Part 6
— This is just additional information.
What is known to be a Stymphalian is a strange bird recorded in the Greek mythologies. The sixth monster that the Greek Hero Heracles had to face in the “Ten Labors” was the Stymphalian that possessed green copper feathers.
Facing the green copper strange bird that possessed a potent venomous breath, Heracles had also found it to be a tricky situation. But in the end, Heracles arrived at an amazing strategy to deal with them.
That amazing strategy was to “Sound the bronze gongs to create a ruckus, causing the strange bird flock to disperse and to bring them down with poison arrows.”
In other words, it would be a use of “poison against poison”. This is the third method to attack the Stymphalians.
And the task force that was in charge of transporting the bronze gong and the poison arrows to the location were the comrades of the winged Community [Two Wings] who specialised in the tasks of transportation.
Having lost their leader recently, they were passing their days in shame as they lived alongside the other Communities of their Alliance. However, their desire to be the victors of this Gift Game that may bestow a high class Gift wasn’t any lower than the other Communities.
For the sake of regaining their might and for the sake of attracting talents that might be material enough to be their new leader, they had come forth with the determination to weather the Gift Game and to challenge it even if it grinds their bones to smithereens.
—At least,
That is until the instant that Sakamaki Izayoi stood in their way.
“Eeek…..!?”
Boom!! Following the impacts that struck twice and thrice more, the sounds of explosions echoed around the entire foothill of Deborah’s Gorge.
That impact was swifter than the winds of a Griffin and heavier than a fist of a Giant.
The comrades of [Two Wings] who supported the poison arrows were forced to dodge in all directions at a gallop as they waited for the aggressor to appear.
“Who, Who goes there? If you are here to challenge us, at least know your manners of reporting your Community’s name while upholding your flag. Show yourself now and report your name!” A male of the winged humanoid type taunted his enemy with an intimidating tone and the explosions subsided thereafter.
And a figure wavered in the moonlight that was obscured by the rising steam of the explosions.
“……Ha, that’s shocking. I didn’t expect my second opponent to be a member of the [Two Wings]. Looks like we both have a mysterious sort of fate together, huh.”
*Hahaha* The young lad gave a loud laugh as he stood beside the water’s edge while folding his arms before his chest.
The young lad looked the age of seventeen at most.
However, looking at the wreckage of steel parts that were scattered around the young lad and the many participants who were downed by the impacts, it was already enough to give a clear sense of irregularity that resided in the young lad.
[Two Wings] could be said to be famed for its elites within the [DracoGreif] Alliance but they were currently deflated by the strange pressure that exuded from the young lad.
“……Was this the guy who defeated the advance party?”
“Be careful. We don’t know what kind of Gift he’s hiding.”
“Ready the poison arrows. Although it’s a pity to use them for things besides our prey, it is still better to be safe.”
The members of [Two Wings] notched their bowstrings as they entered their battle stance while eyeing Izayoi’s movements.
However, Izayoi only sniffed at them. “Hmph. Looks like you guys of [Two Wings] are all cowards huh?”
“What did you say!?”
“To bring poison arrows, that sort of vulgar stuff, to a hunt and being too scared to use it tactically when the situation calls for it. …… Ha, the Griffit would be much better in that aspect. They would have immediately let loose their arrows.”
Izayoi controlled his urge to laugh as he gave a short laugh that sounded very much like *HngHng*. But that only lasted for a moment as he suddenly kept away the smiling face as he stared hard at the members of [Two Wings].
“—This will be your first and last warning. Disappear from my sight immediately or else I will make you all lie here quietly.”
“Grr— Everyone, release the arrows!”
The members of [Two Wings] drew their bowstrings and loosened their poison smeared arrows at the same time.
A shower of arrows zipped down towards Izayoi’s head. And Izayoi who faced view of a one-sided attack that seemed like a wave-like burial service, gave a fierce grin and launched his sudden attack.
“Ha, Don’t get too cocky!”
Following his enraged roar, he swung his fist with the force that could shake the earth and the heavens or even demolish whole mountains and rivers. The pressure of that punch was then made tangible in the visible vibrations of the atmosphere as it repelled the poison arrows.
And it did not stop there.
The pressure of the punch also created a shockwave that swept across the crowd of [Two Wings] who had been pulling their bows and sent all of them flying.
“That’s, That’s impossible?!”
The members who had been blown away immediately spread their wings to readjust their stances in the air. The winged humanoids and eudemons were basically possessors of the ability for flight even in their therianthropic states. Just being blown away would not be able to inflict fatal wounds to them.
Izayoi also realized that point soon enough as he started to review his plans.
“……Okay, I guess this might be better. Let’s play this long awaited shooting game, shall we?”
“Wha, What?”
“It’s nothing actually. Somehow, it’s just that the hunter has become the hunted and this is the epitomedaigo-mi[6] of the hunt. I think it’s time for you guys to experience it too.”
Saying that, Izayoi immediately plucked a tree from his side with its roots and all. The [Two Wings] crowd had fallen silent from the absurd display of his strange strength as a bad feeling started to take hold of their brains.
“Could, Could it be that he wants……?!”
Izayoi gave a mischievous smile as he placed the tree upon his shoulder, “All of you, just stay there and let me send you flying obediently Ooooooreeeaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!”
—-as he threw it at the speed of the third cosmic velocity.
“That’s…….That’s too illogical already, you bastarrrrrrddddd!!!”
Having sensed the threat, the guy had already taken off in fear as he gave that wail full of despair. Completely different from the pressure of the punch demonstrated earlier, an unusual impact shook the atmosphere.
This was only to be expected.
Even with their outspread wings, the trees had immediately caught up to them at the speed of the third cosmic velocity.
And the trees were even alight with fire as they combusted from the friction of the high velocities and the flaming splintering masses created a type of interlocking buckshot web. Having created such a situation, it highly unlikely for even the winged beings to dodge from them.
Izayoi was sure that it was his victory as he confirmed the subsequent falling of the figures that looked like swatted mosquitoes in the distance. He then shifted his gaze to look towards the direction of his two other comrades.
“…… Well then. I wonder if things are going well for Kasukabe and Ojou-sama.”
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