Chapter 256.1

Chapter 256.1. If They’re Going To Be Erased, Might As Well Use Them Many Times

[Prominence]’s flames, like those from a past time, assail and burn Mega Queen.

True to its name, those flames possess the heat and radiance of the sun; the air ignites, and the ground, merely grazed by the flames, melts with a sizzling sound.

The world exists within the sun’s brilliance as if everything were burning within the magma, causing the dungeon to dissolve like melted cheese.

The ceiling melts and turns into lava, dripping down, while the ground turns into seething magma.

[Magic Break]

Once again, that Ymir or whatever releases magic disruption. The flames attacking Queen momentarily vanish, but they swiftly engulf it again.

“W-Why… Why won’t they disappear? Ymir!”

Perhaps due to his agitation, Fen seems to have left his microphone on. Faintly, I could hear Fen’s screaming voice.

“…Why?”

[Magic Break]

A bewildered voice is heard, still maintaining a certain composure. He attempts to disrupt Miu’s magic once more.

However, it’s futile. The flames momentarily vanish again, only to surge from behind like a rekindled fire, burning Mega Queen.

[Magic Break]

Through the additional magic, [Prominence] finally disappears, and the surrounding flames he extinguished the magic.

“H-Ha, ha-ha! It’s a trick! An illusion, nothing more.”

She heard a voice of madness, and Miu couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Why do you think it’s an illusion?”

With a slight tilt of the head and a glint in her eyes, Miu innocently smiles.

“T-That’s, of course! Otherwise, there’s no way the dungeon would be melting! This scene is a trick, an illusion, or some psychic attack!”

Indeed, the surrounding scene is dire. Even after [Prominence] is dispelled, the rampage caused by the flames continues to heat the dungeon until it’s glowing red.

If not for her magic’s side effect, Miu would have run to buy ice, complaining about the heat.

It’s as if they’re inside a furnace burning bright red, or submerged in magma. Imperial Ants that protected Mega Queen are consumed by the power of the flames, burning out in an instant, leaving only a few remaining.

The remaining few can’t endure the high-temperature space and crumble to the ground, disappearing as particles.

It’s understandable to want to escape reality. That feeling is painfully understood.

There’s no oxygen left, and this isn’t an environment where life can survive.

Even Miu, if she didn’t have the game specifications’s friendly fire immunity, would have been toast in this heat.

“Can you break through Mii-chan’s trick, Menou Fen!”

“I’ll expose it for sure! You little brat!”

Out of pity, and leaving only hope behind, Miu shields herself again.

“Then, I’ll respond with an encore!”

[Three Consecutive Magic]

[Prominence]

[Prominence]

[Prominence]

“Whoa! Counter with Multi-Warhead Freeze Missiles!”

The rear of Mega Queen opens, and missiles are launched amidst the smoke. In midair, the missiles split into multiple, all aiming at Miu.

Miu’s body radiates like the sun, and [Prominence] roars like a flame dragon.

Amidst that, a Magic Missile clad in azure metal armor penetrates, exploding and attempting to spread cold.

Under usual circumstances, that cold could turn the surroundings into a frozen wasteland. That’s its power.

However, Miu’s flames are like those of the sun. Just as snowfall upon the sun would be meaningless, the missile’s outer layer quickly melts away, leaving a fleeting glimpse of coldness before it vanishes.

“Th-this little girl, the girl!”

[Summon Imperial Ant]

[Magic Break]

Fen summons Imperial Ants once again. To help him, Ymir tries to extinguish the flames.

As the Imperial Ants are summoned, they immediately activate [Holy Knight’s Pride] and show valiant efforts to protect their Queen.

However, the moment they touch the flames, they turn to ashes instantly, and many Imperial Ants are defeated.

[Magic Break]

“Ugh, is it still not enough!”

I can hear Ymir’s pained voice. Consecutive uses of [Magic Break] seem to have significant recoil.

That split second becomes fatal, and the remaining Imperial Ants evaporate in the intense heat.

[Magic Break]

Ymir manages to extinguish the final [Prominence]. However, the dungeon continues to melt, and the ground eventually collapses.

“Maybe I overdid it a bit.”

Using falling debris as footholds, Miu moves rhythmically through the air.

“Darn it, darn it, this isn’t how it was supposed to go! I’ll have to fight with my ultimate move!”

[Full Drive]

In response to Fen’s shout, Mega Queen emits a crimson aura, spreading her wings wide and taking flight.

“Is this a technique that goes beyond the limit? How long can you keep it up?”

“Don’t be fooled! There’s more than enough time to crush you, little girl. Witness the true power of this Queen Ant!”

[Summon Imperial Ant]

Despite his shouts, Fen maintains some composure, summoning the ant soldiers once again.

However, due to summoning while falling, Imperial Ants’ formations get disrupted, and can’t seem to activate [Holy Knight’s Pride].

A few Imperial Ants manage to stand on the falling debris, but even though it’s debris, the melted rock is scorching like burnt flesh on a hot plate.

Furthermore, the aura surrounding Mega Queen diminishes as she summons. It seems it has a mana limit, unlike Aegir.

Observing this calmly, Miu giggles.

“It seems like it’s better to stop the summoning!”

After all, no matter how many times he summons, the ant soldiers enter a scorching inferno world where they burn.

“We just need to buy a little time. During that time, we’ll defeat her! Kill her! Eradicate her!”

Hovering, Mega Queen readies its 4 swords once again.

Indeed, some Imperial Ants continue to activate [Holy Knight’s Pride] even as they burn. Their tenacity is impressive.