Frozen-Flame War Fortress (3)

"Isn't that a Lava Dead Viper reduced to a skeleton...?"

"Even the places where it should have had flesh are packed with bones."

The creature that emerged from the hole in the Great Bone War Fortress was a large snake assembled from bones. Since flames were spilling from between its bones, I initially thought it was an Undead Lava Dead Viper, but it seemed to be something else.

The head and the spine connected to it certainly seemed to belong to a Lava Dead Viper. However, as Genjuro said, even the places where it should have had muscles and internal organs were packed with bones. It would be better to think of it as a different Undead based on a Lava Dead Viper. I should try 【Appraisal】.

――――――――――

Flamebone Clone Quality: Good Rarity: S (Special Grade)

A clone created by the Great Bone War Fortress using a part of itself.

It acts independently, but is still a part of the main body.

Many bones imbued with the power of flame were used in its creation.

――――――――――

So it can detach a part of itself and make it fight. Judging from its name, it was undoubtedly created by 【Clone Creation】. No Skills whatsoever were displayed, and it was treated much like an item, making it resemble a Golem. Since it was not actually another monster, perhaps that was only natural.

Clones began emerging one after another from the holes in the Great Bone War Fortress's body. Not only were there ones wreathed in flames like the Flamebone Clone, but individuals cloaked in cold air also crawled up. They came in a wide variety of forms, including beasts such as monkeys and rats, reptiles such as snakes and lizards, insects, and even humanoids.

The number of clones continued to increase, and although they could not multiply without limit, at this rate they would soon fill the boss area. If no one reduced their numbers, we would soon be hard-pressed even to attack the Great Bone War Fortress.

"It seems the fortress's soldiers have been deployed."

"I could have done without that, actually. So, Ruby, can I leave this party to you?"

"Us? Sure. That's okay with you too, Grandpa?"

"Indeed. The arrogance that nearly got me killed just now—this is a good opportunity to strip it away."

I decided to have Ruby and the others deal with the clones. They should be able to dispose of even a swarm with ease. Since Ruby was eager, I would leave it entirely to them.

I had expected Genjuro to hesitate, but he willingly chose to fight the clones alongside Ruby. Apparently, nearly dying just now had bothered him considerably. That was reassuring.

The clones had appeared atop the Great Bone War Fortress, and fortunately, they were descending toward us from there. I had no concerns about entrusting this to them, but I did not know the enemies' exact strength. I doubted the clones were stronger than the main body, but I would fight alongside them at first while we intercepted them.

"Let's attack with an Attribute unrelated to either Fire or Water. Astral Magic Array, Sand Blade."

"Shaaah!"

Using 【Sandstorm Magic】 to blunt the advance of the leading clones, Genjuro charged in. The blade he swung with a resounding battle cry cleaved a bear-shaped clone in half with a single stroke. Split from crown to crotch, the clone stopped moving and collapsed on the spot.

However, I had seen it even from a distance. The cut surface was glowing bright red. It was undoubtedly about to launch some kind of self-destructing attack. By the time I tried to point that out, Genjuro was already moving.

"Don't think that trick will work twice!"

Just before it self-destructed, Genjuro kicked the bisected clone toward the others. It exploded right in the middle of the enemy ranks, apparently causing tremendous damage to the other clones.

"Oh, I see. That's how you do it. Everyone, let's copy Grandpa!"

"Turn the enemies into bombs? Great strategy!"

"Then I'll snipe the enemies in the back."

"So, should Wool and I be the ones throwing the bombs?"

"Looks that way, Wool. You take the right, and I'll handle the left."

Using clones that had stopped moving as bombs proved to be an extremely effective strategy. Genjuro, Ruby, and Shifune destroyed the clones, while my magic and the shock waves created by Wool's cries blasted them toward the enemy. They exploded within the swarm of clones, sometimes setting off chain reactions of explosions.

On top of that, Shio's accurate sniping pierced the clones from the center of the swarm all the way to the rear. Apparently, they automatically exploded once they stopped moving, so her attacks were effective as well.

The successive explosions were accompanied by flames or cold air, sending bone fragments flying even toward me. The repeated explosions below were a breathtaking sight, but Genjuro and the others, who were often caught in the blasts at close range, seemed to be taking steadily accumulating damage.

"Should we heal soon? But with the three of us holding the front line, sending even one person back would make things difficult. What should we do...?"

"Then I suppose I'll break a few bones of my own!"

I was thinking it over in a low voice, but apparently Genjuro had heard me perfectly. He sheathed his sword and swiftly produced four naginata. Gripping one in each of his four arms, he began swinging them with tremendous force!

I could not imagine an ordinary person mastering four naginata. Yet Genjuro did not let the weapons collide or allow his movements to stall; he was fighting even more fiercely than before.

"Ho ho ho! My movements are still rough, but my Multi-Blade Style is starting to look the part, wouldn't you say?"

The first naginata severed a clone, the next pierced a mass of bones with a sharp thrust, another crushed one with its butt end, and the last swept away the remains, sending them exploding far off to the side. It was a magnificent display, as though he meant to show that he could perform the work of four men by himself.

Indeed, Genjuro possessed 【Multi-Blade Style】. It had evolved from 【Dual Wielding】.

Among players, the original 【Dual Wielding】 was a famous and popular Skill. It provided an attack-power bonus when using multiple weapons simultaneously, and there were martial techniques that could not be learned without it.

It apparently left something to be desired defensively, but its offensive power was its selling point. Furthermore, several of the contestants who performed well in the first Battle Tournament had mastered 【Dual Wielding】, which probably increased its popularity even further. The fact that it simply looked cool probably helped too.

Even with the bonuses provided by the Skill, 【Dual Wielding】 was famous for being difficult to master. I had heard that many players learned the Skill but could only perform the prescribed movements from its martial techniques, leaving them unable to make full use of it. This was something I had heard from Hanna, who had been a human player, so it was reliable information.

Nevertheless, Genjuro had pulled off the feat of using all four of his arms, something that was surely even more difficult. As an avatar with four arms myself, I could state unequivocally that those were movements impossible for an ordinary person.

His additional arms could move naturally, as if they had been attached from birth, thanks to the system's assistance. Yet even moving the two arms one was born with freely was difficult. Adding more arms could only increase the difficulty, not reduce it.

Genjuro had been using a three-sword style for some time. That alone was impressive, but he had casually said, "I'm just using single-sword style and dual-wielding at the same time. It's easy once you get the hang of it." That could not possibly be true, but when I thought about it, it certainly was.

That was why the method he was using now—coordinating four naginata as he fought—was the true Multi-Blade Style he had sought. Since he had made it a reality, I believed it was fair to call him a modern-day swordmaster.

"G-Grandpa..."

"He's like a typhoon, Genjuro-san."

"Aaaah..."

"Amazing..."

"Hahahahaha! Nice, old man!"

Everyone besides me was astonished by Genjuro's rampage. Apparently, the other parties could see it too, and Jigoro was laughing exuberantly in excitement. Without even needing to look, he was surely fighting even more wildly.

Mac and the others were also stunned, but they returned to the battle rather than stand around in a daze. Unlike Jigoro, they did not become more aggressive after being inspired; they continued fighting steadily as before. Thank goodness they were sensible people.

"Gigigigigigi..."

In the meantime, the main body of the Great Bone War Fortress began wrapping itself in flames again as it underwent its third transformation. At this rate, I would have to go support Mac and the others.

"Ruby, I'm heading over there. Keep holding this side."

"Okay!"

"See you!"

After casting 【Enhancement Arts】 and 【Soul Arts】 on Ruby's group once more, I rejoined Mac and the others. Since they were weak to flames, they would be forced into a difficult battle without my support.

As expected, Mac and the others were struggling, so I immediately cast 【Soul Arts】 on them to extend the healing effect. I also raised a magical barrier to begin supporting them defensively.

"I've come to support you. Leave the defense to me."

"Ah, yeah. Thanks."

"Izamu-san! What kind of Skill is that Genjuro-san using?!"

I immediately strengthened our defenses with Magic Shield. Mac gave me a halting reply, while Saara quickly approached and bombarded me with questions. She was probably excited, but being confronted by a scythe-wielding skeleton was a little frightening.

However, Saara suddenly floated up as if lifted by an invisible hand and was tossed toward the front line. She seemed to be protesting even as she screamed, but with burning arms bearing down on her, she hurriedly intercepted them.

"Thanks, Pop."

"You're welcome. Saara's such a handful! Asking other people about their Skills is against etiquette..."

Pop had thrown Saara with her psychokinesis. It was a versatile Skill that could create shock waves or grasp things with invisible hands. She called herself a Poltergeist, but she seemed to belong to a rather capable Race.

"If you want to ask, ask Genjuro. He'd probably tell you surprisingly readily."

"Really?"

"Yeah, Genjuro is easygoing. But whether you can imitate him is up to you. It's not the sort of technique you can use just by having the Skill..."

"That much is obvious just by looking! I need to start by growing more arms!"

...Was she really planning to have more arms added if she decided she wanted to? She certainly was bold. Not that I was in a position to criticize her, since I actually had extra arms.

Just as I finished chatting with Pop, a new change occurred in the Great Bone War Fortress. This time, rather than opening a hole, its surface bulged outward into the head of a monster—one that had also appeared among the clones.

Only about thirty percent of the enemy's health had been depleted. There was a good chance it still had further transformations in store, but we would bring it down no matter what!