The jet-black arrow flies straight toward the magical beast horde and explodes in the sky above them, diffusing mana.
By generating a gravitational field at its center, the diffused mana transforms into a massive sphere that swallows everything around it.
And whatever is swallowed is annihilated by the torrent of destruction from mana and gravity.
After lingering for a while, the jet-black sphere vanishes, and the magical beast horde it engulfed is literally wiped out completely.
"What kind of attack is that..."
"Amazing...!"
Witnessing the annihilation by Rei Ten, Loretta-san and Lucy-san murmur in stunned voices.
(Should I have set the origin a bit higher?)
Rei Ten—my strongest attack.
Its area of effect is immense.
By setting the origin high in the air, I avoided gouging out the ground like I did in Leglif territory before, but it still swallowed trees and destroyed part of the natural surroundings.
Since I prioritized certainty, I was prepared to accept any blame from Lucy-san, but she doesn't seem inclined to reproach me.
"...[Zero Type Mont Null]"
I transform the demonic bow in my right hand into formless fluid mana, then manipulate it into a thin, elongated shape like a scarf and wrap it around my neck.
The first wave was completely wiped out by Rei Ten, but this isn't the end.
The second wave should contact us any moment now.
The stock of converged mana was fully consumed by [Demonic Sword Unity Ortration] and Rei Ten.
Preparing new converged mana takes time, so I can't release [Demonic Sword Unity Ortration] either. Thinking Lucy-san would feel uneasy if I kept it in weapon form, I improvised this shape as a stopgap.
Well, it's winter, so it probably doesn't look too out of place...?
"The immediate threat is gone. Since Lucy-san seems to have a way to detect magical beasts, you're probably aware, but the second wave is coming soon, so please stay on guard."
Lucy-san, who had been dazed for a while, snaps back at my words.
"っ! Yes, I understand. Um... excuse me, but for the second wave as well, would you be able to use that same attack again...?"
Yeah, figures she'd ask that.
"I'm sorry. That attack requires considerable time to prepare again, so I can't spam it."
This isn't a lie. But it's not entirely true either.
Converged mana is a special type of mana produced by my unique skill...
So if absolutely necessary, I can prepare it instantly.
However, that comes with considerable risk, so it's a method I prefer to avoid.
By taking time, combined with the storage magic tool Grandpa improved for me, I can prepare converged mana with zero risk.
Since there's a high possibility that the Order is behind this overflow, I want to keep reserves until the full picture emerges.
Besides, the rest of "Jade Gale" should arrive before the second wave gets here anyway, so I'll rely on them for the second wave.
"I-I see. But on the contrary, that reassures me."
Hearing my response, Lucy-san seems to relax her fear slightly.
Given her position, that's only natural.
"Loretta-san, for the second wave, I'd like "Jade Gale" to take the lead if possible. How does that sound? Our "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky" analysis says you all struggle against large numbers of enemies."
Loretta-san gives a wry smile at my question.
"As expected. You're right—we do struggle against large numbers of enemies. But that's as explorers... In our current state, my comrades are equipped with magical weapons, so they should have no problem handling that level of magical beasts."
I see, so that's how it is...
Her fixation on "Hero" might be because she's conscious of Warren-san.
"Understood. Then I'll leave the second wave to you all. Please fight as usual, "Jade Gale". I'll move as a rover to match your movements."
"You sure?"
"Yes. We don't have time for coordination checks anyway, and—though it's embarrassing to say myself—I'm not bad at adapting to others mid-battle."
Back in "Golden Dawn", I adapted to my comrades countless times.
Thanks to that experience, even after being kicked out of Dawn, I was able to quickly sync with "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky"'s first unit and "Hero Felix".
In a way, this ties back to what Aida-san said.
Nothing in life is truly wasted.
"Got it. Then Orun-kun, you'll——"
While discussing the second wave with Loretta-san, from behind, a single carriage and three women on horseback approach at tremendous speed.
"Your Highness Lucila! Are you all right!?"
The approaching woman—Maria-san, "Jade Gale"'s defender—calls out to Lucy-san in a panicked tone.
"Yes, no problem. Maria, I'm happy you're worried, but I asked you to call me 'Lucy' outside, didn't I? We don't know who might be listening, so please be careful from now on."
"I-I'm so sorry, Lucy-san!"
As suspected, Lucy-san's true identity is the First Princess of the Nohitant Kingdom—Lucila N. Edelweiss.
"Orun, you already realized who I am, but could you please continue as is?"
"Yes, understood. To everyone here, you're just Loretta-san's acquaintance, Lucy-san, right?"
"Thank you."
(Now that it's confirmed she's this country's princess, her safety should be the top priority. If possible, I'd like to get her out of here immediately, but...)
I glance toward the carriage one of "Jade Gale" was driving.
Inside are several burlap sacks stuffed with something.
Almost certainly magic stones.
From Loretta-san's earlier statement, "Jade Gale" was aware of the frequent overflows in the kingdom.
And as part of protecting the princess, they were likely running a carriage loaded with a large number of magic stones a short distance away to divert any overflow magical beasts away from her.
But despite that precaution, the horde charged straight toward the princess.
So if we evacuate Lucy-san alone before the second wave arrives, there's a high chance the horde would change direction.
Evacuating her carries risk.
The safest option for her is for me and all of "Jade Gale" to deal with the horde here.
Lucy-san and "Jade Gale" seem to share the same thinking.
The other Jade members, having heard the situation from Loretta-san, also aren't trying to evacuate Lucy-san.
"Lucy, I know it's scary, but stay put here. Not only us "Jade Gale", but Orun-kun is here too. We'll absolutely protect you."
Having solidified their plan with her comrades, Loretta-san calls out to Lucy-san.
"Yes. I believe in all of you. Orun, sorry for dragging you into this."
"No. As I said earlier, I have my own reasons for not wanting magical beasts to rampage here."
While that's going on, the second wave—the massive magical beast horde—enters our field of vision.
The number is incomparable to the first wave.
I've only personally witnessed one labyrinth overflow before, so I don't have much to compare it to, but even accounting for overflow stories I've heard, this number is abnormal.
"No third wave seems to be coming, so we can focus on the ones in front of us! Everyone, please!"
Lucy-san—who can somehow detect magical beasts—rules out a third wave.
My detection net also catches no other magical beasts besides the horde in front, so for now we can concentrate on the ones here.
"Then let's go!"
At Loretta-san's command, the four Jade members excluding her unleash wide-area annihilation magic using magical weapons toward the horde.
Most of the magical beasts turn into magic stones from the attacks, but the few that weren't hit continue charging toward us without faltering.
Hunting the stragglers is my and Loretta-san's job.
"—[Type Two Mont Zwei], [Seal Relaxation: Third Layer Restoration Triple]"
I transform the jet-black mana wrapped around my neck into two demonic swords, then raise my physical abilities through formula rewriting and ki activation engraved on myself.
Any magical beast that enters my range immediately has a jet-black trajectory run through its vital point and turns into black mist.
Only magic stones remain at its feet.
(I'd heard about it, but seeing Loretta-san's fighting style up close makes me doubt my eyes.)
While hunting the magical beasts, I'm astonished by Loretta-san's way of dealing with the stragglers.
Like me now, she's wielding two swords.
But while my dual swords are about half the length of long swords, she has a greatsword in her right hand and a long sword in her left—an illogical combination by common sense.
Yet she handles those two swords with fluid grace as if they have no weight, mercilessly bisecting the magical beasts.
Loretta-san is tall for a woman.
She can also boost her physical abilities with buffs.
Even so, there are limits.
By common sense, such a fighting style shouldn't be possible.
The reason she can make it work is because she's not just a swordswoman but also a special magician...
Her special magic is [Self-Weight Increase Weight Up] and [Self-Weight Decrease Weight Down].
By constantly adjusting the two swords to their optimal weight... she achieves a combat style only she can perform.
The four Jade members continuously use magical weapons to turn most of the horde into magic stones.
With me and Loretta-san cleaning up the stragglers, not a single magical beast reaches Lucy-san, and we steadily reduce their numbers.