Chapter 275: Shadow Appears
"One minute."
Asagiri held up his index finger and spoke softly.
"If we want this to be foolproof, we launch our attack when there is only one minute left on the Dungeon time limit. That way, even if something unexpected happens, we can use the Human Asura's time reversal ability to make sure we disengage from combat."
"That is indeed the safest option, but…"
Iwanaga Kotoko frowned slightly, looking at Asagiri, who sat opposite her, and raised a question.
"If there are Players on Black Watch's side, your ability will be exposed."
The Human Asura's reversal ability was similar in nature to the Hourglass of Reversal. Although time itself would be rewound, all Players would retain their memories of that period.
This trait had both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage was that after time was reversed, Asagiri would not need to explain anything. Yuuki Asuna, Kato Megumi, and Iwanaga Kotoko, who had retained their memories, would know exactly what had happened.
The disadvantage was that all Players in the same world could feel the time reversal.
In that Abyss Man Dungeon, Asagiri had already used the Hourglass of Reversal to rewind time. However, back then, there had been no other Players near him, Yuuki Asuna, and the others. So even if the Players sensed the reversal, they would not know what had caused it.
But this time, if someone among the Black Watch members had seized registration rights and become a Player, they would retain their memories during the time reversal. Combined with the situation at the scene, with only a little thought, they could link the phenomenon of "time reversal" to "Shadow."
At that point, they might devise countermeasures.
Yuuki Asuna nodded slightly, concern showing in her expression.
"There is a real possibility. After all, this is the third phase. Although we've won against Black Watch every time, it's also very possible that Players died in other Dungeons and had their phones seized by Black Watch, allowing them to steal Player registration rights."
"Then it's time to make a decision, isn't it?"
Kato Megumi's expression remained calm as she spoke softly.
"Do we try our best to improve the Dungeon clearance evaluation this time and get the best possible rewards? Or do we abandon the original attack plan to hide the Leader's ability?"
After saying that, Kato Megumi, Iwanaga Kotoko, and Yuuki Asuna all looked at Asagiri, waiting for their captain to make the decision.
"Whichever we choose, there's no right or wrong."
Asagiri propped his chin up with one hand, an eager smile appearing on his face.
"However, even with a heaven-defying ability like time reversal, it's useless if the user isn't strong enough. What's hard to counter is us having time reversal, not the power of time reversal itself."
"I knew you'd choose that."
Yuuki Asuna smiled gently and sighed, pretending to be helpless.
"In that case, let's fight."
…
More than an hour later, on the Third Floor of the Hotel.
"Priest, we can't break through… What should we do?"
Listening to the believer beside him, the tall Priest in crimson heavy armor hid behind a wall and took a deep breath. He looked at the minced flesh and corpses scattered along the path, gritted his teeth, and spoke in a deep voice.
"How did that Blackwatch Commander, Lelouch Lamperouge, find out about the Lord God…? He actually led Black Watch's main force here. That hateful bastard…"
Although the believers were powerful, the Black Watch troops were no pushovers either.
Even though hundreds of elite members had been killed or injured over the past hour, Black Watch's reinforcements kept arriving, forcefully blocking the believers' advance on the Third Floor of the Hotel.
And whenever the Black Watch troops began to struggle, they released Special Infected.
Black Watch currently had no way to control the Special Infected. Those monsters attacked the believers, and naturally, they attacked Black Watch members as well.
However, Black Watch feared death no more than the believers did.
Although it was a military organization, in terms of fanaticism, Black Watch was not inferior to those who worshipped fire.
Moreover…
A Fire-Clad Believer poked his head out and quietly glanced ahead.
He saw the Black Watch member wearing heavy tactical gear, holding a riot shield in one hand, still standing there silently. At that man's feet lay the corpse of a Priest who had been cut in half, eyes still wide with resentment.
The Fire-Clad Believers and Priests had never expected that in such a short time, monsters like this would appear among the Black Watch, whom they had considered nothing more than fragile and pathetic mortals.
Not only that Lelouch Lamperouge, but two other Blackwatch Commanders as well, actually possessed powers like those of transcendent beings.
What was that magical shield?
What were those water balls that struck like iron cannons?
Was this technology?
Or true transcendence?
These Black Watch people clearly did not believe in any God, yet they could wield such power. Why?
"Have they run out of strength…?"
The Blackwatch Commander standing there saw that the Fire-Clad Believers hiding behind the corner had no intention of coming out. He raised his right hand and made a tactical gesture.
A Black Watch member behind him immediately pulled a flashbang from his waist, bounced it off the wall, and threw it behind the corner.
"Bang."
After the muffled explosion of the flashbang, the Black Watch Squad Commander issued the order.
"Assault."
As the two Black Watch squads formed a tactical formation and slowly advanced, the Fire-Clad Believers behind the corner finally made their move.
"Divine Descent."
Two Priests rushed out from behind the corner, directly facing the large-caliber bullets fired by the Black Watch members without dodging or evading. They endured the gunfire head on and charged forward.
The flame greatswords in their hands swung down, cutting through the Black Watch members in mobile combat suits as easily as a hot knife slicing through butter.
"Retreat!"
Black Watch clearly understood the abilities of these flame-wielding Fire-Clad Believers. They knew that Priests who used themselves as sacrifices to enter the Divine Descent state could not be stopped easily. They immediately began to withdraw.
The two Priests did not press the advantage.
The time they could maintain this state was limited. Their urgent priority was to reach the upper floors of the Hotel and prevent these Black Watch people from desecrating the great God.
With two Priests who could withstand bullets leading the charge, the remaining dozen or so Fire-Clad Believers followed behind them and broke straight through Black Watch's defensive line in the fire escape.
In just over ten seconds, they had already reached the Sixth Floor of the Hotel.
"We broke through… Hurry, go to the top floor…"
Just as joy appeared on the two Priests' faces, they saw a tall black shadow appear above the stairwell.
"That is…"
"Go, Human Asura."
At Asagiri's command, the Human Asura moved without hesitation and charged forward.
Ignoring the flame greatswords piercing into its body, it grabbed both Priests by the neck with its hands, then slammed them heavily into the wall.
"Boom!!!"
Under the impact of such terrifying power, the sturdy concrete walls and floor shattered like tofu.
The narrow fire escape stairwell collapsed instantly, and the entire Hotel began to shake.
The Black Watch members originally stationed in the First Floor lobby, prepared to provide support at any time, felt the ground tremble violently. Seeing the expensive crystal chandelier on the lobby ceiling crash down and shatter into pieces, they instantly raised their vigilance.
The next second, they saw a group of Fire-Clad Believers, like blazing fireballs, falling through the hole in the ceiling.
They immediately raised their firearms and took aim.
However, when the smoke and dust cleared, the figure that appeared before them caused their expressions to change uncontrollably.
"Shadow… Shadow…"
Seeing Asagiri standing before Yuuki Asuna, Iwanaga Kotoko, and Kato Megumi, seeing the dark gray mask he wore and that iconic long black trench coat, shock appeared on the faces of the Black Watch members.
"Fifty seconds left."
Hearing Iwanaga Kotoko's reminder behind her, Kato Megumi nodded. Then she cast her special skills, reducing the presence of Yuuki Asuna, Asagiri, and Iwanaga Kotoko, while also directly activating her exclusive talent.
In the chaotic scene of smoke and dust, Kato Megumi's skill effect was amplified to its limit, making the four members of the team seem invisible as they vanished from the sight of the Black Watch members and the Fire-Clad Believers.
The next second, a dark red afterimage flashed through the smoke.
"What's happening inside!?"
The Black Watch troops guarding the outside had no idea what was happening. All they could hear through the communication channel were constant screams.
Firelight, smoke, afterimages.
Everything mixed together, making it impossible for them to understand the situation.
"Persona, Prototype Mita."
The moment Prototype Mita was summoned by Asagiri, it immediately opened its mouth and released a noisy mental attack like electric static.
Not only the Fire-Clad Believers, but even the Black Watch members in the area were severely disturbed. Their consciousness blurred for a moment.
Although Yuuki Asuna and Kato Megumi were also affected to some extent, it did not greatly hinder their movements. They had already prepared in advance.
While Prototype Mita interfered with the enemies' minds, they had already begun their attack.
Whether it was Black Watch or the Fire-Clad Believers, both sides were targets for the four-person team.
"Shadow… It's Shadow!"
When the Blackwatch Commander responsible for guarding the perimeter heard the report from the members on-site through his communication headset, his expression changed the instant he heard that name. He immediately issued an order.
"Send out all Special Infected! Contact the two Commanders on-site and tell them to proceed to the First Floor of the Hotel immediately. Stop all original plans."
"Make killing Shadow the top priority!"
.....
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