We go further in from the depths of the lava field.
The rocky mountain range had, before I knew it, come to an end.
Black basalt beneath my feet.
Lava was flowing like a river through it.
Kuuuuung……
From afar, a tremendous metallic sound rang out.
Gais raised the spear.
"It’s not over yet."
Something slowly rose from the lava.
This time it was volcanic smelting water.
A furnace glowed red from inside the body.
One piece of iron fragment and one piece of metal ore from the surroundings clung to the body.
And then—
Kwaaang!
It explosively poured out metal fragments.
Gais raised the shield.
Kagagagagak!
The metal fragments struck the shield.
Taking advantage of the gap, the ironworms dug into the floor.
The ground surged.
Crack!
Gais jumped up.
Below, the metallic jaws of the iron beetle closed.
"That's dangerous."
I rotated the spear in midair.
Jijijik!
Electricity enveloped the window.
I stabbed straight down.
Crack!
The appearance of the iron bug split.
But from behind, metal-rock spiders were climbing down the wall.
The molten metal thread stretched in all directions.
Screech!
Dryard snapped at Lira.
ding
A stream gushed from the crevice of the rock.
As it collided with the metal thread, a huge steam was generated.
Ice specks flew through it.
Ugh!
Crack! Crack!
The spiders’ legs froze.
Gais went and seized that gap.
He pushed the torso with a shield and stabbed repeatedly with a spear.
But the lava-shelled turtle right in front curled up its body.
Kugugugung!
The scapula rotated.
It transformed like a massive mobile volcano, sending lava and rocks flying in all directions.
Dryard shouted.
"Damage!"
Gais did not avoid going.
He thrust the shield forward.
Kwaaaang!!
The lava struck the shield.
The ice melted and the water evaporated.
But again from behind—
Prism lance.
Dozens of windows of light appeared.
Paaaang!
It was consecutively stuck into the dorsal surface of the lava shell.
A crack has formed in the shell.
Dryard spread his hand.
Kraaaak!
A huge torrent surged from the lava lake.
The ice immediately spread along the water’s flow.
Jjeojeojeojeok!
The entire lava-colored shell was covered in ice.
Gais went running.
Bang!
I charged straight at it with the shield.
The shell broke.
Within that—
A swarm of tiny volcanic iron bugs poured out.
"Another group, huh."
Gais-ga sighed.
But this time, the bugs did not merge with each other.
A small metal leg unfolded from each body.
And they all rushed at Gaisuga at once.
da da da da da da da da da!
At that moment, blue spheres flew in from the left.
Aqua bubble.
Each droplet enveloped the bug.
Thump!
The movement stopped.
An acidic liquid fell over it.
Screech!
The metal casing melted away.
Dryard said.
"This time it fits pretty well."
Gais raised a spear.
"Then even stronger."
Ice gathered in the sky.
Ice spear.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Countless icebergs covered the lava field.
Kwaaaahhh!!
Ice windows poured out.
The lava freezes
The metal breaks
The rock split.
But suddenly the entire mountain shook.
Kugugugugugu……
The center of the lava lake split.
From within it, a huge arm rose.
Black rock.
Red metal.
And the lava flowing inside.
It was a lava-core giant.
The body, several dozen meters long, slowly rose.
In the center of the chest, a huge lava core was jumping.
Thud.
The lava core glowed.
Thud.
The lava around surged.
Thud.
Gais looked up.
That...… It's different from what we've had so far
The giant raised his arm.
Kwaaang!!
The fist dropped.
Gais went, holding up a shield.
The ground cracked.
Dryard drove the root deep into the rock.
"Gais!"
"I know!"
Gais raised the spear.
Countless prisms filled the sky.
Water.
Ice.
electricity.
Light.
And even the acidic liquid gathered in one place.
The massive lava core glowed red once again.
Gais said low.
"Let’s break that core first."
Paaaaaaang!!
The Prism Lances were fired all at once.
Kwaaaang!!
Water Cannon followed.
Jjeojeojeojeok!
The ice spear froze the crack.
Screech!
The acid dissolved the metal layer.
Lastly
Jijijijijik!!
The electricity surged through all the attacks and plunged into the lava core.
The giant stopped.
A huge crack appeared in the center of the chest.
Gais jumped up just like that.
It's over
Kwaaaahhh!!
The spear pierced the lava core.
A vast expanse of light, water, and ice covered the lava field.
In a moment
Everything became quiet.
All that remained were the blackened, solidified lava and the shattered metal.
Dryard looked around.
“Is it really over now?”
Gais did not answer.
Far away.
Beyond the lava zone
It blinked once again.
And a very low voice echoed from underground.
“……Not yet…… It did not cool down.