Thanks to the bug-related title I earned from the first quest, my body felt light… Yet, the sensation of crushing them through Archie was unsettling, and the weight of my revulsion weighed heavily on my heart.
"Chain Lightning!"
Phoebe unleashed arcs of electricity that jumped from enemy to enemy, obliterating them. Once limited to support, she had become a fierce spellcaster wielding her new staff to cast powerful attack spells. According to Phoebe, her equipped coat provided a continuous MP regeneration effect, allowing her to sustain her magic through lengthy battles—unless they encountered the rare exception of the Fairy Ice Gate.
Honestly, her contributions were invaluable. Even if I couldn't defeat enemies in a single blow, the fact that I could strike fewer pests was a significant mental relief.
"I need to give it a try too! Earth Spike!" I shouted, aiming at Archie as sharp spikes of soil erupted from the ground to skewer a pill bug more than five meters away—about the size of a basketball.
Pierced by the spikes, the pill bug vanished with a red flash in a single strike.
"Strong, but I can't overdo it..." The real limitation was my MP. My armor depended on my current MP for its defensive capabilities, meaning the more I used my spells, the more fragile I became. Damn, I should have crafted some MP regeneration gear for myself. Well, I could always replenish my MP with potions, so now wasn't the time to complain. I had to keep moving!
"Lena, we're almost there!"
"Yes, just a little further to the top..."
As we walked, suppressing our disgust for the insects around us, we spotted a massive dragonfly at the summit of a small hill—a clear anomaly compared to the other bugs we had battled. This creature took up the size of a standard four-seater car.
Unlike the insects we fought while moving, I can unmistakably feel the same strength in this giant dragonfly as I did with the centipede in the second quest. Its enormous compound eyes are utterly repulsive. Why is it that even as it grows so large, its body remains long and slender? Ah, why is it that fictional fairy dragonfly wings don't bother me at all, but real dragonfly wings make my skin crawl? I don't understand, and I don't think I ever will—some things are just too uncomfortable to bear.
"Are you okay, Lena? You're shaking a bit," I said.
"I'm fine! Just a bit of battle jitters! But look out, the boss dragonfly has noticed us! Get ready—it's up to Phoebe's magic if it takes flight!"
"Got it! Leave it to me, Lena!"
I forced myself to push down my fear and faced the enormous dragonfly perched atop the mountain. Its countless eyes fixated on me as it began to flap its wings. Suddenly, it soared high into the sky, firing water bullets from a height beyond Archie's reach!
"Whoa?!"
"Ice ball!"
Phoebe conjured a sphere of ice! However, my instinctive dodge meant neither spell hit the target.
"Phoebe, I'll focus on dodging—can you shoot that dragonfly down with your magic?"
"Understood!"
Next, the dragonfly unleashed water beams, sweeping them across the field like a scythe.
"Water cutter?!"
"Chain Lightning!"
While I focused on dodging the water cutter, Phoebe unleashed a bolt of lightning at the water beam. The lightning surged along the beam, zapping the Boston Bug! As a result, the bug plummeted to the ground!
"Now's our chance!"
"Power up! Speed up!"
Arming myself with Flame Light, I lunged at the fallen Boston Bug, aiming for its compound eyes. With a swift swipe, the blade ignited, searing the bug. But after the first cut, it thrashed wildly, and a gust from its wings sent me flying backward.
Should I have targeted its wings instead of its eyes?
"Ugh, I got blown away again..."
"Lena, are you okay?"
"Ah, it's just the wind blast, so I'm fine... It seems my last strike dealt significant damage. Phoebe, finish it off with your lightning magic!"
"Got it!"
The Boston Bug resumed its aerial attacks, launching water magic from above, but it was unfolding some kind of yellow barrier...?
"Chain Lightning!"
As I dodged the water magic, Phoebe's lightning struck, but it was blocked by the barrier.
"Phoebe, I think that barrier absorbs lightning. It would be better to attack with a different element."
"Understood! Ice Chain!"
A chain of ice shot forth from the staff, but its slow speed allowed it to be easily dodged. Despite being at a distance and even with my impaired vision, Boston Bug moved quickly—wait, I thought I had struck its eye, yet it seemed to be healing. Those golf ball-like compound eyes stared back at me… No, it's just a golf ball, I told myself to rally my spirits… I need to run!
"Lena! A charging attack is coming—Ice Ball!"
Sensing my hesitation, the Boston Bug charged at me, enveloped in an effect that made it seem as if it were cloaked in wind! Phoebe noticed and fired an ice orb, but it was deflected by the swirling air. In that case, I would use my earth element to spring forth right in front of the Boston Bug's eyes and slam it in the face!
"Lena! Element Boost!"
"It feels gross, but it's an opportunity… Earth Spike!"
The Boston Bug was closing in fast, and despite the chills creeping over me, I knew I had to seize my chance. Timing it perfectly, I plunged Archie into the ground, initiating my skill! From the earth beneath me, I summoned a massive, sturdy spike… or rather a stake! It might turn out to be a flimsy wall, but with Phoebe's support magic, I hoped it would hold up!
"If any flying object collides with that sudden wall, it will have a hard time staying airborne! Probably!"
A crack splintered through the rising earth, crashing against the massive stake protruding from the ground. The remnants crumbled away, revealing a Boston bomb that had struck the stake head-on, emanating a shimmering star effect and visibly knocked out, its barrier dissolved.
"Yes! Just as I expected! Phoebe, let's activate the Fairy Ice Gate!"
"Understood... Please, open the Fairy Ice Gate!"
As Phoebe raised her staff toward the sky, a massive blue magic circle unfurled above the Boston bomb!
From it, colossal shards of ice crackled with electricity. The ice then crushed the Boston bomb, erupting in a violent explosion!
"Whoa!? Thunder!?"
"Are you okay, Lena?!"
In the aftermath of the explosion, shards of ice crackling with lightning flew in our direction! I tried to shield Phoebe with Archie, but the ice passed right through Archie and then through both of our bodies... I was stunned.
"I see now... I experienced it with the Fairy Fire Gate too, but Fairy Gate attacks don't harm the caster or their allies..."
"I'm relieved... It's good that you weren't hurt, Lena."
Phoebe sighed with relief, yet she maintained her battle stance. The Boston bomb flickered with red effects all around us, still alive, twitching in a disturbing manner.
I initially thought the size of the ice would crush me, but it seems I was mistaken. However, there's no doubt that I'm on the brink of death!
"This is the end! Earth Gate!"
I could have delivered the finishing blow up close, but I'd rather not get any closer to Bostonbo. Instead, I used a long-range attack to create a sharp spike of earth that pierced through the fallen, immobilized creature. In an instant, Bostonbo turned red and vanished.
With the battle momentarily settled, I sat down to catch my breath and calm my pounding heart.
"Phoebe, you just used Element Boost, right? That's a spell that enhances elemental attacks, correct? How did you know I was going to use Earth Gate for an attack?"
"Well, I suddenly heard a voice that sounded like Lena saying to hit the dragonfly in the face with Earth Gate, so I instinctively supported you with Element Boost... Was that not right?"
Hmm? That's strange; I don't remember saying anything like that. Plus, the fairy ice gate had both ice and lightning, which raises a lot of questions...
Oh well, maybe my expression gave it away. As for the latter, it was likely just a resonance effect.
"No, you provided the best support. Without it, I might not have been able to withstand the dragonfly's charge with the spike I created."
Overwhelmed by the mental fatigue from fighting insects, I let go of my thoughts and complimented Phoebe, gently stroking her head with my index finger. Seeing her blush and smile in response was incredibly heartwarming.
After defeating the Boston Bo and taking a short break, we climbed to the top of a small mountain. The summit was pleasantly windy.
"Look over there!" Phoebe, who was tucked in my chest pocket, exclaimed, pointing in a direction. I followed her gaze and saw a gigantic magical circle etched into what appeared to be a massive barrier. However, the inside of the barrier was shrouded from view…
"Could it be that everyone's home is over there?"
"Yes! That magical circle belongs to the fairies! That means survivors are there! They must be!"
Phoebe's voice rose with unprecedented excitement, brimming with joy. Seeing her take such delight filled me with genuine relief... Could this be the true reward of the third quest? I wasn't sure, but at least there was hope.
"Well then, let's head to the barrier... but it turns out the way leads to a cliff…"
I looked down at the cliff's height—about five stories high, if I were to compare it to an apartment building. Even if I managed to land safely, a fall like that could easily lead to broken bones…
A thought crossed my mind: if I fell and didn't die, couldn't Phoebe just regenerate me? But the risk of death made me dismiss the idea.
I had heard of techniques that minimize injury from high falls, but there was no way I, an aspiring blacksmith, had trained to be a stuntman.
"Um, to be honest, I usually fly, so I don't really know the ground route from here to there…"
"Hey, don't worry about it. It looks like we can get through there."
"...That area used to be a forest filled with cherry blossoms, but it's all gone now..."
From Phoebe's perspective, it's a scene straight out of hell. To see her hometown, once alive with nature, reduced to ruins is haunting. Imagining my own town as nothing but bare land sends chills down my spine.
"Let's go. Inside the barrier, it might still be like Phoebe remembers."
"Yes! It should be!"
Phoebe's response is clearly forced—how could she feel upbeat in this situation? As we walk toward the barrier, I can't help but hope we arrive quickly so we can check what's inside.
Suddenly, a voice calls out from behind us. "Oh, I thought Omega Yanma had been taken out, but look who just showed up for a meal!"
"Fairy Fire Gate!"
A cold shiver runs down my spine. The familiar voice of the being that killed Yuki-sensei echoes in my mind. I can't engage right now—there's no chance of winning; I have to escape!
In a panic, I activate Fairy Fire Gate, enveloping myself in flames before bolting away without looking back. What the enemy is saying doesn't matter! I need to run for my life!
The world around me turns a vivid red as the flames surge, but I know, from my duel with TT and the previous battle against Boston Bo, that my allies won't take damage from the attack. I push through the inferno and keep sprinting toward the barrier!
"Huh? What? Just by talking to it, it self-destructs? What does that even mean? And it doesn't even attack us?"
I could barely hear the confusion in the All Mosquito's voice—it was clearly disoriented. Now was the time to leap into the barrier! The only reason to escape was that Phoebe wasn't at her best, both mentally and in terms of magic points. After using the Fairy Ice Gate, she was nearly out of MP... I realized we wouldn't win a fight against the All Mosquito in that state.