Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 471: Fierce Enemies, the Imperial Soldiers
As battle erupted in the deserted square, Duke Barriera’s territorial soldiers revealed themselves from the surrounding buildings. Ragune, Ankh, and Zion emerged with them, completing the outer encirclement.
The imperial soldiers didn’t panic.
“Proceed to the next stage.”
At that brief command, they shifted formation and several began chanting spells.
“I won’t let you finish those!”
Ankh charged at full speed and released a flying slash from his magic greatsword. The unexpected attack cut down one of the chanting soldiers.
“Magic sword user!” an imperial soldier warned.
Ankh immediately attacked another target, but the enemy reacted quickly. One soldier closed directly with him and caught his greatsword, while another slipped in from the side and drove a blade through a gap in his armor.
“Guh!”
Ankh jumped back, clutching his abdomen. The imperial soldiers pursued to finish him, but Ragune activated the protective power of the Mirror Turtle Rectangular Shield and raised a barrier in their path.
Zion darted through the opening and struck with the dark left gauntlet of the Opposing Demon Gauntlets.
The imperial soldier blocked the physical blow, then screamed and collapsed as the gauntlet inflicted a powerful abnormal condition.
The darkness effect also sent pain back through Zion’s arm. She grimaced but didn’t retreat.
“Watch those two closely,” another imperial soldier ordered.
The territorial troops continued compressing the encirclement. Before they could close fully, the imperial spellcasters completed their chants. Multiple explosions tore through the tightly packed allied ranks, scattering soldiers and breaking several sections of the formation.
“Their line is broken. Press the openings and keep them divided!”
The imperial unit remained calm and efficient. Some held off the territorial soldiers, while others concentrated on restraining Aeris and killing Tauro.
“They’re much stronger than I expected!” Tauro exclaimed.
He fought in front of Aeris but was steadily forced backward. The enemy couldn’t predict the changing reach of Modified Shortsword Tauro’s light blade, which prevented an immediate hit, but that advantage wouldn’t last forever.
Even surrounded, the imperial soldiers appeared capable of seizing Aeris and breaking out while carrying her.
Tauro was worried about Ankh’s wound, but he couldn’t spare his attention from the soldiers pressing him.
Aeris fought with a combination of staff techniques and rapid magic. Her movements were fluid, and the combat training she had received from Maria was evident. Yet even she began to lose ground when several elite soldiers attacked together.
Tauro tried to reach her, but his own opponents drove in with the clear intention of killing him. Each time they committed, he briefly extended the shortsword’s light blade and cut one down, but new soldiers immediately replaced the fallen.
The imperial commander continued issuing calm instructions. The resistance had exceeded his expectations, but he still believed the operation remained under control.
The boy beside the target was far stronger than the intelligence reports had suggested. He carried equipment fit for an accomplished swordsman and moved with the composure of a veteran.
The supposed Saint was also nothing like the common village girl described in their information. Her magic, staff work, and movement were all first-rate.
The territorial soldiers themselves were no better than expected. Three apparent adventurers possessed unusually powerful magic equipment, but one had already been wounded and driven back.
The commander judged that his unit could still destroy the encirclement, seize the target, and escape.
Then Zion shouted.
“[Berserker]!”
Darkness enveloped her body as she transformed into a massive feline shape and plunged into the imperial formation.
Ragune advanced beside her, combining the overwhelming defense of the Mirror Turtle Rectangular Shield with precise attacks from her magic spear.
Zion’s transformed strength was ideal for tearing through a chaotic melee, while Ragune protected the openings created by her reckless assault. When the wounded Ankh added attacks from behind them, the pressure increased further.
One imperial soldier was incapacitated almost immediately. Two more were injured and forced back, and for the first time the elite unit began to yield ground.
Even so, the soldiers attacking Tauro and Aeris didn’t break off.
“Ah!”
An imperial soldier finally reached Aeris from behind and tried to pin her arms. Tauro was occupied by several enemies and couldn’t turn in time.
“Pella, protect Aeris!”
Pella had remained disguised as Tauro’s belt until that moment. At his command, it abandoned the disguise, launched itself at Aeris’s attacker, and transformed part of its body into sharp spikes.
The spikes pierced the soldier before he understood what had happened. It was the first time Pella had directly attacked a person, and the imperial soldier died instantly.
“Stay with Aeris!” Tauro ordered.
Once he saw Pella take position beside her, Tauro returned his full attention to the enemies in front of him.