"This is— Nngh…!"

    It seems Kronos realized what those are. He immediately summons another wall at my side, protecting us from the incoming bullets barrage.

    The silver threads protecting us from the puppet silhouettes are no more because of the black spears and bullets.

    The fortunate thing is, the puppet silhouettes are gone for good as well.

    "Kuroyuki…!"

    After confirming that Krono''s thick wall is enough to shield us, Persia quickly turned, squatted down while looking at Kuroyuki with a worried expression.

    "…I… I''m okay now…" Kuroyuki told me, with her face looking pale. "…Go help them."

    "Don''t talk nonsense!" Persia scolded Kuroyuki. "The worst two elemental recoils are ice and fire! There''s no way you are okay…!"

    "H-Huff…"

    Hearing that, my body inadvertently reacted to the cold.

    Looks like the recoil is affecting my body as well... my body temperature could no longer keep up with the cold.

    "K-K-Kronos!" I immediately yelled. "E-E-Extend your wall and gather here…!"

    Hearing my shout, Kronos immediately summoned a more enormous wall— connecting it to ours. Everyone on their side quickly gathered.

    "...!"

    I realize Blaze is trying to get the bullet with his fingers, but he can''t because it''s digging deep.

    "S-S-Someone give Blaze a h-hand…! He can''t g-g-get the bullet…!" I shivered.

    "…Are you okay…?" August asked me as he unsheathed his single-edged sword, transforming it into a rapier. "You are shivering too— stick out your arm, Blaze."

    "Grk……!"

    August then stuck his sword into Blaze''s skin, shovelling out the black bullet from his arm.

    Blue flames then gush out from his bullet wound, with the mild heat just enough to warm Kuroyuki and me from the cold.

    …Is it me or his blue flames is healing Kuroyuki''s coldness…?

    "Guys— look," Kronos said to us after he picked up the black bullet.

    Blaze''s blood… is sticking on it…?

    It''s not disappearing either. Not only that, the black spears and bullets the silhouettes fired so far aren''t disappearing as well.

    What on earth is it made of…?

    It was liquid earlier, but then it takes the shape of a human— and it could choose to phase through physical object or either materialize to deal physical attacks.

    The worst part is… the only way for us to deal damage to them is through the ''Offensive Cladding'' of the ''Force of Will''.

    Even though Blaze''s fire helped, but with Kuroyuki in such a state… it''s impossible for her to continue.

    Then, the only ones left who could use the ''Force of Will'', are…

    "!"

    I suddenly felt something irregular with my'' Presence Sensing".

    The silhouettes are split into a team of two, where they are heading towards the remaining two pillars that weren''t reinforced by Kronos.

    "THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THE REMAINING TWO PILLARS— STOP THEM!!!" I shouted.

    "…!"

    Hearing that, everyone instinctively split teams to deal with the remaining silhouettes.

    Rumelia, Kronos, Blaze are in one team against Rumelia and Kronos''s silhouette, while August and Persia are towards Kuroyuki and Persia''s silhouette.

    …I wasn''t expecting the silhouettes to break the pillars so soon.

    "…D-Don''t stay here…!" Kuroyuki told me. "…Go…!"

    She''s so vulnerable right now… yet…

    Steeling my heart, I quickly stood up and headed towards Blaze''s group. I chose them first because none of them had the ''Force of Will'' to destroy them.

    And by prioritizing their group, I could buy more time to let Kronos focus on reinforcing the pillars as early as possible, just in case of situations like these once again.

    As I leapt myself on top of the wall that Kronos made, I saw Blaze''s group shielding themselves behind another wall, blocking from Kronos''s silhouette''s bullets bombardment.

    Looks like they knew they couldn''t beat them; that''s why he''s focusing on reinforcing the pillar first.

    …the silhouettes didn''t notice me.

    I immediately kicked myself off the wall, aiming for Kronos''s silhouette.

    Yet— Rumelia''s silhouette suddenly stood in front of him, blocking my perfect trajectory.

    I immediately pointed my sheathed Black Sword at her, aiming for a thrust— yet, she stepped on my thrust and counter by landing a sharp thrust on my left shoulder with her fingers.

    THOK.

    "Ow…!"

    Just as I expected, even though it hurts— it didn''t penetrate through even my skin.

    With my ''Offensive Cladding'' still active, I quickly grab onto its face— crushing it with my fingers as it struggles.

    Which, Kronos''s silhouette, which was just behind her— pointed its gun at me.

    BANG!

    The bullet went through Rumelia''s head.

    …That was scary.

    I would''ve died if I hadn''t bent my neck on reflex.

    I then clad my left arm in ''Offensive Cladding'', and rammed through Rumelia''s silhouette''s stomach.

    WHAM!

    It turns to black ashes afterwards— revealing Kronos''s silhouette with his arsenals aimed at me.

    "Shit…!"

    THUNK!

    At that moment, an ice spear went through its head.

    Kronos''s silhouette crumbles and turns to ashes.

    I immediately turn to find Kuroyuki, who was standing on top of the wall, looking exhausted.

    "Kuroyuki…!"

    When I called her, she responded with a nod.

    I had to be careful with August''s group.

    C-CLANK— CLANK— THUNK!

    Persia was dealing against Kuroyuki''s silhouette, while August was against Persia''s silhouette.

    Surprisingly, August is fending well again Persia''s silhouette''s card slashing. I just hope his arm wouldn''t get sliced off just like how Persia did to his silhouette…

    When Persia''s silhouette attacks, August deflects her attacks— and when August attacks, Persia''s silhouette deflects his sword attacks.

    "Hup."

    Suddenly, a quick movement as August got behind Persia''s silhouette— her head was cut off.

    Then, it crumbles to black ashes.

    …His movements are much quicker and swifter at that moment.

    I noticed that he held his sword with his left hand when he dealt that finishing blow.

    No wonder he didn''t feel particularly sad about his broken pinkie. He compensated that with his left hand.

    August then immediately heads to Kuroyuki''s silhouette, helping Persia.

    Persia is holding well against Kuroyuki''s silhouette for now. But even with August''s help, Kuroyuki''s silhouette still manages to fend them off.

    Unlike them, they were skilled enough to deflect and parry Kuroyuki''s attack while moving in sync with each other.

    If I simply head in now, their rhythm would break— I need to find the perfect moment to deal a death blow at Kuroyuki''s silhouette.

    That spear and sword combination is really a pain…

    C-CLANK!

    Kuroyuki''s silhouette parried their attacks back at them— with their weapons flying away.

    "Hold her off…!" I shouted.

    Which, in sync, August and Persia immediately charged and grabbed onto Kuroyuki''s silhouette''s arm from back and front, respectively.

    I immediately charged at her.

    However, in sync with their directions as Kuroyuki''s silhouette did a natural spin— she escaped from their grab and threw them on the ground simultaneously.

    And with that spinning momentum, she throws a sharp kick to my ?h?st.