The World's Strongest Rearguard (世界最強の後衛 ～迷宮国の新人探索者～)

This stone will warp us to another floor.

Ow...

Misaki-chan! Come over here, quickly!

Wha... Huh?!

Hurry!

I was so scared!

C-Calm down, Misaki-chan.

UNEXPLORED TERRITORY RETURN SCROLL CANNOT BE USED

It looks like we can't use a Return Scroll here.

So we have no choice but to move forward.

I don't know what enemies might be in here,

but it doesn't matter.

As their partymate... As their Rearguard...

All I need to do is protect my party.

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST REARGUARD

THE MECHANICAL ARIADNE

Um, may I say something?

What's up, Suzuna?

I can sense that something happened nearby.

With your Shrine Maiden powers?

Yes, I think this skill has something to do with it.

SPIRIT DETECTION LV. 1 DETECTS UNSEEN SPIRITUAL BODIES

Spirit Detection... That makes sense.

It's vague, but I sense something.

I think someone fought something and died here.

"Something," huh?

I think that might be a golem.

A golem?

You mean that thing's going to start moving?

I don't know... I feel like you're overthinking things.

But if we don't see anything else they could've fought,

that statue is obviously suspicious.

Well, that's true.

It does have an unpleasant aura about it.

I doubt blade attacks would affect it.

But with Arihito's support, we should be able to damage it.

Use attacks that deal multiple hits.

Okay! I'll attack whenever I have the opportunity, too!

Just be careful. Don't push it.

MORALE DISCHARGE

Atobe-kun, it looks like Theresia-san and I can both use Morale Discharge.

We'll figure out what the effects are later.

Right. Elitia-san will be able to use hers soon, too.

Don't count on my Morale Discharge.

I can only use it while Berserk is active.

Okay. We'll be counting on your Morale Discharge

after we get the curse off your sword.

Thanks.

Anything else we should talk about?

Okay, then. Let's go.

I knew it. It does move.

GIANT EAGLE-HEADED WARRIOR ???

Giant Eagle-Headed Warrior...

It's level 6 and Named!

It's insanely strong!

It's a higher level than the Juggernaut?

This isn't gonna be easy.

Everyone, get your fighting spirits up!

Right!

Double Attack!

DOUBLE ATTACK

Igarashi-san! It's about to counter!

Mirage Step!

MIRAGE STEP

Elitia, now!

I'll carve you apart!

Blade Rondo!

BLADE RONDO

Please hit!

It guarded its head? Does that mean...

WIND BURST

Eli-san!

There!

I knew it.

Everyone, its head is its weak point!

So we just need to focus our attacks there!

Hang on! It's about to do something!

It just changed...

I'm going in!

Sonic Raid!

SONIC RAID

It's fast!

Defense Support!

No! That attack hits all opponents!

No... It can't be!

Atobe-kun!

Kyouka, Theresia, take care of Arihito.

I'll handle that thing.

I'll back you up!

Onii-chan...

GIANT EAGLE-HEADED WARRIOR SECONDARY ATTACK WHEN WIND BURST IS ACTIVE HITS ALL PARTY MEMBERS MASSIVE DAMAGE TO ARIHITO

This can't be...

Stay with us, Atobe-kun!

Ow...

We're not supposed to be fighting this thing at our level!

Onii-chan is gonna...

I'll be fine.

Don't talk! I'll heal you right now!

No, I can't be healed... until that thing is defeated.

Besides... I still have an ace up my sleeve.

Huh?

Igarashi-san, use your Morale Discharge.

Theresia, too.

Yay, yay, yay! This concludes part A!

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST REARGUARD

One, two! One, two! Part B starts now!

Morale Discharge: Soul Mirage!

MORALE DISCHARGE ACTIVATED SOUL MIRAGE, TRIPLE STEAL

SOUL MIRAGE

SOUL MIRAGE

Is that... me?

It creates duplicates with physical bodies?!

Thunderbolt!

Incredible! Maybe now...

It's gonna use that attack again!

Not Arihito-san!

We won't let you!

No! It's too dangerous!

Don't worry, Atobe-kun.

Everyone, use the Mirage Warriors as shields!

Oh, right! Then you can...

I get it! Your Defense Support works on the Mirage Warriors, too!

Yeah.

Arihito-san!

Looks like it can't use that attack twice in a row.

Okay.

Rear Stance!

SPIRIT WARRIORS' ADDITIONAL ATTACKS

All right! Now!

I've got this!

Bloom! Blossom Blade!

BLOSSOM BLADE

It can still move?!

Finish it off!

Okay!

Misaki-chan?!

We... actually won?

I don't feel very alive, though.

I'll give you first aid now!

There's no wound?

Yeah, I'm actually fine now.

But how?

It was Theresia.

Her Morale Discharge absorbs health proportionate to the damage she deals.

Oh, so it works on the whole party?