CHAPTER 1599: THE ANTI-MASKED MAN SQUAD

"So, that’s the legendary masked man, huh?" said Shura Desmonn while poking a finger in his ear. He could still feel the vibrations from Pherdanta’s disturbing show of power earlier shuddering through him – however vaguely.

"Or rather, the EverSword heir," said Agnees Kudobtu. Because of the effects of her technique (refined through Ferex’s Soul Talisman), she still looked rather large.

"He’s changed, somehow. Just now... what just happened to him?" said Gerriey, extraordinarily tense.

"He’s somehow become a Bearer of Undeath. Those aren’t very common," Uyuniya said, but other than Kintar, Uyuniya, Sila and some of the Stark Troops, no one heard her.

"It doesn’t really matter who or what he is right now. Our objective is the same," said Pherdanta. She pierced the masked man with a nasty look from within the borders of her Majestic Territory, Cogent Stark Order.

Everyone was nestled inside the Territory. The GeoScape turned translucent ahead of them, allowing them to see the enemy and the Drakkens flying about. Two other allies could be seen as well, but they had not joined the rest.

Pherdanta took a deep breath and cycled mana through her body in an effort to rapidly recover. She didn’t want to rely on her Granted Star Armament for this. Not yet. Even besides, she wasn’t sure if it could cure how much strain her body had endured by using her newly developed ability, [Infinite Sword God, Sardonic Latitude].

The technique was blessed by the Primeval Deity COLMUUN’s Fundamental Barter multiple times, and since all its activations didn’t require any kind of energy to cast, they strained her physical body with each use instead.

Pherdanta’s impressive shower of slashes against Boron’s Void rank halberd had nearly killed her. If she used that kind of power again, she would die.

Kintar hadn’t missed that.

"Are you sure you’re going to be able to keep up? You don’t look so good. As far as I’m concerned," she said and turned to the Five House heads, Vali (as well as her doubles) and Maxim, "all these guys are only able to remain in play because of you and your Territory, Commander."

Pherdanta gave the Realm Source Mage a nonchalant look. "I’ll be fine. I just can’t use a certain type of slashing technique for my own good. Even without it, I should be able to comfortably hold my own against that man." She took another breath and did her damndest to keep her legs from shaking. "Besides, do not underestimate everyone who went down to that hell with me. They too have fought Divines and are still breathing."

As Kintar snorted, Vali and Maxim smirked. The latter would have let loose some offhanded, unnecessary jab against the Realm Source Mage, but she didn’t dare. She could sense something terribly dangerous about Kintar. She was like Pherdanta, boundless, but...in a threatening sort of way.

"How do you propose we deal with this masked man, Commander? He’s apparently become a Bearer of Undeath, just like master is a Bearer of Null Life," said Kintar. "That thing he pulled out of his shadow is far more dangerous than anything else he’s summoned so far. That, coupled with the Beyond the Veil Stager will be a tall task."

In truth, Nigerra was no threat to Kintar, but she thought to gauge Pherdanta’s thoughts and prowess with the question. Even now, Kintar would have rather faced Rias by herself, but even she knew it was unwise to disregard an ally like Pherdanta in a situation like this.

The Commander of the Stark-Soul Order almost seemed to disregard the question. She answered only after she had taken her seventh breath.

"Rather than the Undead summon and the Beyond the Veil Stager, tell me more about the masked man. What troublesome abilities does he have? The welfare of his summons and that curious woman will be entirely reliant on how he fights."

Kintar snorted.

"His current body is immune to mana and its variants. That ugly deer above him can summon anything he wants, including powerful autonomous units, and absurdly powerful artefacts. He has an eye like Yuyui’s that reflects energy-type attacks in its direct line of sight. He can seize your soul if it isn’t shielded. And of course, he’s Divine, which means he’s extremely hard to kill," she explained robotically. "Ah. This was all before he apparently became a Bearer like master just now."

...!!!

While everyone that Pherdanta brought along gaped at the list of abilities, she nodded.

"Noted. A tall task, indeed. But not impossible to deal with."

"You think so?" Kintar said, disgusted.

"Of course," said Pherdanta and she glanced at the Mage. "You were able to hold your own, weren’t you?"

An odd smile cracked open on Kintar’s face. "So? I can create Rules, and I can read the flow of that man’s Amras now. These two abilities are the crux behind how I aim to handle him."

Pherdanta smiled.

"What a coincidence," she said. "I can’t create Rules, but recently, I’ve managed to develop an ability to that allows me to read Genuine Divine energy as well – the energy used by Divines."

This... surprised Kintar.

She had not dared to believe that Pherdanta who, as of several hours ago, was far weaker than she was despite being the leader of Skullius’ Order, would rise to her level.

Even the shower of world-rending slashes earlier did not convince her that Pherdanta could be that strong.

"...I see."

Sila stepped forward.

"Leave that Undead summon to me. As a matter of fact, leave all sentient summoned monsters to me. I’ll take them off your hands as they appear."

Pherdanta, Uyuniya and Kintar turned to him.

The terrestrial princess frowned. "Are you sure?"

Serenity’s Free Marauder responded with a solemn nod. He was that confident.

"Very well then," said Pherdanta. She gestured towards the Five House Heads, the Stark Troops, and the combatants under Maxim and Vali’s charge. "You all will deal with that Beyond the Veil Stager. I will split her from the masked man. Swarm him from within the Territory."

Everyone acknowledged the command... except for Vali and Maxim.

"That’s not going to fly," said the former. "I think I’ll be more useful against the masked man."

"It’s we! We will be more useful, dammit!" Maxim cried while nudging Vali.

Pherdanta regarded the two with a strange look. "You heard Kintar. Mana, Aura and Nitros won’t work against the masked man. How do you plan on beating him when that’s all you can use?"

"It’s better to show you rather than tell. Besides, while I’m thankful to you for protecting us till now, our lives are our own responsibility, Pherdanta," said Vali sternly. "I’m the only one who gets to judge how much I’m worth. If I die during the process, that’s not your responsibility and it certainly shouldn’t be your burden."

"...What she said!" declared Maxim while puffing her chest out.

Pherdanta considered the two for a few seconds before smiling.

She could sense the same throbbing desire to prove herself that she’d always had within them too. A little jealousy was sprinkled within that desire as well.

"You’re right. Do as you please."

She could have said these exact same words to other individuals who seemed equally as determined to not be allocated like the others: Ferex and, perhaps unsurprisingly, Guissepo.

Pherdanta didn’t bother with them, however.

With the roles now assigned, she turned away from her allies.

On the subject of resolve, she wondered what new drive the opponent she’d lost to in the Under was clinging to now.

What would the Generals of Boron do?