The Second Alchemical Registered Armament

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〈So-chan, can you hear me?〉
〈Yes, no problem. Did something happen?〉
〈I have just encountered an Orc that looks extremely dangerous. It is clearly in a different league from other Orcs, and its threat level is unknown.〉
〈...Understood. I have mostly finished up here. I will head your way immediately. Please hold out for about five minutes.〉
〈Five minutes!? U-understood!〉
〈Do not die, Finn-kun.〉
〈Of course!〉

“Why! Why are you trying to kill us so badly! Let us hear your reasons! Did we hold some kind of grudge against you!?”
“I don’t know what the hell you’ve been babbling about. Is it that? Do you guys need a reason to kill someone? You’re sick. What’s fun about living, you guys? It’s meaningless.”
“...You!”

Along with a pale blue light, the hilt of a halberd appeared in Leene’s hand.
It spun with a low hum and was held diagonally. Her chest swayed.

“By the name of Schneewittchen! It was foolish of me to think I could come to an understanding with you! I will sever your evil souls right here!”
“That’s what I’ve been saying from the start, you’re making me have such a pointless conversation.”
“EnhanceEnhance—Body Enchantment!”

The spirit particles in the surroundings were sucked into the female knight’s body, rising up as a heat haze-like aura.

“...Finn-dono, please take the Princess and run. This Orc is... something... is wrong...!”

She said this over her shoulder.

“What are you saying! So-chan will be here in five minutes! We should be thinking about how all three of us can survive!”
“Hmm...”
“Are you looking away, hey!!”

Her field of vision darkened. Two streaks of red flashes crossed and attacked, blowing Leene away with intense sparks.

“Oh—!”

Finn calmly deployed LogizomaiSevering Spirit Light. He formed an invisible cage around the Orc.
He did not attack immediately. This Orc individual possessed combat skills that clearly surpassed the Cainite warrior chief he had fought in his homeland. If he just attacked, he would likely be cut down. Finn focused his consciousness on the <Philosopher’s Egg>.

“Huh? What is this thread-like thing?”

The Orc swung its twin war scythes carelessly.
In an instant.

“—ArgyropeiaAlchemical Transmutation・DianoiaBlazing Holy Arrow”

Transmutation characters danced in his palm. As if a mosaic image were rapidly increasing in resolution, a long gun appeared. It was an elegant rifle composed of curved surfaces. He pressed his shoulder and cheek against the stock engraved with decorative transmutation characters and gripped the handle embedded in the main body.
He aligned the front sightfront sightand rear sightrear sight—and pulled the trigger.
Charged heavy silver particles were accelerated to sub-light speed by a tandem electrostatic generator and flew off as an ion beam.
The shot landed just as the Orc moved to cut through the LogizomaiSevering Spirit Light. It shattered the giant fangs protruding from its lower jaw.

“Gah!?”

Finn continued to pull the trigger calmly at the Orc, which was wide-eyed with surprise. He restricted its movements with the cage of LogizomaiSevering Spirit Lightand shot it with DianoiaBlazing Holy Arrow. It was a basic tactic for taking down high-ranking Cainites. Several lethal straight lines were hammered into the Orc, scattering charged particles.
However—the enemy was covered in black armor over most of its body.
The hit areas only glowed red; he could neither penetrate nor destroy them. Finn’s eyes widened. DianoiaDianoiawas an anti-personnel weapon. However, it should have been able to penetrate armor that a human could wear without any problems. That black armor seemed to be made of an unknown material that Finn did not recognize.
Regardless, he aimed for the exposed face and the inside of its arms, but—

“It’s obvious...”

It blocked the line of fire to its face with its war scythe and charged at him. It was moving at a ferocious speed that one would never imagine from its dull, heavy-looking giant body.

"That's it!"

　Blocking the line of fire meant blocking its own vision as well. Through the hole opened in the cage of the Spirit-Severing LightLogizomai|, Leene charged at bullet-like speed and slammed her halberd down. The Orc was slow to react.
　Giant sparks bloomed wildly, and the shockwave ruffled Finn's bangs.
　Fragments of shattered black armor scattered. The blown-away Orc twisted its body in mid-air to recover its posture and landed as if nothing had happened.

"Hey, hey, this is starting to get interesting."

　It twisted its massive mouth into a vicious grin.

　--I can do this.

　Finn analyzed the situation calmly. From what he could see, his tactical compatibility with Leene was extremely good. He didn't know the principle behind it, but she seemed able to manipulate her weight at will. With a heavy-tank-type vanguard capable of absorbing the Orc's offensive, Finn was free to act.
　He might be able to decide the outcome of the battle in less than five minutes.
　Finn and Leene exchanged a glance, then charged in perfect synchronization.
　However.

[To be continued]

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