-kun was very busy trimming the numbers around us.
Both the Alrune and the monsters that haven't been taken over by were very wary of us.
Now that we were actually moving it had become an all out war.
Yuuki-kun and I took the front.
I immediately sliced through the small monsters.
Yuuki-kun used the spear to trap the bigger or faster monsters to make sure I could easily kill them.
Shimizu-kun walked behind us at his own pace, the wolves and rabbits he had left helping the bear and lizard to kill whatever we haven't killed yet.
We reached the Alrune leaving a mountain of corpses behind.
When we entered it's territory it ambushed us immediately.
It used it's seeds as projectiles, the bear, the lizard and a few other monsters got hit.
The same flowers sticking out of other monsters in this floor bloomed... And then withered.
Yukitoshi [I see, this will be useful to know]
The parasites were not effective in the monsters already under Shimizu-kun's control.
*Slice*
The head of the Alrune rolled on the ground before it could attack again.
Yukitoshi [Unexpectedly boring]
The is the floor we spent the longest in, it was not because of its difficulty but it was certainly a bit anticlimactic to kill the Alrune in one hit.
#########--#########
The rest of the exploration was actually uneventful.
The only difference was that I took the front with the bear and the lizard when a monster appeared.
Yuuki-kun walked in front of us, Tsukuyomi was floating above his hand, he was looking for the entrance to the final floor, the boos room.
We stood in front of a wall, there was no door in there.
Yuuki [The Hydra room in on the other side]
Is that so?
I expected a door or a magic circle.
Yuuki [There's an actual entrance but, If I'm honest, we already got everything we needed from this labyrinth, the only thing left is the ancient magic]
So we finally are going to clear this place.
Thinking about it, this will be the very first time I'll clear the Orcus Great Labyrinth.
In the past, I never doubted that I would, but I never expected it to be with someone other than Kaori, Ryuutaro and Shizuku.
We decided to rest before the big fight of course.
I was in great condition, no wounds that would hinder me in combat.
Yuuki-kun and Shimizu-kun were the same.
The monsters that Shimizu-kun was controlling had decreased in number, only 14 wolves left and 2 rabbits but the bear and the lizard were still there.
Kouki [Yuuki-kun, you defeated the Hydra before on your own, do you think we can do it with what we have right now]
He thought about it for a few seconds.
Yuuki [Being honest, if I had to fight it alone I would totally die, but with Shimizu-kun and Kouki-kun, I think we'll definitely win]
He answered with a smile.
I'm not sure how to take that, it's like when a little kid tells his favorite hero he can do it through the screen.
I've actually done that a lot in the past.
Sorry to all those Super Sentai heroes, I never noticed how heavy my expectations were.
Kouki [Should we think about a strategy first?]
Yuuki [That's a great idea]
Kouki [First of all, how does the Hydra fight? If it's a Hydra then it should have multiple heads, right?]
Yuuki [Yes, each head has a different element, fire, ice, darkness, light, etc]
Kouki [You mentioned the white one, I'll guess the light element one, should be killed no matter what]
Yuuki [Yes, if the white head is still standing, no matter how many other heads you kill, it will just heal them]
Sounds troublesome, the white head should be dealt with right away.
Yukitoshi [You said there was a darkness one, wouldn't that be a problem too? If it intervenes with my control over the monsters or if it takes over any of us we'll be dead]
Right, the Alrune couldn't take over the monsters Shimizu-kun was controlling but that doesn't mean it's impossible.
Yuuki [Then that means the white and black heads are top priority]
Yukitoshi [How are you going to kill them though?]
That's actually a very good question.
Kouki [I will go for the heads but I'll need an opening]
We could distract the Hydra having the monsters running around.
Yuuki [Shimizu-kun, can you try using magic to distract it? Maybe an illusion to confuse?]
That's actually a very good idea.
Yukitoshi [I actually can, I tried just before entering the labyrinth, I was surprised at how effective it was]
He was smiling for a reason, he looked genuinely happy.
Let's not ask.
Yukitoshi [I will need a meat shield though, if I'm busy doing magic I won't be able to command the monsters]
He said meat shield very casually.
Yuuki [Then I guess we have a strategy, while Shimizu-kun is preparing his magic, I'll make sure the Hydra doesn't take it's 12 eyes away from me, after that, Kouki-kun will take care of the white and black heads]
That sounds like a good strategy.
If the Hydra can't heal and can't fight back Shimizu-kun's magic then killing it should be easy in theory.
Yuuki [The problem will be the silver head, I don't think we have something to defend against it's breath, the only way to deal with it would be dodging around but that's not very effective]
The silver head sounds scary, will Shimizu-kun's magic even work on it?
Yukitoshi [Why not try using "
Kouki [...I'm not sure if that could work]
Leaving to me the kill? I don't think that's the right move.
Yukitoshi [I'm a crowd control/debuff, the retard is a support/meat shield, out of us, you're the only proper DPS]
When he says it like that it makes sense.
Yuuki [Kouki-kun can move fast, I also can but I can't kill the Hydra, I could take two, maybe three heads but that would be my limit, the silver head is out of the question]
"Hero" is the strongest class, if someone should take down the boss, it should be me... In paper at least...
Yuuki [Kouki-kun and Shimizu-kun shouldn't worry about anything else but what they should do, I won't let the Hydra get in the way]
Whit that the strategy was set.
Yuuki-kun and the monsters will grab the attention of the Hydra.
Shimizu-kun will use his magic to mess it's perception to make an opening.
I will be the one finishing it.