Satou here. There were times I found myself plunging straight into crunches when I discovered unexpected mistakes while taking care of last few remaining jobs with the last bit of my willpower. As otherwise, it would come back requiring far more effort to take care of later if I looked the other way and pretended I never saw those, hence I had no choice but to tearfully plow through it.

S-swarm of Evil Dragons

From beyond a vast cavern unthinkable inside a tower, a huge swarm of <<Evil Dragon Vanguard>> is drawing near.

Silver members and Hayatos attendants who just got through a fierce battle against one Evil Dragon trembled when they saw the swarm.

Pochis itching for a fight nodesu.

Uy uy~?

Pochi and Tama spun their arms round and round when they saw the swarm.

These dragons look like it will be worth defeating.

They will be adequate as our opponents so I inform.

Yes, lets do our best!

Nn, annihilate.

Other golden members are raring to go as well.

Y-youre really going to do this?

Yes, just leave it to us.

Liza took a stance with her trusty magic spear Douma.

Looks like shes still planning to keep the new dragon spear Ive given her out of action.

Even if magic spear Douma has seen many improvements, its penetrating and offensive power falls far behind the dragon spear. Logically speaking, youd think the dragon spear fits best against powerful enemies, and yet she chooses her trusty spear instead.

I shall join the fight too.

Hold it, Karina-dono. We will only get in their way.

Lady Karina the battle hyena was going to stand next to Tama and Pochi, but her partner [Intelligent Item] Raka stopped her.

You girls, please get some rest as you prepare for your next battle. You can leave this to these girls.

Judging from my Map, once we get past this swarm of evil dragons, the only other place with powerful enemies is right in front of the Netherworld Gate.

There are still many spots where lady Karina and the rest could get in actions until then.

Powered Exoskeleton, deploy!

With Arisas command, the golden members equip their powered exoskeletons stored in the adjacent sub-spaces.

These powered suits are basically like the ones you see in many western SF, with one addition of extra units developed from Lulus Floating Fort for the rear guards. These units fall short compared to Gunboats and Shield Ships, but theyre just right for combat inside a tower.

<<Golden Knight Red (Arisa)>>, please release <<Yellow Wing (Lyuryu)>> from the cage nodesu.

Pochis voice gets altered by the function installed on her golden armor.

OK! Cage Release.

Lesser dragon Lyuryu got out of a sub-space created by Arisas space magic she used to carry Lyuryu into the tower.

Lyuryu is equipped with the same golden equipment, matching Pochis. Their identities are obvious to all, but its way too late to care about that.

Alright then, rear units! Were starting out with full power right ahead!

Arisa points her World Trees wand toward the swarm of Evil Dragons.

Matching her move, floating fort support units connected to her exoskeleton also turned toward the evil dragons.

<<Lesser Mythology Down>>

<<Lesser Mythology Extinction>>

Arisa and Hikaru cast their anti-demon lord magic.

Flash of light blew the evil dragons away, thundering sounds and impacts coming slightly later shook my body.

The two purposely de-focused their aim to maximize the spells range, a great majority of evil dragons took the hit, half of them received huge damage.

USSHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

As I watched over several dots vanishing, next to me Arisa shouted out loud while fist pumping up high.

I leveled uuuuuuuuup!

Oh, for real?!

Arisa has finally broken through the so-called [Humanitys Limit] level 99 and reached level 100. Shes got a new title [One who Breaks the Limit of Man] which I dont have.

Everyone stopped their attack and congratulated Arisa.

And despite not knowing what was going on, Hayatos attendants also gave a round of applause to Arisa even while looking confused.

Of course the Evil Dragons werent going to wait for us, hence I secretly bought us time with space magic [Labyrinth].

Congratulations on breaking the limit, Arisa.

Ehehehe~ thanks. Now Ive just gotta give it my all to catch up to Master.

Thats going to take some heavy NEXT exp points.

<TLN: If youre reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>

They should be coming out anytime now.

Right just as the girls have re-taken up their positions, the Evil Dragons broke out of Labyrinth.

Think we got around 20% of them so far, no?

I believe so.

Their job was to break through the thick multi-layered defensive barriers protecting those dragons, shaving down their enormous stamina, and theyve done a great job at it.

Its Lulu-oneesamas turn next.

Arisa passed the baton to Lulu next.

Mult-Target, Lock-on. Burst Mode Ready.

Launching Saturation Attack!

Lulu pressed the trigger extending out of her Powered Exoskeletons extra unit.

A moment later, all 24 acceleration cannons and magic cannons on her Powered Exoskeleton and extra units unleashed their barrage.

The blue holy bullets hyper-accelerated by acceleration circles rained down upon the swarm while leaving laser-like trails on their tracks, shooting through the dragons bodies and wings before boring holes on the ground.

Thanks to Arisa and Hikarus actions, there were more fallen evil dragons than anticipated.

Sortieing out.

A blue light flashed out of Lizas body as she ran through the battlefield, wrapping other girls in blue lights.

Must be the Unique Skill [Hero Heart] loaned by god Garleon.

Of course, the reinforcement magic I put on them is still on effect as well.

Charge, nanodesu!

Aye aye sir~

Pochi and Tama riding on Lyuryus back followed after her.

Seemingly feeling threatened by them, the evil dragons shot out their breaths all at once.

White (Nana), defensive maneuver!

Yes, Orange (Liza). You disgusting repulsive evil dragons! I shall be your opponent, so I declare!

Vermilion light streamed over Nanas body as she shouted out loud with the usage of Provocation skill, uniting Unique Skill [Paladin Shield] with the highly mobile [<<Absolute Throne>>] into [Paladin Domain].

The all-swallowing muddy stream-like dark purple breaths shot by the evil dragons swooped down on the girls.

Dark purple flames clashed with Nanas barrier with a vermilion outline.

The blocked flames went up toward the ceiling, transforming it into lava.

Thats some firepower alright.

Yep. Nanas barrier still comes out on top though.

Just as Arisa said, even flames that turned ceilings and grounds into lava could not break through Nanas Unique Skill-reinforced barrier.

The flames are so intense Pochi cant rush in nodesu.

Want a short cut cut through shadows~?

Lets go with that. Can you make the exit on the shadow of those stalactites hanging above?

Offu course~?

The beastkin girls and Lyuryu jumped in the shadow gate Tama created with her ninjutsu, appearing right above the evil dragon swarm.

These evil dragons are exhausted. Lets each get them.

Aye aye sir~

Roger nanodesu!

Tama vanished as she was falling down before coming out of shadow below the evil dragons.

An opening~? <<Dragonic Eater>>

Ninja Tama created countless clones of herself to mercilessly cut up evil dragons abdomens using the twin small dragon fang swords in her hands.

Other evil dragons who noticed that unleashed their breaths toward Tama, but there was no more Tama at that spot. Ninjas come and go in unexpected places at unexpected moments.

After Burner Full Throttle.

Liza produced magic edge cannons inside her acceleration parts exhaust vents, generating an even greater acceleration for her.

<<Dragonic Penetrator>>

With her finisher deployed, Liza landed on an evil dragons back at tremendous speed.

She went through the back and came out of its abdomen.

The ground sunk greatly, a donut-shaped cloud of dust spread out of the impact point.

Such crash would have harmed her normally, but thanks to the force magic [<<Inertia Control>>] put on her Powered Exoskeleton, the force from the impact was converted into horizontal energy.

Liza pierced through the defenseless abdomens of one Evil Dragon after another while maintaining a speed that exceeded Flickering Motion.

Liza is a lightning nanodesu.

The way Liza went for evil dragons in a zig-zag pattern must have looked like a lightning from Pochis position flying high near the ceiling..

Pochi and Lyuryu wont lose either nodesuyo!

As Pochi and Lyuryu went around and got behind the evil dragons, she shout out loud.

Lyuryu, full speed ahead nanodesu!

.

The large-scale acceleration parts attached below Lyuryus wings produced super sonic speed.

They closed in the distance to the evil dragons at speed rivaling Lizas afterburner.

<<Dragonic Acceleration>> nanodesu!

Pochi grabbed on white dragon Lyuryu tightly, took a stance with her dragon fang sword, and charged ahead using her powered exoskeletons accelerated circle, skewering several evil dragons at once.

Other evil dragons turned their heads toward Pochi to let out breaths.

Wont let you~?

A voice appearing out of nowhere was heard, then a lines ran through those evil dragons necks.

A moment later, dark purple flame sprouted out of those lines.

Its Tama.

Tama moves between evil dragons with her ninjutsu, severing a neck every time she hopped.

Right at the moment, mana swelled up behind me.

<<Create Lesser Fenrir>>

Mia finished her long chant, manifesting the anti-demon lord artificial spirit, Lesser Fenrir.

Go.

Lesser Fenrir rushed toward remnants of evil dragons that had survived the beastkin girls assault.

Chantless not fair.

Well, I also think its unfair, but its not something you can just learn, gotta do it through exploiting Self-Status you know~

Huh?

Perhaps we can make a [Blessing Orb] for learning [Self-Status] skill at the Phantasmal Labyrinth?

Id feel bad if it turned out to be no-go though, I should save telling Mia this after confirming it myself once were done with sealing the Netherworld Gate.

I could afford thinking all this stuff while watching over the evil dragon extermination campaign led by the girls.

Hyahhaa, nanodesu!

Headhunt~?

After exterminating the <<Evil Dragon Vanguard>> swarm, were currently advancing through a spiral staircase with Pochi and Tama leading the way.

Initially the girls were trying to compete which one get the vanguard whenever one appeared, but now theyve settled with golden members taking care of <<Mutant Dragon Vanguards>> while the silver members and Hayatos attendants going for mid-class vanguards like manticores and hydras.

Im in charge of replenishing everyones mana, and navigation.

Paladin Castle so I inform!

Nanas barrier blocked a breath coming out of a passage next to us.

Master, a wild metallic scales appeared!

Arisa is correct, the one who shot that breath Nana blocked is a sub-species of evil dragon boasting metallic scales.

Its go by the name of <<Evil Dragon Apostle>>, its clad in a dark purple aura.

At first I thought it had Unique Skills, but turned out it was simply an enemy that would revive several times before you could kill them for real, so we face no problem in particular.

The beastkin girls are driving their finishers into it right now.

Thats fine and all, however.

Did it show up out of nowhere again?

I gave an affirmation to Hikarus question.

That Evil Dragon Apostle just now suddenly appeared on my Radar.

I considered the possibility of Mana Camouflage skill, but these dragons had no such skill.

Arisa, could you take a look at the space around this area?

OK, just leave it to the pro of space magic, Super Arisa-chan!

I know that there are several spots where space is distorted, but I have no idea why.

So theres a gate to Netherworld at the end right?

Yeah, its like this.

I send her Map info through Familiar Link.

Turn out you can send simple images through it.

I figured as much. That gate is the root. Its hard to tell since the connections are interrupted all over the place, but if you connect them like here and here you get this, see.

Indeed, once you connect the lines Arisa pointed out, root-like distortions are spreading from the gate.

Listen.

Mia pulled my clothes.

Hm?

Indigo blue light blinked over Mias outline.

Looks like she used the Unique Skill loaned by god Urion, Sanctuary Guard.

Its dangerous, ahead.

Right after Mia said that, this danger was conveyed to my mind.

Must be the power [Detect approaching wickedness, and make it known] from Sanctuary Guard.

This is

I can feel a presence similar to the one I felt during the [Demon Gods Offshoot] incident at Shiga Kingdoms capital.

Its also similar to when god Zaikuon used the [Forbidden Power Deprived from Demon God].

The root of this presence is one and the same as the distortions in space.

Seems like this gate is more dangerous than I thought.

That said, I cant just turn tail and leave the Netherworld Gate as is.

Lets strengthen our defense from here on.

I put the perceptive Tama and Mia to be on guard, in addition to Arisa with her space magic and Zena-san with her wind magic as we advanced through the passages.

Its really getting thicker

The presence of Demon Gods Offshoot is getting stronger the more we progress further, the evil dragons are also getting more powerful.

As the distortion in space got even worse, we even found stuff like part of evil dragons such as heads and tails growing out of walls.

The gate is just a bit further ahead, but maybe I should let the girls out of this tower for their safety.

Nanashi-sama!

Sera who was healing wounded silver members called out to me.

I have received an oracle from god Tenion!

Another trouble I reckon.

T-the Netherworld is encroaching the human world! Tenion-sama said the Netherworld and human world might fuse into one at the rate its going!

Whoa, that sure sounds like a bit of a pickle alright.