907: Sendia"s Defense
Fran started breathing heavily now, probably because she wasn’t in good shape in the first place.
Another reason was that the antidemons kept getting stronger and more aggressive, just like during the battle for Castel.
『Fran! Keep at it!』
「Nn……!」
We can’t turn our backs on them for a single minute. If we ever do, they’ll easily break through the walls while we’re gone.
There was almost no support coming from the adventurers, aside from a few ranged blasts coming from atop the walls.
Frankly speaking, those were pretty much a drop in the bucket.
They did, however, play a role in improving Fran’s morale, since it proved that she had allies on her side.
That’s when Urus.h.i.+ suddenly moved into action, enlarging his entire body.
『Urus.h.i.+, no! That size will just make you a bigger target!』
「Grrrrrr!」
I shouted to stop him, but Urus.h.i.+ retained his size.
With the entrance of the giant ten meter wolf, the antidemons concentrated their attacks on him. Urus.h.i.+ covered himself with black mana to enhance his defenses, but it wasn’t nearly enough to nullify the damage.
Even so, Urus.h.i.+ rushed forward to crush antidemons under his claws and fangs.
『Fran, let’s get back while we still can. Drink a potion and eat something.』
「But we have to save Urus.h.i.+!」
『Urus.h.i.+ is pus.h.i.+ng himself to give you a break! Don’t waste his resolve!』
「Urus.h.i.+……」
『I’ll use life magic to mitigate your exhaustion. We’re heading back to the wall.』
「Okay.」
Fran gave a small nod after taking another glance at Urus.h.i.+, who was bleeding after eating a direct hit from a cannon-type. Even so, Fran didn’t voice her concern again.
She knew Urus.h.i.+ would pull through.
「Hang in there, Urus.h.i.+!」
Fran muttered a prayer, and in response, Urus.h.i.+ howled loudly.
「Graaaaaaaah!」
「Gyiiiiiiii!」
「Grrr!」
「Gshaaaaaah!」
Urus.h.i.+, now at his maximum size, continued his fierce exchange with the antidemons.
On one side were the antidemons, covering the entire plains to swarm their target. On the other, a giant jet-black wolf valiantly fending off the overwhelming numbers.
It almost looked like an entire nest of ants attempting to take down their prey. Their battle for survival was a spectacle so fierce and powerful that we could not help but watch.
Urus.h.i.+ continued his resistance without a single step backwards, even though the antidemon horde looked as if they might swallow him up in the blink of an eye.
A swing of his claws crushed ten antidemons. His fangs crunch down on another ten. Each swing of his tail, each kick from his legs, all knocking antidemons down like dominoes.
「Urus.h.i.+ is super cool.」
『Yeah.』
This filled me with relief, but also anxiety at the same time.
Because there’s no way Urus.h.i.+ could get through this unscathed. His injuries were clearly starting to acc.u.mulate, yet he continued slaughtering the antidemons without any sign of retreat.
All of this so that Fran could get some well needed rest.
I would have to respond to such loyalty. Fran was lying on the ground with her stealth activated, so I continued treating her with healing and life magic, while giving her a telekinetic ma.s.sage.
Then I gave her a rice ball and some juice to fill her empty stomach. Even such a small thing would improve our combat duration significantly.
「Grrrrrrrrrr!」
「Urus.h.i.+, amazing!」
『Yeah!』
He’s been doing great so far, but now Urus.h.i.+ stepped it up a notch. He cloaked himself in mana so dense that it was visible, then charged directly into the horde.
He must have sensed that some antidemons were attempting to bypa.s.s him. In order to grab their attention, he decided to go completely serious regardless of the costs.
His plan worked, as the antidemons began another fierce a.s.sault on him.
（Master, ready yet?）
『Almost. Just wait a little longer.』
（Nn……）
Fran’s worries were understandable, as Urus.h.i.+ started bleeding heavily after taking another concentrated barrage, staining the earth in red.
While Fran continued staring at Urus.h.i.+, I focused on my spells. Though life magic couldn’t heal injuries as quickly as healing magic, it was extremely effective at remedying exhaustion.
『Phew…… Alright! Good to go!』
「Nn!」
Immediately after hearing my words, Fran grabbed me and dashed out at max speed.
She readied me as she flew above the ground.
「Haah! Get away from Urus.h.i.+!」
『Ora!』
Fran’s swordsmans.h.i.+p and my spell eliminated the antidemons surrounding Urus.h.i.+. This created a gap, if only for a brief moment, so Fran and I jumped in.
『Urus.h.i.+! It’s your turn to rest! Heal your wounds!』
「Woof!」
『And take this too!』
「Woof woof!」
I threw a whole roasted boar out of my storage. Of course, this was no ordinary boar, but a monster boar nearly five meters long.
I was saving it for one of his later meals, but he can have it now. Urus.h.i.+ caught the roasted boar in mid-air and dove into the shadows as he fell.
『While Urus.h.i.+ rests in the shadows, we’ll grab the antidemons’ attention.』
「Nn!」
I had hoped the antidemons might be surprised after Urus.h.i.+’s sudden disappearance, but they appeared unfazed. After immediately recognizing Fran as their new target, they all rushed at her instead.
We were surrounded by knight-types with black horns, black swordsman-types, and black archer-types, the guys that gave us a ton of trouble at Castel.
So it seems they’re already serious.
Fran movements seemed very light after the break, since she danced around the air while slas.h.i.+ng at the antidemons.
It’s been about thirty minutes since Fran and Urus.h.i.+ first charged into the horde. Our reinforcements should be arriving any second now.
And yet I didn’t sense anyone approaching. The number of people covering us from the wall had doubled, but not much else.
Could it be that the Dragon King started trouble elsewhere? Or some other incident? Are we really not getting anyone else?
I started getting a bit anxious, but then……
Pororon.
The beautiful sound of a harp echoed through the battlefield.